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.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel was published in 2014 and is a Nation Book Award Finalist. I listed to the audio version of this book and it is well narrated.

The story begins during a production of King Lear, and the lead has a heart attack on stage. What follows is the beginning of a flu epidemic that wipes out 99.9% of the population world wide.

This story follows the what if in this scenario. It also goes back and forth in time and follows the actor who had the heart attack and the role the people close to him play in the new world.

I found this book interesting and was lucky to pick it up at a fill the bag book sale at the library. It cost me one nickle.

A lady at a yard sale donated these books for the NICU babies.

Michelle dropped these books by for the NICU. 

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.

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy was published in 2006. This is the fictionalized story of the author's aunt who was one of twelve children who survived the Lodz ghetto during WWII. Out of 270,000 Jews who were incarcerated there, only 800 survivors were left by the end of the war. Twelve were children, and her aunt was one of the twelve.

The author tried several ways to write this story and finally wrote the story as poetry. Because I am writing my own story in this format, I was happy to find this book at a Little Free Library. I hadn't heard of this book before, so a win to Little Free Libraries that help me find books I wouldn't have come across otherwise.

Syvia was only four years old when she entered the ghetto with her family. She was one day shy of her tenth birthday when they were liberated.

Roy uses strong imagery to tell this story and succeeds in getting the story across in the way a child might have seen the situations.  I have so many pages bookmarked.

Some examples -

From "Questions" page 4
My aunts are Jewish, my uncles and cousins, too,
Is my doll Jewish?

From "The Toilet" page 12
It is so dark in here. 
I feel so alone. 
What if I can't get out?
What if I'm trapped in this toilet, and nobody hears me?
At home they would hear and rescue me,

I remember as child having this fear of getting locked in the bathroom because of old doorknobs.

From "Women's Work" page 16
She said she was fourteen,
although she's really only twelve.
The Germans place greater value
on Jews who work,

"Am I not valuable to the Germans?"
I ask Papa.
"You are valuable to this family," he says,
"and that is enough."

"The Fence" page 17
A fence has been built
around
us.
The ghetto is now a cage
with iron wires.
We are
sealed in.

Mother says,
Good now we are protected
from the Poles."

Father says, "No,
now we are the mercy
of the Nazis.
They are holding us here until they decide
how they will
get rid of us."

"The Bad News" page 85
The searches and deportations
are over
because all of the children
are gone.

All of them?

The ghetto is a cage
holding parents wild with grief,
and all that can be done is
wait and hope and pray
that the Nazis are right,
that the children are in a better place.

"In This Moment" page 142
Later I have time to think about these things
and wish I could have said
Thank you
and
I'm sorry your child couldn't be here, too,
safely encircled 
for that moment. 

But in that moment
all I could do was cry and tell myself,
I'm alive. 
I'm alive. 

I love this book and how Jennifer Roy shares this story as poetry.

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.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George was published in 2008 and is an excellent retelling of a classic Norwegian fairy tale.

George develops the character of pika or lass well. She is the youngest and unwanted child of nine children. Cold has enveloped the land making it hard for her parents to feed their children. Her  mother refuses to give her a name because girls are worthless in her eyes.

Pika is strong, smart, and caring. Her father is kind to her, but her mother is cold. Her brother, Hans Peter comes back after years away at sea, but he is a changed man, depressed and melancholy. He teaches her a language of symbols that he learned while he was away. This language helps the lass when she is taken from her home to dwell in an ice castle with a great white bear. This story has magical elk and bears along with trolls and other magical folk.



I was left with some unanswered questions about the nature of Troll magic, but this story is a quick and light read that goes into more detail than a classic fairy tale. George paces the story so that I wanted to keep reading.

 Caitie donated these two books to our NICU book project. Thank you!

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 Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland was published in 2017. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy at my library for a dime. I listened the audio version narrated by Imogen Church. I love her as a narrator with her lovely Scottish/British accent.

This novel is set in a bookshop and shows how books can save us.

The main character, Loveday Cardew, loves books so much that from her favorite books, she tattoos their first lines onto her body. Loveday is without a family, and the story tells you why she is without them, so I won't spoil it for you. Butland gives wonderful descriptions that helped me feel like I'd walked right into her world with all the smells, sounds, and sights.

The characters are well written and come to life. They are flawed and so lifelike that you probably know people just like them. I found myself cheering them on. I love the growth of the characters and how they learn from poetry and all other genres of books.

I stayed up way too late listening to this book.

There is currently a copy of this book in my little free library.

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 Chosen by Chaim Potok

The Chosen by Chaim Potok was written in 1967 and is set during WWII. This book reads gently like a stream sparkling as it flows. This is a story of two boys, one the son of a Hasidic Jew and the other the son of an Orthodox Jew. One son's destiny is to be a leader like his own father, the other's father wishes him to be a professor of math.

The boys have different ideas about what they want to be. Danny's father is a religious leader and seems harsh in his treatment of his son as he teaches him to take his destined place and become a religious leader. Danny has a photographic memory and is incredibly intelligent, but he has no desire to be a religious leader. Reuven's father is a professor, and Reuven is a gifted math student, but he longs to become a religious leader instead of a professor.

This is a story about the influences of parents - fathers in particular, friends, education, and society. I loved Reuven's father and his gentle way of teaching. I struggled with Danny's father, but by the end, I understood his motivation for how he parented even if I didn't agree with it.

I enjoyed Danny and Reuven's friendship and even though forces outside themselves damaged their friendship, things worked out.

Quote I liked:
"His struggles are all the world sees and it naturally misunderstands them. It is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one." Karl A. Menninger.

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.

Cane River by Lalita Tademy

Cane River by Lalita Tademy was published in 2001 and is based on her family history. It is considered fiction because she has recreated conversations and scenes, but the people are real. She included her genealogy, which I found helpful.

This is the best book I've read so far this year. Tademy is a wonderful writer. The story follows three women in her family beginning in the years of slavery in 1834 and ending in 1936. This is an epic story that I couldn't put down. She follows Suzette, Philomene, and Emily. Each had her own strengths and ways of dealing with the oppression and abuse of slavery and Jim Crow laws. I loved that each woman wanted better for their children and did all they could to make it happen.

During slavery when her family members are assigned a dollar value and are waiting to see if they will end up separated because their owner had died, Tademy brings their anxiety and fear to life. I felt it and was sickened at how they were treated.

This book helped me see how ingrained white privilege is in our culture. She shows the roots of the problem and how it continues today. She shows how her own white ancestors did awful things because of it. She shows what happened to white people who tried to change things for the better after slavery ended. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. There were no easy answers and her ancestors were put in impossible situations. Tademy is in no way didactic. She paints the picture and trusts her readers to figure it out.

I was sad to see this book end because I felt attached to her family members. I wanted them to win in every way, even though that wasn't possible in many cases. She comes from a line of incredible and strong women. She is an excellent writer, and I will buy her other books.

Great quote:
"Sometimes while you wait for what you think is better, what is good enough slips away" (380).

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.

My Heart by Corinna Luyken

My Heart by Corinna Luyken was published in 2019. I bought this book because I love The Book of Mistakes.

The art is wonderful and the story shows that people will have good days, bad days, and in between days.

The whimsical illustrations are all in black and yellow.

The book begins, "My heart is a window, my heart is a slide. My heart can be closed or opened up wide. Some days it's a puddle. Some days it's a stain. Some days it is cloudy and heavy with rain." Each line is on a separate page with it's own illustrations. The story continues on and shows the importance of self care and caring for others.

I like this book because it opens the door to talk about emotions. Although this is a children's book, it  could be used in a middle or high school classroom. The same can be said for The Book of Mistakes that follows the growth mindset so well.

This beautiful book makes me excited to see what Luyken will come up with next. She is an author and artist to watch.

Cayli and Brandon donated these cute board books to our NICU book project. Cayli is a fashion and lifestyle blogger. You can find her here. 

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 Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz was published in 2005, and this retelling of The Ugly Duckling is a perfect book for autumn. The drawings are really cute as you follow the story of the Ugly Pumpkin who no one wants for Halloween.

The Ugly Pumpkin begs for people to accept him, but he is refused at every turn, until he comes upon a group of squash and finds where he belongs just in time for Thanksgiving.

I love the bright colors in the story looks just right for autumn. The facial expressions are spot on and help a young child see emotions.

Michelle and her grandson, Lucas, brought over 12 books for the NICU this week, and I forgot to take pictures of them until after I made packets and taped them shut. This is what our packets look like. Each baby gets one. 

I appreciate your donations to our project. 

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 Lonely Moose by John Segal

The Lonely Moose by John Segal was published in 2007. I'm not sure if the title is the right title for this story at the beginning. The story begins with a moose who lives alone, but he seems okay with his solitude. One day he saves a drowning bird that is unable to fly and they become friends.

Moose struggles to deal with the noise of bird and tells bird to be quiet often. Moose tries a worm offered by bird, but finds the taste revolting. The facial expressions are cute in this book and add to the story. When bird learns to fly, moose is once again alone, only this time he no longer enjoys his solitude. He is now a Lonely Moose.

There is a surprise ending that will mean more adjusting for moose. As a person who values solitude, I could relate with moose in this story. I don't want to be lonely but quiet can be nice.

We've had a few donations to our NICU book project.

Britney Shaw sent these books:

Angie found these at her local Savers during their half price book sale:

A mystery donor gave Angie $3, and I found a great book sale and bought these five books:

I value all our donations. This project began as a way to honor my babies who did not survive pregnancy, and your donations show that their lives mattered. Thank 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.