Happy 75th Anniversary Good Night Moon!

 Classic books are classic for a reason.  Fads in books is just as prevalent today as they were years ago.  Some fads and books fall out of favor because times change. Then again some are timeless. 

Way back in 1947 a little book was published that has never gone out of favor.   In actuality it's popularity has only grown through the years.  

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd is a book that most children have read to them at some point in time.  It truly is a classic.  One of the first words a nephew said was "balloon" while I was reading to him. That is what is so great about this book, it teaches children without even trying. It is one of the first books that mere simplicity and repetitiveness that helped lull children to sleep.  It isn't too long or too short so grown-ups don't mind reading it over and over again.  

Whenever is looking for a new baby gift this is one title that is always on the list.   Apparently Margaret Wise Brown never lived to see her book become a phenomenon.  I wonder what she would think to see her book 75 years old and still going strong.  

The Bear Who Couldn't Sleep by Caroline Nastro illustrated by Vanya Nastanlieva

It has been many years since I have been a children's book buyer but I am lucky enough to still be friends with some of my old sales reps.  Just a few weeks ago I started a new dream job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  One of my sales rep friends realized that a book she is selling was having it's book launch right across the street from The Met.  She very nicely invited me to come.  I was thrilled to go especially after I looked the book up and thought it was really cute.

I went and had a wonderful time... the author Caroline Nastro was so sweet and lovely.

The Bear who Couldn't Sleep by Caroline Nastro and illustrated by Vanya Nastanlieva is a sweet book about a little bear who goes on an adventure instead of hibernating with his family.  His adventure takes him to the "big city" of New York.  All the iconic sights are there....the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Times Square and even my new place of employment---The Met.  In the end the "city that never sleeps" is too much for this sweet little bear....and well you get the picture.  The story is a great bedtime story with wonderful illustrations.  This is also a perfect way to introduce NYC to the youngest among us....
It is also a wonderful story time book---I can see it being read at a pajama party too....

Here is a photo of the author, Caroline Nastro (on the left) and my friend Heather at the book launch....

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

The winner of the 2015 Cybils were announced yesterday.  The winner was the book Flutter and Hum: Aleteo Y Zumbido by Julie Paschkis which I blogged about last October.  It is a wonderful book with great potential.

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton was one of the finalists for  Cybils 2015.  As with all the finalists we discussed this book at length.  This is a verse novel set in 1969.  A historical novel that at sometimes felt more prose than poetry.  Still it is very good read that has a lot going for it.  This is a book that makes for a great discussion about diversity.  It is the story of a girl with an African-American father and a Japanese mother who  has to deal with not only two different cultures at home but feeling different in her new school.  Not only are there race issues but gender issues as well.  The main character Mimi wants to be an astronaut but is basically scoffed at because she is a girl. The issues of not fitting in and being true to oneself is still very relevant in today's world.  Ms Hilton's words convey the inner feelings of her characters beautifully.  I enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.  This is a great read for middle grade readers ages 9-12.  It should help to foster discussion at home and in the classroom.

Thank You and Good Night by Patrick McDonnell

It has been a very busy few months for me and things are finally quieting down. This has been a time of highs and lows....joys and sadness but even amidst the craziness of life there is always time to be thankful.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving when we are supposed to pause and give thanks.  

Now that I have time to get back to book reading and evaluating I combed over many a Thanksgiving title to suggest.  I kept coming back to today's title because it universal and not just about giving "Thanks" on one day but to give "Thanks" everyday!  This is a must have, read aloud, bedtime story for every day of the year.  

Thank You and Good Night written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell is an instant classic.  I have always loved his books and his comic strip---he so quietly reminds us of how we should live our lives.  This is the story of a first sleepover of friends---they do all the things children do at sleepovers from having a snack to goofing around to a final bedtime story.  They are also asked to give thanks for something---the long list of simple things is a reminder that we all have something to be thankful for everyday. It is a beautiful way to instill in children that they should remember to be grateful for the little things as well as the big things. As I said this is a must have book for any child in your life.....maybe even some grownups....

In spirit of the holiday I would like to say I am Thankful for my family and friends who are an important part of my life----you are all special to me.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

                      Waiting written and illustrated by Caldecott medalist Kevin Henkes

It is that time of year again.  They summer is over and it is back to school time.  It seems like schools have been in back to school mode for weeks.  The school in my neighborhood starts tomorrow.

I have always been a very big fan of Kevin Henkes. What I love about his books is that they always seem different and new.  When I saw today's book I loved it just from the cover alone....when I realized it was a written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes I loved it even more. His books always have a comforting feel to them.

Waiting is the perfect read aloud book for a child. Most children I know have an impatience about them.  When my niece and nephews were small I would always tell them they needed to be patient.  They were always excited about something and wanted immediate gratification all the time.  I would play a game with them to see how long they could sit still. Needless to say it wasn't very long. They always grew tired of "waiting".

I wish I had this book to read to them. It is such a soothing and reassuring book filled with hope and expectation that I would have loved to read it to them over and over again.  I can see myself someday reading this to my great nephew sitting on a cozy couch.  This is also a perfect read aloud/story time book and an every night bedtime story. It is a must have new book for any age.  Mr Henkes has done it again writing an instant classic.

Little Humans by Brandon Stanton

Whenever I am on Facebook someone is always posting a photo from Humans of New York. I think they are terrific and thought provoking.  Mr Stanton has totally captured the essence of what it means to be a New Yorker.  Totally wonderful, intriguing and quirky as only a New Yorker can be.

I was thrilled to come across his new book for children called
Little Humans.  I love this book.  Brandon Stanton takes his fantastic photos and makes a great children's book out of them. He creates a book that is perfect for the littlest among us. It is a great read aloud book as well as a learning book. Each photo has a description that fits it perfectly. I like how there are highlighted descriptive words that emphasize what is being seen in each photo.  I think my favorite is the photo that goes along with the phrase "super HERO tough"...it just cracked me up.  I hope this is the first of many books by Mr Stanton for children.  I see a board book version in his future. This is a must have book for any age.....

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I know today's book is not necessarily a new title but I just finished reading it and wanted to share my thoughts.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is considered a Teen Novel.  I think it is much more than that.  I had heard about it but never read it.  Most recently learned that there is a sequel which I hope to read soon.  There is also a film being made with Tim Burton directing.  I stumbled across it in the library and at the last minute added it to my stack of books to check out.

I loved this book.  This is the kind of book I would have read and loved when I was a child/teenager.  The story starts out like any other teenage angst kind of story but quickly develops into the best kind fantasy story.  The kind that makes a reader feel that it could be true.  The characters are wonderful, I really loved the main character Jacob because he sounded like a typical teenage boy.

A long time ago I was part of a panel for the Children's Book Council called Not Just For Children Anymore.  As part of the panel we had to read a selection of children's books ~mostly young readers and Teen novels.  Once we were finished we then set out to decide whether or not "grown-ups" would enjoy them as well as children.  This book would have been on top of my list.  I really loved how Mr Riggs wove his story around an array of old photographs.  The photographs themselves are so interesting to look at that I  too would have wondered how they were made and if they were real.

I used to know someone who loved to take photographs.  He had rigged his own darkroom in a small bathroom in the house.  He also liked to experiment with his photos.  I remember one photo of what appeared to be  a young girl with a small person standing on her hand.  To create this illusion he said was all in the development. When I saw the photos in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children I was reminded of the photos I saw when I was young.  Like I said I have always been fascinated by old photos.....they are glimpse into the past.  I wish this book had been around when I was young because it would have been one of my favorites.  I can't wait to read the sequel Hollow City.  These are must have books for anyone who loves a bit of fantasy tinged with spookiness....

RIP Eric Hill author of Where's Spot?

I just read that Eric Hill the creator of one my favorite series of books for children has died.  His character of Spot the dog will always hold a warm place in my heart.  When I started working in my first bookstore---a Doubleday Bookshop----our children's section was very small.  Which is why I remember almost all the books we carried. Where's Spot?  was a true novelty when I first encountered it.  It was one of the first books that really changed the interactive landscape of children's books.  I also remember the the original plush puppy based on the book.  I loved to recommend it to customers because of it's simplicity.  I always sold the book with plush boxed set to customers shopping for a new baby.

When I moved on to run the children's department of Barnes and Noble my favorite thing to do was merchandise the big picture windows in the front of the store.  This was in the days before all stores had to have the same displays.  For Mothers Day one year I decorated the window with all Mother's Day type books.   Central to the display was the over sized Spot doll with little plush spot dolls around it.  I put a hat on and necklace on the bigger one so that it represented his mother.  It was really a fun display to create with all the books and other kinds of gifts for Mom in the window.

After awhile I moved into the buying office of B&N to buy Preschool books for all the stores.  I loved seeing how Spot never went out of fashion and how his books became one of the best series to be adapted into a board book.

Today I still love to recommend a Spot book to customers. Partly because they are timeless but mostly because I know that whatever title it is will be read again and again.  Mr Hill has given the world an iconic little character that will never be forgotten.

Here are some of my favorite Spot titles:

Where's Spot?  ---which comes a great board book too.....

Spot Goes to School --- great back to school title

Spot Loves His Mommy and Spot Loves His Daddy  --- perfect for new parents

Spot's Birthday Party  -- always fun to get read before a child's special day....

There are many more....not just lift the flap but other concepts as well.  These books are definitely a must have for every child's bookshelf.  Thank you Eric Hill for creating such an iconic character.  You will be missed.

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

It is a rainy kind of a day here in New Jersey. I have been spending the day with my "nephew" Little Bear a very cute Yorkie Poo.  Beyond that  it has been a bit of a lazy day sitting and reading with him on my lap.  Just now though I thought to myself---I'm a bit bored.  I am also waiting for my actual nephews to come home.  Being bored I reminded myself of a book we have at the bookstore....when I saw it and read it the other day it reminded me of  my niece and nephews when they were little.  This was a common phrase for them.

I'm Bored written by Ian Michael Black and illustrated perfectly by Debbie Ridpath Ohi it is the best book to read to children  when they say they are "bored".  When I first read it I didn't realize it was by the comedian Ian Michael Black.  I didn't even know he wrote children's books. All I knew was that it was a great book to read at story time or at bedtime.  He has really captured the essence of childhood in the most entertaining and quirky way.  I dare anyone to read this book and not identify with any child they might know.  This is a must have book for today's child.  Oh and I love how a potato is central to the plot....with the surprise addition of a flamingo.  Love it!

Me....Jane by Patrick McDonnell

While unpacking books yesterday at the bookstore I came across today's title. I have already written of my love for all things Patrick McDonnell before but I can't help writing about him again.  

Me...Jane written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell is one of the sweetest picture book biography's I have ever read.  I think this is the perfect book to share with a child especially during Women's History Month.  Patrick McDonnell sweetly and simply tells the story of young Jane and her stuffed chimp named Jubilee.  He tells of her love of nature and helping animals.  She dreams of  "a life living with and helping all animals" --which she she eventually does. 

I love love love the illustrations in this book and the simple text makes it a perfect read aloud too. This is a must have for every child's bookcase....oh and for the classroom.  The lessons are bountiful from loving nature to following your dreams....a good lesson for anyone...no matter what age!