Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
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 →
Children can have a hard time thinking of history in personal terms. It happened so long ago, to strangers - it's hard to imagine they are real people. That's why I like Pearl by Debby Atwell so much. Pearl traces the history of America from it's roots to the 1960's through the story of one... Continue Reading →
How much is infinity? What does that mean? Infinity is an abstract concept, difficult for young children to understand. Which is why Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford is a great book to share with young children, even elementary school children. In Infinity and Me, Hosford explores the idea of infinity as her narrator asks... Continue Reading →
This delightful picture book follows a girl, her little brother and her grandmother as they tour the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Little do they know that the girl's balloon, left in the care of the photographer outside the Gallery, is leading the photographer, and a growing group of people on a chase around the... Continue Reading →
Mouse Minor is what everyone calls him, but it's not his real name. The hero of The Mouse with a Question Mark Tail doesn't have a name. And it bothers him immensly. He never knew his parents either. He lives with Aunt Marigold under the Royal Mews, the carriage house of Buckingham Palace. Mouse Minor... Continue Reading →
Author and illustrator Jon J Muth retells one of Leo Tolstoy's classic tales in the picture book The Three Questions. In his retelling, the main character is a boy who asks three important questions of his friends, a crane, a monkey and a dog. His questions are: When is the best time to do things? ... Continue Reading →
Linda Sue Park is one of my favorite authors (see reviews of other books here, here and here), so when I saw she had written a picture book, I snatched it up. I was hoping it was as good as her chapter books, and I was not disappointed! Xander is a panda, and a panda... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 