Book's you'll love: Dotty

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!

More books to love: Tilly.

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.

Manners really are fun.

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?

Books You'll Love: Sounds of Color

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!

Books You'll Love: Kevin Hawkes

So, I need to tell you where I am at the moment. Well, I am here, at my computer of course. But I am in the middle of the FOR YOUNG READERS writing and illustrating week long course in Salt Lake City, Utah. Which basically translates to: I'm in heaven and I don't want to come back. My last post about having to balance family and creativity? This is one of those weeks where I get to feast on days mostly full of creativity, and I hope the meal lasts a long time! 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!

Book's you'll love: My Garden

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!

Books You'll Love: So Many Days.

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!

Chapter books for the younger kids

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UPDATE 1/29/2014

I've compiled the over 110 comments from you and created a PDF with all your suggestions! Download it or print it out, and enjoy this great library resource! Enjoy!

click here to download

Or, view the list below! 

CHAPTER BOOKS FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS

CHAPTER BOOKS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (Ages 4-8 for read-aloud)

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Necklace of Raindrops by Joan Aiken

A Secret Zoo

Adventures of a South Pole Pig

Alice in wonderland by Lewis Carroll

 Animal Stories by Thornton Burgess

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Because of Wynn Dixie by Kate diCamillo

Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey

Castle in the Attic

Catwings books by Ursula K. LeGuin

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Dear Hound by Jill Murphy

Ella Enchanted Gail Carson Levine

Elves and Fairies Annie R. Rentoul and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

Emily’s Runaway Imagination Beverly Cleary

Enid Blyton Goodnight Stories

Famous Five by Enid Blyton

Far Flung Adventures series

Freddy Anniversary Collection by Walter Brooks

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

Geronimo Stilton

Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson

Grayson by Lynne Cox

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

Halibut Jackson by David Lucas

Hank the Cowdog series

Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary

Horrible Harry series

How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Humphrey the Hamster series

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James Herriot Treasury for Children

Junie B Jones Series by Barbara Park

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Little Women Louisa May Alcott

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

Matilda Roald Dahl

Mercy Watson series by Kate diCamillo

Milly-Molly-Mandy Joyce Lankester Brisley

Mr. Poppers Penguins

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet

Nancy Drew mysteries

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

Peter Pan J.M. Barrie

Pippi Longstocking Astrid Lindgren

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Princess in Black

Ralph S. Mouse books by Beverly Cleary

Ramona books by Beverly Cleary

Secret Seven by Enid Blyton

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black

Swiss Family Robinson Johann D. Wyss

Tale of Despereaux by Kate diCamillo

The Adventures of Olga da Polga By Michael Bond

The Alfie Books by Shirley Hughes

The Bears of Blue River by Charles Major

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

The Cricket in Times Square George Seldon

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

The Fairy Rebel

The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

The Happy Hollisters

The Henry books by DB Johnson

The Light Princess, The George MacDonald Treasury

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

The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Littles by John Peterson

The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate diCamillo

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

The Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

The Ordinary Princess

The Ordinary Princess By M.M. Kaye

The Penderwicks

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett       

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

The Worst Witch series

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 

Trixie Belden mysteries

Winnie the Pooh A.A. Milne

Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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!

Enjoy Reading!