Believe: A Pop Up Book of Possibilities by Robert Sabuda

It's spring or at least it is supposed to be spring----the weather seems to think it is still winter.  The only positive is that the trees are green, the birds are singing and it is light when I get up and come home from work.

Spring brings the dream of possibilities to fruition.  It is a time to feel that anything is possible.  It is an awakening of mind and spirit.   When I came into work after being out for a few days I found a new book on our shelves (an aside we moved the children's book section to right where my office door is centered.   It makes me happy to enter my office through a sea of children's books).  Anyway I saw on the shelf today's recommendation.   I loved it immediately....not just because I love everything Robert Sabuda creates but because of the message it sends.  It comes out at a time of year when graduations are prevalent. This means it is meant to be a gift book for graduates.  I do agree that the message it sends is perfect for the graduate but I also truly think it is meant for anyone who is struggling with thoughts of the future.

Believe: A Pop Up book of Possibilities written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda is simple and intricate at the same time.  Each spread evokes something that is possible: something from nothing.....an acorn becomes a tree etc.  I love how Robert Sabuda has gone back to simple white silhouette's of images....so calming and beautiful in their simplicity.  While this is perfect for a graduate because it helps them continue their journey it is also perfect for anyone who needs a reminder that every morning is a new possibility.  Every new experience whether good or bad can turn into something wonderful.  I would give this book to someone who is questioning their life.....if someone you know is having difficulty moving forward this might gently push them onward.   I love this because we all must continue to BELIEVE in a world of POSSIBILITIES....a must have book for everyone.

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.  

Reference Sunday: Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods and Heroes by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda

Back at the beginning of this blog I highlighted Robert Sabuda and his wonderful pop-ups because he is a great favorite of mine.  Before I left a previous job I got the chance to meet both Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.   It was a real thrill for me. They are really nice and warm people.   They were just publishing Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up.  It was a wonderful to meet them and talk about how they work together.   We even discussed the next book they were working on which was Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters.   I remember telling Mr Sabuda how my cousin had been killed by a shark in California in a documented case.   He was really interested in my story and wasn't just being polite.   Which is another reason I really like him. 

Now they have written and illustrated Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods and Heroes~ they have done a spectacular job of writing about the myths from Egyptian, Greek, Norse and even the Far East cultures.   The spreads are awe inspiring as usual.    This is a great book for anyone who loves mythology and history.   It is also a must have for the collectors of Pop-ups~I know quite a few people who are going to love this book.   This is not just for children but for all....Reinhart and Sabuda have done it again!

Happy New Year's Eve!

As today is the last day of the year I thought it would be a great time to recap some of the new 2009 books I suggested since I started this blog. I want this blog to be a place for people to go if they have a question about a book or want a suggestion for a child in their life. My goal is to be helpful~so here in no particular order are some of the 2009 books I suggested this year!

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All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg (you know I had to do this one first )

The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton

Scanimations: Waddle! by Rufus Butler Seder

Princess Hyacinth by Florence Parry Heide

Otis by Loren Long

Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner

Big Frog Can't Fit In by Mo Willems

Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley

Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara

Boris & the Wrong Shadow by Leigh Hodge Kinson

Heart of a Snowman by Mary Kuryla

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I know these two books are technically reissues but they were reissued this year and I just wanted to mention them again:

Giant John by Arnold Lobel

The First Night by B.G Hennessey

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So Happy New Year ~looking forward to more great new books to recommend!

Big Frog Can't Fit In: A pop-up book by Mo Willems

There is a famous short story written by Mark Twain called The Celebrated Jumping Frog. He actually wrote a few different versions of this story but his first was published in the Saturday Press on November 18, 1865.

I thought this would be a good day to talk about and suggest a great new Pop-up by celebrated author Mo Willems. Big Frog Can't Fit is such a fun book. It is about a frog who wants to fit in but is shown by her friends that she is perfect the way she is. The best part is that the pop-ups are so essential to the story ----which is told simply and sweetly. I love the way they describe it as not being a "pop-up" book but as a "pop-out" book. Sometimes pop-up books don't make great read alouds---this is a great exception to this rule. Big Frog Can't Fit In would make a great gift as it is also not as expensive as some other pop-up book.....this is a keeper!

Robert Sabuda---King of Pop Ups

I have always loved Robert Sabuda pop-ups. The thing about Robert Sabuda is that he is also a talented illustrator in his own right. Once he started with Pop-Ups though he never looked back. He started relatively simply, one of his first Pop-ups was The Christmas Alphabet ~ a book of pop-ups using the letters of the alphabet mostly in white. Beautiful~but simple! My personal early favorite was his Cookie Count~I used to tell my nephew Daniel that this was a special book and that he could only look at it with me. Everytime he came over he asked to look at the "special" book. He was always amazed at it. Robert Sabuda also did one of the very first Kwanzaa books called A Kwanzaa Celebration~ which was great to read during story times!

My all time favorite is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! It just amazed me how he could be so faithful to the story and the original illustrations with these incredible feats of paper engineering!

One of his most recent Pop-Ups is Peter Pan~another marvel!

Oh and my favorite non Pop-Up? Tutankhamen's Gift....I always liked King Tut. ;)