Red Reading Boots
Kingfisher Treasuries
There was a time — although it seems like it’s becoming a tiny dot in the rearview mirror — in which one birthday child or the other received the birthday-appropriate book in the Kingfisher Treasury series of Stories for Five/Six/Seven/Eight Year Olds. Those beloved paperbacks reside on my office shelves now, but it was not so long ago that they were
Raymie Nightingale
Darling Daughter and I host/participate in an occasional parent-child bookgroup for middle-grade readers and their parents. We call it Books & Bagels and we meet at the bagel shop down the street from church and nosh on bagels while talking about books. I think we can safely say the bagel aspect of things increases participation — but all the kids
Calvin Can’t Fly
When I was doing storytime weekly, a book about a bookworm starling was in my regular rotation. Yes, you read that right — a Bookworm Starling. That’s exactly what Calvin (the starling) is — a bookworm. And that is his shame — his cousins call him “nerdie birdie,” “geeky beaky,” and “bookworm.” Unusual (gently derogatory) labels for a starling. Not that it deters Calvin — he mostly
Cook-A-Doodle-Do!
I’ve got dessert on my mind — berry shortcake, to be precise. I’ve already done the strawberry shortcake during strawberry season. My raspberry bushes are producing at a rate that might call for shortcake in the near future, however. And whenever I make shortcake — or even think of it — I think of Cook-a-doodle-doo by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (who
Bink and Gollie
Early this morning I read Bink and Gollie books to my nieces. We were killing time while their parents picked up the rental car for their Great American Summer Roadtrip. To say that the level of excitement was palpable is an understatement — it was a wave that nearly knocked me down when they opened their door. They talked — both
How To Make An Apple Pie and See The World
A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to make a really good pie. I asked around — bakers, caterers, cooking store owners etc. and the book The Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum came up consistently. One person mentioned How to Make An Apple Pie and See The World by Marjorie Priceman. I purchased both — one
The Sandwich Swap
Normally, I spurn picture books written by celebrities, be they actors or royalty or what have you. If it’s a person in the headlines, I quite assume they could not possibly write a worthy picture book. The only exception on my shelves, I believe (and I realize there are other exceptions! Feel free to leave titles in the comments.) is The
One Day at the Farmers Market
Saturday was gorgeous, and (Oh joy! Oh rapture!) the opening day of the Mill City Farmers Market, one of my favorite markets here in the Twin Cities. I got up and out the door in such a hurry I forgot my market basket, but no matter — there were just the earliest of crops available: asparagus, spinach, rhubarb…. I could carry
The Odious Ogre
I’m a big fan of Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer. I can remember reading it as a kid and thinking it both hilarious and clever. And I loved the words! So many words! So when the Juster-Feiffer team came out with The Odious Ogre a few years back, I leapt at it. A picture book! A long picture book! My
Books as Therapy
I confess to using books therapeutically. When my kids were little and the day had gone wonky and none of us were at our best, a pile of picture books was a sure-fire way to reset us all. It was partly the snuggles, but mostly the shared experience of reading the stories we loved. As they’ve grown,
Beverly Cleary
For the last month I have been reading articles, toasts, essays, and interviews with one of my favorite authors of all time: Beverly Cleary. She turned 100 years old this week. Everything I read about her makes me misty-eyed — the birthday plans in her home state of Oregon … her memories of being in the lowest reading group,
Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten
Rose meets Mr. Wintergarten by Bob Graham has been around for awhile. I’ve been reading it to kids for almost as long as it’s been on this side of the pond. But I’ve read it two different ways, and I’m ready to confess that now. I love most everything about this sweet picture book. I adore the
Caps for Sale
My college boy is home this week. So far his spring break has been spent fighting a doozy of a virus, lying about feverish and wan. Perhaps there is slight comfort in Mom making tea and soup, verses the non-hominess of the dorm, I don’t know. He seems grateful. I asked if he wanted something to read and went
Worm Loves Worm
I finally had a chance to read one of my new favorite picture books — Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato — to a group of kids. It was Valentine’s Day — the kids were making valentines, learning origami, and listening to love stories read by moi. My mistake was trying to call them away from the origami and stickers and
A Walk in the Woods
I tend to win things. Not always, of course…but if there’s an “enter to win” offer that shows up on Facebook and I don’t mind the sponsoring party having my email or mailing address (usually they already do), I enter. I’ve won concert and play tickets, music, dinner, and books this way. I think maybe not many other