Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack; ill. Jerry Pinkney Atheneum, 2001 40 pages Since the birth of my daughter, I've become painfully sensitive to the idea of parenting under hardship. My heart twists around itself every time I think of families who are living through famine, war, oppression, or crushing poverty. This sensitivity reaches … Continue reading Goin’ Someplace Special
The Gingerbread Girl
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst Dutton Children's books, 2006 32 pages Retellings of classic nursery stories are as plentiful (and sometimes as grating) as the sand on the seashore, but every now and then an author manages to turn out a clever, engaging version of a familiar tale. My favorites tend to be … Continue reading The Gingerbread Girl
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
Read Like a Girl 