The Evil Garden by Edward Gorey

Today is my friend Lindsay's birthday.   I haven't seen her in awhile but we keep in touch through email.   When I saw today's book I thought of her immediately.   She has always loved Edward Gorey and anything macabre.  When we worked together she had the Edward Gorey alphabet poster on our wall in the back room.   She thought it was appropriate because she worked off the children's section and well "it was an alphabet poster"....

The Evil Garden by Edward Gorey has been reissued as a children's book, albeit a book meant for an older child ages 9-12.   At first I didn't think it was for children but realized that it is a sort of nursery rhyme that only Edward Gorey could write.   I think it is a great book for an older child...especially the child who likes all things morbid or gruesome.  It is actually a fun sort of story in a frightful way.   It is also a great gift for a grown up in your life who is like my friend....oh and it is also perfect for her because she is quite the gardener too!   Dare I say "enjoy'~

When Bob Met Woody by Gary Golio illustrated by Marc Burckhardt

I have mentioned before my love of music.   Growing up I was exposed to many different kinds of music.  I like anything from Classical to Pop....and everything in between even a bit of Heavy Metal.   My parents always had the classical music station playing in the background.  Every Saturday night we would listen to a music program called "Woody's Children" ---  a homage to Woody Guthrie and folk music.  I was also aware of Bob Dylan....I have older siblings who loved listened to him.   I learned at an early age that Bob Dylan's real name is "Robert Zimmerman" and that he chose Dylan as his stage name because of the poet Dylan Thomas----my sister the writer told me that.   It did surprise me to learn that Bob Dylan just turned 70 years old, I missed his birthday last week.   Since then I have come across a great picture book biography that details Bob Dylan's early life and his meeting with the iconic Woody Guthrie.

When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan by Gary Golio and illustrated by Marc Burckhardt is a picture book biography for older children to read and learn about a music icon.   I think it would also be a great book for the music lover in your life no matter what age.   I would give it to a child who is musically inclined along with some Cd's of both Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie songs.  For that matter it would make a great family gift too.   It is beautifully told with illustrations that perfectly match the character of the story.  

Oh and Happy Belated Birthday wishes to Bob Dylan!

Flashback Tuesday: Dinosaur Roar! by Paul & Henrietta Stickland

Yesterday I finally fulfilled a birthday promise to my nephew Michael V.   I had promised to take him into NYC ----ride in a cab, buy him lunch and most importantly take him to the American Museum of Natural History.   It turned out to be a really fun day.    We saw lots of different exhibits  but one of the main things was the fourth floor filled with dinosaurs.  It was the most crowded exhibit and one of the most impressive, even for me---a grown up.   It was also where all the little kids seemed to gravitate towards.   There are many books that I could talk about but today I wanted to highlight one of my favorites.


Dinosaur Roar! by Paul and Henrietta Stickland is not really a book about dinosaurs but about teaching children about opposites.   The wonderful thing about the book is that it gives a child characters that they love, i.e: dinosaurs and pairs them with sounds rhymes.    This is a way to teach children.   It is a colorful book that is fun to read aloud, especially in a story time setting.   This is a classic book that never goes out of style.  Perfect for the little dinosaur in your life....


(Oh and check back soon for my picks and recommendations of some great dinosaur books for kids. )

Reference Sunday: Happy Memorial Day!

Tomorrow is actually Memorial Day ....May 30th was also the original day we celebrated until it was moved to the last Monday in May.   I also never knew that Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day and has been celebrated since the Civil War.   I like the idea of "Decoration Day"  ----I think it is wonderful that so many people go out and put flags on the graves of all who have served in our military.  

Last year I recommended two books that show children the importance of this special holiday.   It is not just a day to play.   Here is my post from Memorial Day 2010 as a reminder.   Today I am suggesting 2 more books that would also be a great way to explain this holiday to children.

Stars and Stripes Celebrate Memorial Day by Madeline Collins is a book for younger children that explains the holiday in a simplified way, delving into it's history and traditions.   I love the fact that the author wrote this as a Girls Scout project and that the proceeds are donated to the Bob Woodruff Foundation which helps  wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

America's White Table by Margot Theis  Raven and illustrated by Mike Benny is a beautifully illustrated story that deals with honoring those who have served and died for their country.   A moving picture book that really cuts to the heart of what Memorial Day is all about.

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Let's not forget what this holiday is all about....please join me tomorrow and take a moment to remember the men and women who gave their lives fighting for our country...let them never be forgotten.

Helping Children Deal with Trauma

Yesterday I spent all day at Book Expo in NYC.   I had forgotten how nice it is to talk about books all day with other people who love them.   While I was there I came across a publisher of self help books for children.   I was very interested in this subject.   There has been so much horrible news of late that I have been wondering how children are dealing with it.   If the images from the floods and tornados are making me cry than I am sure it is affecting them too.   I have wanted to recommend some books that would help children deal with natural disasters, sadness or trauma but hadn't been able to find books I liked.   Luckily I stumbled across Magination Press and found they have the perfect books to deal with just these situations.  

A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes and illustrated by Cary Pillo is described as "a story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma".   The book is written in a language children can understand with a character they can relate to.   Because it doesn't say specifically what the child witnessed, it can be used for any type of situation.  Which makes it more universal.

Jenny is Scared When Sad Things Happen in the World by Carol Shuman, PhD and illustrated by Cary Pillo is also a perfect book to help children deal with what they see on television.   We can try to hide the images but kids have a way of noticing things we don't want them too.  

I'll Know What to Do A Kid's Guide to Natural Disasters by Bonnie S. Mark PhD and Aviva Layton with illustrations by Michael Chesworth  is book that not only deals with facts about hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes etc but it also talks about the feelings and emotions these natural disasters can incur.   This is for an older child but I think younger children can also get some good information from it.


I hope these suggestions can help a child deal with the world and events going on today~

Flashback Tuesday: Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone illus by Ted Lewin

Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa Bartone and beautifully illustrated by Ted Lewin is a wonderful immigration story that takes place in the early days of the 20th century.  This book always reminded me of my Dad's family.   Well actually both my parent's families.  I was reminded of this book at a family wedding this weekend.  Talking to my cousins made me think of all the times I visited Greenwich Village growing up.   My father's family settled in NY at around the same time this book takes place. My Mom's family also started out in this same area before moving to Brooklyn when my Mom was a very young.   Plus I always liked that Peppe had 8 sisters while my Mom had six girls in her family.  This book is a nice way to teach children about living in a time before electricity, when the nights were lit up by gas lamps that gave a hazy glow.  

Flashback Tuesday: Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet & Allan Ahlberg

Before I ever started working in bookstores I worked in a library.   Even then I loved working in the children's section.   I liked to shelve in the picture book section because I got to read the books before I shelved them.   This is probably where I discovered my love of fractured fairy tales or in this case nursery rhymes.

Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg was a book I discovered while shelving in the library.   I liked the rhymes and sweet illustrations plus it was fun to play the "I Spy" aspect of the book.   This book stands the test of time....it is a classic book that should be on every child's bookshelf.