passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
Day 3 of our Advent countdown brings a vintage book that I eagerly sought out this year. It is actually a Little Golden Book with six short stories about Christmas. And best of all, Richard Scarry did the illustrations! Allow me to share a bit of The Animals’ Merry Christmas by Kathryn B. Jackson, pictures by Richard Scarry, 1958.
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Perhaps this post is coming a little late in the game, but there is something about the anticipation of fall that has me once again paying attention to and thinking about gardens, plants, and typical Spring-type things. Which is kind of strange considering I am practically allergic to Spring and so far I seem to have a terrible black thumb. Even my succulents bit the dust after just a couple months of apartment living. But recently, I have had a lovely little basil pot survive and yield two batches of pesto thus far, so I am feeling more interested and encouraged about gardening, even in city life.
Before everything starts the beautiful process of dying and changing colors for my favorite season, allow me to share a (bit wordier) look at three books devoted to gardens, and more importantly, community. Let’s read three books about gardening!
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Sunday was Father’s Day in the U.S. and I have been determined to do a companion to my Mother’s Day post last month, this time looking at Father Bear from our beloved Little Bear book series. Now, I am not a father, so it feels a little weird to be writing a “how-to” post on something I am not and won’t ever be. But Father Bear is such a strong literary character that it seems only fitting to devote a post to him in celebration of the holiday. In the children’s literature world, parents are often quite terrible or non-existent; so I adore the solid, faithful figure Father Bear presents. Let’s take a look at a few of Father Bear’s strengths and celebrate the joy of fatherhood through him. Here are my observations on how to be a great dad as seen in Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1959.
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Yesterday was Mother’s Day here in the United States. It is an interesting holiday, that most consider to be a marketing ploy, although a previous book I’ve discussed taught me differently. I sheepishly admit that I don’t care too much about Mother’s Day. It is a fine holiday, but always feels a little overdone to me. I do love my mother and mother-in-law, and I never turn down a lovely gift or two or flowers or chocolates or any combination thereof. And I am honored that I am a mother with two children of my own. But perhaps it is because I am in what is considered the throes of toddlerhood that I feel being a mother just isn’t always marvelous. It is hard stuff. Pantloads of patience are required. Motherhood asks for lots of creativity, multitasking, functioning on very little sleep, and did I mention patience?
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Merry Christmas! We have reached the end of yet another 25 Days of Christmas picture books. This season went so fast, and yet when I look back at the first books posted this December, it seems like ages ago. How is that possible? As I suspect no one will be visiting today, I will share a simple, vintage Little Golden Book that has sat on my family’s bookshelves for years. It is only appropriate to finish with a Nativity story and what better than a classic Eloise Wilkin styled one. Here is The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson, illustrations by Eloise Wilkin, 1956.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 25: The Christmas Story”
Squeaking in with day 4’s post in our 2014 Christmas book Advent, here is a classic book starring lovable old Petunia. Roger Duvoisin’s little goose heroine is always a treat to read and her Christmas tale is a hoot for sure. Check out Petunia’s Christmas by Roger Duvoisin, 1952.
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Three Books a Night 