Angel in the Waters

Title: Angel in the Waters
Author: Regina Doman
Illustrator: Ben Hatke
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press
Buy it here

Angel in the Waters is a wonderfully illustrated book about the child in the womb. Simple language and sweet watercolors make this a soothing story for children whose mothers are pregnant, to help explain what is going on. But it is valuable for much more than that:

My dear friend A. has a nephew, D., who is 14 weeks old. She bought him for St. Nick's day Angel in the Waters, and as his mom was reading it to her, D. started cooing. He hadn't coo-ed for anyone yet, but as he was looking at the watercolors, he just coo-ed and coo-ed. His Mom asked him: "Do you remember this?", and he just coo-ed peacefully through the whole book.

(It's always good to know where we come from!)

Roundup of Christmas Books

I know! The Christmas season is over. Well, it's actually over today, because today is Epiphany, but I am late in getting my roundup of Christmas books. Still, in light of the feast of Epiphany, I wanted to point you in the direction of some great Christmas children's books. There are so many--though you have to dig for them. Today I'll highlight the work of Tomie DePaola, who was a friend of my grandmother's in College, and is wonderful always:

Adventures of Cow

Title: Adventures of Cow
Author/Illustrator: Marshall Taylor and Lori Korchek
Publisher: Tricycle Press
Buy it here
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Adventures of Cow is probably the silliest and most delightful books I have ever encountered.

Normally, I'm not a fan of the photographic picture books. It seems to me one of the most valuable aspects of a picture book is that a cow will look different illustrated by Mary Azarian, from a cow illustrated by Sandra Boynton, and it is good for the children to learn that both images are of a cow. It's one of the first metaphysical lesson a child learns--if you will.

But Adventures of Cow is the exception to the rule. It chronicles the journey of a foam cow, as he tries to get home from a farm. The photographs are very funny, and the text is simple, and the combination is hilarious. Though the story is very simple, it's probably best of a child who is 4 or older. They will delight in the incongruity of a Goose described as a "honking cat" or a "herd of scary frogs" (actually cows). It is great to read aloud. Actually, it's great for everyone: I gave it to my sister for her 20th Birthday, and we were in stitches for a whole afternoon.

I give this my highest recommendation. It's a true delight!

The Black Book of Colors

Title: The Black Book of Colors
Author: Menena Cottin
Illustrator: Rosana Faria
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Buy it here.

Listed as one of the best illustrated books of the year by the New York Times, I finally got my hands on a copy to review. It really is a delightful book, and makes a difficult subject approachable and engaging. I don't know that I'd call it the best illustrated book of the year--it's not really illustrated at all. But it is a wonderful book, and here's why.

Originally written in Spanish, the book has no color, simple text in white against a black background, with braille above it, and, on the facing page, embossed images of feathers, strawberries, etc. The book is meant to illustrate what it means to be blind. The narrator tells what each color feels and tastes like, since a blind child cannot see what it looks like.

For example, page 1 reads "Thomas says that yellow tastes like mustard but is as soft as a baby chick's feathers." And the facing page has embossed images of feathers.

The reader is taking the place of the blind child. Note the narrative voice: Thomas (a character outside) tells the author/reader (the blind one) what yellow is like using the other senses. Since there is not yellow on the page, the only thing a reader has are the words, and memory of other items (mustard, baby chicks) to conjure the image of yellow.

While this book is extraordinary for a child that might have a blind sibling, I think it's valuable for every child. It engages all the senses, and teaches a child that there is more than just vision. It also demands that they stretch their imagination, and try to understand the way the world works. Finally, the simple narrative is a delight to read aloud; engaging and a little bit silly, this book is a delight.

Dedication + Mission

I'm home for Christmas, and we're packing. Actually, home is no longer home, because next week my parents are moving from the home I grew up in, to a newer smaller house on the shore of a river, near the San Francisco Bay. It's an exciting, but bittersweet way to begin the new year.

While digging through a box in our attic, I discovered a little cotton knit jumpsuit that was my father's when he was a baby. Embroidered on it were the words "Little Lamb." I had to smile--this was my Grandmother's favorite greeting for a baby. Baptismal cakes and cards always said "Welcome Little Lamb." And it is from her that I derived the name for this blog. When I was born she gave my mother the little lamb statue pictured above, and I've brought it with me everywhere I've ever lived.

In this blog I aim to direct my long cherished love for Children's Literature towards criticism and evaluation of both classic books of the Children's Canon, and the wonderful new books that come out all the time for kids today. My aim is to draw your attention to, what I deem to be, some of the best books being published today. When evaluating books I look for beauty in both story and illustration, a sense of wonder, and hopefully a touch of whimsy and silliness. I want to find books that broaden a child's mind by engaging their imagination. I rarely like morals (except Aesopand Belloc'sCautionary Tales)

I will be trying to post new content every weekday. I'll be focusing on picture books, because that's about all I have time for these days to read, but will review a chapter book once a week, and revive a classic work once a week as well. I have a growing list of subcategories, including age references, and subjects, so you'll easily be able to find a number of excellent books for a 4 year old who loves animals, or a teething infant (gotta love board books!) As the blog grows, I hope to grow in my aims and goals. And I want feedback from all of you!

In the meantime, I dedicate this blog to my grandmother, Helena. If I turn out to be half the woman she was, I'll be extraordinarily blessed.

"Do you know," Peter asked "why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories." --J. M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy.