Search Results for: blog henry the sailor cat mary calhoun

Chickerella — Mary Jane and Herm Auch

Ever since reading and reviewing “Ashes of Roses” by Mary Jane Auch, I’ve been on the lookout for more of her work. I was very pleasantly surprised to happen upon this children’s picture book. “Chickerella” is the story of Cinderella, but I’m sure you’ve guessed there’s a twist. Yep, our heroine is a chicken. Her mother was carried away by a fox, and her father remarried, bringing stepsisters Ovumelda and Cholestera into the family. The stepmother’s smile gave Chickerella hen bumps. It wasn’t long before she sent Chickerella’s father off on a wild goose chase and turned Chickerella into a … Continue reading →

Henry the Sailor Cat – Mary Calhoun

Henry was a beautiful Siamese cat. He watched, jealous, as The Man and The Kid got ready to go out on the boat. “Cats don’t like water,” The Man said. Henry begged to differ. Left alone on dry land with The Woman couldn’t possibly compare to the adventure of going out to sea. He wanted to see the dolphins and the fish the humans were always talking about. Taking the first opening he saw, Henry slipped down into a hatch on the boat. He was a feline stowaway! As the boat drifted away from the dock, Henry enjoyed the sensation … Continue reading →

Dylan the Eagle-Hearted Chicken – David L. Harrison

With a title like that, how could I resist? Ethel the chicken is a proud mama. There’s something special about this one particular egg—she’s already named the chick Dylan, even though he’s not hatched yet. She hides the egg in a safe place so nothing will happen to him. Already she’s dreaming of who he’ll be. But he’s taking forever to hatch. Stiff and sore, Ethel gets up to stretch, and Cawly the crow swoops down and swipes the egg, right off the nest. Ethel tries to fly after him, but only manages to get ten feet off the ground. … Continue reading →

Let’s Build a Clubhouse – Marilyn Singer

What group of kids doesn’t want a clubhouse? I know I did when I was younger, but I sure didn’t know the first thing about making one. “Let’s Build a Clubhouse” by Marilyn Singer takes the desire one step further – let’s also talk about how to actually pull it off. Our main character calls all his friends on the phone and tells them his idea – to build a clubhouse where they can all hang out. They think it’s a great idea, and Daniel has even drawn up some plans. We’re then told what a plan is, and why … Continue reading →

Koala Lou – Mem Fox

Growing up, my parents called me a koala bear because I was soft and cuddly. I think if they’d known that real koalas are actually pretty mean, they would have chosen a different animal, but that’s neither here nor there. I picked up “Koala Lou” in fond reminiscence of my childhood, and really liked it on its own merits. There once was a soft, sweet baby koala named Koala Lou. She was very beloved by all the animals she knew – the emu, the platypus, and the other koalas all thought she was just the cutest thing. But her mother … Continue reading →

Moonbear Books by Frank Asch

“Moonbear” is a popular children’s book character targeted at listeners in the preschool range and for early readers. There are several books in this series, and I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of Moonbear’s adventures. Our first book today is “Mooncake.” One night, Bear and his friend Little Bird sat down together to watch the moon rise. The two friends got to talking about how hungry they were, and Bear wished he could fly up and take a big bite out of the moon. Little Bird wasn’t sure the moon would be good to … Continue reading →

Flipper (1996)

Dolphins are amazing creatures, and they’ve been fascinating us for years. They’ve been the focus of documentaries, movies, symbols on pieces of jewelry and home décor – we can’t get enough of ‘em. 1996 saw the release of “Flipper,” another dolphin movie, this one starring Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan. Wood plays Sandy, a teenaged boy with a huge chip on his shoulder who is sent to visit his uncle Porter (Hogan) to see if said chip can be dislodged somehow. They get off to a rocky start as Sandy breaks the rules and Porter doesn’t seem to know how … Continue reading →

Author Review – Reeve Lindbergh

We are all familiar with Charles Lindbergh, famous aviator who flew “The Spirit of St. Louis.” We are familiar with Anne Morrow Lindbergh, his well-known novelist wife, and the kidnapping of their son which so hurt them and angered America. What you may not know is that their youngest daughter, Reeve, followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a famous novelist in her own right. Reeve attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge and graduated in 1968, preparing her for a long and varied career as a novelist, historian, and children’s author. She wrote two family memoirs. The first, entitled “No More … Continue reading →

Froggy Books by Jonathan London

I enjoy Froggy. With his great facial expressions and innocent view on life, he charms me and makes me laugh all at the same time. Let’s start with “Froggy Gets Dressed.” Froggy wakes up and sees snow falling on the ground outside. He leaps out of bed and starts getting dressed. Hat, coat, boots, gloves – but wait! Froggy forgot something! Running back into the house, he takes everything off and starts from scratch, this time remembering to put on his underwear. (Puffin, 1992.) Next, “Froggy Learns to Swim.” It’s a hot day outside and Froggy’s mother thinks the weather’s … Continue reading →

Picture Books by Lynne Jonell and Petra Mathers

When I first picked up these books, I wasn’t quite sure what to think, to be honest. They seemed to be modeling a cranky, aggressive child who always got his way, but after reading the first all the way through and then the others, I gained an appreciation for the real message lying beneath: regardless of behavior, there is always love between a mother and child. The first book I’m reviewing is called “Mommy, Go Away!” Christopher is frustrated with Mommy. She keeps telling him to pick up his toys and stop making messes. Finally it’s bath time and she … Continue reading →