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Childhood memories can seem the most distant and unreachable, like the Milkyway. But I have come to learn that with the right memory trigger, like a smell, taste, or sound, a long forgotten memory has a way of filling the mind with clarity. In my case, a childhood memory returned when I opened Deborah Freedman’s picture book, This house, once.
As the different parts came together to make a house in this book, the memory returned when my parents bought a wooded piece of land in the country. I recalled the countless weekends my family drove out to see the building progress. Trucks of different sizes dug a deep, deep hole for the foundation, stacked up stones for sturdy walls, added windows, and doors. I remember playing with my sister around the building site after the trucks drove away. We dug through the sand and earth with our bare hands, searching for dinosaur bones and other treasures, but instead found stones, insects, and frogs. Week after week, we anxiously awaited the day or parents would announce moving day. And then that happy day came. Decades have passed. Another family lives in my childhood home. But the memories are mine to hold.
Title – This house, once
Written and Illustrated by – Deborah Freedman
Published by- Atheneum Books for Young Readers – 2017
Topics – building a house, creating something, nature
Opening – This door was once a colossal oak tree about three hugs around and as high as the blue.
(Is anyone else smiling about the oak tree being about three hugs around?)
Synopsis from Amazon – Deborah Freedman’s masterful new picture book is at once an introduction to the pieces of a house, a cozy story to share and explore, and a dreamy meditation on the magic of our homes and our world.
This poetically simple, thought-provoking, and gorgeously illustrated book invites readers to think about where things come from and what nature provides.
Why do I like this book? I honestly can’t tell you which is more stunning, the text or the illustrations. Deborah Freedman is equally gifted in both the writer’s world and the illustrator’s. I was most taken in by her thoughtfulness in describing each “ingredient” needed to build a house from the door to the stones which were once tucked beneath a blanket of leaves. Each page offers another reason to love this book.
Learn more about Deborah Freedman and her books HERE.
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If you have a fond, funny, or otherwise memorable memory about creating or building something from scratch, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Until next Friday!
Thinking back to my elementary school days, one of my favorite memories circles around show and tell time. Although I never brought in anything out of the ordinary, one girl in my class did.
While the first kids to share held their items for all to see, Jane walked to the front of Mrs. Kelly’s third-grade classroom with a paper bag clutched in her hands. Clearly nervous about her choice of what to share, Jane’s knuckles grew whiter the harder she clenched the rolled up top of that bag, desperate to keep whatever she’d brought from escaping. Or so we believed…
Jane looked long and hard at her bag. Then, she looked at the teacher.
Crinkle, crinkle, crinkle.
Jane unfolded the crimped top and reached her hand into the bag. No one breathed while we waited to see what lurked within.
“This is a freshly cut chicken foot,” Jane said. “My family raises chickens, and I can make this foot move.”
Was she kidding?
When Jane grabbed a dangling tendon and gave it a tug, every squeamish girl in room 305 grossed out as the claw-like foot gripped and released like a grizzled witch’s hand. The boys, however, circled Jane, eager for a turn to make the foot clench next. When Jane went on to tell us how long a chicken can run around without its head, Mrs. Kelly changed the rules of Show and Tell. From that day on, all items brought in to share had to pass her approval.
And this brings me to today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday Review.
Title – Rotten Teeth
Written by- Laura Simms
Illustrated by – David Catrow
Published by- Houghton Mifflin Company – 1998
Topics – Show and Tell, sharing,
Opening – Melissa Hermann was the shortest person in her first-grade class. She was also the only one who hadn’t brought in anything for Show and Tell.
Elaine Estes showed the class a plastic dinosaur footprint. Carmine Appaseed shared his entire glow-in-the-dark sticker collection. Even shy Fern Miller had brought in her baby hamster. It sat in a cage in the room all morning.
But nothing from Melissa’s house seemed special enough.
Synopsis from Amazon – Speaking in front of the class isn’t easy for small people like Melissa Herman. Especially when there’s nothing very special to say about her house or her family or herself. But with the help of her older brother, Melissa borrows a bottle from her father’s dental office to take to show and tell. The teacher is appalled, but the children are intrigued. David Catrow’s hilariously zany illustrations reveal that there is nothing ordinary about Melissa Herman, or her house or her family. The bright artwork is laugh-aloud funny and will have children begging to hear the story again, or maybe invent their very own tale.
Why do I like this book? Right from the start, the reader is intrigued to learn why Melissa hasn’t brought anything for Show and Tell. Is her home that normal? That boring? However, the humorous illustration on the opening page reveals Melissa does not live an ordinary life. This first look at the outside of her house hints that some strange and mysterious oddities lurk within. Maybe Melissa doesn’t think anything would be interesting enough to bring and share, but her big brother does, and boy does Melissa get a reaction from her classmates and teacher! On the entertainment scale for picture books, I give this gem a solid ten.
Hop over to Laura Simms web site HERE.
Learn more about David Catrow HERE.
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If you have a fond, funny, or otherwise memorable memory about Show and Tell, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Until next Friday!
Back in preschool, I didn’t worry about making a friend. With my sister, a year ahead of me, I found comfort knowing she’d be there. She’d be there to show me which toys were the most fun to play with, when to expect naptime, when the teacher served a pudding snack, and when it was time to pull on our jackets and head for home. Worrying about making a friend happened in first grade when my family moved to a new town in the middle of the school year.
Let’s forget that my teacher resembled the witch in Wizzard of OZ, and I don’t mean Glinda. Let’s forget that when I walked in, there were no extra desks, and the teacher left me standing in front of twenty-five pairs of staring eyes while she foraged in other rooms for a desk. Let’s forget that during reading time, I had to share a book with a freckle-faced girl named Cindy who caught me up on the parts of the story I had missed.
Wait. Let’s not forget about Cindy. She was the first friend I made at the new school who didn’t make me feel like a stranger, entering someone’s house at dinner time. Her family didn’t have much money, so she didn’t have many school supplies, but she did have two pencils. And she shared.
Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review is a story about making a friend. In fact, the title of the book is Making a Friend.
Title – Making a Friend
Written by- Tammi Sauer
Illustrated by – Alison Friend
Published by- Harper Collins Children’s – 2018
Topics – making a friend, working together, getting along.
Opening – Beaver was good at making lots of things. But there was one thing he had trouble with…
…making a friend. No matter how hard he tried, nothing ever went as planned.
Synopsis from Amazon – Beaver is good at making just about everything…but not friends. One winter day, Beaver sees some snowflakes in the sky and gets a great idea: he’ll make a friend. Yes! A snowman will be a great friend!
Raccoon passes by as Beaver sets to work and offers a helping hand. The two work side by side to give their snowman everything a friend needs.
But when the snowman proves to be a little cold, Beaver discovers that he may have unknowingly “made” another buddy instead.
Perfect for snuggling together for a read-aloud, this sweet snowy friendship story from Tammi Sauer and Alison Friend will warm the hearts of young readers.
Why do I like this book? This is a story that will speak to children everywhere. We’ve all, at one time, started at a new school whether it was our first day of preschool or because we moved to a new town. For those children who wonder how to make a new friend, Tammi Sauer has the answer in her sweet story of friendship.
Hop over to Tammi Sauer’s website HERE.
Read an interview with Alison Friend HERE.
Find fun, kid-friendly crafts about friendship HERE.
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If you have a fond, funny, or otherwise memorable memory about making a friend, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Until next Friday!
I finally replaced my blog banner of the scenic, lake photograph. The change was long overdue. I wasn’t sure what kid-friendly banner I should replace it with, though. I came up with a bookshelf inhabited by a fluffy cat, but my daughter thought I needed to go in a different direction. “I think you should paint a school bus filled with happy kids,” she said. So, I did. Now, onto my picture book review.
I pulled out one of my favorite books to share with you today. Along with my love of nature books, I also have a love for seriously unique characters. Once you read the book, Terrific, by Jon Agee, you’ll agree that the main character, with his pessimistic nature, is quite unique. Just look at his face on the cover. With one illustration, you know laughs will be plentiful.
Terrific
Written by- Jon Agee
Illustrated by – Jon Agee
Published by- Dial Books for Young Readers – 2005
Topics – Unlikely friendships, pessimism, change of heart.
Opening – Much to his surprise, Eugene was the lucky winner of an all-expense-paid cruise to Bermuda.
“Terrific,” he said. “I’ll probably get a really nasty sunburn.”
But on the way there, the ship ran into a terrible storm. Everyone was rescued, except for Eugene.
“Terrific,” he said. “I’ll probably get devoured by sharks.”
Synopsis from Amazon – “Terrific,” says Eugene, after winning an all-expenses-paid vacation in Bermuda. “I’ll probably get a really nasty sunburn.” Unfortunately, Eugene’s luck is a lot worse than that. First, his cruise ship sinks, then he ends up stranded on a tiny island. But Eugene isn’t alone. There’s another castaway, a parrot with a busted wing, who tells him what there is to eat and drink and how to build a sailboat. Cranky Eugene pays attention, and his luck begins to change.
Why do I like this book? I can’t resist snarky humor. Now sprinkle snarky humor over a pessimist and you’ve got, (in my opinion) a winning combination for a memorable character which makes for an unforgettable, must-have picture book. And the illustrations you might be asking about. “Are they pretty good?” They’re better than pretty good. Jon Agee has a talent for illustrating emotion that not only fits the mood of his characters but ups the humor straight through the ceiling. Check out this book, and you’ll see what I mean.
Hop over to Joh Agee’s web site HERE.
Publishers Weekly Q and A with Jon Agee HERE.
Until next Friday!
When I was in elementary school, one girl made it her daily task to find something mean to say to me. Her unkind words kept me miserable for years.
I well recall Valentine’s Day when we were expected to give a card to every student in homeroom. EVERY STUDENT. I wrote cards for all of my classmates and saved the card I had to give the mean girl for last. I chose the least sweet card in my box of pink, white, and red Valentines. And although I wrote every student’s name at the top and signed my name at the bottom of their card, I left the mean girl’s card blank. I couldn’t bring myself to write her name, and I couldn’t bear the thought of giving her my signature.
Would she care if she got a card from me? Would she notice if I didn’t give her a Valentine? And if I did give her a Valentine, would she tear it up and throw it away?
While I was suffering in visible agony, my mother asked me what was wrong.
“I don’t want to give a Valentine to the mean girl in my homeroom,” I said.
“She probably doesn’t want to give one to you, either,” Mom said, “but there are times when we have to do things we don’t want to do. Instead of keeping bad feelings between you two, why don’t you do something she’d never expect?”
“Tear up her card before she does?” I guessed.
“I was thinking you could give her a nice Valentine’s Day card,” Mom said, “and ask her to be your friend.”
I did as my mother suggested, and the mean girl laughed. At least she didn’t tear up my card.
She crumpled it.
Years later, when elementary school was long behind me, I came home from college for winter break. I was at the grocery store when I saw the mean girl, slicing meat behind the deli counter. Apparently, she saw me, too, because she wiped her hands down her apron and raced out from behind the counter to catch up to me.
I was wondering what mean thing she had saved up to say to me when she did the unexpected.
“I don’t know if you remember how mean I was to you through school,” she said. “And I don’t even know why I wanted to hurt your feelings. But, I’m sorry.” Then, she impulsively hugged me, returned to the deli counter, and left me standing. Dumbfounded.
And this leads me to today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review.
Title – Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink
Written and illustrated by- Diane deGroat
Published by- Harper Collins Children’s Books – 1996
Topics – Valentine’s Day, friendship, misunderstandings
Opening – There they were, fifteen blank Valentine cards, waiting to be filled with nice Valentine poems…
Synopsis from Amazon – Gilbert is all set to write fifteen friendly valentine cards to his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose or the girl who made fun of his glasses? Instead, Gilbert writes two not-so-nice valentines…and signs the wrong name on both!
When his classmates read his poems, their feelings are hurt, and Gilbert’s prank quickly turns into pandemonium. But with the help of a friend and an honest apology, there’s always time for a change of heart on Valentine’s Day.
Why do I like this book? Aside from reminding me of my own elementary school, Valentine’s Day dilemma, this story shows that feelings of anger toward someone are often based upon a simple misunderstanding. The colorful, detailed watercolor illustrations add a strong emotional layer to this story of friendship and forgiveness.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Until next Friday.
Most people can’t resist a mystery. So, when I came across today’s picture book, Charlotte’s Bones, my curiosity shot up when I read the added seven words, carefully included in the cover illustration…
The Beluga Whale in a Farmer’s Field.
Admit it, aren’t you curious to find out how Charlotte’s bones found their way there?
when I read the book, I discovered more than the answer to my question. I discovered a lovingly-written, lyrical story accompanied by equally touching and emotional illustrations that needed to be shared.
Charlotte’s Bones: The Beluga Whale in a Farmer’s Field
Written by- Erin Rounds
Illustrated by – Alison Carver
Published by- Tilbury House Publishers, 2018
Topics – Beluga whales, Mystery, Evolution
Opening – Many thousands of years ago, when a sheet of ice more than a mile thick began to let go of the land…
…the Atlantic Ocean flooded great valleys that had been scooped out by glaciers, and the salty waves of an inland sea lapped the green hills of Vermont.
Synopsis from Amazon –In 1849, a crew building a railroad through Charlotte, Vermont, dug up strange and beautiful bones in a farmer’s field. A local naturalist asked Louis Agassiz to help identify them, and the famous scientist concluded that the bones belonged to a beluga whale. But how could a whale’s skeleton have been buried so far from the ocean? The answer―that Lake Champlain had once been an arm of the sea―encouraged radical new thinking about geological timescales and animal evolution.
Why do I like this book? Every now and then, I read a book that won’t let go of me. (Admittedly, these are usually true stories about animals.) They say a good picture book is one a child will want to hear or read again and again, but in the case of Charlotte’s Bones, I found a heartfelt story that I want to read again and again.
Watch a video about beluga whales HERE.
Until next Friday.
If you thought that picture books were written just for children, I’ve got a surprise for you. I was recently visiting Chicago, strolling through the decked out, lighted shops when…
What to my wandering eyes should appear,
but a book nestled snug between holly and deer.
It stood beneath branches all lit up and bright
like a treasure I’d found that came into my sight.
This book was just right for my fave holiday!
Twas the night before Christmas IN PARIS, Hooray!
Away to the register, I made a mad dash
Flung open my purse and then laid out my cash.
One look at my cell and I saw it was three.
I grabbed book and receipt, and I started to flee.
My train left at four, so I started to jog.
I had to get home to start typing my blog.
This holiday version of this classic is sweet
I hope my dear followers find this a treat.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good read.
Title – The Night Before Christmas in Paris
Written by – Betty Lou Phillips and Roblyn Herndon
and illustrated by – Sheryl Dickert
Published by – Gibbs Smith – 2012
Opening –
Twas the week before Christmas!
All over the world
The children were breathless
as visions unfurled
Of the magical time when their
dreams would take flight
And the sweet sound of sleigh bells
would ring in the night.
But Santa was frantic–
he wasn’t elated,
For his dear Mrs. Claus
could not be located.
The lists were not finished;
the maps were a mess,
And where to deliver
was anyone’s guess.
Amazon Review – A haute stocking stuffer for Paris lovers.
Haute couture and Paris sights capture Mrs. Claus’s imagination―as they would any woman’s! This charming story finds Mrs. Claus fabulously ensconced in Paris, having enjoyed fashion week and been lured for several months’ stay by all the sights, scents, and couture of Paris. In the end, Santa takes a quick tour of the City of Light himself―the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Notre Dame, Montmartre and more―to find the satiated Mrs. Claus and whisk her back home just in time to help the elves with the last-minute packing of toys for children all over the world.
Find more “Perfect Picture Book Friday” reviews at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog HERE.
Until next Friday.
Last week, my hubby surprised me with a present that combines three of my interests between one set of colorful book covers. The book is called Origami and Haiku inspired by Japanese artwork. With Christmas nearly here, I’d like to share this book with you because I believe it would make a perfect present, both for children and adults.
This book combines the beautiful and sparse poetry form of Haiku, the intricate, paper-folding art of origami, stunning nature illustrations by various Japanese artists, and…
if that doesn’t seem amazing enough, 50 removable origami papers so readers can follow along and create the projects which correspond to the poems and art.
I call that a lot to love in a book!
Title – Origami and Haiku – inspired by Japanese artwork
Published by – Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press – 2018
Topics/Theme – Haiku poems, origami projects, Japanese nature illustrations
A haiku poem from the page about the rabbit:
even the rabbit droops one
of her ears–
midsummer heat!
by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Find this book here on Amazon.
For those of you who are interested in learning more about Haiku, here are two fun projects.
Origami rings Here
Origami elephant Here
To learn more about Haiku look Here and Here.
More Haiku books for children (Click the title to jump to each book’s listing on Amazon.)
Until next Friday.
I’m sorry for reposting a book review from my blog archives, but I have a GOOD reason. Last week, I had surgery, and the enormous cast has all but swallowed up my left hand. So please bear with me as I peck out this post, letter for letter, with the speed of a sloth.
In honor of my repaired injury, I have chosen an appropriate book, How to Heal a Broken Wing.
Now, onto the original book review…
Living with wild critters was part of my childhood. My mother often brought home temporary pets for us to observe. We had a pair of mice, a lunar moth, tree frogs, and a fair number of birds that flew into our windows. Once, we had a seriously injured salad-loving mallard living in our kitchen that my mom found along a country road.
The need to care for injured or neglected animals continues with me. Each bird that flies into the window receives a cozy, lined box, a dish of water, and a bowl of bird seeds to help with its recovery. Those that don’t survive…I carefully bury in the garden with flower petals, earth, and tears.
My love of animal rescue stories shows itself in today’s PPBF (Perfect Picture Book Friday) review, How to Heal a Broken Wing. See the book on Amazon HERE.
Title – How to Heal a Broken Wing
Written and illustrated by – Bob Graham
Published by – Candlewick Press 2008
Suitable for ages – 3-7
Topics/Theme – Animal rescue and kindness
Opening – High above the city, no one heard the soft thud of feathers against glass.
Amazon Review – In a spare urban fable, Bob Graham brings us one small boy, one loving family, and one miraculous story of hope and healing.
In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the bird lying hurt on the ground. With the help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home. In classic Bob Graham style, the beauty is in the details: the careful ministrations with an eyedropper, the bedroom filled with animal memorabilia, the saving of the single feather as a good-luck charm for the bird’s return to the sky. Wistful and uplifting, here is a tale of possibility — and of the souls who never doubt its power.
Learn about Bob Graham HERE.
Find more “Perfect Picture Book Friday” reviews at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog HERE.
Bird craft to make with kids 
Find instructions HERE. After the text instructions, photographs follow, illustrating the process to make this adorable bird.
Until next Friday.
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