Talking about children's books and films. Useful information for parents.
29 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 5+ Tags: adventure, birds, city life, dogs, Magic, New York, travel, vacation
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1987
Arthur Yorinks, text
Richard Egielski, illustrations
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1986
28 pp.
Age: 5+
Interests: birds, dogs, city life, travel, adventure, vacation, New York, magic, apartments
Other Titles by this author and illustrator: Homework, What a Trip!
29 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Parenting
A pretty black and white commentary, not much depth to it, but thought-provoking. I definitely think it’s not such an either/or proposition, every parent tailors their parenting strategies to the needs, strengths and weaknesses of the individual child. The real concern is when a parent (or pundit) buys into one or another ideology 100% and takes it full steam ahead, refusing to temper it with doubt or amendment – damn the torpedoes!
The bigger issue re. “Thoughts and ideas have been replaced by feelings” is how this has happened in the adult sphere beyond parenting… self-help mania, reality tv, celebrity obsession, personality journalism, popularity contest elections… Children grow up mirroring adult society, not solely by reacting to how their parents treat them.
Still, useful to contemplate. Self-esteem is good, but empathy is better. And the ability to control and manage one’s emotions is a vital skill that needs to be learned.
27 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 5+ Tags: animals, Bible, boats, god, religion, wordless books
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1978
by Peter Spier
Doubleday, 1977
46 pp.
Age: 5+
Interests: bible stories, animals, boats, wordless books, religion, God
Also by this author/illustrator: People, Circus, The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, London Bridge is Falling Down, Christmas!
26 Jan 2012 1 Comment
Much parental hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth occurs over the extent – and type – of reading that children do. It’s a high-stakes concern, since academic proficiency is greatly aided by voluminous reading. Young bookworms almost effortlessly gain a larger vocabulary and an instinctive knack for proper grammar and spelling, not to mention all the spiritual/artistic/empathetic/etc. benefits of literature.
26 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+ Tags: Africa, alphabet, country life, family, folktales, geography, nonfiction
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1977
Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
Margaret Musgrove, text
Leo and Diane Dillon, illustrations
Dial Books, 1976 (now available: Picture Puffin Books)
28 pp.
Age: 6+
Interests: Africa, folklore, traditions, rituals, family life, alphabet books, geography
Also by these illustrators: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears; The People Could Fly – The Picture Book; Who’s in Rabbit’s House: A Masai Tale; Pish, Posh Said Hieronymus Bosch
24 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books
The ALA has announced the 2012 Newbery and Caldecott winners – check them out here.
I’m still working my way through the Caldecott list, reading and reviewing every title, and I’m almost done! Go to LISTS above to see the complete list, and click on the links to my reviews.
(I’m back from our trip, still reeling from the Disney World experience, and contemplating the hyper-reality of it all…)
17 Jan 2012 1 Comment
And I was doing so well, with a post a day since the new year!! Tomorrow the wee one and myself are heading off for a few days of magical Disney World insanity.
I’m a little excited, a lot apprehensive, having never been there before. It feels like a bit of a ‘Heart of Darkness’ trip, and yet a little Florida sunshine will be fantastic…
At any rate, apologies for the next 6 or so days of silence. Will get back to it as quickly as possible, I promise!
17 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 4+ Tags: country life, ducks, folktales, Magic, Poland
GREENAWAY MEDAL WINNER – 1972
by Krystyna Turska
Macmillan, 1972
32 pp.
Age: 4+
Interests: folktales, Poland, country life, ducks, kindness to animals, pets
16 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 4+ Tags: country life, devil, England, Fairy Tale, folktales, Magic
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1974
text by Harve Zemach
illustrated by Margot Zemach
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1973
36 pp.
Age: 4+
Interests: folktales, Great Britain, country life, magic, fairy tales
15 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 3+ Tags: Africa, animals, folktales, gods, jungle
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1971
an African Tale retold and illustrated by Gail E. Haley
Atheneum, 1970
32 pp.
Age: 3+
Interests: folktales, Africa, animals, gods
Also by this author/illustrator: The Post Office Cat
Rarest Kind of Best 