With the theme of school starting, I have to introduce you to our family’s favorite new book! I mean TRUE favorite. The kind of favorite that had my 5 year old sleeping with this book 2 nights in a row even though it kept poking her in the elbow when she slept. We’re big fans.

Julia Denos has been a favorite new illustrator of mine. Personally, I think this book matches her brilliance. Dotty is a book about Ida’s first day at school, and how she spends the school year with her imaginary friend Dotty…which is some kind of polka-dotted half-cow, half-lion, half-who knows what! She learns that most of the other kids in her class have imaginary friends too, but as the year wears on, they start to get too big and grown up for their pretend play mates, and Dotty finds herself trying to learn how to handle the fact that she still has one. The ending is so incredibly charming, and sent my children in complete justification for having their imaginary friends (we have Jason, Max and Sally come visit regularly to our house!)

But honestly….just look at the illustrations. Julia has reinvented this fresh vintage-y whimsical style that I appreciate so much. Her freshness and creative take on her characters matches the fun flair in the story. It’s a perfect match!

I don’t think I have ever read a picture book about imaginary friends. Honestly, I wish I had the idea first! But this is charming, and a PERFECT first day of school gift. I can’t decide who likes it more….me or my children. We keep fighting for who gets to read it next!

Happy first days of school to everyone!

Polly Dunbar’s Tilly books are so delightful. Have you seen these books yet? They are rather new. You may have heard of her from this favorite picture book. She is a young British illustrator, and I just love her whimsicality. Her stories are very simple, but that is what makes them so appealing. If you can’t tell, I am a big lover of simple childhood…and these stories are just that. Childhood at it’s essence.

You’ll fall in love with her sweet characters.

And even better..there’s a whole series of books about each of her friends. If you library doesn’t have these, talk with your Librarian about getting them. They really are delightful little books perfect for very young readers.

Can I tell you how much my family loves this book?

My mother read it to us when when we were children, and I am most certain my mother’s mother read it to her.  My 5 year old brain remembers so well the silly characters and faces from which I learned to say “please” and “thank you.” My Mother bought this (at Anthropologie of all places) for Addie and Ian on their first Christmas together, and honestly…I think my kids love it as much as I still do. But honestly…tell me the beginning of the book isn’t pure genius.

If you can’t read it, here’s how the book begins:

“Having good manners is really just living with other people pleasantly. If you lived all by yourself out on a desert island, others would not care whether you had good manners or not. It wouldn’t bother them. Most of us don’t live on desert islands. So this is what we do-We meet people…” And so it goes on. Simple and brilliant.

Addie’s favorite part is the section where you meet the children who are very unpleasant to be around. The Whiney is so ugly and unappealing, Addie has vowed to never whine again. Uh-hum. She makes strong promises. But the impact of these illustrations does the trick. Coupled with a naive yet very modern 1930′s illustrative style, this book catches your attention almost surprisingly.

These other books are just as delightful, and will invite your kids to think manners really are fun. I find it fun to think that these books are still teaching kids after nearly 75 years (these were published in 1936.)  And if anything, I’ve used these for decoration. The book jackets are so colorful, and make me so happy. Display them on the bookcase and you’ve made your point already. Subtle hints…but pretty, yes?

I found this book last week. And it changed me.

Sounds of Color, written and illustrated by Jimmy Liao a very different picture book than you’ve ever seen. It’s about a girl who goes blind, and is on a journey to find her home of light and color. She takes these subway trains from station to station and we get to see what she imagines her journey to look like. It’s breathtaking. Each page is filled with the possibilities of what could be, since she can’t see what is in front of her.  This book will capture your heart. Jimmy Liao, the author and illustrator, paints with his soul. He taught me this week as I discovered this book, that color and light bring so much joy and comfort to us each day, and he illustrates that with all he has.

I haven’t yet read this to my children. It’s long at 80 pages, although it’s mostly pictures and the text is very brief. But I have been so moved by it that I have to recommend it. It would be a wonderful way to help your children understand their gift of sight.

The book was originally written in Chinese and published in Taiwan. The english translation is beautiful, but I can only imagine how gorgeous it must be in it’s native language. According to the end credits of the book, SOUNDS OF COLOR has been adapted into a stage play as well as a motion picture.

Just listen to the text.

It begins:

“A year ago
I began to notice
that my sight was slipping away.
I sat at home alone
and felt the darkness settle around me.
But today I walked outside
into the thin gray rain
and made my way to the subway.
I have a journey to go on.
There are some things
I need to find.”

“I have forgotten how blue the sky can be. But in my mind I still watch the clouds change shape.”

“Sometimes the streets twist themselves into a maze.”

“I never know if this station is the same as it was yesterday. Did it change overnight? Grow into something new?”

“Now I listen for the sound of the colors I can’t see. I try to smell the shapes, taste the light and dark.”

“There must be someone who’ll sit beside me, sip tea, tell me her hopes for the future, and listen to mine.”

This week, I have been reminded of the incredible gift of sight. As an artist, it’s my favorite sensory experience. This sweet story will inspire you to see all that you can and look deeper into the gift of color and light.

Enjoy!

I’ll share more about the experience soon, but before I do, I wanted to share some of the books I have come to love this week.

Kevin Hawkes is the illustration instructor that I have been so fortunate to spend 20 hours with this week, along with 12 other talented students who are just as hungry as I am for learning.He is a brilliant artist, father of 5, loyal New Englander and has a great sense of humor. It is really delightful to spend the week with someone who has spent over 20 years painting at home (in an open studio by the way….with kids around and all) who not only loves what he does, but is wonderfully successful.

So, if you are at the library or bookstore this week, you will LOVE THESE:

You may know him from this New York Best Seller. One of our family’s favorites.

He wrote and illustrated these “Toddlah” books about a baby in Maine who is exceptionally large and all the funny ways to deal with raising him. My kids love it. They even say it with the accent, and it’s delightful.

And, the sequel (which I was able to see in class, but won’t come out until April 2011) is even more delightful:

Other books of his you will LOVE:

This is perfect for spring time and summer with all the butterflies out. My daughter slept with this book last night, she loved it so much.

This is  a wordless picture book which is really fun to spend time looking at. I love the colors!

You’ll love the whimsicality in his illustrations and his attention to really fun details. Happy reading!

We started our garden this week. Our yard is going to need quite the make over (it hasn’t been tended in over 10 years!) But that is the charm of it really. It’s like having  a secret garden….we’re uncovering all sorts of wonderful things. We’ve had the kids out digging and planting and watering. A garden is magic to a child, and magic to me really. My Garden is a new book by Kevin Henkes (one of my children’s illustrator hero’s) and this couldn’t be any more perfect for this time of year! So charming and sweet and simple. I absolutely love his illustrations….like I said…he’s my favorite to admire. And the story is just as charming: this little girl imagines what her garden would be like if she could have it any way she wanted: and there are endless possibilities. I have this book standing upright on my desk and it’s like having a bouquet of flowers right next to me. Happy reading and happy gardening!

Good morning. It’s Monday. Very much a monday, and I need a good book.

Have you seen this wonderful new title from Taeeun Yoo? I’ve chatted about her before and how in love I am with her simple illustrations. But her sweet prints are making me smile this morning.

So Many Days. A book about dreams and possibilities and the wonders of the world we see.  There is this darling mini-video of the illustrated book here. It’s one of those books perfect for gifting, graduation presents or for that new baby. “So many doors in all your days….So much to wonder about…..Where will you go…..and who will you be?”

I just love Taeeun Yoo’s illustrations. Simple prints with fresh color, Asian influence and a vintage feel. They are timeless and wonderful. She has illustrated titles such as ONLY A WITCH CAN FLY, THE LITTLE RED FISH, and THE UMBRELLA QUEEN. She is an up-and-comer getting a lot of attention for her work, and I think there is so much to her simple lines and color that create the unique feel to her books. Here are some of my favorite illustrations from this book:

Aren’t they wonderful? Have you seen any other of her books? I’d love to know what you think about them. They really speak to me as an illustrator, and to that inner child in me that craves imaginative illustrations and creative lines and color. Her illustrations are really inspiring me this morning….this plain-jane monday. Seeing illustrations like hers really thrill me and remind me how much I love illustrating for children. You can tell from her art that she loves illustrating for children too.  Hope you enjoy!

Reading chapter books to your 3-8 year olds is a great way to get them to use their imaginations and to more advanced vocabulary. But with the advanced vocab, can sometimes come advanced content (sorry…I am not interested in emotionally scarring my 4 year olds by reading about vampires) or they simply have plots that can’t capture the attention of preschool age kids. Sometimes it’s a matter of not having enough pictures intertwined in the chapters to keep them turning pages with you.

So, thank you so much for your recommendations! We have read some of these, and can attest to our children being completely interested even though they are considered for Middle Grade Readers.

I have learned to never underestimate the reading comprehension of your children! Just last night, my just turned 4 year old…who has such a hard time sitting down to read…was completely wrapped up in Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder…and even went to dress for the part of the hunter boys to get in the mood. I watched his eyes widen as he listened (there weren’t any pictures to look at) and felt like I was catching a magical moment where he was making the connection between the words and the images in his own mind. Pure Magic!

So….here folks is the list you put together!  Feel free to add to it, and I’ll edit them in.

CHAPTER BOOKS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (Ages 3-8 for read-aloud)

The mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Ramona Books by Beverly Cleary

Emily’s Runaway Imagination Beverly Cleary

Ralf S. Mouse books by Beverly Cleary

Mercy Watson series by kate dicamillo

Tale of Despereaux by Kate dicamillo

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate dicamillo

Because of Wynn Dixie byKate Dicamillo

Catwings books by Ursula K. LeGuin

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black

Just So Storiesby Rudyard Kipling

The Henry books by DB Johnson

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe  by C.S. Lewis

The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Halibut Jackson by David Lucas.

Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

The Adventures of Olga da Polga By Michael Bond

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine

Freddy Anniversary Collection by WalterBrooks

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Matilda Ronald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Ronald Dahl

The Ordinary Princess By M.M. Kaye

Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum

Junie B Jones Series by Barbara Park

Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey

The Cricket in Times Square George Seldon

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson

The Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

The Littles by John Peterson

Pippi Longstocking Astrid Lindgren

The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Swiss Family Robinson Johann D. Wyss

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Little Women Louisa May Alcott

Winnie the Pooh A.A. Milne

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs

Elves and Fairies Annie R. Rentoul and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

Peter Pan J.M. barry

Alice in wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Enid Blyton Goodnight Stories

The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

Famous Five by Enid Blyton

Secret Seven by Enid Blyton

Anything by Thornton BURGESS

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker

Far Flung Adventures series

Milly-Molly-Mandy Joyce Lankester Brisley

The Alfie Books by Shirley Hughes

Jip and Janneke by Annie M.G. Schmidt

The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail(and an Even Smaller Ant) by Avi

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweilerby E.L. Konigsburg

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

Grayson by Lynne Cox

Half Magic by Edward Eager.
Indian in the Cupboard series by Lynn Reid Banks

The Trumpet of the Swanby E.B. White.

A Necklace of Raindropsby Joan Aiken

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

I don’t know about you…but I’m heading to the Library today! Enjoy!

Bedtime is has always had the same routine:

Bath, pajamas, brush teeth, prayers, dad’s made up story (either a watered down Hercules/Greek Mythology story, or Sherlock Holmes) followed by a book or two, and then “Mommy’s secret thing” (a combination of back scratch, and massage where I go through head to toe saying “Your head is asleep, your back is asleep…”) and then a “made up lullaby”( I have to sing new words to a made up tune every night).

Can you tell our kids keep us on our toes? We’re making up songs, stories and melodies fresh every night!  It’s good practice and we love it.  But every so often, Ken wants a break from his made up stories (he is a history teacher, and so his days are already filled with storytelling) and so we decided about a year ago to introduce more chapter books to the routine. We have gone through most of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, Charlotte’s Web, and a few others. But I will be honest, and say that finding books for a newly turned 5 and 4 year old is hard!

We had to skip the end of Lion Witch and the Wardrobe…or at least paraphrase…and Kenneth decided to postpone Harry Potter after the first chapter (He got a bit excited on that one).

So, we have been on a quest to find good chapter books for Preschool age children, and we found this great book at the library this month:

Lady Lollipop by Dick King-Smith, illustrated by Jill  Barton.

It’s about a princess who wants a pet pig more than anything else, and gets to know some really fun characters a long the way.

This was a hit. I think they read it in just a couple nights. The best part, was that it was perfect for my boy and my girl: a dirty pig, a funny pig keeper and a stubborn princess. You can’t go wrong. The illustrations are great too!

Do you have other big kid books for pre-K kids you love to read? It’s a narrow category for sure…and we are always on the quest for more! Please share and I’d love to put together a list to share!

Happy Weekend everyone, and happy reading!

I am really excited to start these book posts on the blog! There are a lot of blogs that review their favorite books, but I want to focus mostly on the illustration and design of picture books: Why I love what I love and what makes these books great because of the story they tell in pictures.  Come on now…isn’t that why we all love children’s picture books? Because of the pictures? Ok…the words do help a little:)

Fables. This book shaped my childhood. Really. Still, to this day, I can remember the emotions I felt while staring at these pictures. Each fable gets a single picture, so you really have time to stare into these images. Pure genius.

I mean, an alligator lying in a comfy bed with pretty wallpaper? A rino dressed up in her best dress? I love Arnold Lobel’s Elephants and especially his frogs…OH! His frogs! Love. But Fabels gets a special place in my heart because the stories and characters think they are in very serious situations. Yet, it is all so farcical and silly. Can you tell by the color and dress and body postures? It’s just a great mix of fun visual storytelling.

Is it the color? The texture? the detail? Yes. Yes. Yes. But…let me add: Arnold Lobel has incredible composition of his frames and incredible characters. His greatest strengths I think. In some of his other books, the Frog and Toad series, and Owl at Home, for instance, there isn’t much color, or texture. But don’t be fooled: his images are captivating. I thought it was just me…I figured my kids wouldn’t go for the muted colors.  I mean, I didn’t grow up in a competing world of visuals, right? (I am not that old, but compared to now, I thought my kids would for sure dismiss the colorlessnes of his other books). But honestly? His less colorful books are my kid’s favorites. Even as 2 and 3 year olds. Why? Because his characters are so believable and his compositions are so strong. He doesn’t fuss with what isn’t important. He gets to the meat of the storytelling, and keeps is to is most key elements. I look back at what I loved as a child, and it is still the same today. And beyond that, beyond the things I could articulate, there is that “it” factor that I can’t articulate, nor do I want to try. I just like it. Love it. And it is so captivating. And it proves true when I read it to my own children.

And I love Arnold Lobel. If I had the chance to visit with any illustrator of my choice, he would for sure be on my list.

I still find myself staring at these pictures. Eye Candy.  It received the Caldecott for a reason.

Happy picture looking!

xo

sarah jane