Lily's Crossing

This past weekend I spent the night at my sister's babysitting. Aside from the pleasure of seeing the kids, I also discovered a new book to blog about.
"Lily's Crossing" is a book by Patricia Reilly Giff.  Some readers may know her from the Polk Street School series, a series of stories about a class of second graders. But she has also written Newbery honor award winning books. They are great books for younger readers, but "Lily's Crossing" is written for the 9-12 year olds.
The book is set during World War Two. Lily is an only child who lives with her father and grandmother. Her mother died when Lily was a baby of heart issues.
The book is set during the summer of 1944. Lily's family is once again planning their summer trip to Rockaway Beach, where they have a house in the water. Lily is looking forward to seeing her friend Margaret, and all the other people she's known from her summers at the shore. But when she arrives there she finds more than the tide is changing. Lily's father is going away with the army to help rebuild cities, her best friend Margaret is leaving for Detroit so that her father can work in a factory for the war effort, and people are living in a high state of alert, aware a German attack is a distinct possibility.
The biggest change Lily faces however, is the appearance of a boy named Albert, a refugee from Hungary. Their friendship is built on loneliness, and guilt. But then Lily, whose imagination sometimes takes the place of common sense gives him an idea that is dangerous. Can Lily stop Albert from risking his life on a plan that will never work?
Lily is a strong character, who often has an issue with the truth. Despite that, her heart is in the right place. On the verge of growing up <what we call "tweens" nowadays> she frequently butts heads with her grandmother. Lily also keeps certain rituals to remind her of the mother she never knew. With her father, Lily has a better relationship, but her anger at him for going off to fight in a war prevents her from saying goodbye when he leaves.
Albert, her new friend appreciates her for herself. Something Lily never had before.
Patricia Reilly Giff describes this story as being based on her life in the summers of the 1940s. She talks of her fear when she'd go to bed at night, and how she'd watch for the spot lights that kept the nights safe for America during that terrible time.
"Lily's Crossing"  can be an excellent book for either boys or girls, because while the story is told from Lily's point of view, Albert is a strong character as well. He is definitely someone boys can relate to.
This was a great book to read on a soggy Saturday at the shore. Look for it at your library. You and the kids will enjoy it too!

Sam and the Firefly

Before I start on my book I want to make an observation. You can always tell when a man is in charge of something. Men love to ''upgrade". They can never leave well enough alone. They think newer is better. 
I say this because this morning, when I logged into my blog, I found a "new, improved" blogging site designed to make it easier and more "streamlined."  End result?  I can't find a damn thing.
Same thing with Facebook and their new "timeline" Obviously whoever did the timeline did it with the idea that you were going to waste a lot more time searching for things than you did before.
OK, enough of that, I'm off my soapbox for today. On to the book!
This week's book is another oldie but goodie.  When I was a little girl we had this book. It was probably my brothers' book, <by the way, happy birthday brothers!> because they were older than I and the book was pretty beat up when I started reading it. Last week when I was perusing the bookstore looking for a gift, I came across it, and even though all my children are chronologically adults now, I couldn't help but buy it.
"Sam and the Firefly" is a story about an owl named Sam.  He wakes up one night and finds that everyone else has gone to sleep.  Sam wants someone to play with, but he can't find anyone. Suddenly he is hit over the head by a light and a voice says "Boo!". 
A firefly named Gus has introduced himself to Sam. Sam has a new friend! 
But what a friend. Gus is a smart firefly. He can write a lot of different words with his firefly light. Amazingly the light stays on like neon sign. At first Sam is impressed but things quickly go south as Gus begins to cause mischief.
First Gus changes traffic patterns, then he causes a riot at the movie theatre. But when Gus ruins business at the hot dog stand by crossing out "hot" and writing "cold" instead, he runs into trouble.
The hot dog man catches Gus and puts him in a glass jar. He drives off with Gus, intending to get rid of him but before he can do it, the hot dog man's truck stalls on the railroad track. Gus is trapped and a train is coming. Can Sam find a way to save both his new friend and the truck?
P.D. Eastman wrote this book.  He is also the same writer who wrote "Go Dog Go" and some other excellent children's stories. In addition to his wonderful children's books, P.D. Eastman also worked on Disney films and wrote some of the Mr. Magoo cartoons.
"Sam and the Firefly" is a wonderful story. The illustrations might be somewhat off putting. While the pictures themselves are wonderfully drawn, the colors are kind of a blueish green with the yellow of the firefly showing through like a glow in the dark light show. But it works for the story. How could you show up Gus' light otherwise?
With the hot summer nights coming "Sam and the Firefly" is definitely a book you'll enjoy reading with your little ones. Try it with a campfire and s'mores. You can chase all Gus' friends and relatives afterwards!

Charlotte's Web

E. B. White was as an eclectic writer as you will find. He wrote fiction, non fiction, and books on how to be a writer. But to millions of youngsters, he will always be the writer of two children's classics, "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little".
I loved both books, but tonight I am writing about "Charlotte's Web", because in its own way, it defined my relationship with my sister and sisters are very much on my mind tonight.
I read "Charlotte's Web" for the first time in second grade. After that I'd read it at least every other month. Even now, many years later, I can quote passages from the book verbatim.
But as much as I loved the book, my sister hated it. She was three years younger than I  and didn't read books yet. Every time she wanted me I had my nose buried in "Charlotte's Web". In frustration, she would toss it in the trash, but since she was only five she didn't think to bury it, so I would simply pull it out  again.
Even now, all these years later she still brings up how much she hated "Charlotte's Web".
So what inspired me to pull a ratty book out of the trash to reread?  It is a beautiful story.
Written simply, "Charlotte's Web" is about a pig named Wilbur. Wilbur was born a runt but saved from death from the farmer's daughter Fern. Eventually he goes to live at her uncle's house and Fern visits him everyday. During the visits Fern remains quiet and listens to the animals as they speak among themselves.
A beautiful barn spider, named Charlotte takes up residency in the barn and makes friends with Wilbur. She finds out that Wilbur is going to be converted to bacon, but comes up with a plan to save his life. Charlotte begins to write words in her web to describe Wilbur. Through her efforts she convinces the humans that he is too valuable to eat. Thanks to Charlotte's work Wilbur's life is saved.
"Charlotte's Web" is a simple story with deep meaning. It teaches children about perseverance, loyalty and love. 
I know many children have seen the movie, but the book is so much better. Try it and see. Just don't put the book in the trash when you are done with it because you'll want to read it again.

Bad Babies Book of Color

I am going to write about a book that I am almost positive is out of print. But if you find it in a used bookstore, or in the library I promise it will bring your little one a lot of enjoyment.
The name of the book is "The Bad Babies' Book of Colors".  The author is Tony Bradman, an Englishmen educated in Cambridge.  You would think a man who earned a master's degree there would write stuffy books about the history of the British empire, but no, he turned to children's books. 
He has written well over fifty children's books, although a young man <a little older than I am, no smart comments peanut gallery!>  including the Dilly the Dinosaur series.
But my personal favorite is the "Bad Babies' Book of Colors".  It is done in rhyme.  And the emphasis is on the story, but somehow, the color learning is an integral part of it.
The first paragraph begins  "Today is our Bad Baby's birthday. And who is at William's GREEN door? Could it be his good friend the mailman, bringing birthday greetings galore?"
The rest of the story goes on to say who is arriving, what they are bringing, what they do and how they play.
The pictures are done by Debbie van der Beek. They are beautiful pictures, with bright happy colors.
I used to read this book to my children constantly. I only just bought it again through ABE books, which is a site that you can use to find old, hard to find, and out of print books. As soon as I got it I tried to read it out loud to my son. He is in his 20's. For some odd reason he seemed to find my timing off a bit. He was trying to listen to the Daily show on the computer and I wanted to read to him. I ignored his protests and started reading the book out loud, he switched to metallica music, I kept reading, he reached for his speaker to up the volume, knocked the whole thing over and the room was silent. I finished the story, and looked at him. He had a look of complete exasperation and defeat on his face as I smiled and said  "Wasn't that lovely?"
Look for it in your local library. "The Bad Babies' Book of Colors" is an enjoyable read at any age!