Monday, October 31, 2022

In a Dark Dark Room

In a Dark Dark Room
an Other Scary Stories
Alvin Schwartz
pictures by Dirk Zimmer 1984

This was the first "scary" story book most of us read as kids.  And who could forget the stories- especially the one about the girl with the green ribbon around her neck!  It's a fun one to pull out at Halloween.











 


Sunday, October 30, 2022

Through the Tempests Dark and Wild

 

Through the Tempests Dark and Wild
A Story of Mary Shelley Creator of Frankenstein
Sharon Darrow 
illustrated by Angela Barrett 2005

This was an interesting story about Mary Shelley and her time spent in Scotland with Robert and Isabel Baxter.  After her father remarries, Mary is sent away to ease the tension between her and her stepmother.  Sharon Darrow explores the idea that the seeds for Mary's most famous work, Frankenstein, were planted when she was a young teenager exploring the rough Scottish countryside and telling ghost stories with her friends.  I particularly liked the pairing with Angela Barrett's moody silhouettes.  













Thursday, October 27, 2022

More Tales to Tremble By

More Tales to Tremble By
edited by Stephen P. Sutton 1968
illustrated by Gordon Laite 

An excellent collection of scary stories, some quite horrifying for those of us with intense imaginations!  Even the introduction is enticing.  

"Is this your time of night?  Are you most comfortable near midnight, when the shadows darken in the corners and the wind mutters through the eaves?"

Also it was a nice Gordon Laite to add to our collection.







Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Mister Rogers' Song Book

Mister Rogers' Song Book
Fred Rogers
illustrated by Steven Kellogg 1967
piano arrangements by John Costa

Our church has a cart with "free books" on it and one Sunday this one came home with us.  We had no idea just how great it would be!  Charlotte loves playing the songs on the piano and it turns out they are quite musically complicated.  I grew up with Mr. Rogers so all these songs are enjoyably nostalgic.   It was also a fun surprise to see that Steven Kellogg did the illustrations!

 Here is a fantastic little video including Johnny Costa the jazz pianist who played the songs and was the music director for the show.







Sunday, October 23, 2022

Mousekin's Golden House

Looking for a warm, cozy Autumn story?

Mousekin's Golden House
Edna Miller 1987

Little Mousekin has never seen a Jack-o-lantern before.  But soon it becomes his hideaway and house.  He likes his new golden room and the jaggedy smile of the jack-o-lantern scares off any predators.   When the weather gets colder, phoebe and chipmunk warn Mousekin that his house won't do when the winter winds blow.  But they are wrong!


















Friday, October 21, 2022

The Biggest Popcorn Party Ever in Center County

The Biggest Popcorn Party Ever in Center County
Jane Hoober Peifer
photographs by Marilyn Peifer Nolt 1987

 This might very well be one of the funniest (oddest) books that we own!  Created with photographs of the most ridiculous looking dolls, the story is pretty benign but the pictures are hilarious!  The author is a Mennonite and native of Lancaster, PA., and the story definitely feels reflective of her background.  I might also have a warm spot for this book because of my 1980's church upbringing too!

Martha and Henry work hard on their popcorn farm.  Inspired by the pastor's Sunday morning sermon and a freak fire that has popped their corn, they invite all their friends to share in eating their crop.  It's not the story that makes me love this book, but rather the dolls (I suspect made from nylons) and their various poses.    





(I copied this picture and put it in Charlotte's lunch as a silly surprise!)




Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Brother Hugo and the Bear

 This one just came in the mail and I love it already!  According to the author this was amazingly based on a true incident (which makes me love it all the more!).  

Brother Hugo and the Bear
Katy Bebe
illustrated by S. D. Schindler

The book of Saint Augustine letters has been unfortunately eaten by a bear.  As penance, Brother Hugo must borrow a copy from the neighboring monastery and re-write it.  The Prior lends him the book with the gentle admonishment, "Just remember that books are food for the souls of men, not for the stomachs of bears."

Other monks come to help him and we learn a bit about the creation of illuminated manuscripts.  But Brother Hugo knows that "once a bear has a taste for letters, his love of books grows much the more."  Everything is enjoyable- the historical details, the humor, and the engaging illustrations.  This would have been a favorite when my kids were little.