The Westing Game

Somehow I missed this in my childhood and with my kids (though Charlotte is reading it now).  A fun little mystery involving a murder, inheritance and a clever game with millions at stake.  The characters are great and it has a very satisfying ending.  Nice one to add to your New Year's reading list!

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin

The Mummer's Song

I just love reading about old folk traditions.  We don't seem to live much by tradition these days.  This song is put in picture book form describing the Newfoundland Christmas tradition of having neighbors disguise and dress up almost like Halloween.  They go from house to house knocking to be let in for music and dancing and drinking and general merrymaking.

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

Alice Dalgliesh

illustrated by Helen Sewell 1952

In this rhythmic folktale little Jonathan is sent over Hemlock mountain to borrow a big iron pot from his aunt.  His mother assures him there are no bears on Hemlock mountain.  But Jonathan, ever the animal lover, isn't so sure.  

I liked this bit of acknowledgement:

The outline of this story was kindly given to me by Colonel Henry Shoemaker, State Archivist of Pennsylvania, who collects "tales told by the people."  He has granted me permission to use it, and I have given it more detail and form.  The central element, however- the story of the boy, the bear and the iron pot, is unchanged.  It is, of course, a small "tall tale."

Wait Till the Moon is Full

We are still pulling out moon books here.  Garth Williams charms us again with his adorable animal pictures (Bulls dancing?  How can you resist!) and Margaret Wise Brown is full of her usual poetry.

Wait Till the Moon is Full

Margaret Wise Brown

pictures by Garth Williams

The Sky Mystery, Magic, and Myth

The Sky Mystery, Magic, and Myth 

Jean-Pierre Verdet 1992

I have several of these "Discovery" series of books and they are all fascinating and filled with vintage illustrations.  Nice books to pick up to read for a bit here and there.  This was another one that we pulled out to look at when Charlotte was learning about the moon in school.

What We See in the Stars

We are such little men when the stars come out....

What a wonderful illustrated tour of the night sky!  I love the style of Kelsey Oseid's illustrations. She fills this book with information about stars and the myths behind constellations, about the phases of the moon, the planets and deep space.  All the science is there presented in a digestible, graphically appealing way.

What We See in the Stars

Kelsey Oseid 2017

"To take a moment and gaze up is to connect to an ancient human experience, and can be a great source of wonder and awe."

Gather Up, Gather In

This gentle book of seasons starts with Autumn and the refrain, "gather up, gather in".  Helldorfer's words are a poem, describing the changing of the earth and time.

Gather Up, Gather In

A book of Seasons

M.C. Helldorfer 1994

illustrated by Judy Pedersen 

Miss Suzy

What better way to come home from a tough day of middle school than to curl up on the couch with a picture book?  Yesterday afternoon we read this one, loving Arnold Lobel's work as always.   Miss Suzy the squirrel has a sweet little home complete with acorn cups and a moss carpet at the top of an oak tree.  But when a rowdy band of red squirrels forces her out, Suzy must find a new home and make some special friends in the process.

Miss Suzy

Miriam Young

pictures by Arnold Lobel