Caryn

Book Review: This is New York By M. Sasek

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and while I’m all about wearing green for any occasion, I’m actually celebrating another special, personal holiday. This marks our year anniversary of living in NYC! Oh, how things have changed in that year. I thought it appropriate to celebrate an old book that still rings true and delights in the city. Originally printed in 1960, M. Sasek’s fabulous look at New York was reprinted in 2003 with some updated statistics. It is a beautiful look at the big and small, up and down, packed amazingness of the largest city in the Western Hemisphere. This is New York by M. Sasek, 1960/2003.

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March 17, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn1 Comment

Let’s Read Three: Search Books!

The long, cold winter days are starting to wear thin around here. Now is when I start grabbing for books that ask more from the reader. I’m calling this grouping “Search Books,” but perhaps that title is a bit lacking still. Each of these are descended in some form from the Where’s Waldo genre of books; but I love these more because they carry a solid storyline as well. You don’t have to search when you read them, but they are exponentially more fun if you do. Grab your magnifying glasses and let’s read three books that make you search!

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March 2, 2015April 18, 2020

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Book Review: Kuma-Kuma Chan, The Little Bear By Kazue Takahashi

Have you met Kuma-Kuma Chan yet? We are quite smitten with this little bear and his simple, adorable book. His story was originally published in Japan in 2001, but he has finally made his way over to the U.S. thanks to Museyon. He is a little bear that keeps quite busy and will delight every reader with this charming look at what a day in his life might possibly look like. Meet Kuma-Kuma Chan, The Little Bear by Kazue Takahashi, 2014.

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February 17, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn7 Comments

Let’s Read Three: Snow Books!

It seems that Winter Storm Juno was not as bad as predicted, at least here in NYC; but we do have a lot of snow! And of course, snow means snow days, and snow days mean playing in the snow. And when we are done freezing in the snow, we warm up with cocoa and books about snow of course! I have written about many wintery, snowy books in the past including my winter list from 2013 and one of my new favorite snow books by Jonathan Bean from last year. But today, for this Let’s Read Three series, I bring three vintage books about the anticipation, excitement, and joy of snow.

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January 27, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn5 Comments

Let’s Read Three: Inventing Books!

Happy New Year friends! It is that time of year where everyone seems to have some kind of refresh on their mind. Be it resolutions, lists, a determined thought – the new year tends to give us some extra gusto to do something. With these new resolves in mind, I think this set of three is perfect to encourage and motivate on whatever project you long to create.

I toyed with calling these “Perseverance Books,” but it sounded too cheesy. I also realized that adults don’t really talk about “inventing” things, unless that is their actual occupation. Children’s books are full of inventors and inventions of all sorts. I think we need to get back to believing we can create a solution to something, no matter our age. So, let’s read three books celebrating the failures and surprising successes of inventing!

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January 9, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn6 Comments

Goodnight Moon Animation Narrated By Susan Sarandon

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday week and are ready for the New Year to arrive. While you await, and rest a lot I hope, you must see this sweet video animation of the classic book, Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations by Clement Hurd, and marvelous narration by Susan Sarandon. Enjoy!

Also, don’t miss this great article from the Opinion section of the NY Times, What Writers Can Learn From ‘Goodnight Moon.’ Happy New Year!

December 29, 2014

Caryn1 Comment