Sunday, December 26, 2010

Reference Sunday: Celebrate Kwanzaa: With Candles, Community, and the Fruits of the Harvest by Carolyn B. Otto

Habari Gani----Happy First Day of Kwanzaa!

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Kwanzaa: With Candles, Community, and the Fruits of the Harvest
Celebrate Kwanzaa: With Candles, Community, and the Fruits of the Harvest by Carolyn B. Otto is a great book to help celebrate this cultural holiday.   This is the week African Americans celebrate their community.   The photographs really enhance the Kwanzaa experience.   This a wonderful way to explain this celebration.   I loved the recipes and activities to share with family and friends.  

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Flashback Tuesday:My First Christmas by Tomie dePaola

My First Christmas

My First Christmas by Tomie dePaola is the perfect little Christmas book for a new baby. It was originally called "Baby's First Christmas" but I understand and can appreciate the change.    I know lots of new babies this year who are celebrating their first Christmas'.   It is just the right size for their tiny hands and the simple words makes this a great introduction to the Christmas holiday for babies and toddlers.   It is a classic book that will be read for many years to come.    A must have Christmas title!  

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Reference Sunday: Jesus by Demi

Jesus
Jesus by Demi is a beautiful book to talk about on the Sunday before Christmas.  I have always loved Demi's work.  Her books are more than just books but works of art.   There are so many books to read to children about the birth of Christ but I think this one is for the whole family.   It has a sense of reverence about it that takes the Christmas story to another level.  It is not a typical Christmas book but one that should be read as it truly brings us back to "the reason for the season".  

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Flashback Tuesday: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski illus by P.J. Lynch

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with CD: Gift Edition

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by the wonderful P.J.Lynch is a very special book to me.   I remember reading it for the first time when I was putting it out for display.    It is the kind of perfect story that I love to read especially at Christmas time.   It is sad, poignant and joyful at the same time.   While I miss the original cover art I still love the illustrations.  
Whenever I look at the illustrations I get an ache in my heart because they are so beautiful.   This is truly a must have book that should be read every year at Christmas.   It crosses generations!  

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Reference Sunday: Cool Robots by Sean Kenny

My nephews have always been LEGO obsessed.   Every year they wanted the newest and biggest LEGO sets. They loved putting them together.   Even now that they are older I can still find them making things with the bin filled with a million LEGO pieces.  

Cool Robots
Cool Robots by Sean Kenny is the perfect book for any child who also has a tub or box filled with LEGO's.   This book gives kids more ideas and instructions to build really "Cool Robots".   Even if they don't have the particular part that comes with the instructions, this book inspires the "builder" to improvise.   This is a companion book to Cool Cars and Trucks that Mr Kenny published last year.  Both books are perfect for the LEGO lovers in your life.....

Friday, December 10, 2010

Emily by Michael Bedard illust by Barbara Cooney

Today is the 180th Anniversary of Emily Dickinson's Birth.  Since it is also my sister Ann's birthday and she has always loved her, Emily Dickinson has always been a part of my life. Not only are they both poets and share the same birthday but they even have the same middle name.  My sister used to sit on my bed and read Emily's poems to me.....I should say recite as she knows most of them by heart.  

Emily

Emily by Michael Bedard and illustrated by the iconic Barbara Cooney was a favorite book of mine the moment I laid eyes on it.   I had always been a fan of Barbara Cooney and this just sealed my appreciation of her.   The book is a beautiful way to introduce children to an American treasure.  I love that this book is told from a child's perspective because then children can relate.   This is a great gift not only for a child who likes poetry but to an adult who does as well.  

A long time ago I went on vacation with my sister Ann and her daughter Celia.  On our way home we stopped in Amherst, Ma.    I can still see my little niece running around Emily's garden....Ann was so thrilled to be there....it is a wonderful memory.  Happy Birthday to a wonderful sister and friend~