passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
July has arrived and I think it is time for some summery books. Let’s begin with a childhood favorite appropriate for anytime, but most especially for the season of berries. A beautiful berry celebration set in berry-filled rhyme and brimming with colorfully delicious illustrations, here is Jamberry by Bruce Degen, 1983.
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In honor of Father’s Day I bring an awesome, glorious, 70s style book to celebrate those special men in our lives who bear the name of “Dad.” Written in an informative yet simple way, this book discusses all the things that make a dad: his clothes, hair, stature, hobbies, job and more. And it is decked out with fantastic Madden illustrations. Prepare to be delighted by The Daddy Book by Robert Stewart, pictures by Don Madden, 1972.
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Today’s book cost me about a quarter and was discovered in a pile of dirty, discarded books on the bottom shelf of a thrift store. The cover of the book shows its 43 years with a missing dust jacket, torn and chewed edges and a few pencil scribbles on internal pages. But there is no price tag for the delighted smile that just a glimpse at this little square book brought to my face. It is a tale of ladybugs who grow very fond of each other, dream big together, and live a happy and fulfilled life in their love and family. This is Hildegarde and Maximilian by Fernando Krahn, 1970.
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Yesterday was a dreary and very wet day for us and at one moment I found myself searching for a good book to lift the household spirits when this smiling frog-kid caught my eye from the top of a pile. I had not read through it yet, but had read many wonderful reviews and interviews with the author and illustrator, so my expectations were high (and skeptical, as always). Let me just say, we were delighted. This is a simple story about a rainy morning told from two differing perspectives and it packs a lot of heart and leaves you with a big smile. This is Rain! by Linda Ashman, pictures by Christian Robinson, 2013.
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Some days you just need a lot of silly, tickle-your-funny-bone kind of humor. There are a lot of children’s picture books that can probably fit the bill, but in my opinion, the best are gherkin related. If you are like me, you are feeling the effects of a three-day weekend (thanks to the U.S. Memorial Day holiday) and the dragging, off-week that follows. We could all use a nice little chuckle. Allow me to present Pickle Things by Marc Brown, 1980.
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Truth be told, bedtime books are often cheesy, mushy, and really heavy-handed. There are some good ones, and the sleep hypnosis types certainly have a place, even if it is just wishful thinking. But I’m constantly on the look-out for stellar, atypical, really fun go-to-bed books that take the experience to a whole new level. Mission accomplished. Allow me to present a riotous book about little chicks who just aren’t quite ready to drift off and their mama’s less-than-traditional, surprising to everyone, idea. This book is a brilliantly fun, dare I say wild, good time. Here is Chicks Run Wild by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Ward Jenkins, 2011.
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Three Books a Night 