EGGS RATED (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein


These eggs
Are eggscellent.
I'm not eggsaggerating.
You can tell by my eggspression
They're eggceptional--
Eggstra fluffy,
Eggstremely tasty,
Cooked eggsactly right
By an eggspert
With lots of eggsperience.
Now I'll eggsamine the bill . . . .
Ooh--much more eggspensive
Than I eggspected.
I gotta get out of here.
Where's the eggxit?



from Falling Up poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein, 1996, HarperCollins

BLOOD-CURDLING STORY (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein


That story is creepy,
It's waily, it's weepy,
It's screechy and screamy
Right up to the end.
It's spooky, it's crawly,
It's grizzly, it's gory,
It's the awfulest story
(Please tell it again).


from Falling Up poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein, 1996, HarperCollins 

Hugs are NOT Just for Dads (FAMILY magazine reviews)

Let’s get ready for Father’s Day with a few of the new books available to show our love.  What we do with and for our daddys is often a mirror of Dad’s actions with his children.  As we create memories for the future, we want also to honor the best in the past, holding a special place in our hearts for times we treasure with Dad. 

 

When Dads Don’t Grow Up 

by Marjorie Blain Parker

illustrated by R. W. Alley

Dial, $16.99, Ages 4-6

            Kids are lucky who have dads like the ones in this list book -- these dads know how much fun it is to pop bubble wrap and watch cartoons.  And they don’t worry about looking silly -- see the dunk tank picture -- or wearing mismatched clothes.  While not actually a story, the engaging text nevertheless, leads readers into an ode to fathers; especially papas who take every opportunity to be with their offspring in sometimes silly, but always loving, circumstances. 

            Featured in the paintings, several dads reappear throughout the book in an assortment of adventures.  Although the book is charming and does not suffer in quality from the lack, it is disappointing to note that all but one of the dad/kid combinations are light skinned.  The text itself clearly allows for a range of cultural representations, and more cultural variety would have both enriched the reader’s experience, and extended the potential audience.  

            Humorous, energetic language is companioned by laugh-out-loud illustrations, lending a comic quality to the paintings done with pen and ink, watercolor and colored pencil.  And the font makes for easy reading, changing at times from large to smaller, italic and even giant size, for emphasis.  This is a great lap-book and makes a strong bid for repetitive readings without boredom.

           

Big Hugs, Little Hugs 

by Felicia Bond

Philomel, $16.99, Ages 2-4

            Well-loved author/illustrator Bond, best known for her series of books beginning with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, has extended her artistic reach in these appealing illustrations.  Making strategic use of colorful handmade paper enhanced by pen and ink line drawings, Bond shows a range of hugs.

            Beginning with “Everyone hugs all over the world,” Bond samples animals, both known and less familiar – cats, dogs and bears – also dinosaurs, bats and penguins – and moves from naming hugging animals to naming and showing animals in paired opposite settings – upstairs/downstairs, inside/outside, day/night in another successful list book. 

            The conclusion circles back around to repeat the beginning phrase; this time illustrated by an earth, surrounded by groups of hugging animals in a picture book that goes well beyond Father’s Day to include the entire planet in a sphere of loving hugs.  Perfect for bedtime.

  

 The Night Before Father’s Day 

by Natasha Wing

illustrated by Amy Wummer

 Grosset & Dunlap, $3.99, Ages 3-5

            Using the Christmas poem by Clement Moore as her guide, author Wing has written a clever take off for Father’s Day in this newest book from her series based on the Night Before.  While Dad goes for a bike ride, the kids and Mom clean out the garage and wash the car, as part of a gift that includes a homemade card and breakfast in bed the next morning.

            Artist Wummer has chosen cheery primary colors for her animated watercolor wash and colored pencil illustrations.  The active paintings show family members busy at work, making order from chaos and dirt.

            Dad is appropriately pleased and surprised, laughing at the card details, and inviting everyone for a Sunday ride in the newly clean car as a conclusion to a Happy Father’s Day. 

SORRY I SPILLED IT (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein


The ham's on your pillow,
The egg's in your sheet,
The bran muffin's rollin'
Down under your feet,
There's milk in the mattress,
And juice on the spread--
Well, you said that you wanted
Your breakfast in bed.



from Falling Up poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein, 1996, HarperCollins 

THE WEAVERS (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein


I was sittin', I was knittin'
On a sweater I could wear.
When I finished, I said proudly,
"Hey, I've done some weavin' there."
But ol' spider on the wall said,
"Can you do it in the air?
Can you spin it out of gossamer
From the ceiling to the stair?
Can you let the wind blow through it
So it sways but doesn't tear?
Then can you grab onto it
And swing lightly on a hair?
When you can -- then you may truly say,
'I've done some weavin' there.'"



from Falling Up poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein, 1996, HarperCollins 

WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA (Monday Poem)

by Shel Silverstein


All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' 'bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done . . .
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.



from Falling Up poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein, 1996, HarperCollins 

Mother's Day is NOT Just for Mothers (FAMILY magazine reviews)

With these books we honor the mothers in our lives, whether they are our own, or chosen; whether living near or far, or no longer alive; whether young or old, rich or poor.  They have given us life, helped us, and many times accompanied us during our own life journey.  May they continue to hold a cherished place in our hearts.  

My Teacher

by James Ransome

Dial, $16.99, Ages 5-8

            Although not every teacher supplies a mothering role (nor should they), this heartwarming story is homage to dedicated teachers who give something extra for their students, such as is written in the dedication.  Teaching three generations of children, as does the teacher in this book, is a conscious decision to make an investment in the development and education of young people. 

            The identified student, a girl with hair in cornrows, makes a series of observations, in these pages, about why her teacher continues to teach in the same school.  When she could easily retire or teach across town.  Award winning artist Ransome reveals multiple talents as both writer and illustrator of this irresistible storybook with active school-centered paintings to accompany graceful text about a teacher who encourages her students to use their talents.

            She loves reading and she helps her students love reading too; she talks with students about the things that are important to them; she demonstrates ways to help others in need; she thinks outside the lines and encourages this in her classroom; she makes it possible for her students to showcase what they know, and helps them to make their dreams come true.  Students in her classroom not only make their own contributions in class but they also hear stories from her of previous students, once in this same classroom, who are now a significant influence in the local community.  Including their very own teacher!!

 

Princess of Borscht 

by Leda Schubert

illustrated by Bonnie Christensen

Roaring Brook, $17.99, Ages 4-9

            Recovering from pneumonia, Ruthie’s Grandma reports that she’s starving because the hospital food is awful.  Ruthie wants to make homemade borscht, but Grandma falls asleep before Ruthie can write down her recipe.  Dad doesn’t even like borscht, and despite Ruthie’s searching, she can’t find Grandma’s secret recipe.

            Across the hall from Grandma’s apartment lives Mrs. Lerman who is the Empress of Borscht -- she gets the beets started cooking while Dad’s napping.  Soon Mrs. Rosen, the First Lady of Borscht from down the hall, arrives and advises Ruthie to add onions.  And then the Tsarina of Borscht, from the apartment next door, recommends lemons.  Soon the three are arguing about whether to add salt or sugar or honey.

            When they leave, Ruthie thinks the soup is missing an important ingredient, and adds a pinch of something that smells like pickles.  She wonders if she added the right thing as she and Dad take the soup in a thermos, meeting up with Mr. Lee at the corner store.  He gives them Grandma’s favorite sour cream topping, and Ruthie imagines he is the King of Borscht.

            Arriving back at the hospital, Ruthie’s Grandma is pleased and claims to be Queen of Borscht, but Ruthie declares herself Princess of Borscht because she discovered Grandma’s secret ingredient without ever finding Grandma’s recipe.

            Loving relationships are clear not only from the colorful paintings of cozy surroundings, but also in spite of the friendly bickering and gentle teasing demonstrated in both text and humorous multimedia illustrations in this beguiling family story.             

Meet Me at the Moon 

by Gianna Marino

Viking, $16.99, Ages 3-6

            Mama Elephant tells Little One she must climb the highest mountain to ask the skies for rain, because the land is dry.  And like many young ones when their mamas must go away for whatever reason, Little One objects.  The wise mother elephant is encouraging:  “You will feel my love in everything around you.”

            Each time Little One asks a question or raises an objection about her leaving, Mama’s answer reassures with a comment about the natural world; “But Mama, I won’t be able to see you.” “Find the brightest star . . . . it will be as if we are seeing each other.”

            Sunlit illustrations range from morning into night, even including a double page spread of welcome rain.  Young children will be especially drawn to the loving interactions between Mama and Little One, sometimes resembling a dance.  And the alert giraffes and zebras from the background move protectively into the foreground when Mama leaves. 

            The artist’s use of rounded shapes enhances the power not only of the rising yellow sun, and the brilliance of orange sunset, but especially the brightly lit moon, as it seems to touch the earth, where mother and child meet.  Kind giraffe faces, energetic zebras, curving elephant shapes, rolling clouds, plus animal shadows and silhouettes against the horizon, add texture and tone to lyrical text, in an African setting that feels as universal as mother love.