What I read this week

Citation:   Yolen, J., & Schoenherr, J. (1987). Owl moon . New York: Penguin Group (USA). Summary:   A little girl finally gets to go owling with her father. To owl you have to be very careful not to announce your presence so the owls hide. This is a story about patience and hope. Evetenually the girl gets the reward of seeing an owl and goes back home happy. My thoughts:   While Owl Moon is a cute book about hope, I cannot help but to think that younger children would be bored listening to the story. The watercolor pictures, for which it won a Caldecott medal, are fantastic; however, the writing itself drags rather than excites. The children I know would want this book to be over faster. Professional Review: “A girl and her father go owling on a moonlit winter night near the farm where they live. Bundled tight in wool clothes, they trudge through snow ``whiter than the milk in a cereal bowl''; here and there, h...

Citation:   Alcott, L. M. (2012).  Little women . London: Vintage Classics. Summary: Four “little women” are followed in this book from their teen years into their married (or almost married) life. This classic follows these women in their triumphs and failures, fad following and tradition bucking years. Through meeting and befriending neighbors, heartbreak and marriage the girls’ story is shared with little to wanted.  My thoughts: As an unashamed Jane Austen fan, this book hit me right in my sweet spot. Likeable characters, a bit of social commentary and a lot of love. I do not think many children would enjoy reading it, but I do think young adults and adults of all ages could appreciate the story for the forward thinking, loveable characters and the true depiction of life at its best and worst.  Professional Review:   "One of the most beloved American classics is beautifully and eloquently brought to life in this recording filled wi...

Citation: Freeman, D. (1968).  Corduroy . New York City, NY: Viking Press. Summary: Corduroy is about a stuffed Bear in a department store. He had been there a long time when a little girl, Lisa, finally begs her mom to bring him home. Lisa’s mom says no because he is missing a button, so Corduroy goes off to find his lost button at night in the department store. He gets stuck on the escalator and ends up in the furniture department. After a little more adventure, the night guard finds Corduroy and puts him back on his shelf. The next day Lisa comes back with her money to get Corduroy. My Thoughts: This is such a cute story. It’s a bit about adventure, about fixing yourself, and about love. Corduroy tries to fix himself, doesn’t end up where he is supposed to be, doesn’t end up fixing himself, but finds love anyway. I love this because it is one of the few classic children’s books that does not have some sort of creepy element in it when you read it as an adul...