Search Results for: blog close to you kimiko kajikawa

Close to You – Kimiko Kajikawa

Animal parents and their young have unique ways of bonding. In Close to You: How Animals Bond, by Kimiko Kajikawa, beautiful photos of animal parents and babies are paired with charming text. The reader is treated to cuddling polar bears, a kangaroo in its mother’s pouch, an alligator baby being carried in mom’s mouth, caressing manatees, a baby penguin balancing on a parent’s toes, and more. Children love to look at animals, especially baby animals. This would be a sweet book for bedtime stories. The text is simple enough for very young children. I would also recommend it for early … Continue reading →

Night Fell at Harry’s Farm – Carey Hedlund

In the children’s picture book “Night Fell at Harry’s Farm” by author/illustrator Carey Hedlund, we read about a family’s fun night away from home. It’s told in first person, so we’ll proceed in that tense. We received an invitation to go to Harry’s farm for dinner. We all got ready and drove from our city home out to the country. There were a lot of confusing signs, and we got lost. One street was blocked because of a fire. When we asked directions, we could tell which wrong turn we’d taken. At last we knew which way to go. We … Continue reading →

Fran’s Friend – Lisa Bruce

“Fran’s Friend” by Lisa Bruce is a darling children’s picture book with illustrations that are so cute, they’ll grab your eye right away. Fred is Fran’s little dog. On this particular day, he wants Fran to come and play with him, but she’s got other things on her mind. She’s decided to pull out her crayons and draw instead. Fred offers to help, and she sends him off to find some paper. He brings back the newspaper, but that’s not what she wants. She finds a piece for herself, and cuts out big pretty white snowflakes. Fred wants to help, … Continue reading →

Arctic Tale (2007)

Made after the tradition of “March of the Penguins,” the new movie “Arctic Tale” is a documentary about life in the wild. We begin our story with the birth of Nanu, a polar bear cub, and her little brother. Her mother dug a birthing cave and climbed into it to have her babies, and when the time came for them to come out of their snowy home, she hadn’t eaten in six months. She’s ready to come out into the world and teach her babies how to hunt and be bears. We also see a new walrus baby, Seela. It’s … Continue reading →

Mystery at the Club Sandwich – Doug Cushman

I love corny jokes—well, most corny jokes, that is. “Mystery at the Club Sandwich” is just full of ‘em, and puns and all sorts of things that will probably make the parents laugh more than the children, but that’s okay. Our main character is hardened detective Nick Trunk, who is an elephant. He’s a private investigator who doesn’t charge much—he works for peanuts. One day, a lady who looked like trouble walked into his office and introduced herself as Maggie Trouble. She came on behalf of a lady named Lola who lost her marbles. She wants Nick to come investigate … Continue reading →

Media Week in Review

Make sure you didn’t miss any of these great media reviews! Jennieis a novella by Susan Evans McCloud set in Concord which has mystery and romance. Tristi interviewed Nancy Oelklaus, author of Journey from Head to Heart: Living and Working Authentically. Oelklaus shared ideas for balance and harmony in our emotions and lives. Tristi shared her reasons for liking American Idol and Dancing With the Stars. For picture books consider The Tale of Pip and Squeak by Kate Duke, a story of two brothers who learn to work together more and argue less. Also consider Close to You by Kimiko … Continue reading →