Tag Archives: Children’s Literature

This is the Feast – Day 2

American Literature 1 Comment

It’s Day Two of the Blog Tour for This is the Feast, and I thought I’d post author Diana Z. Shore’s bio, which has links to some of her other books: After 9½ years, 385 rejections, and a forest of sloppy copies, teacher-turned-author Diane Z. Shore published her first picture book, BUS-A-SAURUS BOP, a rollicking, rhyming read-aloud, and winner of the 2004 Children’s Choice Award. Now a full time author and read-aloud advocate, Diane writes in a variety of genres and her books have been…

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This is the Feast by Diana Z. Shore

American Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: A telling of the Thanksgiving story in rhyming couplets, with illustrations by Megan Lloyd. Review: It’s day one of the blog tour for This is the Feast, so I’ll be blogging about the book for the next three days. This is the Feast is an illustrated book with a beautiful poem about the Pilgrims’ voyage and the first Thanksgiving. What I like about it is that it’s structured as a giving thanks itself–for everything that the Pilgrims experience, they find something to be thankful…

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Huh? (Booking through Thursday)

On Reading 21 Comments

What’s your favorite book that nobody else has heard of? You know, not Little Women or Huckleberry Finn, not the latest best-seller . . . whether they’ve read them or not, everybody “knows” those books. I’m talking about the best book that, when you tell people that you love it, they go, “Huh? Never heard of it?” A Candle in Her Room by Ruth Arthur tells the story of several generations of a family haunted by a charismatic and evil doll. It scared me silly…

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Superfast Baby Reads

On Reading 4 Comments

I read books to her for the first time tonight. We read Goodnight Moon and The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. She made her happy baby noises so I think it was a success. I adore Goodnight Moon, which I’ve read to countless children while babysitting. It’s so tranquil & hypnotic. The Sandra Boynton book was very silly & sweet, with delightful word combinations that are perfect for tickling and cuddling.

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Usborne Books for Kids

On Reading 6 Comments

My best friend Mandy set up an Usborne e-store for me that’s running through December 1st. Any books bought through this e-store earn points for me towards free books… and we all want Superfast Baby to be well-read, right? There are internet specials, sale items, and a raffle, plus information on how you can host your own Usborne e-show. Mandy has a master’s in children’s literature, teaching credentials, and is the mother of 2 of the best kids in the world. And I’m not prejudiced…

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ALA’s Home Library Suggestions for Families

On Reading 2 Comments

Need help knowing what books to buy for your kids? The American Library Association wants to help: The ALA-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, with cooperation from the ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee, has created the four bibliographies below, “Building a Home Library,” to provide guidance to parents, grandparents, and others interested in assembling a high-quality library for their children at home. The lists are sort of skimpy; this wouldn’t be much of a library. And it skews heavily towards commercially popular books from the last…

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The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle

American Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: The unicorns have all disappeared from the world, save one, who cannot accept that she is the last. Review: I know I said no fantasy for a while, but The Last Unicorn is a children’s books so it doesn’t count. I have long been a fan of the Rankin/Bass animated movie, but never read the book. When it showed up from BookMooch, I couldn’t wait any longer.

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The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

American Literature 3 Comments

Synopsis: A shy 14-year-old Latin scholar finds a passage into Manhattan’s underworld, where, guided by an unhappy ghost named Euri, he hopes to find out how his mother died once and for all. Review: Greek mythology concerning the after life deftly mixes with New York City’s colorful history in The Night Tourist, a marvelous adventure tale that’s as fresh as they come. Suitable for young readers emotionally mature enough to handle themes of death and grief, The Night Tourist is rich enough to satisfy teen…

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

British Literature 7 Comments

Synopsis: Harry Potter braces for his final battle with evil Lord Voldemort, knowing that only one of them will survive. Review: My biggest criticism of Harry Potter has always been his passivity. In the first few books especially, he spends most of his time being rescued or protected, simply because he’s “The Boy Who Lived.” And for awhile, it seemed as though JK Rowling wasn’t paying attention–was creating a hero who didn’t deserve to bear that name.

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Essential Books For Children

On Reading 26 Comments

I want to start a conversation about what readers think are the books that no child should be without. I’m building a library for Superfast Baby, and here are my 10 must haves for boys and 10 must haves for girls: Boys: 1. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling 2. A House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs 3. Don’t Care High by Gordon Korman

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