The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

Recently, I read the picture book The Magic Doll by Adrienne Yabouza and Élodie Nouhen and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Families of all kinds will appreciate this simple tale of love and longing, motherhood and magic. In a small village in West Africa, a young girl explains the special way she was born. Her mother had difficulty getting pregnant, so she seeks help in the form of a doll which she treats like a human baby, carrying it on her back and covering it with kisses. Months go by and finally the woman's belly begins to grow! This beautiful story explores the Akua-Ba fertility figures of the Akan people of Ghana, while also depicting the deep love a mother has for her children. Élodie Nouhen's subtle, gorgeous illustrations combine collage and prints that are reminiscent of traditional African art, while remaining uniquely contemporary. Each spread communicates the look and feel of West Africa--the blazing yellow of the sun, the deep blue of t...

Ages ago I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Little Ayesha is all excited for her favorite cousin Ritu's wedding. She can't wait to dance in the baraat ceremony! But not everyone is happy that Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni. Some have even vowed to stop the celebrations. Will Ayesha be able to save her cousin's big day? This vibrant book sets the story of a same-sex couple struggling to gain acceptance against the colorful backdrop of an Indian wedding. My Thoughts on the Book Ritu Weds Chandni is a short and sweet picture book about LGBT+ positivity. The illustrations are amazing and there's also a glossary in the back, which can help people unfamiliar with Hindu culture. I totally recommend this book.

I fjor var jeg såpass heldig at jeg fikk tilsendt et leseeksemplar av bildeboka Mummitrollet og den usynlige gjesten av Cecilia Davidsson, Filippa Widlund og Tove Jansson. Nå har jeg lest den og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Hva skal til for at et barn blir synlig? Viktig tema behandlet på nydelig vis. En mørk høstkveld banker det på Mummitrollets dør. I regnet utenfor står en svært merkelig gjest - et usynlig barn. Hun har blitt skremt av den som skulle ta vare på henne. Hvordan gjør man et barn synlig? Det funderer alle i Mummi- familien på denne høsten. De prøver med vennlighet, ny kjole og medisiner. De forteller historier, og de venter. Og hva som skal til, får du vite i denne fortellingen! Historien er basert på novellen Berättelsen om det osynliga barnet og er en del av Bonnier Carlsens satsning på å utvikle nye bøker for neste generasjon Mummi-elskere. Titlene vil forholde seg til Tove Janssons klassiske historier og formidle magien, visdommen, kjærligheten, l...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book If You Take Away the Otter by Susannah Buhrman-Deever and Matthew Trueman through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads When the sea otters disappear, why does their kelp forest habitat disappear, too? On the Pacific Coast of North America, sea otters play, dive, and hunt for sea urchins, crabs, abalone, and fish in the lush kelp forests beneath the waves. But there was a time when people hunted the otters almost to extinction. Without sea otters to eat them, an army of hungry sea urchins grew and destroyed entire kelp forests. Fish and other animals that depended on the kelp were lost, too. But when people protected the sea otters with new laws, their numbers began to recover, and so did the kelp forests. Susannah Buhrman-Deever offers a beautifully written account of a trophic cascade, which happens when the removal of a single element affects ...

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Hockey in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The lovable Life in the Wild trio can't wait to get out on the ice to play hockey. Except, well, they're going to have to! It's wintertime, and the bear, the moose and the beaver can't wait for hockey season to start. They're so eager, in fact, they head out onto the ice before it's thick enough, and they all fall through. Twice. While they wait for the lake to freeze, they try to take their minds off hockey. There's competitive napping. Karaoke. Lots of comfort food. Until, at last, the day arrives when the ice is ready. But, after all that time not being active, are they ready? Part of the bestselling Life in the Wild picture book series from Nicholas Oldland, this funny romp is, at its heart, a love letter to the sport of hock...

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book The Twelve Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads "​On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree." Celebrate the magic of Christmas time with this well-loved traditional poem, The Twelve Days of Christmas, beautifully illustrated by Laura Hawthorne. Take a walk through each beautiful scene brimming with details that will remind you of the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Perfect to read with your true love. My Thoughts on the Book I was really charmed by this picture book with those really whimsical and beautiful illustrations that certainly capture the Christmas spirit. I'm sure both kids and adults will enjoy it.

Earlier this year I recieved an ARC of the picture book When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods by Aimée M. Bissonette and Erin Hourigan through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads A sweet poetic children's book celebrating the vibrancy of life in winter. Though a forest may be blanketed in snow or a lake frozen over, families who enjoy the outdoors in winter, happily bundled up to play in the energizing weather, know that wildlife is still teeming there. When winter comes, and deep snow blankets the woods, and ice forms cold and smooth on the lakes, thick enough for us to skate on, some people think our woods are empty. But we know better. The fallen log that is used to hide behind in a snowball fight is a shelter for tree frogs, caterpillars, ladybugs, and slugs. The drifts of fallen snow that families snowshoe across have winding tunnels made by meadow mice in search of seeds and bark. The towe...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book The Little Fir Tree by Christopher Corr through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Deep in the forest, there lived a beautiful little fir tree who longed to see the world. When the tree is taken to town at Christmas, it feels like all his dreams have come true. But what will happen the day after? Find out in this beautifully illustrated modern retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s festive tale. When he was surrounded by the splendor of nature, the little fir tree could only think about what he wasn’t and what he didn’t have and couldn’t see. After the initial excitement of venturing out, though, he finds that the world isn’t quite what he expected. As the story of the little fir tree unfolds—brought to enchanting life with the colorful, folk art–inspired artwork of acclaimed author/illustrator Christopher Corr—so does a touch...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss and Cinyee Chiu through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads In this cozy bedtime story, follow a child and his grandma through a winter landscape to explore how the Earth goes to sleep for winter. Spot the sleeping animals as the tale unfolds, then learn about their hibernation habits from the information pages at the end. Co-authors Sean Taylor (picture book author) and Alex Morss (ecologist, journalist, and educator) offer a gentle introduction to the concept of hibernation. In the frosty, quiet forest, the snow blankets the ground and the trees have shed their leaves. Where have all the animals gone? Are they asleep too? In each cutaway scene, see what the child cannot—that underground below his feet are dens with sleeping creatures, and within the hollow trunks of tre...

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade and Jennifer Davison through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Lance Cottonwood is the best and brightest of the leaves, but even the top students on the tree have worries. Can Lance conquer his fear of falling and just let go when the time comes for his final exam, or will he let his worries take over? In this funny and encouraging picture book, best-selling author Stef Wade (A Place for Pluto) tells an engaging story and deftly addresses social and emotional struggles many kids encounter each day...feeling anxious, wanting to be perfect, facing fears, etc. These themes combined with illustrator Jennifer Davison's delightful characters and rich autumnal colors make The Very Last Leaf a perfect book for the start of a new school year, the arrival of autumn, or any period of transition in life. My T...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book/non-fiction book The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile Alexandre Steinlen by Susan Schaefer Bernardo through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The Artist Who Loved Cats is a picture book biography of artist Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, the creator of iconic French "Chat Noir" posters. When Antoinette notices a little bronze cat in the window of her favorite Parisian antique store, she begs the shopkeeper Monsieur Arvieux and his clever cat Noir to tell her all about the artist. Steinlen moved to Paris in 1881 to pursue his artistic dreams, ultimately creating not just the iconic Chat Noir posters but also more than 700 journal illustrations, famous posters, sculptures, cartoon strips and paintings. Many of Steinlen's artworks feature cats, his favorite subject. Delightful verse, a sweet sprinkling of French...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Johnny's Pheasant by Cheryl Minnema and Julie Flett through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads An encounter with a pheasant (which may or may not be sleeping) takes a surprising turn in this sweetly serious and funny story of a Native American boy and his grandma. "Pull over, Grandma! Hurry!” Johnny says. Grandma does, and Johnny runs to show her what he spotted near the ditch: a sleeping pheasant. What Grandma sees is a small feathery hump. When Johnny wants to take it home, Grandma tries to tell him that the pheasant might have been hit by a car. But maybe she could use the feathers for her craftwork? So home with Grandma and Johnny the pheasant goes . . . It’s hard to say who is most surprised by what happens next—Grandma, Johnny, or the pheasant. But no one will be more delighted than the reader at this lesson about ...

Last year, I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the book Where Life's No Longer Wild: Poems from the Urban Jungle by Marilyn Singer and Gordy Wright through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Humans may have built towns and cities, but we aren’t the only ones who live in them. Given the smallest chance – a park, a garden, a window box, a basement, a subway tunnel, a bridge – wildlife manages to survive in the city. Look around – you may discover you’re in an urban jungle! This beautifully illustrated non-fiction book tells the unique stories of the animals who have made their homes in urban spaces around the world. Each story is told through a short descriptive paragraph paired with colourful illustrations so children will discover the amazing wildlife we never knew were our neighbours. My Thoughts on the Book Wild in the Streets is a really fun poetry book. It contains both a poem...

Earlier this year I recieved an ARC of the picture book Thank You, Miyuki by Roxanne Marie Galliez and Seng Soun Ratanavanh through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Miyuki and her grandfather return in an enchanting intergenerational story enhanced by Seng Soun Ratanavanh's gorgeous Japanese-inspired illustrations. Miyuki's curiosity is piqued by her grandfather's morning meditation routine, and she is eager to learn this new skill. Her wise and patient grandfather first takes her on a walk in the garden. "When do we start to meditate?" she asks repeatedly. Grandfather enjoys the warm sun and stops to smell a rose, inviting Miyuki to join him. Their walk in the garden, filled with many tender moments, heightens their gratitude for each other and for the world around them. Miyuki comes to understand that in the small acts of mindfulness throughout her day, she learned how to meditate. My T...

Way back I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Ojiichan's Gift by Chieri Uegaki and Genevieve Simms through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now as I wanted to focus on Asian literature this month. Description from Goodreads When Mayumi was born, her grandfather created a garden for her. It was unlike any other garden she knew. It had no flowers or vegetables. Instead, Ojiichan made it out of stones: big ones, little ones and ones in-between. Every summer, Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan, and they tend the garden together. Raking the gravel is her favorite part. Afterward, the two of them sit on a bench and enjoy the results of their efforts in happy silence. But then one summer, everything changes. Ojiichan has grown too old to care for his home and the garden. He has to move. Will Mayumi find a way to keep the memory of the garden alive for both of them? This gentle picture book story will wa...

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of Mahatma Gandhi by by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Albert Arrayas through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Netgalley New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the life of Mohandas Gandhi, the father of India, in this true story of his life. As a young teenager in India, Gandhi led a rebellious life and went against his parents' values. But as a young man, he started to form beliefs of his own that harked back to the Hindu principles of his childhood. Gandhi began to dream of unity for all peoples and religions. Inspired by this idea, he led peaceful protests to free India from British rule and unite the country—ending violence and unfair treatment. His bravery and free-thinking made him one of the most iconic people of peace in the world, known as 'Mahatma' meaning 'great soul'. With innovative illustrations and extra facts at the back,...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Patience, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez and Seng Soun Ratanavanh through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Anyone with a small child knows that patience is not a virtue easily won. In this magically illustrated story the young girl Miyuki, who we first met in the critically acclaimed Time for Bed, Miyuki, anxiously awaits the opening of one sleepy flower. When, on the first day of spring, the flower still hasn't bloomed, Miyuki begins a frantic search for water to wake it up. Her grandfather gently encourages her to sit and watch with him, as she learns the important lesson that good things come to those who wait. My Thoughts on the Book I loved this story as it had a positive and slightly philosophical message about being patient. I also really enjoyed the beautiful illustrations.

Recently I recieved an ARC of the picture book 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh and Marianne Ferrer through Netgalley and I read it shortly afterwards. Today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In a small village in India, a boy grows up to make a huge difference in his community by planting trees to celebrate the birth of every girl. Based on a true story, this book celebrates environmental sustainability, community activism and ecofeminism. This is the story of Sundar Paliwal, who is from a small Indian village ruled by ancient customs. As he grows to be a man, Sundar suffers much heartbreak and decides it is time for change to come to his village. Sundar is determined to live in a place where girls are valued as much as boys and where the land is not devastated by irresponsible mining. Sundar's plan? To celebrate the birth of every girl with the planting of 111 trees. Though many villagers resist at first, Sundar sl...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book When Spring Comes to the DMZ by Uk-Bae Lee through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Korea's demilitarized zone has become an amazing accidental nature preserve that gives hope for a brighter future for a divided land. This unique picture book invites young readers into the natural beauty of the DMZ, where salmon, spotted seals, and mountain goats freely follow the seasons and raise their families in this 2.5-mile-wide, 150-mile-long corridor where no human may tread. But the vivid seasonal flora and fauna are framed by ever-present rusty razor wire, warning signs, and locked gates--and regularly interrupted by military exercises that continue decades after a 1953 ceasefire in the Korean War established the DMZ. Creator Uk-Bae Lee's lively paintings juxtapose these realities, planting in children the dream of a peaceful w...

Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Jane Goodall by Isabel Sánchez Vegara through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads This board book version of Jane Goodall —from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series—introduces the youngest dreamers to the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. When Jane was little, her father gave her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. This inspired her lifelong love of animals, and she went to study them in the wild as soon as she could. Jane lived with chimpanzees in their natural habitat and became famous for her pioneering approach to research. She now educates the public on animal rights. Babies and toddlers will love to snuggle as you read to them the engaging story of this fascinating woman, and will also enjoy exploring the stylish and quirky illustrations of this sturdy board book on their own. My Thoughts on the Book I'...