Picture Books in Winter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Gyo Fujikawa

Picture Books in Winter                                 Summer fading, winter comes--                       Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,                Window robins, winter rooks,               And the picture story-books.                Water now is turned to stone              Nurse and I can walk upon;                      Still we find the flowing brooks             In the picture story-books.               All the pretty things put by,                 Wait upon the children's eye,                                 Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,              In the picture story-books.                   We may see how all things are                  Seas and cities, near and far,                 And the flying fairies' looks,                In the picture story-books.                      How am I to sing your praise,                     Happy chimney-corner days,                      Sitting safe in nursery nooks,                     Reading picture story-books?

There's a Monster in Your Book! By Tom Fletcher & Illus by Greg Abbott

Isn't that an adorable little monster? I couldn't resist. 

This is a really fun, interactive book. Lots of giggles and laughter when we read it.

There appears to be a page eating monster in the book. 

So we do everything we can to get him OUT of the book. 

Because no one needs a page eating monster in their book. 

Finally, we are so loud and scary the little monster leaves. Yay!!

Except.... if he isn't in this book, where did he go? 

Is he loose in your bedroom? Under your bed??

Call him back!!

Phew! He is back in the book. 

And now he is tired. Pat his head and tell him good night.

And ever so quietly close the book. 

Pretty cute, huh? 

Not sure how this will translate in a whole class setting in the library, but it worked really well as a snuggle up and read together book! 

Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro & Illus by Tatjana Mai-Wyss

This is such a darling little book. 

The endpapers. A pretend library card pocket! Could it get any cuter? 

This is bunny. Bunny is a big fan of books and stories. 

When stories are read, he lurks in the background so he can hear. 

Summertime story hour at the library is held outside, delighting our story hungry bunny. 

When fall comes, his story hours disappear....

Back into the library. 

A librarian with red cat eye glasses! A library with a gigantic window seat! Cushy seats for the library users! (That last is the school librarian in my coming out.)

Of course, bunny couldn't hear stories being read inside. This worried him. How could he find a way to hear stories again?

He went to the library at night and tried to find a way to break in. 

Unfortunately, it seemed impossible. 

Until he found the book drop. Wiggling through the book drop was nothing to a wee little bunny. 

He was in the kingdom! 

He reversed the usual use of the book drop and took home a large stack. 

Do you SEE how delighted his little face is while shoving books out the book drop?! I love this bunny. 

He goes home and reads. And reads. 

He repeats the take out procedure several times. 

His friends begin to wonder why bunny isn't hanging out with them anymore. 

They come to inquire and bunny takes them to the library. 

 "Whoa," said Porcupine.

"I know," said Bunny.

 "Do you think there is a story about balloons? I have always wondered about balloons."

"Most definitely," said Bunny. 

Porcupine finds his book about balloons. 

I literally can't even with how cute this book is. A porcupine hugging a book about balloons with a rapturous look on his face! 

The two friends went home to carrot cupcakes, tea, and companionable reading. 

I need more carrot cupcakes, tea, and companionable reading in my life.  

Soon other friends became curious. Bunny invited them all in to his book filled house. 

You do have to feel a little bad for the librarian in cat eye glasses who was clearly missing a lot of books by this point. 

All the animals have to go see the library for themselves. Bear going through the book drop was not easy.

Since they were all so excited about the library, they stayed a little too long and were... 

...caught!

Instead of being angry, the librarian (who now has adorable shoes and a spiffy retro dress. Can I be this librarian? She clearly has style.) tells them about library cards. 

And now the friends have unlimited access to the library and the story treasures contained there in. 

Bunny's Book Club is born. 

With plenty of carrot cupcakes .

I know I just gave you the whole story, but this book is so cute that you simply must go look at it. Now! 

The Library by Sarah Stewart & David Small

(Yes, that is the same pink hydrangea. I like it, okay?)

This book is lovely! And it is written by a husband and wife team. I always love thinking about husband and wives working together. Not sure why, I just like thinking about it. 

These are pictures to warm the cockles of a book-lover's heart. 

How perfectly springy (or fally) is this picture?

Elizabeth Brown--

She didn't like to play with dolls,

She didn't like to skate.

She learned to read quite early

And at an incredible rate.

This book is all rhyming and rhythmic. (And for some reason I always have trouble spelling those two words.) It is a fun book to read!

#bookgirlproblems

Midnight raids for her friend's library books. 

Elizabeth Brown is rather relentless in her pursuit of books. 

Elizabeth Brown 

Preferred a book

To going on a date. 

While friends went out

And danced till dawn

She stayed up reading late. 

She gets lost one day, so buys a house where she is. 

Squeak!!

 I love this picture! All things cozy....

When volumes climbed the parlor walls

And blocked the big front door, 

She had to face the awful face

She could not have one more. 

So she did what any bibliophile would do--she donated the books and her house to the town for a library. 

And settled down to living with her cats, her friend, and more books. 

A life well spent amongst books! 

How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett & Illus by Adam Rex

This is a crazy, kid friendly look at the world of book publishing! 

It makes me laugh.

Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are both big names in the kids book world and this collaboration did not disappoint. 

How does a book begin? As an idea!

Ideas can come even when you are arm wrestling a tiger!

His editor always eats fancy lunches. Which apparently include nibbling on roses. 

I get a big kick out of this editor.

The editor sends back his first draft. He sends a second draft. The editor asks why didn't you do what I told you? And this conversation ensues. 

And I said well let's agree to disagree. 

And she said let's agree with me. 

And I said you're not the boss of me. 

 This is one of my favorite parts. I would imagine this is how a lot of writers feel about their editors. Although at the end of the book, they are always thanking their "fabulous editors" so maybe not. 

The script crossed the country a lot. 

Until most of the United States of America was crossed out. 

Many Americans were not happy about this. 

And then the illustrator comes into play. An illustrator who was taking naps and throwing cards in a hat instead of drawing the book.

I love how outrageous this book is, while also giving kids a real perspective on the publishing world. 

Some of the illustrations are photographs of illustrations, which is fun.

The silliness of sending the boook to Malaysia to be printed.

Dumping in the content. 

The book is seen by astronauts, left behind by plundering pirates who do not read, lost by a truck driver and a poker playing grandmother before it finally gets to the shelf in a bookstore where it waits...

...for you, the reader.