Thanks everyone for the hugs and happy comments. I'm completely fine today. It was just 'one of those days'.

I've been wanting to share a sort-of-kind-of book recommendation with you, so here goes. 

I say sort-of-kind-of, because it isn't actually a book or a toy, it's more like a took. My Mommy's Tote is a great 'took' to take along with you when you need your little ones to sit quietly for a while.


From the Back Cover
"My mommy is so busy, just like me!"

Cuter than a button, My Mommy's Tote is a delicious interactive gift for mothers and kids, a die-cut cornucopia stuffed with marvelous adventures and surprises, endearingly written.

• There's the clock with hands that move
• A maze to navigate
• A spin wheel for learning the alphabet and numbers
• A special pen to draw on the write-on, wipe-off board
• Mommy's laptop, cell phone, and wallet with a removable credit card

In all, there are more than 75 objects and 30 activities where things lift up, slide out, unfold, flip open and beguile. The magic and discovery go one and on. 


So, there you have it. The publisher, Workman Publishing, says it all nice and concisely. My kids love toting My Mommy's Tote and playing with all the doodads.

Now, I did say it is partly a book, which is true. The words are actually quite clever. If I named the book, I'd call it Just Like Me. The words and objects show how the speaker and her mom are similar and different. Here's a little excerpt: "My mommy is very pretty. Sometimes she likes to dress up, just like me. My mommy says, 'always put your best foot forward.' Maybe that's why she has so many shoes."

This book was sent to me by the publisher for possible review. I admit that I had seen the 'took' in several stores and never picked it up. I thought it looked too gimmick-y, and maybe it is, but the kids love it. If you think of it more of a toy and less of a book, it's fabulous. I'm happy to report, I was pleasantly surprised once I actually opened it up.

I'm just popping in to direct you over to Deliciously Clean Reads (or to the lj feed...

cleanreads) where we are talking about lurban's incredible book, A Crooked Kind of Perfect today.

 

1. I posted a review of Fairest by Gail Carson Levine at cleanreads today. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I seem to be on a I-heart-YA-fantasy kick.

2. I'm getting 8 submissions ready to wander Planet Earth. And I am going to submit something to the WIN contest too. Or a couple somethings. I'm not sure yet.

3. This weekend I'm vacationing! Woohoo! My brother is getting married in California (aww... home...) We are going to go to the beach (I just got a new swimsuit, the buying of which could have been much worse.), the beautiful wedding, and on Monday--Disneyland! I'm so excited. My littlies have never been before.


I hope you have great excitements to look forward to!
-Emily

Letters for Emily by Camron Wright may have been the best grown-up book I read in 2006. I walked into my public library and chatted with the librarians about clean novels they loved. Letters for Emily came highly recommended.

Harry Whitney is dying. Alzheimer's is taking away his mind and life. In his "good" times, Harry types frantically at his computer. His estranged kids think he is crazy, and never cared much for him in the first place.

After Harry dies, they find three exact copies of a book complete with stories and poems by Harry. The collection is called Letters for Emily, as Emily, Harry's granddaughter, was his only true friend at the end of his life.

Each poem/story in the book is a riddle. Each answer is a password for a computer file. Harry's children and grandchild learn a lot about Harry that explains much of his behavior, but more importantly they learn about themselves and the power of forgiveness.

This is one of those books where you laugh one second and cry the next. The structure of the book is fascinating. If you enjoy books by Mitch Albom, Nicholas Sparks (not all his books are Clean Reads), and Richard Paul Evans, you'll like this one, too. I loved it.


For a little more info, see my review at Deliciously Clean Reads.

Happy Monday!

This week I read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy for the second time. The blurb on the cover says it all, "Arguably the best adventure story ever published and certainly the most influential that appeared during the early decades of the twentieth century."--Gary Hoppenstand.
Actually that doesn't say it all, because it says NOTHING about the great romance in the story. It's a beautiful tale of rediscovering love and trust after marriage.

I read The Scarlet Pimpernel 8th grade English. Although I always did well in English, it was never my favorite subject. And this is why...English class ruins books. All the dissecting and analyzing isn't my thing. I also hate slowly plodding through a book. I am a two-day reader. I almost always complete a novel in two days.

Anyway, I don't remember enjoying The Scarlet Pimpernel when I was young. I vaguely remember enjoying the movie we watched when we finished the book.
But I decided to give it another chance because my mom was reading it while she was here. I could tell she LOVED it. Now, I know that I actually LOVE it, too.


The Scarlet Pimpernel takes place in 1792. There has been a huge uprising in France. The King and many of the aristocrats have been taken prisoner. The guillotine has never been busier. Ladies sit by watching beheading after beheading of the aristocrats. Hundreds a day.
A wealthy Englishman sneaks into France and smuggles out hundreds of people, saving them from the guillotine. His elaborate plots trick the French time and time again. He always leaves a note stamped with a small red flower, a scarlet pimpernel.
Not even his wife, Marguerite, is aware of his heroic acts. He does, however, have a league of 20 extremely loyal followers.
Chauvelin, the Scarlet Pimpernel's most villainous enemy, tricks Marguerite into helping him catch the Pimpernel. Then a race ensues. A race against death. A race for forgiveness and devotion. A race to start over. The ending is completely brilliant and satisfying.

Last night I went to a book launch party for The Boy who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Sneed. Both Carla and Brad were there and signed my book.

If you are the kind of person who loves libraries like I do, you'll love this book.

CARLA MORRIS always wanted to write a book. As a children's librarian at the Provo City Library, she is surrounded by books and kids.

One particular boy, however, became the inspiration for The Boy who was Raised by Librarians. Ian Perkes helped at the library through a government program for disadvantaged youth. He started there when he was 16. He wrote a personal poem for Carla's birthday one year entitled "For my Librarian Mother". Carla began to think about children who grow up in libraries.

Carla first became a librarian at age 6. She had a bookshelf library over her bed from which she'd allow her siblings to check out books if they were being good to her. She later helped in school libraries, after begging librarians to let her stay in instead of playing outside for recess.

When she first wrote the story of Ian, it was much too old and serious. She workshopped it and had it critiqued.

Carla met a Peachtree editor, and knowing they had published Carmen Deedy's Library Dragon, she pitched the story. The editor liked Carla and the proposed book title. However, from that point, the book took 6 YEARS to become a reality!

In 2004, Peachtree booked Brad Sneed as the illustrator. Carla jumped up and down with excitement. She even sent flowers to Peachtree for getting him. But he was booked two years. He was worth the wait.

Carla did not have any contact with Brad until the book was complete. At that point, she found his email online and sent a thank-you note.

BRAD SNEED knew he wanted to illustrate The Boy who was Raised by Librarians after reading the first few paragraphs because it was very well-written. He knew book-people (like his daughter) and librarians would fall in love with the story.

Brad is from Kansas. He grew up there and now lives in the Kansas City area with his wife. Growing up, he had to use his imagination a lot because his friends lived too far away. He was an outside kid, didn't read much. If he was inside, he was drawing. Brad has always considered himself an artist.

He has been illustrating for 18 years (which is crazy because he looks very young). He studied illustration at Kansas University.

The librarians in this story are not modeled after real people. He hopes that they will be universal. Peachtree sent him the original ms along with the final one because it was more descriptive. In the original, there was a one-line description of each librarian. "Marge was tall and slender." "Betty was soft and round." "Leeola (named after Carla's mother) was short and frizzy."

He does not use the computer except for email. He's an old-fashioned artist. He loves the smell of paint and the feel of bristles against paper. If he did his art on the computer, he'd miss the tactile experience.

When Brad sent the mock-up to Peachtree, he was shocked when they responded, "There are no changes."

He really enjoyed working on this book.


After these two beautiful, talented people spoke, I jumped in line to get my book signed. And I'm glad I did, because the line was enormous and Brad, being a very generous person, took quite a bit of time drawing in all the books.



Carla Morris is everything a children's librarian should be. Just look at that smile.



And, in line, I happened across a suspiciously familiar, cute pregnant lady, who I recognized as eshakespear. And let me tell you, she is just as sweet and friendly in real life as she is online. She's here for an SCBWI conference. I can't wait to hear about it, Erin! And look, the picture turned out totally cute.

Rosemary Wells considers herself a Professional Illogical Thinker, given that creative career-people (like writers and artists) are opposite of logic-based career-people (such as professors and lawyers).

PICTURE BOOKS
-How does she get her ideas? She has a 'junk drawer'. If she throws all the junk together and puts in a kaleidoscope, it becomes something marvelous. WRITING IS ADDING LIGHT TO JUNK.

-Wells loves art stores. She loves to buy everything.

-In a picture book, THE STORY IS IT. It must be strong enough to be read 500 times without boring the reader. Other genres do not have to withstand this test. Only a small percentage can write for children.

-Maurice Sendak's editor at Harper once said, "I am a former child, and I have forgotten nothing."


PUBLIC SCHOOLS
-Children come to school with various amounts of pre-knowledge. Just as a mechanic cannot fix a car without the right parts, a teacher cannot help a child without the right basis for learning.

-The US is seriously in trouble because parents are not proactive enough.

-In a recent study, 60% of teachers in the midwest said that the #1 problem they deal with is parental involvement.

-Wells does not write about issues, but she hopes to share her passion for family and the importance of reading through her speaches.

-She has a new book coming out, A Shining Star. It is a companion book to Read to your Bunny. A Shining Star has 10 characteristics Rosemary Wells believes are crucial to a child's learning.
1. Respect
2. Listening
3. Patience
4. Trust
5. Work
6. Honesty
7. Children spell love T-I-M-E
8. Reading
9. Writing/Drawing
10. Good Habits/Schedule

These are things that must be learned at home to prepare a child to learn at school. School can open up the world to a child at age 5, IF PARENTS HAVE PREPARED THEM AND CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED.

If you would like to know more about how Rosemary Wells feels about this topic, read her speech HERE.


A COUPLE RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ROSEMARY WELLS
-She hates TV/video games. Surround children with books.

-She is working on a new mid-grade called Father Abraham. It is about Abraham Lincoln as a father.

-She loves the Maisy books, Margaret Wise Brown, Babar books, Tomie dePaola and David Shannon's Fergus.

First off: Love. This is LOVE MONTH after all. Tomorrow is the six year anniversary of meeting my husband. We started dating the day we met. We were married six months and a day later, and I couldn't be happier with that decision. I have found that he is more right for me than I even knew when I married him. I am inexpressibly grateful for him, and madly in love with him.



So, today for Poetry Friday/LOVE MONTH, I bring to you:


Love, Ruby Valentine by Laurie Friedman, illustrated by Lynne Avril Cravath.
Why do I like this book? It's in rhyme and it has glitter on the cover. Besides it's about love, which to me, is probably the most important thing on earth.

Ruby Valentine loves Valentine's Day. She makes cards and cookies for everyone in her town. But, as you might imagine, she is exhausted by the time her cards and cookies are ready. So, she takes a little nap. And sleeps right through Valentine's Day. Luckily, she has Lovebird to remind her that love should be spread every day, not just on Valentine's.

And since it's Poetry Friday, here's a little of the rhymage. (Yes, I know it's not a word. I'm a writer. I like to make things up.)

THE EXCERPT:

And that's when Ruby realized that saying,
"I love you!"
doesn't have to wait 'til Valentine's--
any day will do.

So now she sends out cards all year
that say, "Will you be mine?"
And she signs each and every one...
Love, Ruby Valentine.


This book was nominated for a Cybil in the fiction picture book category. The winners will be announced on Valentine's Day! I'm excited!

All right, and want to know my anxiety? You know how I posted a while back about a picture book manuscript I submitted? Well, I just found that their response time is usually 6 weeks to 2 months. They've had my sub for 3 1/2 months. It probably means nothing. But.....And I've never sent a status query about anything before. Should I wait a while longer? Oh, the agony. I know I shouldn't put all my eggs in this basket, but I am just so darn hopeful.

I was as excited as the next kidlitosphere blogger when it came time to hear the new ALA winners. Not realizing I was one of the lucky few to actually see the live webcast, I casually watched and took notes of the highlights. Awards were announced boom-boom-boom-boom with little time for contemplation.

Most of the awards were new to me. And almost sounded comical...just try to say these three times fast, I dare ya': arbuthnot-batchelder-carnegie-geisel.

Despite not knowing what-the-heck the awards were or how-in-the-world to spell them, I did recognize many of the titles and authors. I was particularly thrilled for Rules by Cynthia Lord, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis.

Finally, the long-awaited Caldecott and Newbery were up (actually I was surprised how quickly the show went.) Winners were revealed. Then, justlikethat, it was over.

I posted some of the big winners, but I couldn't comment.

Now, I'm ready.

Of all the kids' books I have become acquainted with this year, a choice few were selected, leaving hundreds of great books in the dust.

Since picture books are my thing, I'll talk about the Caldecott for a moment. None of these books made my Picks of 2006 list, but they are all awardable, nonetheless. I have read Flotsam by David Weisner(or-looked at it-would be more accurate). I see its merit. I admit that the book is gorgeous and clever, but personally I don't love it. Why not? Well, to be honest, I've never seen a wordless book that I truly loved and adored. You might think that if anyone would enjoy such a thing, it would be a picture-book writer...that I should be able to make up my own story to fit the illustrations. Sorry. I like words.

The two honor books, Gone Wild by David McLimans and Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Kadir Nelson and Carole Boston Weatherford leave me....intrigued. I have seen both of these books on shelves. I thought Gone Wild was unique. I never felt the desire to pick up the Moses book. It's not my style.

I like fun, simple picture books. That said, I now want to take a fresh look at these winners, and try to see what the committee saw.

If you aren't familiar with JEZ ALBOROUGH and his picture books, you are missing out. You should not walk, but run to the library, cuddle up with your favorite small people, and get ready for some giggles. Alborough, who lives in London, has published over 30 picture books. Here are three of my personal favorites.









Snuggly readings!
Emily

MIA'S STORY: A SKETCHBOOK OF HOPES AND DREAMS by MICHAEL FOREMAN is a heartfelt picture book inspired by the author's trip in the Santiago, Chile area.

Mia lives in a village called Campamento San Francisco where homes are made of bits of trash from the dump. Mia's father finds scrap that he can sell in the city. Now, this sounds like a depressing book already. But it is completely the opposite. The village is full of hope and heart.

Mia's father surprises her with a puppy. She loves Poco. He follows her to school and waits patiently outside until the end of her day.

But one day, Poco gets lost. Mia takes her horse, Sancho, to look for her puppy. Far up in the mountains, she does not find Poco, but she and Sancho roll in the snow and admire the stars. She finds beautiful white flowers there and takes some home with her.

At home, Mia plants her flowers. They spread all over the dump. Her flowers help her remember Poco.

Mia makes a successful business out of selling her flowers. When people ask where her flowers come from, Mia simply says, "They come from the stars."

Mia and her father are able to build a house of bricks to live in. And Poco finds his way back to them.

I found this story incredibly uplifting. The illustrations are a combination of pencil sketches and paintings and are quite beautiful.

Mia's Story was one of the very pleasant surprises I discovered while reviewing the CYBIL nominees.

In a word, Mia's Story is GENUINE.

All right. Here is a list of my favorite picture books from 2006. In alphabetical order.









ADELE & SIMON by Barbara McClintock
...because kids love searching illustrations for hidden items.


CHEEP! CHEEP! By Julie Stiegemeyer, illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee
...because for the youngest of littlies, this one can't be beat. So cute!


DUCK AND GOOSE by Tad Hills
...because it is full of bright colors and giggles!


EDWINA, THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT by Mo Willems
...MO WILLEMS. Need I say more?


EMILY'S BALLOON by Komako Sakai
...because this tender book perfectly captures the love and concern of a toddler.


FANCY NANCY by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
...because I'm a serious girly-girl, and I like pink glitter.


FLETCHER AND THE FALLING LEAVES by Julia Rawlinson, pictures by Tiphanie Beeke
...because it is a heartfelt change-of-season book.


HALF OF AN ELEPHANT
by gusti
...This one makes the list for having an interesting story, while being very unique.


LEARNING TO FLY by Sebastian Meschenmoser
...for being inspirational and simple.


LIBRARY LION by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
...because the text and illustrations are gorgeous.


LOOKING FOR A MOOSE by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Randy Cecil
...for rollicking sounds and an adventure-filled moose hunt.


MAX'S WORDS by Kate Banks
...because of its cleverness. (All right, and because I'm a word-lover.)


SCAREDY SQUIRREL by Melanie Watt
...because, despite being a happy-go-lucky kinda person, books don't make me laugh-out-loud very often, but this one definitely did.


THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA by Lauren Child, capture by Polly Borland
...for a unique twist on a beautiful tale.


THE PRINCE'S BEDTIME by Joanne Oppenheim, illustrated by Miriam Latimer
...for bright paintings, smooth rhyme, and a fun story.


TUDLEY DIDN'T KNOW by John Himmelman
...for its heart.


WAITING FOR GREGORY by Kimberly Willis Holt, illustrated by Gabi Swiatowska
...for its beauty and daVinci-like uniqueness.


WALK ON! A GUIDE FOR BABIES OF ALL AGES by Marla Frazee
...because it is clever, whether you're one or eighty-one.


WINTER IS THE WARMEST SEASON by Lauren Stringer
...because you can't beat it for a snuggly-by-the-fire with loved ones book.



AND A FEW RANDOM-GENRE NOVELS I LOVED...


FINDING NOEL by Richard Paul Evans
...mainly because I am a Christmas fanatic and, of all the Christmas novels I've read over the years, I think this one takes the mistletoe.


LETTERS FOR EMILY by Camron Wright
...because it is an adult book that I actually really, truly enjoyed.


RIVER SECRETS by Shannon Hale
...because I wish I could live in Bayern, the magical location of The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets, which I happen to like best of all.


SHUG by Jenny Han
...because it is sincere and realistic.


UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld, and the sequels: Pretties and Specials
...because the characters are so bubbly-making, and the plot is unbelievably fascinating to me.

All right. I know it is a little early for Spring, but this morning I'm in a springy mood for two reasons.

1. My family is coming into town tonight. Everytime they visit, I suddenly notice that my closets and pantry are a wreck. My bathrooms stink. And four loads of laundry are waiting to be folded. Make that seven. So, today I am spring cleaning.

2. And I love this springy picture book for its simplicity and tenderness.


Cheep! Cheep! by Julie Stiegemeyer, illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee

As you can see by the cover, this book is cute! These three little chickies anxiously await the hatching of their newest addition. The text is extremely simple. A story unfolds using only words that rhyme with Cheep! and endearing pictures.

This book looks like a regular picture book, but the pages are actually thick like a board book. The texture in the illustrations really enhance this simple book.

This book is definitely best for the littlest chickie listeners.

In a word, Cheep! Cheep! is SWEET.

The shortlists for all eight categories have now been announced. And, just in case you are too lazy to click the link, I'll post them here:

POETRY BOOKS
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow
written by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Beth Krommes
Houghton Mifflin

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
written and illustrated by Adam Rex
Harcourt Children's Books

Handsprings
written and illustrated by Douglas Florian
Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins

Jazz
written by Walter Dean Myers; illustrated by Christopher Myers
Holiday House

Tour America: A Journey Through Poems and Art
written by Diane Siebert; illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson
Chronicle Books


NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOKS
3-D ABC: A Sculptural Alphabet
written and illustrated by Bob Raczka
Milbrook Press

Aliens Are Coming!: The True Account Of The 1938 War Of The Worlds Radio Broadcast
written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Knopf

An Egg Is Quiet
written by Dianna Aston; illustrated by Sylvia Long
Chronicle Books

An Island Grows
written by Lola M. Schaefer; illustrated by Cathie Felstead
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Little Lost Bat
written by Sandra Markle; illustrated by Alan Marks
Charlesbridge


FICTION PICTURE BOOKS
Emily’s Balloon
Written and illustrated by Komako Sakai
Chronicle Books

Learning to Fly
Written and illustrated by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Kane/Miller

Scaredy Squirrel
Melanie Watt
Kids Can Press

Waiting for Gregory
Written by Kimberly Willis Holt; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Henry Holt and Co.

Wolves
Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing


YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Book Thief, The
written by Markus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers

Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, A
written by Dana Reinhardt
Wendy Lamb Books

Hattie Big Sky
written by Kirby Larson
Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Knopf Books for Young Readers

Rules of Survival, The
written by Nancy Werlin
Dial


MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
Drowned Maiden's Hair, A
Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick

Framed
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Harper Collins

Heat
Mike Lupica
Philomel

Kiki Strike
Kirsten Miller
Bloomsbury

Weedflower
Cynthia Kadohata
Atheneum


MIDDLE GRADE/YOUNG ADULT NON-FICTION
Escape!
written by Sid Fleischman
Greenwillow

Freedom Walkers
written by Russell Freedman
Holiday House

Immersed in Verse
written by Alan Wolf
Lark Books

Isaac Newton
written by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Viking Juvenile

Team Moon
written by Catherine Thimmesh
Houghton Mifflin


GRAPHIC NOVELS 13 AND UP
American Born Chinese
by Gene Yang
First Second

Castle Waiting
by Linda Medley
Fantagraphics

Dramacon Vol. 2
by Svetlana Chmakova
Tokyo Pop

Flight Vol. 3
by Kazu Kibuishi & others
Ballantine

La Perdida
by Jessica Abel
Pantheon


GRAPHIC NOVELS 12 AND UNDER
Amelia Rules, vol. 3: Superheroes
by Jimmy Gownley
Renaissance Press

Babymouse: Beach Babe
by Jennifer Holm and Matt Holm
Random House

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea
by Ann Martin, Rina Telgemeier
GRAPHIX/Scholastic

Kat and Mouse
by Alex De Campi; pictures by Federica Manfredi
TokyoPop

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
by Siena Siegel and Mark Siegl
Aladdin / Simon & Schuster


FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION
Ptolemy’s Gate
by Jonathan Stroud
Hyperion: Miramax

Silver City
by Cliff McNish
Carolrhoda Books

Beka Cooper: Terrier
by Tamora Pierce
Random House

Last Dragon, The
by Silvana de Mari
Hyperion: Miramax

Pucker
by Melanie Gideon
Penguin: Razorbill


Visit the Cybil Site for more information.

Max's two older brothers are collectors. Benjamin has one thousand stamps. Karl has almost five hundred coins. They won't share with Max, so Max decides to collect words. He cuts them out of magazines, newspapers, and copies them from books. He moves his words around to give them different meanings. Max begins a story and, soon, Benjamin and Karl join in.

Max's Words by Kate Banks is clever and unique. It discusses the versatility and beauty of language in a child-friendly way. The illustrations are done by Boris Kulikov. Imaginative and bright, Kulikov's drawings are the perfect compliment to the text.

In a word, Max's Words is IMAGINATIVE.

This book is a Cybil nominee in the fiction picture book category.

I am in awe of this book by Kimberly Willis Holt.

Little Iris can't wait for Aunt Athena's baby to be born. She asks everyone when baby Gregory will arrive. Daddy says, "not too soon...Oh, not too long." Grandpa tells Iris that Gregory will come "when the giant stork flies across the sky and drops him..." Her friend Lacey explains, "Your aunt needs to eat a thousand chocolate-chip ice cream sundaes with sour pickles on top." After many responses, Iris doesn't know what to believe. She waits a long time. When the beautiful Gregory is finally born, Iris realizes she'll still have to wait because he is "too tiny to fish, build a snowman, or ride a pony."

The story is dreamy and whimsical, but the illustrations take it a step beyond to something completely unique. The illustrator, Gabi Swiatkowska, has painted gorgeous 17th century paintings that dance on the pages amidst da Vinci-like sketches of strange contraptions and diagrams. For example, on the cover, little Iris is sitting on the hand of a clock of sorts. I only know it is meant to be a clock because of the placement of the 12 and 3. Very interesting.

In a word, Waiting for Gregory is GORGEOUS.

Well, it's a beautiful new week covered in snow dust. I think a review of a penguin book is in order.




Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser is endearing and fun and simple. I think it's a love-it or hate-it book. I love it. Learning to Fly is the first book written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. First published in Germany, it came as a surprise hit to America this year. Publisher's Weekly gave it a terrible review (which you can find here at Amazon). However, many of our fellow bloggers have loved it. Learning to Fly is one of the Cybils Awards nominees. So I received a review copy last week. Truly, getting the best 2006 books in the mail every day is just too fun.

Learning to Fly is about a man who finds a penguin. When the penguin tells the man that he has been flying, the man informs him that penguins can't fly. But the penguin isn't deterred. He flies. When he meets some other birds, they tell him "Penguins can't fly...That's when he crashed." The man takes the penguin home. They eat fish sticks, make a sink bed for the penguin, and begin flight training. They try all sorts of things to help the penguin fly, and eventually, he does the impossible. He flies away.

I really like simple books. The text is simple. The illustration are just gray-on-white sketches, with touches of color here and there. Together the words and pictures have synergy. It is about believing in yourself and doing the impossible. Can penguins really fly? Of course not. That's why the Publisher's Weekly people didn't like it. The plot is ridiculous. But kids love ridiculous, impossible premises. And, apparently, so do I. The brilliant thing about the way Sebastian Meschenmoser has told the story is that it doesn't sound ridiculous. It sounds like a true account of something that happened to him personally.

In a word, Learning to Fly is HEARTENING.

Ever since I got back from my trip, I've been getting tons of review copies of picture books for the Cybils Awards.

This is usually where the library books are kept, but right now it is overflowing with Cybils nominees. I'm lovin' it (even more than McDonald's :)

Keep reading to see a review of one of my favorites so far.

But first things first. Last night I met my future sister-in-law, and she is really adorable. AND I made my first apple pie. AND it was actually really good. Of course, I only had one bite because I'm dieting (yuck) but that one bite was deelish. Here's a pic. I look kinda loony. Maybe I'm a little too excited about my pie!


So here's what you've all been waiting for...without further ado, here's my long-overdue review.


Emily's Balloon is written and illustrated by Komako Sakai, a winner of the Japanese Picture Book Prize. In this book, little Emily gets a yellow balloon. After it floats to the ceiling a couple of times, her mom ties it to a spoon. Emily takes the balloon to the garden and makes a flower crown for it. But the wind blows the balloon into a tree. Emily is sad because she wanted to eat with it, put on its pajamas and brush its teeth. Emily looks out her window and sees her balloon. "It looked just like the moon." And she goes to sleep.

This picture book is beautiful in it's simplicity. Emily's imagination and concern for her precious balloon ring true. Emily's Balloon is a glimpse into the mind of a toddler. For the younger set, Sakai's book is a must. In a word, this picture book is PRECIOUS.

Walk On! a guide for babies of all ages by Marla Frazee is a clever picture book. On the surface, it may seem like an instruction manual for babies learning to walk. But don't be fooled. There's an underlying inspirational message for anyone who is trying to do something difficult (like trying to get a book published, for instance)...hence, the subtitle. Frazee is the author/illustrator of this book, and the pictures and text are perfectly complimentary of each other. The baby, who could be a boy or girl, is adorable.
What kind of advice can an adult get from a humorous book about learning to walk? Things like, "Now get a grip. Pull yourself up. STAND."
My one-year-old is in love with this book full of babies. She won't let anyone else touch it. I'm hiding it right now so she won't take it away while I write this review. Ope. She saw it...grabbed it. I only wish it was in board book form. She tugs it around the house, saying "Baby, baby, baby, baby", on and on and on and on.
Here's my only gripe with this book. Older children don't like it because it is a 'Baby Book'...so I would contend that it is not for "babies of ALL ages", but for babies and adults.

In a word, Walk On! by Marla Frazee is CLEVER.

Okay, I have 5 picture books here. They are all very different from each other. But they stand out from the very tall pile of picture books as the ones we want to read over and over.



Where's the Dragon? by Jason Hook, illustrated by Richard Hook (I have no idea if they are related, but I would be surprised if they aren't.)

Anyway, my son has made me read this book to him 568,345,453 times. It is definitely his favorite. Ever.

George and Grandfather go on an expedition to find a dragon. Dense (but lovable) Grandfather doesn't see the dragons, but George does. Children will have a blast feeling the pages. The dragons are actually lumpy.

What do I like about this book? It feels different (and I'm not talking about the lumpy dragons...) It feels fresh. Honestly, I don't think the author knew about the market and the rules of picture books. But it works. It works.


Child of Faerie, Child of Earth by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jane Dyer

Wow. This book is enchanting…if you don’t mind a lyrical, truly poetic picture book now and then. Find this book. It is tagged as a Halloween book, but there is only a brief mention of Hallow’s Eve.

This book is so different from the in-your-face, loud-is-best picture books. There is a time and place for peaceful, imaginative books today. Make time for this one. It’s enchanting.


Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins

Such a fun book for the littlies. First of all, kids can count as Maisy and her friends enter the tent one by one. But what will happen when the fifth animal (an elephant) tries to enter the tent? “Oh no! Five in the…What a squash! What a squeeze! What a squeezy squish-squash!” Will they give up on camping? Of course not. They’ll sleep under the stars.


Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Well, this is one of those in-your-face, loud-is-best picture books. If you don’t know what I mean by this, just look at the cover. It’s wild. But there is a place for this kind of book too. Punk Farm is a rock-and-roll twist on Old MacDonald had a Farm. Five animal band members rock out in concert in the barn while the farmer sleeps.


Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

If you’ve read my blog before, you may know that I am a huge psycho Karma Wilson fan. But you may not know that I am also a Christmas-aholic. I know. It’s not even Halloween yet. But Christmas means wreaths, cinnamon, hot chocolate, pine trees, and family.

Okay, that was a bit of a tangent. This book is a sweet Christmas story about the importance of making room for Jesus during your holidays. The pictures are adorable. (This is the same team that did Bear Snores On and the other bear books.) I missed the rhyme, but Karma Wilson found other ways to make this book sing.


PS: I am on the Picture Book Nominating committee for the Cybils. What? You don't know what I'm talking about? Look here: http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/