Trusted Oldies and Fun Newbies
Hello fellow book lovers! I'm so excited that Meg has invited me to blog alongside her about my favorite children's books. Even before my son Oliver was born I had a whole bookcase of children's books- favorites from my childhood and newer ones I've picked up along the way, and now I'm going through them all over again to read out loud to little Oliver and to share with you!
It's a lot of pressure to pick books for my very first blog post so I'll just jump in and share a little of this and a little of that.
Book #1- an Oldie: The Golden Egg by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard
My dad gave this book to his grandson this Easter- a favorite from his childhood and mine. In this book a little rabbit finds an egg and wonders impatiently what animal will hatch out of it, and if this animal will be his new friend. The story is classic and the illustrations are wonderful- the egg-shaped frame around each picture reminds me of those little eggs with windows with magical little dioramas inside.
Book #2- a Oldie/Newbie: Henri's Walk to Paris by Leonore Klein, illustrated by Saul Bass
This is a new printing of a 1962 book that I picked up because of
its cover- it turns out the illustrator did the titles for Hitchcock films and was a graphic designer, and the illustrations have an unusual but very interesting charm about them. Beware, color blind readers, this book may be a bit hard to read because of the pink-on-orange print, but the story is wonderful so you should ask someone to read it to you! In this book, Henri is bored of his life in a small town and goes out looking for adventure and new experiences in Paris.
Book #3- another Oldie: Bread and Jam for Francis by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
Boston area folks will be excited to know that the Curious George Store re-opened this week, with new owners and a new clean, open layout. Although the book selection is smaller, and the downstairs (former young adult section) has been turned into offices, the picture/young
children's book selection is a wonderful mix of new (I Want My Hat Back), curious (every Curious George book printed), and old (Bread and Jam for Frances), which I picked up as a welcome-back-to-the-neighborhood purchase, and to celebrate Oliver's introduction to the world of solid food. This is a book I remember from my childhood, and a current favorite of one of the best kids I know, Miss Chloe. It's about a picky eater who will only eat bread and jam, and contains one of the best depictions of unpacking and eating a home-packed elementary school lunch that I have ever read.
Book #4- LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
I'm not usually excited by alphabet books, but this one has an Ed Emberley style (remember those fingerprint books?) about it that makes me want to stop what I'm doing because the drawings are so great, and I could totally do that! Of course, it is harder than it looks, but it makes me feel creative and motivated to try. Mr. Baker draws hundreds of peas doing things alongside the alphabet. I could spend a long time checking out what each pea is doing. In fact, I'm going to do that right now.
'till next time!
-Masami
It's a lot of pressure to pick books for my very first blog post so I'll just jump in and share a little of this and a little of that.
Book #1- an Oldie: The Golden Egg by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Leonard WeisgardMy dad gave this book to his grandson this Easter- a favorite from his childhood and mine. In this book a little rabbit finds an egg and wonders impatiently what animal will hatch out of it, and if this animal will be his new friend. The story is classic and the illustrations are wonderful- the egg-shaped frame around each picture reminds me of those little eggs with windows with magical little dioramas inside.
Book #2- a Oldie/Newbie: Henri's Walk to Paris by Leonore Klein, illustrated by Saul BassThis is a new printing of a 1962 book that I picked up because of
its cover- it turns out the illustrator did the titles for Hitchcock films and was a graphic designer, and the illustrations have an unusual but very interesting charm about them. Beware, color blind readers, this book may be a bit hard to read because of the pink-on-orange print, but the story is wonderful so you should ask someone to read it to you! In this book, Henri is bored of his life in a small town and goes out looking for adventure and new experiences in Paris.Book #3- another Oldie: Bread and Jam for Francis by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
Boston area folks will be excited to know that the Curious George Store re-opened this week, with new owners and a new clean, open layout. Although the book selection is smaller, and the downstairs (former young adult section) has been turned into offices, the picture/young
children's book selection is a wonderful mix of new (I Want My Hat Back), curious (every Curious George book printed), and old (Bread and Jam for Frances), which I picked up as a welcome-back-to-the-neighborhood purchase, and to celebrate Oliver's introduction to the world of solid food. This is a book I remember from my childhood, and a current favorite of one of the best kids I know, Miss Chloe. It's about a picky eater who will only eat bread and jam, and contains one of the best depictions of unpacking and eating a home-packed elementary school lunch that I have ever read.
Book #4- LMNO Peas by Keith BakerI'm not usually excited by alphabet books, but this one has an Ed Emberley style (remember those fingerprint books?) about it that makes me want to stop what I'm doing because the drawings are so great, and I could totally do that! Of course, it is harder than it looks, but it makes me feel creative and motivated to try. Mr. Baker draws hundreds of peas doing things alongside the alphabet. I could spend a long time checking out what each pea is doing. In fact, I'm going to do that right now.
'till next time!
-Masami
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