Thunder Cake

Posted on September 28, 2018September 14, 2019 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco (1997)

This book was published way past my own picture book days, but I came across it somewhere along the way in my adult life. It must have made an impression, because when the summer storms started rolling in when our girl was a baby, I immediately thought of it. Thunder Cake is every bit as darling as I remember it.

The story tells of a young girl afraid of the approaching thunder. Her grandma coaxes her out from under the bed by promising they will make “thunder cake.” As the two gather ingredients for the cake, the girl proves her bravery by facing some of her other fears. The book ends, of course, with some delicious cake and hot tea amidst the rumbling storm.

We’ve baked our own “thunder cake” on many occasions. Sometimes I hide the ingredients in corners of the house or porch for us to go find, just like the girl in the book. (There is a recipe included in the book, but I usually use this one that doesn’t have any shortening.)

Blue in the Face

Posted on September 28, 2018September 13, 2019 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Blue in the Face by Gerry Swallow (2016)

After enjoying the first two Whole Nother Story books by “Dr. Cuthbert Soup,” I decided to read more by Gerry Swallow. When I first sat down to read Blue in the Face, I must admit I was nearly ready to give up and save it for later. One of the reasons I love my stolen moments of reading fiction is to escape the craziness of my daily life, so to open the book and be smack dab in the middle of a girl’s awful tantrum, didn’t sound quite so relaxing. But, being a fan of Swallow’s writing and stories, I pushed on. It didn’t take long to be hooked.

Young Elspeth Pule throws a tantrum so over the top that she blacks out and wakes up in a land of nursery rhyme characters. Much like the premise of the recent Alice in Wonderland movie, all the characters seem to think she is destined to be the one who will help rescue them. Their kingdom has been taken over by Old King Krool who has banished many of the townspeople, such as Humpty and BoPeep, to the forest. I wasn’t sure how the story would unfold, as it took me awhile to warm up to Elspeth, but the entertaining plot and nursery rhyme characters kept me reading. Eventually, Elspeth grows and becomes more likable, and her stubbornness and anger are exactly what are needed to help everybody gear up for their big battle.

Although my daughter is too young to read this, I told her the story bit by bit as I read it each night, and she was just as engrossed in it as I was. It was a good opportunity to explain to her that while we expect certain behavior at home or with friends, sometimes feistiness, stubbornness, and even anger can be helpful qualities in extreme situations. I talked about Constance Contraire from The Mysterious Benedict Society as well, and even brought up how people’s anger with certain current situations may be helping us get to a place of positive change.

I digress. Blue in the Face was an enjoyable, quick read, and I’m so pleased to see a second book in the series.

Quote from Blue in the Face:
“Whether you believe it or not, you were meant to do great things.” ch. 15

Milli, Jack, and the Dancing Cat

Posted on February 1, 2017July 5, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Milli, Jack, and the Dancing Cat (2003)..
by Stephen Michael King

I don’t know that I ever would have found this book had a friend of mine not tucked it in with a shipment of baby clothes she was loaning me. She said the book was one of their favorites and one that made her think of me. I was so touched by that, especially after I read it. This book immediately skyrocketed to one of my all-time favorites.

Milli is an artist, a creator, but she’s too shy to share her creations with the world. So, she does her best to blend in with the ordinary world, as a basic shoemaker. But when two minstrels show up in town and befriend her, Milli suddenly finds the spark she had needed to be who she truly is.

You might also enjoy:
Belinda the Ballerina

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Posted on October 25, 2016July 4, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)
by Robert C. O’Brien

Widowed Mrs. Frisby (a mouse) must find a solution to help her young son, Timothy, before the family is forced to move out of their winter home in the field of Mr. Fitzgibbon. She finds unexpected help from a strange group of rats who have a story all their own.

This is such an enjoyable read. In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Ratatouille, as we hear about life from the rats’ point of view. The story is told quite simply, and yet it’s difficult to put down. Children will love this tale, full of adventures, suspense, and kindnesses. It’s one of our daughter’s all-time favorites.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)

Update: After rereading this and reading it out loud to our daughter, I wanted to add a few more things. This book was written in the 70s, and I needed to keep that in mind. There was nothing overtly anti-feminist or anything, but there were a few small moments that stood out a little more to me this reading. (My sensors go into high alert when we’re sharing anything with the kids.) There are a couple instances when Mrs. Frisby is given special treatment, not for her own bravery and work, but because of her husband. There’s a also a meeting for only the men at one point. I was able to accept it all a bit more as the story unfolded, but these may be things you want to discuss. Also, Mrs. Frisby definitely earns her own place and respect for all she does. So, by the end, I wasn’t as troubled by it as I was in the middle of the book. Just something to keep in mind.

The Little Yellow Leaf

Posted on July 11, 2016July 3, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Little Yellow Leaf (2008)
by Carin Berger

This is one of my new favorite books! Unlike all the other fall leaves, this little yellow leaf just isn’t quite ready to let go. This is such a simple story, and yet has so much packed into it about doing things in our own time, finding courage, discovering friends, and, of course, letting go. The artwork is beautiful and unique, created with a “mixed media” look. But the story itself is what has me adding this book to our “must own” list. Fabulous.

You might also enjoy:
Fall (Autumn) books