★ 05/11/2015
The wealth of possibilities contained within even the tiniest child is the subject of Martin’s (Day Dreamers) love letter from parent to offspring: “When you were too small/ To tell me hello,/ I knew you were someone/ I wanted to know.” This potential can be seen in everything children do, from working in a garden (“Will you learn what it means/ To help things to grow?”) to bandaging a toy bear. The book concludes with a double gatefold, drawn as a proscenium-style curtain, that reveals a group of eccentrically costumed children (a robot, a pencil, a log) to represent the idea of becoming “anybody/ That you’d like to be.” Martin’s characters generally exhibit a preternatural sense of self-possession, but this book’s subject matter adds another layer of meaning to the poised poker faces on display. Her children are so serious (even when swinging on a swing) and so unflappable (even when tailoring a pair of pants for a squirrel) that they convey not just hope for the future, but a sense of manifest destiny. Ages 3–7. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Aug.)
There’s nothing sweeter than greeting a new baby with a library of favorites that say, “We can’t wait to show you how amazing this place we call home is!” It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer volume of brilliant books out in the world, so we created a list of perfect stories to welcome […]
With Turkey Trot and Gingerbread Latte Season come and gone, even the most optimistic among us can turn a bit, well, gloomy. Indeed, all we have now are sub-zero temps, gray slush stacked on the curb, and black ice. If you’re curing your cabin fever by halfheartedly hanging St. Patrick’s Day decorations six weeks early, […]
If you think May should be renamed May-hem, you are not alone. It’s graduation season! Gowns are donned, caps are flung, diplomas are dispersed, and shoppers everywhere are searching for that special grad gift. Look no further than these eleven book picks. With options from preschool (the cutest), to elementary, middle, and high school graduates, […]
Every month, we bring you a kaleidoscopic stack of picture books to share with your favorite little readers. Some of the stories we highlight are thoughtful and poignant, while others are downright silly. And a few of the tales are long-awaited follow-ups, mentioned right alongside fresh outpourings from newbie authors and illustrators. In the end, […]