The Imaginary Garden

The Imaginary Garden, written by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, is a truly beautiful and inspirational book. A little girl named Theo (short for Theodora) enjoys visiting her grandpa, and one of the highlights is his beautiful garden. Grandpa has to move to an apartment with a balcony, and Theo misses the garden. She suggests that they have an imaginary garden, and Grandpa implements this by setting out a huge blank canvas and providing paints and brushes.

Grandpa and Theo treat the canvas just like a real garden, constructing a stone wall and preparing the soil. Then the first signs of spring begin to surface: crocuses, and the first robin. Eventually Grandpa goes on a trip and Theo has to paint the next phase of the garden herself, so she adds tulips, daffodils, forget-me-nots, and a couple chairs for her and Grandpa to relax in.

The best aspects of this book are the warm relationship between Theo and Grandpa, the bright colors, and the inspiration to create something even when it seems impossible.

What If Everybody Did That?

What If Everybody Did That? is written by Ellen Javernick and illustrated by Colleen M. Madden. I knew just by looking at the title and the cover that it was my sort of book. It briefly and humorously helps us imagine what would happen if everybody did a variety of things that seem so insignificant when just one person does it. One obvious (but great) example is throwing a piece of trash from the car window. A funny one that is likely to resonate with kids is just reaching out to take one little sample of frosting from a wedding cake. It's easy for kids to think it would be no big deal if someone would allow them just one little taste, but the illustration of the cake that many of the wedding guests have sampled helps show why that's not a good idea. I also enjoyed the one where the child didn't hang up his coat at school -- the opposite page shows how that area would look if all the kids just dumped their coats in a pile. This book is a fun way to encourage kids to pause and think about how little actions can add up, for good or bad (in the end, the boy comes home and gives his mom a hug and says "What if everybody did that?").

Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary

One of our favorite recent discoveries is Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary, by Beverly Donofrio and illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Mary is a young girl who lives in a big brick house, and one day she bends down to pick up a fork and notices a little mouse doing the same thing in a hole in the wall. Mary and the mouse start doing the same routine each evening so they can catch a peek at each other.

The illustrations are detailed, colorful, and show many parallels between the lives of Mary and the mouse. It's fun to ask your child to find some of these, such as the furniture being in the same configuration in the house and the mouse house or the both families wearing the same colors and having the same number of children.

The mouse and her family end up living with grown-up Mary and her family, and their daughters find each other by dropping a book each night and have many of the same parallels between their families. In the end there is a fun little surprise when they finally interact more directly.

This charming book doesn't have an obvious moral or anything like that, but with such a heartwarming story and warm, thoughtful illustrations, I didn't care. My child and I both enjoyed it equally. I only wish the author and illustrator would collaborate on some more books!

Three Great Bedtime Stories

The perfect bedtime story lineup includes a touch of humor, a bit of whimsy, and wraps up with peace and comfort. The following three picture books are ideal for gradually building up to a relaxing bedtime for the 2-6 set.

The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds by Marisabina Russo is a delightful back and forth story between what's happening in the bunnies' room and what the parents are doing. The parents put the bunnies to sleep only to hear noises coming from their room -- first it is train tracks being contstructed, then they are playing with trains, then playing cowboys, and eventually they even put together a marching band. In the end, the parents think they've finally had success and decide they can go to sleep themselves. The bunnies decide they can play all night now, but end up falling asleep on the couch. It's fun for kids to learn what the bunnies are up to next and how the parents respond. Incidentally, I have enjoyed many of Russo's other books, too, especially Under the Table.


Bedtime for Mommy, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is a bedtime role reversal. (One of my previous reviews, Bedtime for Sally, is also a bedtime role reversal but is done very differently.) In this book, the daughter tells the mommy it's time for bed. The mommy then proceeds to make the same protestations ("Five more minutes?") and requests (glass of water, more than one story, door being opened just the right amount) that a child typically does. Most young children will delight in the idea of putting a parent to bed. Lots of giggles are guaranteed. Perhaps there is a boy version of this out there somewhere -- this one just happens to be a girl and mommy, but the daddy appears at the end as the next to be put to bed.



Good Night Mr. Night was written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. He's also the creator of the Oswald character that currently appears on Nick Jr. He's written several books we've enjoyed that I hope to review. Mr. Night wakes up every night as the sun goes down. He is covered with beautiful stars. This story is extremely simple and timeless. As Mr. Night closes the flowers, quiets the animals and closes their eyes, and calms the sea, a feeling of peace gently settles over the reader. It's great for settling down and preparing for rest. Hmmm...maybe I should read it the next time I can't get to sleep.

The Curious Garden

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown begins with a bleak, gray city scene where only one little boy chooses to walk outside. There are smokestacks, factories, and lots of concrete, but nothing green or colorful. One day, Liam discovers a small patch of wildflowers on an old railroad track. He is so pleased that he decides to nurture them. Although his gardening skills need work, the little patch eventually begins to spread farther and farther along the tracks, and then stretches down into the city streets, roofs of buildings, and so on. The other city residents come out to enjoy it and begin to help care for the plants and grow their own.

The contrast in the illustrations at the beginning with the lush, vibrant landscape in the end is wonderful and a captivating way for a child to become interested in gardening or to simply realize how one person can really make a difference. In the end, we see Liam still tending to the plants as an adult and bringing his wife and children to help, passing on his love for the beautiful plants and flowers to them.

According to the author's site, "The Curious Garden was inspired by the High Line, an old abandoned railway in New York City that has become overgrown with wildlife and trees."

Happy, Healthy Monsters: Get Moving with Grover

Happy Healthy Monsters: Get Moving with Grover is becoming one of my favorite books! It's the middle of winter and mostly too cold for playing outside much. Even with a child who seems to be constantly moving, it seems to be a more sedentary season. This book is a great tool for getting a child who loves to read off the couch and getting some exercise while having fun!

Grover and Elmo lead you and your child through a series of activities, most of which involve using the book (running around it in circles, jumping over it, holding it up while stretching, doing push-ups over it, dancing around it, and more). When we started to read it I wondered if my child would really get excited and want to do the activities, but there was no question about it! This is the perfect book to pull out when your child is begging to watch TV or hasn't had much physical activity. In fact, I wish there were more books available like this one.

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller

The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller is a fun way to help your child start learning United States geography and basic facts about the states. The zaniness begins when Kansas decides he is tired of being stuck in the middle of the country and not getting to meet other states and see other parts of the country. So he and some nearby states decide to throw a party where they can all meet each other. From there, they decide to switch places so everyone can experience something new and meet new people. In the end, they all return to their original homes, but with new memories, friends, and appreciation of why each "place" is specially suited for each one.

Each page tells the main story but also has several little blurbs that can either be read or skipped over (though I enjoyed them tremendously, a young child might become impatient or not understand the jokes).

We recently checked out the sequel where the scrambled states put on a talent show, and it was another fun read.