Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick Scholastic Press, 2011 639 pages When I was growing up, book fairs were one of my favorite things about school. Every year, I waited with baited breath for those little catalogs to show up on our desks. And though I never got to buy all the books I wanted (which was … Continue reading Wonderstruck
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee by Nikki Giovanni; ill. by Larry Johnson Scholastic, 1994 38 pages Just a few weeks ago, I watched Thomas Balmes's documentary Babies with my husband and daughter. The film follows four babies “from first breath to first steps,” offering a mostly unadorned view into their daily lives. The babies are from very different … Continue reading Knoxville, Tennessee
Precocious Princesses: Spindle’s End
This is the fifth (and final) post in my "Precocious Princesses" series, reviews of inspiring alternatives to traditional princess tales. Spindle's End by Robin McKinley Ace Books, 2001 354 pages If "Rapunzel" is progressive as princess tales go, "Sleeping Beauty" is at the opposite end of the spectrum. However embellished, the story usually goes something … Continue reading Precocious Princesses: Spindle’s End
Read Like a Girl 