I Like Old Clothes by Mary Ann Hoberman

I lived with a lot of hand-me-downs as a child.  Our families shared clothing items between each other.  I was never real fond of it until I got a pair of cut offs that were already broken in...

Knopf sent me a copy of this picture book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

I just love Patrice Barton's illustrations.  They are so whimsical and colorful they make me smile.  Add Ms. Hoberman's easy rhyming text to it and you have a marvelous book.

This is tale of a little girl and her brother and the adventures they have by wearing the new "old" clothes or imagining who else has worn them.  It's charming tale and I highly recommend it.

Why not share it with your child?  It's sure to make them look at their clothes in a different way.

P.S.  I still buy clothes at thrift stores... 

Happy reading.

Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman

It's the time of the great Depression, and Allie's father has finally found a job in another city but it forces them to move. She likes living in the house they are sharing with another family, and she has a best friend - why move?

She almost gets enthused when she finds out they're moving to Strawberry Hill, but that doesn't last long when she finds out there are no strawberries...

The best message this book will share with your young one is how to make friends, how to keep them, and what kind of friend is the best type of friend.

There is also discussion of the prejudice some people held for Jews, something that Allie had not seen before.

It's a coming of age story, and while it's not easy for Allie, she is happy with the decisions she ends up making and how it turns out for her.

If your child is having problems making friends, this book could be a good way to open up some dialogue.

I'm giving away my Advance Reading Copy. If you'd like to get in on the drawing, leave a comment here on the blog and then email me at info@bookfaerie.com with your name and address and tell me why'd you like it. I'll do the drawing in about a week.