It’s a big deal in Knoxville tomorrow with the Children’s Festival of Reading happening in World’s Fair Park. I’m so excited to hear Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Bob Shea, Jarrett Kroscozka and many other authors and illustrators. I’ll be reading several books by some of them at storytime tomorrow too. So, if you are at the festival, be sure to stop by for a bit! See you storytimers at Union Ave Books tomorrow at 11am!
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Monday, I was struggling to decide what book I wanted to feature and feeling very wishy-washy about the whole thing. Then as I hung out our laundry and watched my daughter sort clothespins and my dog chase things around the yard, I was struck by the freshness of the season and the little things of nature and animals and pure imagination. And this book came to mind. Not an exact match for my thoughts, but a perfect book to celebrate the wonders of childhood. This is a cleverly simple book, with short lilting rhymes and stunning illustrations, that follows the vivid imagination of a little girl as she shares all the ways she can be just like her favorite creatures. Here is I Can Fly by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Mary Blair, 1951. Read the full post…
In honor of tomorrow’s holiday of celebrating our dear mothers, I was positively delighted to score this sweet, non-fiction vintage book called most simply, Mother’s Day. Quite a bit different than the typical book I like to write about here, I still felt this one was lovely enough to show it off a bit. I fear that it is most likely difficult to find unless you have a really good library that still stocks some old titles like this, so I’ll share and show a bit more than I often do. Not to mention this is a long book, being more of a historical, research-driven book. This is a book that was written while the author searched for the answers to a child’s question about the holiday’s origin. So, if you’ve ever wondered where Mother’s Day originated, or like me, always assumed it was a Hallmark-created holiday, then take a look at this vintage book that details where the idea came from and how it spread around the world. This is Mother’s Day by Mary Kay Phelan, illustrated by Aliki, 1965.
Today’s book is a sweet little gem from the 1980s that just so happened to be one of my all-time favorites when I was little. It generally seems to be true that most little girls go through a love of cats phase. I certainly did, despite my severe allergies, and this hilarious, short, and clever book about a spunky little cat was just the treat for me. Here is Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, 1988. Read the full post…
If books like this keep being published, I may just have to permanently change my mind about disliking historical fiction. Previews of this book continually caught my eye and after finally getting my hands on it this weekend, I have to say it has me hooked. And how could it not with a winning combination of elements – WWI, boys, soldiers, competition, and… knitting? Add to that surprising theme twist some excellent cartoon illustrations and you have a stellar, and very touching book. Here is Knit Your Bit by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia, 2013. Read the full post…
Perhaps it is because my own little one just turned a year old and we have fully entered the babbling-almost-words phase, but something about this book just tickles my fancy. I had never heard of this one before, but the name Sophie Blackall is enough to make me pick up just about anything and give it a try. And what’s not to love about that sweet little guy in a striped one-piece on the cover? This book is a surprisingly calm but clever story about an absent-minded mother and her crazy ferret brood’s trip to the grocery store that is saved from being completely disastrous by the unassuming sharp eye of the tiniest member of the family. Here is Edwin Speaks Up by April Stevens, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, 2011. Read the full post…
It has been a while since I’ve posted about storytimes here, but they do still happen every first and third Saturday at Union Ave Books. This week is going to be extra gigantic as we read some great books, old and new, about those ferocious (or not) beasts called dinosaurs. Come on out locals! In the words of fabulous author Molly Idle (from twitter), “It promises to be a ROARING good time!”
Whew! What a week. I promise to be back tomorrow with a review and lots more on the list to come. But for today, feast your eyes on this hilarious new book from Mo Willems that debuted last Tuesday!
“Since I began making picture books I have come to realise over time that I call them just that. Picture books. Not children’s books. The reason for this is twofold; firstly I don’t believe they are just for children. I have met countless adults that collect picture books for themselves, and they are growing in confidence about openly admitting this in a book-signing queue. It’s not for my daughter, or a friend’s nephew. It’s for me. Often these individuals are teachers, librarians, publishing employees, art college students / aspiring picture-book makers themselves. But increasingly, they are doctors, civil servants, bus drivers … just people who have discovered the joy of a story unfolding visually over a few dozen pages.
I refrain from calling them children’s books because that implies I write them specifically for children. I don’t. I write them for myself. And for everyone.”
“I believe that children in this country need a more robust literary diet than they are getting…. It does not hurt them to read about good and evil, love and hate, life and death. Nor do I think they should read only about things that they understand… a man’s reach should exceed his grasp. So should a child’s. For myself, I will never talk down to—or draw down to—children.”