What Am I? Christmas! by Alain Crozon

What Am I? Christmas! by Alain Crozon was published in 1999 and is a darling riddle and lift the flap book. The pages of this book are sturdy, and the flaps are an extension to the page, so they shouldn't rip off with normal handling. Each riddle has a small glimpse of what is behind the flap.

"I become a special tree when you trim and decorate me. What am I?"

"Snuggly fur red and white I keep Santa warm on a cold winter's night. What am I?"

"Who plays a horn and sweetly sings, has a golden halo, and two wings?"

This book has been tested with my grandchildren and they love it.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Do You Know Liam?

A couple of times a year, I receive a box of books for our NICU book project in honor of a little boy named Liam. As I go through and put book plates on these books, I think of him, and I am thankful to be part of his story.

His life matters. He is one of the guardian angels of this project, and as the years go by, I think of him getting bigger in heaven and watching over those who love him.

These thirty-one books are all marked with his name, and they will go to thirty-one different families along with four other books in a packet of five. Thirty-one families who will spend time with their babies in the NICU. Thirty-one families who will see his name, think about Liam, and know that he is making a difference.

Thank you to Liam's family for supporting our NICU book project so that other families can read to their babies and benefit from story time.  I love your little guy and wish you all the best.

Book plates with Liam's name.

If you haven't seen that Peek-a Who? book, it's adorable and my grand kids love it. 

The Giant Jumperee is another favorite of my littles. 

 Good Night, Gorilla is so much fun to read. 

 Duck! Rabbit! is a wonderful book to help a child see things from another's point of view. 

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

The Numberlys by William Joyce and Christina Ellis

The Numberlys written William Joyce and illustrated by Christina Ellis was published in 2014. I collect alphabet books and this is the perfect combination of numbers and letters.

When the book begins, there are only numbers and the world is orderly - everything adds up, and it's numberly. "Streets were called by their numbers, as were towns, countries, everything. But there weren't any books, or colors, or jelly beans, or pizza."

Five friends get together and decide to create something different. They take numbers apart and arrange them into letters. As the letters form into words, the world becomes a whole new place complete with colors.

The illustrations in this book are quite fun. This one is a hit with the grandkids. They love the jellybean page.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas was published in 2019 and is the story of a young rapper named Bri. I began reading this novel, but I struggled to get into the rhythm of it, so I listened to the audio version that was expertly narrated by Bahni Turpin. She made me feel like I was listening to a movie.

Angie Thomas’s characters are well written and I loved how they grew  and changed but managed to stay in character. Thomas does well with setting, character development, and themes. She is a master of realistic dialogue.

I loved the mother’s journey of healing and found it realistic. Bri’s and Trey’s fears of her relapsing were relatable and realistic. I also liked that Jay kept it real with her job search. She was still working the steps. I wish my own father had found sobriety when I was young.

This book contains a lot of mature language, but it fits the story. I liked the code switching and found it realistic. I also liked the romance and found it age appropriate, tender, and sweet. I liked that it wasn’t the focus, but it was still there.

Thomas addresses the power and unpredictable/predictable nature of social media. She shows the nature of poetry and lyrics and how the author’s intent/ meaning can change based on the audience. Once an author sends out a work, it can take on a life of its own based on the connections people make and the connotative meanings of words.

Although there are many things in this book I don’t relate to, there were many that I do. I can relate to the single parent family, the poverty, the hunger, the being afraid to tell your parent your needs because you don’t want to put more of a financial burden on her. I also have good siblings and loved the relationship between Bri and her brother, Trey.

I think this is an important book for many reasons. Angie Thomas is an important voice for today. She addresses problems in society without being didactic. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi

When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi was published in 2015. The story begins in Kabul where we meet Fereiba who is in a Cinderella situation. Her marriage is arranged by her step-mother. Part of the novel is narrated in Fereiba's voice and part is narrated in her son Saleem's voice.

This story tells about the war in Afghanistan and Fereiba's and her children's' flight from that war zone. They become illegal immigrants. This story shows how they are preyed on by others and how sometimes people were kind and helpful.

I liked the story being told from each voice. At times they didn't know what was happening with each other, but the reader was told. Saleem had to grow up way too young, but he was a good son and a good brother. Fereiba made mistakes, but she loved her children.

I felt a bit detached from the characters until close to the end and then the emotion hit me. I wanted one more chapter at the end.

I love the cover of this book.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter and illustrated by Matt Phelan was published in 2010. I was lucky enough to find this book in a Little Free Library. This book would make a great gift for the young writer in your life. It would also make a great addition as a class set in a creative writing classroom.

Anne and Ellen trade off sections of this book and they cover everything from first drafts, character development, plotting, finding ideas to write about, creating setting, building suspense, writing dialogue, the writing process, writer's identity, and many other things.

The illustrations are fun and add just the right touch for students from elementary to high school age. Older writers will also find this book motivational. I can attest to that. :)

The writing process is broken down into understandable and bite-sized pieces. This book helps the writer see that although writing can be a lot of work, it is doable.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.