When No One is Watching

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy proof of this adorable book that is expected to come out in February. 

When No One is Watching by Eileen Spinelli & Illustrated by David Johnson

This is a sweet story about a shy little girl who loves to do many things when others aren’t looking. She likes to dance, growl and cheer, she even likes to play basketball and shoot the ball into the hoop. But when everyone is watching she hides behind the couch like a cat, she passes the basketball to her friend, and she won’t sing but rather hum.  This is a story about being shy and knowing that nothing is wrong with it at all. Written in rhyme with wonderful ink drawing illustrations with watercolor and some digital manipulation. You begin to fall in love with this little girl with the wild curly hair. I know I did.

Books for Children on Death and Dying

Death is a hard topic to talk about yet a really important one. Whether your child is dealing with the death of a family pet, a grandparent or family member, a friend, neighbor, teacher; here are some wonderful books to share together that talk about the process of death. These books also have answers to questions that your children might have. The books with ** are my favorites. 

Books for Children on Death and Dying

** Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingpen

This is my favorite book to use with children ages 4 and up that explains death in a caring and beautiful way. It shows us through illustrations that dying is as much a part of living as being born. Ages 4 and up

The Goodbye Boat by Mary Joslin

This book describes death through pictures and words and about saying goodbye. Ages 4 and up

When Dinosaurs Die by Laurene Brown

This isn’t a story about death but actually deals with chidlren’s fears of death by answering basic questions. Ages 5-8

I Miss You: A first look at Death by Pat Thomas

Written by a psychotherapist and counselor this books helps children deal with understanding death. Ages 4 and up

Where are you? A Child’s book about loss by Lauren Olivieri

Ages 5 and up

Why do People Die? Helping your child understand with love and Understanding by Cynthia MacGregor

This book is a great comfort to children and adults and answers the questions that are often asked when someone dies. A straightforward book for ages 7 and up.

I had a friend named Peter: Talking to children about the death of a friend by Janice Cohn

When Betsy learns about the death of a friend she begins to learn about dying, funerals and the burial process. Ages 5 and up

When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers

A Mr. Rodgers book about coping with the death of a pet. Ages 5 and up

**My Pet Died by Rachel Biale

A wonderful ‘let’s make a book together that you can do with your child when dealing with a pet loss. 

Some great pictures books to share with your child with death as a main theme are: 

**The Tenth Good Thing about Barney by Judith Viorst

**Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinee Demas

The Accident by Carol Carrick

**I remember Miss Perry by Pat Brisson (dealing with the death of a teacher)

Jim’s dog Muffins by Miriam Cohen

Ada’s pal by George Ella Lyon

**Sammy in the Sky by Barbara Walsh

**Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley

**Harry and Hooper by Margaret Wild

Two wonderful stories about friendship

Vernon the toad has met a new friend, a small blue bird. But bird doesn't seem to be happy and Vernon isn't quite sure why. He asks little blue bird, but bird doesn't talk. He thinks that bird is lost from his home so he decides to introduce bird to his friends and try to discover where little blue bird's home really is. 

As the reader, we know from the start that the little blue bird has fallen out of a moving truck where he lived in a cuckoo clock. While Vernon doesn't know this, he tries everything to discover where little bird's home is. 

A very tender and thoughtful tale of friendship written by Caldecott winner, Author/Illustrator Philip Stead. The story is not only creative but the illustrations are richly colored in mixed media and truly display the emotions of Vernon and little blue bird. 

"Bird is shy," said Vernon, "but also a very good listener." Isn't that what friends are? A wonderful story that can be read over and over again. A story that can encourage discussions of what true friendship is and the importance of a home. 

A must for children ages 3 and up

Another very endearing tale of friendship. Meet Bear who is getting ready to go to sleep for the winter. Yet, he has a very important story to tell and he can't seem to find a friend who isn't getting ready for winter to stop and listen. He goes from friend to friend eagerly wanting to tell a story, but each time he gets more tired and each time his friends turn him away as they are busy getting ready for winter too.

Mouse is setting up his food supply in a tunnel, duck is getting ready to journey south for the winter, frog is seeking warm shelter, and mole is already fast asleep. As bear finds his spot for the winter he goes to sleep without ever telling his story.

Written by Philip Stead and illustrated by his wife, Erin, the Caldecott duo have done it again. The illustrations are done in pencil and watercolor and truly show the change in seasons. A wonderful story about friendship as well as the importance of patience. Ages 3 and up.

Mousetronaut

Mousetronaut by Astronaut Mark Kelly and Illustrated by C.F. Payne

(Based on a partially true story)

Meet Meteor who is a hardworking friendly mouse. He is about to take his first trip to the moon with a bunch of astronauts. Unbeknownst to Meteor he actually saves the entire mission when a computer key gets stuck on the monitor. Read how Meteor saves the day and is declared a hero. He is presented with his very own mouse suit and his very own title of Mousetronaut.

This is a cleverly and charming story written by a four-time veteran of the space shuttle, Mark Kelly. This story is based on his experiences and of course his imagination while up in space. The illustrations, which are done in mixed media, are just truly fabulous because they really evoke the emotion of the mouse while traveling up into space. They are lively yet really show a story of courage and perseverance.

The author has included an Afterword and there a fabulous Bibliography, which includes games, videos and informational links. This story is based on the space shuttle Endeavor as mice were trained alongside the astronauts and accompanied them in the 2001 mission.

I loved this story and believe it to be an inspiration to young readers, especially those looking to travel to space.

A great gift for the holidays or better yet check it out at your local library!

Grades K-2

Little Cub

This story is not only tender and heartwarming but it is perfect for parents and children that make each other feel whole. This book is about a lonely old bear and a lonely little cub who find each other one day. Both don't like being alone yet they are. As they go through their days of eating and finding food, something is clearly missing. A friendship. And once they find each other they realize what they had been missing all along, each other.

One of the sweetest books I have ever read. This one is to be shared with your favorite little friends over and over again. An absolute must check out or even purchase!
Ages 2 on up!

Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah!

While we are resting our bellies from a grateful evening of our delicious Thanksgiving meals, we now have to quickly switch gears and prepare for Hanukkah. With only 14 days until the first candle is lit on the menorah (Saturday, December 8th), we must get ready for our holiday treats. It is time to get out those dreidels, chocolate gelt, menorahs and candles. Here are some fabulous Hanukah books to share with your family and friends. They make for some great presents too!

I have put asterisks next some wonderful stories for children who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas in their homes. I have also included a short poetry list as well as the PJ library list.

Hanukkah Books in alphabetical order by author

Our Candle by Eve Bunting

Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap by Deborah Cohen

Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa

Papa’s Latkes by Michelle Edwards

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser

Mrs. Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser

Just enough is plenty: A Hanukkah tale by Barbara Goldin

The Best Hanukkah Ever by Barbara Goldin

Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland

Asher and the Capmakers: A Hanukkah story by Eric Kimmel

The Chanukah Guest by Eric Kimmel

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel

The Magic Dreidels by Eric Kimmel

Zigazak: A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric Kimmel

The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman

Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky

The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll

A Great miracle Happened There by Karla Kuskin

Nathan Blows out the Hanukkah Candles by Tami Lehman-Wilzig

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin

Moishe’s Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Melmed

It’s Hanukkah by Jeanne Modesitt

* Light the Lights! A Story about celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman

Runaway Dreidel by Leslea Newman

*My Two Holidays: A Hanukkah and Christmas Story by Danielle Novak

*My Two Grandmothers by Effin Older

The Miracle of the Potato Latkes: A Hanukkah Story by Malka Penn

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco

Hanukah Money by Uri Shulevitz

Hanukkah: A Counting Book by Emily Sper

Beni’s First Chanukah by Jane Zalben

* Stories that celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas

  

Poetry Books:

Hanukkah lights: A Holiday Poetry by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Hanukkah Haiku by Harriet Ziefert

When my children were little Jewish books were hard to find. Now with the help and generosity of PJ library, Jewish books are getting to be so plentiful both in the bookstores and libraries. Here is a list of some fabulous Hanukkah stories to share with your children.

For those of you who have never heard of PJ Library, this is a fabulous FREE program sponsored by the Grinspoon Institute This outstanding program sends free Jewish books monthly to children ages 1-7 all over the world.  If you are interested and would like to sign up here is the link for our local PJ library chapter Northern California PJ Library. The PJ library books are categorized by age groups and all of these books on my can be found at Amazon, local public libraries as well as local bookstores. Most of the books on my list are recommended for children ages 2-8.

PJ Library Books: (over the past few years)

Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Michael Rosen (Baby and Toddler Books)

The Eight Nights of Chanukah by Leslea Newman (Baby and Toddler Books)

Hanukkah! By Ron Schotter (Baby and Toddler Books)

Hanukkah Lights by David Martin (Baby and Toddler Books)

Hanukkah OH Hanukkah by Olga Ivanov (Baby and Toddler Books)

Hoppy Hanukkah! By Linda Glaser (Baby and Toddler Books)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? By Jane Yolen (Baby and Toddler Books)

It’s Hanukkah by Santiago Cohen (Baby and Toddler Books)

Where is Baby’s Dreidel by Karen Katz (Baby and Toddler Books)

A Horse for Hanukkah by Myriam Halberstam (Preschool and Kindergarten)

Eight Winter Nights by Laura Melmed (Preschool and Kindergarten)

The Hanukkah Trike by Michelle Edwards (Preschool and Kindergarten)

When Mindy Saved Hanukkah by Eric Kimmel (Preschool and Kindergarten)

The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle by Jacqueline Jules (Preschool and Kindergarten)

Chanukah in Chelm by David Adler (Ages 6-8)

Jeremy’s Dreidel by Ellie Gellman (Ages 6-8)

The Golem’s Latkes by Eric Kimmel (Ages 6-8)

Lots of Latkes: A Hanukkah Story by Sandy Lanton (Ages 6-8)

All the Lights in the Night by Arthur Levine (Ages 6-8)

Like a Maccabee by Barbara Bietz (Ages 6-8)

A Part to Play by Jennifer Fry

“She was lost, where all she could see, all she could hear, was him. The music filled every part of her; the holes left by her parents and Kate.” 

Lucy was an ordinary teenager until the accident, BA (before accident). She had a wonderful older sister, Kate, who she adored and admired. Then suddenly Kate has a terrible car accident and dies. Lucy’s family just stops and life can’t seem to go on without her sister Kate. Lucy’s mother falls apart and her parents separate. Lucy feels the blame for her sister’s death like she should have been the one in the car; she should have been the one to die. Subsequently, Lucy is shipped off to a Performing Arts boarding school where she tries to deal with her grief. Lucy comes close to getting expelled from school when suddenly she finds a young muse, a talented musician, who she falls in love with. Through this love she recreates her love for acting and finds the ability to push through the pain and the nightmares. But at what cost? Unfortunately as her relationship begins to become much more intense with this young man they both struggle to become their own people and Lucy begins to lose herself.

This is a heart-wrenching story with raw emotion and real characters.  I couldn’t put this book down. I laughed and I cried throughout the story. A Part to Play is a beautiful coming of age story about a young girl who has loved and lost and the power she finds deep inside of herself to put her life back together again.  There are many wonderful themes including romance, family problems, bullying, and death.

I would recommend this story for Grades 7 and up.  This book is available in eBook format as well as paperback, and audio. This would make a wonderful present for your favorite teen this holiday season. Check out this young new Marin author, Jennifer Fry. 

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/frygurl

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