The Last Dark Day of Winter

Winter is giving us his last attempt today. The weather is raw and unfeeling, allowing an excuse to hide away under a blanket.  I feel like I have been given a pink slip for being social.  My fresh bag of library books gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.  Now, I can conquer anything, even an eerily empty spring break week looming. This slightly creepy, yet lovely book came home with me today.  I feel like I have been let in on a secret.

When you move to a small town, Friday night gourmet takes on a whole new identity.  There is no Thai-hut  beckoning you to rest your weary culinary skills. So my version of picking myself up by my boot straps is sadly, frozen french fries. In some ways this depresses me. But in the face of nothing else better, I get giddy at the thought of my organic shoe strings. So that's where I will be, heating up my oven to 425.  Pouring some bubbly. Actually I am already there.  Maybe I will whip up some delicious homemade mayo?  Wait, that is an excellent idea!  James Joyce, you really had something there with stream of consciousness.  At least I think that was you.
Peace out.

Building Our House

I had no idea that this book would literally teach me how to build a house. I now feel like I could go out and buy the right tools and materials to build a structure that would provide shelter for living creatures. "The right tools for the right job." Jonathan Bean tells a heartwarming story of how a family builds a home in the country from the ground up. Would it be considered copyright infringement if I use the blue prints illustrated in this book? I showed this book to a friend and we both agreed that our favorite spot is the "coat corner."  Our house could certainly use one of these.  The narrative is excellent and told through the eyes of the big sister. It is so captivating and clear that it stunned Fiona into silence through the whole reading. Normally I cant get through one page without five questions. This was truly a joy to read and is great for all ages.

Twelve Kinds of Ice

The Christmas rush is upon us. And with it comes a complex dance of creating rich moments of tradition while savoring the season of expectation and celebration. This weekend after reading a thoughtful message about Advent, I was inspired to wait in a graceful way, and just say no to frantic preparations.  Despite my resolve, I ran to library to fetch this curious new title. I then ran home to read it.  But after sitting with Ellen Bryan Obed's Twelve Kinds of Ice, I was brought back to the spirit of peace, simplicity, and anticipation that I had committed myself to just hours earlier.  Beautifully illustrated by the talented Barbara McClintock, the prose of this book hushes and soothes and encourages a patient mind.  It tells a delightful story of how a family awaits perfect ice on a homemade skating rink in their backyard.  It is about hope and joy, and simple treasures that nature awards us with.  Absolutely beautiful.  A warm read for a cold night.

PS. Thank you to 7 things to do before breakfast, where I first saw this new title.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Helen Ward brings to life an old fable with beauty and more beauty.  The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is told with sophistication.  There is nothing trivial about the country mouse's dilema in this story. He had always been content, but could he trust that satisfaction?

  

Winter is coming and as his cousin, visiting from New York City, leaves the mud and frost behind for carpeted floors and a warm bed, the country mouse wonders what new comforts he might discover in the big city.

The watercolor illustrations astound as the reader is brought from the orchards of the field to a sumptuous holiday table.  

 

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse asks ageless questions about comfort and contentment.  And to top it all off the festive trimmings of New York City make it a perfect Christmas sampler, if you will.

Enjoy this step back  in time!

A Trip to the Bottom of the World

Toon books seem to be popping up everywhere, and I am officially a fan. We found a new great one called A Trip to the Bottom of the World.
Chock full of charm.

Myles picked it right up and proceeded to read it to his sister in one of those elusive magical moments I dream about. This lasted all of 4 minutes, (its a short one) and then poof, it was over. But atleast I can now cross that off the list!

The graphics are eye catching and unique.

Boy and Mouse even discover different species of penguins!

The size is great for car rides and would make your coffee table look totally hip. Now all I need to do is grab Frank Viva's first book, Along a Long Road.

Thank you, Mr. Viva for the thrill!

Lemonade in Winter

It is snowing outside. A mean wind is blowing. Icicles hang from the window sills. These are the conditions that inspire Pauline to create a lemonade stand.

I could not wait for this state of affairs to share this book with you. Emily Jenkins teamed up with G. Brian Karas to bring us the cleverest of tales in 

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money.

Pauline and her little brother John-John do indeed set up a lemonade stand on an empty street and what follows is delightful. 

This book would stand alone without the seamless arithmetic lessons woven in. But with them, it is in a category all on its own!

You have done it again Emily and Brian. Thank you :)

The Frank Show

Typically cynical opinions from children bother me. Especially in books. There are plenty of real life examples to go around. And that is what you encounter as you begin reading The Frank Show by David Mackintosh.  A boy is asked to talk about a member of his family for show-and-tell. Well, the only family member available to be showed and telled is Frank. Frank is "just a grandpa."  Frank reflects often about what things used to be like when you could hear yourself think. He misses the days when there weren't so many gizmos and gadgets, etc.

While Mr. Mackintosh is giving the absolute best grandpa illustrations, complete with vanilla ice cream cones and jars of pickled onion, the plot thickens. 

Turns out there is more to Grandpa Frank than meets the eye. Little grandson is captivated, along with the rest of the class as he learns of a new side of Frank.

This story is a delight and its illustrations are coffee table quality for any pair of eyes!

Thanks Melissa :)

Lovabye Dragon

 

Loneliness finds solace in this princess tale about a girl who longs for a dragon. The illustrations of  Randy Cecil are captivating, while Barbara Joose's creation of new words make the best kind of rhymes.  The friendship begins only after the princess's trail of tears steam across the countryside and into the dragons cave. Absolutely charming.

This is truly a princess story worth reading. The pace is quick in a wonderful way, as the reader skips rhythmically through the pages. I would like to meet the bouncy toddler who cannot not sit through this one!

And apparently Fiona has had enough of the photo shoot.

Enjoy!