Fly Away Home

Inside Outside

Does it look like I tossed this book into a bush? Because that is exactly what I did. A little desperate for the fading summer sun to show you this title tonight. It is so very lovely.  Things around here have been moving at an accelerated pace.  Finally summer came to us.  Certain moments have felt frantic, while others, satisfyingly full. Tomorrow we leave for Maine to stay in a borrowed home. It is humbling to be the recipient of undeserved generosity. Thank you can only be said so many times. We will try to leave nothing but footprints (outside) and perhaps an over-sized bar of soap.

Water in the Park, Water in my Heart

Have you seen Emily Jenkins' new book floating around your library yet? It is quite fun and fitting for the impending summer, and the illustrations are irresistible.

 To combat our heatwave we picked up a wonderfully weighty watermelon. Duh. And some dear friends.  It is always nice to sweat it out in good company.  The kids played in the waves and we couldn't cut the melon fast enough. Seven years old Myles at the beach is way different that six years old Myles. He runs into the surf with a confidence that I never thought he would have. Way to believe, mom.

Please Don't Tease Tootsie

My grandfather's hands are strong and gentle. He encloses his fingers around a sparrow as it struggles to loose itself.  The wild flapping does not unsettle him. He is calm with the knowledge that in a moment the bird will fly again.
---------------------------
Early today, Myles reminded me of this rescue.  He saw compassion and bravery, and I imagine he will always remember it.  And then during an errand, I found a book of poems by Calef Brown in a clearance bin. 

The mark of our intelligence
is how we treat the elephants.

To conclude my PETA moment:  Yesterday I picked this favorite for my niece who is learning to play kindly with our dog, Gracie.  With charm, wit, and warmth, Chamberlain shows her young readers how to love treasured pets.

Mindy on My Mind (and other concerns)

I have got Mindy on the brain. I bought a copy of, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) at the airport and now my other life responsibilities are making me grumpy because all I want to do is finish my book.  I am horrible at striking the book/life balance.  A couple of friends and I are reading it together, so when I am not reading it, I am texting them my favorite lines. And I am trying to sound like Mindy in my texts. Its actually pretty fun. However the fun ended when I popped in on Myles' class to observe a docent art presentation.  I made a Mindy joke to his teacher, trying to be funny.  But she didn't get it.  And now that I think about it, it was not funny, and I feel bad.

The other thing I am depressed about is my library fine. I have a speech prepared to draw compassion out of one of my many librarian friends, so that they might waive it on the grounds of my friendly smile and flattery.  Atleast I think they are my friends.  Right now it is at $8.92.  Normally this would not phase me. I have paid many library fines, routinely and happily. A few months ago I handed my debit card over to pay 27.52 for a lost book and some overdue expenses. I could feel the horrified stares of the patrons waiting in line behind me as my fine was announced, (a little too loudly I might add.) But I held my head high and smiled proudly to show that I was not troubled and happy to finance future library improvements.  But lately it has been a little out of control, and I cant stay on top of it. Please have compassion at me! I'm so nice to you.  "Delinquent User" is highlighted in red next to my name on my account page, and I am tired of it.
The main culprits:

By the way, if there is a child in your life turning three anytime soon, this one could be a very sweet gift. 

Both of these are books I really want to read, but it just might not be a possible feat for 2013.  So sadly they must go back, unread.  However I feel like the fines these titles accrued have brought us closer together.  In my mind that counts for something.  And yes, that is the Shirley Hughes who brought us, Alfie.  One Day, I hope.

When You Were Small

Did anyone else get this lovely piece of mail this weekend? I watched it come in through the door and go straight into the kitchen trash.  I dashed over to rescue it, and after some careful cleansing wipes I settled down and became even more conflicted about this store named Target. Some days I swear, I will never enter it again. Other days, I dream about its ottomans.  And then, I imagine every remaining independent retailer going up in smoke as a result of this beast.  Maybe I should just do some heavy duty research and figure out the true collateral damage. Maybe there isn't any? Maybe the new designs really are from heaven? Something inside me says no, but the coupon that came beautifully glued to the back is currently burning a hole in my pocket.

Easter Monday became an official family holiday yesterday. Everyone was exhausted from the weekend festivities and it felt nice be home and quiet.  We found this lovely pair of books. Beautiful and imaginative.

And then, a quick rain shower came early in the evening and left us a rainbow.   A couple years ago Fiona was convinced that rainbows were only pretend, having never seen one.  Ever since then I have been on a mission to prove their existence. This one was beyond our imagination. Huge and giant, blasting out of the sea.  It was a rare moment of wonder.  After a mad frenzy to put on clothes, (Fiona was in the middle of a wardrobe change) and sprinting down to the ocean wall, we were able to snap a picture.

Say it with Beatrix Potter

I can think of little that pairs better with springtime than Beatrix Potter. So quaint and sweet. The perfect size to fit snugly in a toddlers hand.  Every time I read these, I discover something new and ingenious that I had never before noticed. When I asked my niece a question about Peter Rabbit last week, she told me with wide eyes filled with sympathy, "He fell down."  The pear tree of course, into Mr. McGregors garden.  The garden bed below was soft, but still.  A true horror to behold.  Some part of my dark side comes out when I read accounts of Mr. McGregor.  I love seeing children hide their eyes as he peers around the edge of a cucumber frame and start chasing after Peter. A child's first villain.  The most wholesome kind of fear, that makes one sigh with contented relief as Peter safely flops down upon the nice soft sand of his rabbit hole. It makes one so glad to have a home. Growing up we would receive one of these treasures in our Easter basket.  I think they make the perfect gift for any occasion really.

My list is bursting at the seams, that I can hardly bear it. But yesterday when I found these paper dolls, something told me things were going to turn out all right. Being overly sentimental can serve a person well, about one out of ten times.  The rest seem to set me up for disappointment. But this was one of those times.  And now off to find the perfect first course for Sunday.

My kind friend, Carter Higgins allowed me to guest post on her lovely blog, Design of the Picture Book. Check it out here!

Weekend Supplies

1. I'm flying solo tonight.  My lonesome is looking brighter with the latest Domino in hand.
2. Early Easter present from Gramma. Thank you!
3. Our hardware store stocks seeds... and Schleich toy figures.  I couldn't resist.
4. Old school find at Myles' school library. New to me.

Audible sigh. Here we go!
Emily

 

Where's Knuffle Bunny?

Her favorite page.

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

Speaking of funny. This book is hilarious. I found it yesterday with a friend during a story and snack thing at a library a couple of towns over.  The rumor was that Whole Foods was catering the refreshments. For some reason I had convinced myself that it was going to be one step down from a cocktail party.  These fantasies have never served me well.  It ended up being goldfish and juice boxes. The upside was we had a good time with friends, and the librarian was kind.  That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown involves a queen who hopes for a shortcut to happiness. Don't we all.

The Fox and the Hen

I do not have an easy laugh. Most of the time, even when I find something genuinely funny you will hear my fake laugh. It is a lot of work to produce and I feel tired after.  This book is funny. I fake laughed through it but for those of you who laughing comes easier for, you might actually sincerely laugh out loud.  Cousins were captivated and Myles chuckled at several points. Sadly, I think he might have inherited my humor reflexes.  Yesterday he asked me if I thought he was funny. And I said yes, that I did. Sometimes he can truly make me laugh. Like when he said the food was so good at the China Pearl that he almost fainted. That was the example I gave him. I hope he continues in his quest for humor. I believe it is an honorable skill. My quote of the week comes from Lady Violet. "Vulgarity is no substitute for wit."  Currently very relevant in our home.

Apple Pie ABC

February, you gave us Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens. You gave us Susan B. Anthony and Jennifer Anniston, (bless her heart).  But thank God, you are the shortest month of the year.  Spring catalogs are buzzing in with t-shirts and sandals and bathing suits.  In our neck of the woods, unless you are training for a polar plunge, these things will not be necessary for months. (By the way, it got cold again.) I will not be caught dead tomorrow without my long underwear.  Tempers run high, activities low.  Let us all think of the souls in St. Petersburg, Russia where the sun does not rise until ten o'clock in the morning.  There, I feel a little bit better.  If you need something quick, bright, and cheery in your life like I do, I have one for you.  Finding a great primer is harder than it looks. Just go over to the ABC shelf at your library and it is filled with stuff that may make you want to just find a dusty old dictionary.  Alison Murray struck gold with this delightful story. If your toddler friendly material is growing low, check this out!

Outside Your Window

Over here in Scituate, mud season has come early. We went from frigid, snowy temperatures to a muggy, sweaty sixty degrees. This does not do good things for New England. The lovely homemade ice rinks are now giant puddles, and everything is brown.  The smells are not great either. Myles came home with mud season feet. What happens is you wear your thickest wool socks on one of these days, and you know where I am going with this.

But then, you pick up a book with beautiful paintings, and you are wooed by the words that spring is just a moon or two away.  Winter is a slow, low time where everything is hiding.  I love a season where you are commissioned to hide!  My sister's lovely neighbor gave Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature to my niece on her second birthday.  It is an exquisite book of seasons, that I can't wait to read every time I come to visit.  We are almost ready to come out of our dens. But now I will turn from the mud and think only of red foxes tenderly walking through the woods.

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.

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. 

Leave Your Sleep

This might verge on blasphemy, but Natalie Merchant's Leave Your Sleep is the modern answer to Robert Louis Stevenson's A Children's Garden of Verse.  Perhaps she herself realized this and politely nodded to him by opening with 'The Land of Nod.' This collection of classic children's poetry is just wonderful.   Merchant released the album Leave Your Sleep a couple years ago, and now it is beatufully illustrated by the amazing Barbara McClintock.  Merchant describes this as the most ambitious project she has ever attempted.  It shows.  We owe much to her hard work as we are whirled away by poetic magic. It comes complete with a CD, for there is one song for each poem in the book.  Our family favorite is Bleezer's Ice-Cream with its hilarious list of twenty-eight divine creations. Cocoa Mocha Macaroni is at the top.

Mother Goose

I love Mother Goose.  She is full of magic and song.  I remember my own mother reading her rhymes to me over and over again.  A little primer on poetry it was.  The McElderry Book of Mother Goose contains revered and rare rhymes compiled and illustrated by Petra Mathers.  Offbeat, while remaining faithful to familiar classics, Mathers keeps us on the edge of our seat from Wibbleton and Wobbleton, to Little Miss Muffett.  If your Mother Goose is in as many tattered pieces as ours is, this refreshing volume might be just the replacement you are looking for.

Holiday Gift Guide

It is official. The holiday season is here! Indeed, it is better to give than to recieve, and no matter who your recipient is, picture books make the best presents bar none. They are thoughtful and friendly and lasting. You can find the perfect one for every person on your list. Biographies under the tree bring wonder, and as the wrapping paper gets thrown away, curling up with a new friend on the couch is a beautiful thing. And a Little House book tied up with a peppermint stick? You are giving the gift of wholesomeness. Enrapture the family with fairy tales, and apart from good food, you don't need much else.

Here are the titles that I will be giving my family and friends this year!

1. Amelia Lost, by Candace Flemming. An award winning biography of an icon.
2. A Boy Called Dickens, Deborah Hopkinson. Step back into time with Charles Dickens as he overcomes obstacles to become one of the greatest writers of all time.
3. A Clever Beatrice Christmas, Margaret Willey. A tale perfect for a niece who is clever enough to convince others to believe.
4. Snow, Uri Shulevitz. A highly acclaimed celebration of an ancient city's first snowfall led by a boy and his dog.
5. This is New York, M. Sasek. Vintage and Fascinating. Perfect for any New York lover, young or old.
6. Bon Appetit! the delicious life of Julia Child, Jessie Hartland. A wonderful and comical presentation of Julia Child's winsome career as we celebrate 100 years.
7. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, Noel Daniel. A beautiful collection certain to captivate.
8. Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?, Susan A. Shea. A clever book for a curious toddler.
9. Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder. I find someone to give this to every year!
10. A Pocketful of Posies, Salley Mavor. A unique treasury of nursery rhymes illustrated with rich fabric and colorful threads. Winner of the 2011 Horn Book Award.

I made a promise to myself that I would pre-order these books from local books stores, and I am sticking to it, so help me God. No super-fast-track-members-only-free-shipping for me this year. Care to join?


_____

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