Reference Sunday: Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs by Marcia Williams

I can't believe the holiday season is upon us.   It has already been a busy few weeks.   Hopefully I will be able to post some great gift ideas for the children in your lives....starting with something I would have wanted as a gift when I a kid.

Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs written and illustrated by Marcia Williams is a wonderfully illustrated book retelling nine stories of Ancient Egypt.  I am not usually a person who likes comic strip type storytelling but this one works for me.   I think it is because the illustrations remind me of hieroglyphics,  which is a very appropriate way to tell stories about Ancient Egypt.  It is a very accessible and fun way to learn history.   Like I said I would have loved to get this as a gift when I was young....(oh who am I kidding I would love it now!)

Flashback Tuesday: Mary Poppins in the Kitchen by P.L. Travers

According to Anita Silvey's Book a Day Almanac it has been 85 years since Mary Poppins first came on the scene.   

When I was a little girl I got for Christmas one year my one and only Mary Poppins book.  

Mary Poppins in the Kitchen A Cookery Book with a Story by P.L Travers, illustrations by Mary Shepard and Culinary Consultant Maurice Moore-Betty is  one of my favorite childhood books .   I only knew Mary Poppins from the movie so when I got the book I was intrigued to read that there were more children and that Mary Poppins was actually a part of the household for more than a couple of days.   I loved reading the story and reading the recipes.   I can still see myself making the roast chicken with the help of my Mother.  I still have my copy with food stains all over it and my Mother's handwriting where she had inscribed it with my name and year of the gift.   It is something I will always treasure.   

It is actually a great little cookbook....the recipes aren't hard and the story is sweet.   I perfect little gift to share.   

Reference Sunday: This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore illust by Megan Lloyd

This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore and illustrated by Megan Lloyd is a perfect way to get a child ready for  Thanksgiving.   While it isn't necessarily a reference book, it does tell the story of the pilgrims from the time they step on the Mayflower to the first harvest in their new land.  It is written in verse so it is easy to understand and the illustrations really capture the hardships and joys of these adventurous people.   This is a must have book for the child who is just starting to understand what Thanksgiving is all about.  

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Thanksgiving is two weeks from today.   It seems like the years are going by so fast.   When I was a kid I loved watching the Thanksgiving day parade...the balloons always amazed me.   On my bucket list is going to seeing the balloons inflated the night before Thanksgiving.   This seems more exciting then the parade itself.

Balloons Over Broadway written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet tells the story of Tony Sarg a German immigrant who was also a puppeteer who worked for Macy's in NYC and decorated their windows.   When the annual parade decided to take out the live animals that were usually in the parade, Mr Sarg developed the idea of using balloons.   This is a special book with wonderfully rich illustrations that is a great way to get into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit.    I wish I had this book when I was a kid because I always wondered who got the idea to make these huge and incredible balloons. This is a great picture book biography that is totally easy to read.   I have always been a fan of Melissa Sweet's illustrations and this book is no exception.   A truly must have Thanksgiving story book that should be read every year.

Happy Birthday Bette Bao Lord!

It has been a while since I posted....freak October snowstorms can certainly throw off anyone's timing.  

Today is Bette Bao Lord's birthday....so many know her from her book In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson  which is wonderful but not the book I think of when I hear her name.

When I was young and had started reading voraciously I would grab any book that we had on our bookshelves.   One day I discovered a book that was my sister Ann's and was mesmerized by it.   It was Bette Bao Lord's first book as told to her by her sister Sansan called Eighth Moon: The True Story of a Young Girl's Life in Communist China.   I loved this book, I didn't really understand communism I just knew that it was about a beautiful little girl who got left behind and the struggles that she had.   I loved Sansan and always wondered (and still do) what happened to her.   I know that the book is basically out of print  but I think it should be back in print. It still has lessons to teach the world today.  Every student who is learning about China and communism should be required to read it.   It would also make a great companion piece to In the Year of the Boar so that children can see the juxtaposition of two sisters and how different their lives were.   Eighth Moon is one of my fondest book memories....

Tucker's Spooky Halloween by Leslie McGuirk

I can't believe that I am just discovering these cute books by Leslie McGuirk.  Tucker is the most adorable little character who should be seen by everyone.   In this really fun Halloween book, Tucker's Spooky Halloween, Ms McGuirk treats us to the wonderful idea that a dog can decide what he wants to dress up as.   This is so funny because I just read an article about how pet costumes are almost as prolific as kid costumes for Halloween.   I know so many dog owners who dress up their pets that I have always wondered how the pet feels being dressed in costume.   This is a great book for the pet lover in your life not just a great read aloud for children.   I look forward to writing more about Leslie McGuirk's books....she is a wonderful storyteller and illustrator.  

Flashback Tuesday: The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift illus by Lynd Ward

In honor of the George Washington Bridge's 80th birthday I thought I would recommend a favorite book from childhood.  

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift and illustrated by Lynd Ward is a classic book from 1942 that tells of a little lighthouse that was built before the GWB was even thought of.  When the bridge comes along it overshadows the little lighthouse but in the end the lighthouse saves the day.   It is based on a real lighthouse that can still be seen below the great bridge.   When I was little we used to take the GWB to my Grandmother's house in NYC.   I remember trying to strain my eyes to see if I could see the Little Red Lighthouse....for visitors to NYC this would be a great unique place to try and find and see.....a true piece of Americana.   Click on the link above to find visitor information....before you go make sure you and your children read the book...it is inspirational and heartwarming.