If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche is a beautiful picture book which tells the stories of houses around the world. I love this book for so many reasons. First, Laroche created beautiful bas-relief cut-paper collages for each of the pages, which are fun to examine. Second, Laroche provides several levels... Continue Reading →
Except If
Boys and girls alike will enjoy except if by Jim Averbeck. It starts with an egg, which is not a baby bird. The egg will become a baby bird Except if... it becomes a baby snake. The rest of the book follows the same format: the snake will slither on its belly, except if... it... Continue Reading →
Ling & Ting
Ling and Ting are twins, and many people say they look exactly alike. But they are not exactly the same - as the stories in Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin show. In each story, Ling & Ting discover something different about themselves: haircuts, ease of using chopsticks, making dumplings, etc.... Continue Reading →
Once Upon a Marigold
My 12-year-old told me over and over again, "Mom, you need to read Once Upon a Marigold!" When she checked it out, for the third time, I decided to see what she was so excited about. And I'm glad I did. Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris is a delightful read - a funny,... Continue Reading →
The King’s Equal
The people were mourning their king, who was dying. They were also fearful of the future, because the king's son & heir, Prince Raphael, was not a pleasant person. As the king lay dying, he blessed his son, saying, "You cannot wear my crown until the day you marry a woman who is your equal... Continue Reading →
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears
The mosquito is causing problems in the jungle - no surprise, right? But this mosquito is not causing problems for people. Not quite yet. This mosquito is causing problems between the animals. In Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, readers learn the mosquito buzzed in the ear of an iguana, telling a... Continue Reading →
Dandelions
For most people, the thought of dandelions brings thoughts of desperate efforts to eradicate them from their yards. But for Zoe, dandelions are a symbol of hope. Hope that her mother will feel at home on the prairies of Nebraska. Hope that their sod house will soon feel like home. Hope that the family will... Continue Reading →
Georgie
The little ghost Georgie takes great comfort in his evening routine. He makes the stair creak, the parlor door squeak, and the inhabitants of his house know what they need to do next. It's the same routine every evening. Until Mr. Whittaker decides to fix the creak in the stair, and oil the parlor door's... Continue Reading →
Flicka, Ricka, Dicka
Three little Swedish sisters with blond hair and blue eyes have many adventures together - in the kitchen, at the neighbor's house, on the farm, and even in town. They dress alike, love to help people and animals. The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka books by Maj Lindman were first published in the United States in the... Continue Reading →
Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School
Benjamin's historic seaside school is about to be torn down to make way for a huge amusement park. Benjamin is kind of excited about it, until an unusual encounter with the school janitor right before he dies. The janitor entrusts Benjamin with a heavy gold coin with a long history, and directions to 'save the... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 