Tag: Picture books

How to Have a Birthday

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

How to Have a Birthday (2021)
words by Mary Lyn Ray
illustrated by Cindy Derby

“On the morning of your birthday, you can tell already that the day is not like others.”

I’m always on the lookout for good books to read every year on our birthdays, and this one is definitely a winner!  It encapsulates the excitement and specialness of a birthday.  This picture book goes through a day in the life of a birthday.  The author hints at some things that may happen — people singing to you, having a birthday tradition — but she also leaves it open that you can always sing to yourself or that your tradition may be trying something new each year or just being surprised by the day.  I happened upon this book right before my birthday, and I strongly feel that it is a message full of magic and sweetness, no matter your age.  The illustrations fit perfectly, and I’m so looking forward to adding this to our birthday book collection.

Our Subway Baby

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com


Our Subway Baby (2020)

words by: Peter Mercurio
pictures by: Leo Espinosa

This picture book is a true story written from a father to his son to tell the story of how their family was formed.  This short picture book is so inspiring and so beautiful.  I love stories like this where fate and Life have such a clear path, even if it’s fully unexpected.  Stories like this keep me believing in miracles.

Here’s one of many interviews.

Bear Snores On

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Bear Snores On (2002)

written by Karma Wilson
illustrated by Jane Chapman

This is one I’ve had memorized for years, because we read it so often to our first-born.  Sometimes books with rhyming texts just don’t quite work for me, and sometimes they completely click.  This one flows so well.  More and more animals gather in a big bear’s warm den while he sleeps through a blustery night.  They make snacks and chat, but the bear continues to snore on.  Of course, his slumber is eventually disturbed, and he is not a happy camper.  But all ends well with cozy treats and tales.

This is definitely one of my favorite picture books.  Great for a bedtime read or a winter read to a little one, but I think any age will enjoy the sweet story, natural rhythm, and darling pictures.

 

Chirri and Chirra

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Chirri and Chirra by Kaya Doi (2003), translated by Yuki Kaneko (2016)

I actually don’t even remember what led me to this book–part of one of my late-night library order binges.  I had a hunch though that this was going to be a winner.  And, oh, what a lovely treasure it is!

This is a series of picture books (I can’t wait to read the others!) about two little girls having mini adventures.  In this first book, the girls are simply riding their bikes through the forest.  The plot is about as simple as it gets.  They stop at a forest cafe and bakery.  They stop to eat and swim and nap.  Their day ends at a forest hotel where lovely music is playing and all the forest animals are gathered to sing along. …  Oh, my heart.  It is the perfect day, and much like Bear by Himself, I just want to live in this book.  Simple, sweet, innocent, darling.  LOVE.

Hug Machine

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Hug Machine (2014)
by Scott Campbell

This book seems so crazy simple, but it is one I always love reading and re-reading with the kids.

A young boy calls himself the “hug machine.”  The book follows him as he hugs everything he sees–mailboxes, trees, babies, whales, you name it.  And that’s it.  That’s the book.  But, it’s just darling and sweet, and I love the boy’s enthusiasm for hugging.  The checklists on the endpapers are also a favorite of the kids.

(I also love that this is the book that introduced us to Emily Arrow.  I found her video of Hug Machine and fell in love with her immediately.)