The Bookshelf Corner

A creative space for all things books and writing….


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Inspirational Quotes From Popular Picture Book Authors & Illustrators

Arnold Lobel (author/illustrator)

Image via Goodreads

Frog and Toad

“To be making books for children is to be in a sort of state of grace.”

 

Beatrix Potter (author/illustrator)

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Peter Rabbit series

“I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever.”

 

Chris Van Allsburg (author/illustrator)

Image via Goodreads

The Polar Express [My Review]

“A good picture book should have events that are visually arresting – the pictures should call attention to what is happening in the story.”

 

Dr. Seuss (author/illustrator)

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The Cat in the Hat

Ten Apples Up On Top! (written under pseudonym Theo LeSieg) [My Review]

“You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”

Eric Carle (author/illustrator)

Image via Goodreads

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

“My own style grew out of my work as a graphic designer. I try to express the essence of my stories and ideals very clearly, using simple shapes, often in bright colors against a white background. You might almost think of my illustrations, and especially the cover art, as little posters.”

 

Jane Yolen (author)

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Owl Moon

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

 

Kevin Henkes (author/illustrator)

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Kitten’s First Full Moon [My Review] | Olive’s Ocean

“Sometimes I think as adults we think of them as — because they’re small in size that they’re small in all ways — and they’re not. They have big feelings, and they have big eyes, they see things, they hear things, they’re living life just the way an adult does and I think sometimes as adults we forget that.”

 

Margaret Wise Brown (author)

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Goodnight Moon

“…or quietness is an essential part of all awareness. In quiet times and sleepy times a child can dwell in thoughts of his own, and in songs and stories of his own.”

 

 

Maurice Sendak (author/illustrator)

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Where the Wild Things Are

“Children do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do.”

 

Mo Willems (author/illustrator)

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The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! [My Review]

“We create our work for children not because they’re “cute,” but because they’re human beings, deserving of respect.”

Quentin Blake (author/illustrator)

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Matilda (illustrated) [My Review] | The BFG (illustrated)

“I don’t wait for inspiration. I’m not, in fact, quite sure what inspiration is, but I’m sure that if it is going to turn up, my having started work is the precondition of its arrival.”

 

Shel Silverstein (author/illustrator)

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The Giving Tree

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

Extra Image Links:
Corduroy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231850.Corduroy

The Day the Crayons Quit

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101018-the-day-the-crayons-quit

Arthur’s Birthday

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1709865.Arthur_s_Birthday

 

Extra ‘My Review’ Links:
The Day the Crayons Quit
If You Give A Mouse A Brownie

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ARC Book Review: The Rise of Winter by Alex Lyttle

Thank you to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review. The Rise of Winter by Alex Lyttle is set to be released May 1, 2019.

 

Image via NetGalley

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Series: Terra Protectorum, book 1
Rating: 5 out of 5
Recommend to Others?: Yes

 

Summary (via NetGalley):
Centuries ago, Terra, the world, was nearly destroyed by humans. In the wake of that destruction, Terra created the Guardians—a group sworn to protect Her. But humans have returned to their plundering ways and Terra needs the Guardians. The Guardians are now fractured, their leader murdered years before. They need a new leader—a new Terra Protectorum—but when a young girl is chosen, outrage ensues. Questions demand answers.

Why has Terra selected a girl with no knowledge of the Guardians? Why has she chosen a human when it is the humans destroying the earth? And most importantly, why has she chosen the girl whose father murdered the last Terra Protectorum?

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My Review:
A new star has taken the stage of middle grade novels. The Rise of Winter is a fantastic new fantasy series filled with adventure, tension, humor, moments of reflection, family, and down-right awesomeness.

Once the rising action starts things go south quickly. Winter is thrust into a conflict bigger than herself: the earth – Terra, mother of all things living and nonliving – is decaying due to human intervention by way of pollution from factories, disrupting ecosystems by building roads, etc. Winter is pulled from all sides. She must uncover the secrets of her family, learn the ways of the Guardians, learn to believe in herself, and stop a whole species from dooming everyone. Not an easy task for a fourteen-year-old.

I liked the setting the author has placed us in. Realistic to reality but altered. It’s the onset of industrial revolution. Cars are slowly replacing horse-and-carriage so more roads must be made. Factories are sprouting. Electricity is replacing candles as a source of light. The allusion is stark, current and spreads awareness to real world issues.

I liked the animals the author picked as Guardians and the personalities and end-results of each of them. For the purposes of the book, the animals who are the current Guardians and which domain (sky, land, water) and trait (wisdom, speed, agility, strength) they embody in make sense. I think having humans as a representative Guardian of Terra’s creatures not only makes sense but adds fuel to the fire. The contention and mystery, the schemes and secrets gripping the reader in an everlasting hold all the way to the very end.

The names of what powers each Guardian posses sounded a little cheesy or were confusing in pronunciation. From the intended age group point of view, they’re perfect.

Alex Lyttle put his all into book one – it really shows! There’s so much to love about this book from the lovable characters, striking antagonists, and wonderful world-building. One of the best Middle Grade books I’ve read in a while and certainly the best MG of 2019 so far. All I can ask now is, “When will book 2 be released?”


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ARC Book Review: When You’re Scared by Andrée Poulin, Illustrated by Véronique Joffre

Thank you to Owlkids (Owlkids Books) and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review. When You’re Scared by Andrée Poulin, Illustrated by Véronique Joffre is set to be released March 15, 2019.

Image via NetGalley

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Picture Books
Rating: 5 out of 5
Recommend to Others?: Yes

 

Summary (via NetGalley):
It’s a bright and beautiful day at the lake where a boy and his mother are camping. The boy is just a little scared of jumping into the water. At the same time, not too far away, a hungry bear cub is a little scared of diving deep into a dumpster, where tasty snacks await. 

Later, when the boy encounters a distraught mama bear sniffing around the dumpster, he’s very scared. But so is her bear cub, who is trapped inside! Bold, graphic artwork moves the narrative along in this mostly-wordless book full of sound effects and simple variations on a single phrase full of so many meanings (“He was scared”). Parallel stories of the mother and son, and mama and cub, come together when the campers, despite being scared, help rescue the cub from the dumpster. 

This simple, moving story invites readers to observe expressions, body language, and details hidden in the illustrations to follow the narrative. It’s a sweet summer read that normalizes fear and encourages acting with courage and compassion—even when you’re scared.

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My Review:
I really liked this story. It was super cute and very engaging. This is a good book to help child reader make inferences from pictures. There are very little words so the reader must rely on actions to discern the story. I loved the illustrations. They were just so colorful and quaint. It must have been a fun challenge for the illustrator to interpret the authors story.


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ARC Book Review: Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga by Frank J. Sileo PhD, Illustrated by Claire Keay

Thank you Magination Press (American Physcological Association) and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review. Bee Calm: The Buzz on Yoga by Frank J. Sileo PhD, Illustrated by Claire Keay is set to be released March 12, 2019.

Image via NetGalley

Genre: Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Recommend to Others?: Yes

 

Summary (via NetGalley):
In this companion book to Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation, Bentley Bee loves to fly around and visit his friends in the garden. One day, he notices all of them in unusual poses. What could it bee?
 
Bentley’s friends teach him several beginning yoga poses including Mountain, Chair, Airplane, Cobra, and more. Readers will love to follow Bentley and try the poses themselves as he gets buzzing all about yoga in this kid-friendly introduction. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers with suggestions for introducing children to yoga, and instructions for the poses in the story.

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My Review:
The “buzz” on this book that you need to know is that it’s awesome and very calming. I love that it’s interactive for child readers and that it provides them with beneficial form of exercise and meditation. It also invites readers to try new things. The illustrations are just so darling, love them. I would recommend this book for everyone big and small.


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Happy Book Release Day! to Dark Alpha’s Awakening by Donna Grant

Thanks again to Swerve (St. Martin’s Press) and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review.

*title/author link leads to my review of Dark Alpha’s Awakening*

Image via NetGalley

DARK ALPHA’S AWAKENING

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Reaper, book 7
Rating: 5 out of 5
Recommend to Others?: Yes

 

Summary (via NetGalley):
There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Serving Death and the Reapers has been my life for centuries. I’ve always put my duty before everything, even my yearning for Death. But now, she’s fading – our foe is bent on destroying her and he will stop at nothing until he does. Death holds the key to our survival. I will do everything in my power to stop her from disappearing. For her, I will ensure we have the best fighting chance. For her…I will cross the divide keeping us apart.