This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart & David Small

-


This Book of Mine by 
Sarah Stewart & David Small
Review Copy from FSG Books for Young Readers
I am happy to be reminded of just what is special about a book, and this is exactly what Sarah Stewart and David Small do with This Book of Mine. Even better, this gently rhyming picture book ode is perfect for emerging readers newly entering the amazing experiences of getting lost in a book, being comforted by a book, being transported by a book, being inspired by a book and beyond.

Stewart's poem is elegantly simple and emotionally powerful, as are Small's illustrations that range from gestural sweeps to detailed faces. Stewart begins this book with a promise, "I take this book . . ." to be: a friend, a chew toy, a comfort item, and to "think about what I just saw - then close the book and try to draw." Books also inspire expression, be it reciting on a stage or acting in your own backyard. And, of course, books lead us to "find knowledge and happiness . . . and pleasure." I especially love that Stewart and Small include an image of violinists, reading sheet music from a book - one form of reading a book that, as far as I know, is still only read in a tangible, paper format and not a digital one. And, perfectly as you would expect from a book like this, Stewart and Small bookend their book. The first page shows a young woman, hugging her book, leaving the New York Public Library and passing one of the famous lion statues (Patience?). as the book ends, a young girl leaves the library, hugging her book and smiling, her little brother next to her, his nose in a book, a lion (Fortitude?) behind her. Not only is this a beautiful image of how special a book can be, but it is a powerful reminder that there are places where books - and knowledge - are free to anyone. I'll leave you with a few quotes about libraries and librarians . . . 
The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man. —T.S. Eliot
The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library. —Albert Einstein
The health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries. —Carl Sagan
Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation. —Walter Cronkite
Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul. —Library at Thebes, inscription over the door
A library is a place where you learn what teachers were afraid to teach you. —Alan M. Dershowitz 

Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy. —Barack Obama
 A few more books by Stewart & Small

Popular posts from this blog

Fox + Chick: The Sleepover and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier

-
Image
Fox + Chick : The Sleepover and Other Stories  by Sergio Ruzzier Review Copy from Chronicle Books Friends. Opposites. Inhabitants of a pastel-hued, water color world that is vaguely surreal, Fox and Chick are back for a third installment of their inviting, if curious, easy-to-read stories. In "The Sleepover," "The Hammer," and "The Surprise," Chick's odd logic is once again upending Fox's life. Happily, Fox responds with patience and even wisdom at times. To these unforgettable characters and luminous illustrations, Ruzzier brings a sublime simplicity that makes this series perfect for emerging readers, adding books with character and intelligence to the often dull world of beginning reader books. If you aren't familiar with this delightful duo, definitely check out my reviews of the first two books (links below) where I put the greatness of Ruzzier's work into historical ( Frog & Toad ) context. Then check out ALL of Ruzzier's p
Read more

Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Felicita Sala

-
Image
Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Felicita Sala Review Copy from Abrams Kids I picture-walked Be a Tree! three times before I actually read the words. Felicita Sala's illustrations for Maria Gianferrari's poetic text are mesmerizingly immersive and richly colorful within a palette of earth tones. Throughout the text, Gianferrari, who shares her inspiration for this book in the author's note ( Peter Wohleben's The Hidden Life of Trees ), gently maintains the human connection to trees and the connections (and communications) trees share with each other.  Be a Tree!  begins exuberantly, inviting the reader to "Be a tree! Stand tall. Stretch your branches to the sun. Let your roots curl, coil in the soil to ground you." From your spine/trunk to your skin/bark and your heart/pith, the words carry you inward and then zoom outward and up to the canopy and ultimately, the forest. "You are one of many trees," and our roots "twine with fung
Read more

Reading Levels: A Quick Guide to Determining if a Book Is Right for Your Reader

-
Image
While I wrote an article titled Reading Levels: How I Assign Reading Levels to Books, How the Publishers Do It and How You Can Help Your Reader Find the Right Book at the Right Time that discusses how reading levels are determined by professionals and amateurs like myself, there is more on this subject to discuss. Determining the reading level of a book from the children's section is never easy, mostly because there are several different standardized methods of determining reading levels. Add to this the fact that knowing their children's reading level is most often the only tool a parent is armed with when exploring the bookstore, library, website, etc, and the job becomes even more difficult. While I think that knowing a child's reading level is a very valuable tool if your child is reading below grade level, I think that it is a secondary consideration when finding books for children reading above, especially well above, grade level because, in most cases, content app
Read more