Seashore Baby by Elise Broach illus Cori Doerrfeld

It has been really warm the past few days and I have really wished I could go to the beach.   I found the cutest little board book the other day that reminded me of my nephews and niece playing on the beach.  

Seashore Baby by Elise Broach and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld is one of the sweetest board book I have seen in a long time.   It is perfect to take to the shore with our littlest friends.   It in a great interactive book because it has large lift-the-flaps that are quite fun.   A great new board book with wonderful illustrations that will be read again and again.

Flashback Tuesday: Children Just Like Me by Anabel & Barnabas Kindersley

Today is International Children's Day I thought I would suggest a great book for kids to learn about children around the world.

Children Just Like Me by Anabel & Barnabas Kindersley which is published by DK Publishing is a really wonderful book .   It shows, through photographs, how children live around the world.   It is the kind of book that shows children how they are different and yet the same as each other.   There is a new documentary out in the theaters now called Babies which reminded me of this book.   This is a must have book for children to read and understand.

Reference Sunday: Memorial Day!

Today is actually Memorial Day even though it is celebrated tomorrow.   There are lots of parades and barbecues planned for a day that is set aside to remind us of the men and women who gave their lives to make sure we can live in peace.   To that end I would like to recommend some books that are a great way to explain to children that we don't celebrate this day lightly or for a day off but that it has real meaning and purpose.

The Wall by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ronald Himler is a beautiful book about a father taking his son to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.   I have never seen this memorial in person but have been told by many that it is awe inspiring experience to visit.   This is for ages 4-8 but I think all ages can something from this beautifully written story.

Memorial Day by Jacqueline S. Cotton is part of the Rookie Reader Series from Children's Press and it is a great introduction to this special day.  It has lots of photographs that show what this day is all about.

Here is to all the men and women who gave their lives so we have the right to live as we wish.  Happy Memorial Day!

Burger Boy by Alan Durant illus Mei Matsuoka

Apparently yesterday was National Hamburger Day~sadly I only found it out today.   But I also discovered that May is National Hamburger Month so I haven't really missed it.   Since it is also the Memorial Day weekend which is the unofficial start of summer I thought I would recommend a really cute book first published in the US a few years ago.


Burger Boy by Alan Durant and illustrated by Mei Matsuoka is a really great read aloud about a little boy who will only eat hamburgers.   The writing style is perfect for story time and the illustrations are really kid friendly.   I wish I had this book when I used to do books about food during story time.   I also wish I had this book for my nephews when they were younger~they were really picky eaters.   It is a great take off of the classic story of the Gingerbread Boy but even sillier.    Perfect book for the start of the barbecue season.     Enjoy!

Harry and Horsie by Katie Van Camp illus Lincoln Agnew

Last night I participated in the weekly kidlit chat on Twitter.  During the chat a discussion came up about covers on books.   I said that sometimes the cover doesn't matter especially since I had read plenty of books, usually young readers, before there was cover art or while they were in galley form.   That being said I do know that covers need to be good for a book to be picked up and looked at in the first place....especially picture books.   Which brings me to today's pick.

Harry and Horsie by Katie Van Camp and illustrated by Lincoln Agnew immediately caught my eye because the cover had such a retro 1950's look.   I was drawn to it and quickly picked it up to read.   I loved it ~ the story was so sweet and imaginative that I felt it was a perfect bedtime book.   I could see myself reading it at story time and it being a great conversation book with kids.  I think this is a wonderful book for any child's bookshelf....

Flashback Tuesday: Rap A Tap Tap by Leo & Diane Dillon

Today is the birth anniversary of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson the celebrated tap dancer immortalized in the famous folk song "Mr Bojangles".   This was always one of my brother Michael's favorite songs.   Whenever I hear it I think of him.  Bill Robinson was a an incredibly generous man who sadly died destitute.  He brought joy to so many that would be a shame not to remember him on his birthday.


Rap A Tap Tap by the Dillons is beautifully illustrated book that received a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and it is a remembrance and homage to an important figure in American cultural history.   The fans of the Dillons will appreciate the artwork as they are always brilliant.  This is a great introduction to early American music.  

Reference Sunday: The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull Illus by Greg Couch

I know it will be hard to believe that a person who writes a book blog and has worked in books all her life was known as the "TV Kid" when she was little.   Even today if a TV question comes up my family usually defers to me.  I have always loved television.   To me television is an extension of books~just don't tell my library friends that.  I have always been about "the story".   I love a good story with good characters.  The difference between books and television in my mind is that with TV I can just let the story move over me....with no work on my part.  A good engrossing TV show relaxes me like a good cup of tea.  When I read a book I am actually being more active and present and it as invigorating as exercise.

When I was young books and TV were my constant companions....when I got tired of sitting around the house I would go out and "play"---which usually meant just bringing a book outside and reading.   I still love both activities.   Take tonight for instance, I cannot go anywhere because it is the series finale of "Lost". "Lost" is an example of good storytelling with great characters.  I have been known to stick with a TV show even if I know the writing isn't up to par because I like the concept or the characters....it is like when I read a book and get a connection to the story than it sticks with me.

I always wondered when I was young who invented TV....I tried to find the answer  but  there never was a definitive one.   Years later I did find the name "Philo Farnsworth" but still couldn't find much information about him.  Just the other day I saw this great picture book by the prolific author Kathleen Krull and finally all my questions were answered.

The Boy Who Invented TV  by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Greg Couch is a great picture book biography that explains how an inquisitive little boy who loved all things mechanical pretty much changed the world.   It shows kids what the world was like before television came into being and how the world lived.   I know that not all of television is wonderful and I think we do watch too much of it....but in moderation it can be a marvelous thing.   The illustrations are great too ---I love the color scheme.  I also love the fact that the illustrators name is "Couch"~ if you get my meaning~.

This is a great book for all the inquisitive minds out in the world....a must have,  at least for me!