The Umbrella Queen

High in the hills of Thailand is where I want to be. And not just because The Bachelor went there to woo his ladies, and it was beautiful. But because Noot lives there. In this story a little girl joins in the tradition of painting umbrellas. One day she brings a new perspective. I love this book. I picked it up off the shelf and it surprised me. A plot unlike any other. I am trying to remember the words of my mother at the moment. "Don't be a puddleglum." And besides it is not everyday your daughter's best friend turns five. A reason to celebrate indeed. Of course we are giving her Little House in the Big Woods. Accompanied by garden fairy watercolors. Question. Do you give paperback books as gifts? This might be my first and I am feeling a little ashamed.

Spring is near. A shelf of good tidings makes me happy.

Yesterday, Alvin Ho was adopted into our family for good. A delightful boy is he.

Someday

And someday I will remember to take the softened butter out of the oven before turning it on. This book brought me way back. How Charlotte Zolotow can so precisely express the desires and longings of person-hood we will never know. "Someday, I'm going to go to dancing class and Miss Bird will say, "Ellen is doing it just right. Everybody watch her." The illustations by Arnold Lobel are heartwrenching. As I cleaned up the half pound of butter melted into the bottom of my stove,  I was comforted by Ellen's hope that we all just want to do something right.  First published in 1965, nothing much has changed.

Thanksgiving with Me

As soon as the calendar hits November, I am racing to the library catalog to request this book!  Come to think of it, this actually might be the year that I purchase a copy for our home. I believe it is high time. Nothing warms the heart more than listening to the girl in this story yearn for confirmation that her uncles will indeed be arriving for Thanksgiving.  Her mother is patient and kind.  They wait at the window sill while mom reminisces and tells stories about gatherings of yore.  Margaret Willey brings us this treasure, with illustrations by Lloyd Bloom. The story is written in verse, and it is hard to keep your toes from tapping.  Festive in every way is what I say.

This Monday I am reading Thanksgiving With Me to Fiona's preschool class. I can not wait to see the look on their faces.  It is a truly captivating account of an American dream holiday. Love, Emily

PS. Margaret Willey's works keep on going. She is also the creator of Clever Beatrice.  
These are must discovers.www.margaretwilley.com

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.

My Travelin' Eye

Maybe its because of the blood, sweat, and tears I endured during childhood eye exams, but my heart melted upon reading My Travelin' Eye.  Cleverly written and beautifully illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw, this story is a moving, lighthearted, and refreshing testimony of a child who was told her eye was "lazy." This is a perfect book for the non-visually challenged to understand what life can be like, and equally perfect for those who have been there done that.

The opening line of the story grabs the reader, if not startles. 

 "When I was born, I came out looking both ways." 

As Jenny grows bigger she never quite understands why her eye is considered a problem. Her right eye is simply the navigator, and her travelin' eye is the artist.

However upon entering school, she is told her eye needs to be fixed.

Told with humorous honesty, Jenny Sue reminds us that we are all created differently.  And who doesn't need that?
Thank you, Jenny Sue!

I Know Here

I Know Here quiets.  If you have ever moved or been moved, if you have ever arrived at a new destination with pictures of old sewn in your mind, this book is a must read. Winner of the 2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, first time author Laurel Croza and illustrator Matt James hush the reader with beautiful words and bright, imaginative pictures.

The little girl in this story finds out that she is moving, and soon.  The dam her father has been building is nearly finished and at the end of the summer they will be off. Her mind turns, stops, and turns again as she reflects on all the things that she has seen and experienced living right here in Saskatchewan, Canada.

We follow the girl as she traces back memories and images that she knows, has seen, and wants to take with her.

With the help of her teacher, our new friend finds a way to carry these precious things with her to Toronto.
A poignant story of beauty and familiarity. Thank you Laurel and Matt!

the Honest-to-Goodness Truth

When you find a favorite illustrator, often times following his or her trail can lead you to wonderful things.  Giselle Potter is one of those artists. She also wrote and illustrated Chloe's Birthday...and Me. Anything she touches is magic. 

I found the Honest-to-Goodness Truth on one of those rabbit trails and haven't stopped thinking of it.

Our heroine, Libby, is a girl who is learning what it means to tell the truth.  She lies to her mother for the first time and is determined to never let it happen again.  She sets out on a Sunday morning to mend her ways. 

 After two days honesty, Libby is confused. She has hurt people close to her and struggles to understand what it means to tell the truth no matter how much it hurts.

She explains her dilemma to her mother. Momma clarifies that "the honest-to-goodness truth is never wrong," sending Libby out on the path of reconciliation.

Patricia C. McKissack connects us to Libby and her world intimately and artfully.

This story is beautiful in every way.

Ginger

In honor of my niece, Naomi, who became a big sister this week, I want to tell you about an old favorite, Ginger. Myles loved(s) this book, and we would read it again and again when he was twoish. (He actually sat for a reading today.) When I first read it, it did not seem like a "new sibling" book. But after reading that category suggested in a review, Ginger definitely encounters her surroundings adjusted. 

Charlotte Voake does a marvelous job in describing the happy, simple life of Ginger, and how things can change on a dime.

 Children are brought to the edge of their seat when Ginger is forced to run away. 
Such an exhilarating and terrifying notion for a young person! 
Check this one out for an effortless read.

PS. For Ginger's life story read, Ginger Finds a Home, and Ginger and the Mystery Visitor. Also by C.V. is Mr. Davies and the Baby which is wonderful.

I Like Old Clothes

Deep Breath. I have just found a book that might blow your mind as it did mine. Its is called I Like Old Clothes. Yes, that is right, it's about hand-me-downs. For those who know me, understand that I am a consignment junkie. So to have stumbled across this title, I don't have the words. It is written by the amazing Mary Ann Hoberman, who brought us The Seven Silly Eaters. I had no idea she had been writing for this long! Apparently it was first published in 1976, WAY ahead of its time, and is now being re-released with illustrations beyond beautiful by Patrice Barton. Check it out!

It says, "The illustrations were created using pencil sketches and mixed media, assembled and painted digitally." Out of my league sister Patrice. You go girl.

The hand-me-downs featured would brighten anyone's day. Check out that school girl outfit fashion!

"I like to wonder what they've done, 

What games they've played

And if they won,

And if the parties turned out fun."

How sweet is that? Thank you Mary Ann for delighting us! And hats off to Patrice Barton, We are your newest biggest fans.

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!