National Parks of the USA

The great outdoors beckons readers from the first page turn in this incredible book.  It’s a celebration of the natural beauty and wonders of our national parks.  The parks featured in the book are Acadia, Badlands, Big Bend, Biscayne, Bryce Canyon, Channel Islands, Death Valley, Denali, Everglades, Glacier, Glacier Bay, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky, Mountains, Hawaii volcanoes, Isle Royal, Mesa Verde, Olympic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Virgin Islands, Yellowstone and Yosemite.  Each park is illustrated with glorious and inspiring color alongside informative text about its native flora, fauna and unique features.  The book also includes maps, a seek-and-find challenge and an index.  Finished with a cloth cover and debossed title, this book is an absolute treasure.  It’ll be out soon on July 3.

National Parks of the USA was written by Kate Siber, illustrated by Chris Turnham and published by Wide Eyed Editions.

House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery

“Lucy Maud Montgomery—‘call me Maud without an e,’ she would insist, discarding the use of Lucy altogether—grew up proud of her long, deep roots in the history of a Prince Edward Island.”

Reading this illuminating and insightful biography about Lucy Maud Montgomery and the parallels of her life and the characters she wrote about —  early, unexpected sadness, the splendors of a delicious imagination and rich inner life, and her pen always at the ready.  I’m absolutely loving it and am finding it hard to tear myself away from it.  But slower days and a slower schedule mean time for more reading, for which I’m glad.

House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery was written by Liz Rosenberg, illustrated by Julie Morstad and published by Candlewick Press.

Literary Eats

These were some of the literary snacks we brought to Avery’s class to celebrate some of the books that were read throughout the year:

—Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Wonka bars with golden tickets hidden in five of them (golden ticket finders each won a book of their choice to take home)

—The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe — plain and rose-flavored Turkish delight

 —BFG — frobscottle — two kinds (first version: limeade, lime sparkling water and strawberry sparkling water and second version: lemonade and strawberry sparkling water)

PS. I’m sharing photos of the picture books we’re reading aloud during the summer on Instagram stories and saving them on my Instagram page in Highlights section under #bookaday in case anyone’s interested.  Happy summer, all!

Out, Out, Away From Here

With so many feelings in the course of one day, a little girl (with the best, most expressive red hair ever) learns to cope with them in an imaginative way.  Rachel Woodworth’s beautiful text embodies childhood candor and whimsy with phrases such as “mad sad smiling ear-to-ear glad” and “uneaten boiled baby carrots.”  Sang Miao’s illustrations make us feel all sorts of happy — what a palette and world she’s dreamt up for the book.  She’s one to watch out for!  This thoughtful story is another example of how Flying Eye culls the best, newest talent.  Brava!

Out, Out, Away From Here was written by Rachel Woodworth, illustrated by Sang Miao and published by Flying Eye Books.

The Little Library Cookbook

We’ve been following Kate Young of The Little Library Café for some time now and were thrilled to hear about her new cookbook with 100 recipes inspired by classic and modern works of fiction.  Whether it’s Paddington Bear’s marmalade, lamingtons from Mem Fox’s Possum Magic or a farmhouse lunch for five inspired by Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, you’ll find something nostalgic and comforting — and redolent of some of your favorite stories, past and present.

The Little Library Cookbook: 100 Recipes from Your Favorite Books was written by Kate Young and published by Sterling Epicure.