Well, I couldn’t have chosen a better book to raise my spirits in these trying times. Cece Bell’s Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel is pitched toward kids but will entertain and educate anyone who picks it up. El Deafo is Bell’s account of losing her hearing but finding her power in her childhood. I am the parent of two special needs kids, one of whom wears a hearing aid, and I found myself saying, “wow, I never thought of that,” as Bell recounts what it was […]
Perspective matters.
I read and review a LOT of picture books. Clearly I have many opinions on this topic. I can’t even blame my current lifestyle of Squishie Wrangler- I’ve always collected picture books, the only difference is now I have to share them. Books are precious and magic. They need to be amazing and special to inspire a child’s imagination. I have 3 criteria for a picture book: 1) beautiful illustrations 2) lyrical language 3) powerful message. I think the illustrations can be as complex or […]
Maybe if you really like modern fairy tales…?
Young Adult Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, particularly because the writers don’t always have to worry about the details because the targeted audience is more capable of suspending their disbelief. I, however, am the sort who always enjoyed ripping stories apart, especially when I actually do like them. This works out well for me with films, but when it comes to books and comics, I tend to obsess. I spent years avoiding mainstream American comics because I could see, even from a casual […]
Old Childhood Favorite
Father Fox’s Pennyrhymes is an old picture book, first published in 1971, and one we had in our house when my sisters and I were growing up. I have very fond memories of it and got it for Christmas this year. I was a little worried that it wouldn’t hold up, as it’s been over 40 years since the first publication, but I think that it does. What I remember most fondly about it, the amazing and intricate illustrations are still just as beautiful to an […]
Never meet your heroes, and never reread your childhood favourites
Darrell, Sally and Alicia stood together in their North tower dormy, gazing out over the lovely blue sea. Truly, their last day at Malory Towers had been a marvellous one. “The weather is truly wizard, isn’t it?”, Darrell remarked. “How wonderful to have this kind of weather on our last night here!” “My, I shall miss it so much”, Sally declared. “I know we’ll have loads of fun at university, but still. Our time here has been wonderful. I really feel this school has transformed […]
Just be Yourself… unless you can be a Unicorn, then be a Unicorn.
So obviously we all want to be unicorns. Unicorns are special and magical and made of glitter and sparkles. I got this book for Little Squishie, who is a magical sparkle unicorn of a child. She is the most Herself person I know, and even though she is only 3 years old, I never want her to lose that sense of herself as special and magical. I’m not sure about this book though. The more we read it, the less I like the message. The […]
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