One of our current bedtime reads: Max, a story about a unique friendship between Max and Bob— a seagull and a fish and chips shop owner. It was heartfelt and left me with a hankering for a hot basket of fish and chips. Words and pictures by Marc Martin.
I absolutely love this Grimm’s wooden alphabet game from The Wooden Wagon. It’s not for only learning letters—kids can use the pieces to make pictures and designs. it’s a winner. We have various Grimm’s toys and adore their timeless design, thoughtful craftsmanship and durability. They’re definitely playthings that you can pass on to the next generation.
A River by Marc Martin—a staggerlingly beautiful book published last year. “There is a river outside my window. Where will it take me?” A girl sits and imagines a voyage along a river through urban, rural, wooded, wild and oceanic terrain, each rendered with incredible depth, and are utterly breathtaking. The expansive landscapes in A River are brimming with overlapping textures and dense colors—a poetic backdrop for the quiet and introspective journey of a solitary girl in her solitary boat. You can see Marc speak about his work here.
In Sam Usher’s latest book Rain, Sam watches as rain starts to pelt down from the sky and he is desperate to go outside for an inclement adventure. His grandfather delays the trip out due to an important task he must first finish, fueling Sam’s impatience. Sam Usher’s fat raindrops and gigantic puddles create an intensely gray mood with a hint of cheer that almost foretells the happy conclusion. In the end, the boy’s patience is rewarded with an epic surprise.
The reflections of Sam and his grandfather in the immense pools of water in his front yard are incredible and extremely detailed. Usher manages to capture the glassy, gray-toned texture of rainwater and its fluid, undulating quality. Rain is the second in a four-part series based on weather. If you haven’t already, do check out the first title in the series, Snow.
Oh, owl. He can't fall asleep because he hears a tiny noise in the house somewhere and he almost goes (literally) crazy trying to find it. Good Night Owl is our first book by Geisel Award winner Greg Pizzoli, and I’m loving the bright, modern and spare aesthetic of it. With its simple story line, this one is great for teaching little ones how to retell a story.