Book Review: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

I read this book after hearing that it was one of J.K. Rowling's favorite childhood books. I was not disappointed. First off I should state that this is children's literature. But reading it as an adult I enjoyed it as well, probably because I spent a lot of time channeling my inner ten year old. When I was ten years old, if I remember correctly my favorite book was Magic for Marigold by L.M. Montgomery (BTW of course I love the Anne series, who doesn't?, but at ten it was all about Marigold). I can't figure out for the life of me why this book is out of print! Anyways, back to the matter at hand -- I loved the Little White Horse for the same reasons I loved Marigold. It has an aura of beauty to it -- the descriptions are filled with old castles and meadows of flowers, dainty animals, a wishing well, hand carved furniture, charming antiquated clothes. It makes it easy to imagine something beautiful and enchanting and then the story has such a sweet tenor, while still having a good sense of mystery and excitement. Of course its a bit predictable and of course everything ends up perfectly (its a fairytale!) But that only made me like it more, I'm not looking for something to throw me for a loop and in children's lit. Can't wait to read this one to my little girl (if I ever have a little girl, that is). Jandee Rating: 10 of 10 stars (for a charming children's read) Content Rating: G

Book Review: Hoot

I haven't read many children's books lately was excited to be able to read & review this book for my job. Hoot (by Carl Hiaasen) won the Newberry so that is always a good indication of a well written children's book, and I wasn't let down, it kind of reminded me of Summer of the Monkeys, another classic. I think this book would be perfect for the 5th grade. If I had a ten year old this would be in her stocking, and good news you can buy the book for 1 penny plus shipping on Amazon right now.

Jandee Rating: 9 of 10 stars
Content Rating: I think a child would have to be 8 to really understand it, probably age10 would be a better bet.

Book Review: Prince Caspian

I have read this book several times before in years past, but just finished reading it again for some freelance work I've been doing for this company. Perhaps because I was reading it more critically than I had before, but I picked out a lot more things this reading than I have ever noticed. I'm too sick of writing about this book already to devote a full fleshed out post on this book, but here's a quick bullet list of some of the thoughts running through my head this reading:

• Caspian's forefather (Caspian the Conquerer) was the first Telmarine to put the Narnians in bondage and impose his culture upon them -- hmmm sounds an awful lot someone else who was a conquerer in 1066, a figure who C.S. Lewis was definitely familiar with.
• In Chapter 9, the character of Lucy makes the statement: "wouldn't it be dreadful if some day in our own world, at home, men started going wild inside, like the animals here, and still looked like men, so that you'd never know which were which." Yes. Creepy and scary indeed, but I think this is how things are today -- so sad sometimes it seems that you cannot trust anyone, even people who seem normal and look nice because they could be a psychopath child molester! (perhaps my news junkie husband makes me a bit paranoid, or maybe paranoia is just a normal part of being a mom?)
• I've always thought it was weird that Bacchus appears in Prince Caspian, that character always kind of gave me the creeps in his permutations in classical myth, but this reading I think I decided that Lewis was using him to get across the idea that everyday life should be joyful. That we should have to wait to go on vacation or for a holiday to be happy, but it should be an everyday occurrence and sometimes we literally have to make our own happiness.
• Isn't it interesting how children are usually the most able to believe the best in others and themselves?
• All of the most virtuous characters in the book have the most difficult lives and journeys --its definitely not easy to be good.
• Evil nearly always comes in disguise.
• The battle of good versus evil is never going to be over -- I mean if it was than C.S. Lewis's series would have ended after book 1 -- instead we may win a battle, but for every evil foe defeated (like the White Witch) there is usually another one waiting in the wings (like Miraz) to begin the fight again.

Jandee Rating: I should preface my rating by mentioning I am a big C.S. Lewis fan, and Chronicles of Narnia series was a staple of my childhood, thus I feel about it the way you would remember favorite pet you took care of as a child. Hence I definitely give it 10 out of 10 stars as a great read for an entire family, or a really quick afternoon read for an adult.

Content Rating: G --This is a children's literature book, but obviously I think adults can get something out of it too.

National Children's Book Week: 3 Great Books

Missed a couple days, but I am making up for it with three great kids books today.....I haven't necessarily been posting books that I rank above ALL others, just some that I love that I thought are a bit less known. Here are three of my favorites today:


1. May I Bring a Friend by Beatrice de Regniers -- It rhymes, it has animals and cute illustrations....whats not to like?


2. Just a Little Critter Collection by Mercer Mayer : Okay this one is technically a collection, but it s Classic (why yes that is a capital C). When I was a little girl the "little critter" books were some of my favorites and I am so happy that Ike loves them as much as I do. I think my favorite specific story is: I Was So Mad (which is included in the above collection). Very young children will like these books as there are very entertaining illustrations and story-lines they can grasp, but older children (5-8) will like it too because Mercer Mayer did all sort of fun things to make the book more interesting....for example every illustration has a mouse, spider, or cricket that is somewhat hidden -- I would love to look for the hidden animals when reading it (its like a beginners Where's Waldo). So yes, just buy this already -- I mean 9.99 for a hardback collection? should be a no-brainer right?


3. A Hole Is To Dig by Ruth Krauss: Okay, I'll admit it, this isn't one of Ike's favorites.......yet. It is probably more suitable for children 3+, but I LOVE this book. It is one of those children's books that makes an adult chuckle as they read it. It is basically a list of "definitions," or "rules" written from a child's perspective....it is charming because reading it is almost like overhearing a four year old explain to a three year old what a hole is for (to dig), or "the world is so you have something to stand on," or "toes are to wiggle." Love it.

National Children's Book Week: Be Nice to Spiders by Margaret Bloy Graham

Today's book is another "vintage" classic: Be Nice to Spiders by Maragret Bloy Graham. However, this one I don't recall ever reading in my childhood; luckily, I once came upon it at a garage sell for only a dollar and I decided to bring it home. What a lucky purchase as this book is a new favorite! The illustrations are charming and the story is lovely, plus it appeals to a wide range of children. Isaac can sit through this book usually as there are only a few sentences per illustration, but it is also great for older children (5-10) especially those who may be learning to read. Sadly, it is out of print in the hardcover and may not even be in your local library. One great reason (as I've mentioned before) to keep your eyes peeled for it at garage sells and on amazon & ebay, where I believe you can still find an affordable copy and make it part of your family library before the book disappears completely.

National Children's Book Week & a book Review

(painting by Frederick Warren Freer)

I am not making this up.....this week is National Children's Book Week. There are a lot of made up holidays that we don't recognize in the Jones' home (i.e. national take your daughter to work day, boss's day, "gifts from the garden month," and about a billion "misc. disease" awareness days); however, since this "holiday week" is right up my alley I decided to recognize it by posting a book review of some favorite children's books each day.

I love children's books. Perhaps its the nostalgia they incite of my own childhood, or maybe its because you can read one in a just a few minutes as a mini-vacation from your day, but a well written and well illustrated children's book just seems to make my day. I've been collecting children's books since before I was married, but now that I actually have a child and I read those books on a daily basis I've been discovering new favorites and visiting old friends and growing and growing and growing my Amazon wish-list with more and more children's books that hopefully will find their way into the Jones's family library eventually.

One such "old favorite," that recently arrived in the mail is the classic: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. It was out of print for some time, but recently was re-released making it affordable. This book is one of my favorites from my childhood, the story is wonderful and the illustrations are amazing (they are all a dark blue block printing, and most of them could be framed and hung as stand alone artwork in a room). Oh yes and it won a little award you may have hear of, called a Caldecott.

In addition to just being an awesome book, I also adore this book because it reminds me of my own blueberry picking adventures while visiting grandma in SE Idaho. Although I was a bit older than Sal and we didn't see any bears, I'm pretty sure I still didn't manage to pick many berries as most of them ended up staining my mouth & chin (which incidentally is what happened when I would pick raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries as well). So if you haven't ever read this one, do it! In fact, just trust me and purchase it, you won't be sorry.

His Mother's mouse from head to toe......

Do you remember the book Whose Mouse Are You? Its a childhood favorite (I definitely recommend it) and as I was reading it to Ike over the weekend I started thinking about how in some ways children are little mirrors. They come out and immediately you start seeing bits of yourself in this tiny person, that strong left dimple, that small pinky toe, etc. As their personality begins to develop pretty soon you are claiming little quirks -- Jordan and have spent hours cataloging these for each other. For example Isaac's obsession with throwing & catching & chasing balls definitely comes from Jordan, and the way he shrieks and does a little foot stamp frustration dance when he can't do something IMMEDIATELY must come from me. And of course he does things that must only come from his own little self, like his habit of gathering little treasures and creating hidden troves with them for a rainy day.

This weekend I found out one more way that Ike is definitely his mother's mouse. I tried this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies, that is rightfully taking the blog world by storm (they really were excellent!), and while usually I am the biggest culprit at sneaking another and another and another cookie, I may have been usurped by the Ikster. Even though he had a cookie in each hand already, he was just had to have a nibble off the one I was trying to photograph:




He was anything but repentant afterward, but perhaps he is his father's mouse too because he did offer to share with me (something I don't always think about when I'm stuffing my face with cookies)....