Jane Sutton's Blog, page 2
January 7, 2025
Yay for School Library Journal Review!
Another happy-making review for ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER, this time from School Library Journal:PreS-Gr 2–Young-at-heart Zayde and his granddaughter Ruthie connect over a day of activities on Passover. Told in part through a to-do list, the story traces a day of activities for Ruthie and her grandfather. Zayde wears a hat decorated with matzah, rides in a shopping cart pushed by Ruthie as they shop for parsley for the seder plate, hides in a cupboard while cleaning up breadcrumbs, and joins Ruthie in eating a mountain of food to keep them full until a late dinner. Emphasizing the fun, Chappell’s playful illustrations sprinkle “Oy!” throughout Zayde’s high jinks. After completing the list left for them, Ruthie and Zayde join her parents and Bubbe, friends, and family for the seder. At the dinner, Ruthie sings “Dayenu” and enjoys matzah ball soup—a reflection of how traditions are passed from one generation to the next.VERDICT Universal themes of grandparenting and family traditions make this a good addition to holiday collections.The post Yay for School Library Journal Review! appeared first on Jane Sutton.
December 28, 2024
Two-Event Weekend
Busy, fun book-filled December weekend!First was the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival (Newton, MA) with over 60 authors and illustrators. A steady stream of shoppers of all ages. Kudos to the organizers. A huge success!
At my table at the festival
Next day was the Dreidel Disco Party at the Greater Boston JCC, a festive event with all kinds of activities, including authors selling and reading our books:
My books and moi in the cozy Authors Nook
As I read ESTHER’S HANUKKAH DISASTER, my husband, Al, held up the pictures, and all 4 of our grandchildren jumped up to sit with us! My heart was full!
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December 19, 2024
ANOTHER Review for ZAYDE!
Can you tell I was excited to
find a second great review of
Zayde Babysits Before
Passover?
This one is from Publishers Weekly. Check it out!“While Ruthie’s parents help Bubbe prepare to host the seder, Zayde makes his debut as Ruthie’s babysitter, guided by 10 instructions from Mommy. Humor emerges from the contrast between Sutton’s administrative-style text and Chappell’s naif illustrations as Zayde interprets the notes: Instruction No. 3 (“Go to the grocery store. Remember to buy parsley for the seder plate”) finds Ruthie pushing Zayde in a shopping cart while he waves the parsley like a flag. A few mishaps occur—punctuated with “Oy!”—but Zayde completes his childcare mission and leads the seder with aplomb in a book that shows a mix of spontaneity and tradition making a cherished holiday even more meaningful. The family is portrayed with pale skin. More about Passover concludes. Ages 4–9. (Jan.)”
find a second great review of
Zayde Babysits Before
Passover?
This one is from Publishers Weekly. Check it out!“While Ruthie’s parents help Bubbe prepare to host the seder, Zayde makes his debut as Ruthie’s babysitter, guided by 10 instructions from Mommy. Humor emerges from the contrast between Sutton’s administrative-style text and Chappell’s naif illustrations as Zayde interprets the notes: Instruction No. 3 (“Go to the grocery store. Remember to buy parsley for the seder plate”) finds Ruthie pushing Zayde in a shopping cart while he waves the parsley like a flag. A few mishaps occur—punctuated with “Oy!”—but Zayde completes his childcare mission and leads the seder with aplomb in a book that shows a mix of spontaneity and tradition making a cherished holiday even more meaningful. The family is portrayed with pale skin. More about Passover concludes. Ages 4–9. (Jan.)”
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November 30, 2024
ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER gets its First Review…A Great One!
Sorry for the above spoiler alert. But I’m just so pleased with ZAYDE BEFORE PASSOVER’s first review!I especially love the very last line!
Here’s the whole thing, from Kirkus Reviews:“It’s a wonderful day for Ruthie and Zayde.Mom and Dad are helping Bubbe prepare for the Passover seder, so Ruthie is ready to help make Zayde’s first solo babysitting experience a success. Mom has provided an itemized list of activities for Zayde to keep Ruthie occupied, wear her out, and get her ready for the seder. The activities include preparing a Passover art project, shopping for the seder, having fun in the playground, searching for and discarding breadcrumbs, and more. Since Ruthie does need to be awake for the long night ahead, a nap is required. Each numbered item appears at the top of a page and is followed by colorful illustrations that joyfully enhance the text and demonstrate that while they complete every task on the list, it might not be the way Ruthie’s mother intended. Ruthie pushes Zayde in the shopping cart at the grocery store, Zayde does a handstand and whooshes down the slide at the playground, Zayde needs Ruthie to pull him out from under the sink while they’re cleaning, and Zayde is the one who has the nap while Ruthie is wide awake. At Bubbe’s house, the seder table is set, Zayde leads the seder, and diverse friends and family are on hand to make it a special night of good food, traditions, and songs. Readers will find themselves giggling with delight at the antics and wanting more of Ruthie and Zayde. The protagonists are light-skinned.Intergenerational love at its most tender and sweet. (about Passover) (Picture book. 3-9)”
Here’s the whole thing, from Kirkus Reviews:“It’s a wonderful day for Ruthie and Zayde.Mom and Dad are helping Bubbe prepare for the Passover seder, so Ruthie is ready to help make Zayde’s first solo babysitting experience a success. Mom has provided an itemized list of activities for Zayde to keep Ruthie occupied, wear her out, and get her ready for the seder. The activities include preparing a Passover art project, shopping for the seder, having fun in the playground, searching for and discarding breadcrumbs, and more. Since Ruthie does need to be awake for the long night ahead, a nap is required. Each numbered item appears at the top of a page and is followed by colorful illustrations that joyfully enhance the text and demonstrate that while they complete every task on the list, it might not be the way Ruthie’s mother intended. Ruthie pushes Zayde in the shopping cart at the grocery store, Zayde does a handstand and whooshes down the slide at the playground, Zayde needs Ruthie to pull him out from under the sink while they’re cleaning, and Zayde is the one who has the nap while Ruthie is wide awake. At Bubbe’s house, the seder table is set, Zayde leads the seder, and diverse friends and family are on hand to make it a special night of good food, traditions, and songs. Readers will find themselves giggling with delight at the antics and wanting more of Ruthie and Zayde. The protagonists are light-skinned.Intergenerational love at its most tender and sweet. (about Passover) (Picture book. 3-9)”The post ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER gets its First Review…A Great One! appeared first on Jane Sutton.
November 1, 2024
I Love Summer!
Now that it’s November, I’m finally getting around to sharing my favorite photos from our lovely week-long family vacation this past summer.This year we rented a house in Hyannis on Cape Cod. We loved the beaches, the town, a Cape Cod League baseball game, two fairs, a harbor cruise, and just hanging out together! Here are some shots of our group of 10—2 grandparents, 4 parents, and 4 grandchildren.Oh, how I wish we were heading into summer NOW, and not winter.
Our Whole Crew on a Hyannis Trolly
The 4 cuties (could be a promo for a musical group?)
Grammy and Pop with our 4 cuties
Waiting for the next activity with my two granddaughters
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October 24, 2024
Annual Haloween Creation
I don’t buy skeletons, inflatable pumpkins, or stringy spider webs. Instead every year I create a stuffed-with leaves, ball-ed head “person” to greet trick-or-treaters. This year’s honors MA 250, an ongoing celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States, taking place in my home state of Massachusetts, where it all began!I love Halloween!
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September 7, 2024
Cover Reveal!
Yay! I’m tickled (hee hee!) to share the adorable cover of my next book!
Tada!My next book, ZAYDE BABYSITS BEFORE PASSOVER, is due for publication on January 7, 2025 but can be pre-ordered through any in-person or on-line book source now!I love the cover by talented illustrator Kate Chappell!And wait until you see the inside…Stay tuned!
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July 24, 2024
Interesting Blog (Someone Else’s)
Want to read an insightful blog about environmental and sustainability issues? Well, have I got a blog for you!Now What? A Call to Action Blog uses systems thinking tools to explain and add understanding to a variety of scientific findings, energy policies, technological developments, and more occurring around the world today. And it provides hope for how things can improve!
His latest post, written after a trip we took to Europe, focuses on the many wise sustainability measures in Switzerland.
And yes, the brilliant blogger happens to be my husband.
His latest post, written after a trip we took to Europe, focuses on the many wise sustainability measures in Switzerland.
And yes, the brilliant blogger happens to be my husband.
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May 23, 2024
Poster Post
I’ve always gotten a kick out of the variety of creative—often euphemistic—names and rainbow of colors of port-a-potties. So I snapped dozens of photos of them (they actually liked the attention) for several years and now……it’s a poster!
Where did I hang it? On our bathroom door, of course!
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May 3, 2024
What do Cauliflower and Poetry Have in Common?
Answer: They’re both in the picture books my granddaughter requested I read to her preK class last week.The class was so attentive and responsive. We all had a ball!
Sidney in DON’T CALL ME SIDNEY likes to rhyme. “Can you help me tell a story? It was hot. So a man named Dan used a ….yes, a fan!”
“This spoon liked to look up at the…yes, moon!”
Of course, the most fun of all was sitting in the classroom reading
nook with my granddaughter!
Mortimer the koala bear thinks cauliflower brings bad luck!
Sidney in DON’T CALL ME SIDNEY likes to rhyme. “Can you help me tell a story? It was hot. So a man named Dan used a ….yes, a fan!”
“This spoon liked to look up at the…yes, moon!”
Of course, the most fun of all was sitting in the classroom readingnook with my granddaughter!
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