Author Shelley Dayton
Mystery. Adventure. Monkeys.
Mystery. Adventure. Monkeys.
Beautiful Books
For kids: Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails by Verla Kay.
It's not many books that educate both child and parent. This book uses simple rhymes and lovely illustrations to remind us of just how difficult the Westward movement was. Snow, ditches, mud, tired oxen...each time we read this one, I was amazed how hard their lives were compared to ours.
For kids:
Bunny Day by Rick Walton and Paige Miglio.
Beautifully-illustrated bunnies hop through their day with conspicuous clocks everywhere to help children learn time. It's a charmed life they live, with no predators in sight, comfortable clothing and apparent independent wealth since Papa Bunny stays home and helps all day. It's lovely and I want to live there.
For adults:
Of Mice and Murder, by Mary Connealy. This book is charming, riveting, and surprisingly frightening. Another winner from Mary Connealy, who is rapidly becoming my favorite author.
For kids:
Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, illustrated by Katy Schneider.
Simply adorable. This charming book gives a snapshot of 17 dogs' personalities. They state their opinions simply and confidently, and there is humor on every page. My favorite is Maude, who boldly "goes" where no dog should. This is one of those rare books that entertains both child and adult.
For adults:
Drop Dead Diva by Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds & Sandy Gaskin. The sleuthing sisters, Jenna and Carly, must find out who bumped off a country singing starlet. The dialogue is fresh, Jenna's character is well-defined, and the book meets my top requirements: it kept me interested to the last page and looking forward to evening reading time.
For kids:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. This Caldecott Medal winner has several things going for it. The neat little trick of cutouts tie each page to the next as his overcoat becomes smaller and smaller. The text is simple and upbeat. Though it doesn't rhyme, I appreciate this as nothing is more irritating than a children's rhyme which doesn't. Finally I mention the best part: the simple and darling illustrations. There is so much going on in every page, from the 100 plus cruciferous vegetables on one page to a selection of tiny photograph which turn up frequently. It's a darling book.
For kids:
John Denver's Grandma's Feather Bed, adapted and illustrated by Christopher Canyon.
This book defies you not to sing along, though it does come with a CD. The illustrations are so rich they hold your attention for a long time. The dedication is heartwarming, and it's a fun read overall. Go ahead. Don't sing. I dare you.
For adults:
Sick as a Parrot, by Liz Evans. I'm so happy to have a new favorite author! Evans' characters are weird, funny, and sometimes really touching. Her writing is as vivid as that of Janet Evanovich but the romance isn't quite as...um, robust. The plot is a bit disturbing and most certainly adult in nature, but I am excited to grab everything I can by this author and read away.
For kids:
This is the Day, by Phillis Gershator. This beautiful book has the tune at the front and each set of pages has a new lyric. The illustrations are simple and humorous and you'll dust off the piano to sing along.
For adults:
Of Mice...and Murder, a Maxie the Mouse Mystery by Mary Connealy.
This book was hard to put down and always entertaining, whether I had one hour or just ten minutes to read. The heroine was likable and flawed, her love interest was sensitive and hunky, but my favorite character was the weird and prophetic seller of inedible pies, Clara. She was a unique combination of traits and always stole the show and left me wondering how Mary Connealy came up with this lady. Maybe some day I'll ask her.
For kids:
A to Z of Animals, A Wildlife Alphabet Illustrated by Peter David Scott
Gorgeous is the best way to describe this book. It is, of course, a simple alphabet book with each set of pages bearing letters and corresponding critters. There are some pages of animals facts in the back, done in black-and-white, but the color illustrations that make up the bulk of the book are rich, perfect, and demand a long look. Like the very best of wildlife photography, these pictures make you feel that you are right up close to the animal, taking in every whisker.
It's not many books that educate both child and parent. This book uses simple rhymes and lovely illustrations to remind us of just how difficult the Westward movement was. Snow, ditches, mud, tired oxen...each time we read this one, I was amazed how hard their lives were compared to ours.
For kids:
Bunny Day by Rick Walton and Paige Miglio.
Beautifully-illustrated bunnies hop through their day with conspicuous clocks everywhere to help children learn time. It's a charmed life they live, with no predators in sight, comfortable clothing and apparent independent wealth since Papa Bunny stays home and helps all day. It's lovely and I want to live there.
For adults:
Of Mice and Murder, by Mary Connealy. This book is charming, riveting, and surprisingly frightening. Another winner from Mary Connealy, who is rapidly becoming my favorite author.
For kids:
Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest, illustrated by Katy Schneider.
Simply adorable. This charming book gives a snapshot of 17 dogs' personalities. They state their opinions simply and confidently, and there is humor on every page. My favorite is Maude, who boldly "goes" where no dog should. This is one of those rare books that entertains both child and adult.
For adults:
Drop Dead Diva by Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds & Sandy Gaskin. The sleuthing sisters, Jenna and Carly, must find out who bumped off a country singing starlet. The dialogue is fresh, Jenna's character is well-defined, and the book meets my top requirements: it kept me interested to the last page and looking forward to evening reading time.
For kids:
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. This Caldecott Medal winner has several things going for it. The neat little trick of cutouts tie each page to the next as his overcoat becomes smaller and smaller. The text is simple and upbeat. Though it doesn't rhyme, I appreciate this as nothing is more irritating than a children's rhyme which doesn't. Finally I mention the best part: the simple and darling illustrations. There is so much going on in every page, from the 100 plus cruciferous vegetables on one page to a selection of tiny photograph which turn up frequently. It's a darling book.
For kids:
John Denver's Grandma's Feather Bed, adapted and illustrated by Christopher Canyon.
This book defies you not to sing along, though it does come with a CD. The illustrations are so rich they hold your attention for a long time. The dedication is heartwarming, and it's a fun read overall. Go ahead. Don't sing. I dare you.
For adults:
Sick as a Parrot, by Liz Evans. I'm so happy to have a new favorite author! Evans' characters are weird, funny, and sometimes really touching. Her writing is as vivid as that of Janet Evanovich but the romance isn't quite as...um, robust. The plot is a bit disturbing and most certainly adult in nature, but I am excited to grab everything I can by this author and read away.
For kids:
This is the Day, by Phillis Gershator. This beautiful book has the tune at the front and each set of pages has a new lyric. The illustrations are simple and humorous and you'll dust off the piano to sing along.
For adults:
Of Mice...and Murder, a Maxie the Mouse Mystery by Mary Connealy.
This book was hard to put down and always entertaining, whether I had one hour or just ten minutes to read. The heroine was likable and flawed, her love interest was sensitive and hunky, but my favorite character was the weird and prophetic seller of inedible pies, Clara. She was a unique combination of traits and always stole the show and left me wondering how Mary Connealy came up with this lady. Maybe some day I'll ask her.
For kids:
A to Z of Animals, A Wildlife Alphabet Illustrated by Peter David Scott
Gorgeous is the best way to describe this book. It is, of course, a simple alphabet book with each set of pages bearing letters and corresponding critters. There are some pages of animals facts in the back, done in black-and-white, but the color illustrations that make up the bulk of the book are rich, perfect, and demand a long look. Like the very best of wildlife photography, these pictures make you feel that you are right up close to the animal, taking in every whisker.
Content copyright Shelley Dayton. All rights reserved.
