An Enchanting Quilted Fairy Tale

Rare are the picture books that you can spend an hour taking in the pages. The fairy tale, Mother Earth and Her Children, is a simple tale of small creatures who get everything ready for the seasons. It is Sieglinde Schoen Smith's quilted designs and embroidery that make this book a real treat, one which you will want to spend a lot of time devouring each detail. The amount of work and skill used in these absolutely stunning full-page illustrations will enchant readers of all ages and perhaps inspire young hands to take up the craft of quilting.

Perfect book for cabin fever

Lots of us get bogged down in the winter months, that's why I was tickled to get this new craft book by Gill Dickinson and Cheryl Owen. It's filled with a wide variety of simple crafts displayed in bold colorful photos and clear instructions. The crafts included cover year-round ideas and would be a perfect book to check out if you are having cabin-fever. I could actually imagine spring when I looked over how to make a paper flower bouquet; I can't wait to try some of these out.

Pets make the best friends

I've never owned a guinea pig, but Susan Katz's "Oh, Theodore" made me believe that getting one might be a perfect idea. This new picture book is told in short poems and follows a boy as he brings home his new pet and the two get acquainted with one another. The pictures and story are perfectly delightful. Read it and don't be surprised if you want to visit a pet store soon.

Intrigue, Mystery, and Triumph

Don't be alarmed by the length, large chunks of this story are told only in illustrations. This unique book will have even the most reluctant readers hooked within the first few pages. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick is about Hugo, an orphan, who has been left completely alone. Hugo is on a quest to find a message from his dead father. I'd tell you more, but I don't want to ruin this great story. The illustrations are strong and beg for the reader to restudy them as they proceed deeper into this mystery. A facinating read.

Christopher Paul Curtis is a Genius

Curtis has created another masterpiece in his latest, "Elijah of Buxton." In some of his earlier works like "Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963," Curtis makes the reader laugh in a natural way. His humor is about the simple things that happen to his characters with which anyone can relate, even though the surroundings of the story sometimes are horrible. The Watsons style of magic was recreated in the fictionalized story of Elijah, the first freeborn child of an actual ex-slave settlement in Canada. There were times in this story where I could not stop myself from laughing
aloud - hard. Yet, the story brings the readers to a point where the harsh reality of those entrapped in slavery feels overwhelming. I will admit, I have a tendency to be drawn to titles that make me feel happy, which ultimately this did. This was a great read for me; not only did I laugh harder than I had in a long time, but I got to feel a whole range of emotion and feel good in the end. This book is written with grammar that may cause younger readers to struggle, but it would be well worth it and would serve as a great read-aloud.
Read-alikes: Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Day of Tears by Julius Lester, The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck

Unique Friendship

The pictures are not typical, but neither is a friendship between an octopus and a cowboy. Thus, readers who have a dry sense of humor will thoroughly

enjoy "Cowboys and Octopus" by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. The author and illustrator are perhaps best known from their other funny titles like "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," and "The True Little Story of the Three Little Pigs." The scenes between Cowboy and Octopus are sure to make you chuckle. The book is not necessarily a story with a beginning and an end, but more of a collection of interactions between the two friends that always have a joke. This is a unique picture book is an easy read picture book that readers of any age will enjoy.

Read-alikes: Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka

Heartache and healing

When the Hanson family's mother suddenly passes away, the family feels like their whole world is colored in grey. Still, life of the Iowa farm goes on and Katy Sue, the youngest, is trying to figure out how best to remember her mother and still be happy. When Aunt Katherine comes to stay, Katy Sue feels unsure as their new family set forms. While having a sad subject, "The Linden Tree" is filled with a steady peaceful feeling of healing and love. Readers who like historical fiction and farm life will love this title.

Read-alikes: Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan, Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan, The Quilt by Gary Paulsen