Daylight Starlight Wildlife, by Wendell Minor; Nancy Paulsen Books, $17.99, ages 3-6.
Summer is the perfect time to get children acquainted with nature, so be sure to bring this book along on your journeys. Wendell Minor has spent a lifetime painting the great outdoors, and his art has graced the covers of work by Jean Craighead George, Jack London, Alice Shertle, and David McCullough. Here, his vibrant gouache and watercolor portraits of various common critters introduce young readers to the variety of fauna that surround us. In addition to learning about animal behavior, adults may pick up a new word too – crepuscular, which refers to those animals most active at twilight. (Bats, frogs, rabbits and snails are a few.) A handy resource guide makes this a perfect accompaniment for outdoor adventures.
@VikingChildrens
@nancyrosep For #TBThursday, I offer this charming nature exploration by Wendell Minor.
Find out what’s happening in the world of children’s books this week!
May 2-8 is CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK. Check out the bi-coastal events at the Children’s Book Council’s official website. Free posters and bookmarks available while supplies last.
Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey gives out a new book to every student in one school in each state as part of a summer reading campaign contest co-sponsored by Scholastic. (Check out the winning schools here.)
Saturday, April 23rd marked the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and institutions around the world celebrated the day with myriad festivities. Why not share the Bard’s poetic and dramatic gifts with your children? Prolific children’s book author Leon Garfield’s (1921-1996) adaptations of twenty-one plays are the place to start. The material in this volume is the first republished combination of two works: Shakespeare Stories, published in 1985 and Shakespeare Stories II, which didn’t appear until 1994. Both were published
by Victor Gollancz Limited.
Garfield’s ability to distill Shakespeare’s gift for intrigue, humor, wit, and adventure make this book a wonderful introduction to the Bard’s work. Neither simplistic nor boring, the stories capture the essence of Shakespeare with clear, accessible, and modern English. Accompanied by Michael Foreman’s original illustrations, Shakespeare Stories is a graceful, appealing introduction to Shakespeare. Though marketed to children reading at a fairly advanced level, adults intimidated by Elizabethan English but interested in discovering Shakespeare’s virtuosity for themselves might consider giving this book a chance–it’s far more entertaining than CliffsNotes.
Leon Garfield’s Shakespeare Stories, illustrated by Michael Foreman; The New York Review of Children’s Books, $24.95, 576 pages, ages 12 and up.
Manuscript Monday: Ms. Coll 713, Breviary Collages http://ift.tt/1NtivIY
@DisneyHyperion
@The_Pigeon
@MoWillems
Look at what came in the mail last week! It’s The Thank You Book, where Gerald and Piggie thank everyone and everything for taking part in their adventures. A fitting end to a stellar series.
Can’t get enough Mo? Check out this fine story on the three-time Caldecott Honor winner’s retrospective at the New York Historical Society:
The Thank You Book, by Mo Willems; Hyperion Books for Young Readers, $9.99, 64 pages, ages 5-8. Available May 3.
@KentuckyPress
Mommy Goose: Rhymes from the Mountains, by Mike Norris, carved illustrations by Minnie Adkins; University Press of Kentucky, $19.95, 48 pages, all ages.
Recognized for its distinctive storytelling tradition, Appalachia is home to generations of artists, musicians, and writers. Mommy Goose: Rhymes from the Mountains is a visual and rhythmic celebration of this distinct segment of American culture. Author Mike Norris’ fifty original nursery rhymes capture the bluegrass spirit of this rugged and independent land. The verses are arranged in order of complexity–simple, short rhymes lead to more challenging poems. Still, most independent readers will find the text humorous and engaging–consider this ode to a paunchy, lazy calico cat:
Big and fat.
The calico cat
Slept through his dinner.
Now full of sorrow,
He’ll wait till tomorrow,
When he’s a little thinner.
Accompanying the verses are over 100 carved illustrations by folk artist Minnie Adkins, whose woodwork resides in the permanent collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the American Folk Art Museum, and other institutions. A native of Isonville, Kentucky, Adkins’ bright, whimsical artwork is firmly rooted in the cultural traditions of Appalachia, and are a joy to behold.
An important and entertaining addition to any serious Americana collection.
Harry Potter’s million-audio milestone, French classics professors protest cutbacks, and Cartoon Network’s “Steven Universe” creator gets a kids book addressing gender fluidity, this week in the world of children’s books.
Listen Up! Harry Potter’s Million-Audio Milestone :
Classics Professors in France Protest Education Reform in Style:
Rebecca Sugar announces ‘Steven Universe’ children’s book that addresses gender fluidity:
@scholastic
The Hero Two Doors Down, by Sharon Robinson; Scholastic Press, $16.99, 208 pages, ages 9-13.
Eight-year old baseball fanatic Stephen Satlow lives for his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, and one day the boy’s hero, Jackie Robinson, moves into his mostly Jewish neighborhood. The baseball giant befriends Stephen while teaching the boy about respect and courage in the face of adversity. Written by Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s daughter, The Hero Two Doors Down is based on interviews Sharon conducted with the real Stephen Satlow. Though a wonderful premise, sections of the story are weighed down by overly didactic passages, and some dialogue exchanges are clunky. Still, young sports fans and reluctant readers may find the book enjoyable or be inspired to seek out further reading about this most remarkable person.
Literary Features Syndicate 