It is very easy, when things do not go the way we hoped they would, to give up on our dreams and to settle for what is an acceptable 'second best.' Seeking out those dreams, heading out into the unknown, takes courage and perseverance. It is a scary proposition and we have no idea if will will find what we are seeking. Indeed, the whole journey might be a complete waste of time.
In today's book of hope you will meet a little fellow called Beekle who does not give on his dream. He dares to hope that the one thing he wants more than anything else in the whole world is out there somewhere. He is an inspiration.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Dan Santat
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2014, 978-0316199988
Beekle was born on an island where all the world’s imaginary friends come into being. The imaginary friends wait and look forward to the day when a child somewhere will imagine them, and then pick them to be their own. Beekle waits and waits, but no one imagines him and “his turn” never comes.
Eventually, Beekle feels that he has waited long enough, and so he decides to seek out his friend rather than waiting to be imagined.
The journey is a long one and it is full of “many scary things,” but the hope of finding his friend gives Beekle courage and finally he comes to the real world, which is a very strange place. Then, while he is standing on a sidewalk in a big city, surrounded by the legs of big people, Beekle sees an imaginary friend go by whom he follows. Soon he is in a playground full of children and their imaginary friends, a wonderful place where surely he will find his friend. Or maybe not.
It is hard not to fall in love with the main character in this story. His persistence and courage is inspiring, and one cannot help feeling a deep connection with the little, white imaginary friend who dares to do “the unimaginable.”
Welcome!
Dear Book Lovers,
Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below).
I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there.
The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Poetry Friday with a review of Guess Who, Haiku
When is a haiku more than a haiku? When the haiku is a puzzle that we need to solve. In this clever little book we are presented with ten haikum and in each case we need to guess what the haiku is describing. I love how playful and accessible this book is, and I imagine it will delight and charm little children with its clever imagery, its artwork, and its puzzles.
Guess Who, Haiku
Guess Who, Haiku
Deanna Caswell
Illustrations by Bob Shea
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Abrams, 2016, 978-1-4197-1889-2
These days we see words everywhere. They are on signs, on
our television and phone screens, on food packages, and, of course, in books.
Sometimes we take words for granted and forget that they are a gift. They give
us information, help us to connect with others, and in the case of stories and
poems, they enrich our lives with language that amuses, transports, and
delights us.
For this
charming little collection of poems, Deanna Caswell puts together words to give
us haiku that offer readers a puzzle to solve. Each haiku describes an animal
of some kind, and we have to guess what the animal is from the clues we are
given.
The poet begins
by saying “Here’s a haiku just for you,” and on the facing page is her gift; a
little three-line poem that describes an animal that lives “on a farm,” that
moos, and that produces “a fresh pail of milk.” She then asks “Can you guess
who from this haiku?” When we turn the page we find the answer to this
question; the animal we just read about is a cow.
The poet then
goes on to give us nine more haiku puzzles to solve, the animals we meet
serving as our hosts as we go from page to page. At the end of the book the
author tells us a little about haiku and how they are written.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Books of Hope - Waiting for Magic
When life throws us a curve ball, many of us have no idea what to do. We hold in our pain and anger, we don't talk about what is going on, and we go around feeling confused and lost. Often, at times like this, the only ones around who make us feel better are our pets. They understand that we are upset, and they offer up their unconditional love and acceptance. Even when we are being foolish.
In today's Book of Hope you will meet some animals who give their humans this kind of support, and they also teach them a thing or two about communication, forgiveness, and magic. I have to say that this book warmed me with its sweetness and gentle humor. It reminded me that hard times pass, especially when we have the courage to face our fears.
Waiting for the Magic
In today's Book of Hope you will meet some animals who give their humans this kind of support, and they also teach them a thing or two about communication, forgiveness, and magic. I have to say that this book warmed me with its sweetness and gentle humor. It reminded me that hard times pass, especially when we have the courage to face our fears.
Waiting for the Magic
Patricia MacLachlan
Fiction
For ages 7 to 9
Simon and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4169-2745-7
Early on a summer morning Will’s parents have an argument
which ends with Papa leaving the house. He leaves Will and his sister Elinor notes
telling them that he is going “off to do some writing,” and that is it.
Soon after
William and Elinor find their notes, Mama tells them that they are going out.
The three of them get in the car and Mama announces that they are going to get
a dog. Papa never wanted a dog and so now that he has walked out (no one knows
for how long) Mama is going to get a dog.
This is a pretty
dramatic turn of events, which gets even more dramatic when Mama adopts not one
dog but four. And a cat. The family comes home with Bryn, Bitty, Grace, Neo and
Lula the cat, and in no time they all settle in. Neo takes it upon his big
puppy self to look after Lula the cat. Grace is Elinor’s shadow, and Bryn is completely
devoted to Mama. Mama mentions that she wishes Bryn could do some of her chores
for her and Elinor comments on how it would be magic if Bryn could do such
things. William firmly believes that “There is no such thing as magic,” but
Elinor, who is only four, is wise enough to know better. Elinor has not lost her
ability to tap into magic yet, and she knows that magic is real because she can
understand what the animals say.
One morning, at
the breakfast table, Mama tries to talk about Papa’s behavior but it is hard
for her. Elinor has no problem asking questions, but Will cannot seem to say
anything because the situation is so confusing and quite frankly it scares him.
The dogs understand that the boy is struggling, that he is afraid that if he
speaks freely he will make his mother cry. Will is trying to protect his mother
and sister as best he can by saying nothing.
When Gran and
Grandfather come for lunch one day, Elinor finds out that they too can hear the
animals. They even talk about it. Will thinks that they are making the whole
thing up, but Gran explains that Will is simple not young, not old, or “not
brave enough” to be able to access the magic around him. Will has no idea how
to respond to this.
On another morning
Mama once again gathers the family around the breakfast table and, with great
difficulty, she tells her children that she is going to have a baby. Will is
surprised that Mama has not told Papa the news yet. In fact he is upset that
she hasn’t, and he tells her that it is not fair to keep the news from Papa. He
finally speaks up, even though he knows his words might upset Mama.
Will tries to
explain how he feels, which is when he hears words in his head, the perfect
words that he wants to share with Mama. Will looks at Neo and he knows that the
dog is the one who gave him those words. Will has heard Neo because he is
speaking up and being brave. The magic is now there for him too.
The next morning
Papa comes to visit. Mama told him the news about the baby and he has come
home. Will does not know what to think and he wonders if Papa will stay. He
does, though he sleeps on the sofa at night. The dogs watch over Mama, and Papa
seems to understand that this is the way things are going to be. He accepts the
new order in the house quietly. After all, he was the one who walked out.
Will wants to
understand why Papa left and Papa tries to explain, but he is not very good at
it. He wanted to have some space so that he could write a book, and he thought
he needed to leave home to find that space, to find the “magic” to create
something. Some time ago Neo, who once lived with a writer, told Will that writers
need to work hard to write a book. Magic has nothing to do with the process.
Will shares these words of wisdom with Papa, who agrees that Will is probably
right.
It turns out
that Papa does, in fact, ending up finding magic, but not in the way he
expects. Just like Will, when Papa finds the courage to do something hard, the
magic finds him.
This truly
magical book explores how a family copes when one of their number loses his
way. Thankfully, help is at hand. Four dogs and one cat set about helping the
family members to come back together, and to find the inner courage that they
need to share their feelings, to be true to themselves and others, and most
importantly of all, to freely give their love.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Picture Book Monday with a review of: The Bear and the Piano
Many of us, when we juggle bills, contemplate a car that needs replacing, work in a job that is often tedious or boring, imagine what it would be like if we could turn what we love doing into a career that would bring us fame and fortune. How grand it would be to be a master gardener who wins huge prizes, or a virtuoso musician who plays in concert halls all over the world. We assume that 'success' will bring us happiness, but what if success and happiness do not necessarily go together?
The bear and the piano
The bear and the piano
David Litchfield
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Clarion Books, 2016, 978-0-544-67454-7
One day a young bear cub finds a strange object standing
in a clearing in the forest. It is made of wood and there are black and white
keys running down the length of it. The cub touches the keys with his paws and makes
a dreadful sound. The little bear leaves, but he comes back the next day, and
the next.
For weeks,
months, and years the bear comes to tap the black and white keys every day. By
the time he is a grown up grizzly, the bear can make beautiful music when he
plays the piano, for that is what the object in the forest is.
The bear’s
playing attracts the attention of the other bears in the forest, who all come
to the clearing every night to listen to him play. Then a father and daughter
hear the bear play and they invite him to go to the city with them where he
will be able to play pianos for “hundreds of people and hear sounds so
beautiful they will make your fur stand on end.”
The bear goes to
the city and it isn’t long before he is the toast of the town. Everyone wants to
hear him play, and his concerts are sold out. He records albums, wins awards,
and is feted by everyone he meets.
Though he is a
great success in the city, the bear could not help feeling, deep inside, that
something is missing in his life.
This beautiful
book, with its gorgeous atmospheric artwork, takes a look at what can happen
when you seek out fame and fortune. If you are a successful celebrity does this
mean that you have everything you need to be happy? Or is there is something
more precious than wealth, recognition, and success?
Friday, February 24, 2017
Poetry Friday with a review of Everything on it
Most of us experience days when we are upset, out of sorts, or grumpy. What does one do on such a day? A little self care is always a good place to start, and for me dipping into a book is often the perfect way to counter an unhappy mind and heart. Children experience blah days too and for them a book that is full of giggles and smiles is often just what they need. Packed with funny and wacky poems, today's poetry title is a perfect book to share with a child when he or she is having a hard day.
Everything on it
Everything on it
Shel Silverstein
Poetry
For ages 6 to 8
HarperCollins, 2011, 978-0-06-199816-4
Have you ever ordered a hot dog with everything on it?
Perhaps you have and have experienced a hot dog loaded down with chili and
onions and cheese and relish and…. Perhaps you even liked it. But, what would
you have done if you ended up with a hot dog with literally everything on it?
Everything including a parrot, a rake, a fiddle, and a front porch swing?
Probably you would have refrained from making such an order again.
In this
wonderful collection of poems, there is a little bit of everything. There is the
poem about the person who orders a hot dog with everything on it. Then we hear
from a dentist who invented “trick or treat” so that children could fill their
mouths with all kinds of sweet treats that would, ultimately, lead to them
having to visit the dentist. Rather a clever trick don’t you think?
We also meet a
genie who, instead of granting wishes to the child who opened his magic flask,
is a “meanie.” The genie is the one who tells the child what to do instead of
the other way round, and the poor little girl labors all week long cleaning,
cooking, and washing the genie’s “yucky undies.”
Then there is
the person who has a dreadful disease called lovetobutcants. This is an
affliction that makes it impossible for the person to help put out the garbage
can, carry a bag of groceries, cut grass and hedges, paint, wash dishes, and close
doors. In fact the person cannot do anything that could be considered a chore.
Though the person would “love to join the work,” the disease simply does not
allow it.
There is the
kind of collection that readers can dip into at will. No matter where the
reader begins there is always something on the page that will amuse and
delight. Amusing stories, funny descriptions, and goofy characters fill this
book, and the poems therefore serve as the perfect panacea for a case of the
blues or blahs.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Books of Hope - One Happy Tiger
I read and reviewed this book only yesterday and I am still thinking about it. When I first saw it I thought that it was just a counting book, but I was wrong. It is so much more. This book show us how a lonely tiger finds something in the world around him that first engages him and then gives him joy. He finds hope simply by watching, taking in, and finally connecting with the living creatures around him. The beauty and sheer joy found in much of the artwork makes me wish I could mount the pages of the book on my walls.
One happy tiger
One happy tiger
Board Book
For ages 2 to 4
Tiger Tales, 2017, 978-1-58925-234-9
Just like humans, animals can convey a great deal in
their body language. The little twitch of an ear tells us that a dog that looks
as if it is asleep is actually listening. The flick of a tail tells us that a
cat is on alert, ready for whatever happens next.
In this
beautiful and thoughtful board book we meet a tiger; a “sad” tiger, sitting all
by itself with its back to us. We can tell that it is sad and lonely just by
its pose. Thankfully, when we see the tiger next it is “thoughtful” as it
watches two bugs crawling on a leaf. Then it is “watchful” as it watches three
colorful birds that are perched on a branch just above the tiger’s head.
By the time we
get to the number eight in this counting book our tiger friend is “smiling” in
the company of eight buzzing bees. The tiger is stretched out, relaxed and with
its eyes closed. There is smile on his whiskered face.
This gorgeous counting
book tells us the story of a tiger who slowly, by degrees, comes out of its
shell to interact with the wonderful world around it. In the process, the tiger
sees things that delight and intrigue it, and it also acquires something that
is wonderful and precious.
With its beautifully
expressive art and its loveable tiger character, this charming little book will
delight both children and adults.Monday, February 20, 2017
Picture Book Monday with a review of Every Color
Sometimes the best way to appreciate what you have is to get away from your home for a while. I know this certainly is true for me. I often come home from a vacation and see my home and my life through fresh eyes. I see that I am rich in many ways.Today's picture book explores the idea that sometimes you have to adjust the way in which you see things before you can truly appreciate the world around you.
Every Color
Erin Eitter Kono
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Penguin, 2016, 978-0-8037-4132-4
Bear lives “at the top of the world” in a place that is covered with white ice and snow. Though there is beauty in his white homeland, Bear longs to see color, and gets very depressed because there is no color to be seen where he lives.
Bear’s friends do their best to cheer him up, and when that doesn’t work a passing seagull decides to help. The seagull visits a little girl it knows and she sends Bear a colorful picture of a rainbow. The gift delights Bear, but it does not “take away his discontent.”
When the little girl gets Bear’s thank you note, she decides that she needs to go to see him. Across the ocean she goes in a little boat and when she gets to the frozen, white north she tells the bear that she knows what he needs. She is going to take him on a trip.
Together the little girl and the bear sail around the world and see many wondrous, and colorful, things, and the bear paints color-rich pictures of the things he sees. Each of his paintings are then placed in an envelope and they are sent off, via the seagull, to an unknown destination.
All too often there are wonderful things in front of our eyes that we simply do not see because we don’t know how to. It would appear that there are ways of seeing that are not always accessible to us at first.
This wonderful picture book explores a bear’s journey as he learns how to see, how to be open, and how to set aside discontent so that his eyes and heart are able to ‘see’ the world in a new way.
Every Color
Erin Eitter Kono
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Penguin, 2016, 978-0-8037-4132-4
Bear lives “at the top of the world” in a place that is covered with white ice and snow. Though there is beauty in his white homeland, Bear longs to see color, and gets very depressed because there is no color to be seen where he lives.
Bear’s friends do their best to cheer him up, and when that doesn’t work a passing seagull decides to help. The seagull visits a little girl it knows and she sends Bear a colorful picture of a rainbow. The gift delights Bear, but it does not “take away his discontent.”
When the little girl gets Bear’s thank you note, she decides that she needs to go to see him. Across the ocean she goes in a little boat and when she gets to the frozen, white north she tells the bear that she knows what he needs. She is going to take him on a trip.
Together the little girl and the bear sail around the world and see many wondrous, and colorful, things, and the bear paints color-rich pictures of the things he sees. Each of his paintings are then placed in an envelope and they are sent off, via the seagull, to an unknown destination.
All too often there are wonderful things in front of our eyes that we simply do not see because we don’t know how to. It would appear that there are ways of seeing that are not always accessible to us at first.
This wonderful picture book explores a bear’s journey as he learns how to see, how to be open, and how to set aside discontent so that his eyes and heart are able to ‘see’ the world in a new way.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Picture Book Monday with a review of The Lonely Giant
Many people imagine that writing the text for a children's picture book story is easy. It isn't. Writing the text for a picture book story that is going to convey a 'message' is even harder. How does one share a message without being didactic or preachy? In today's picture book the author beautifully conveys a powerful message to her readers by giving us a storybook character who is engaging and lovable. Who can resist a giant who is essentially kind but who, like us, makes mistakes sometimes. We feel sorry for the giant and hope that he can fix the problems that he has created. We want to read on because we want the giant to have the happy ending that we feel he deserves.
The lonely giant
The lonely giant
Sophie Ambrose
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Candlewick Press, 2016, 978-0-7636-8225-5
In the middle of a huge forest, on top of a crag, there
is a cave, and in the cave there lives a giant. Every day the giant does what
all giants do: he pulls up trees “as though they were weeds” and throws them,
and he has a grand time “smashing and mashing” the mountains.
Not surprisingly,
the giant’s destructive activities begin to take a toll on the environment
around him. The animals move away, and the forest gets “smaller and smaller”
until all that is left are a few trees, no animals, and a lot of quiet. The
“songs of the forest” have disappeared, and the giant realizes that his world
is no longer the place that he loved. In the quiet he gets lonelier and
lonelier.
Then one day the
giant see a little yellow bird and he is delighted when she sings to him. So
happy is he that he catches the bird, puts her in a cage, and carries the cage
up to his cave. The problem is that the bird does not like to be caged, and
soon she is so sad that she does not sing at all. The giant knows that there is
only one thing to do, and he frees the little bird, who flies away and
disappears. The giant is alone once more.
We like to think
that the things we do only affect us, but the truth of the matter is that our
actions often affect the people and the places around us. The giant in this
story learns, the hard way, that his tree-throwing and mountain smashing
activities come with a price. The question is, what is he going to do about it?
With great skill
the author of this book brings us a story that is simple and yet powerful. We
see very clearly how a beautiful place can be changed when it is ill-used, and
we see too how owning up to our mistakes can bring about change for the better.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Poetry Friday with a review of Moo
Writing a novel written in verse is a challenge most authors would think twice about taking on. The wonderful thing is that this writing form seems to be gaining popularity. I see more and more novels written in verse every year, which I think is wonderful. Sharon Creech is a master of this form and I am delighted to bring you my review of her latest book, Moo. On these pages you will meet a stubborn cow, a difficult old lady, and two children who somehow have to figure out how to get along with them both.
Moo
Moo
Sharon Creech
Poetry
For ages 8 and up
HarperCollins, 2016, 978-0-06-241524-0
One summer’s day Reena, her brother Luke and her parents
are sitting in the family car stuck in a traffic jam. The noise, smells, and
heat of the city throbs around them. Reena’s mother then asks her husband a
question, one that ends up having huge consequences later. The question is, “do
you still like reporting?” It turns out that Reena’s dad doesn’t really like
his work anymore. Renna’s mother then suggests that they should “get out of
here,” and when her husband asks where they should move to, Reena is the one
who says that they should move to Maine.
To everyone’s surprise that is exactly what
they do. They sell up, pack up, and drive north, and soon enough they are
living in a small coastal town where Reena and Luke can safely ride their bikes
everywhere. They ride past a farm and watch as groups of teenagers work with
the animals, taking care of them as needed. Including the cows. The cows that
are so big and intimidating.
Reena’s mother
gets to know an elderly and rather eccentric lady called Mrs. Falala and she
asks her children to take her some books. Neither Reena or Luke want to go
because the old lady scares them, but they do as they are told. The visit does
not go well. Mrs. Falala upsets Luke, Reena comes to his defense, and both the
children are told to leave.
As a result of
this unfortunate encounter, Reena and Luke are volunteered (against their will)
to help Mrs. Falala “for a while.” What does that even mean? Reena is almost
afraid to ask. The first task the children are given is to shovel up piles and
piles of cow manure. To say that it is a disagreeable job is an understatement.
It is horrible, and Mrs. Falala does not thank the children for their help.
Instead, she tells them “Tomorrow: cow.” What does that mean? Then there is the
fact that they know “ZERO about cows.” The children’s parents think that this
is a perfect opportunity for Luke and Reena to learn about cows. Of course they
do.
Sure enough the
next day, after they have done a lot of chores, Luke and Reena see Zora the cow,
and Reena even pats her on the head. Cautiously. Mrs. Falala tells the children
that the following day they will “meet Zora for official.”
Reena and Luke’s
official first encounter with Zora shows the children that Zora is not a
friendly beast. Or a nice one. Or a compliant one. She is an ornery animal who
refuses to cooperate when Reena goes to bring her to the barn. Zora dodges the
rope Reena tries to throw over the cow’s head, chases the children, and even head-butts
Reena. When Mrs. Falala says that the children are “babies,” Luke loses his
temper, takes the rope, and neatly drops it over the cow’s head. Then Renna is
told to bring the cow into the stall. This does not go so well.
Roping and bringing
Zora into the stall is bad enough, but the next day Mrs. Falala says that she
is expecting the children to show Zora at the fair. Surely this is a joke.
Reena and Luke know nothing about showing cows at fairs. They have never even
been to an agricultural fair.
With each day
that they spend at Mrs. Falala’s place, the children learn something new about
cows, and farms, about Mrs. Falala, and about themselves. They never imagine
that their interactions with the crabby old lady and the difficult cow will end
up making their lives richer.
Written using a
combination of blank verse and prose, this wonderful book explores the ways in
which the lives of two children change when they move away from the city and
discover country living, and cows, for the first time. It is fascinating to see
how the children’s attitudes change as they get to appreciate their new home,
and how having new people and animals in their lives helps them to grow.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Books of Hope - The Mole Sisters and the Rainy Day
I have a confessions to make. I have a soft spot for mole characters in children's literature. I was therefore naturally drawn to the stories about the Mole Sisters. Once I started reading these books I came to appreciate that these sweet stories about two very delightful mole characters have much to offer readers. Each of the books in the Mole Sisters series offers up a little gentle wisdom. Today's title reminds us that we must not give up hope during dark days. We must seek solutions and remember that dark days are always followed by sunny ones.
The Mole Sisters and the Rainy Day
Roslyn Schwartz
Picture Book Series
For ages 3 to 6
Annick Press, 2001 ISBN: 978-1550376104
It is “lovely day” and the mole sisters are taking a walk. Unfortunately, their pretty sunny day turns into a very rainy day. The mole sisters are quite sure that the rain “won’t last” but is does. In fact, it comes pouring in sheets and the two little furry creatures have to make a run for home.
At least at home they can be out of the rain. Or perhaps not. The mole sisters have a leaking roof. Now what are they to do?
Once again the mole sisters find a wonderfully creative way of dealing with a problem. They also never give up hope that their situation will improve, and that is exactly what happens. Delightfully soft illustrations and a simple little story will charm young readers and remind them that even the most fierce of storms will pass. All you have to do is make the best of things and wait for the sun to come out again.
The Mole Sisters and the Rainy Day
Roslyn Schwartz
Picture Book Series
For ages 3 to 6
Annick Press, 2001 ISBN: 978-1550376104
It is “lovely day” and the mole sisters are taking a walk. Unfortunately, their pretty sunny day turns into a very rainy day. The mole sisters are quite sure that the rain “won’t last” but is does. In fact, it comes pouring in sheets and the two little furry creatures have to make a run for home.
At least at home they can be out of the rain. Or perhaps not. The mole sisters have a leaking roof. Now what are they to do?
Once again the mole sisters find a wonderfully creative way of dealing with a problem. They also never give up hope that their situation will improve, and that is exactly what happens. Delightfully soft illustrations and a simple little story will charm young readers and remind them that even the most fierce of storms will pass. All you have to do is make the best of things and wait for the sun to come out again.
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