Baseball Fever!

In honor of the Yankees winning their 27th World Series{YEA!!}, I thought I would give a selection of baseball books for all ages.

How Georgie Radburn Saved Baseball by David Shannon is one of my favorite picture books. Sadly I think it is out of print but if you can find it, you would be in for a treat. Wonderful illustrations match a really great story.

Here are more baseball books, something for every child:

Major League Baseball Touch & Feel by DK Publishing ---Toddler book

My Baseball Book by Gail Gibbons ages 4-8

H is for Homerun by Brad Herzog ages 4-8

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki ,Illus by Dom Lee ages 4-8

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson ages 9-12

Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter ages 9-12

The Everything Kids' Baseball Book by Greg Jacobs ages 9-12

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A few weeks ago I wrote about the Michael Chabon book Summerland---big baseball theme. I would also be remiss if I didn't give the reminder that my sister's book, All the Broken Pieces, also has baseball as a central theme.

So there you have it---in honor of the greatest baseball team enjoy these great books for kids!

Hooray for Fall by Kazuo Iwamura

It is still Autumn outside, although stores and malls would have you think it is holiday time. Since it still not yet winter I thought I would tell you of a sweet book with beautiful illustrations about fall.

Hooray for Fall is written and illustrated by acclaimed Japanese artist Kazuo Iwamura. It is the third book in the series that includes Hooray for Snow & Hooray for Spring. While I enjoyed the first two books and thought the illustrations were sweet I really love this new one. I illustrations are rich and inviting. I love the little squirrels in their matching red sweaters, so cute and fun to read. This is a great autumn book to add to any child's library~while your at it all three would be great books to have!

Flashback Tuesday: Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis illus by Laura Cornell

When Jamie Lee Curtis' book When I Was Little (Memoirs of a 4 year old) first came out I loved it. I thought it was the cutest story and I still think it is one of the best titles ever put on a book. What surprised me was that I didn't know that the Jamie Lee Curtis on the book was THE Jamie Lee Curtis---actress. To this day I admire the fact that she never touted her name. So many celebrities write books and put their name in bold and highlight who they are. She never does that. She was smart enough not to do that. She was also smart to hook up with a fantastic kid friendly illustrator. Their collaborations through the years have been inspiring. Their books are kids friendly and great to read aloud.

Jamie Lee Curtis' second book is the main book I wanted to "flashback" to today. I always loved Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born because even though it is an adoption story it resonates for all parents. Most parents get that question. I know I asked it. I loved to hear the story of my birth~it was semi exciting. The fact that it is an adoption story makes it a bit more endearing. It is not the story of every type of adoption just the story of one, just like no birth story for any child will be the same~even within families. It is just a wonderful story of how a child came to be with her parents. It is a warm and funny book that is a classic unto its own and it should be celebrated as such. So even if your children are not adopted it is a great book to read with your kids....because they too will ask "about the night they were born"!

November is Adoption Month: I Wished For You by Marianne Richmond

I have always known that November has been designated as National Adoption Month. When I worked in the bookstore I would always try to highlight it and do displays with adoption books. Back in the those days there were not as many books as there are today. When I moved into the buying office I always wanted to do something in all the stores for Adoption Month but could never pull it off because November is set aside for Holiday sales. It didn't fit the mold.

I could just give a list today of Adoption stories that would be perfect for children. I have decided instead to highlight either one book or a few books on different days, this way I can spread it out.

I Wished for You by Marianne Richmond is a very sweet story of a mother telling her child he is her wish come true. This is a wonderful book because it cuts to the core of adoption. Adoption always starts with a wish; a wish for a child, a wish for a family. The soft illustrations are as endearing as the words. This book speaks volumes and is a great read aloud for any child.

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Reference Sunday: Break a Leg!: The Kid's Guide to Acting and Stagecraft by Lisa Friedman; My First Acting Book by Kristen Dabrowski

Yesterday for Halloween my nephew Alex was a Mime. He went door to door and performed a 3 minute routine before he asked for candy. I thought it was great and so did all of the people he performed for. I know so many children who love to perform that I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about some acting books. I couldn't think of any books for kids on being a Mime but I found two great books that would be perfect for the young thespians in your life.

My First Acting Book: Acting Techniques for Beginners by Kristen Dabrowski is part of a series of acting titles from the publishers Smith & Kraus. This publisher is in the acting business and primarily publishes books on acting not just for children but for adults as well. This is their newest title for kids. It is written for younger children about 4-8.

Break A Leg!: The Kids Guide to Acting and Stagecraft by Lisa Friedman & Mary Dowdle is for the older child around 9-12 (although I suspect it would be great for some teens & adults). This is an older title but still quite relevant and is a wonderful introduction into acting and stagecraft. I took a Stagecraft course in college and thought it was really interesting. Not that I act or anything but I was always interested in the behind the scenes of the acting and performing world.

So many children could benefit from these books or books like them if only to help them with their self esteem and presentation skills. I hope you think so too!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween! I am so glad I get to post today~I have been away most Saturdays and haven't been able to write anything. I used to love Halloween as a kid. We used to go all over the neighborhood knocking on doors. We would be so tired at night we could barely eat the candy we brought home. For the past week I have written about different books that would be great to read to kids for the big day. I thought I would just add some more that you might be interested in getting and reading to your kids.

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Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman -- Fun story about a witch who wants to make a pumpkin pie!

Scary, Scary, Halloween by Eve Bunting--a sweet introduction to Halloween with a surprise ending.

Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa--great book to read to get the kids moving and laughing!

Room On the Broom by Julia Donaldson--great read aloud!

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So have a Happy and Spooky Halloween!!!!!

Horror Anthologies: Half Minute Horrors edited by Susan Rich

OK so tomorrow is Halloween! I thought I would give a list of books that have short stories in them that would be great to read at a Halloween party. I was recently privy to a discussion about anthologies and whether or not they sell. I totally believe that it is a niche market and depends on the subject matter. I think anthologies are great for kids too especially if there is a theme about them.

The newest "horror" anthology that I think gets it right is called Half Minute Horrors edited by Susan Rich with contributions from great authors & illustrators such as Jon Scieskza, Lane Smith, Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, Holly Black as many others. It is also nice because it is giving it's royalties to the First Book the non-profit organization that gives books to needy children. I think that is really great!

Some kids like things short and sweet. Sometimes when it is hard to get kids to read, short stories are a great compromise because when they finish a story they have a sense of accomplishment.

Here is a list of some other scary anthologies:

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz; illus by Stephen Gammell

Newbery Halloween: A Dozen Scary Stories by Newbery Award Winning Authors edited by Martin H. Greenberg

Beware: R.L. Stine Picks His Favorite Scary Stories by R.L. Stine

Enjoy and have a great Halloween!