Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Julie, the county library’s summer intern!
Family
Herbert: The True Story of a Brave Sea Dog
The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater That Grandma Knit
Say Hello
First Rain
Submitted by Ms. Sue!
First Rain by Charlotte Herman, illustrated by Kathryn Mitter. Abby and her family are moving to Israel, where a lot of Jewish people are moving every year. But Grandma is not coming. Abby’s family has dreamed of living in Israel. They will have lots of new adventures like learning a new language, eating new foods, and seeing new places. Grandma gives Abby a plane letter to read on her way. When Grandma gets home, there’s a letter from Abby waiting for her. After the plane takes off, Abby wonders how long it will be before she sees rain. It doesn’t rain all summer in Israel. How long will it be before she sees Grandma again? Abby remembers how she and Grandma used to go out and splash in the puddles wearing their yellow slickers and boots. Abby talks to Grandma on the phone, and writes letters to Grandma. She describes the places she has visited, the new things she is eating, and what it’s like to not be able to sink in the Dead Sea! Finally, early one morning, Abby hears raindrops. She hurries downstairs to open the front door, and there in a yellow slicker and boots is Grandma! See this book listed in our catalog
Jack’s Garden
Submitted by Ms. Jill!
Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole is one of my all-time favorite books to read in the springtime, and it always inspires me to get outside and plant something! The cumulative text builds up, page by page, like the traditional story of “The House that Jack Built.” And page by page, beautiful drawings show the progress of a young boy’s garden throughout the growing season. Beginning with the title page, on which Jack and his father are shown laying out the garden beds, richly detailed drawings depict each stage in the garden’s growth. We see the soil that makes up the garden, the seeds, the rain, and the first tiny seedlings. The seedlings grow into plants, which sprout buds, which blossom into glorious flowers. Insects come to sip nectar, in turn attracting birds and other wildlife. By the end of the book, a simple plot of dirt is transformed into an extravagant garden and backyard habitat. Young readers will especially enjoy the details in the borders of the illustrations: garden tools, insects, birds, and bird eggs are all carefully drawn and labeled. (Fun fact: Ms. Jill got to meet the author in person, and he signed her copy of this book! He’s a very nice man.) See this book listed in our catalog