Magnolia Flower

Magnolia Flower

Zora Neale Hurston

adapted by Ibram X. Kendi

illustrated by Loveis Wise 2022

 I loved the book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.  That led me down a path of picking up her other writing, including short stories, and folk tales.  This book colorfully illustrated by Loveis Wise is one such story adapted by Ibram X. Kendi for kids.  In the author's note at the end Kendi writes, "The earlier we expose our children to our literary treasures- to our literary legends like Hurston- the better."  I couldn't agree more!

The story starts with Brook asking Mighty River to tell a story of people in love.  It's a story not only of young Magnolia and John but of freedom and nature.  

The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car

The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car

Joe Lasker 1977

 This is a pretty incredible true story about young Mary Patton who took over command of her husband's clipper ship, Neptune's Car, when he became ill.  Not only was she only 19 years old, but she was pregnant at the time!  Able to navigate and read charts, Mary brought the ship to harbor in San Francisco after rounding the most treacherous path of Cape Horn.  Joe Lasker's retelling is accompanied by his illustrations that resemble old photographs.

This World of Ours

 I got to hold my sister's brand new baby and go to an antique mart with my mom (where I found this book!).  If that isn't a great weekend, I don't know what is!

I thought this would be more of a story book or musings about nature, but it's in fact a kind of science book teaching about weather and how soil is made and mountains and the air around us.  It's a thicker Little Golden Book with more pages, but all the better because that means more illustrations by Eloise Wilkin!

This World of Ours

Jane Werner Watson

pictures by Eloise Wilkin 1959

Bonkers about Beetles

 Beetles are some of my very favorite kinds of insects.  I was thrilled to get my hands on this Owen Davey's book all about them!  

Bonkers About Beetles

Owen Davey 2023

Other books by Owen Davey:

Obsessive About Octopuses

Peter Pan

The Picture Story Book of Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie

pictures by Roy Best 1931

From 1931 comes this illustrated storybook of Peter Pan.  Based on the original play (not the Disney version), it's quite fun to read.  

Isn't this just a beautiful picture?!