Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead; ill. by Matthew Cordell Roaring Brook Press, 2015 40 pages I've written before about how much I love books about girls who do. And if any book is about a girl who does, it's Philip C. Stead and Matthew Cordell's quirky little volume Special Delivery. This picture book stars … Continue reading Special Delivery
Flora and Ulysses
Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo; ill. by K.G. Campbell Candlewick Press, 2013 233 pages Finding inspiration in the sublime or the exceptional is fairly easy: the girl who bravely battles the wilderness, cancer, or a super-villain is an obvious candidate to inspire the next generation of women. The problem is, most … Continue reading Flora and Ulysses
Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White; ill. by Garth Williams HarperCollins, 1952 192 pages Growing up, I read very little contemporary children's literature. Instead, my personal syllabus was full of Victorian and early 20th century authors: Dickens, Alcott, Montgomery, Lewis, Tolkien. I loved their flood of words, the historic texture of their stories, the feeling of … Continue reading Charlotte’s Web
Popularity vs. Purpose
Babymouse: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Random House, 2005 96 pages Think of comics, and what comes to mind? Superheroes? The Sunday paper? What about serious literature? Unless you're a librarian, or maybe a bookseller or critic, probably not. But, if you know where to look, you can find … Continue reading Popularity vs. Purpose
Life in the Active Lane
Olivia by Ian Falconer Atheneum BFYR, 2000 40 pages I first encountered Olivia in a bookstore, where an employee had singled her out for display. I couldn't resist--she was a pig in a sailor dress, after all. I loved the book so much that I got my own copy. Over the years, I've read Olivia … Continue reading Life in the Active Lane
