going to the getty

If you’re headed to LA at all this summer or in the near future, you probably have the Getty on your list of landmarks to visit.  We’ve been a few times over the years and it is truly another world.  Practically the size of a small village, it’s clad in gleaming off-white travertine (16,000 tons of it from Italy) and it houses a diverse and inspiring art collection.  Its airy open spaces, beautiful natural light, spectacular views and verdant gardens each make their own grand impression on you but what kids love most is probably the tram ride to and from the center.

Going to the Getty is a quirky and informative guide with detailed history, architectural insights and points of interest for families visiting the center, written and illustrated with considerable wit and humor by one of my favorite author-illustrator teams in the history of kidlit, Vivian Walsh and J.Otto Seibold.  Going to the Getty was published by J. Paul Getty Museum in 1997.

babar's museum of art

Any Babar fans out there?  Today we’re reading about the time he and Celeste decided to convert an old train station into a museum to house all the art they collected on their travels.  What does everyone have on deck for bedtime stories tonight?

Babar's Museum of Art was written and illustrated by Laurent de Brunhoff and published by Abrams Kids. Babar plush made by YOTTOY.

Listen to a 2003 interview with Laurent de Brunhoff on All Things Considered here.

baby's first eames

We’re always on the lookout for design books for children and this one caught our eye recently.  It’s a stylish A to Z board book of modern icons of architecture and design — from Architect to Zaha Hadid’s Port House and everything in between — Philip Johnson’s glass house, Marimekko, Mies van der Rohe, Saarinen’s tulip chair and the Wassily by Bauhaus, to name a few.

It’s for parents who appreciate the simplicity and clean lines of modern design and want to share that love with their little ones.  It’s the perfect book to start the conversation about good design with kids, helping them to recognize the modern elements of design that bring beauty to our neighborhoods and cities.

Baby’s First Eames: The ABCs of Modern Architecture and Design was written by Julie Merberg, illustrated by Aki and published by Downtown Bookworks.  Out soon on May 8.

ocean meets sky

You’ll feel like you’ve woken up from a dream after you read Ocean Meets Sky.  It’s about a little boy named Finn who builds a boat in honor of his late grandfather.  He sets off on a long journey to a magical, otherworldly place that he’s heard about in his grandfather’s stories.  Each of the Fan brothers’ books is wondrous but this one is exceptionally so.  The thing I love about their work is that you forget—you forget where you are or what was going on the minute before you opened the book.  And Ocean Meets Sky is no exception—it’s immersive, captivating and incomprehensibly gorgeous.  And if any book has the power to make you feel like a kid again, this one does.  Don’t miss it when it comes out May 15.

Ocean Meets Sky was written and illustrated by Eric and Terry Fan and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  It'll be out soon on May 15.

front desk

Another of our favorite middle grade books this year!

Mia Tang doesn’t lead a typical life.  She lives in a motel with her immigrant parents and manages the front desk.  Her hard-working parents have to deal with the cruel, heartless owner Mr. Yao and his unjust ways.  They take compassion on struggling immigrants by hiding them in the empty rooms of the motel, which they desperately need to keep secret from him.  Meanwhile, Mia is pressing on towards her dream of becoming a writer despite the fact that she’s still working on mastering English in school.  Her story is one of determination, taking risks, forming meaningful friendships and taking care of one’s community.  We’ve loved getting to know Mia—her tremendous heart, unwavering courage, selflessness and diligence were so inspiring and left a huge impression on us.

“I hope when children step into this story, that it opens their eyes and fills their hearts.  I hope it gives them empathy for people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.  I hope it gives them the courage to stand up to injustice when they see it.  Most of all, I hope it gives them the hope that we can get through anything, if we don’t give in to fear.” — from author Kelly Yang

Front Desk was written by Kelly Yang and published by Scholastic.  It’ll be out on May 29 and is available for pre-order now.  And, we’re giving away an ARC of Front Desk.  This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Sunday, May 6, at 11:00 PM PDT.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.