Hello Fellow Book Lovers, It’s Cybils Time! And what, you may be asking, are Cybils? The Cybils Award is given by kidlit bloggers to celebrate the best children’s and young adult books of the year. “The Cybils Awards aims to recognize the children’s and young adult authors and illustrators whose books combine the highest literary […]
Front Door Surprises
This is my front door. For some reason, nearly every time I opened it this week, I was greeted by something wonderful. My son brought this ginormous pumpkin just because he knew I’d like it. My postal lady delivered the best mail ever from Eva in Spain who I met through the April A to […]
Rice From Heaven – The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans
North Korea is front page news these days but it remains a place of mystery to most people. There are few books for children about North Korea so I am excited to share this new one: Rice From Heaven, The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans by Tina Cho (author) and Keum Jin Song (illustrator) […]
What a Wonderful Word!
Hello Friends, Have you been enjoying summer? It has been a wonderful season here. I made a list of summer things I wanted to do and finally checked off the last ones. Don’t you love books that take you other places? I recently read one that I’ve been sharing with my writer friends and others […]
If I Kiss You, Will I Get Diabetes? – a review
From time to time, life throws a new challenge your way. I remember the day that our son was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. A whole new road had to be maneuvered, new vocabulary learned, and meal planning became filled with extra importance. I wish back then that we had the book: If I […]
The Map of Good Memories
Every once in awhile I come across a book that seems so important that I just need to add it to my book collection. I have discovered a new favorite: The Map of Good Memories written by Fran Nuno and illustrated by Zuzanna Celej Spanish Title – El Mapa de los Buenos momentos translated […]
A to Z April Blog Challenge – Reflections and a Quiz
Writing a blog post daily (almost) is certainly a challenge. Each year I wonder why I am doing the A to Z April Blog Challenge and by the letter J I wonder if I’ll finish. But, I press on because I enjoy being part of this blogging community and the challenge gives me an opportunity […]
Zoo Maps in Kid Lit
Zoo maps are usually the first maps that children see and learn to read. They are heavily illustrated with animals and the paths show clear directions to get from place to place. Kids learn that a map can help you to get where you want to go. Children also love the maps in zoo books […]
Y – Are We There Yet?
Y is for Yet as in – Are we there yet? Is there any traveler who hasn’t asked that question or had to answer that question? It is a popular book topic with many sharing clever suggestions on how to make the journey more enjoyable. But, for those trips being taken through the pages of […]
X Marks the Spot
X marks the spot is a popular title. And, why not? It conjures up visions of adventure and treasure. Who would’t want to find a map marked with an X? Share these books with the children in your life and take off on a literary treasure hunt- X Marks the Spot by R. Schuyler (author) and […]
Wind in the Willows – a classic map
This map found in The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham, is one of the classic maps many of us hold dear. It was drawn by Ernest H. Shepard who also drew the map in Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. The map, however, was not in the original edition of the book written […]
V is for Vintage Maps in Children’s Books
Maps are visual art that communicates information to give us a sense of place. We read maps and we read books. And, in my opinion, books containing maps are the best kind of books. I’ve shared many maps this past month for the A to Z April Blog Challenge and I could easily go on […]
Under the Sea – mapping an unknown world
Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea; Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh (author) Raúl Colón (illustrator) Simon & Schuster (2016) picture book biography grades Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea is a book for anyone interested in maps and map-making. It tells the story of Marie Tharp who,as a girl, loved maps. She […]
Treasure Island – the story of the map that inspired a book
I still remember the day that I opened an old copy of Treasure Island and read these words: And so begins one of the world’s greatest pirate novels with arguably the most well-known map included in a book. This is the classic adventure written by Robert Louis Stevenson, which tells the tale of the […]
Swallows! Ahoy! adventures illustrated with maps
‘Ahoy! Ahoy! Swallows! Ahoy!’ This year for the A to Z Blog Challenge, I have been on the lookout for maps in children’s literature. When I shared my theme, a number of bloggers asked if I was going to write about Swallows and Amazons. I answered, “of, course!” But, truth be told, I had never […]