Children's Book Monday

In the nature basket...

Lucy Maud Montgomery
written and illustrated by Alexandra Wallner

Author of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series, Lucy Maud Montgomery was a nature enthusiast, a voracious reader, and had an imagination to rival Anne's, whose character was patterned after the author. Ms. Wallner herself illustrated this story of L.M., and the simple, bright illustrations are filled with Prince Edward Island's beautiful scenery, insects, and animals. You will love sharing with your children this sweet biography- and you will find delight in learning more about the life of a truly remarkable human being.

In a fireplace book box...

The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II
by Louise Borden
illustrated by Michael Foreman

This book tells of a little girl who accompanies her father as he takes his boat, Lucy, to the beaches of Dunkirk. The exciting true story of the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940 is told through new eyes here, and your children will draw close as the boats of a small fishing village on the Kent coast of England set off together to rescue thousands of trapped soldiers from certain death as the German army advances. Poetic, moving, and filled with historical facts and locations. My favorite!

In Eliana's box...

Princess Says Goodnight
by Naomi Howland
illustrated by David Small

(First of all, of course. I know. A princess book. Her library box is full of them this month.) But secondly, and more importantly, this one is just so sweet.

We love David Small's illustrations already (Remember The Gardener? The Library? That Book Woman? *Sigh*.), and this collection does not disappoint. Ms. Howland begins her tale with a little girl heading to bed, her parents yawning at the foot of the stairs, older siblings reading in the living room. She curtsies to the mirror and her reflection is a tiara-crowned princess in a lovely pink princess gown, her parents' t-shirts and jeans reflecting as a lord and lady of medieval times.

Is her favorite princess color
for all her royal clothes
every pretty shade of pink-
mauve and peach and rose?

The whole bedtime process is so much fun through a little girl's eyes who longs to be a princess. And when the little girl in the story finally snuggles into bed in her pink striped footie pajamas, Eliana and I have the same conversation we always do when reading about princesses...

What is a princess of God like?

Well, I serve the boys their snacks first. And I try to sweep up my messes! And I should always share my favorite toys.

Among other things.

You see, we read so much about princesses and how they are expected to act, (The Princess and the Pea) and also what might be expected of them (Princesses are Not Quitters!), that we try to always remember what the most important Person of all expects of His princesses... in these days of library boxes full of books about fluffy dresses and tables full of frosted treats and servants left and right, it is good to remind her (and be reminded!) of what is required of us

Happy Reading!