To Patty, John, and Mary

This is a long, overdue entry to this blog. But after spending a delightful afternoon watching "Miss Potter," I thought it was about time for "Peter" to make his appearance. After watching the movie, I feel like I know a little more about Miss Potter (as a child, I thought "Beatrix" was a boy's name). Beatrix Potter has the eye for nature like I would always want to think of it: cozy dens, fresh vegetation, cool air and the mischievous animals. In this particular tale, Peter, the youngest and most rebellious of bunnies, decides to defy his mother and visit the lush gardens of none other than Mr. McGregor. He enters the forbidden garden and his eyes behold the largest buffet he has ever seen. Peter, a slave to his stomach, nibbles and noshes his way through the garden, when all at once, he is face to face with the man who made his poor mother a widow. A chase, a dramatic escape, and Peter stumbles back home for his humble pie (and some chamomile tea for his upset tum).

Why we like this book: Art plays a big role in many of the favorite books of this blog, and after watching "Miss Potter," I feel like I appreciate the watercolored drawings more than ever. These hand-painted pieces portray life in the forest in warm and dreamy tones. The story is very much a cautionary tale for the young: listen to your mother! She was always right! But at the same time, it is a tale of adventure for trying something different and dangerous. I, for one, enjoy comparing it to my real-life neighbor, who is frequently chasing the critters out of his irresistible garden.

Beatrix Potter wrote several little stories about several naughty woodland creatures--all of them full of beautiful artwork and a fun stories to share with your little bunnies.

Thank you, Patty, John and Mary--what a treat to spend another afternoon with you!

Blueberries for All

Robert McCloskey must have had a little girl like Sal. Sal wears old overalls, scuffed-up leather shoes, has mussed-up hair with a few dappled freckles. Today, she is going with her mother to pick wild blueberries on a tall hillside. Now, being little, say 4 years old or so, Sal does her best to do just like her mom and pick blueberries. But, being little, Sal gets tired easily and does like to eat the blueberries just as much as she likes picking them. Coincedentally, a mama bear and her little cub are doing the same thing on the other side of the hill. When little Sal and the little cub get separated from their mothers, a chance meeting between the species shows us the innocence and trusting sense of the very young.
Why we like this book: Blueberries for Sal is a library classic. This being one of Robert McCloskey's simpler stories, Blueberries for Sal compares the relationships between mother and child between two different creatures. It also compares the similarities of the behavior of the youngters. Sal is wide-eyed and trusting, blindly following the mother bear along the hillside; in the same way, the young bear cub is meandering about after the human mother, and finds a bucket of blueberries in her grip that looks very inviting. The youngster's reactions are similar (you can almost picture Sal saying, "Hi" in a quiet manner), and the mothers' reactions are similar ("Oh my!! It's a bear/human!!"). The faces of the creatures are illustrated to reflect this feeling. It's a simple story wrapped around the scene of an afternoon of blueberry picking.

Look for more by Robert McCloskey, coming here soon, but right now at your library.

Growing Up

...And Now Miguel is the story of Miguel Chavez, a 12-year old boy whose large family owns a sheep farm in northern Mexico. Every year, his father and older brothers take the herd north into the US, to the Sangre de Christo Mountains. This year, Miguel wants to prove himself man enough to accompany the men. But to do that, there are plans, prayers and methods Miguel must use. Miguel is a very thoughtful boy, and instead of watching his father and brothers, he has made a careful plan for how he will get noticed; how the family will see him as more than a "little boy." His plans include prayers to San Ysidro, the family's patron saint for farmers. His thoughts and methods are deliberate, but not underhanded. He wants to show the responsible side of Miguel: the one who anticipates the men needing the water jug, the one who keeps careful count as he brands each sheep with a painted-on number, and the one who can do the "heavy work" with the other men. At times, he feels his work is unnoticed. Sometimes he is humiliated by his foolish mistakes. But finally, after a long wait, his father calls him to get ready. Miguel thinks San Ysidro has answered his prayer; but it isn't just Miguel who is growing up and moving on.
Why we like this book: Miguel may be a "tween" according to his age, but he is also an insightful boy who is observant and aware of details. The book shows us how a boy looks at the men in his family as models of hard work and behavior. Although Miguel's mind is looking to the future, he isn't always ready for the labor of the farm, and this is apparent by the jobs his father gives him. Miguel sees his role as "gopher" for his dad as unimportant; however, as Miguel is assigned more and more tasks, he demonstrates his abilities well, and earns a place at the dinner table, eating with the men first, rather than waiting to eat with the rest of the family.
Another reason to like the book is the appearance of the extended family, and how the young benefit from the reasoning and experience of the old. Miguel's grandfather teaches Miguel through words, and one of my favorites is this one, regarding the care of the lambs by their mothers:
"Whenever something grows and you keep it from growing anymore, that's a sin. And if it's a life, living, and you let it to die, that's a sin." (p. 57)
His statement is lost on Miguel's uncle, who tells Miguel that if one lamb dies, that means less money, plain and simple. But Miguel's grandfather is teaching Miguel that one must actually care for the lamb's life, and for the sheep. He shows Miguel that not only do we not leave a tender life to flounder, but it must be nourished, watched over, and loved. We can benefit greatly not only from life itself, but in how we live it.
One other thing, I like how Joseph Krumgold, the author, uses Miguel to describe how hard it is to keep the focus on a dream, and how it can affect a person:
"To hope so much, it's like carrying what's heavy, like too big a load of wood from the woodpile. And you don't know whether to try and drop some halfway, and you're afraid if you do you'll drop the load, and if you don't that you'll drop the whole load anyway before you get to the house. Until your brain gets tired from thinking what to do, and your arms feel like they're ready to fall off. So that the next time you just give up and make two trips instead of one. That's the way I felt about hoping." (p. 129)
Sometimes an author just nails a feeling--and Mr. Krumgold got it here. Miguel is growing up to be a man, and his life is going to change. His hopes, prayers and plans are paying off. I think Miguel will continue to nourish his dream, just like he cares for the sheep.

Hootin' Hollerin' Fun

My youngest son wants to be a cowboy--at least for now. We happened upon this book at the library awhile back, and liked it so much, we had to buy a copy. Way Out West With a Baby, by Mike Brownlow, is full of thigh-slappin', rope twirlin' good times. The book is written much like a square dance is called: rhyming couplets with a definite rhythm that is lots of fun. 3 cowboys find themselves the unexpected caretakers of a lost baby out on the cattle drive. Dom, Deke and Dan bumble around figuring out when the baby needs fed, comforted and of course, re-diapered. Dom, the burly, grumpy leader of the 3, takes charge and is later softened a bit by the little bundle. The baby is safely returned to his parents, who are grateful to the trio for taking care of their little one.
Why we like this book: The rhyme and rhythm lend themselves to using your best cowboy voice while reading to your little cowpokes. I like that while the plot is predictable to a grown-up, kids will find it funny that at least one cowboy thinks that feeding a baby beans and steak is a good idea; or that another cowboy falls into a cactus while making the baby laugh. The story has it all: Comical main characters; a problem to be solved; impending drama when a thunderstorm blows in; a happy ending and a moral epilogue that is simple and to the point: appreciate your parents and love your babies. The cartooned cowboys are portrayed just as you would think, with Dom looking a bit scraggly and dark, Dan, young and spry, and Deke, tall and gangly and awkward. Of course, my personal favorite illustrations occur in the thunderstorm, where the lightning flashes on the men's faces as a cow is struck out in the distance (don't worry--it's done very humorously). Pick this book up at the library and have yourself a rip-roaring good time!

Two stories that leave you out of breath!

Can you tell I like Allan Ahlberg books? These making a total of 3 in this young blog's life. But, if I find an author that I think is a consistent producer of the best children's books out there, I tend to go overboard on it. These two are part of a trilogy of books about the Gaskitt family that are absolutely wonderful to read and share out loud.
As with The Runaway Dinner, The Children Who Smelled a Rat (TCWSAR) and The Cat Who Got Carried Away ( TCWGCA) are stories that leave you breathless as your mouth tries to keep up with the super-fast plot laid out before you. The Gaskitt family finds themselves tied up in a series of events that eventually come together at the end of the books. TCWSAR follows Mr. Gaskitt, who has lost the baby in a runaway grocery cart, at the same time, the children are trying to figure out what has happened to their beloved teacher whose behavior has mysteriously changed. Meanwhile, the family pets are also embroiled in fascination, and Mrs. Gaskitt meets the most interesting people on her taxi route. The pace of the story becomes more and more intense as we close in on the fabulous ending. TCWGCA proceeds TCWSAR in that there are only 2 Gaskitt children at the beginning of the story, and ends with a joyful addition. This story follows the frenetic journey of the Mr. and Mrs. as they try to get to the hospital in time. Of course, all the while, the Gaskitt children are part of their own adventure with yet another unusual teacher and her unusual teaching methods, all the while the Gaskitt family cat has gone missing. The third book, The Man Who Wore All of His Clothes is also worth reading, but at this entry, was back in the library waiting for the next lucky person to check it out.

Why we like these books: Two words: Wonderful Storytelling. Period. Mr. Ahlberg can spin a yarn that looks incredibly tangled, but in the end is woven into the finest cloth. Everything about the books lends to it's readability and fun: The illustrations by Katharine McEwen detailing the city layout and the individual expressions of the people as well as the typeface itself--looking more handwritten and flows like it is straight from a person's mouth. Mr. Ahlberg has fun with this, too, because as the stories inch closer and closer to the climax, he tends to break the tension periodically with interjections that have to do with other things entirely or other characters. He also runs the words together to add to the sensation of the speed of thought. How he manages to bring all the subplots together at the end of each story is a gift Mr. Ahlberg has as a master storyteller. And it always ends well--family reunited, happy, safe and together--the way a good story should.

Neighborhood Fun

Ezra Jack Keats lives in a neighborhood where there is always something going on. This time, it's a pet show. The book begins, "Everyone was talking about the pet show...," which gives you the impression of a bunch of kids, all different ages, sitting on the steps to their home, talking about what each one would bring to the neighborhood pet show. Pet Show is about just that--each kid bringing their pet to be inspected and judged. Each pet is unique, and everyone gets an award. Archie, our hero, initially plans to bring his cat; however, the story takes an interesting turn and Archie creatively solves the problem.

Why we like this book: The language of Pet Show is simple and easy to read and understand. Mr. Keats was gifted in his ability to tell a story in a very efficient manner that was still descriptive and interesting to hear and read. Pet Show features Mr. Keat's famous character, Peter, from The Snowy Day and Peter's Chair (among other stories), and Peter is now more grown up compared to the thoughtful and young Archie, his neighbor and friend. This is a neat quality to some of Keat's books--the kids all live in the neighborhood, and we get to know them through one story or another, so the names of several of the kids become familiar as you read each Keat's book. The artwork, also by Mr. Keats, uses lots of warm colors, which I liken to the feel of brick buildings in a city neighborhood. Splashes of color may indicate hidden alleys or bits of trash in the street, but an inviting city nonetheless, with lots of kids and an activity or two to interrupt the usual routine~like a neighborhood Pet Show.

Life in Mansfield, Missouri

I apologize for the delay in adding new posts. This one is worth the wait, at least for me.

I had heard of the books about Caroline Quiner, Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother, and enjoyed a few of the stories. I had heard of the books about Rose Wilder, but had never even seen one, until about 2 weeks ago. While browsing the children's section of the library (like I am usually doing at the library), I came across Little Farm in the Ozarks. I knew exactly what it was supposed to be about: a continued story of life with Laura Ingalls Wilder, more from the perspective of her daughter and only child, Rose. I felt kind of like when you settle for "Fred's Soda" when you really wanted Dr. Pepper. It's fine, it'll do the trick, but it's still not exactly what you want. But, I needed something different to read, and so I picked it up. I read it in about 2 days (take out time for basic homekeeping and child-rearing and so forth) and enjoyed it, even though I felt it ended on a thud. When I returned to the library to find the next book in the series, I couldn't figure out which one came chronologically next, so I ended up with the book you see above: New Dawn at Rocky Ridge. Initially, I was greatly disappointed to find out I had skipped 5 years in Rose's life--all of a sudden, she's 13 and talking about boys, of all things! Still, I read on:

New Dawn at Rocky Ridge continues the story of Rose, her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and her father, Almanzo Wilder. They now live in the town of Mansfield, Missouri, for most of the winter while Rose goes to school. The family still owns the farm at Rocky Ridge, but now they share a partnership with another young family who does a lot of work for them on their farm in exchange for some of the apple crop and sales. Rose has many friends in town, and loves living among all it has to offer. She enjoys the church events, the people that drift in and out of town, and while she would admit how sinful it is, she enjoys gossip. At 13, 14, and 15 years old, as we find her, Rose is becoming more like a typical teenage girl. She gripes about fashion and wants to be seen more like a lady than a young girl. She feels plain looking when compared to her wealthy town friends. Rose gets bored in school and even has a few gripes about her chores. We get to know Rose in a way we didn't know Laura. Through Rose, we learn about what is happening in history at that time. The Women's Suffrage movement is in full swing. Women are taking on careers outside the home, and are even encouraged to further their education. Laura, on the other hand, has always been content to be a farmer's wife, happy to take pride in her chickens and her gingerbread. Rose feels the pangs of leaving farm life and meeting new people and learning new things. While the primary focus of this book is on Rose and her perspective, we do get another chance to see Laura in an intimate moment set apart in the book. Laura gets a telegraph one day telling her to come immediately, that her Pa is dying and wishes to see her. We travel with Laura one more time, back to Desmet, South Dakota, where she is reunited with the "original cast:" Ma, now "a little doll of a woman with white hair," (p 317) Mary, Carrie and Grace. She reminisces with her family as they all gather around to take care of Pa. Her final days and moments with the Ingalls family are sweet and full of memories of her Pa as a strong man, with dancing blue eyes and good humor; but also hard work, trying times and some tears--the way we remember him in Laura's books. (Get the tissues ready for this chapter). By the end of this book, Rose is falling in love and getting ready to move on in her education and begin a new chapter in life away from Mansfield.

Why we like this book: The chapter about Laura going to Desmet, need I say more? For those of us who really wished we could have had Laura write just one more book, this one fulfilled much of that for me. Many things I had read in biographies were brought to life in story form with this book. And I no longer feel like I'm settling for "Fred's Soda." Rose's story is interesting in its own way, apart from Laura's story.

Roger Lea MacBride is the author of the "Rose" series. He is the adopted grandson of Rose Wilder Lane, and it's apparent that she shared her stories and experiences with Mr. MacBride much like Laura shared with Rose. From the life changing events to the mundane housework, Rose's stories about life at the turn of the century are told in a descriptive way that we feel like we are Rose's friend, too--just we felt like we were a part of the Ingalls family when we read Laura's books.

A letter at the beginning of this book from Mr. MacBride's daughter states that this is book 6 of the series, and (yes!) there are 3 more anticipated volumes in the life of Rose and her famous family. Manuscripts have been found that will carry Rose's story through the age of 17. I am looking forward to the rest of this series and will go back to fill in the gaps I accidentally skipped. Getting to know Rose has been very enjoyable and I hope you will check out New Dawn at Rocky Ridge, or any of the other "Rose" books.

The Fastest Fairy Tales Ever!

Once upon a time, there was a story with a main character, some other guys, and they did some stuff and then went home to go to bed, they were so tired. Once Upon A Time, The End, (Asleep in 60 Seconds) by Geoffrey Kloske, has the fastest fairy tales on white paper. So fast, you meet the main characters, such as Jack be Nimble, or the Three Pigs, and then before you know it, it's time for bed! Amazing!
Mr. Kloske makes no apologies, either. In fact, he tells you straight out that it's his perogative to give you the basics of the story and send you to bed. It appears Mr. Kloske has enjoyed many a storytime with children who asked for "just one more story" so many times, he decided to have a little fun with them. Every story and poem ends with someone dozing off, or getting ready to go to sleep. Adults can't help but laugh when reading this book with their little bundles of energy--most of them have felt the way Mr. Kloske writes--'if they would only just go to bed."

Why we like this book: The tongue-in-cheek approach to fairy tales appeals to the parents, mostly. Adults will find themselves laughing and enjoying the book so much, they won't mind reading 'just one more story.' My children, in particular, found it funny that their mother was chuckling, but didn't get why the story didn't end the way they were used to. Before they knew it, they were shuffled off to bed, sort of bewildered about what just happened, and did they really hear a bunch of stories, or was that just one book? Why was everyone going to bed in the stories? Barry Blitt's illustrations are reminiscent of a traditional fairy tale book, with a few twists here and there, fitting to the changes of plot Geoffrey Kloske instituted. For you grown-ups, Once Upon a Time, The End (Asleep in 60 Seconds) will certainly be an enjoyable variation on fairy tales, and a welcome way to read to the kids before bed at night.

A Good Series

As a young girl, there were lots of books that I enjoyed reading. The options seemed endless. I owe my love of children's books primarily to my mother, who was a public library fixture my entire young life. She went to the library like clockwork, every 2 weeks, to take back a stack of books and get a new stack. She always brought me back something good to read if I was in school, and when I wasn't, like summer, I went with her. On days when I was sick in bed, she'd bring me a stack of books to entertain me. A visit to the library with Mom meant a stop at the "Quick Shop" afterward--Ding Dongs for her, a Dolly Madison fruit pie for me (blueberry). So maybe I had ulterior motives for going with her to the library, but it always ended up worth my time, not just because of the Quick Shop, but because of the veritable smorgasboard of books to choose from. I know I've gone on a bit about this. This book, however, is a throwback to my days of going to the library, and now my sons love this book, too, which grew into a love of the entire series. I was reminded of it while shelving books at my children's school library, and found that our school library is gifted with many books by Ms. Sharmat--it really surprised me--that I was inspired to get out our books. So here's to you, Mom, and let's take a look at Nate The Great, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

Nate the Great is a detective. He is a boy detective. He solves cases. And this is how he talks--like a little "Joe Friday" of sorts. The language, while seemingly simple, is still very descriptive. Nate lives in a neighborhood with lots of kids who have lots of need for a detective, I suppose. From a lost picture (in this, the first book), to lost lists, beach bags, baseball bases, Nate takes them all on, usually for no cost, although sometimes his clients tip him with his favorite food: Pancakes. Nate is a responsible boy, who always leaves a note for his mother as to where he is and what he is doing, and one would guess he'll make a good grown man someday, if we ever got to know him--one who loves his mother enough not to let her worry. :) Nate solves his cases sometimes in clever ways, and sometimes he gets mixed up in the solution--literally, like the solution to this case in the original book. There are several volumes now in the Nate the Great series, and worth reading each one, just as we have at our house.

Why we like this book: I think I alluded to many reasons: Nate is a boy detective, and when you have 3 sons, it's nice to have a simple story with a boy hero. His language use is easy to understand, and the text is good for young readers to decode to read, and be entertained by the story. This series is a good intro to chapter books, as well. Nate is curious about his environment, and uses deductive reasoning to solve his cases; also an important skill for all kids. The original illustrations were done by Marc Simont, who has illustrated many other books as well. They are, for lack of a better word, just cute pictures--what can I say? They look like kids and pets that you'd really like to know and make you smile with their expressions. I hope you enjoy Nate the Great.

Perfect for Cold Weather

Brrrr! Ever since the cold weather hit, I have been wanting to add this book to the rolls. It is a wonderful book to read in the cold winter. You may know Jane Yolen as the auther of "How Do Dinosaurs Say Good-Night?" and other books in that series. Here, in "Owl Moon," a different type of storyteller emerges. "Owl Moon" is a book narrating a young girl's walk in the cold, quiet night with her father to go "owling." Owling is when you take a walk to go look for owls. As the book says, there is a time and place for it, and apparently, the dead of a winter's night is the perfect time. The author describes the biting blue night as she walks behind her father out into the woods to find the elusive bird. One can actually feel the cold as she describes it, and also the exciting anticipation of trying to find the owls. We don't learn a lot about the storyteller's father, except that we get the impression of a quiet, steadfast and intelligent man--all the makings of a good father. He is able to summon the owls with a call. We hold our breath when the bird is found, so even we readers don't make a sound as to scare it away, and then, retreating back to the warm house, victorious and tired, and cold.

Why we like this book: Winter really is a quiet cozy time, and when we do venture from our warm homes into the cold, it can often be a great time of the year to discover the outside again. After all, everyone loves to be outside in warm weather, but the cold weather has its benefits, too, for learning about all the creatures that are active when the temperature drops. "Owl Moon" is one of those books that remind you that there is life in the cold. It also illustrates how exciting it is to finally be old enough to accompany the "grown-ups" on a walk you've long heard about, but were too young to enjoy. Illustrator John Schoenherr shows you a cold winter's night can be expressive to children, by painting the long shadows of the father and daughter walking in the moonlight. He also reminds you of the colors of winter: that of blue, grey, white and silver.
Enjoy "Owl Moon" under a big blanket on a cold night! And stay warm!