where shall we go today?

July 27, 2010 ~ jama

"The world first opens up to children in the pages of great books, taking them in their imaginations to fascinating places near and far: a farmhouse on Prince Edward Island, a cave on the banks of the Mississippi River, a long-ago village in Holland, a convent school in Paris, a fancy hotel in New York City. " ~ Storybook Travels by Bates and Latempa.

teddy photo: inspired by . . .

Since I grew up on a tiny island in the Pacific, the world of my childhood was indeed very small. Unlike our mainland cousins, we couldn’t pile into the car and drive to another state come summer or Easter vacation.

The most exciting thing we did was drive around O’ahu, which, if including the obligatory lunch and snack stops, could be accomplished in about 2-3 hours. If one did this once or twice a year for 12+ consecutive years, you can easily see how soon it would lose its magic.

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blue monday

July 26, 2010July 23, 2011 ~ jama

“Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.” ~ L. Frank Baum

“Blue thou art, intensely blue; Flower, whence came thy dazzling hue?” ~ James Montgomery

“Country Blues” by Lisa Lorenz (available for purchase here).

Blue’s the coolest color on a sizzling summer’s day.

Let’s sit back and chill while those blues drift this way . . .

photo by Woody the bear.

Show me your blue books!
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friday feast: a tasting

July 23, 2010January 8, 2018 ~ jama

photo: Sarah and Mike . . . probably.

Sometimes you’re thirsty, but you’re not quite sure for what.

That’s where Poetry Friday comes in. A good poem, the right poem, will quench your need for solace, inspiration, enlightenment, the irreverent, even the absurd. Why not get drunk on words?

photo by Mick Stephenson.

Surely there’s nothing more evocative, soul-stirring or sensual than “the best words in the best order.” Poets, the sommeliers of the literary world, might assess words as they do wine, according to the “five S’s”: see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor. Each word must carry more than its weight in shape, size and texture, connotation, sensory qualities, and personality/character. When read aloud, the word should roll off the tongue, feel good in the mouth, sing. A good poem has a pleasant “aftertaste,” an emotional resonance for readers to savor again and again.

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sweet treat: color bears by judy palaferro!

July 22, 2010December 7, 2017 ~ jama ~ 2 Comments

Attention babies, toddlers, munchkins, rugrats, teddy bears and short grown-ups! There’s a new board book out just for you!

As soon as Color Bears* by Judy Palaferro (Umbrage Books, 2010) appeared in the alphabet soup kitchen, the resident bears were all over it. They sniffed, licked, hugged, stroked, marveled and giggled with glee over all the cool artwork. Once they settled down, Cornelius read the book aloud.

This whimsical, well-designed, innovative visual treat consists of twelve color-themed spreads — bold black-and-white patterned illos on the left (just right for infants learning to focus), and different bear characters in various landscapes on the right (sure to delight curious toddlers).

From Sunny Yellow Bears (check out those fun faces) to Sleepy Black Bears (moon and stars goodnight), these adorable fellows prove they know exactly how to play, entertain, and amuse. Some appear as funky sunglasses, others bob around in the pool, still others take the form of sweet edibles (lollipop and cupcake). Yum.

Who can resist these Growing Green Bears on a stem?

Or this lovable Snowy White Bear?

I love all the patterns (some are mesmerizing!) — great stimulation via shape, line, contrast and movement, each a perfect complement to its corresponding color bear. I also like that the scenes include land and sea, city and country, indoors and outdoors, and that the book’s appeal extends to infants, toddlers, and beginning readers. Oh, did I mention there’s candy and cocoa? ☺

So, if you’ve got a little one underfoot this summer, or need a birthday, baby shower, or “just because” gift, reach for Color Bears. The alphabet soup teddies give this fab creation five paws up — and we’d like to extend our Big Congratulations to Judy Palaferro on publishing her first children’s book! Yay! ((judy))

COLOR BEARS by Judy Palaferro
published by Umbrage Books, May 2010
Board Book for ages 3 months to 3 years
Trim size: 6″ x 6″, 28 pp.
*Environmentally bear friendly, inspires hugs

♥ Check out the publisher’s webpage for more Color Bears spreads!

“Mine, all mine!”

picture books about france, part one

July 20, 2010October 9, 2017 ~ jama ~ 1 Comment

*from Chansons de France Pour Les Petits Français by M.B. de Monvel (1979)*

Bonjour, mes enfants!

Have you been good or bad this summer? Pretending to be good, but maybe a little naughty on the side?

C’est d’accord. You will probably like your punishment:

Oui, a handful of la punitions, those famous butter cookies from the Poilâne Bakery in Paris! Pierre Poilâne’s grandmother used to play a game with her grandchildren. She called them over to seemingly punish them, but offered a handful of these cookies instead. Today, if you visit any of the Poilâne bakeries, you will find a basket of free punitions by the register. Très délicieux!

To go with your cookies today, how about a few picture books set in Paris? It’s the best way to visit from the comfort of your window seat, hammock, or porch swing. There are funny animals, rollicking adventures, a few artistes, even some crêpes. If you’ve never been to Paris, you will experience the joie de vivre of this great city and see some of its most famous landmarks. And if you’ve already visited La Ville-Lumière (“The City of Light”), these stories will touch your heart and make you yearn to go back again.

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