Tag Archives: best children’s books

Miss Emily’s First B-day Giveaway!

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Last September Miss Emily the cat came to life with the launch of Miss Emily Goes to Bat. In honour of her first birthday we wanted to give you a chance to win a copy of the Miss Emily book. But first, we wanted to share an overview of Miss Em’s first year as minor local celebrity and philanthropic cat. Miss Emily began her first year raising money for the Kootenay Child Development Centre, new home to a number of child practitioners and specialists dedicated to servicing children in the East and West Kootenay area of BC.

To raise money, Miss Emily’s book was the focus of several book readings at libraries, bookstores and schools across the East Kootenay. 20% of Miss Em’s retail sales went to the Centre.In the end, Miss Emily raised over $300.00. She also donated a couple of signed prints that hang in the Centre’s lobby, enabling Miss Emily and her lovable owners, Will and Thom, to personally greet the young children who use the Centre.Miss Emily has also made a bit of a name for herself outside her hometown area. Last spring she received an A+ review from American on-line book reviewer, Lit Kid Reviews. You’ll also find Miss Emily hanging out at the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the Jackson’s Make a Memory book collection.Of course Miss Emily will always be dedicated to the betterment of children so watch for new fundraisers, donations and contests throughout the coming year. And be sure to check out her numerous colouring and activity pages, games and crafts. Just click on fun for kids on the menu bar above –and watch for information on our FIRST CONTEST in this Wednesday’s post!And for those of you who aren’t familiar with the story, Miss Emily Goes to Bat, be sure to check out the Kid Lit Review or read the summary, below. :) ~ Trina

The Secret to Suess

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Last Christmas I donated all of my Dr. Seuss books to “A Book Under Every Tree.” It’s a wonderful literacy initiative that benefits kids who may not have a lot of books in their home. I was happy to donate the books but the fact is I kinda miss them as well.

You see Dr. Seuss is one of my favourite authors and even though Will and Thom think they’ve outgrown his stories, I know I haven’t. Perhaps it’s his use of nonsensical words or the enjoyable way they roll off my tongue. Perhaps it’s the unstated yet resonant message of his stories. Or perhaps it’s my appreciation for the man himself.

Dr. Seuss (born Theodor Seuss Geisel) had moxie. Despite the fact that he came from a family of German brewmasters during the onset of prohibition and World War I, Seuss (aka Ted) was able to gain popularity with his peers simply by being himself.

Seuss had perseverance –his first children’s book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times before going to publication.

He had talent and versatility. Before he was a best-selling author he was a cartoonist for such notable publications as The Saturday Evening Post, Life and Vanity Fair. He was an ad man, a patriot and an academy award winning animator of World War II military training films.

And he changed the way educators approach children’s literacy.

Not everyone is aware of this, but Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat –considered to be the first “playground word-of-mouth bestseller” –was actually written in response to a challenge from William Spaulding, then-director of the education division at Houghton Miffin.

Spaulding had read a 1954 Life magazine article by John Hersey that suggested the reason schoolchildren couldn’t read was because books, like Dick and Jane, “were too boring”. (True that!) Spaulding then challenged Seuss to not only write a story that 1st graders wouldn’t be able to put down, but to write it using no more than 250 of the 348 words that Spaulding felt were important for grade one children to know. Seuss used 236.

I guess that’s the secret to Seuss and why he’s a favourite of mine –moxie, perseverance, talent and legacy. Yes, I admit I still miss my Dr. Seuss books but when I consider the benefits they’re providing to their newest owners I think I can live without them. :)

~ Trina

What If The World Were A Village?

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One of my favourite children’s books is If the World Were a Village, written by David J. Smith and illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. I bought it in 2008 at a great little store on Denman Street in Vancouver, BC, 10,000 Villages.

The book –aside from being beautifully illustrated– puts our world into perspective for children and adults alike. How? By condensing the approximately 6.6 billion people currently occupying our planet into a village of 100 people. According to the author, the book is about “world-mindedness” –the attitude that “we share this small, precious village with our neighbours” and that “knowing who our neighbours are, where they live and how they live will help us live in peace.”

While the book provides interesting information on the nationalities, languages, ages and religions of the villagers and offers a guide for parents and teachers to encourage “world-mindedness” I love the book for different reasons.

This book has provided me with an appreciation for things I used to take for granted; necessities like food of which only 30 villagers always have enough. Or things I consider a necessity but really are a luxury, like my computer; only 15 villagers have one –even in this “technological age”.

According to the 2007 statistics used for If the World Were a Village, the richest ten villagers receive over half of the villages money and while the average cost of necessities in the village is about $5000 a year, 75 of these 100 villagers receive less than $1500 a year.

I value this book because it reminds me it’s important to stand up for –and speak out on—issues critical to a just society. It gives me permission to advocate for others even when (especially when) it’s not the “politically popular” thing to do and it encourages me to volunteer and get involved in my community. Because of these actions I now have the knowledge that I can make a positive difference –whatever size the village.

You can check out If the World Were a Village at Kids Can Press –Canada’s largest Canadian owned children’s publisher at http://www.kidscanpress.com.

Also check out our other favourite children’s books here >>> Books We Like

~ Trina

Marmot Wakes in Winter

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So admittedly… <sheepish grin ;) > this is a book idea that is a ways into our future. However, I couldn’t resist sharing a little bit about it… (I am dreaming that one day something incredible will happen with this little business and we’ll suddenly be able to publish ALL these fabulous and worthy children’s books!)

‘Marmot Wakes in Winter’ is written by author, Chris Ayling. It is a “whimsical” and humorous tale about a little hibernator who wakes and just can’t get back to sleep. It covers his adventures with the more winter savvy critters and in the end it follows him back home where he finally finds a way to fall sleep again.

Attached here are some preliminary sketch ideas I have done for this book – I’m really looking forward to being able to fully do this project one day!!!

~Happy Tuesday, Micheline :)

The Velveteen Rabbit

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In case you never noticed ;) — there is a section on our blog called ‘things we like‘ and within here we have begun to compile a list of ‘books we like‘. To start the list out right I am first adding a classic tale, The Velveteen Rabbit, written by Margery Williams. This is by far one of my favourite children’s books and when my daughter Hannah was small it was one of her favourites as well. The tale’s main theme is redemption and it speaks to one’s heart because no one ever wants to grow old and be discarded.

I did this 2′x2′ – acrylic on canvas painting years ago for my daughter’s third birthday. Although my painting hardly rivals the vintage charm of illustrator, William Nicholson’s originals it was still fun to paint!

~Micheline