Be Blest

We all slept in yesterday morning.  Then when Charlotte came downstairs, all sleepy-eyed and asking if it was "New Years", we snuggled up with this book.  It was a nice way to start off 2013.

A beautiful "celebration of seasons" through animal paintings and prayer-like words.  Inspired by Saint Francis' "Canticle of the Sun", Mary Beth Owens draws forth blessings, praise, rejoicing, and thanksgiving, as the seasons circle round.

Be Blest

Mary Beth Owens 1999

 

A Child's Calendar

Happy New Year! 

January

The days are short,

The sun a spark

Hung thin between

The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps

Track the floor,

And parkas pile up

Near the door,

The river is

 A frozen place

Held still beneath

The trees' black lace.

The sky is low.

The wind is gray.

The radiator

Purrs all day.

A Child's Calendar

John Updike

illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman 2002

A beautiful match of Trina Schart Hyman's pictures and John Updike's poems. One for each month of the year, they each capture perfectly the feeling of the seasons, especially for children.

Other books illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman:

King Stork

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

How Does It Feel To Be Old?

How Does It Feel to Be Old?

I asked Chris today what makes him feel older- his birthday, or New Years.  He said "New Year's" because everyone is celebrating and it's another year passing for everyone, while on your birthday it's just a year passing for you (and you can ignore it if you want to!).

I often think about growing old.  Madeleine and I even joke about how I was meant to be a grandmother.  Maybe that's why these books about time passing and aging always hit me in my chest (I'm looking at you Roxaboxen and Someday).  So of course I love this book in that heart-clenching way. 

How Does It Feel To Be Old?

Norma Farber

illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman 1979

Trina Schart Hyman's pictures are perfect as usual. "How does it feel to be old"? A grandmother answers that question in funny, frank, and nostalgic ways, sharing her life and memories with her granddaughter.

There's more to an old, old woman than what appears.  There's all that she's been before.  Before and after, both.

And only barely recalling the youngster who long, long ago was me with never a hint of a fear of falling.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz

A good snowfall and plenty of out door play today.  I confess I really do love winter.

Snow

Uri Shulevitz

If these pictures look familiar, you might recall Hanuka Money also illustrated by Shulevitz.  The watercolors are wonderful and the sentiment- a child says it's snowing and the adults poo-poo it- is spot on.

Other books about snow:

Snow!

The First Snow

The Tomten

A Child's Story of the Nativity

Christmas books just don't get any more beautiful than this!  Masha's illustrations are embellished with gold and the pages shine. 

A Child's Story of the Nativity

illustrated by Masha 1943 

The story, adhering to scripture, starts with Mary as a young maiden. It's also one of the few versions that show the wise men visiting later, when Jesus is a bit older.  I love taking this one out to read and display every December.

Jesus, the Little New Baby

Jesus

The Little New Baby

Mary Edna Lloyd

pictures by Grace Paull

An unassuming version of the nativity for younger folks.  Sweet and simple with vintage illustrations.