I popped into the Richmond library the other day. I only had 6 minutes, thought I’d just check it out. But the front door walks right into the kids’ section. So I walked out with a handful of the kind of books you pick when you have 6 minutes: ones with art you like. … Continue reading
The Poky Little Puppy was first published in 1942. It’s written by Janette Sebring Lowrey and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, and it’s toted as the all-time best-selling hard-cover children’s book in the US. It was one of my father’s favorites. So this post is for you, pops. Continue reading
I remember loving Leo Lionni’s book as a child, though I honesty don’t remember exactly what I loved so much about it. In re-reading it, however, I know what re-worthifies it. First and foremost, the story is triumphant and heroic. A small fish– with the unfortunate name of Swimmy– culls his desire for adventure from … Continue reading
Rightly you might say that The Wizard of Oz doesn’t quite fit into the “picture book” world we’ve got going here. Yes, it does have pictures, and yes, it is for kids. But the words vastly outweigh the pictures, and the witch is too scary for a wee child (she was my first recurrent nightmare … Continue reading
Oral story-telling is in the throes of a long, drawn out death, one which it began decades, even centuries ago, well before most of us were born. And though we do not mourn that fact, we should. Continue reading
Little Book Review 