Margo's Musings: Will Alfie Ever Make it Back?

This winter we’ve barely had typical weather. There have been cold days and a little snow, but there have been many unseasonably warm days too. I think that’s why my whole family has been thinking about spring. Maybe that’s why Margo picked out this delightful book about turtles when we were at the library. Or maybe it’s just that turtles are so cute, she can’t resist them.  

Alfie the Turtle Who Disappeared by Thyra Heder is a picture told from a little girl’s point of view, and then from her pet turtle’s point of view. I love the dual POVs, as that is where the magic comes in. Nia gets Alfie on her sixth birthday, and he is six too. He is a good turtle, if a little quiet.  Nia taught him all kinds of tricks and kept him entertained with stories.  But on her seventh birthday Alfie disappears.  From here the story switches to Alfie’s side of the story and we see where he went and what he is doing.  I loved this part and was curious how it would all end. I thought the last page of this book was genius, and it’s important that readers look very carefully so all the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. I don’t want to ruin it for you- but I know Margo missed it the first time.

Ever since we finished reading the book Margo has been on the lookout for turtles. There is a pond not far from our house- but so far- no turtles. Maybe in a few more weeks.  Until then we will be reading about them and I am sure she'll be doing her turtle impression whenever she can!

Has anyone else read Alfie the Turtle Who Disappeared? Or have you read another book by Thyra Heder? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~F

Margo's Musings: Where Will You Go?

One of my favorite things do is to listen to authors and illustrators talk about their work. I know I always learn so much from them. Not long ago I heard Aaron Becker speak about creating the book Journey. His presentation captivated me. I thought the illustrations were beautiful and amazing. After the talk we got an autographed copy, which is very special. It’s also one of my little sister’s favorite books. Margo LOVES to tell the story and she changes it up all the time.

Journey by Aaron Becker is a wordless picture book that will take you on an adventure. It’s perfect for making up stories and noticing details in illustrations. You will fall in love with the pictures and dream up story lines of your own. In the book a young girl draws a magic door and enters a world where anything can become reality. With the use of her red marker she can create whatever she wants, but she isn't sure how it will all end. You'll have to read along and see where her imagination, and yours, will take you. (Click here to get a glimpse into the story). 

If you ever get the chance to hear Aaron Becker speak- I highly recommend it. His visual presentation will simply blow you away. We heard that Journey is actually the first in a trilogy of wordless picture books and we will be looking for the next two to add to our collection.

Has anyone else read Journey? Or have you read another book by Aaron Becker? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~F

Margo's Musings: What Will Frog Decide to Do?

My little sister, Margo, loves frogs and mimicked them all summer. It was no surprise when she went right for There’s Nothing to Do when she saw it on display at our local library. Not only does it have a big frog on the cover, but she’s already read I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty and loved it.   

Frog doesn’t want to do anything. Swimming, nah. Play with toys, nope. He has an excuse for every suggestion from his family. When he goes to his friends to help him find something to do, he's even more frustrated. Nothing anyone says appeals to him. It seems that just because a friend wants to do something, it doesn’t mean that Frog wants to do it too. He realizes the day is almost over, and he didn’t do anything at all. He's distraught until someone asks him why he has to do “something”. They tell him to put NOTHING on his to do list, and then check it off when he’s done. 

Will Frog like doing nothing? Will he get anything out of it? I bet you know the answer, but you should read the book to find out exactly what happens.

Image copyright Mike Boldt, 2017, text copyright Dev Petty, 2017

There’s Nothing to Do written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt is a book that will make you laugh. We all know someone like Frog who can’t find something to do, but they won't take any suggestions. I love how Frog realized that doing nothing is not only okay, but a lot of fun! I look around and think people seem stressed, always busy doing something, but there is joy and peace in not being busy. People would be happier if they watched the sky or sat and enjoyed the sound of nature each day. 

The book has beautiful pictures with bright colors and appealing images. I think that parents, teachers and babysitters would want this book on hand for the times that kids are feeling anxious to be busy. Best of all- I think after reading the book people everywhere should put “NOTHING” on their to do lists. What an accomplishment! Next time my sister is feeling antsy, I can tell her to be like Frog and do nothing! I am sure she'll give a few "ribbits" while she does it, but she'll do it and feel happy. 

Image copyright Mike Boldt, 2017, text copyright Dev Petty, 2017

Has anyone else read There’s Nothing to Do?  Or have you read another book by Dev Petty? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Listen to the story being read aloud here!

Happy reading!
~ F

Margo's Musings: Arnie the Doughnut

Homemade doughnuts are a special treat at our house. My dad uses my grandma’s recipe and they are the best! He made some the other day right before we headed to the library. I think that’s what made my little sister, Margo, selected Arnie the Doughnut. The cover is definitely colorful! Plus, I know Margo was thinking the frosting looked tasty. I don’t know if she was expecting the book to be so funny or to actually feel bad for doughnuts.

Arnie is so excited to be a doughnut. The process of being made was fabulous, and he’s proud of the doughnut he has become. Arnie can’t wait to get selected by someone and is beyond thrilled when a man named Mr. Bing takes him home. Arnie is sure they will become great friends, which is why he is shocked when Mr. Bing tries to eat him. Agh! Arnie has to call and warn the baker and the other doughnuts. Will they listen? Will Mr. Bing eat him? Or can Arnie convince him to do something else with him besides devour him?  If Mr. Bing doesn’t eat Arnie- what will he do with him? 

Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller is a funny book with an ending I didn’t expect. Mr. Bing and Arnie are quite a duo. The book has pictures with lots of details and an interesting style. It’s a book you can read again and again; each time finding something new you missed. When we brought the book back to the library we saw a series of chapter books staring Arnie: The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut. The books are in black and white, but there are drawings inside and Margo has already asked to borrow one.  

Has anyone else read Arnie the Doughnut? Or have you read another book by Laurie Keller? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Listen to Chris O’Dowd reading Arnie the Doughnut on Storyline Online here!

Happy reading!
~ F

We're on a short blog break. We'll be back next week with more riddles and book reviews. 😀 

Margo's Musings: Whose Nut is it?

There are squirrels and chipmunks all over our yard. My sister, Margo, loves to watch them racing about. So, I wasn’t surprised when we walked into the children’s section of our local library and she pointed at I Want That Nut, which was part of a Charter Oak Book Award display. The cover is cute, and I know the chipmunk caught her eye right away.

In the story, Chipmunk and Mouse are having fun playing together when they find a nut. Of course, they both want it. The story shows one of them having it and the other one tricking them out of having it. It made us chuckle to see some of the disguises used and how they tried to get the nut. But in the end, the nut belongs to someone else, and don’t think they won’t try to take it back! If the nut is lost, will they be able to work together to share something else? If they keep the nut, will it still cause a problem with their friendship? Will they learn to share or think it’s better to have something for their very own? You’ll have to read this picture book to find out.

The illustrations are very appealing. I also like that there was a message in the story, but it was delivered through a lot of laughter. It’s a great book to read aloud because of all the speech bubbles. We even found some adults acting out the story in Readers Theater on YouTube. If you're interested, take a look. I know Margo loved watching the story in action.

Has anyone else read I Want That Nut? Or have you read another book by Madeline Valentine? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~F

Margo's Musings: What Happens When You Press Here?

I was so excited to introduce my little sister, Margo, to one of my favorite books from a couple of years ago. A teacher read it to my class by putting the book up on the SmartBoard, and the story seemed like magic! I knew it would be a delightful book to read with a two year old.

Press Here by Herve Tullet is an interactive book. Each page gives directions to the reader and when they turn the page, those directions will appear to have been followed. For example, it may say, “tap the yellow dot three times” and then when you turn the page there will be three yellow dots instead of one. It's exciting to see what's going to happen next. Even when you tap, shake or flick you’re not exactly sure what the dots will do. Margo was thrilled! She giggled the whole time, and I loved seeing her reactions. It’s a book you can read over and over again. And even better—the author has at least two other books with the same kind of idea: Let’s Play, and Mixed Up. Super fun!

Has anyone else read Press Here or another book by Herve Tullet? Or do you have an interactive read aloud that you'd like to share. We'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Happy Reading!

~ F

Margo's Musings: Who's the Unicorn of the Sea?

My little sister, Margo, loves unicorns and couldn’t resist the narwhal on the cover of a book we spotted at the library. Narwhals are the unicorns of the sea after all. We were in for a real treat, especially since this is a beginning graphic novel—a different format for Margo, but one she fell in love with.

Narwhal is a happy animal who is bubbly and sweet. He meets Jelly, who tells it like it is. Neither of them has ever seen a creature like the other, and their surprise is entertaining. They may seem like an unlikely pair, but the things they have in common give them a strong bond. Margo and I love their conversations, and we laughed out loud more than once.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton is an adorable graphic novel and perfect for beginners. Narwhal and Jelly are a duo that will appeal to kids and adults. They're silly and super cute. The book is made up of three stories or adventures- so you can read the whole book at once or divide it into different sessions. The illustrations are very sweet and make learning to read a graphic novel easier. The end of the book is great and even better is the fact that there's a whole series of Narwhal and Jelly books. I know we'll be reading more of these in the future.

Has anyone else read Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea? Or have you read another book by Ben Clanton? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~ F

Margo's Musings: Bernice is More Than Just a Squash

Hints of spring are in the air here, and I know my family is ready for warmer weather. Days are getting a little longer and before we know it we’ll be getting our garden ready. I can’t wait to help my dad do some digging in the dirt, but until then I can read about gardens and the wonderful produce we get from them. My little sister, Margo, picked up Sophie’s Squash when we visited the library recently. It’s adorable!

Sophie sees a squash that her mother planned to cook, but it was just the right size to bounce on her knee and hold in her arms. They were instant friends, and Sophie named her Bernice. Soon the two were going everywhere together. Although her parents wanted her to give Bernice to a local food pantry before she started to rot, Sophie wouldn’t hear of it. Nothing was going to happen to Bernice! She loved Bernice! Even when little “freckles” start popping up on Bernice, Sophie is not swayed. Will Sophie be able to handle it when her pal becomes squishier? Is there anything she can do to help her squash? This sweet book has a delightful ending that will bring a smile to your face.

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf is a beautiful picture book with a story that melted my heart. I can understand becoming attached to an inanimate object- so Sophie’s love of Bernice seemed very realistic to me. Margo cracked up at all the things Sophie and Bernice did together. The illustrations are cute and have a fun appeal. I was worried about how Sophie would react when Bernice wasn’t in tip top shape anymore, but the story moved to the next stage in the squash's life perfectly. The ending is awesome, and I love that there's a follow-up book- Sophie’s Squash Go to School. I know we’ll be picking it up soon.  Until then, Margo will have me reading this one over and over again. 

Has anyone else read Sophie’s Squash? Or have you read another book by Pat Zietlow Miller? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~ F

Margo's Musings: Who's Tacky?

Winter has settled in and a snow/ice mixture has been covering the ground for a week. Our local library has a fun display of winter books, which is perfect with the weather outside. My little sister, Margo, was drawn to a series of books about a penguin named Tacky. She loves penguins, and I knew we'd be reading the books again and again. I have to say we had a blast reading by the fire and all of our laughter warmed us up too.

Tacky is not like other penguins. He doesn’t like to march in a straight line, dive gracefully, or sing in a pretty voice. Instead, Tacky is a bit loud, sings off key, and makes a big splash wherever he goes. The other penguins don’t quite know what to make of his different ways and seem to find him a bit annoying. But when hunters come to get some penguins what will happen to Tacky and friends? Is there any way to stop them?  Will the penguins be brave enough to stand up to the danger? You won’t want to miss this hilarious story!

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester is a fun picture book with a good message. Margo loved Tacky’s crazy antics, especially his singing and cannon balls. The illustrations are bright and appealing. I was happy that in the end the penguins learned that being different is better and that we should always be true to who we are- though you’ll have to read the book to find out more. We’ve already read one other Tacky book- Happy Birdday,Tacky (Margo absolutely loves the dance Tacky makes up in this one and has been doing it all over our house) and we have three more to read. Looks like I’ll be getting to know Tacky and pals even better over the next week! 

Has anyone else read Tacky the Penguin? Or have you read another book by Helen Lester? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~ F

*REMINDER TO OUR READERS
Starting in 2019, we'll be posting two weeks out of the month. Tune in Monday (2/4) to catch Fairday's next riddle. 

Margo's Musings: Math in Motion...

Sophie Germain wanted to learn more about math than the measurements in her father's dress shop. But being a young girl in Paris during the French Revolution made it difficult to explore her interest in numbers. After unsuccessfully trying to end their daughter's obsession with learning, Sophie's parents allowed her to work in private, believing it impossible for a woman to become a mathematician. After Sophie sees an experiment involving vibrations from a violin bow that causes sand to dance on a plate, her curiosity is sparked. She hones her craft, studying ancient Greek equations and submitting her work to scholars. When the Royal Academy of Sciences holds a contest to find a way to predict vibrational patterns, it's her aim to calculate the answer. Even with the odds against her, nothing stopped Sophie.

My little sister, Margo, picked out this children's picture book when we were visiting the Connecticut Children's Book Fair this year. We were lucky for the chance to chat with the illustrator, Barbara McClintock, and listen to her talk about her experience illustrating Nothing Stopped Sophie. During her presentation, Ms. McClintock explained how math could be intimidating for her, and as an artist taking on this project she felt nervous. But digging deeper into Sophie's story, the shady lines that twist math and art together came into focus, and she was able to zoom in on who Sophie was and what kept her going. For creators, passion drives the craft—that was their common ground.

Read about Barbara McClintock at the CT Children's Book Fair

Barbara McClintock & Jess Haight

Telling Sophie not to think about math was like telling a bird not to soar. 

Nothing Stopped Sophie by Cheryl Bardoe is an excellent book. The story paints a simple, though vivid picture of, what I'm sure was the very complex, life of Sophie Germain. Of course the illustrations are brilliant, and it was awesome to see Barbara McClintock speak at the book fair. I think the story is well written and shows how absurd it is to believe a person's work is any more or less significant depending on their gender, another reason Sophie loved math so much. To her the numbers were poetry in motion— they didn't care who was sorting them out. I thought it was interesting to see the problems through Sophie's eyes and, as an adverse-math person, I was able to appreciate them in a romantic way. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes math and history or if you appreciate the details in Barbara McClintock's excellent artwork. 👀 

Has anyone else read Nothing Stopped Sophie by Cheryl Bardoe? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!

~ F

Margo's Musings: What is Twig's Fortune?

When we were at the CT Children’s Book Fair we were lucky enough to listen to author Brenna Burns Yu read aloud her picture book, Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortune. It's a wonderful story, and my little sister, Margo, and I learned about a Korean first birthday tradition. It sounded like so much fun and we were lucky to get an autographed copy. How special! We couldn’t wait to get home and read it again!

Twig is turning one and her doljabi is right around the corner. Her whole family is excited and curious to see what she'll select. Whatever she picks will tell her fortune. Each item that is placed on the ground represents something different. Will she be a builder? A musician? Or is something else in store for her? Only time will tell, and no one is more excited than Twig’s older sister, Hazel. She really hopes her sister picks yarn, so they can both live long lives. But on Twig’s doljabi she picks something quite unexpected. Will Hazel be able to help tell what it means?  You won’t want to miss this adorable debut picture book. 

Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortune by Brenna Burns Yu is such a beautiful and interesting picture book. Margo fell in love with Twig, and she especially enjoyed trying to guess what Twig would select. I hadn’t heard of a doljabi before, and it was cool to learn about a special Korean tradition. The illustrations are soft and appealing with adorable characters. I can't get over all the tiny details!  I'm sure we'll be pulling this book off the shelf many times to read again.

Has anyone else read Hazel and Twig: The Birthday Fortune by Brenna Burns Yu? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~ F

Margo's Musings: If the Foot Fits!

October was spooktacular! The Halloween season was full of spirits to get us in the mood for a night of trick-or-treating. Our local library had a special display of spooky stories and my little sister, Margo, loves to be scared (because she thinks it is funny- she’s quite the brave one). Since Margo loves watching Disney’s Cinderella, I thought it would be fun to read a favorite retelling of this famous fairy tale. Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. San Souci is a book I have enjoyed for ages. Over the last month, Margo and I read it together at least ten times. I’m not sure she understands all the references, but she’s fascinated by the illustrations and she likes the rhythm of the text. Make no bones about it; this book will surely put you in the mood for Halloween. 

Cinderella Skeleton is a lonely ghoul and her evil stepsisters make her life even harder. Living in a mausoleum still means there are chores to be done. Hanging cobwebs, arranging dead flowers- Cinderella Skeleton’s work is never done. When her stepmother doesn’t allow her to go to the ball, she is upset and knows she must find a way to attend. After a visit to the witch in the woods, Cinderella Skeleton finds herself transformed in new clothes and a special evening follows. How will this retelling end? Well, for starters she loses more than a slipper- a bony foot is left behind. Will the prince ever find out who it belongs to or will he live in sadness? Let this book tickle your funny bone as you enjoy all the creepy twists and turns. 

This story will sweep you up into the mystical world of ghouls and spirits! Margo and I love looking at the amazing illustrations by David Catrow. Some may find them a little spooky- but the colors and images gave us just the right amount of spine tingles. Ending the spooky season with this twist on an old favorite was just right. I think it may have influenced Margo’s costume- as she was Cinderella, but she wore her skeleton pajamas underneath!  She can’t get enough of this Halloween tale.

Has anyone else read Cinderella Skeleton? Or have you read another book by Robert D. San Souci? Or perhaps you have read another book illustrated by David Catrow? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~F