“Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll” is a cautionary tale about the proper care and keeping of pets, and the activities that are the most appropriate for them. For instance, it’s highly recommended that you not take your pig to the mall. He’ll just play in the planters. Elephants, when taken to the beach, require so much suntan lotion, it’s hardly worth your time. Don’t take your snake out walking where others can see it. You’ll have little old ladies climbing light posts to get out of your way, which is embarrassing and more than a little bit uncomfortable … Continue reading →

It’s too hot to sleep, and Pip wishes she could be somewhere cool. Her cousin Joseph once told her that if she closed her eyes and thought about wooden horses prancing backwards, she would find her way to a magical shop where you could buy dreams. She decides to give it a try, never imagining what would happen next. She finds herself in a wonderful store filled with magical things. Anything she put in her cart, she would dream about. She picks out a baby pig and is making her next selection when she sees Joseph in the store too. … Continue reading →

The writing/illustration team of Jessica Harper and her sister Lindsay Harper duPont brings us “Lizzy’s Do’s and Don’ts,” a cute story about a girl named Lizzie who is a little frustrated. She feels like all her mother ever says is “Don’t.” Don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t do this other thing, and above all else, don’t argue. It’s hard to keep track of all those don’ts. She’s not allowed to stack all the kitchen chairs on top of each other so she can reach the top shelf. She’s not supposed to bring home containers of sand from the beach. … Continue reading →

Nora’s room is a frightening place. It has “keep out” signs plastered all over the door, and the strangest noises keep coming from inside it, making Nora’s mother say, “Something is going on in Nora’s room.” Even though she’s busy in the kitchen and watching the twins, she decides she’d better go investigate, even though something tells her she’s not going to like what she sees. Maybe every animal in the county zoo is on the loose and found their way to Nora’s room. It certainly sounds like it. It could be a bear dancing with a moose, or some … Continue reading →

Tops & Bottoms is a charming and unique picture book written and illustrated by Janet Stevens. You will need to turn the book sideways to view the illustrations. As a bonus, it’s a great introduction into how vegetables grow and a vote for working hard. The book draws on the traditions of trickster and Brer Rabbit tales as well as European folk tales. In the story, we meet a lazy land-owning bear. He’s so lazy that he sleeps through growing seasons. We also meet the rabbit family who are not doing well. The rabbit father, Hare, lost a bet with … Continue reading →