A Lovely Review!

Luanne at the blog, A Bookworm's World is amazing! She posts wonderfully well-written reviews of all kinds of books. She reads like crazy and stays on top of what's hot, new, interesting or just catches her discerning eye. I feel so lucky that she reviewed Reaching on her blog yesterday, April 21st. Here's what she said:

Every so often, I have to make some hard
 decisions - what books to donate or
giveaway- as my bookshelves can only hold
so many.  But the ones I don't 'cull' are the
shelves with the children's books. And in fact,
 I add to it every so often. Yes, my kids are
grown and gone - but one day I'll  be a
 grandmother. I can't wait to read to and
share books with someone small again.


Reaching by Judy Ann Sadler
is a wonderful picture book
that I've recently added to that bookcase.

Judy Ann Sadler's story is presented in rhyming couplets easily flow off the tongue.
 When I read them out loud, I found myself using a sing song cadence that
would make it easy for a small one to remember and join in with on subsequent
 readings.

The story is perfect for a family experiencing the addition of a baby to their
 family. And it's one that can be read over and over to that new baby as he or
she grows. I really like that Sadler included everyone from grandparents,
cousins, aunts, uncles and pets in the story of Baby. And that all of them
 are reaching out.

The words themselves are not set straight in straight lines on the page, rather
they're set in an arch, lending movement to the words. The rhymes are full
of action words as well - hugs, kisses, tickling, dancing and of course reaching,
 that can be incorporated into an interactive reading of the book.

Susan Mitchell's illustrations are lovely. The colours are soft, warm and
appealing. The faces of the characters are friendly and engaging. The
backgrounds provide lots of other 'things to see' that children will recognize
 from their own lives.

I've just finished hiding Easter treats for my baby. And yes, he's in his
 twenties now. I'll watch as he easily reaches to find some in the high
spots (he's six feet tall) and remember when I had to make sure they
were all in low hiding spots where he could easily see them. And when
he kisses me good-bye, he'll be the one reaching down.

Reaching is a beautiful picture book with a sweet story and charming
 pictures. It's one that will be waiting on my bookshelf.....

Age range 1-3 years. 32 pages.

Isn't that lovely?

All the best,

Judy Ann

Snapshots of Spring

         I'm not sure we can trust that Spring is really here, but it looks like we might just be lucky enough to have one of those old-fashioned Springs where we get a glorious day, then a rainy one, then maybe a couple of cool ones. That would be fine with me. I like to be eased into the next season, not plopped into it to quickly.

These flowers are on the south side of the house. The snow melted and there they were.

Easter is a wonderful reason for indoor flowers.

 Isn't this the cutest little plate ever? I had to refill it many times over the past couple of weeks!

I can't seem to stop baking ever since we got the new kitchen island.

 Here's proof that the sun finally has some power! This was a pair of chocolate cats, but after a couple of hours of waiting to be found during our outdoor Easter-egg hunt, the cats were a puddle in the bottom of the box. Oops! 

I recently had the pleasure of seeing our little Glanworth library on the inside. The photos don't do it justice, and of course it is unfinished, but it is going to be lovely. We hope we are just a few weeks now from re-opening. Fingers crossed!

What you see here is the opening into the new part which has the washroom, 

 new automatic door

 and book chute. A real book chute!

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann