Book Room

Carmen and the House that Gaudi Built

Owlkids Books | 978-1771473927   Carmen’s Mama and Papa have bought a new house on a fancy street in Barcelona and the family will be moving from their home in the country to the city. Carmen is none too happy because she will have to leave Dragon, her imaginary salamander. “But what would she do… Read more »

Dear Treefrog

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | 978-0358064763 Lovers of poetry and especially poetry for children are well familiar with Joyce Sidman‘s work. Her books have won many awards, including but not limited to a Newbery Honor for DARK EMPEROR AND OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT, Caldecott Honors for both SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN & OTHER POND… Read more »

The Elephants Come Home

Chronicle Books | 978-1452127835   About a month ago, Kim Tomsic and I were (finally!) able to schedule our first lunch together in over a year. We’d both been vaccinated and had a lot of catching up to do. Kim’s newest book, THE ELEPHANTS COME HOME, was publishing in May, and I was anxious to… Read more »

Barkus by Patricia Maclachlan, illustrated by Marc Boutavant

Chronicle Books BARKUS | 978-1452180809   On a windy day, unannounced, Nicky’s favorite uncle, Uncle Everton, knocks on the door. He’s going on a trip around the world and he has a surprise for Nicky. In one hand, he held a leash. At the other end of the leash was… Barkus, Uncle Everton’s very big… Read more »

Illustrated chapter books for growing readers

I’ve been reading chapter books lately, so today’s ReaderKidZ post focuses on three from this week. SYDNEY AND TAYLOR: Explore the Whole Wide World by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Deborah Hocking For Sydney and Taylor, the whole wide world up to this point had been their small burrow under Miss Nancy’s potting shed. “Sydney, being… Read more »

Be a Tree

Abrams Books for Young Readers | 9781419744228   It’s spring now in the northern hemisphere and the trees are leafing out, bright and green. If you’re like me, you look forward to these months of new growth, birds chirping their morning and evening songs. Spring also means books. New books! I’ve been a fan of both Maria… Read more »