Bruna

Bruna
By: Anne Cottringer
Illustrated by: Gillian McClure

Bruna is a delightful read about a little girl who is cold, cold, cold. Traveling far and wide, eating hot curry and cinnamon candy, soaking up sun, she can't seem to get warm. Then one day her help is required to save a bear who is unable to swim, whose name turns out to be Ursa. In an effort to help Ursa dry off and get warm, Bruna is finally able to warm up herself. This book is a gentle read with beautiful and soothing watercolor illustrations in sea greens, golds, and coral pinks. There is a deeper meaning to be puzzled out, and it is a delight to help children discover it. Do you feel warm when you help someone else? When you are lonely, do you feel cold? Of course. This is a book from the library that my four year old daughter enjoys returning to--one that never gets old, and the comprehension grows with her age and my prodding. To see more pictures search inside this book at amazon. I love those colors!

The Dog Who Belonged to No One
Written by Amy Hest
Illustrated by Amy Bates

I have a little girl who loves dogs. We have a real dog, but my daughter actually especially adores her stuffed dogs. They are her great friends. When she is feeling kind she may invite a stuffed monkey to play, but she really loves her dogs the best. Knowing this then it is easy to see us choosing stories about dogs. This is a lovely one.

Amy Hest writes her story in an interesting style, alternating from girl to dog on nearly every page until they unite as friends. They have remarkable similarities, the largest being they are both quite in need of a good companion. It turns out of course that they are perfect friends, friends through all the seasons in fact.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous! Today, when thinking to myself whether I liked the story or the text better, I have to say I think I could almost love the pictures just as much alone they are so beautiful! However the text also stands out to me particularly, as it is written in a style unusual to me, this alternating style, and it is engaging.
It has also occurred to me while reading it again, that this book would be a fun
introduction to this alternating story-writing technique. It might be fun to see what children come up with to alternate back and forth. Perhaps this summer we will try it!

Elizabeti's Doll

Written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Illustrated by Christy Hale

Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen has created a story about a little girl with a brand new brother. Elizabeti watches her mother care for her new baby, and then, since she has no doll of her own, she finds a rock instead. She names her rock Eva, and cares for it just as her mother cares for her son.

This short picture book is one that clearly relates a way of life different from my own, without ever purposefully contrasting to it. The author of Elizabeti's Doll, Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, spent time in Tanzania in the Peace Corps, where she met the little girl who is Elizabeti's inspiration. Elizabeti and Eva, and their way of life, are worth getting to know in this sweet book.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Written by Judith Viorst
Illustrated by Ray Cruz

Thank you to my good, talented, and wise friend ShaLisa for this guest post on what I consider a classic book. Enjoy!

This is a book that my mom, a counselor by profession and by heart, read to me throughout my younger years when I truly believed I was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was a way for me to know my mom understood some of my feelings. Sometimes, she didn’t have to read the book, but would gently say something like, “Is today a day you wished you lived in Australia?” Then I knew that she knew and somehow, her knowing made things much better.

Now I am a mother. When my child seems to be having such a day, I find reading the book calms us both and puts a smile on our faces. The book reminds me of how things sometimes seem from the eyes of a child. (I also see now how a bad day for Alexander might have also meant a frustrating day for his mother.)

This book has been around for a long time. It is a book that my mom still reads often, this time to her junior high school students who, undeniably, have bad days. Oh, how a children’s literature can affect a person for good!

A note from Lindsay: I think I will have to adopt the sweet tradition of stopping and taking a minute to pull out this book when my children (or I!) have a bad day. I just love this idea!

Mrs Crumps Cat

Mrs. Crump's Cat
Written by Linda Smith
Illustrated by David Roberts

Mrs. Crump runs upon a cat that she is sure she just does not need. At first she is dutifully kind, and pretends not to be interested in the stray yellow cat. Mrs. Crump finds reasons to put off getting rid of the cat, and then even tries to find its owner (sort of). But, this cat is a true-to-life feline personality, who makes this woman her own.

This enjoyable read is one that can be taken for just a simple relaxing read, or a story with lots of little details to talk about. If you are looking for a writing activity, Mrs Crump's find-the-owner letter may supply an example and inspiration for your child to follow. David Roberts hasn't illustrated this clever cat realistically, but the stray still manages to have an amazing amount of true cattiness!

Thank you to Corey from Thing 1 and Thing 2 for bringing my attention to the fact that David Roberts was interviewed at Three Silly Chicks this week. What great timing! This artwork is great, and you may want to learn about a few of his other books by checking out the interview.

I Love You the Purplest

Written by: by Barbara M. Joosse
Illustrated by: Mary Whyte

Those of you who have more than two children to love can certainly understand how meaningful the words "sibling rivalry" become. Recently my husband came up with a great idea for two of my children: a back-scratching contest. Of course he was first to offer his back as available, with himself as the judge. While scratching, my son asked who was best --it was a contest after all. I rolled my eyes, weary of this question, because even when it's not a contest this comes up a lot between my three children. My husband simply noted how one hand was a little bigger and was a strong scratcher while the other hand was more petite and was a gentle scratcher.
"But who's the best?" my son demanded.
"You are the strongest scratcher," my husband told him, "and your sister is the softest." Those of you who have read, I Love You the Purplest surely would have been reminded of this book also. I felt relief as I relived the feelings of this book, and noted to myself that I could use this as a way of dissipating rivalry more often.

The mother in I Love You the Purplest has two sons close in age who engage in some friendly brotherly competition on more than one occasion. But the sweet mother reminds them each of their differences, and helps them understand how they are both wonderful and perfect to her. As they drift off to sleep she loves each a different color, and together she loves them purplest.

This book is probably best enjoyed by children with siblings, and at a time when they are willing to snuggle in for a quiet read. I think of this as a book that speaks to adults also --as it spoke to me --who have more than one child to absolutely love the purplest.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Written by Patty Lovell
Illustrated by: David Catrow

This week I have a guest post from a brilliant mother, writer, and reader-friend of mine, ShaLisa. She gave this book as a gift to me once, and now it's a favorite of mine. Enjoy!

The first time I read this story to my children, the book seemed only to have inspired them to see exactly how many pennies they could balance on their teeth. However, the message of the book is much greater than this balancing skill which it invited, and with repeated readings, my children understand a little more each time, how anybody, including themselves can be proud of who they are --just the way they are.

Molly Lou Melon stood just taller than her dog and was the recipient of loving advice from a loving grandmother who, you will discover when you look at the last page, learned a valuable lesson in life to share with her Molly. Even when faced with the challenge of moving to a new school, Molly stood tall.

The illustrations are delightful, my favorite being the friend pictured on a couple of the pages, with awed eyes and sweet admiration. A child will be blessed to learn the same lesson as Molly Lou Melon. Molly, with buck teeth and big beautiful eyes, set out to make the world better for having lived in it. And so she did.

If you like this book, try I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow.

Roger The Jolly Pirate

It's always exciting when you find that the author of a book you highly approve of has something in common with you. Like Brett Helquist! We share the same home state! He graduated from a favorite college of mine! And well, what do you know, he is also the illustrator of the best-selling Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. (The things you can learn from the back jacket: amazing).

Roger doesn't scowl, he smiles; he doesn't growl, he grins. He is a jolly pirate. Unfortunately, that's pretty unpopular with the other pirates. To make matters worse, he doesn't know the larward from the starboard, or the mizzard from the main! To make amends, Roger tries to make a cake and make it up to them...and well, his baking skills are right in line with his pirating skills--and a baking catastrophe ensues. Luckily for Roger, this mistake benefits his ship, and the other pirates no longer complain but celebrate him--permanently!

If you have a pirate lover I don't think you can go wrong with this book, and who doesn't care even just a little for pirates? I've noticed amongst the many pirate picture books out there, some are just a little too...well.. jolly to be about pirates. Afterall, pirates are criminals! But Roger, the Jolly Pirate strikes a great balance for children with the lovable Roger and the villanous crew. Plus there's a pirate ditty to belt at the end, and a plot to boot (phew)! Perhaps it's not necessary to mention, since Helquist illustrated a best-selling series, but really-- the illustrations are noteworthy!

Humbug Witch

This has to be the most charming witch you have ever met! However, she can't seem to get her spells to work right. She tries all kinds of peanut butter- ketchup potions, and casting-the-cat-away spells to no avail. This adorable witchy-witch then gives up for bedtime, and it becomes a little more clear what's in the way of her magic. The first time you read Humbug Witch, you and your child will enjoy the surprise, but you will not tire of reading it over and over. Don't miss this one! In my mind, this is a book that just happens to be extra fun to read around Halloween, but it's also a classic I wouldn't want to be without.

Little Red Riding Hood

This is my favorite version of Little Red Riding Hood, which is retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Honestly my love of this book has everything to do with the pictures! I never tire of them. I find Tricia an enchanting illustrator, drawing a world with beautiful people and illustrations that have a very magical feel, rich in detail and color.

The Little Red Riding Hood in this book is as sweet and innocent as can be, and the wolf is everything a wily wolf should be. Riding Hood is lured off the path to pick a bouquet for Grandmother, while the wolf runs to Grandmother's house to take care of business. Be warned that this retelling is closer to the original story than some others, including Grandmother and Red Riding Hood getting swallowed hungrily, only to come out well and whole again when cut out by the huntsman. This is the version that I grew up with, but some may prefer the less horrific hiding-in-the-closet version, in which case they must look elsewhere.

There is a very clear moral for the little girl in this story, which is that she should have done just what her mother asked her to do--stay on the path. If you chance to meet this book, sit a spell and be drawn into Little Red Riding Hood's richly drawn world. You won't regret it.

The Dragon Snatcher

The next time you are at the library, notice how many cute animal picture books there are. There are many, and my six-year old no longer approves of them! In order to persuade him that he really is not done with picture books (especially for independent reading) I have been searching for picture books that appeal to him. These would include anything with adventure, fantasy, or a hero (and no cute dogs or cats to speak of). I have found a few of these books, and hope to find a few more! The Dragon Snatcher,by M.P. Robertson, is a book all three of my children love and approve of. At times I would like to have seen this story expanded a bit, even with just another sentence or two, but I think the fact that it is simple and short is part of what makes it special.

George loves to read, and one night as he is nestled in bed with a pile of books, his dragon wakens him from outside the window with a worried look. That night they go on a journey and discover a bad wizard with a bad plan. They takes strides to stop him, but something surprising happens to save the day for dragons everywhere, as well as the wizard's icy heart.

This book is written simply, but feels like a true fantasy book. The storyline is interesting, but the illustrations are incredible. Together the combination is absolutely winning for my little people.

The Great Gracie Chase: Stop That Dog! by Cynthia Rylant and Mark Teague

Mark Teague is one of my favorite children's book illustrators, and Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite authors, so for me there is nothing not to like about this book! Together they have created, The Great Gracie Chase: Stop That Dog! This book is not new, but it is one that I find myself coming back to, with no complaints from the kids. There is something about Teague's charming little houses that always make me linger a little longer, and this dog, Gracie, well she is something pretty special too.

Gracie, a typically well-behaved dog, is taken out of her comfort zone, and takes the town for a wild goose chase that is sure to make you smile. Then, reminiscent of a disobedient child that stops getting the attention he's looking for, when Gracie is sure no one is still looking, she decides to head home after all. For dog-lovers, typically obedient children, and picture-studiers, this book is a good choice.