Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslin Book of Colors (by Hena Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini)

A great introduction to common Muslim items by use of what colour they are. Narrated by a child and beautifully illustrated as well.

E-mergency! (by Tom Lichtenheld & Ezra Fields-Meyer)

If you love word play as much as I do, you’ll love this book. What would happen if letter E had to take some time off? Pay attention to all the chatter by the letters – lots of fun.

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans (by Kadir Nelson)

A simply and beautifully written history told by a woman who’s grandfather was taken from Africa in 1850 as a child to America by a slaver. It covers slavery to the civil rights movement to the election of Barack Obama, by telling one family’s life experiences. It is gripping and the illustrations are amazing.

Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry (by Avis Harley)

Here’s a fantastic yet simple introduction to over 26 different kinds of poems with an example of each type. I thought the Xcogito was the coolest.

Leap Into Poetry: More ABCs of Poetry (by Avis Harley)

Another brilliant introduction to different forms of poems, this time with the twist that each poem is about some type of insect.

I love picture books and I’ve been reading a LOT of them lately. I’m finally following the advice I always give to others, that if you want to write a certain kind of book you need to read a lot of that kind of book. Not to copy them, but to discover what works for you and what doesn’t and WHY it works or doesn’t work for you.

The Martensville Library loves me because I’m good for their circulation numbers. I always have 50 requests in (that’s the max), and pick up 20 – 30 books a week as they come in.

There are a lot of good books out there. And there are some that, in my opinion, are exceptional. So I thought I’d share those ones here.

Mr. Zinger’s Hat (by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dusan Petricic)

For anyone, young or old, who wonders where authors get the ideas for their stories.

An Apple Pie for Dinner (retold by Susan VanHecke, illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee

If you like Barbara Reid’s plasticine pictures, you’ll love the baked clay and mixed media illustrations in this book.

Carmine: A Little More Red (by Melissa Sweet)

An alphabetical retelling of Red Riding Hood with a little twist at the end.

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry (edited by J. Patrick Lewis)

Gorgeous photographs accompany a wonderful variety of poetic styles.

A Birthday for Bear (by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton)

Another hilarious Bear and Mouse story. (If you haven’t read the others – A Visitor for Bear, A Bedtime for Bear, and The Sniffles for Bear – they are great, too.)

Happy reading!