Poems from When We Were Very Young
A.A. Milne poems, selected and illustrated by Rosemary Wells

If you read our newsletter you know I’m a lover of poetry...so I say, start ‘em young! I’d love to give this to every new-to-existence babe. (And maybe the parents of every recipient would see that in fact, not all poetry is alienating.)

Chez Bob
Bob Shea

Technically I’d like to get AND give this one……..one of our customer friends (here’s looking at you DB!) highly recommends this book and I treasure the day he came in, read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d love to share that joy with others.

A book I’d like to receive:

Change Sings
Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long

You know how we all have those moments we’ll never forget? One of mine is seeing young Amanda Gorman all in yellow performing her inaugural poem at Biden’s inauguration. I want a piece of her optimism, illustrated by a favorite, Loren Long, to treasure.

Books I'd like to give:

Ten Beautiful Things
Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

Ten Beautiful Things is a lovely, understated picture book about Lily’s car trip with her grandmother. It’s a long trip, and the reader knows that Lily will be living with her grandmother, but not the circumstances. During the ride, Gran encourages Lily to search for ten beautiful things along the way. Lily realizes the most beautiful thing is the love she and Gran have for each other.

Out of My Heart
Sharon Draper

Earlier this year, I read Out of My Mind, and fell in love with the main character, Melody, a child with cerebral palsy who can’t speak. Melody’s life changed when she received a device which allowed her to communicate with others. In Out of My Heart, Melody is back, as spunky as ever. She’s convinced her parents she should go to a summer camp for children with special needs. She plans to face her fears of swimming and horseback riding. This book is both a great story and a way to develop empathy in middle grade children.

See my review of Out of My Mind.

Books I'd like to give:

Grandmother's Pigeon
Louise Erdrich, illustrated by Jim LaMarche

This lovely and engaging tale is one I want to read to several small children.

Pony
R.J. Palacio

I picked up this young adult book, to see what it was about before giving it as a gift, and WOW! I was hooked with this great read about the power of a young boy on a mission to rescue his father. It is a bit of a thriller, a bit of fantasy and a great deal of determination. I later found out that it was by the author of Wonder, a book which I believe everyone would benefit from reading.

A book I'd like to give:

Grandmother’s Pigeon
Louise Erdrich, illustrated by Jim LaMarche

I picked this one based on the beautiful illustration on the cover, then I realized it’s by Louise Erdrich! Oh man, I want to give this and receive it!

A book I’d like to receive:

Pony
R. J. Palacio.

This middle-grade book has been so highly rated, I need to read it. A boy, a ghost, and a pony search for the boy’s father after he has been abducted.