Books We Love
Summer 2013 edition
Over the summer, I had the pleasure of meeting brilliant (I mean seriously brilliant) author-illustrator Salina Yoon. I was blown away by her many gorgeous books, and when I picked up Penguin and Pinecone, it was love at first sight—much like the love Penguin feels for his unlikely buddy, Pinecone. I brought home a copy for my kids, and as I expected, they melted. My four-year-old son, Huck, has grown especially attached to this sweet, moving tale. I can't wait to share the sequel, Penguin on Vacation, with my small fry.
Twenty years ago, this children’s book was my introduction to the study of architecture. I’ve never looked at buildings the same way since. Isaacson takes the reader on a leisurely, respectful tour of buildings around the world: churches, houses, museums, lighthouses, all kinds of structures, from the humble to the magnificent. In simple, straightforward prose he discusses various architectural concepts such as the impact of building materials, the interplay of light and color, and the significance of roof shape. His stunning photographs turn even the roughest earthen hut into a work of art. His lyrical text helps us see in the pictures what we might otherwise have missed. (Read the rest of my review here.)
Mordant is a mole who lives on the lonely top of a green hill. One day he sees a cloud shaped like a turtle and wishes (on a dandelion) that the turtle were real so they could become friends. The dandelion wisps sail off on the wind and swirl past the eyes of a bicycle rider, making him think of snow, which puts him in the mood for a snow cone from the little handcart not far away. His snow cone drips out the bottom, forming a puddle shaped a bit like a hat that belongs to the aunt of a bird perched nearby, and off he flies to visit her. This domino chain of events continues in a funny, fresh, and deeply satisfying manner. One of our family treasures.
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The Prairie Thief
Penguin and Pinecone 
