Children's Books, and Other Cool Stuff

Picture Books                   The Green Bath-   Written by Margaret Mahy, Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Published by Arthur A. Levine Books. An imprint of Scholastic Inc. Printed  in Malaysia 2013. When Sammy's father brings home a green bath tub Sammy plunges into an adventure he has been waiting for. The book full of amazing illustrations helps nurture a child's imagination. After you read this book to your little one, bath time will never be the same.               The Dream Keeper-   Written and illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Published by Penguin Young Readers Group. New York 2006. The book is written in the form of a personnel letter of a grandfather to his grandchild, where he describes a Dream Keeper and his world. This magical creature catches our dreams and keeps them safe. The painting like illustrations make this book hard to...

      That Time I Joined the Circus- Written by JJ Howard, published by Scholastic Inc. New York 2013. It is a well told life story of a 17 year old girl.  After her father's untimely death and a misunderstanding with her two best friends, she is forced to run away south and join a traveling circus that her mother was a part of once. This journey enriches her with a new outlook on life, and helps her discover her passion for the arts and acting. From a circus clean up crew to a fortune teller with her own act, Lexi's character develops over the course of the book, and discovers her true passion. I highly recommend this book for the dreamers living inside everyone.     Ship Breakers- Written by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little Brown and Company, New York 2010. Winner of Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. National Book Award Finalist. The action ...

Welcome all to my first Author Spotlight feature where you will get a chance to meet a well known author and learn about the writing process.   Interview     1) What were your favorite children books, when you were growing up?   I read practically every Nancy Drew there was, plus Harriet the Spy, The Little White Horse, and I gobbled up all of Phyllis Whitney’s mysteries , A Wrinkle in Time, etc . I could go on, but I won’t. Basically, I read a book a day all during elementary school.Maybe that’s why I love writing for the middle-grade audience.   2) What was the inspiration behind writing your book?   Several things! The magical, mysterious world of butterflies . . . spooky Louisiana swamps, old plantation houses, islands in the South Pacific . . . and a girl who is connected to all those things through her Grammy Claire. I love mysteries; too, as you can tell from my childhood favorite books, and I wanted to try my h...

 Middle Grade Books 1) “Children of the Lamp (The Akhanaten Adventure) - by P.B Kerr, published by “Orchard books, and imprint of scholastic Inc.   New York 2004.   What if you find out that you are descendants from a long line of Dijon, human-like  beings created from fire.   They are able to grant wishes, and take on different animal forms.   This is exactly what happens to two twelve-year-old twins, John and Phillippa, after they get their wisdom teeth pulled.   The children are sent to London to their Uncle Nimrod's home where their amazing adventure begins. This venture takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through a fantasy Middle Eastern World.   This journey teaches the twins that granting wishes is not only dangerous for themselves, but for people who desire wishes as well. 2) “Peter and Star Catchers”- Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Greg Call.   Published by Disney Hyperion paperbacks f...

It has been a cold and snowy winter so far. I really hope that you take the time to purchase these picture books and share them with your young children by your fireplace. Please have fun and enjoy that special moment with them. Picture Books "I Want my Hat Back"-  Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen published by Candlewick  press 2011 Somerville, MA and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book. A Bear's hat is stolen, but who has done it? He searches everywhere by talking to several of his animal friends. Have any of them seen it? This sounds like a simple concept for a story, but it is much more then that. What makes the book unique are the words and Illustrations.  The hat is hidden in the story and your child has to find it. They have to look carefully. It can be used as a game for them, and this makes the book fun. Get a copy today.  "The Very Beary Tooth Fairy"- Written   by Arthur A. Levine and Illustrated...