passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
Our book for today’s picture book countdown is older and occasionally difficult to find. My treasured book is an ex-library copy with a sad missing jacket cover. The dull gray binding is hiding great beauty beneath, so I will share two spreads in this somewhat quick post. Here is Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent, 1983.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 9: Merry Christmas, Ernest and Celestine”
I am so excited about today’s book for our Christmas picture book countdown! Although this one is from 1981, I had never seen it until this year when I was browsing Christmas books for this series. I enjoy Tomie dePaola’s work and he is quite a classic for children’s books, but wow! This is going to be one of my new favorites of his. Join me in admiring The Friendly Beasts: an old English Christmas Carol by Tomie dePaola, 1981.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 7: The Friendly Beasts”
Another late post I’m afraid, but hey, we are keeping this book Advent going! Today’s book is a sweet paperback from my childhood. Opening this story floods me with memories: my favorite pictures, the sad puppy, the even more sad and parentless boy! I truly believe that what you read as a child affects who you become as an adult and this book can definitely be included in my makeup. Let’s take a look at a tender story, a classic, even if a bit saccharine and tear-jerking. This is The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer, illustrated by Lisa McCue, 1985.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 3: The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy”
Hello friends! My apologies at the lack of posting due to sickness, family visits, and an American holiday weekend. I hope your days were lovely and I’m itching to get back to sharing some favorite picture books. Today’s book is a bit different, but it has made quite an impression on my illustration heart and I need to share it in the hopes that someone else comes to love it too. A wordless book, with the exception of a note to readers in the front and a note to parents and others in the back, this is a unique book about counting, math, details and observation. Let’s hope I do it some justice in my explanations. Here is Anno’s Counting House by Mitsumasa Anno, 1982.
Continue reading “Book Review: Anno’s Counting House By Mitsumasa Anno”
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.
Continue reading “Book Review: Jamberry By Bruce Degen”
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.
Continue reading “Book Review: Pickle Things By Marc Brown”
Three Books a Night 