Category Archives: children’s books

Dogs – They Make the Best Books

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Jennie

Dogs really do make the best books, because children love dogs.  Well, most everyone loves dogs.  When the dog in a book is more human than dog, the storyline is like a glistening taffy pull. Katherine Applegate has done her … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, chapter reading, children's books, Dogs, Expressing words and feelings, Heart, Imagination, Inspiration, Kindness, literacy, robots, wonder | Tagged , , , , | 67 Comments

Amanda

Posted on August 3, 2025 by Jennie

Hubby snapped this picture of me, completely engrossed in reading Amanda in Scotland The Standing Stones. Thank goodness for Amanda.  This weekend I’m busy with an annual writer’s conference on line.  I’m exhausted.  There was an hour window of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Giving thanks, Inspiration, literacy, reading | Tagged , , , | 71 Comments

Making History Come Alive For Children – Part 2

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Jennie

As I read one of the classic children’s books, The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, it turned out to be an unexpected history lesson.  This wonderful book begins with a charming little house on a hill, living through days … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Early Education, history, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, School, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , | 63 Comments

Why Goodnight Moon?

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Jennie

Why do I read aloud GoodNight Moon to my preschoolers every day? Yes, every day, right before chapter reading. It has the words that paint images in the minds of young children.  It has rhyming that sways.  The words feel … Continue reading →

Posted in books, children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Gloria, Heart, history, Inspiration, Library, literacy, picture books, preschool, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

Gifting a Book to the Public Library

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Jennie

Discovering a great new book is one thing. Reading the book to children, over and over again, is another thing. Gifting that book to the public library is the icing on the cake.   The Little Red Chair, by Cathy … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Library, literacy, picture books, reading | Tagged , , | 83 Comments

My Library Reading Group, and Kate DiCamillo

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Jennie

I’ve been reading to children at our public library for years.  Lucky me.  One of my first readers is the robot in the photo below. His two siblings (the cowgirl and the cowboy) followed suit.  Here they are with me … Continue reading →

Posted in children's books, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Library, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , | 55 Comments

Happy Easter from Boston’s Make Way for Ducklings

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Jennie

Photo courtesy Universal Hub Robert McCloskey’s classic story, Make Way for Ducklings, is immortalized in bronze statues in the Public Garden on Boston Common.  Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack  are all … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, history, Imagination, Inspiration, picture books, The Arts | Tagged , , | 73 Comments

More Amanda Books to our Library

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Jennie

The Groton Public Library has most of Darlene Foster’s wonderful Amanda books, but not all. My last delivery included six books. Now there are ten books in the series. I was excited to gift the rest to the library. So … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Giving, literacy, reading | Tagged , , | 79 Comments

A Visit to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Jennie

I have always loved Paddington Bear.  My two books are well worn, including puppy teeth marks.  I’ve read the books a zillion times to our children and to my preschool class. When I learned that R.W. Alley, the current Paddington … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, children's books, Eric Carle, Eric Carle Museum, Inspiration, literacy, museums, reading, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , | 63 Comments

Jane Yolen – Happy Birthday and The New Book

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Jennie

Jane Yolen is one of the most esteemed authors of children’s books.  Her dinosaur books are extremely popular and familiar to many. She turned 86 this week, and I was invited to her birthday party! In order to tell you … Continue reading →

Posted in Author interview, Book Review, children's books, Eric Carle Museum, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, museums, picture books, reading aloud, storytelling | Tagged , , , , , | 67 Comments