Monday, December 2, 2013

Library Round-up #13

Mini-reviews of our latest finds.

 
Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon.  A jazzy paean to New York City, true love, and not forgetting to look at what is right under your nose.  From the cover, which is made to look like a record in its slipcover, to its end-paper maps of NYC, to the faux-postcards and all the other illustrations in between, this book is a not-to-be-missed original.  It is hard to believe that an author who wrote "Herman and Rosie liked living in the city.  There were days when all the buzzing and honking and humming made them feel like anything was possible" doesn't live in New York!












Please Bring Balloons by Lindsay Ward.  When a carousel polar bear carousel leaves a note requesting balloons, a young girl is off on an adventure to the North Pole.  Beautiful illustrations will carry you away (pun intended!).  How will the polar bear get to his next destination?  Take a look and see!






















The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale by Grace Lin.  The story of a king and queen who feel a terrible "pain in their hearts" caused by a red string tugging on it, which they follow, only to find a baby who makes their lives complete.  This story is based on the Chinese belief that all those meant to cross paths in life are linked by an invisible red thread.  A beautiful story about how parents and their babies, however they find each other, are meant to be together.  



Little Owl's Orange Scarf by Tatyana Feeney.  Little Owl hates his orange scarf.  He tries his best to lose it, until he actually does lose it at the zoo.  A return trip to the zoo reveals which animal has found it and made use of it.  Adorable.  My 5-year-old loves this one!

Matilda and Hans by Yokococo.  Matilda is well-behaved.  Hans is not.  Or is there more to Matilda and Hans than really meets the eye?  Is anyone ever purely good or purely bad?  A great book for those who have been pigeonholed as "the good one" or "the mischievous one."

Elephant's Story by Tracey Campbell Pearson.  This tale of an elephant who is taught by a young friend how to make the letters he accidentally jumbled when he inhaled them into words is sweet, but I was hoping for more.

What are you reading right now?

3 comments:

  1. No I don't live in New York but know it well. In fact I was in your fine city for a month recently to launch the book!

    Thanks for the nice review :)

    Cheers, Gus
    https://www.facebook.com/GusGordonbooks

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by. You have the fine distinction of being the first author to leave a comment! And as a native New Yorker (despite my blog's name referencing YOUR country), I hereby declare you an honorary one. Please let us know if you'll be making any other appearances here.

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  2. Great list. I will now take your lead and check these out from the library. :)

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