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.

MINE! by Shutta Crum

If you haven't read this book yet, you're in for a real treat.

Alfred A Knopf sent me a copy of this board book for review (thank you).  It's been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

I have reviewed the story as a picture book, so I knew it would be precious in this form.  Ms. Crum writes the cutest story and Patrice Barton's illustrations are heartwarming.

This is the tale of two young children and a dog.  One sister is about three and the youngest is still a baby.  The three year old has become possessive; all the toys are "Mine!"  Little sister just watches her.

Then the puppy steals one and dumps it in his water dish.  The three year old gets a twinkle in her eye and dumps them ALL into the water dish.

This is my favorite part:  The baby heads straight to her sister and grabs her around the middle and yells:  Mine!

What a great way to teach them to share.  And the minimal text means they can read this one themselves at a young age.  I love the characters and the message.  Why not share this story with your loved little ones?

Happy reading.

Rosie Sprout's Time to Shine by Allison Wortche

Violet was the best, but Rosie wanted to be best at doing SOMETHING!

 

Alfred A Knopf sent me a copy of this children's picture book for review.  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Patrice Barton's illustrations are lovely; the children are portrayed realistically and most of us will recognize Violet as being a classmate in our schooling at one time or another.

This author shows Rosie's jealousy from watching Violet charm everyone and be the most popular.  She's not that type, she's more quiet.  But when Violet gets chicken pox and her pea plant might die, Rosie helps her out.  

In the end, Violet still thinks she's number one and says her planter is the most sparkly, but the teacher and Rosie know better.

This is a sweet story any young child should enjoy.  Why not share this book with yours?

Happy reading.

Mine! Shutta Crum, Patrice Barton

This is one of the most delightful children's picture books I've read in a long while.  The story and the illustrations make this book special!

Alfred A Knopf sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  Check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Who hasn't heard a child yell "Mine!" when someone gets close to their toys?  That's the standard response when a little one has to learn to share.  The author shows two little ones taking this journey together, with a puppy to help them.

The puppy snags a ball, the littlest one throws a bunny which ends up in the puppy's dish.  Puppy shakes it all over and gets them wet. The older girl gets upset at first and then decides it looks like fun and puts them all in the water dish!  Soon the puppy has the toys...

My favorite part is when the baby walks over and grabs the older girl and says, "Mine!" 

The illustrations are light, sweet and simple.  So is the lesson in this story.  Why not make your child smile by sharing this story with them?

Happy reading.

Sweet Moon Baby by Karen Henry Clark

Have you ever thought of adopting a child from overseas?  Here is the story of such an adoption.

Alfred A Knopf Books for Young Readers has published this children's picture book hardcover just in time for Christmas.  It's available at your local bookstore right now.  (Thank you for my review copy.)  Patrice Barton is the illustrator and the pictures are sweet and full of soft colors that portray the peace and love theme of the story.

Ms. Clark adopted her daughter from China and has used that experience to help her write this children's book.  No adoption is easy and those from the across the pond have even more complications.

This story is written in a very simple form for young ones 5-8.  The baby is born and her parents want a better life for her so they put her in a basket and send her on her way.  Various animals help her along her journey to a new life and a childless couple's prayers are answered when they find her.

It's a sweet tale that children and parents both will enjoy.  It would also be great for reading aloud.  Check it out at your local bookstore.

Happy reading!