May 25, 2017
In the Candle’s Glow, the new book by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, is a delight from beginning to end. Just look at the end papers! So many picture books (even my own) have either blank end papers, or end papers in a neutral, could-be-any-book pattern. But the...
May 6, 2017
When my kids were little, they loved the way their kindergarten teacher connected the books they read to activities in the classroom. If the characters in that week’s book had muffins at snack time, they knew that muffins would show up at their snack time, too....
May 4, 2017
The Suitcase is, according to the subtitle, “A Story about Giving.” And it is that, I suppose. But more than that, it’s a story about Thomas. “He was maybe just a little bit different, this child named Thomas.” Thomas doesn’t build with his blocks. He lines them up....
April 20, 2017
Children all know stories about fair maidens and fierce dragons and knights in shining armor. They know the dragon eats people, and the knight kills the dragon, marries the maiden, and lives happily ever after. And when they first encounter the story of Saint George...
April 13, 2017
When I’m looking for Easter books, I want books that show people celebrating Easter. There aren’t enough of them, as far as I’m concerned. But if you’re looking for Easter books for toddlers, and if you take an expansive view of what it means to be celebrating Easter,...