Lindbergh

LINDBERGH: THE TALE OF A FLYING MOUSE by Torben Kuhlmann. North/South, 2014.

All the mice have fled.
Determined to follow them,
A mouse learns to fly.

Great Expectations

Zephyr is a girl with a HUGE imagination. She designs all manner of inventions, especially airplanes which she makes out of paper and any materials at hand. In ZEPHYR TAKES FLIGHT by Steve Light (Candlewick Press 2012), Zephyr finds herself sent to her room for her fanciful flights around the living room. In her bedroom, Zephyr discovers a secret door, one that leads her to her dream of making a real plane and flying loop-de-loops. Zeophyr also comes to the rescue of a grounded pig just in time to return to her house for breakfast. Fanciful flight. <263>





KING ARTHUR'S VERY GREAT GRANDSON by Kenneth Kraegel (Candelwick Press 2012)tries to emulate his great-great-great-great-great grandfather, King Arthur, but the dragon is not really up to a fight. So, Hnery (for that is his name) is sent to find the Cyclops to see if he might be interested in a challenge. On and on through various foes, Henry finally finds someone worthy of being his opponent and his friend. <264>

Imagination at Work

THE BOY WHO CRIED ALIEN by Marilyn Singer with illustrations by Brian Biggs (Disney/Hyperion 2012) has a unique format that is part GN, part picture book. It tells the story of Larry the Liar, a boy known well for his prevarications (one of the synonyms for lies in the book). Larry introduces himself to the reader in several short verses. Meanwhile, an alien ship lands. The alien language seems inscrutable (though clever readers will figure it out and there is a key and direct translations at the back of the book). Larry tries to convince everyone about the aliens, but he has little luck. Eventually, Larry helps the aliens leave Earth and head toward home. <212>




AN AWESOME BOOK by Dallas Clayton is indeed awesome (Harper 2012). The tale is all about dreams (and tie this to Langston Hughes' poem, too) and the importance of having big, even unrealistic, dreams. It is told as it were to a child at bedtime. If no one dreams big, how will we ever make any of them come true. Love the idea of a dream-etery where dreams go to die. Here is a book that should appeal as much to adult readers as to kids. <213>




We are all familiar with the old rhyme about what girls and boys are made of. However, this book gives us a new perspective at least when it comes to boys. WHAT LITTLE BOYS ARE MADE OF by Robert Neubecker are things like wings and tails and dragon scales, rocket ship to Mars, AND sugar and spice and everything nice, too. <214>

little loved ones

How much love do we shower on our children? Here are two books that demonstrate a parent's love for a child in quite different ways.




JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE by Sally Lloyd-Jones with illustrations by Frank Endersby (Harper 2012) follows a father and son red squirrel over the course of their day. The little squirrel asks Dad constantly do you love me because...I am a good climber, I am handsome, I can find berries? Each time Dad replies that while son is good at lots of things those are not the reason he is loved. This book so reminds me of SAY IT! and would be a perfect companion to it. <65>





WHEN MY BABY DREAMS by Adele Enersen (Balzer and Bray 2012) is a photographic essay from a mother who wonders what her infant daughter dreams about. Photos show the sleeping infant riding an elephant (fashioned from a grey sweatshirt) or soaring through the air to a soft landing (hanging from clothespins on a clothesline). Fanciful illustration and wonderful text make this a good one to share with small children before bed. Sweet dreams. <66>