Bear’s Book by Claire Freedman and illustrated by Alison Friend - Templar Books, Hardcover ISBN: 9781536205718, Ages 3-7
My thoughts: A lovely, gentle story of a kindly bear whose favorite book has come apart and he decides to write a new book. His own book. So he begins to meander through the beautiful forest in search of ideas for his story.
He encounters his forest friends, one by one. Each time there is some incident or action that takes place. Toward the end of the book, bear actually sits down to put together his ideas for his story.
The result is charming and is built around his own experiences and knowledge.
Beautifully soft illustrations that are just right for those youngsters to whom you would be reading it. And a grand encouragement for those budding authors who want to write their own story and publish their own book.
I recommend.
About the book: When Bear’s favorite book of stories falls apart, he is determined to write one of his own. He ventures into the forest for inspiration, but writing is harder than he thinks, and he soon discovers that he needs help from his friends. See how Bear transforms their day into a wonderful adventure in this story about creativity and friendship.
Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts & illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline - Candlewick Press, Hardcover ISBN: 9780763684433, Ages 4-8
My thoughts: Beautiful! The illustrations take me back to beloved children's books in the 30s, 40s, and 50s or are reminiscent of a type of Norman Rockwell art. Gentle. Moving. Beautiful. Realistic.
The story is sweet and is one of an easy going summer along the shore where the young boy spends his summer with his grandmother at her cottage by the sea.
As a boy does, he explores and he investigates, and he collects the stuff he finds. The boy finds glass. Beautiful pieces of broken glass that have been polished and imbued with a loveliness that the sea in its churning and tossing has imparted to the piece of glass.
But good things come to an end just as each summer does and the boy leaves. The boy grows up. And then.... well, the inference in the close of the story is lovely.
I recommend.
About the book: One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to his grandfather, and with it Thomas explores the beach, turning grains of sand into rocks and dark clamshells into swirling mazes of black, gray, and white. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. That night he dreams of an old shipyard and the breaking of a bottle. Could the very piece of sea glass on his nightstand have come from that bottle? For the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that will reveal more of the sea’s secrets. A stunning ode to stories and the seaside, this picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibility that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.
GIVEAWAY
1 Copy of Each Book to 2 Winners
Begins July 26
Ends August 25 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
Open to USA & CANADA addresses
NO P.O. Boxes
(Canadian winners must provided a phone #)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received copies of each book to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and are freely given. Winner's copies are provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publicist or publisher.
1. I learned the author has a blog: The Country Mile.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that she has written picture books, chapter books and books for middle graders.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
1. I learned that Claire Freedman once worked at Harrods.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that she has had 50 books published.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I learned she spent a year at secretarial college.
ReplyDeleteI learned the first children’s story she wrote was accepted for publication.
Michelle Hout
ReplyDeleteI learned she lived in Denmark for six months.
I learned she has a chapter book series, Lucy's Lab.
1. She has been writing for 15 years.
ReplyDelete2. She did not do well with short stories.
Marilyn
1.Michelle has a blog A County Mile
ReplyDelete2. She also does picture books.
Marilyn
Claire Freedman has been a writer for over 15 years she writes full time and has over 50 books published.
ReplyDeleteShe's been a writer for over 15 years now. She has a series called the Alien Series
ReplyDeleteMichelle Houts is married and has three kids, she has a book series called Lucy's Lab.
ReplyDeleteI learned that the author loves shopping and catching up with friends. I also learned she loves Kelly’s Cornish Ice cream.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Houts: I learned one of her books is When Grandma Gatewood took a Hike. I also learned she has 2 sisters.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Houts She loves looking out her windows and she is an award winning author who has written a dozen books for young authors She is also a well known speaker
ReplyDeleteI learned that Claire Freedman didn't plan to become a writer. I also learne that she wrote Dinosaurs love underpants.
ReplyDeleteI learned the Michelle Houts writes inside a restored one-room schoolhouse. I learned that she wrote the Lucy's Lab book series.
ReplyDeleteI learned that Claire Freedman has been a writer for 15 years and and she has written an Alien series
ReplyDeleteMerry
I learned that Claire Freedman has had a variety of careers up to her writing career. I also learned that I have actually purchased her books! My grandsons have enjoyed the "underpants" series as well as Goodnight, Sleep Tight.
ReplyDeleteI learned MIchelle has a philosophy about windows and I connect with that idea. I have already read Sea Glass Summer and it is wonderful. Michell writes a range of books from picture books to middle grade books.
ReplyDeleteI LEARNED THAT SHE LFFT SHOOL AT 16 ATTENDED SECRETRIAL SCHOOL.
ReplyDelete