I remember my mom and grandmother sewing constantly during my childhood. Scraps of cloth went into a basket, Halloween costumes were created and reused for multiple years, and there was always the mindset “it’s still good.” That’s not uncommon for people who lived through or were raised by folks who experienced the Great Depression.
Nancy Bess had a Dress reminded me of that mindset; a mindset I grew up surrounded by, and I’ve had ingrained in me, as well. It’s a beautiful book with historic perspective about a little girl who knows how to make the most out of what she’s got. “Waste not, want not.”
Nancy Bess is a lovely character, a great example for young readers, and her story still resonates in today’s world. If you grew up shelling peas on the front porch of your grandmother’s house this book is for you. If you have a child interested in sewing or creating this book is for you. If you want a great book with historic truth and value to it this book is for you.
Published by: Quatro Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
An ARC read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.
It’s an odd thing; one day the animals wake up to find their city just a little bit…wet. It’s a curiosity, a conversation starter, a change in the routine. No one thinks too much of it at first, but the water continues to rise causing bigger and bigger problems for the smaller animals. The large animals continue to ignore the water until it’s finally too high to ignore anymore. Finally, the animals start to listen to the voice of reason and work together to figure out how to rid their city of all the water that’s flooded their lives.
I loved this book. I loved the black and white illustrations with just a touch of yellow and a whole lot of blue. I loved the message that feels so relevant today for so many problems in our world. I loved the humor and the ambiguity, but most of all I loved how I got to use this book as an illustration in a conversation with my husband (bless his heart).
Flooded is a beautiful book about coming together as a community to tackle the problems around us. Parents and caregivers can utilize the ambiguity of the book to help children understand bigger issues in the world or smaller problems in their own lives. Flooded is set for publication October 2. Make sure you check it out, and let me know what you think!
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
On a recent trip to my parent’s house my kids discovered Not Quite Narwhal on Netflix. To say they were enchanted was an understatement, and I found myself watching a couple of episodes with them. The focus on family, friendship, and imagination was wonderful, and the animation was spectacular. So when we saw Weather Together at the library a week later I knew without question we would be borrowing it.
The illustrations are charming and so lovely, but I must be honest: I wasn’t expecting such a deep and moving message, and I found myself choking back tears towards the end of the book. Nimbus discovering and accepting her cloud, but also all of her friends wanting to understand and share her cloud, as well, were equally moving. While we never truly know what Nimbus’ cloud represents – I have several theories – I love the ambiguity it represents. As the mother of a neurodiversive child this book touched me on several levels, and I’m definitely adding this to my stack of “Books on Emotions” recommendations. Sima does a beautiful job conveying the importance of kindness, understanding, and the power of a listening ear in this absolutely adorable book.
Have you entered the Not Quite Narwhal world? Tell me your favorite book, episode, or character!
I’ve never read a Sandra Boynton book I didn’t love. Since my oldest son was born we’ve had a nice little collection of her books, half of which I could recite to you by memory. We do the Dinosaur Dance, we ask about the Hippopotamus and the Armadillo, and we can Moo, Baa, Lalala with the best of them, but this new Boynton book is probably my favorite.
Everyone needs encouragement, and who better than an enthusiastic chicken to do the job? In Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! parents and children alike will be delighted with this sweet chicken’s desire to encourage, and the gentle reminder supporting others is important. Perhaps the best message in this book, though, is the kindness we extend to ourselves, and how we should do so more frequently.
Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! is definitely in my top ten favorite books this year, and one I will consistently recommend. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see me handing it out like candy this Christmas season. There are too many mamas I know who could use this kind of boost.
If you could go back in time what would you do? Who would you see, and what would you change? In Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s bestselling novel we’re offered insight into four characters who are presented with just such an opportunity.
Fumiko and her boyfriend, Goro, found Cafe Funiculi Funicula by chance. Fumiko expected a proposal, but instead she gets dumped. It’s only after the breakup, her mind still reeling from the shock, that she remembers the stories she’s heard about this off little cafe. Rumor has it you can travel back in time there, and after some detective work (ie: blatant begging) she discovers this to be true. But there’s a catch – there always is, right? The rules are very, very specific: you must sit in a specific seat in the cafe, and never leave it or you will be forcibly pulled back to your own time. You can only see people who have also been to the cafe, it won’t change your present circumstances, and, of course, there is a time limit. A cup of coffee acts as a timer, and you must drink said coffee before it gets cold…or disaster. Oh, and one more: you only get one chance. Ever.
Time travel has always fascinated me, and I love to see how different authors and directors play with the idea. Kawaguchi’s concept is intriguing, and he carries it out well. Originally written from the stage, Before the Coffee Gets Cold has one setting, and a core group of characters I eventually came to care for a great deal. Some events were clearly foreshadowed, but they weren’t any less exciting when they finally came to fruition. The first part of the book was a bit slow, but looking back it helped to establish the rules so I could enjoy the latter three parts – a sort of necessary evil, much like the third Hunger Games movie. Part one ended well, the stage was set, rules and characters established, and now onto deeper issues, all much more painful, but inevitably more beautiful to experience.
Kawaguchi brought me to tears in the last three parts of the book, and I found the ending to be particularly moving – both tragic and wonderful. I read several reviews complaining about aspects of the story or the writing, so to hopefully alleviate that for others here are some things to know: First, this is a translated book. I personally think it was translated well, but if you have any issues with the prose it probably stems from that. Secondly, the author is Japanese. There are going to be cultural differences, and that is not a bad thing. Several reviewers took issues with things that are quite commonplace in many manga and anime, but nothing Kawaguchi wrote took me by surprise or caused offense. Third, the ending of the book has been made political by several reviewers, and I didn’t see it that way at all. Perhaps I’m seeing it from a mother’s point of view, or maybe it’s all those iconic Southern movies driven into my heart and soul. I didn’t read it as someone standing on their soap box, trying to make a point, but rather a lovely character I adored expressing the same view Julia Robert’s did in her role in Steel Magnolias: “I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”
Ultimately, I considered Before the Coffee Gets Cold an enchanting, lovely read that made this reader a bit emotional. (Okay, a lot.) I don’t know if I’ll be jumping into the other books right away, but they’re certainly still on my TBR list for now. A solid four star book.
I don’t know where to begin with this review. I was hunting books in our library system for my oldest son. He’s obsessed with deer and foxes, so I reserved “Maybe a Fox” thinking it was going to be a sweet children’s picture book. It was not. It was a beautifully written, deeply moving chapter book aimed at juvenile/ pre-teen readers, but as I’ve said before, a good story is a good story, and “Maybe a Fox” is a great story.
Sylvie and Jules are sisters, best friends, and complete opposites. Sylvie is always running – faster, faster, faster than… – and Jules is always trying to catch up. She’s happy to sit and sort her rock collection, make little snow families with her sister, or hike through the woods behind their home with Sylvie and their best friend, Sam. But one day Sylvie runs too fast, and Jules is left with too many questions, and so much grief. She isn’t alone – there’s a lot of pain coursing through their Vermont landscape – so much the animals can feel it, too, and there’s a newborn fox cub who just might be able to guide Jules to the answers she needs.
“When Elk appeared, the catamount breathed in his scent, the same way that Senna breathed in the scent of her human, Jules. Jules and Elk. Their stories were intermingled, she could tell.” (Pg. 151)
Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee masterfully craft a tale of two voices in Jules and Senna with a great cast of characters, and a deep mythology that culminates into a heartbreaking and wonderful story. I’ve read several books with dual authors, and this was by far the most seamlessly written. McGhee mentions in her acknowledgements it took four years to write this book, and I can believe it. The writing it tight, the foreshadowing is fantastic, and the final section of the book tied everything together perfectly.
“Every day she forgot and then every day she remembered.
And that’s how it was After Sylvie.
Forget.
Remember.
Forget.
Remember.
Forget.
Remember.
Remember.
Remember.
AfterSylvie.” (Pg. 92-93).
I rarely cry when I read, but “Maybe a Fox” had me choking up several times. I don’t remember reading too many books with big themes when I was growing up – I lived in The Babysitter’s Club, Girl Talk, and Fear Street books growing up – and while some of those books touched on real, painful issues, there wasn’t that sense of raw emotion like there was in “Maybe a Fox.” Death is always tragic, and always difficult to cope with, but those who have dealt with the loss of a child know the devastation is much deeper than that of an elderly loved one. There are always questions left behind, deep wells of pain and grief, but with a child there is something… else. Something hard to define, something hard to grasp, but the emotion is there, and the reader feels it vehemently.
“Maybe a Fox” is such a stirring book, and I’m still in awe of how carefully constructed the plot was, and how beautifully it came together. I’ve said this before, but regardless of your age, go read “Maybe a Fox,” and then please tell me what you think.
In 2020, when the world tilted, I saw schools, libraries, churches, neighbors, and families come together to make sure no one was going hungry. Several teacher friends said on the last day of school, before everything shut down, they were racing with colleagues to gather food for children they knew relied largely on what the school provided. They grieved for those students during the shutdown, hoping and praying their needs were being met. We were fortunate to have a school bus came to our neighborhood every day to ensure the children there were not going hungry. It was a blessing my husband and I did not take for granted. Our children didn’t have to worry about milk which was an answered prayer during such a difficult time. I still remember the kindness and compassion the women on that bus showed to everyone who showed up; I never ever saw them turn anyone away empty-handed.
It’s something I will never forget. I don’t want my kids to grow up afraid or anxious, but I do want them to know everyone needs help sometimes. In “Saturday at the Food Pantry,” we meet Molly and her mom, and it’s clear from the beginning they’re having a tough time. Molly’s mom is trying hard to have a positive outlook while working through some deep emotions as she takes care of her daughter. Molly has a lot of questions about going to a food pantry: how does it work? Why do they have to go? Why do some people seem embarrassed to be there? Her questions run the gamut just like the emotions at play in all the characters: shame, kindness, empathy, confusion.
During a very difficult time in my life, my father told me, “Be thankful for the help, and pray for the day you don’t need it.” I have never felt so small, so ashamed, and so thankful all at the same time, and after working with others in similar positions I can tell you Diane O’Neill and Brizida Magro nailed this book. Together, they crafted a beautiful, important, poignant book that shows exactly what it’s like to go without food from both the child and the adult perspective. Molly’s confusion, her mother’s wounded pride, the struggle with recognizing you need help, accepting it, and understanding everyone – everyone – needs help sometimes. The message at the end of the book from Kate Maehr is an additional resource offering further insight into child hunger, food insecurity, and resources available if you or someone you know needs help.
I highly recommend reading “Saturday at the Food Pantry”, and sharing it with someone you love. As parents, I think it’s common for us to want to protect our children from the scary things in this world, but it’s also important to show them there are people who want to help those in need when things get hard or scary. If you need help or know someone who does, please consider reaching out to your local church, looking into WIC, EBT, or SNAP programs, or going to http://www.feedingamerica.org for more information.
“It is hard for you, little one,” said Aslan. “But things never happen the same way twice.” (Pg. 118-119).
When Walt Disney Pictures released “Prince Caspian” in 2008, I was at the midnight showing with at least a dozen of my friends, all Disney Cast Members, and many of us part of the College Program. Our dear friend, Kathy, was leaving as her internship came to a close, and Caspian was on her list of last minute celebratory events. Do I recommend going to a midnight showing when you have an early shift the next morning? I do not. But I do recommend making wonderful memories with amazing friends that will last the rest of your life. This film will forever be coupled with sweet Abby’s laughter, and that’s a memory I wouldn’t trade for the world.
“Son of Earth, shall we be friends?” – Aslan (Pg. 129)
Since my children have been born, I wanted to read them the Chronicles of Narnia. It was a goal last year to complete the series, and while I met many of my goals, sadly, Narnia was not one of them. So I’m moving that goal to 2023. Honestly, I’m not that sad about it – I tried reading “Prince Caspian” to the boys twice before, and it didn’t hold their attention. This time, though, they were deeply invested, absolutely adoring Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, and, surprisingly, Nikabrik. (Honestly, I think they just liked his name.) My boys enjoyed the second book in the Narnia series, but I loved it. I loved how Caspian asked the badger and dwarves to be kind to his horse, regardless of what they did to him. I loved Aslan’s return, Edmund’s character growth, the heroic Reepicheep, and the parallels between Scripture. How wonderful to hear Aslan call others, not just the Pevensie children, wonderfully dear names! How wonderful it would be to hear my Savior call me “dear heart” or “dearest”!
“You came of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,” said Aslan. “And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor in earth. Be content.” (Pg. 182).
Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia? Which is your favorite book? What was your favorite part of “Prince Caspian”?
What’s a special memory you have of your parents? One year my father took me caroling with our church choir. I’m still not sure why, really. We’d never done it before, and we never did it again, but I loved every moment. I can’t recall where my sister or mother were at the time, just that I was getting high quality, deeply valued one-on-one time with my dad. It’s a memory I treasure to this day.
In Owl Moon we see a young girl and her father making a late night trek towards the woods. They are going owling. Have you ever gone owling? I can honestly say I’ve never had the pleasure, but I loved reading about it. Yolen is a masterful storyteller, and her words create a solemn reverence that had me holding my breath. I felt transported to this beautiful, snowy, rural area where a father and daughter can safely visit the woods in the late night to call to owls, and Schoenherr’s deeply detailed illustrations cast me deeper into this spell they were weaving.
My boys were fascinated with the stunning illustrations, specifically the ones depicting woodland critters, but the story touched me in a way they can’t fully comprehend just yet. Perhaps it’s recognizing my parents are getting older (I dislike it immensely) or the fact my boys are still very young, and we’re still shaping core memories with them, but I read more into the story than they did. Instead of an owling excursion I saw a sacred tradition being passed down from father to child, something he has done with her older siblings, and now it’s her turn, her time to experience this rare magic. Maybe I’m reading into it too much. Maybe my adoration for the author is shaping my perspective. Either way, I found Owl Moon to be beautiful, poetic, and touching.
Do you sky gaze often? My kids love it, and they always get excited when I join in. But did you ever think someone might be Earth-gazing? In this sweet, touching book by Noah Klocek and Bonny Becker we meet a young cloudlet named Gale. Today is Formation School Graduation Day, and Gale has one final test before she officially graduates.
There’s just one problem – Gale can’t make cloud formations like all the other cloudlets. Try as she might, all her clouds take on shapes from the Land Below: a dog, an elephant, a tugboat. It’s what she loves most, and what is currently causing her the most distress. Even though she has the support and encouragement from her mother and younger sibling, she’s certain she’ll fail.
Gale is upset and embarrassed because she can’t meet the standards she thinks she needs to meet. She doesn’t realize by being herself she’s turned into a very important, very much anticipated cloudlet: one who creates Daydream clouds. Just as important as the clouds who bring rain or a much needed breeze, Gale will make daydream clouds, and I thin we can all agree those are the most fun.
I was drawn to this book because of the illustrations, but the message was just as lovely. I hope whoever you are, wherever you are, you’re honing skills specific to your passions and no one else. Happy daydreaming!
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