Bus Route to Boston

Back to Boston where the streets were quiet.

For time with cousins and Italian food and solidarity.

And to retrace the steps of one of our favorite books.

They order 4 cannoli from Rosina. One is for the bus driver. It is priceless.  Given to me more than 10 years ago, I treasure this story.  Always inscribe your gifts, people.  Seeing her script, I cannot put it into words.

Robin, Where Are You?

I have a mild bird obsession. Our new home will not be complete until we have mom and pop cardinal living in the yard. My dream of being able to hear a bird's song and identify the breed without straining too hard will never die. Currently the list is pretty short, with seagulls and crows at the top, but my hope was renewed by Harriet Ziefert's book out called, Robin, Where Are You? It is a perfect beginner's guide to bird watching and lightly follows the story of a girl and her grandfather on a patient search of a robin. The art by Noah Woods is outstanding, and the facts are lovely little nuggets that can be tucked away. For example, this book taught me that a mourning dove got its name from its "mournful" call, not because it wakes early in the "morning." I always thought it was a "morning" dove. Whoops. It is also full of bright and colorful flaps that are turned to reveal a shy wood thrush or a noisy blue jay along the way. A great book for this time of year, as we eagerly await Robin Redbreast and his sign of Spring.

Lizzy and Skunk

The more I read good children's books, the more I learn about myself and what resonates with my soul. I do know one thing for sure, is that fear tends to be a theme in my life.  Sometimes I do not realize how many fears I actually do have until I feel my anxiety blasting off the charts over some small interference. Sweating the small stuff, has always been a skill of mine.  So when I find a quality kids book that deals with fear, I hang on for dear life.  Lizzy and Skunk is the perfect read to comfort any human's frail and humble state. I have been championing Marie Louise Fitzpatrick's book for years now, and I always whip it out, when I need some warmth. In fact yesterday, I read it to the lunch group at Fiona's preschool. They were cheering Skunk on too, by the end.  Her watercolors are breathtaking, and the bright, red, poppies on the last page always remind me of my mother. 

Annie and Helen

There simply cannot be enough books about Helen Keller.  I was captivated by this new one; held hostage by it in my local book store, turning its pages as if I had just met these two important characters of history for the very first time.  Deborah Hopkinson, whose non-fiction wonders never cease, teamed up with Raul Colon, to bring us a fresh look at this most extraordinary friendship.  She makes the tale of Helen and her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy accessible to young readers and brings new wonder to those long familiar with the story.  What genius, to entwine vivid excerpts from real letters Anne wrote home to a friend, with a narrative explaining what life was like for young Helen.  The story closes with a script of Helen's first letter home to her mother while away on a trip with Teacher. She was seven years old.  Reading it is like bearing witness to a miracle.      

A Quiet Place

I had one of those picture book moments last week in the midst of the Christmas wait. I was doing a not so great job at stiffling some inner rage. Everyone was hungry, but the thought of heading to the kitchen to whip something up sounded tortuous. I wanted to run out the door and keep going. Somehow, instead of flinging objects against the wall, I plopped myself down on the couch. A moment later, Fiona dropped this book in my lap. It had been on our shelf for weeks now, but I had had no desire to read it. The Horn Book Magazine reviewed it recently so I knew it was a story written in the same vein as Sarah Stewart's award winning book, The Gardener, but I was still very apathetic about opening it up. As I began to read my anger melted away. I could have just as easily been sitting in my shrink's office crying out my feelings of injustice and hurt, but instead The Quiet Place soothed my soul without the hassle and commute. The publishers rightly label it as a book about homesickness. Young Isabel moves to the midwest from Mexico. She turns to her big brother, her auntie, and her "quiet place" to ease her loneliness and regain familiarity. After my own dear mother died there is a part of me that never feels completely at home. Isabel's letters brought tears to my eyes as I read of a similar type heartache and loss. By the end, Myles had abandoned his activity and was piled on the sofa with us listening to the climactic and joyful end to Isabel's story. This book was exactly what we needed.

Meet Alfie

Today was a chicken soup day. Our family needed a little extra warmth and comfort. It was freezing here. Did I make chicken soup? No. The closest I got was a stack of Shirley Hughes books. These stories are therapy. Hughes casts her magic wand and turns ordinary mundane events into a time of wonder. Mum is always loosing her keys. Baby sister Annie Rose is throwing a tantrum. Brother Alfie takes courageous steps to lend a hand to a 

sad friend at a birthday party.

 

Below is a picture of one of my favorites, An Evening at Alfie's. I think it ranks up there because it involves the parents leaving for a party. :) Shortly after, a pipe bursts and loyal neighbors save the day. Amazing.

PS. The lamb in the photograph bears a striking resemblance to 

Buttercup, Annie Rose's faithful friend.

Weekend at the Quimby's

Good Morning.  We spent the weekend with Ramona. Her problems loom as large as ours. The wind was cold and the sky was gray this morning. Myles cried on his walk to school, longing for the familiarity of old.  He still feels like the new kid.  This summer our family moved from Boston to a coastal town on the south shore of Massachusetts.  

I just hope he doesn't crumple up someone's paper bag owl.

South

Wordless books can be tough. When the creative juices are not flowing, it exhausts me to come up with my own material. However, I do not want this to be true! Because they can be so deeply lovely! South is a reason to fight through. It is sweet, beautiful, and true.

Creator of the award winning comic strip Mutts, Patrick McDonnell introduces us to a little birdie, who snoozed through the departure of his flock for South.

Mooch the Cat happens to walk by and finds the bird alone and alarmed. A duo is then formed as they venture upon a quest to reunite Little Birdie with his flock. 

Through thick and thin, the two travel and do not relent until mission is complete.

"Sometimes it takes a friend to help you find your way."

This is a perfect book for fall.

:) Thanks Mooch.