My 12-year-old daughter went through my pile of picture books to read before I could, so I asked her which book was her favorite. "Duck at the Door, Mom," she told me. "It's so funny! The duck comes back, with his whole flock!" She was right. Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic is funny. ... Continue Reading →
The Granddaughter Necklace
The Granddaughter Necklace by Sharon Dennis Wyeth is loosely based upon a necklace handed down from her grandmother. She imagined it had been handed down from the most distant relation she was able to find - a woman who had immigrated to America from Ireland. Instead of starting with Frances, the most distant relative, Wyeth... Continue Reading →
Crankee Doodle
Most people are familiar with the American folk song, Yankee Doodle: Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a pony... (Are you singing it now?) Even if you're not familiar with the song, you'll enjoy reading Tom Angleberger's book Crankee Doodle. In this picture book, the soldier of the American Revolution is - you guessed... Continue Reading →
Silly Sally
My cousin is having a baby, and instead of cards they requested that we give books. I scoured my shelves, looking at the board books and picture books I had saved from when my children were tiny. Of course I couldn't find a single book I could give up! In my scouring, I came across... Continue Reading →
Otter and Odder
How odd is it that an otter would fall in love with his food source? Everyone agrees, it's pretty odd. Unusual. Impossible, even. Otter cannot love a fish. It is just not right. After much consternation, wondering and questioning, Otter realizes that he does love a fish. And the fish loves Otter. So they buck... Continue Reading →
The Boy and the Airplane
I think I'm going to have to create a new category for my books - Wordless Books. It seems like an oxymoron - how can you have a book with no words? - but I've been finding quite a few at my library, and they are lots of fun. The Boy and the Airplane by... Continue Reading →
Scout
A Scottie and his ball get separated, so he traverses his apartment building trying to find it. While searching, he makes friends with the other animals in his building, and when they eventually find his ball, they all play together. Scout by Gordon McMillian is a sweet story, full of simple illustrations which will catch... Continue Reading →
How to Be a Cat
Nikki McClure has a gift for making wonderful picture books for infants, toddlers & preschoolers. How to Be a Cat is her newest book, and I highly recommend it. Like Apple, which I reviewed here, How to Be a Cat is deceptively simple. Black-and-white paper cutouts illustrate the book, with pops of color on each... Continue Reading →
The Moon Jumpers
Remember those joyful summer evenings spent playing by the light of the moon? Author Janice May Udry captures the fun frolicking in her book The Moon Jumpers, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (of Where the Wild Things Are fame). This picture book is truly a picture book - lots of colorful, and black & white, drawings... Continue Reading →
The Paper Crane
Fairy tales teach us consequences, moral character, or how to deal with change. The Paper Crane by Molly Bang, is a modern fairy tale that focuses on dealing with change. A man's restaurant is busy, and he is happy - until a new highway is built which drives traffic away from his business. His sorrow... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 