Ollie's Odyssey by William Joyce

It has been a long time since I have been enthralled with a book.  I have always loved William Joyce, he is one of my favorite author/illustrators.  His range is amazing.  When I stumbled across today's book I was ---as I said above---enthralled.  This is the type of book that would have excited me as a child.  It has familiarity, adventure and excitement all wrapped up with great illustrations.  I loved the idea of this book.  I am sure others have seen the similarities to another childhood classic--The Velveteen Rabbit....but this book goes beyond making a "toy real" type story...it takes that sentiment to a whole new level.  In this day and age children like more of an adventure.  So Mr Joyce gives them that......at the same time giving validity to a child's love of a favorite toy.

Ollie's Odyssey by William Joyce is the charming and exciting tale of a child's connection to a beloved toy.  The magic of that one toy to foster a child's imagination.  This is a beginning chapter book for young readers.  It would also make a wonderful read aloud.  I can see it being read in school one chapter at a time.  I loved Ollie and I loved Billy....I also loved the villains...scary but not too scary. William Joyce has done it again.  He has brought us wonderful new characters to spend time with again and again....

Reference Sunday: The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz

I think I have mentioned before how my nephews were always a bit obsessed with LEGOs.   When they were younger and we went on vacation they always took a huge bin of LEGO pieces to play with.   It was always funny how we, the adults, would be scrambling around the beach house trying to gather all the pieces on the last day of vacation.   I can remember countless times being with my nephews and playing with the LEGOs in their basement.   My structures always looked the same but theirs were very intricate.  
I wish I had today's book to reference....

The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz and published by DK Publishing is the perfect gift this season for the LEGO lover in your life.   It filled with wonderful new ways to use the LEGO pieces that seem to multiply like rabbits in the house.   It is set up with different chapters including transportation, buildings, kingdoms (my favorite) and "useful makes".   So if you don't know which LEGO set to buy this year maybe you should just give this book....as it can extend the life of previous LEGO gifts.  

Flashback Tuesday: The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill Illustrated by Elliot Gilbert

It is amazing how long it has been since the first Toy Story came out in movies.   In the third movie that just came out the little boy from the first movie is now going to college.   I loved the concept of Toy Story that toys came alive and interacted with each other when no one was around.   As with most things in life this is not a new idea.

The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill and illustrated by Elliot Gilbert was first published in the early 1960's.   I discovered at a Scholastic Book Fair at my school (many years later) where it immediately became one of my favorite childhood books.   I think I also liked it because it was dedicated to "Ann Elizabeth" which is my sister's name.   This is the story of a little girl who gets invited to a birthday party and is told she should bring her favorite doll.   She decides to take her oldest and raggiest doll and is rewarded for the love she shows for it.   It ties into Toy Story because whenever the the little girl is not in the room the dolls talk to each other.   It is probably one of the sweetest books I have ever read but it is not overly sappy.   I think of this book whenever I see an umbrella in a drink because it reminds me of an image in the book where all the dolls are placed around a table with tiny drinks and umbrellas.

This is a classic book that is perfect for any little girl who loves her dolls and has a great imagination.   A must have book in my eyes.