Most of the time, a sticker proclaiming a title is a “NEW BOOK” is sort of self-evident, but in the case of Shel Silverstein, an actual new book is worth getting out of bed, rushing through your morning oat bran, and heading on down to the bookstore early. Runny Babbit Returns is a collection of tongue-twisting poems …
Obayda’s family lives Afghanistan, and when her father loses his leg from a terrorist attack they have to move from the big city to a small village. To bring luck to the family, Obayda’s aunt suggests adopting the underground practice of bacha posh, dressing a girl as a boy. So with a chop of her hair, …
Erin Ostrander, a King County Library System children’s librarian, Sasquatch Award Committee Member, and indie bookstore champion, has a great recommendation for Saturday’s Independent Bookstore Day celebrants: …teachers and librarians taking the challenge on Saturday could purchase the new nominees for two of our state children’s choice lists; both were just announced over the weekend. OTTER Award Nominees …
Nearly 12 year-old Nickel and his younger sister Flora find themselves in the woods, in a snow storm, seeking help/shelter, after their car slides off the road and their mother sets off to find help, leaving them to stay put in the car. Fearful of the car being buried in the snow they set off, …
It took hearing Steph read this at Friday storytime [next one: July 15!] for me to realize what a brilliantly constructed little book it is. “One day I went to school. I came home. The end.” “One day I made something. I gave it to mom. The end.” In between these bare bones of storytelling lies …
The internet is full of lovely celebrations of beloved author, Beverly Cleary– the girl from Yamhill, who is now 100 years old! The above video is from Oregon Public Broadcasting. Check out their full coverage of the creator of Ramona Quimby, Ralph S. Mouse, Henry and Ribsy, and so many more childhood friends. If nothing else, …
Sometimes a unicorn shows up in your life and makes everything better. I wasn’t really expecting one. A few years ago, I had nearly realized an ambition I’ve had since age 12: I had scored a contract to develop a comic strip for newspaper syndication. I won that contract, in the Comic Strip Superstar contest, …
The Bubble Collector by Vikram Madan is a wonderful collection of short, humorous poems for children and adults. Great for parents, grandparents and other grownups to read to young kids. Great for kids who can read by themselves. Great for adults to read. Madan is a Seattle-based artist and writer. His illustrations are whimsical and well-suited …
My daughter’s last year of co-op preschool just came to end, but we parents weren’t let off the hook without attending one final evening meeting. We do this regularly in late spring, gathering to talk school business, elect board members for the coming year, and listen to an expert give us advice about child-rearing. This …
This beloved and highly requested British series first published in the 1940’s is back in print, and for those who love books from a timeless era of children’s writing this is for you. Children have fearless adventures in nature and spend entire summers outdoors. As my family is deeply in love with Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows …
