My day at the public library

I had a lovely day working at the public library in the children's room. It always is good to be in another library setting that is different from my own to see other collections. Today I found some adorable picture books. I wish my children were still small so I could buy them, they are that wonderful!

For those of you who have children who are dog lovers I highly recommend this one!
RRRalph by Lois Ehlert
Ralph is a talking dog, really he is! In Lois Ehlert usual style with handmade illustrations made from zippers, wood, buttons, twine, metal, tree bark, handmade papers and textile fragments this humorous story is about Ralph the dog who narrates the book by talking with words such as: roof, rough, bark and wolf. Check this book out and meet Ralph the talking dog.

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan Shea
This is such a creative book. If a duckling grows and becomes a duck can a car grow and become a truck? If a kitten grows and becomes a cat, can a cap grow and become a hat?
This is a book about growth that actually encourages readers to interact with the question and answer format. There are comparisons with inanimate objects to objects that grow. The illustrations by Tom Slaughter are vibrant and sort of pop-out at the reader. A very special book for a very special child. This also makes for a great gift!

When a Monster is Born by Sean Taylor
Wow, this is really a fabulous read aloud. It is funny, creative and very engaging. It can be read during the day or at night before bed. "When a monster is born there are two possibilities, it can be a faraway monster or an under your bed monster." This particular monster explores all different possibilities and it isn't scary. It is a funny monster story with slapstick humor. The illustrations are bold in neon colors. The monster is lime green with a pink horn and pink toes and buck teeth. A very goofy monster indeed. The author, Sean Taylor, wrote this story based on a Brazilian poem called "When a Baby is Born" that the author heard many years ago. It was the reason why he wrote this book.

Some emotional reads

“But really, anybody could die any day, whether you were ready or not. It could be your pet fish or your sister or you. Nothing is the same forever.” (Love, Aubrey, LaFleur, p. 242)

Well, in the past few days I have read two very different books, both heartwarming and sad on two very real issues, adoption and death. Even though it is summer and both of my kids are home and we are all starting to get on each other’s nerves reading these two books made me grateful for what I do have. Not everyone is this lucky.

The first book, Mother Number Zero by Marjolyn Hof was translated from Dutch. This story is actually based on Hof’s own experience of being adopted. This short book is packed with a tremendous amount of feeling on the issue of adoption. It is a wonderful story for the adopted child who does seek out more information on his/her first mother. Or as the author puts it, “All children come out of a belly and nobody can remember that. What’s the difference- one belly or another?” And so begins the journey of Fejzo in looking for his mother zero, since his first mother is number one in his eyes. The story takes place in the Netherlands, which is the home of Fejzo and his family. But his birth mother was a woman who escaped the war in Bosnia. The story isn’t just about Fejzo but also about his older sister, Bing, who was also adopted but from China. Her story is different in that she can’t find her mother number zero because she was abandoned. We mostly follow Fejzo’s journey to locate his birth mother but the emotions that his sister Bing has also ring true to the reader. This is truly an original story that is both touching and thoughtful. I think it is a great addition to literature on adoption. (Grades 5-8). 

My next read was about the unimaginable, the death of a parent and sister. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur is a remarkable story of love, loss and courage from the point of a view of an 11 year-old girl. Aubrey’s life has been turned upside down by a tragic accident where she loses her father and sister. Unfortunately after the accident Aubrey’s mother becomes emotionally unstable to care for Aubrey so she must move to Vermont to live with her grandmother. Aubrey learns with the help of her grandmother how to express her feelings and thoughts and move on with her life to find happiness.

This is a wonderful story about a young girl who learns about the healing powers of friendship, love and wonderful memories. This is the author’s first story and it is very powerful in that she truly captures the real emotions of a young child who has suffered a terrible loss and learns how to cope to move on with her life. I think we can look forward to many more books by this wonderful author. (Grades 5-8).

A must have picture book!

A must read for every little girl. My Name Is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream? by Jennifer Fosberry. Why is this book so special because it opens the world to a little girl and her inner strength to do the impossible. Isabella wakes up one morning only to tell her mother that her name is not Isabella. Who is this little girl, asks her mother. With each page she becomes someone new. Isabella’s adventure begins with U.S. Astronaut Sally Ride, activist Rosa Parks, Madame Curie and many others. But in reality the biggest hero is of course Isabella’s own mommy. This book is a beautifully illustrated and well-written story that every little girl must have on her own bookshelf to look at over and over again.

 

Jennifer Fosberry is a Bay Area author and mother. My Name is Not Isabella was her first book that came out in September of 2010 and just recently the boy version of this book was published, My Name is Not Alexander. This story has the same premise about a little boy being anyone that he wants to be from Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison to Jackie Robinson. But of course in the end, who is the biggest hero, dad. Two fabulous picture books that are an inspiration to children everywhere! We can’t wait to see what Jennifer Fosberry has in store for us next.