A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes

I love love love Kevin Henkes.  His books always make me happy when I see them.
 So when I saw his new book A Parade of Elephants  I could feel the smile creep onto my face.  I have become quite attuned to seeing elephants ever since my great-nephew Ben was born.  His Mom, my niece, chose elephants as her theme and that still continues even though he is almost 4 years old and mostly into skeletons, ninjas and cars.

This new Kevin Henkes book is the perfect bedtime book but also great for story time.  It has counting and colors and action (I'm thinking of the "marching") which is a little bit of what children need to learn while growing.  This is a great new baby book or just a great gift in general.  I can't wait to read it to Ben sometime soon.  

New Beginnings.......

Life seems to be always handing us new beginnings.  I have never liked August because it still gives me that back to school feeling.  But in a way even though the summer is ending the first day school was a new beginning.  It turns out every morning or day or week or month is a new beginning.

I have missed writing this blog, even if I knew that no one was reading it.  It gave me my connection to children's books that I have always loved.  No matter where I am or what I do if I see a book especially a children's book I need to see what it is and what it is about.

This past year has been busy and stressful....work combined with finding a forever home has consumed me.  When in early May the children's books in The Met Bookshop were shelved in the main shop I was so happy.  I was again close to the books I loved.  Not that I don't love all the books in the shop but my heart is happiest when I am recommending a children's book.

So many wonderful books have come into the shop.  Here are a few that I have loved reading and recommending.......

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by 

Anna Llenas from Sterling Publishing is a great book that not only teaches about colors but about feelings as well.   A fun story-time book.  

Rosa's Animals: The Story of Rosa Bonheur and Her Painting Menagerie by Maryann MacDonald is a beautiful book that tells the story of painter and sculptor Rosa Bonheur.  I love finding out about artists I never knew about especially women artists.  There are so few who are celebrated and Rosa should be celebrated.  Her life and work is inspirational.  Her artwork is extraordinary! 

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art From The Metropolitan Museum of Art edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins

I would be remiss if I didn't write about a book based on artwork from where I work.....but even if I didn't work at The Met I would recommend this book. The artwork is accompanied by new poems that were commissioned just for this book.  Poets were asked to write about works that inspired them.  A wonderful collection for every  library.