Lauri Fortino's Blog, page 54

My View Book Review: You Made Me a Mother

Title: You Made Me a Mother

Author: Laurenne Sala

Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser

Publisher/Year: Harper/2016

Perfect For: New moms, Mother’s Day, baby showers, bedtime reading

This Mother’s Day, in honor of moms new and old, I bring youYou Made Me a Mother.Now, I am not a mother (unless you count my fur baby), but I have a mother, so I put myself in her shoes as I read this sweet homage to motherhood. And though this book is clearly all about a mother’s unconditional love for her child,...

Help! PS191 in NYC needs a library

These kids need a school library. Read on to see how you can help.

Z is for Zampetti

Today I found out that my school is lending a helping hand to a neighboring school by hosting a book drive to help create a school library. How great is that?

So, in the interests of spring cleaning, my local friends – not-so-local friends can help out, too – won’t you give a book to a school?

Without further ado, from MV4NY and the amazing PS166 PTA:

Spring Break is a great time for cleaning out your book ca...

Picture Books At The Library 60

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Peep can’t wait for Egg to hatch. They will have so much fun together! But Egg isn’t quite ready yet.

Sophie and her mother make very special treats for their party, but Sophie worries there won’t be one left for her.

This book encourages kids t...

Picture Books At The Library 59

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Lucy and her dog, Mr. Barker, find themselves lost in a fairy tale where they meet new friends and find surprises around every turn.

As crickets sing in the breeze, hunting owls watch over the bay, and sea otters doze on the tide, two children o...

My View Book Review: Lolli and Pop Find Kindness by Carolyn Snelling

Title: Lolli and Pop Find Kindness

Author: Carolyn Snelling

Illustrator: Izzy Bean

Publisher/Year: Carpenter’s Son Publishing/2016

Series: The Fruit of the Spirit

If you’ve read my book The Peddler’s Bed, then you know it’s all about kindness. Kindness, often along with friendship, is a theme that shows up in most of mystories. It might take center stage or it might be more subtle, but it’s in there somewhere.

A terrific example of a story that puts kindness front and center isLolli and Pop...

Picture Books At The Library 58

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

A mother and son use their imagination to have fun on a rainy day.

After the zoo closes, monkey slips out of his cage to explore the zoo, introducing the reader to the other animals and the idea of opposites.

The little bears pick up their instr...

My View Book Review: Goodnight Unicorn by Pearl E. Horne

Title: Goodnight Unicorn: A Magical Parody

Author: Pearl E. Horne (a.k.a. Karla Oceanak)

Illustrator: Kendra Spanjer

Publisher/Year: Bailiwick Press/2016

First Line: In the great green wood, there were sweet hawthorns, and breezes warm, and a blessing of unicorns with spiraling horns.

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Did you know that a herd of unicorns is called a blessing? And that a unicorn’s spiraling horn is called an alicorn? Did you know that only people who are pure of heart can see unicorns? These ar...

Calling All SCBWI Members

Are you a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)? If so, have you voted yet for your favorite children’s book? Round One voting ends tomorrow for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards, so if you haven’t voted yet, now’s the time. It’s easy!

Head on over towww.scbwi.org, log in to your account, scroll down to the bottom of the left-hand sidebar, and click on “Vote in the Crystal Kite Awards”. All the fabulous books from your SCBWI regional division wil...

Zoo Ball Blog Tour

Please welcome award-winning Australian children’s book author Aleesah Darlison to Frog on a Blog! Aleesah offers a unique perspective on how to perfect picture book stories. She’s also here to share her latest picture bookZoo Ball,which, as you’ll soon discover, was illustrated by some very special people. Read on!

Tiny Grains of Sand – Perfecting Picture Book Stories

By Aleesah Darlison

Many people dream of publishing a picture book. This particular format, and genre, is my favorite of all...

Picture Books At The Library 57

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

No More Ratings

Okay, you’re going to think I’m nutsy, but I really gave this a lot of thought. I’ve decided to do away with my rating system. My rating system, as those of you who have been following my Picture Books At The Library posts know,...