wise owl baby: chubby cheeks and picture books: September 2011

The First Long Book I Read

my Heidi book cover

Do you remember the first long book you read?

My second grade self felt pretty proud cruising through an Amelia Bedilia book, especially when I read it fluently enough to get the joke the first time. But the first really long book I patiently worked through, soaking up every page, I was given on my eight birthday: Heidi. My 1986 edition of Johanna Spyri's Heidi is 349 pages, with very few pictures and not the biggest font on not the smallest pages. I was so proud of myself.

illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith

I also enjoyed the movie, which I viewed in school, and I specifically remember yearning for Shirley Temple Heidi to be allowed to go back to the mountains where she was cared for and needed by the lonely old man! Now I've lived near mountains for a decade, but I still sometimes look up at a peak and think, Maybe I'll be like Heidi and live high in the mountains tending sheep.

source

It got me thinking that if I were to introduce via picture book a classic literature character to an audience not yet ready for a long chapter book, it would be my resilient and compassionate friend Heidi.

The Story of Heidi retold by Susanna Davidson, pictures by Alan Marks

Who would you like to preview in a picture book?

Happy Autumn!

source

Today is the official first day of fall. Autumn. I never know what I want to call it. I've already let fall trickle in, with sweatshirts in the morning (stripped off by 11 AM), and Simply Made apple juice, and Halloween Oreos. And although I miss the pool, I'm ready to discover autumn adventures. I'm pretty sure it will revolve around food. My top two goals for the fall are to go apple picking and to carve a pumpkin and roast its seeds. Before it's too late, because Utah autumns tend to suddenly be covered in snow, I've got to find some good apple-picking/pumpkin-carving picture books. At our Kid to Kid store, we picked up Clifford's Apple-Picking Day, which is, of course, cute. But there must be a lot more on that beautiful subject.

Young Adult Mermaid: Forbidden Sea

Because picture books are my current "specialty", we haven't really discussed much Young Adult literature. But these kids reading picture books start reading chapter books, and before we know it they're reading like adults. Young adults. A few months ago, I was at the Provo Library Children's Book Festival, and I had the great pleasure of talking with Sheila A. Nielsen, a librarian, illustrator, and author! She kindly gave me a signed copy of The Forbidden Sea, her first novel (I hope of many-to-be). I never have been particularly drawn to fantasy fiction, but I was drawn to this book and Sheila's beaming smile right away. Sheila explained that she wrote it to answer demand from girls visiting the Provo library for books about mermaids.

Can you imagine, if you were one of those girls?

You want a book with mermaids and a strong, interesting female lead? OK, I'll make you one.

I was charmed by the action and mystery on the island of Windwaithe, and moved by the resiliency, loyalty, and independence of Adrianne, the main character. There was a side story romance, but--to my great relief--Adrianne was not rescued from conflict by a prince, nor a lover, nor her father. And the triumph of the book was in character growth, not boobs, not popularity. In short, if you're considering middle grade novels for anyone 10 or older (there are some scary parts and serious topics), read it! It will leave you wanting more stories about the fascinating characters, and more time under the sea (because this book is almost completely on land), so, fortunately, Sheila is working on a sequel.

In the meantime, she compiled a handy list of mermaid books for all ages.

Have you read any YA fantasy lately?

P.S. Pictures from the Provo Children's Book Festival (May 2011):

Sheila Nielsen and other author book signings! Free book! The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Illustrator artwork! Face painting! Crafts! Dance performances! Illustrator demonstrations! And there was more!

Halloween Prep

We're gearing up for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas--all in the next 94 days--which means I've been pinning ideas at an accelerated rate. Are you? I'd like to see your collections.

First up: Halloween.

Last year, we purchased an inexpensive dinosaur costume for Baby A and went to the zoo with friends.

Those socks have little dinosaur claws (and they're actually from her homecoming outfit).

This year, I've been leaning toward making costumes. Tapping into my domestic creativity and successfully constructing a costume worth photographing will take the next five weeks, so I've mostly decided to make something like this for Baby A:

sew homegrown

Why, yes! That is Gossie, the small yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots! I could quote you the entire Gossie book, as it is Baby A's current favorite. You can read it, or any other Olivier Dunrea book, but you might get as hooked as we are on them.

Guidelines for Maintaining Sanity with a Toddler

Who needs toys when you can suck on Dad's chokable earbuds?

playing inside a suitcase, of course

cookie-face, diaper, necklace, smile: perfect!

I've been rolling a list through my head of dead serious and hilarious guidelines for staying (mostly) sane while spending time with a toddler. Here are a few I stuck to today:

Develop listening and/or not listening super-powers. I can power through a conversation over a din of whining like a pro. (A professional conversationalist?) And I can run to the next room when things get eerily quiet (which is likely a sign of choking, artistic material misappropriation, or toilet paper roll discovery). I can not hear a request for more cookies. I can hear "I need your love" through a sobbing squeal.
Create a consumer map of child-friendly establishments. For example, I like to check Kid 2 Kid for things that don't really need to be new, or on days that I have the itch to buy something like look-new red sparkle shoes two sizes up, which is the size Baby A will likely wear when she first views The Wizard of Oz ($3.99 = score!), while Baby A likes to play in the designated area always within peeking distance.
Always, always carry a snack. For Little, and for you. Because grouchiness and hunger are correlative by 95%. (I have studied this at length while grocery shopping and bringing the car in for repair.)
Only supply the amount toys/clothes/books/food you are willing to tidy/wash/read one million times/mop up. At least half of Baby A's toys are in her closet, rotated every Friday with the ones in her bedroom. And she can have as many helpings of dinner as she wishes, but her plate only gets one paper towel-ful at a time.

Tell me your tricks--I mean, guidelines! We'll make a big, smart list!

Back to School Books

I don't "formally" educate Baby A yet. Mi esposo is in school all year long, and I have just started to recover from English major burn-out and have started reading for pleasure--books for grown-ups!

But all around my bloggy universe for the past month, it's been back-to-school talk. This, naturally, prompted me to go on a back-to-school clothes shopping spree. And it also got me wondering, are there any must-read picture books for back-to-school?

I came across a few OK back-to-school-jitters books, but nothing really stood out. I do have some nostalgically favorite schoolchildren:

Madeline

Arthur

Ms. Frizzle's class

Surprisingly, I haven't come across any picture books about homeschooling, online school, nor particularly urban/rural school setting portrayals. There are a lot about U.S. suburban public schools (like Arthur), and Madeline attends a small private Catholic girls' school in Paris.

Do you have book suggestions?

How is your family educated?

Nothing will ever be as cool as a magical school bus, but I'd love to discuss the options.

Book Nook Look

You might have heard that Fall in just around the corner. Isn't there something about this time of year that calls you to cozy up with a book? Where is your favorite spot to read?

At my house it's Baby A's reading nook.

Here are a few children's reading nooks I think will tickle your eyes: