Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg specializes in the dreamy, the spectacular, and the wondrous. His picture book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, is no exception. Alan is all set to care for Miss Hester's dog while she visits her sister. He plays with Fritz until he's completely worn out, then takes him for an... Continue Reading →
Counting books are a dime a dozen, so to speak, and finding one that captures the attention of both children and their parents is quite the feat. That's why I enjoyed An Invitation to the Butterfly Ball by Jane Yolen. Yolen doesn't just count one through ten, she also tells a story about animals getting... Continue Reading →
Children and teens sometimes wrestle with the question of courage - what does it mean to be courageous? How can I have courage when I'm so scared? Hobie Hansen constantly asks himself those questions, especially since his dad is courageously fighting in World War II. He finds great comfort in his dog Duke, who accompanies... Continue Reading →
I will admit to being a novice at poetry, and in fact, not a huge fan of it. However, I am a fan of reading poetry aloud to children. I think one of the reasons I didn't like poetry was because I only encountered it in school, which wasn't very fun. My favorite poetry is... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a delightful picture book to read to a preschooler, you cannot go wrong with Mo Willems. He has a whole library of picture books which delight both parents and children. (You can read about some here, and here.) In Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator, Amanda loves her alligator, even if... Continue Reading →
Patricia MacLachlan has done it again. "Done what?" I hear you asking. She's written a beautiful book about difficult relationships and finding your way through them. In The Truth of Me, Robbie's parents send him to his grandmother's house for the summer. They are touring with their woodwind quartet for the summer. Robbie is fine... Continue Reading →
If you would like to start reading poetry with your children, I would highly recommend starting with Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman. In this book, Fleischman writes a number of poems about insects. Before you shudder and turn aside, give it a try! I am not a huge fan of insects, but Fleischman treats the... Continue Reading →
When I picked up Empty Fridge by Gaetan Doremus, I loved the feel of it in my hands. The heavy cardboard cover felt weighty, and its unusual size (tall and rather narrow) seemed to fit my hands. The story is weighty too. In the tradition of Stone Soup, a modern-day neighborhood (in this case an... Continue Reading →
I have found very few holiday books, outside of Christmas and Thanksgiving books, which I really enjoy. The Valentine Bears is one of those exceptions. Written by Eve Bunting, The Valentine Bears tell the story of Mr. & Mrs. Bear, who settle in for a long hibernation. But Mrs. Bear sets her alarm early, so... Continue Reading →
Many children feel anxious when they have to be separated from their parents or caretakers. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn provides not only a good story, but also a wonderful way to deal with that type of anxiety. Chester Raccoon does not want to go to school. He does not want to leave his... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 