On Story Bent

While Katie and the Mona Lisa is hard to beat, this is my current personal favorite in the series. And it kept the attention of my friend, too. The selected works and accompanying impressionistic illustrations by Mayhew are just delightful. Evocative and inspiring... it's like you can almost feel and smell all the fresh air + the sweet floral scents. Definitely a top favorite and one I look forward to revisiting. (It may also be providing some garden inspiration. ;)) Highly recommend! Works covered include: In the Woods at Giverny: Blanche Hoschede at her easel with Suzanne Hoschede reading, 1887 by Claude Monet Bathers at La Grenouillere, 1869 by Monet The Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Celebration of June 30, 1878 by Monet Path through the Poppies, Ile Saint-Martin, Vetheuil, 1880  by Monet Waterlily Pond, 1899 by Monet

The girly found this one mildly funny -- and it's a classic -- so it's on my three strikes list for totally personal reasons. It's lively, it's quirky, it's funny, it's very unusual, it has the makings of a great read aloud, and some people might absolutely love it. I just don't. And I've tried. The entire portrayal of the elephant + the illustrations themselves just don't click with me. (Elephants are one of my top favorite animals so have to admit that does make me very very very picky.) It is kinda cute how the animals all pitch in to help as they can, but... ah well. So! I realize perhaps that's not all super helpful. My final recommendation would just be to get it from the library (especially as it's crazy expensive right now apparently). That way you're not out anything if you don't like it either. Or you might love it.

Small person actually liked it fine. Very similar concept to Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, but, on a scale, the illustrations definitely aren't as striking as the former.  The text is more gently matter of fact, though. (Fletcher is ever so slightly dramatic. ;P) All in all this one is nice but not frightfully memorable. A fine title, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. If you're really interested, would recommend checking it out from the library or picking up cheaply secondhand. Note: and we found it as a paperback, but I see it's also available as a board book, which totally makes sense and would probably be a great read in that format.

"The exciting quality of Christmas rests on an ancient and admitted paradox. It rests upon the paradox that the power and center of the whole universe may be found in some seemingly small matter, that the stars in their courses may move like a moving wheel around the neglected outhouse of an inn." G.K. Chesterton ~ (with some slight adjustments, reposting the review below from 2023) "Experience the warmth of Christmas through the winsome wit and wisdom of beloved writer G.K. Chesterton. This devotional -- perfect for the Christmas season -- includes selections of Chesterton's writings, accompanied with commentary, Scripture readings, and reflections. Be encouraged by Chesterton's insight, charmed by the Victorian-inspired artwork, and delighted by the traditional English recipes. Make Chesterton's poetry, short stories, and essays a part of your Christmas tradition! A festive celebration of childlike wonder..." Fresh off the press, my sister sent me this...

(reposting from 2023) I read this book over this past Advent and I'm so glad I did! It's just beautiful... Thoughtful, reflective, contemplative, and deeply encouraging.  We always want to be on guard against experiential eisegesis (i.e. exegeting a text through our own experiences) and/or reading ourselves into a passage and -- given the premise for this particular title -- I kept an especially scrutinizing eye open for that throughout. At the same time -- given all the rich complexities of our existence -- there is a place for colloquial communication, and God's words and ways should also be on our tongue night and day, spilling over... So taking all the above into consideration, all in all I think the author does a good job using each beginning anecdote as a springboard to the biblical text.  She does an excellent job continually pointing us back to Christ, to what He  has  done, what He has already fulfilled -- and is doing still. It brought me to tears in numero...

This cheerful rhyming book narrating the journey on the Mayflower through to the first shared Thanksgiving is historically accurate and an absolutely fantastic addition to our library. I particularly appreciated how the refrain for each section was a moment of thanksgiving for God's kindness and provision even through all the difficulties. Can be read to a wide variety of ages. Definitely deserves to be more widely known and definitely recommend!  

"It's almost Halloween and little Sylvie Ann has found the biggest, fattest pumpkin. But before she can carve it into a giant, crooked-toothed pumpkin moonshine (or jack-o'-lantern), she has to get it home." (from the dustjacket) Inspired by the adventures of Tasha Tudor's niece, this classic is just darling. The text is sprightly and the artwork so sweet.  Obviously, the entire premise does revolve around All Hallow's Eve, but it doesn't delve more deeply into the festival beyond discussing jack-o-lanterns. Just an fyi, though, in case your family doesn't observe the occasion. That said, a standby I've read for years, it's grown on me even more over time and this autumn ended up being one of my particular favorites. :) Definitely one I look forward to pulling out in the future as well!

"When Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton and their parents first step down from the Mayflower after sixty days at sea, they never dream that life in the New World will be so hard. Many in their Plymouth Colony won't make it through the winter, and the colony's first harvest is possible only with the help of two friends, Samoset and Squanto. Richly detailed paintings show how the pilgrims lived after landing at Plymouth, through the dark winter and into the busy days of spring, summer, and fall. Culminating with the excitement of the original Thanksgiving feast, Three Young Pilgrims  makes history come alive." (from the back cover) If I had to choose one book about the pilgrims, this would be it. Absolute top favorite. I loved it as a child and I love it now. (And yes, my daughter enjoyed it too.) Beautifully illustrated and told perfectly, the author touches on all the salient points -- the voyage, the hunger and sickness, the loss even children had to face, and...

"One chilly fall day, Pa tells Laura and Mary that he must go into the Big Woods to look for a deer, for there is no meat left to eat in the little house. The next day Pa comes home not with a deer, but instead with a very special story to tell Laura and Mary." (from dustjacket) One of the first Little House picture books I remember from my growing up, this one is very autumnal and gentle. I must admit, with the passing of years, I do think this story of Pa's is curious. I can see him leaving the doe and her fawn, but, I mean, when (in that day and age particularly) would you not have shot the buck? My daughter must also be a country girl through and through as she was puzzling over the same question on her own. xD But on the other hand, though many details in the full length books were adjusted from the way they happened in real life, I'm not exactly sure why Laura or Rose would have felt the need to soften this particular story (when other similar frontier subjects ...

Follow squirrel as he zips round the farm getting ready for winter... While we have a full size copy of this, I can see why they also sell it as a board book, as it has that feel. It's really a charming little title with bright, cheerful illustrations, and a cute ending. A sweet read and perfect for short attention spans. Recommend!

I do love this cover -- one of my favorite paintings: Il bacio (The Kiss) by Francesco Hayez (1859). So striking and iconic. "For most of her sixteen years, beautiful Keturah Reeves has mesmerized the villagers with her gift for storytelling. But when she becomes hopelessly lost in the king’s forest, her strength all but diminished, she must spin the most important tale of [her] life. With her fate hanging in the balance, she charms Death himself—a handsome, melancholy, and stern lord—with a story of a love so true that he agrees to give her a one-day reprieve. Now, she must find her true love in the next twenty-four hours, or else all will be lost. Keturah searches desperately while her village prepares for an unexpected visit from the king. But Lord Death’s presence is never far, hovering over all as mysterious happenings start to alarm her friends and neighbors. If she is to save her soul and the souls of the people she adores, Keturah must confront Lord Death one last time......

This book is SO good. At first, for some ridiculous and (somewhat) unknown reason, I was dreading it’d be tedious and/or some sort of guilt trip, but I needn’t have worried. Once I started, I gobbled it up in about two days. It’s straight up encouraging and inspiring and  do-able . Everyone should read it and it’s definitely one every parent particularly should have stashed on their shelf. Or even better, out somewhere where it’s getting dog-eared and tripped over and referenced often. The scope of the book covers various statistical points (on the importance of reading aloud and story in the life of a child both as regards education and development, etc.), but even more, it’s on shaping hearts and minds, building family bonds, shared history, and loyalty, and engendering a wide-awake, sprawling, deep vision of the world. Also (and especially helpful) lots of friendly, relaxed, down-to-earth, excellently unpreachy, from-the-trenches tips and ideas for how to actually go about it in...