we're off to the forest

I have to admit that at my age, I’m a terribly picky picture book consumer. I want to see hand-drawn illustrations, or something that looks like it took time and an excess of skill to create. In other words, I am serious about picture book art being ART. After all, how am I to maintain my title of best book gifting auntie ever without a discerning eye? But seriously though – an artful book for children is a wonder, and I am constantly on the lookout for something that matches an aesthetic I can only articulate as “hard work slash art!” Katarína Macurová's forthcoming picture book We're Off to the Forest, translated by Andrew Oakland, met that vague criteria on the merits of its cover art, which hint at its forest-in-autumn theme, and illustrations full of color, depth, and texture. Here we are!

Autumn is here. The forest is awash with colour. Leaves flutter to the ground, where they rustle underfoot. It’s getting colder. The animals are preparing for winter. A daddy squirrel and his son go to the forest every day – for stores, and for something else. Shh … Do you hear that? A story is coming your way. A story tender and warm, about an ordinary, extraordinary forest, ordinary, extraordinary treasure within it, and how even little things can change the big, wide world.

A young squirrel is the narrator in this picture book, and they are excited to go with their father into the forest on their daily mission to look after their acorn. However, lots of animals in the forest like to eat acorns too – what makes this one special? This acorn was planted, and it is slowly turning into an oak tree! Katarína Macurová’s detailed illustrations, all in full autumnal color, span two pages each for a rich and varied forest landscape. The art alone makes this title worthy of many reads and re-reads.

We’re Off to the Forest is a quaint and beautifully illustrated picture book about a squirrel family at its core, but on a much larger scale it is a lesson on how forests are ecosystems that feed and shelter all of the animals within them. The “lesson” of the book will spark interest in how readers can care for the natural world in sustainable ways – and maybe they too can adopt an “acorn” in their corner of the world. The oak tree that the acorn came from in this story is 500 years old, and feeds many different animal families in the forest. Each of these animals are lovingly illustrated in bright colors, with lots of contrast (purples next to greens! oranges and yellows next to browns!) making for an attractive and engaging visual experience as well. I was particularly charmed by some cute touches, such as the little squirrel’s acorn cap hat, and the different sorts of mushrooms illustrated within the pages.

In all, We’re Off to the Forest is a delightful and short read to share before going on a nature walk, leaf-peeping trip, or acorn-collecting with young ones.

Recommended for: reading aloud to children ages 3-5, fans of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series, and anyone interested in sharing about the lifecycle of the forest in beautiful picture book form.

We're Off to the Forest will be published by Albatros on September 24, 2024.

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher (Albatros) at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

bedtime picture books for little ones with big imaginations

There's a delicate balance that bedtime books must strike: they should be entertaining and spark the imagination... but only so much. After all, the little ones being read to need to fall asleep! These two titles, one newer and one a couple of years old, have loads of imagination packed into them, but also, in their own uncanny ways, tell the story that it's nighttime, and it's safe to go to sleep.

At bedtime, a mysterious yellow dot appears above the top of Nasla's wardrobe--the new home for her toys now that she's decided she's too old to sleep with stuffed animals. Could it be Timboubou the elephant, or her hippo with the broken foot? As a wondrous, dreamlike world with dancing moons and swinging elephant trunks emerges from the shadows, she longs to sing and reassure her toys, but she worries that dancing and singing at night is not allowed. When her fear grows too big, she finds comfort in the secret charm under her pillow and falls asleep. The surreal imagery of Nasla's Dream beautifully depicts the imaginary world of a young child learning how to become independent.

In Cécile Roumiguière's picture book Nasla's Dream, illustrated by Simone Rea, a young girl named Nasla has decided she's too old to sleep with her stuffed animals – but she is still a little bit worried about the mysterious yellow dot that shows up in her room once the lights are turned off. Her imagination takes several turns, supposing what the dot might be: her stuffed turtle? An elephant? A squid? All the while Nasla reminds herself that nighttime is not the time for singing, talking, or playing, but for sleeping. And eventually, she falls asleep.

 

Roumiguière’s text takes the authentic twists and turns that minds do when deprived of stimuli in the dark, right before bed (especially imaginative young minds), but it is Rea’s stunning oil paintings that really distinguish this book. The surrealist style is deeply weird and yet somehow comforting: each page spread pictures exactly the sort of thing the brain conjures up while dreaming – ripples in the floorboards, ghosts with long arms, a box with tentacles, and a playful moon, to name a few! The background of all of the pages is black, with vivid colors painted over top or details picked out in primary colors. This is a beautiful, strange book, and it has an unusual appeal. It’s not wholly heartening, and yet it’s also not eerie – it’s just right for bedtime.

 

Recommended for: little ones ages 3 and up, for bedtime storytelling, and especially for young ones who are always dreaming, either awake or asleep.

When a little boy opens the Night Box, darkness swoops out, a fox uncurls, and a thousand stars sparkle and shine. Night flows freely then, cavorting and exploring, caring for all its creatures until morning comes, and it’s time for Night to rest again.

With its soothing cadences and air of quiet wonder, The Night Box is sure to charm any sleepy listener who wonders what happens between sunset and sunrise.

I originally picked up Louise Greig's The Night Box, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay, because it was exceptionally pretty, with a whimsical art style and hand-lettered title (and if we're being honest, because of the fox on the cover!). What I found when I read it was a lovely book all-around, with evocative prose, beautiful word choices, and a message about the day ending, the night beginning, and the rhythms of that shift at dusk. The title refers to the metaphor/personification of nighttime living in a locked box, and being mischievous and kind when it is "unleashed" and chases away the day. Nocturnal animals come out to play while others bed down, and the pastoral scenes are gorgeously detailed by Lindsay.

This book is destined to be great bedtime reading, especially to reassure little ones that the dark isn't something to be feared, but to be welcomed. It may not help children already convinced of monsters under the bed, but the comforting and thoughtful text and detailed and whimsical art are sure to be a hit with parents and kids alike.

Recommended for: bedtime story fodder, readers of all ages who want to chase away nighttime's bad reputation, and anyone who appreciates a gorgeously-illustrated picture book.

Fine print: I received a finished copy of Nasla's Dream for review consideration from the publisher. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

a big mooncake for little star

The American Library Association's (ALA) annual conference was in DC this year, and so of course I went! Two days spent tooling around the exhibit hall, meeting authors and librarians and publishing folk – what's not to love? And then of course there were the moments of literary serendipity, like happening by a signing for Grace Lin’s Caldecott Honor picture book A Big Mooncake for Little Star! I hadn’t yet read this title, but I knew Lin from her middle grade books, and like any self-respecting former library brat, I knew that a Caldecott sticker meant “GOOD THINGS INSIDE.” I’m happy to say it’s several levels better than good.

Pat, pat, pat…

Little Star’s soft feet tiptoed to the Big Mooncake.

Little Star loves the delicious Mooncake that she bakes with her mama. But she’s not supposed to eat any yet! What happens when she can’t resist a nibble?

In this stunning picture book that shines as bright as the stars in the sky, Newbery Honor author Grace Lin creates a heartwarming original story that explains phases of the moon.

In this picture book, novelist Lin both writes and illustrates a story about a mother, a daughter, and a too-tempting mooncake in the sky. It’s too delicious to leave alone, so each night Little Star takes a bite of the mooncake after she goes to bed. Little by little, the mooncake disappears, just like a waning moon, until all that’s left is a trail of glittering crumbs.

There’s obvious symbolism throughout the book: the mooncake as the moon, growing smaller every night. Both mother and daughter wear star pajamas that melt into the black, nighttime background. And of course, Little Star’s name (or nickname) fits the bill as well. All of these (and more in the endpapers) will delight younger readers just beginning to notice and appreciate the different ways language can be used, as well as adults.

There are other elements that will be familiar to children as well: bedtime routines, sneaking food when you’re supposed to be asleep, “tricking” your parents/adults, and so on. Taken together with the symbolism, and the striking art, the book feels like a fable or legend – something epic that explains natural phenomena in story form. Lin illustrated the book in gouache paint on paper, and each page is glossy and dark with white font and bright painted illustrations that draw the eye. The unique design is a welcome change from the default of negative white space. It also makes sense for a book set at night.

Another welcome element? Both Little Star and her mother are Asian (making this an #ownvoices book), and mooncakes are a culturally Asian food associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. I believe that diversity in books for young people is so important, and I’m thrilled that children will see themselves, and possibly their cultural heritage, represented in this beautiful, epic story. Seeing yourself as the protagonist in a story can be the catalyst to believing in your own future! And for others, there will be learning about mooncakes, Moon Festivals, and cultural traditions different from their own (and appreciation for a simple bedtime story!).

In all, A Big Mooncake for Little Star is a gorgeous, charming, and deceptively simple picture book packed with symbolism and meaning. It will appeal to readers of all ages and it’s a must for any child’s shelf.

Recommended for: any and all readers ages 4+, and especially anyone who enjoys exceptional picture books with mythological themes.

Fine print: I picked up a final copy of this book from the publisher at ALA for possible review. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

good morning, neighbor + apple-raisin cake

Does reading about food make you hungry? Sometimes (often) I will salivate over a meal I’ve come across in a novel. So obviously, the only option left is to make it. I once stopped reading Neil Gaiman’s Stardust mid-book to bake bread, and I learned to make cinnamon rolls (and other treats!) because of their descriptions in Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. Last year I made dinosaur cookies after reading Cookiesaurus Rex. My latest picture book read, Good Morning, Neighbor by Davide Cali and illustrated by Maria Dek, inspired me to make an apple-raisin cake.

A mouse decides one morning to make an omelet, but needs an egg, and sets out to find one. On his search, he eventually finds everything needed to bake a cake, including apples, flour, and sugar, but also those most precious ingredients—community and friends, from a hedgehog to an owl to a raccoon—and learns about the unexpected gifts of asking for what you need and sharing what you have.

A mouse wants to make an omelet but doesn't have an egg. That is how this adventure begins! Mouse visits various animal neighbors asking for an egg, but instead gathers all of the ingredients for an apple-raisin cake. In the end, a bat has an egg, an owl has an oven, and a cake is baked! But... who will get a slice? Ideas are important contributions, and the animals agree that sharing is the order of the day.  

Good Morning, Neighbor is a story about asking your community for help, sharing the results of a group project (in this case, baking a cake), and being fair to everyone who contributed—all great lessons for little readers and their adults. The messages are "baked in," so to speak (see what I did there?), and all of the talk of cake is enough to make you want to bake your own (as I did), and reflect on the story. Reading + baking would be a fun, parent/grandparent/friendly adult-kid activity this autumn.

Mouse's travels from neighbor to neighbor grow with every page as he adds another animal to his entourage. The repetition of each animal involved during each stage of the egg search is a child-friendly device, but may weary adults by the end. Otherwise, the prose is unexceptionable, and even includes a funny aside on the last page. This book is made to be read aloud, and the illustrations pored over.

Speaking of the illustrations! Maria Dek's watercolors are the absolute star of the book. The quirky designs have a cute/eccentric vibe with lots of little forest-y details. My favorite page spreads were those with closeups where an animal almost covered the page, and showed them in their home environment. The book design is also top-notch, with text placement, size, and weight varying based on the action. In all, a visual feast of a book (I will keep going with these food puns until someone yells "Put a fork in it!").

Recommended for: anyone looking for read aloud books about sharing, baking, or being a good neighbor for the 3-6 year old set, and picture book fans with an eye for art and design.

And now... cake!

Apple-Raisin Cake (adapted from this Better Homes & Gardens recipe)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup apple juice or sweet wine (I used Moscato di Asti)

3/4 cup raisins

2 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (I used Granny Smith)

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

3 egg yolks

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 egg whites

1/3 cup honey

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.

In a small saucepan heat 1 cup apple juice or sweet wine just until simmering. Remove from heat. Add raisins; let stand for at least 20 minutes. Drain well, discarding liquid.

In a medium bowl combine apple slices, the 1 tablespoon sugar, the lemon juice, and ginger. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine the 1/2 cup sugar, the melted butter, egg yolks, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed about 2 minutes or until thick and light yellow (I did this with a handheld mixer). Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, beating just until combined. Set aside.

If reusing the beaters, wash thoroughly (I did this next bit in my KitchenAid). In a separate medium bowl beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Stir about one-third of the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture to lighten. Fold the remaining egg whites into flour mixture. Drizzle the 1/3 cup honey over batter; fold in until combined.

Spoon half of the batter into the prepared springform pan, spreading evenly. Top with half of the apple mixture. Spoon the remaining batter over apples, spreading to cover apples. Top the batter with the remaining apple mixture (discard any lemon juice remaining in bowl). Arrange raisins over apples.

Bake for 35 to 55 minutes or until top of cake is evenly golden brown (the time is quite variable because the original recipe called for 35-40 minutes, but my cake took around 55 – I did the toothpick test). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes (center may dip slightly). Loosen and remove sides of springform pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, split with friends, or eat a slice for a decadent breakfast treat – this is a versatile, and delicious, recipe!

Recommended for: an autumnal treat to share with friends and neighbors (obviously!), an ambitious weekday night if you want to be the star of the dinner table, or a simple-ish but impressive weekend/dinner party dessert.  Also would be especially good after an Italian family-style meal (the recipe is adapted from a torta di mele).

Interested in other food related recipes? Check out Beth Fish Reads’ Weekend Cooking!

Fine print: I received a copy of the picture book for review consideration from the publisher. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

a is for apple crisp

I went to a pumpkin patch and apple orchard last weekend and enjoyed beautiful weather, a view of the Virginia hills, and came away with some scrumptious apples. Then I had a busy week at work and didn’t do anything with them. Today rolled around, and I finally found time to make apple crisp. Had to call my mother for her recipe, but the baking happened, and this crisp is A-for-Apple-Amazing!

Apple Crisp (recipe adapted from The Vegetarian Epicure by Anna Thomas)

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs. tart apples (5 ½ cups cored and sliced)

¼ cup water

½ cup brown sugar

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

¾ cup flour

½ cup butter (1 stick)

DIRECTIONS

Thinly slice and peel apples, then layer in the bottom of a deep-sided 8x8 pan (or a 9x13 casserole dish if you want to double the recipe). Sprinkle apples with water. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Cut in butter and mix together until topping reaches crumb-like texture. Spread crumb topping evenly over apples. Cover and bake for thirty minutes, then uncover and bake for another thirty minutes. Serves 6.

Recommended for: any occasion. This is a dish my mom is famous for, and it’s so simple! You can’t really get it wrong unless you forget the apples. It’s delicious hot with vanilla ice cream, cold, for breakfast, at the end of a posh evening – you name it.

autumn giveaway

The blog feels naked without a giveaway. Also: there’s been precious little new content here – mostly because I outdid myself with September Zombies, and shortly thereafter real life intervened (working a full time job…oh yeah, I do that in my spare time?). BUT! Nothing like a giveaway to brighten up my week and yours, right?

[art from EloiseRenouf's etsy shop]

Welcome to my autumn giveaway! One entrant will receive book of their choice (up to $30 US, available via Book Depository). Giveaway open internationally, ends November 1, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be selected randomly and notified via email. To enter, simply fill out the FORM. Good luck, and thank you for hanging in there with me!

i just want to cuddle up

It’s fall again, and I LOVE it. We’ve had rain and cool weather, and it makes me want to find a fleece-lined nest, cuddle up with hot apple cider and watch the leaves turn different colors. What’s your favorite autumn activity?

[image found at dogbatcat etsy shop]