Sweet story, lots of nature and English food which are probably the most charming parts of the book. Delicate, intricate illustrations. Worst part: thSweet story, lots of nature and English food which are probably the most charming parts of the book. Delicate, intricate illustrations. Worst part: the character's names....more
I looked at the cover and assumed this was one I wouldn't like as an adult, too cutesy. But then I remembered that Franklin is afraid of the dark andI looked at the cover and assumed this was one I wouldn't like as an adult, too cutesy. But then I remembered that Franklin is afraid of the dark and was charmed all over again....more
Same lovely/strange paintings as in the other Madeline books. Best line, "For Gypsies do not like to stay- They only come to go away". But I find manySame lovely/strange paintings as in the other Madeline books. Best line, "For Gypsies do not like to stay- They only come to go away". But I find many rhyming books hard to take as an adult and this one is no exception...more
2.5 stars. Interesting, very arty, pictures. John always has problems with extraordinary animals and natural disasters on his way to school but his sc2.5 stars. Interesting, very arty, pictures. John always has problems with extraordinary animals and natural disasters on his way to school but his school master never believes him. Until the tables turn. I had fonder memories of this book than I do on re-reading it....more
I'm always surprised I like this book. The pictures are pretty ugly, done in shade of 70's shag carpet. And the story isn't particularly original, it'I'm always surprised I like this book. The pictures are pretty ugly, done in shade of 70's shag carpet. And the story isn't particularly original, it's pretty much a recounting of the events that led to the creation of Hanukkah. But I've always liked it. I guess there is just something amazing about an underdog standing up for a conviction and the miracle of the oil lasting for 8 days. It might be blasphemous to say this, but I think it appeals to me because it has a fairy-tale quality to it. I learned the word "gelt" from this book....more
I just re-read/played this book with Hunter. The puzzles (mostly word and I Spy) are clever. And surprisingly challenging (we were never able to findI just re-read/played this book with Hunter. The puzzles (mostly word and I Spy) are clever. And surprisingly challenging (we were never able to find the starling). The writing is awful and almost never helps with finding the animals so after the first page or so, I recommend you just skip the words and look at the pictures....more
The art in this book is more sophisticate, clear, and vivid than in the prior editions I reviewed. But for the increase in artistic ability there hasThe art in this book is more sophisticate, clear, and vivid than in the prior editions I reviewed. But for the increase in artistic ability there has been a corresponding decrease in literary value. The book is longer and the rhymes seem more forced than usual. I wonder if this book is a classic out of sentimentality more than merit. Why do the Madeline stories endure?...more
This little bunny put's his mother's love to the test. And she passes with flying colors. Maybe it's codependent but I think it's wonderful to feel liThis little bunny put's his mother's love to the test. And she passes with flying colors. Maybe it's codependent but I think it's wonderful to feel like the person you love would go to any lengths for you. Th color spreads in this book are fabulous; fanciful paintings that transform the pair of rabbits into many different objects from wind and a sailboat to a rock and a mountain climber. Then again, sometimes when you run away people don't come after you, but I guess that's why we tell stories....more
I like this rhyme. It suggests to me that we receive many gifts in life (and not just tangible ones). And often times a gift doesn't work out the wayI like this rhyme. It suggests to me that we receive many gifts in life (and not just tangible ones). And often times a gift doesn't work out the way we had planned, but then another one comes along. And even if they all disappear we are left with our relationships and, above all, ourselves. The art in this book is rustic and was or was designed to look as though it was painted on wood. This seems like a nice complement to a story that was popularized in this country in the Appalachian Mountains. I would be interested to spend some time in that region because it seems to have been an important place for preserving folk stories and songs....more
This is another fabulous old-school book. It is an imagining of how animals are created (i.e. in an animal factory in the clouds with buildings of feaThis is another fabulous old-school book. It is an imagining of how animals are created (i.e. in an animal factory in the clouds with buildings of feathers and fur and scaled roofs). They are drawn by working angels (who carry lunch pails). This story, not surprisingly, is about the ups and downs that led to the creation of the lion. An interesting sidebar; an abbreviated version of this story was originally printed in Life magazine. I didn't even know they did things like that. But I do wish that our modern media spent more time celebrating success in all fields and less time on sensationalism. ...more
I actually like this one better than the original. Maybe it's because it involves a dog. The illustrations are the same style, although there are a nuI actually like this one better than the original. Maybe it's because it involves a dog. The illustrations are the same style, although there are a number of color spreads interspersed with the one color spreads. The variety is nice although I generally find the monochromatic spreads to be more striking. I also enjoyed seeing places that we visited in France depicted as the girls search through the city. I had never realized how much the children's books I read took me around the world. It's a great way to travel with the economy being the way it is. But it also reminds me that I want to travel to be inspired by other places and other cultures. Croatia is top of my destination list right now, but that changes almost weekly. Until then, I'll always have my books....more
This is another rabbit story (I have a lot of these since my nickname is Bunny). It's about losing a tooth. My favorite story elements are: 1. The parThis is another rabbit story (I have a lot of these since my nickname is Bunny). It's about losing a tooth. My favorite story elements are: 1. The part where Little Rabbit thinks about what she wants to do with her tooth (one example is to take it to the store and try to use it to buy candy), 2. What Little Rabbit thinks the Tooth Fairy will do with her tooth and 3. Really anything Little Rabbit says. Her dialogue really sounds convincingly child-like to me. I wonder if they have the Tooth Fairy in other cultures. Traditions around what people do with their teeth would be a really interesting book. I also like the illustrations in this book, primary colors cleverly blended with black to give a surreal yet soft look to the book....more
I like the relationship between Mike and his steam shovel (Mary-Anne). They have a nice friendship that endures even when she has been termed obsoleteI like the relationship between Mike and his steam shovel (Mary-Anne). They have a nice friendship that endures even when she has been termed obsolete. This seems to be a theme in Burton's books; as technology advances what do we do with the older models? In this story I think she finds a really nice resolution to this question. In the process she creates some wonderful pictures (particularly of rolling hills) and an exciting build in the story. Will they be able to finish the town-hall basement in time? There is also a nice theme of needing community support to solve problems and provide encouragement....more
Charming story about 5 identical brothers with unique talents who help each-other out. The illustrations are simple but humorous. I really like the piCharming story about 5 identical brothers with unique talents who help each-other out. The illustrations are simple but humorous. I really like the pictures of the brother who can hold the sea in his mouth. I also like that the village tries to smother one brother in an oven filled with whipped cream. Who does that? ...more
We read this book so much that my Mom laminated all the pages to keep t from falling apart. It is a very clever I Spy book using different fairy-taleWe read this book so much that my Mom laminated all the pages to keep t from falling apart. It is a very clever I Spy book using different fairy-tale and nursery rhyme characters. each page has a character you have just found and part of the character you are looking for next. Sweet rhyming text and perky pictures are a perfect match....more
There were always plenty of goat books around growing up. Something about having goats seems to capture people's imagination and encourage them into gThere were always plenty of goat books around growing up. Something about having goats seems to capture people's imagination and encourage them into giving goat gifts. Anyway, this was one of the better ones. It was pre-owned by Dianne S., judging by the indelible marker on the cover. It's funny the things that I have forgotten as an adult. I would have thought I could always tell this story but I found that I had forgotten it, well not the bit about the troll under the bridge, but how the whole thing worked out. If folk-tales are a way to pass down communal wisdom, the message of this story seems unclear to me. Maybe it is that you shouldn't make complicated bargains, but rather leap at the first chance you have, even if there is supposed to be a bigger or better chance coming soon. Maybe it's just that goats will do anything to get food....more
Character names are so important to me. How can you dislike a book where the protagonist is named Gumpy? Anyway, Mr. Gumpy is a nice man with a boat wCharacter names are so important to me. How can you dislike a book where the protagonist is named Gumpy? Anyway, Mr. Gumpy is a nice man with a boat who is continuously solicited by different animals for a ride in the boat. He agrees but always asks that the animal not do something inherent to it's nature (the dog can't tease the cat, the pig can't muck about...). I'm sure you can guess how that goes for him. The only thing I would like better is to see him lose it a little when things get out of control but that's OK. The drawings are nice, black and white on the left and in color on the right with a few full color spreads. In the pictures, Burningham (I wonder how his family got that last name) uses crosshatching liberally and mixed media which gives his work a very satisfying texture and dimensionality....more
2.5 stars really. I love the cover, all earth tones. The writing voice is patronizing (reminiscent of the box-car children books if I am remembering c2.5 stars really. I love the cover, all earth tones. The writing voice is patronizing (reminiscent of the box-car children books if I am remembering correctly, but I used to really like that kind-of tone) but there is something I like about the art. It is very detailed, almost photo-realistic. Plus the quilt that the cat drags around looks a lot like one of my childhood quilts. The pictures on the left hand pages are small, in black and white and are under the text. The ones on the right are ovular, like old-fashioned portraits and in color. Nicola Bayley also did the artwork for The Tyger Voyage which I hope I still have because I would like to re-read it. I remember not loving the text for that book either, but things change....more
This book is a good bridge between picture books and chapter books. The writing is a little sappy but I remember liking it as a kid. The best part isThis book is a good bridge between picture books and chapter books. The writing is a little sappy but I remember liking it as a kid. The best part is the Jack Russell dog that acts as a side-kick. Most of the book is pretty realistic but the dog talks sporadically. I also like the random page-long shopping list towards the end of the book. It's an interesting tangent form the main boys and trains plot....more
This is an incredibly sweet counting and bedtime story. I love the odd perspectives in the pictures throughout. This is another one of those stories wThis is an incredibly sweet counting and bedtime story. I love the odd perspectives in the pictures throughout. This is another one of those stories where there is a lot of information in a very few words. I guess one of the great things about children's books is that they are like a good poem where every word is chosen carefully. Do we add pictures to the books because we don't trust kid's imaginations? To engage more than one sense at a time? To add dimension to the words? How is it different to have a work that is a synergy of author and illustrator rather than the lone voice in a novel?...more
This book is cute but Each Peach Pear Plum is better. Every other page in this book is die-cut so that you can peek forward and backward. It's kind-ofThis book is cute but Each Peach Pear Plum is better. Every other page in this book is die-cut so that you can peek forward and backward. It's kind-of like a junior I-Spy book. Also, the version I have is much older('81?) so it is a hardcover. I think a board-book edition is a good idea though because reading it through now, I am surprised I didn't tear the pages a s a kid. It's hard to keep a book with cut-outs or flaps from ripping in the hands of an enthusiastic reader. ...more
This is an adorable story about Lengthwise, a bookworm who is eating his way through the dictionary. As he does this he only uses words from the sectiThis is an adorable story about Lengthwise, a bookworm who is eating his way through the dictionary. As he does this he only uses words from the section he is eating ("Beautiful big black beetle, befriend a befuddled bookworm baffled by bewildering bug-babble") which makes him sound pretentious to all of the other bugs. I also like that the different letters taste different to him (tip: avoid the zs). But ultimately Lengthwise finds his place in the word big vocabulary and all....more
I put off re-reading this book because I thought I would love it. I still like some of the pictures (like Miss Clavel running down the hall) because oI put off re-reading this book because I thought I would love it. I still like some of the pictures (like Miss Clavel running down the hall) because of interesting use of perspective and I do like the lines of girls and their drugged-out expressions. But, not my favorite by any means....more
I remember always liking this book which surprises me since the color pallet is brown, orange, and white. The story is based on an old folk tale and hI remember always liking this book which surprises me since the color pallet is brown, orange, and white. The story is based on an old folk tale and has a nice message. The message that I get is that no matter how much scarcity I feel, there will always be enough so long as I share with my community....more
This book is a wonderful chronicle of how time passes and about urbanization. Again, the words are nothing to write home about but the pictures capturThis book is a wonderful chronicle of how time passes and about urbanization. Again, the words are nothing to write home about but the pictures capture the change the little house experiences beautifully. And it has a happy ending....more
I like Virginia Lee Burton's illustartions because they are detailed and a little bit strange. It's almost like she draws the main picture but has allI like Virginia Lee Burton's illustartions because they are detailed and a little bit strange. It's almost like she draws the main picture but has all of these other thoughts so she has to draw little pictures to represent those thoughts in the margins. The endpapers done in aqua and red are awesome too. I also like it that in this book she is writing about a "red crawler tractor", which I would think has a masculine connotation to it, but she names it Katy. But the story is a little boring, lots of digging the townspeople out of the snow and not much else....more
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