Although her hair was snowy white, and her skin bore the creases of old age, there was nothing frail about my Grandma Runa. She was an indefatigable, person, strong and sure as the earth. Full of spunk and stubbornness till …
Tag: family
Louisiana’s journey…another gem from DiCamillo
If you could clothe goodness in a character, what what it look like? If you could depict human flourishing in one snapshot of one place, where would that be? If you could encapsulate abandonment and solace, dismay and hope, fragmentation …
sweet as pie in July
Pie is for Sharing, written by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, illustrated by Jason Chin published in 2018, a Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press My grandmother made the best blueberry pie imaginable, exploding with the tiny, wild blueberries she picked, and …
Astrid and Crow…fiction favorites
I have two middle grade novels to share with you today. In some ways, they are utterly different stories. One is set in the 1920s on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. The other is a contemporary story taking …
enduring, glittery, always, goofy… love
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Perhaps you’d like to tuck in a book with those chocolates for a child, grandchild, or friend. Here are five grand choices with decidedly different personalities: For a poignant valentine: Love, written by …
merry polar bear cookies to you!
Today I’m revisiting a post I wrote seven years ago, full of cookies and mayhem. Then I’ll sign out until after the holidays. My kids are coming home and I’m looking forward to this time together, precious beyond words. …
cozy holiday read-alouds
Long, candlelit evenings and no school in the morning. Cocoa topped with whipped cream and peppermint candy flakes. New Christmas jammies. And a good book. Sounds like a pretty great way to revel in some hygge during these darkest days …
the silver lining…five positive spins on rain
Rain has perhaps a tarnished reputation of late with the devastating hurricanes and floods across the globe. Images of rainfall have been connected with misery. Today’s rain-soaked books are saturated with jubilation, imagination, humor, tenderness. I think they’ll put a …
rosy with lovingkindness…five new picture book gems
Just looking at this stack of books today warms my heart. Lush illustrations and tenderhearted characters bring a palpable response of peace, security, belonging, and healing. These days are filled with turmoil and conflict, and assuredly children pick up on …
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need a smile?…five books with miles of smiles
I think we could all use a smile, and today’s books are overflowing with good cheer, simple pleasures, yummy goodies, and even a wish or three. So break out the jam tarts and peppermint tea, cuddle up together, and journey towards …
orange marmalade 