Saturday, May 12, 2018

Mama Says

Leo and Diane Dillon illustrated this multicultural book showing a mother's love and words of advice for her son.  Twelve cultures and languages are represented.  Each page has words of wisdom from Mama, teaching her son to be kind, and strong, and brave and hard working.  The words are also written in their native language (as explained by the glossery in the back).  What a wonderful homage to mothers and how they can teach their sons through words and actions.  A mother's love like this is truely universal.

Rob D. Walker 
2009
illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon












Monday, May 7, 2018

The Lost Words

Robert MacFarlane
pictures by Jackie Morris
2017
A book for the words that are disappearing from children's vocabulary and their way of life.  It's a way of life that includes rambling and exploring and nature.  MacFarlane's lyrical acrostic poems are accompanied by the rich paintings of Morris.  It's a beautiful oversized book that we liesurely take our time with.  I loved the concept so much that I even bought the accompanying postcards to send to friends who needed some "lost words" to inspire them. 







A hidden title preceeds each poem.





Sunday, May 6, 2018

Children, It's Spring

It's Spring indeed and our backyard is covered in tiny purple violets.  I can never get through this season without Mary Oliver...


Children, It's Spring

And this is the lady
whom everyone loves, Ms. Violet
in her purple gown

or, on special occasions, 
a dress the color
of sunlight.  She sits
in the mossy weeds and waits

to be noticed.
She loves dampness.
She loves attention.  She loves especially

to be picked by careful fingers,
young fingers, entranced
by what has happened 
to the world.

We, the older ones,
call it Spring,
and we have been through it
many times.

But there is still nothing
like the children bringing home
such happiness
in their small hands.

-Mary Oliver