Award-Winning Reads | The Adventures of Beekle

Sometimes the best friends lie just beyond our imagination.

Did you have an imaginary friend when you were young? Many children do. The winner of the week references this common childhood experience; however, the imaginary friend in this story does the unimaginable! 

In The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, follow Beekle as he ventures from a faraway island to the real world to finally meet his match - a special friend living in the city. It is a sweet tale about friendship and imagination. 

My friend and coworker Candace described it as a sort of reverse telling of another award winner, the 1964 Caldecott medalist, Where the Wild Things Are. Do you notice the crown and the white playsuit in both books?

The Adventures of Beekle is written and illustrated by Dan Santat. You might recognize his work from the Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot books. Santat won this year's prestigious Caldecott Medal! 

According to the American Library Association (ALA), the organization who designates these medals and honors, the Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. The medal is awarded annually to "the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."

This is a logo for the Caldecott Medal. Claiming fair use, this photo is being used for informational purposes only, to illustrate what the award looks like.

Head to your local library and pick up this award-winning book that will surely delight readers of all ages!

Until next time, have a good reading!

Raquelle

4 Kids | Reading Magic

Today is Mem Fox's birthday. She is the author of a whole bunch of wonderful children's books (and a really wonderful book for parents, too!). I thought it would be cool to honor her birthday by looking at a few of her books that happen to be on my list of all-time favorites.

One book that I love to read over and over is Boo To a Goose! It's a funny rhyming book that asks questions such as: "Would you feed your pajamas to giant piranhas or walk on your knees past a hive full of bees?" And for younger kids, it's fun to predict the rhymes on each page. It's fun and the pictures are absolutely awesome!

Another picture book by Mem Fox which I absolutely adore is Let's Count Goats! It's another great rhyming -- and counting -- book, but this time, stars some pretty funny goats in all kinds of crazy situations. One of my favorite parts is this: "Here we see an airport goat looking for her cases. But can we count the pilot goats with goggles on their faces?" 

One of my all-time favorite books just happens to be another written by our birthday honoree, Mem Fox. It's called Whoever You Are. While it's a lovely poetic tribute to the ways children all over the world may be different, it's also a beautiful reminder of our common humanity. And even though it's a lovely children's book, it's also a really great reminder for all of us -- no matter our age.

And finally, for you parents who may have chanced upon this blog, here's one for you: Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. Fox's message is really simple (but really, really true): Reading aloud every day to our children will help them become readers when they are developmentally ready. And since reading well is really the ticket to success in all academic areas, why not give our children this head start? Read aloud. Every day. Older children can read to younger children. It's one of the most important gifts we can give our children.

So Happy Birthday, Mem Fox -- and thank you for the wonderful books!

Learning | Young 'Uns, on Being Young and Growing

My best friend's son said something hilarious shortly after he turned four. He just didn't expect it to cause peals of laughter when he began to tell a story with the phrase, "A long time ago, when I was three...."

Clearly "a long time ago" is a relative concept.

I was reminded of that incident last week. A young customer, about five years old, told me,"When I was a baby, I didn't know ANYTHING."  He and I marveled about all the things he knows now. He can walk, jump, run, talk, sing, write his name, and so much more. I have a feeling that bright guy will be able to examine his accomplishments many times in the future, and be amazed at how much more he knows.


Several months ago, I was checking a big pile of books out to a family. The tiniest, a girl, passed me the book called Becoming Butterflies. It's a lovely picture book by Anne F. Rockwell, about metamorphosis. 

As I scanned the bar code, I mentioned that it looked very interesting.  Her older brother (who was perhaps six years old, at the most) rolled his eyes and sighed, "Oh, I already know all about THAT."







On Tuesday, a young fellow pulled the receipt out of the printer near D.I.Y.S.C.O., one of the Troke Branch's Express Check Out machines.  He glanced at the paper and read aloud, "Curious George!"

I high-fived him for being able to read, and he began boasting:

"I'm better than four; 
I'm better than three; 
I'm better than two; 
I'm better than one; 
I'M FIVE!"  

He sounded like he was rooting for a sports team. If I began to say such a cheer for my age, it would take me a long time. The kid would probably be able to say he was better than five, by the time I finished.

What do all of these anecdotes have in common?  These kids are all becoming butterflies, so to speak.  They are experiencing their own metamorphosis, and seem downright proud of growing and learning.  High fives to all of them!