MotherReader

In December a local organization here sets up a Christmas shop for their needy clients to find presents for their children. For the past several years I've brought them books that I received as a reviewer and Cybils panelist. Now, since I haven’t been serving on the Cybils panel or receiving much for review, I’ve been weeding my shelves of older copies I didn’t give the first time around.

It always makes me feel bad that I can't review so many of the books that I have received, but I am grateful to the publishers who have sent me books over the years and allowed me to pass them on to others. Thank you, and know that your books went to a child in need


All the Way to America
by Dan Yaccarino; Knopf Books, 2011
Story of a legacy of an immigrant and his little shovel.

Beaver is Lost
by Elisha Cooper; Schwartz & Wade, 2010
Beaver floats down the river to New York City.

Because You Are My Baby
by Sherry North, illustrated by Marcellus Hall; Abrams, 2008
Gentle imagining of all the things mom would do with her baby.

Big Words for Little People
by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell; HarperCollins, 2008
Words to learn, like Privacy, Celebrate, and Different, with context.

Black Beauty
retold by Sharon Lerner, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Random House, 2009
Classic story made simpler with pretty pictures.

The Boat in the Tree
by Tim Wynne-Jones, illustrated by John Shelley
Front Street Press, 2007
Story of getting along with a new adopted brother, and of finding a boat in a tree.

Born to Read
by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown; Knopf Books, 2008
A baby is born with a love of reading, which saves the day.

A Carousel Tale
by Elisa Kleven; Tricycle Press, 2009
A carousel dog’s tail is turned into something special.

The Day Leo Said I Hate You!
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Molly Bang; Little, Brown, 2008
Sometimes we all say mean things – and things we don’t mean – but it can be all right.

Do You Have a Cat?
by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Geraldo Valerio
Eerdmans Books, 2010
Different historical figures with their clever cats.

Dog Loves Books
by Louise Yates; Knopf Books, 2010
Dog opens a bookstore to read and share great books.

Drum City
by Thea Guidone, illustrated by Vanessa Newton; Tricycle Press, 2010
An impromptu parade with makeshift drums and lots of noise through the city.

Ella May and the Wishing Stone
by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Genevieve Cote; Tundra Books, 2011
A wishing stone can’t always bring you what you want. Friends are better.

The Firehouse Light
by Janet Nolan, illustrated by Marie Lafrance
Tricycle Press, 2010
A century passes around a firehouse, but the light never stops burning.

How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps
by Jennifer LaRue Huget, Edward Koren
Schwartz & Wade, 2010
Self-explanatory.

Huff & Puff
by Claudia Rueda; Abrams, 2012
Very simple three little pigs story.

It’s Picture Day Today!
by Megan MacDonald, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson; Atheneum, 2009
Making pictures to take a picture.

The Longest Night
by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ted Lewin
Holiday House, 2009
Animals in the coldest, longest winter night want to bring back the sun.

Ma! There’s Nothing to Do Here!
by Barbara Park, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli
Random House, 2008
A baby soon to be born is bored with the womb.

Mail Harry to the Moon!
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley; Little, Brown, 2008
Little brothers are annoying.

Mother Goose’s Little Treasures
by Iona Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells; Candlewick, 2007
The old rhymes you never knew you never knew.

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers
by Sam Lloyd; Atheneum Books, 2008
Mr. Pusskins and the new kitten work things out.

Neville
by Norton Juster, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Schwartz & Wade, 2011
A lonely boy in a new home ends up making friends.

Night Lights
by Susan Gal; Knopf Books, 2009
All kinds of lights at night.

Orangutans Are Ticklish
by Steve Grubman with Jill Davis; Schwartz & Wade, 2010
Fun facts about animals, with photos.

POP! The Invention of Bubble Gum
by Meghan McCarthy; Simon & Schuster, 2010
Fun story about bubble gum, with bonus facts pages.

Princess Baby
by Karen Katz; Schwartz & Wade, 2008
Some babies are just born to wear a golden crown.

Samuel’s Baby
by Mark Elkin, illustrated by Amy Wummer; Tricycle Press, 2010
A kindergarten class practices babies.

Seasons
by Anne Crausaz; Kane Miller, 2010
Nice things happen in all different seasons.

Seed by Seed
by Esme Raji Codell, illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins
Greenwillow, 2012
Story of Johnny Appleseed, with lessons for us all.

Small Sister
by Jessica Meserve; Clarion Books, 2007
Sometimes it’s hard to be the small sister, but small people can do big things.

Snow Happy!
by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
Tricycle Press, 2010
Fun in the snow!

Splash! A Little Book About Bouncing Back
by Maria Van Lishout; Fewel & Friends, 2008
When we’re feeling bad, giving a lift can help everyone feel better.

Spork
by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Kids Can Press, 2010
Spork finds his place among the utensils when a baby starts eating.

Thunder - Boomer!
by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Carol Thompson; Clarion Books, 2009
Out in the countryside, a big storm comes in and cools off the summer day.

Twelve Dancing Princesses
by Brigette Barrager; Chronicle Books, 2011
The fairy tale made lovely.

Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant,
by Leslie McGuirk, Alex von Bidder; Candlewick, 2009
Going out to dinner has a lot of rules, particularly for dogs it seems.