Take Two! A Celebration of Twins by J. Patrick Lewis-OPTIONAL

Lewis, J. Patrick.  Yolen, Jane.  Take Two!  A Celebration of Twins.  Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 72 pgs.  Candlewick, 2012.  $17.99. PICTURE BOOK Content: G. This book contains a collection of original poems by two famous authors: J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen.  This is a perfect book to read to and share with anyone expecting or enjoying twins.  Titles like, “Be Careful What You Wish For”, and “Eating With Twins”, helps readers to know that this book is filled with heartfelt truth and surprise.  Because there isn’t a lot of classroom application, I have rated it OPTIONAL, but it would be a great purchase for those experiencing twins on a day to day basis.  EL(K-3). EL. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL

Just Ducks! by Nicola Davies- ADVISABLE

 Davies, Nicola.  Just Ducks!  Illustrated by Salvator Rubbino.  32 pgs.  Candlwick, 2012. $15.99. PICTURE BOOK Content: G. The title says it all, this book is just about ducks- but with a twist.  The author includes facts about ducks and their behavior on every page of this book.  In addition, we share in an experience of a little girl who hears the ducks outside her window in the morning, and joins them down at the river to see and learn how fascinating these creatures can be.  This is a very informative book .  The illustrations are detailed and exquisite.  This book could be used in a unit on ducks.  EL(K-3).  EL.  ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.   

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills-ADVISABLE

Hills, Tad.  Duck and Goose Find A Pumpkin.  BOARD BOOK. 22 pgs. Schwartz & Wade, 2012.  $10.99. Content: G.  Thistle has a big beautiful pumpkin.  His friends, Duck and Goose, want one as well.  But where will they find one?  In this large board book, Duck and Goose explore the sights and sounds of autumn by searching for a pumpkin.  They look high and low, and explore the world around them. This is a beautifully illustrated board book.  The words are simple and the story easy to read.  Pre-K.  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL

Bears in Beds by Shirley Parenteau-OPTIONAL

Parenteau, Shirley.  Bears in Beds.  Illustrated by David Walker. 32 pgs. Candlewick, 2012.   $15.99. PICTURE BOOK Content: G.  Big Brown bear and his four little bear friends are ready for bed.  Some bears go quietly to bed , some twirl into bed, others wrestle and play. When all are safely tucked in, “Whoosh goes a sound in the middle of the night.” All bears are scared and out of bed.  Big Brown bear comes to the rescue and helps the four little bears back to soundless sleep.  This is a good story for little ones afraid of going to bed at night.  I didn’t love the rhyming.  At times it was difficult to read.  The illustrations are adorable.  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: SL. 

A Review Round-up

It's one of those posts where I post teeny tiny reviews of some titles for A Century of Books which (for whatever reason) don't warrant full reviews.  It's really just so I have somewhere to link from the main list, but do jump in with your thoughts nonetheless!

The Westminster Alice (1902) by Saki
It's Lewis Carroll's Alice, but re-imagined with various political figures from the turn of the century!  A fun idea, and some bits I found amusing, but mostly it went right over my head.  I'd heard of most of the people - Chamberlain, Balfour, Cecil etc. - but I don't know the ins and outs of their activities in 1902.  But it was diverting enough, and under 50 pages...

What It Means To Marry (1914) by Margaret Scharlieb
For my next chapter, I'm reading a few different people discoursing on marriage from the 1910s and '20s.  They mostly divide into the 'marriage is holy' and the 'free love ahoy' camps - this one falls in the former, but Scharlieb is always a bit of a doom-monger as well...

The Witch-Cult in Western Europe (1921) by Margaret Murray
This was a rather credulous account of medieval witchcraft, which I read for my chapter on Lolly Willowes.  It was a speedy read because I skipped all the untranslated Latin and Medieval French...

The Corner That Held Them (1948) by Sylvia Townsend Warner
I love Warner sometimes, but this novel covering decades in the life of a medieval nunnery really, really bored me.  And yet it was her favourite of her books, and I know some people who adore it.  Odd.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Paul Galdone - OPTIONAL

Galdone, Paul The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. 40 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. $8.99. A retelling of the classic story based on the Brothers Grimm version. A decent rendition, although the story is overly wordy and formal, and the old-fashioned illustrations make the book seem dated. EL - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn.

Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Galdone - OPTIONAL

Galdone, Paul Little Red Riding Hood. 40 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. $8.99. A retelling of the classic story based on the Brothers Grimm version. A decent rendition, although the story is overly wordy and formal, and the old-fashioned illustrations make the book seem dated. EL - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn.