One Cool Friend

Miss Bonnie at The Storybook Shoppe recently introduced our family to a real treat in children's literature. One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeco with pictures by David Small is a hilarious and quick-witted adventure of a boy who takes a penguin home from the aquarium. My 5 year old daughter, Molly, thought the quirky and eccentric father was a fun character (he is!) and we adored the illustrations, truly worthy of a Caldecott Honor. 

What fun would it be to have your own exotic pet? A penguin would be fun for a little one, wouldn't it? Ice skating, bathing, hanging out in the freezer... Molly seemed to think this all sounded like a funny idea. Read it to your children and ask -- what animal would you like to bring home from the zoo or aquarium? Let their imaginations go! 

We loved how this book stretched the imagination.  The author has taken the concept of taking a penguin from the aquarium all the way through -- from how the boy got there one day, how the boy arranged to sneak him out, how he fed the penguin, entertained it and kept it comfortable.  It has a hilarious ending that further solidifies that quirky Dad! 

The staff at The Storybook Shoppe highly recommends this one for our young readers with imaginations. It's perfect for boys or girls and makes a wonderful addition to any home library.  You can buy it now, right here on our blog, for 10% OFF! 

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Lindbergh - A Tale of a Flying Mouse

I often go into The Storybook Shoppe several times a week. Sometimes I go to take photos for our Facebook page, sometimes I go to shop for a birthday party gift, other times I go to take Molly and Connor after school or daycare to shop.  Last week was one that I had the pleasure of visiting three times in a week. On each occasion, three different staff members all recommended Lindberg, The Tale of the Flying Mouse. 

With not one glowing recommendations but THREE, I had to get this one home. Only one problem. Molly took one look at the cover and said she didn't want to read it. To my horror, I was unable to do my assignment! (And talk about judging a book by it's cover!) So I sat down by myself and read this book that Molly proclaimed "scary" and "dark." 

What's the problem? I thought. Cute book about a mouse running from cats that learns to fly. And such beautiful illustrations! 

When a  new, mechanical mousetrap is invented, all the mice flee to America, the land of the free. But how will they flee with large cats guarding the ships? This mouse must learn to fly. He must be the courageous and daring mouse who defies all odds and triumphs the dangers of the cats, owls, other mice, and of course, the plane!  What a great message about being courageous and perseverance. 

When I returned the following week, Miss Bonnie asked what I thought of Lindbergh, The Tale of The Flying Mouse. I told her that my 5 year old daughter, Molly, thought it looked to scary and it was dark. At that time, she let me in on the lesser known fact of this book. It's a World War II analogy, one that parallels Nazi Germany. 

Hiding from cats, escaping torture devices like mouse traps, sneakily planning an escape to a distant land, this mouse does everything a Jewish person running from Nazi's had to do.  I had the chills. How could I have missed it? How did Molly subconsciously get creeped out by it? I read it again and again. Each time, I picked up something new.  And yet, if you didn't know this fact -- you would just have guessed it was about aviation and a mouse's determination to build the best flying machine ever!  This is one of my favorite things about children's literature. There are just so many layers. 

The Storybook Shoppe and our staff recommends this book for students just learning about World War II and Nazi Germany, perhaps in 3rd or 4th grade, or little ones that are interested in aviation.  It's appropriate and interesting for a wide range of ages and makes a fabulous addition to your library! 

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Amy's Three Best Things

Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe always amazes me.  You'll notice if you go into her shop that it never looks the same from day to day.  She's constantly receiving shipments of new books, almost all of which she has personally read the reviews on, ordered herself, and then reads thoroughly. She recently recommended this new one: Amy's Three Best Things by Phillipa Pearce, wonderfully illustrated by Helen Craig. 

A young girl Amy who has never spent the night away from her home, tells her mother she wants to spend three nights at her Grandmother's home.  

Her mother agrees and Amy goes, but not without three of her best things from home to comfort her when she's homesick.  Each night when she feels  lonely, she unpacks one of the things she's brought, which brings her on a magical journey.  She feels safe and comforted and has a wonderful time with her Grandma. 

What we liked most about this book is it's combination of reality and fantasy -- not usually intermixed easily. It's very real that a child would feel homesick.  Exploring a fantasy world of riding on a horse to visit home is magical.  My 4 year old daughter, Molly, was able to make sense of the reality and the fantasy simply because how it was written.  It also follows a pattern, which Molly picked up on.  And at the end Molly said: "was she dreaming with her three best things?"  BINGO! 

This book is a wonderful way to encourage conversation.  It can breach subjects about spending the night away from home, or what's real and what's fantasy.  Distinguishing the two when you are between the ages of 3 and 6 isn't always easy. (Molly is convinced that Princess Aurora is real.) 

Children will love the illustrations, they are done in a realistic and unique way, that reminds me of an etching (lots of hash marks!) The colors are soft and soothing and set the tone perfectly for the story.  We highly recommend this new book.  You can have it shipped directly to your door, just check out with PayPal below. 

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It's Raining, It's Pouring

Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe recommended It's Raining, It's Pouring, performed by Peter, Paul and Mary and illustrated by the supremely talented, Christine Davenier.  In short: it did not disappoint and we loved it. 

My 4-year old daughter immediately recognized the illustrations, which I was impressed by but not totally surprised.  Christine Davenier is the author of dozens of critically acclaimed books for children such as Miss Lina Ballerina and The Fairy Princess series.  I adore the artistic, sketchy yet refined style of the characters she creates. She uses a combination water color and pencil and every stroke is visible. It's art perfection! 

So what does it mean to be "performed by" Peter, Paul, and Mary? The words of this book are familiar, it's all nursery rhymes you've heard as a kid, strung together in a series.  And of course, this dynamic and legendary trio also recorded it.  Watch it here but a copy of this performance is on CD in your purchased book.   There are three songs on the CD that comes with your book purchase! 

Beautiful, isn't it?  My daughter, Molly, absolutely loved the song and the illustrations in the book.  If you are looking for a great gift, or keepsake for your shelf, we recommend this one!  You can buy it now, right here on the blog, for 10% OFF.  It will ship directly to your door, just check out with PayPal below. 

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The Snatchabook

Reading to our children at home is such a wonderful evening activity.  After a crazy meal time (Connor's usually throwing food, the dogs are barking, and Molly's usually whining for a special treat) and right after a fun-filled bath (water everywhere, including the floor), sitting down with my kids to five or six books is a real treat.   No one makes a sound except for the reader!

Miss Nancy recently recommended The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, and we have been enjoying it night after night.  Eliza Brown, an adorable rabbit, discovers that all of her friends favorite books are being snatched up! Someone is coming into their rooms at night and stealing their stories.

Keen to solve the mystery of what was happening to all the books, Eliza finds a creature -- mournful and full of shame -- that says, "I'm just a little Snatchabook."   This creature who you soon learn to love, says: "I know it's wrong, but can't you see -- I've got no one to read to me!"    Wouldn't you know it that Molly instantly said, "that's so sad, Mommy!"  Given how much we treasure reading to our children, it certainly would be sad if a child didn't have anyone to read to them.

A lesson is learned by everyone in the end as The Snatchabook puts back all the books he has taken. All is forgiven when everything has been returned.  And I bet you know who's reading to The Snatchabook?

"And if you take a closer look you might just see the Snatchabook, perched happily on someone's bed... listening hard to each word said."  YOU!

What a lovely story!  It's perfect for pre-K or K, or young readers on their own. It also makes a great gift for birthdays for someone who loves books.  Buy this treasured book now, right here on the blog, and support The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton SC's only children's book store.  You'll receive 10% off the cost of the book as a thank you!

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I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love

There are some books that are instant classics.  Books that should be on the shelves in every house of every child around the world.  Off the top of my head, I can name a few of them: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Good Night Moon, and On The Night You Were Born.  This book, introduced to our family by Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe, joins those ranks.  It's by Nancy Tillman (author of On The Night You Were Born) and it's called I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love.  It makes the perfect gift for a newborn baby.



The beautiful, realistic illustrations captivate young readers page by page.  Readers feel a sense of magic and wonder.



The underlying message is not so underlying but reads loud and clear:  whatever you choose to be, whatever you become, you are loved.  Because you are my child, I will always know you and you will always be a part of me.



Reading this book is reading a parents pure love.  It gives my daughter Molly a sense of security, a sense of calm, and it's thoroughly enjoyed by our family.   We highly recommend it, it truly is an instant classic. This one is another winner from Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe.

You can purchase I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love right here on the blog and support The Storybook Shoppe in Bluffton, SC.  We are giving our readers 10% off!    Great gift for newborn, birthday, and holidays coming up.... eeek!

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(WAS $17.99) 

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Library Lion

With our love of books and adoration of animals, Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe knew that Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen would touch our hearts.

We all know that there are some basic rules about being in a library.  No talking, eating, drinking or running, but what about a lion in the library? Head librarian Miss Merriweather doesn't see any rules about lions being in the library, so she allows him to come each day so long as he doesn't roar!

It turns out, a lion is very well suited for a library.  He makes a comfy backrest, he can help dust books on the top shelf, and the children love this gentle fictitious creature.  But what happens when Miss Merriweather has an accident and Lion is the only one there to get help?  Will he keep quiet and follow the rules of the library?

Copyrighted material - Images via BisforBooks

This book is a shining example of how sometimes it's okay to break the rules if you need help.  It also demonstrates friendship, love and respect.  (There's also an excellent lesson about apologizing, too!) Kevin Hawkes beautifully illustrates this picture book with a soft and realistic style that pages homage to the calmness and peace of a library itself.

As The Storybook Shoppe gears up to sell children's books online on November 1st, we are making weekly book recommendations available to you immediately on our blog.  This book comes highly recommended by Miss Nancy and her staff, and the entire O'Regan family.  Buy it now and support The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, SC's first children's bookstore!

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Head on over to Michelle Knudsen's Facebook page and check her out or visit her on the web to learn more about this fabulous author and teacher.  Check out The Storybook Shoppe on Facebook, too!