Owen Davey, Fanatical about Frogs Published 2019 by Flying Eye Books It’s funny now that I think about it; I had a day off today which I spent tidying around the house and reading Owen Davey’s Fanatical about Frogs. But I enjoyed it, both the cleaning and the book. I am not a fan of… Continue reading Fanatical About Frogs by Owen Davey, an interesting introduction to the strange world of the frogs
Small Wonders by Stanley and Kaisa Breeden: a close look at some of Australia’s spectacular small creatures
Stanley and Kaisa Breeden, Small Wonders. A Close Look of Nature’s Miniatures Published 2014 by Fremantle Press, 112p When you enter an unspoilt piece of bush, you breathe deeply. The fresh air may be scented with the perfume of wildflowers and eucalyptus leaves. You take in the cries and songs of birds. Sunshine warms… Continue reading Small Wonders by Stanley and Kaisa Breeden: a close look at some of Australia’s spectacular small creatures
Yayoi Kusama, the artist of the polka dots
Sarah Suzuki, Yayoi Kusama. From Here to Infinity. Illustrated by Ellen Weinstein Published 2017 by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 36p She was devoted to her dots – for her they were a way of thinking about the world among the stars, as one dot among millions of others. They were a… Continue reading Yayoi Kusama, the artist of the polka dots
Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood – a powerful story about the loss of a beloved animal
Margaret Wild, Freya Blackwood, Harry and Hopper Published 2009 by Scholastic, 36p Harry and Hopper tells the story of a boy’s journey to come to terms with the loss of his beloved dog. Death is something that cannot be predicted and grief is part of the painful process of accepting and dealing with the… Continue reading Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood – a powerful story about the loss of a beloved animal
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats –the joy of the first snowfall
Ezra Jack Keats, The Snowy Day Published 1962 by Puffin Books, 32p. In limba romana: Ziua in care a nins, Editura Arthur A few days ago, while sorting the books on a shelf where apparently, according to my husband, we shouldn’t have books, I found some photos with Ema, probably three years old at… Continue reading The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats –the joy of the first snowfall
Kenzaburō Ōe’s A Personal Matter: a disturbing writing about a father’s struggles to come to terms with his newborn’s disability
Kenzaburō Ōe, A Personal Matter. Translated from the Japanese by John Nathan Published 1994 by Grove Press. Originally published 1964 in Japan In limba romana: O experienta personala Parenting is a skill that needs to be learned then polished continuously throughout people’s lives. Some are natural, great parents while others struggle and need to… Continue reading Kenzaburō Ōe’s A Personal Matter: a disturbing writing about a father’s struggles to come to terms with his newborn’s disability
The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel: a friendly introduction to the complex kingdom of fungi
Elise Gravel, The Mushroom Fan Club Published 2018 by Drawn & Quarterly, 60p Elise Gravel, Canadian author and illustrator, driven by her curiosity and love of nature, created a whimsical picture book to introduce her two daughters and everyone else interested in bizarre creatures to the complex and remarkable world of mushrooms. Anthropomorphized… Continue reading The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel: a friendly introduction to the complex kingdom of fungi
Marjolaine Leray’s April, the Red Goldfish: a funny, profound picture book about a goldfish searching for the meaning of life
Marjolaine Leray, April, the Red Goldfish Published in English 2014 by Phoenix Yard Books Ltd (Originally published in French in 2013), 36p “Ema, look, this will be you in a few years!” And I showed her the illustration: She laughed and we read, again, April, the Red Goldfish. Ema’s parents are not “aquaholics” or… Continue reading Marjolaine Leray’s April, the Red Goldfish: a funny, profound picture book about a goldfish searching for the meaning of life
Judith Newman: To Siri, With Love. A Mother, her autistic son, and the kindness of machines
Judith Newman, To Siri, With Love. A Mother, her autistic son, and the kindness of machines Published 2017 by Quercus, 226p I have heard about To Siri, With Love a while ago but what really determined me to read the book were the negative comments on the internet. Too many, all looking as they had… Continue reading Judith Newman: To Siri, With Love. A Mother, her autistic son, and the kindness of machines
Simona Ciraolo’s Hug Me: a celebration of individualism and affection in an era when social expectations can still be challenging and detrimental
Simona Ciraolo, Hug Me Published 2014 by Flying Eye Books, 32p The impact of parental/ family affection on a child’s physical and emotional development needs no further arguments. Psychologists always emphasize the importance of a loving environment for the healthy development of children. Unfortunately, there is also the other extreme, when parents support their… Continue reading Simona Ciraolo’s Hug Me: a celebration of individualism and affection in an era when social expectations can still be challenging and detrimental
from words to worlds 