All We Know by Linda Ashman illustrated by Jane Dyer

I love Springtime!The days are longer and the earth smells sweet. Spring brings the promise of new things.

All We Know by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Jane Dyer shows that same promise of the beauty of Spring.  Jane Dyer's illustrations always touch my heart and make me feel warm and fuzzy. They also remind me of my niece when she was little.  My niece has a little boy of her own now and so they remind me of him too.  The sweet illustrations combined with Linda Ashman's tender prose make a perfect match.  I love this new book.  It is the perfect read aloud for either a story time or bedtime.  It is more than just a story of a mother's love for her child but it is the story of the beauty of the natural world around us.  A perfect new baby gift.

A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano

A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano is a wonderful new book for children ages 8-12.  Although it would be a great book for anyone over the age of 12 who loves a good mystery/ghost story.

 I love this book. I loved it from the first paragraph.  This is the kind of book I would have loved when I was young.   The main character Pram is the kind of girl I would have wanted to be friends with when I was little.

Lauren DeStefano has woven a tale that is a spellbinding page turner.  It may be a little dark for some but that is all part of it's charm.  It has an instant classic feel about it, a must have new book for those who love magic, ghosts and mystery!

Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion

Happy New Year!  I can't believe it has been awhile since I posted anything new.  Here is a new book that I just love.

Baby Penguins Everywhere written and illustrated by Melissa Guion is a wonderful new book by a new author.   As usual it was the very sweet cover illustrations that drew my attention (Who doesn't love "baby penguins").    When I finally looked at the book I marveled at it's sweetness.  This is a great story time book and if I was still in the bookstore I would have many opportunities to read it to children.   Besides the obvious "winter story time" I would also read it for "Mother's Day"  or even a "family" story time.   The message is subtle that even though a parent loves to be with their children they sometimes need to recharge themselves with a little alone time.   I know the feeling, while I love to be with my nieces and nephews it can be overwhelming sometimes and I relish my quiet time.

I also see this as a gift to new parents.   New parents can't imagine that they would want to spend any time away from their child they shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to have a bit of quiet time to themselves.  I now so many Moms who do so much with and for their children but at the same time relish the time when the house is quiet and they can sit and read a book alone.  

Melissa Guion has done a wonderful job with her first book ---- I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.  A must have new book for any family library!

Flashback Tuesday: The Quiet Lady by Charlotte Zolotow illus by Anita Lobel

In honor of Charlotte Zolotow's birthday I thought I would recommend one of my favorite books of hers.  It was actually very hard to do as I have always loved her books.   This one holds a very special meaning to me.

The Quiet Lady by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Anita Lobel was always a favorite book to me because it reminded me  of my Mom.   Part of that are the beautiful illustrations by Anita Lobel but mostly because I could relate to the story by Ms Zolotow.   When I was  little girl I loved to listen to my Mother's stories of her childhood.   I loved looking at photos of her as a baby and thinking she was so cute.   I also loved to hear her stories about growing up with her sisters in Brooklyn.   This is a great book for Mom's to read with their children.  It would make a wonderful new baby gift or a first Mother's Day gift too.

Happy Birthday Charlotte Zolotow!

Piggybook by Anthony Browne

When I did story times in the bookstore I always loved to read a book that the Mom's or parents would get a kick out of.   I knew they had to come and sit while their children had fun.   To that end this book was one of my favorites to read during our Mother's Day celebrations.

Piggybook by Anthony Browne is one of the funniest books to read to adults and children alike.   I included it in my last years Mother's Day roundup of books....but think it should get it's own moment in the sun.   How the Mom's would laugh because they could so relate to the story.  I think the average Mom is amazing....how many Mom's do I know that this is their exact circumstance.   This is a great fun gift for any Mother out there....because they really need to laugh sometimes.   When reading it to the kids the best part was when they realized that the Dad and boys were turning into pigs and that even the wallpaper had pigs on them....this is definitely a favorite read aloud of mine.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's who do just about everything!

Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino

Stumbled across today's book and was immediately drawn to it.   I loved the title and the cover illustration is precious.

Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino is a sweet story of a mother elephant and her baby.  When the mother leaves to "ask the sky for rain" her baby worries about being alone.   Mama Elephant tells her child in reassuring words that all will be ok....

This is a perfect story for bedtime or story time.   It has a classic feel that is timeless.   This is such a beautifully illustrated and soothing story.

(On a side note the baby elephant is called "Little One"....which is a nickname given to me by a friend...another reason I was drawn to it.)

Perfect new book that is a must have for a child's bookshelf.  It makes a great new baby gift too!

Love Twelve Miles Long By Glenda Armand Illustrated by Colin Bootman

Life has been busy lately so I haven't been able to write as much as I would like.   That doesn't mean I am not in constant search of some good book to suggest.

I have always been an admirer of Frederick Douglass the famous abolitionist ever since I did a report on him in school.   So I was so thrilled to find a story about him as child. A story  that helps bring a larger than life historical figures in better focus.

Love Twelve Miles Long by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Colin Bootman is a beautifully told story of a young Frederick Douglass who as a slave was sent to a plantation 12 miles away from his mother. This story tells how she would walk at night just to visit him.  He asks her how she is able to do this as it was a long way, she describes what she does during each step. She sings, prays, listens and remembers.....

As only a mother can, she is able to see her son's true potential.  Ultimately she is the driving force of his escape to freedom and the leadership path he would eventually take.   Ms Armand is a beautiful writer.  I really could feel the love between mother and son, which is a very powerful feeling.   The illustrations by Colin Bootman match the words perfectly, the cover illustration alone evokes such warmth and love that I was immediately compelled to open it up.

This is a great first biography for a child.   It gives history without being preachy.   It should be used as a stepping stone to learn about one of the greatest American historical figures who ever lived.

I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn illustrated by Julia Denos

Happy New Year!   I was out window shopping today and came across a book that reminded me of my niece Celia.  I can't believe that she is pretty much a grown up now and all I could do is think of how she was when she was a little girl.  The girl in this new picture book reminded me of her.

I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn and illustrated by Julia Denos is the story of a little girl who loves a certain dress and wears it on her favorite day of the week.  As time goes by the dress needs help....so her Mom constantly reinvents the dress into something else.   The reason this reminded me of niece is because she has always loved clothes and would change her outfits a couple of times a day.   She too had a favorite dress that sadly became too small and when she tried to put it on again she got stuck in it.   I smile when I think of my sister trying to help her out the dress without cutting it off.   This is the perfect book for a little girl (or grown up girl) who loves to dress up or just loves clothes.  It is a great reminder at New Year's too that time moves on even if we don't want it to.   I love the way this is written and whimsical illustrations.   A fun new book for the New Year!

M.O.M (Mom Operating Manual) by Doreen Cronin illus by Laura Cornell

M.O.M (Mom Operating Manual) by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Laura Cornell was a thrill to discover.  I love Laura Cornell's illustrations and recognized the her art work as soon as I saw the cover. I am also a big fan of Doreen Cronin who has a great writing style.   This is a fun book to read.   This is the kind of book I would have loved to read at story time because I know the parents would get a kick out of it.   I like how it has been published now and not just in time for Mother's Day.   Although it would make a perfect new mother gift.   Some might say the language is a bit too adult for kids to understand but since I don't believe in talking down to children I think it is worded perfectly.