What I like most (is books)
Can we read? No. 78
Hi there!
Two days ago I got an email from our school district titled, “Back to school 2022,” to which my reaction was, HOW?!
I am not ready, not yet.
I am going to stay right here, right now, gorging on apricots, going to the pool, reading aloud, camping, saying yes to every fun thing, (oh yeah, and working), trying to soak up all the goodness life has to offer, because that seems important. (I mean, it’s always important, but I frequently lose track of that.)
At some point in the next few days, we will have to brave Target for school supplies, because my coworker said she and her kids went last Friday night at 9pm and they are already depleted? (Again, HOW?) But I’m not letting that deter me, or us. There will be time enough to sharpen new pencils and label everything in sight.
For now, sunshine and popsicles.
Two more things
1️⃣ One of my very dearest friends, Maggie Ginsberg — who I met in a book group when I was 25 years old — wrote a novel, Still True, and though it’s coming out in September from University of Wisconsin Press (which, I can attest, only publishes excellent books), it’s available for pre-order now.
People, let me tell you: I have read this book, albeit in draft form, early on, from 8.5x11 paper I printed out so I could have it in my hands and scribble helpful feedback — and I was unable to put it down, so gorgeous and compelling did I find the story then, so I can only imagine how much she has improved it in its final, real form. (Come for the appeal of being married but living in separate houses, stay for the secrets and the way this story unfurls like a morning glory opening in your hands.)
2️⃣ Bookshop.org is offering FREE SHIPPING 📦 today — not coincidentally, Amazon Prime Day — so if you’ve ever been tempted to order from any of my booklists (which means I get a tiny percentage of your sale, which helps keep this newsletter up and running), now is a great time to do it!
Now onto some (well, okay, more) books!
What I Like Most by Mary Murphy, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang (2019)
You might think nothing much happens in this sweet story about a little girl who shares all the things that she likes most, and you’d be somewhat right. Her tender material catalog is both mundane and marvelous, and yet, seeing all the things that mean so much to her — her window; her grandmother’s apricot jam; her shoes that light up and make her feet “do a tiny bounce with every step;” the changeable and changing river; her red pencil, whose “color comes out like a red ribbon;” her fries (same, girl); her book; her teddy; and most of all, her mother — through various sensory details, Cheng-Liang’s lovely watercolor and pencil images, and the special perspective of the world only a preschooler can have is a beautiful reminder that the small things in life matter, can indeed be someone’s entire world.
The upper age limit for this one is probably around kindergarten — older kids have mostly moved on from some (though not all) of the magic to be found in everyday life, but 3, 4, and 5yos will see themselves in these pages. (This would be a great title to use to prompt discussion about “what you like the most,” a sort of proto-gratitude list exercise, or simply a way to have a conversation with your little one about the things that bring them joy. Which is, incidentally, a great reminder for adults reading this one aloud — that our worlds are filled with small-scale delights, but they are nevertheless meaningful and wonderful, if we have the eyes to see them.)
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judith Byron Schachner (2017)
Sarabella is a deep thinker with a huge imagination (and her head in the clouds) who often gets accused of daydreaming at school.
“Sarabella needs to find a way to focus and finish her work on time,” her teacher writes in a note sent home to her parents. “We’d all love to know what Sarabella thinks about,” another one says.
To their credit, her parents aren’t worried — in fact, they affirm that she has daydreams in her DNA — but her problem persists. Until one day, her thoughtful teacher sends home a weekend assignment that caters to Sarabella’s strengths. Though she is supposed to draw a picture of her daydreams, instead she concentrates on bringing her beautiful thoughts to life.
With a brown paper bag, some old magazines, papers, pencils, pastels, stickers, stamps — and through Schachner’s absolutely stunning acrylic, gouache, collage, and mixed media illustrations — Sarabella’s gorgeous inner world comes alive through a literal thinking cap, which gives her classmates some insight into how she operates, and finally offers Sarabella herself some peace of mind (pun intended, of course) that her brain, and the way it works, is beautiful exactly as it is.
This one is for all the daydreamers, the quiet creators, the big thinkers: if you have a child like this, don’t miss it. (And if you were that child, revisit your young self and remember how precious you were, and still are.)
Deep in the Forest by Brinton Turkle (1976)
In this wordless but incredibly engaging spin on the classic story of Goldilocks, a pioneer family goes out for a walk while a little bear cub breaks into their cabin and wreaks havoc. Turkle’s warm pencil-and-watercolor illustrations bring the full humor of this situation to vivid life here, inviting toddlers and preschools into the tale with plenty of room for them to add their own details (which is the real appeal of a wordless book — any reader, adult or child, can come up with their own unique version).
The wholesome, muted images may seem a bit worn, but really, does an adventure — especially one that’s more than a little mischievous — ever get old? No, not for littles, and not for anyone who hasn’t outgrown their imagination. Take a romp through the woods and into someone else’s house and let this one inspire your most creative and playful storytelling.
Swamp Angel by Anne Isaac, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky (1994)
This classic American tall tale about a woman named Angelica Longrider — aka Swamp Angel — who spent days fighting a menace of a bear called Thundering Tarnation tooth and nail, only to best him, and thus provide both a feast and full storehouses across Tennesee, just in time for winter — is a wildly entertaining, humorous story that will appeal to preschoolers able to sit through a longer story all the way up to kids in late elementary school.
Swamp Angel’s moxie and tenacity are a refreshing departure from the role usually reserved for women in tall tales — though there are notable exceptions, Angel’s force of character is extraordinary, and absolutely delightful (she reminds me in many ways of Thunder Rose, the equally awesome heroine of Jerdine Nolen’s title of the same name, which I reviewed in issue No. 67). Still, I have to admit that the best part about this story is Zelinsky’s evocative illustrations, which were painted in oils on cherry, maple, and birch veneers and are really nothing short of stunning.
This is a very fun read for a wide variety of ages and most welcome addition to the long tradition of American tall tales.
🎁 Giveaway!
I have a very gently used (like new) copy of Swamp Angel that I’d love to pass on to one of you.
To enter to win, please fill out this form — no strings attached, nothing to do on your end except leave me your contact details.
I’ll close the giveaway on Sunday at midnight (CDT) and choose a winner on Monday, at which time I’ll be in touch for a mailing address.
Good luck!
Thanks for reading today. And, as always, if you know someone who might enjoy a newsletter about children’s books and the magic of reading aloud,🔮 please pass it on!
Sarah