Two days ago Goodreads announced the winners of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2020. For whose of you who don’t know this, Goodreads is the world’s largest site for book readers and reccomendations. It’s ok if you haven’t heard of it by now, until 5 or 6 years ago I didn’t knew either.
In the “Picture book” category the winner was Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi, author who also won the Nonfiction category this year. The illustration is signed by Ashley Lukashevsky. The book is said to introduce young readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concepts of power, just society and antiracism. I didn’t bought the book, nor read it. But not because I think racism is not a very toxic poison of our modern society. It is a very toxic one, along with etnic and territorial discrimination, emigration status or disregard of everyone who is not “like us” or within our “class”.
I find the times we live in, most alarmant the life our kids live in, very racist and mean and disrespectful. And, it is in our power, as parents, educators, leaders of all sorts to try and change that. Little by little, action by action and more important, reaction by reaction. If we are with our kids and someone does something innapropriate or disrespectful or mean, we should say or do something. Or at least take our kids aside or later, at home, and explain them what was wrong and how to protect themselves in the future or not tolerate that sort of behaviour. And most important, not imitate it. Because a bully is not born a bully and an aggressor is not born one either. They became like that by repeat exposure to those behaviors.
But let’s get back to our awards…
What I found very interesting among this category nominees was the number of public figures and celebrities who had wrote picture books that were published this year: the Dalai Lama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dan Brown, Jimmy Kimmel, Kristen Bell, Guns N’Roses. Guns N’Roses guys? Comme on! I really should buy this book because I don’t know if I would ever be able to get to one of their concerts. And also to have a book to present my daughter along with all the Rock and Roll music they wrote over the years. I will also like to read “Grandma’s Garden” by Hillary Rodham Clinton to my daughter, as sort of generational bond between the girls in my family and their gardens: my grandma’s, my mother’s garden and perhaps, someday, my daughter’s garden. Well, she has one already, but is a small indoor one and I don’t think it’s count for a real one…
And, of course, the Dalai Lama book, “The seed of compasion”, it would be an honour to read the teaching of his Holiness.
Until these books will arrived, I bought and read the “Wild symphony” by Dan Brown, with illustration by Susan Batori, the book that came last in the top, with the fewest number of votes. Since The Da Vinci Code was so famous years ago, it was only natural that Dan Brown’s first book for children would be very soon noticed and well promoted. I found the version that was translated in Romanian, our native tongue, so I cannot speak about the quality of the original text. That is all in lyrics, written and recorded on a tape called Synthanimals in 1989 by Brown himself. The book comes along with an app that you can install and listen to the “music” of each animal. The music from the book, that you can hear on the app wildsymphony.com , was interpretated by Zagreb Festival Orchestra.
The author himself was introduced at an early age to the beauty of music, both his parents being musicians and teachers. And he says that a story can have it’s own music and if you close your eyes you can hear it. And the book and all the animals in it are a sort of a code to help us make the connection between the two arts: words and music. And that maybe, at the end of the book, the kids will be able to hear and noticed the “music” of each animal. And also, every animal in the book has a “secret” wisdom to tell the kids and they try to get them to always look at the things from a different perspective. Because, even in the darkest, scariest place there is a beauty to be found.
In my opinion is a gentile book, with lyrics well written. The illustrations are very nice and the design, made in a Disney’s Lion King type, was realised on Photoshop.
The book leaves you with a sense of joy and brightness after you turn the last page. And the music segments are also remarkable and is a very original idea to actualy “hear” a book in the same time you read it’s words.
I really don’t know why it got so few votes, to me it seems a very good choice to read with the kids, age 3+ ( in my opinion).
If you have read other nominated books, I would be very happy to hear your opion on them.
Wild Symphony, illustrations by Susan BatoriWild Symphony, illustrations by Susan Batori
Povestea scrisa si ilustrata in 2015 de Quentin Greban a aparut anul acesta si la editura Nomina. Pentru noi s-a vrut o continuare a lecturilor delicate, dupa intalnirea cu Mama, gargarita Suzette sau Oscar, micul urs ce dorea sa devina pompier. Ma asteptam la o istorioara la fel de delicata si frumos ilustrata, cu un batranel simpatic ce aduce daruri copiilor in dimineata zilei de 6 decembrie. Pentru ca, in ignoranta si putina mea stiinta despre Mos Nicolae sau legendele ce au tot circulat, el asta face: aduce dulciuri copiilor cuminti si nuieluse celor mai putin cuminti.
Insa lucrurile nu au stat chiar asa.
Voi incepe cu inceputul: am vazut aceasta carte chiar pe pagina de Facebook a autorului. Si am aflat, citind declaratiile sale, ca el recomanda cartea pentru 3+ citita de un adult, 5+ pentru copiii care o citesc singuri. Mie imi este putin teama sa o citesc unui copil de 6 ani, deja trecut prin experienta basmelor si povestilor clasice cu iz traumatizant: Capra cu trei iezi, Pinnochio, Alba ca Zapada, Craiasa Zapezii, Hansel si Gretel, Ratusca cea urata, Harap Alb, Scufita Rosie. La piesa de teatru pentru copii pe care a vizionat-o cand era la grupa mica, avea 2 ani si 8 luni atunci, au aparut pe scena actori imbracati in doctori care il “operau” pe lup in vederea extragerii bunicii si nepoticii inghitite in actul anterior.
Despre Mos Nicolae am aflat abia de curand ca este in fapt un sfant, ocrotitor al celor sarmani, femeilor nemaritate si al copiilor. Ca exista legende potrivit carora ar fi salvat oameni de la moarte, tinere fete de la o viata promiscua, datorita faptului ca nu aveau zestrea care sa le asigure un maritis onorabil. Si ca, in timpul unei foamete cumplite, ar fi reinviat 3 frati ce fusesera pusi in saramura de catre un macelar ticalos. Acesti frati sunt si eroii povestii lui Greban. Rataciti prin padure, similar pataniei lui Hansel si Gretel, ajung la casa acestui macelar nemilos care, dupa ce le da sa manance, ii trimite in pod sa “doarma”. Iar mai apoi ii inchide intr-un butoi. Peste putin timp insa Sfantul Nicolae trece pe acolo, ii gaseste pe copiii inchisi in butoi si ii readuce la viata cu o rugaciune. Legenda a fost mai nemiloasa, copiii ar fi stat trei ani inchisi in acel butoi.
In afara de aspectul neprietenos al macelarului, firesc de altfel sa fie asa avand in vedere gravitatea faptelor savarsite de dumnealui, si de sorturile murdare pe care le poarta, pe care copiii le pot ovedea bine merci oricand, in orice hipermarket sau hala pentru produse din carne, nu gasesc nimic eminamente traumatizant povestii lui Greban. Asadar de ce clasificarea eu in categoria povestilor de “groaza”?
Copiii nostri dragi sunt expusi inca de la gradinita la traditionalele povesti si basme. Ii lasam sa se uite la tot felul de desene animate cu supereroi violenti si agresivi si la filme cu actiune violenta, agresiva si cu multe, tare multe batai.
Le vorbim urat, ii certam, uneori ii agresam verbal sau fizic. Uneori folosim cuvinte urate in preajma lor sau la adresa lor si ajung astfel si in vocabularul lor. Barfim si criticam in prezenta lor persoane care nu se afla acolo pentru a se apara. Si toate astea sunt deja intrate intr-un normal contemporan, fara ca nimeni sa poata face o schimbare majora a acestor cutume.
Ei, dar iata ca apare o carte sau o alta opera de arta, eventual a unui autor deja controversat, care prezinta lumea intr-o maniera deloc minunata, cu roz si unicorni! Nu este bine deloc, traumatizam copiii! Sa returnam cartea, sa primim banii inapoi pe ea, este o “mizerie”!
Consider ca lumea are multe culori si ca in niciun caz, cu atat mai mult acum, in contextul actualei pandemii, nu ne putem permite sa ne crestem copiii intr-un glob perfect din sticla. Frumosul si uratul fac parte din viata, au facut mereu si vor face parte si din viata lor. Copilul meu nu este acum, 2-3 ani mai tarziu, traumatizat de balena uriasa ce l-a inghitit pe Pinnochio si nici de lupul care le-a mancat pe Scufita Rosie si pe bunicuta ei. E infricosata de musculite si furnici si alte insecte mici. De care eu musai trebuie sa o protejez, toata viata! Asta este intelegerea noastra actuala.
Asadar, abia astept sa ii prezint cartea, sa vedem si reactia unui copil la auzul acestei Povesti a Sfantului Nicolae. Imi va spune desigur ca dupa ce i-a trezit pe copii le-a dat si dulciuri.
Ilustratii de Quentin GrebanIlustratii de Quentin Greban
Christmas is my daughter favourite holiday and this year she made it even more magic. She wrote to Santa and told him that she wants a surprise gift this year. He has to surprise her with a magic and secret gift! Well, I can only hope that Santa has a very big imagination and can also read kids minds, because she didn’t told us either what she wants.
Waiting for him, she begun decorating the house. She painted globes and made felt trees and stars. I helped, of course, as much as she needed me to help.
Here where we live, today came the first snow. To celebrate Saint Andrew day and the begining of the winter season. I took out all our books about snow and winter. Dear books, that we collected for the last 6 years .
So, until we will decorate the Christmas tree, I decorated my daughter library with these precious ornaments.
As a first time parent, all around you is new, happening very fast and overwhelming. You grow as parent at the same pace as your baby grows, but you are the one responsable for him, so the pressure can be really big sometimes. And you try to go with your instincts, but sometimes it is not enough. Adding the society induced guilt or the feeling you constant have that you are doing it all wrong, it’s not an easy job. The grandmas who did it their way and “look, you are fine now!” don’t help much either. Or the others mums who put pressure or begin every unasked advice with “But listen, why don’t you do….?”
So, after a little sobbing, you put yourself together and start looking for solutions. And you read all it interest you and take online courses and watch youtube presentations and reviews and all the “best of the best” tops you can find.
But lots of them are a little too official or too impersonal. The lady presenting the magic diapers doesn’t have a single child. Or the parenting guru with 3 children raised by nannies or grandmas, is she the best to tell you, a fulltime mama, what is the best approch to everything? Maybe yes or maybe not.
When all of this is not helping either, you look for a more tailored solution. A experienced story from someone who actually lived it before you; or a product tried by a person you know or at least had the same journey you had. And if this won’t help either, at least you have a someone to point your dissapointment at.
I will start this series of tailored experiences from the begging: baby first books. I read to my daughter everything, since she was in my womb. Then, I start researching a lot and making lists and wishlists and go through top best books of all time. I studied about the golden age of illustration, about the most renowed authors and their work. And now, at almost 6yo, my daughter’s library has hundreds of books, from ones of the best authors and illustrators of all times. Some are in English and some in Romanian, our mother tongue language. We still have 90% of all the books I ever bought to her, because she still likes to read them from time to time. Even the baby books 🙂
All the experts say that when is born a baby sees the world around him in black and white. At first he sees only shadows and contours, then is able to see the entire object or the entire person in front of him. To recognised it when appears in front of him.
So, natural and adapted to their development, the first books that we should introduce to them, have to be in the same chromatic and form: black and white, with clear and simple contours of object, people and animals. And then we can move to sensorial and interactive books, with lift the flap options, for the little hands to explore and discover. Books with sound (but attention, not too loud or scary sounds, you risk traumatizing your child!). Books with rimes and repetitive words and sounds.
Board books are a great choice because they are sturdy and the child can chew on them without the risk of choking or shallowing paper or cardboard. And the endurance factor is an important one also, since they are not so easily to break or bent.
My selection of board baby books is not the largest one, but it can be a starting point for your baby first library.
I will start with (who else could I start with?) … the one and only Eric Carle!
Eric Carle was born in 1929 in Syracuse, New York, and for the last 45 years has written and illustrated tens of books for young children. He is best known for one’s of his first books, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. It is a beautiful book about nature, transformation, friendship, counting, learning numbers and also fruits and food.
Eric Carle The very hungry caterpillar
The first renewed book he ever illustrated was “Brown bear, brown bear what do you see?” with lyrics by Bill Martin jr.
From his work we also have red “The Grounchy Ladybug”, a book that teaches young children about kindness and giving and the power of friendship. Thewy also can learn the time and things about different animals.
Eric Carle The Grounchy Ladybug
Another great book that he wrote is called “Dream Snow”. Is the story of an old man who loves his animals very much. And in the evening before Christmas he prepares a gift for every one of them and goes out and puts ornaments in the only tree he has in his yard and leaves the presents for all the 5 animals under that tree.
Eric Carle The Dream Snow
“Papa, please get the moon for me” is a gentle book about a father’s love for his daughter. Who will do anything for her, even bring her the big old moon. And there are many more other great titles by Eric Carle to choose from for you to read with your baby.
The next remarcable author to choose as a first reading to your baby is David A. Carter. He has a lot of funny pop-up books, among wich the “Yellow square” is the most famous. In the same tehnique is the seasons series that contains “Spring”, “Summer”, “Autumn” and “ Winter”. His books are very attractive for the young readers. And are also very interactive, quality that makes them a favourite in any little child library.
B is for Box The Happy Little Yellow Box A Pop -up book by David A. Carter
I will mention then the book by P.D.Eastman “Go, dog, go!”. I had it on the wishlist for so long, that when time came to actually buy it for my daughter, she was a little too big for it. But she can read it all by herself, so it was a win after all. And, at one page we can also see the little bird from “Are you my mother?”, another lovely book by P.D. Eastman that we still read at almost 6 yo. Another plus is the Netflix series with the „Go, dog go” characters, that is much loved by the kids. Well, mine at least 🙂
P.D. Eastman Go, dog, go!
Christie Matheson has another beautiful board books series about action and effect, seasons, nature, the changes in nature as the times passes. We have “Tap the magic tree” book and the “Touch the brightest star” by this author. At every page the child is encouraged to do something ( clap his hands, blow, touch an element) and on the next page he gets to see the change, the effect of his previous action.
Christie Matheson Tap the magic tree
I think that the next author, Maurice Sendak, needs no introduction. Renewed author and prize winner, his book “Where the wild things are” is an all time bestselling book. “Chicken soup with rice” is a lovely calendar book in rimes for smaller babies, in wich each month is depicted in simple and yet expressive rimes, that the little readers will love to hear over and over again. And, of course, they will learn that the chicken soup with rice is a must in every month of the year.
Maurice Sendak Chicken soup with rice
Ladybird publishing house has a lot of wonderful titles for children of all ages. We have a Peppa pig serie from them and it was one’s of my daughter favorite’s character book for years.
At last I want to talk about Usborne publishing. Their collection of books for the early ages is the most impressive: activity books, baby books, sensorial books, books with sound or wind toys, puzzle books, art books. For ages between 0 to young adult, so you have a very wide range to choose from. Which can be overwhelming, I know, for a first time parent. I bought the first book with sounds from Usborne when I was pregnant with my daughter. It had only 4 sturdy cardbord pages, each with a different sound from an animal or object ( monkey, duck, car, sheep). My daughter was terrified at first by all the noise, but loved the images. I took out the batteries and she would “read” the book daily for an year or so. But she had a more bigger problem with loud sounds at that age, so I wouldn’t blame Usborne for her being scare of the loud sounds. Then, at 2-3 yo, she asks us to put back the batteries so she could listen to the sounds. She also received a very nice sensory book from Usborne, but now, if she were a baby again, I wouldn’t invest much in sensory books. You can offer your baby a lot of sensory stimulation from getting in contact with different materials and textures: wool, felt, fur, wood, grass, moss, beads, rice, flour, etc. Which I totaly recommend, since I saw children age 1-3 with a lot sensory issues.
Here, my daughter is helping me presenting “Night time” a peep-inside book from Usborne.
Night time A peep-inside Usborne book
We also have in our board books collection two books for older kids. One is “The night before Christmas”, by Clement C. Moore and illustration by Roger Duvoisin, the “father” of Petunia, the lovely goose all children loves. The text is a bit too long for a toddler patience, but you can at first show them the picture and talk a little about some of the ideas in the book.
Clement C. Moore and Roger Duvoisin The night before Christmas
The second one is “Leaf Jumpers” by Carole Gerber and illustrated by Leslie Evans. Is a funny book about autumn and all the sorts and shapes of leaves. And the fun the little ones have jumping in leaves piles…
Carole Gerber and Leslie Evans Leaf Jumpers
As a conclusion to a long and comprehensive text: read to your baby anything, anytime, any book. He will love the sound of your voice and the intimacy between you two. For baby books, the board boks are more likely to resist and not to hurm the baby ( cuts in the paper, chewing on it, etc).
You don’t have to invest a lot at first. For start, buy a small selection and see his reaction. You can also buy them preowned, are easily to desinfect since the cardboard is sturdy and not affected if you weap it clean with an antibacterial napkin. When the baby is older and doesn’t show interest in the books, you can give them to other babies ( we did that with the books my daughter didn’t want tot read anymore) or sell them to buy new books for your children. Or donate them to a local kindergarden or library.
I saw the presentation for this new Oliver Jeffers book sometime in the summer. Back then the pandemy was “slowing down” and I though that it would make a beautiful birthday present for our “dada”.
It was supposed to be a symbol of his love for our daughter, the time they spend together, reading, laughing, playing. Dreaming and building memories. To be cherrish for a lifetime.
So, I ordered it and it arrived last week, just in time to be offered to the birthday boy… and since Oliver Jeffers, one of the greatest illustrators and children’s books authors, is one of our favourite author, this new book will be a great addition to our collection.
It might seem just another classic story about a father’s love for his daughter. In fact the book is dedicated to Mary, the author’s daughter. But is not just that. It is a tribute and a dedication for all the fathers and daughters of the world that aren’t so lucky. To get through this hard present and to be able to dream and build a better future.
The illustration is beautiful and simple, yet very expressive, as in all of Jeffers books.
It allows the reader to “see” beyond the drawing in each page and to imagine new and fantastic worlds and adventures. To dream a future, a better one.
The rimes are short and very well built, since is not so easy to compose rimes that actually have a deep meaning. And are easy to remember for the little readers.
We can try as hard as we can to build fortresses and places to hide us from all the exterior attacks ( viruses, big bad witches or pirates). But the reality is that all the “weapons” we need to protect ourselves are within us: the love, the care for our wellbeing, the memories, the great effort to get all our work done.
The author thinks that we are only free to dream a future when we are not facing a hard and frightening present. Which so many of us are facing right now.
I let you discover the book in your own pace and meaning. All I can add is that this is a book that all Oliver Jeffers fans have to read it. Especially the little girls that love to build small or big memories and things with their dads.
Despre Nina Cassian este o mare onoare sa scriu. A fost o mare onoare sa o si citesc. Pentru ca Nina Cassian a fost si va ramane una dintre cele mai cunoscute si talentate poete din Romania. Si eseista, traducatoare, compozitoare. Si pentru ca a fost poate una dintre cele mai cunoscute si apreciate autoare romance in strainatate. Daca nu pentru operele ei, macar pentru viata sentimentala mult prea tumultoasa pentru “criticii” acelor timpuri.
Povestea a doi pui de tigru, numiti Ninigra si Alegru este un poem in unsprezece capitole, aparut pentru prima oara in 1969. Cartea a fost reeditata in 2010 la Ed. Cartile Tango si apoi in 2018, la editura Frontiera. Editia din 2018 beneficiaza de ilustratia Kardei Zenko, unul dintre cei mai talentati artisti vizuali contemporani. Sunt binecunoscute interpretarile ei maiestre aduse versurilor Ninei Cassian sau celor ale Constantei Buzea, sau cartile realizate in colaborare cu Victoria Patrascu sau Eniko Szabo.
Povestea celor doi pui de tigru, numiti Ninigra si Aligru este un omagiu adus povestii de dragoste dintre autoare si sotul ei, Al.I. Stefanescu, poveste care a durat 36 de ani, pana la moartea acestuia.
Inainte de orice alt merit, istorisirea aceasta frumos mestesugita este compusa in versuri foarte expresive, cu rime si sensuri ascunse, dar care insa ii captiveaza pe micii ascultatori.
Am urmarit-o pe autoare, intr-o inregistrare video din arhiva TVR, recitind celor mici povestea puilor de tigru. Ce voce impunatoare si ce prezenta! M-a fascinat cu totul, atata stapanire de sine si cunoastere a propriei valori rar intalnite.
Cartea ii are ca eroi pe doi pui de tigru unul mai diferit ca celalalt, dar care totusi se intalnesc undeva in jungla si vor ramane prieteni pe viata. Autoarea ne povesteste peripetiile prin care trec cei doi pui, ratacirea lor prin jungla, rapirea Ninigrei de catre maimute, aventurile lui Aligru prin mlastina, perioada in care Ninigra este prizoniera imparatesei Miorlau si a cetei ei de pisici, evadarea si regasirea lor la iarmaroc.
Ca orice poveste frumoasa are un final pe masura, care ni se dezvaluie abia in epilog: cei doi eroi vor ramane impreuna, vor face o nunta ca in … povesti si vor avea 10 pui mititei.
Asadar totul este bine cand se termina cu bine. Si aici se termina si recenzia mea.
Daca ati citit-o, sa va fie de folos si va spun doar atat: Mersigru!
Povestea a doi pui de tigru, numiti Ninigra di Aligru
When your daughter likes pumpkins and Hallowen and Thanksgiving dinners (even if you don’t live in the US) what can you do?
You buy her books about it and you read them together. And you carve pumpkins and make Hallowen costumes and go trick or treat with her.
And then she will make the Thanksgiving menu and ask you to include some turkey in it and some gravy, of course. And corn and potatoes. But not sweet potatoes, she doesn’t like sweet potatoes. And a pumpkin pie she will help making. And some edamame, she loves edamame. What if they are not a Thanksgiving tradition? Since she is making the menu, she can put anything she wants on it.
And then she will repeat the menu daily, in case you have a bad memory. I don’t have.
And then we will have a small Thanksgiving dinner, just the three of us, because we will be on a lockdown by then. But hey, it was a fun autumn, full of stories about pumpkins and turkeys and everything!
“You Ronald look like a real prince, but you are a bum!”
The Paper Bag Princess
Story by Robert Munch
Art by Michael Martchenko
Annick Press Toronto , 2020
This is indeed the smallest book I’ve ever seen! It fits in my palm and for some time now my daughter take it with her in the backpack every time we go on a trip. She even took it to school, well tacked in her pencil box.
My only fear is that we will lose it, it is so small…. that it will be a big lost, for sure!
I had this book, in fact the whole “If you give…” series by Laura Numeroff, on my children books’s wishlist since my daughter was 2 or 3 years old.
The years passed, she was almost 5 and other books had priority. Until the last november at Bookfest, when I saw it as a new release from ones of the biggest publishing house here in Romania, Arthur.
And, because I coudn’t go myself to the Bookfest, I sent her godfather, who was going, a list with the books I wanted for her. Since the holiday season was approaching and then her birthday he wanted to buy her also some books from the list. One of them was this. And so we got to finally met this lovely character that soon became a favourite of my daughter.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not like mice. In our culture they are pets, in my grandparents house there were traps and poison for them all over the place. And when a field mouse would enter the summer house or the main one, it would be a very bad day for everyone!
Not even the romanian children books or folk stories don’t have them as characters. There are dogs and cats and chickens and goats and pigs. Even the big bad old wolf is. But no mice. So imagine my surprise when I started buying international children books and I found them all over.
But let’s get back to our book …
This little mouse has a lot of demands and adventures and I get why the kids may feel like they could have the same experiences. Because sometimes they do. All experiences from the book, except a haircut or moping the floor ( which will be very helpful) but the rest, oh yes!
If you want to read or to buy this book, you can find it here:
And, at the end of a day, you will also feel exhausted, just like the little boy in the book is. But the goog news is that, if you have just a little bit of energy left in your body after you finish reading the book, you can take part at the Greatest race of cookies!
And who wins gets all the cookies in the house! And then asks for a glass of milk and then…
Then you get to play with your best friend and to eat an extra cookie before going to bed. Which we did.
And what about you? Have you ever gave a mouse a cookie?
little humans 