Submitted by Jill from Leonardtown!
When Vera Was Sick by Vera Rosenberry. Poor Vera! She doesn’t feel good. She has spots all over her body, even between her toes. She has to stay in bed, but the spare room where Mother tucks her in, away from everybody, is strange and lonely, and a little scary. At first, poor Vera is too sick to enjoy anything–not looking at books, not coloring (even though she has new crayons)–all she can do is scratch her spots. Vera is miserable. But Vera’s family loves her very much. Mother brings out the special silky pillow for her to cuddle. Daddy brings her flowers. When Vera starts to feel a little better, big sister June comes in to play Chinese checkers, and the whole family finds ways for the little girl to amuse herself in bed. Before long, Vera is feeling all better! When Vera Was Sick is a quiet, comforting story about a familiar childhood experience. The ink-and-watercolor pictures are perfect for portraying Vera’s almost comical misery, and also show the warmth and loving care of her family. Vera returns for more childhood stories in Vera’s First Day of School, Vera Rides a Bike, Vera’s Baby Sister, Vera Runs Away, Vera Goes to the Dentist, and Vera’s Halloween. See this book listed in our catalog
Classic
A Christmas Carol
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
“MARLEY WAS DEAD. There was no doubt whatever that Old Marley was dead as a doornail. That must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.” So begins Charles Dickens’s classic story A Christmas Carol beautifully imagined here by Brett Helquist in this new illustrated version. Scrooge, a holiday hating miser, is visited by three spirits: the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, who teach him the true meaning of the season over the course of one fateful night. When he rises on Christmas morning Scrooge is a changed man, and decides to devote his life to helping instead of hating. This is the original Dickens text, so only read it to your children with long attention spans, but readers of all ages can appreciate the breath-taking pictures. See this book listed in our catalog
The Mitten
Submitted by Melissa from Lexington Park!
The Mitten, adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett, features beautiful pictures of a boy and his mittens. These mittens, made by his grandmother, are white, and blend in perfectly with the snow when he drops one of them to the ground. Once there, many woodland creatures happen upon it, and take refuge in its warmth. Meanwhile, the boy retraces his steps in search of his mitten. He finally finds it floating in the air. With every turn of the page, young readers are introduced to three scenes: two explain what is happening in the present, and the one on the right predicts what is to come next. Who would have ever thought that eight animals could fit in one small mitten? Children can count the mole, rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, bear, and mouse, as they climb into the cozy mitten. You can explore this book in our Side by Side collection, where you will find more suggestions and activities you can do with your child while you read. See this book listed in our catalog
Blueberries for Sal
Submitted by Sue from Leonardtown!
Blueberries for Sal, written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, tells the story of a little girl named Sal and a bear cub. One summer day Little Sal and her Mom decided to go to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries. “We will take our berries home and can them,” said her mother. Little Sal had a small tin bucket just like her mother’s. When she dropped blueberries into the pail it made a kurplunk, kurplunk, kurplunk sound. Sal ate most of the berries she picked and some of her mother’s, until mom said to run along and pick her own berries. On the other side of the hill, Little Bear came with his mother to eat blueberries. Before long, Little Bear and Sal both got tired of trying to keep up with their mothers, and sat still eating berries in the middle of the patch. Then they started out to find their mothers. Unfortunately Little Sal and Little Bear got them mixed up with each other! This story with charming pictures will continue to enchant even after it’s been read. See this book listed in our catalog
But Who Will Bell the Cats?
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
But Who Will Bell the Cats by Cynthia Von Buhler is a play on one of Aesop’s fables: long ago, all the mice convened to discuss the problem with cats’ ability to stalk them so quietly. It was suggested that all the cats wear bells, but who would bell the cats? In this story, a mouse and a bat try to think of ways to get bells on a princess’s 8 spoiled cats. They try assault, disguise, even a fashion show modelling the bells, to get the cats to wear them, to no avail. Perhaps the princess herself will have intervene… This book also features creative typeface, and stunning three dimensional illustrations. Check it out today! See this book listed in our catalog
Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates
Submitted by Sue from Leonardtown!
Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by John Manders. The Buccaneer Bunnies are back with another adventure starring Henry and the crew of the Salty Carrot! Henry finds a message in a bottle. The message isn’t friendly at all, and Henry is worried. The rest of the crew is busy playing games, like coconut bowling, and sail swinging, when Henry tries to tell them about the note. “Stop worrying about that old note,” says Black Ear. Henry can’t, and starts reading everything he can about it. Soon he has enough information to start his own book, which he calls “Henry’s Plan for Impending Danger from Unknown Enemy Who Wrote the Scary Note.” When crazed chicken pirates finally arrive, Henry must warn everyone and save the day using his own advice from his book! Does Henry’s book help? Will the crew be saved? And what will happen to the crazed chicken pirates? If you like adventure and pirate stories, join Henry and the crew of the Salty Carrot for a swashbuckling good story. Arrrrr! See this book listed in our catalog