Three gems from the library

Three recent and wonderful finds:  Achilles was loved by Number Six who has recently finished the real thing and attests to its accuracy--and it comes with an audio CD!



The Story of Silk fascinated me--I realized I knew next to nothing about silk! Plus wonderful photographs throughout. It is told in the first person by National Geographic Magazine photographer. A winner of a book!




The last one is also by National Geographic and its a wonderful collection of animal poetry. If you have at home, like I do, both animal lovers and poetry lovers, this book will be greatly enjoyed!

Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child

Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jesse Hartland, Shwarts & Wade 2012

I did not grow up with Julia Child... and yet I feel as if I know and love her! The also-wonderful Minette's Feast, which is for a younger audience, left me wanting more biographical information! The book tells of her interesting  adventurous and good life, and all of her hard word and dedication ever before she managed to get her famous french Cooking book published. Also how her very popular TV show came into play! All of the little humorous bits, and the cute illustrations! Numbers Six and Seven also read it from cover to cover and were equally delighted. If you want to meet Julia Child, and don't want a lengthy biography, this is it! 

I searched for Julia Child's old TV show clips and found a plethora of things on this site.

Three new Picture Books

I continue to browse through new library picture books... it seems the good ones are becoming rarer, or it may be that my filters have become more selective. So many unpleasant twists in kids' books, be it revisionist history or politically correct-ness. Or both.

In any event here are three new and wonderful picture books I was able to gather from various recent visits to the library. I included their covers and also my own favorite page of each one. Enjoy!

George : George Washington, our founding father  by Frank Keating ; paintings by Mike Wimmer. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012.

This is a gorgeous, gorgeous book. Vignettes of Washington's life are juxtaposed with some of his words of wisdom, done in beautiful period calligraphy. A treasure of a book, and the text doesn't shy away from Washington's faith in God.

Minette's feast : the delicious story of Julia Child and her cat  by Susanna Reich ; illustrated by Amy Bates. New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2012.

The illustrations in this book are the sort of wonderful children's book illustrations I haven't seen in a while! Dynamic, sweet, full of interesting details and, of course, adorable! I confess I knew nothing of Julia Child's life, not even the very obvious fact that she was six foot two inches tall. I couldn't put it down, this story of a hard-working, intelligent and talented woman who was also a kind pet owner! The story is told from the perspective of her cat and the title reminds one of a certain famous Scandinavian film revolving around food as well!

Hanging off Jefferson's nose : growing up on Mount Rushmore by Tina Nichols Coury, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012.

A book about a hard-working young man, the son of Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The book focuses on Lincoln Borglum's early life of work and discipline, and then the huge responsibility he undertook when his father died with the project incomplete. The story tells of the love the working men had for him, and of the respect he showed the local native Americans. The illustrations are excellent, rich in details and history. Winner in my book!

Martin de Porrres, The Rose in the Desert

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert, by Gary D. Schmidt  and illustrated by David Diaz. 2012 Clarion Books


I just posted this on Amazon:

I read aloud a longer book about this saint to my 11 year old daughter last year Saint Martin de Porres, and it became her favorite saint. His humble origins, service oriented life and love for animals won her heart! We were pleased to find this beautiful picture book about the well-known and beloved Peruvian saint. Not all of the major facts of his life are in the book but there is enough in the story for the young reader to have an introduction to his life. Books on lives of the saints are very inspirational and greatly needed today!

Zita The Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, 2011 First Second Books, 192 pages

Ben Hatke, known to Catholic homeschoolers for his illustrations in many familiar titles such as Angel in the Waters and Once Upon a time Saints (Bethlehem Books) among other things, has written a full length "graphic novel". Entitled Zita the Spacegirl, his comic book tells the many adventures of a likeable and good girl, Zita, who is accidentally thrown into a space odyssey of sorts. To help her friend Joseph, Zita bravely faces all sorts of adventures!

I have loved Ben’s art since I first encountered it and I was very excited to get a hold of this book as this seems to be what he loves to do best! I grew up with nice comic books, free from the reputation they suffer here in the United States (and I must add deservedly so for the most part), and it is a delight to have my children enjoy Zita as I enjoyed Tintin, Asterix and others.

We fell in love with Zita for many reasons: first of all, Zita is good, brave, kind and cute! Then the characters created by Ben are unique and original and hilarious! The story is fast-paced and very adventurous! Shortly after we got the book my 11 year old was reading in the car with a friend and I had to chuckle at their comments and excitement over their joint reading. The art is wonderful: Ben is a fantastic, talented and solid artist. I must add that the reviews from major sources of this new graphic novel have been very positive—Kirkus calls it “out of this world!”—and I think well-deserved!

In preparing this review I chatted with Ben over the internet and asked him a few questions that will relevant to Mater & Magistra readers. He was fun to work with, and watch the next issue of Mater & Magistra for it!

How to Draw Pets

How to Draw Pets by by Mark Bergin, 2011 Powerkids.

This is a good book! I am always on the lookout at the library for how-to-draw books, and this is a winner. The drawings are at the same time realistic and academic, and directions are easy to follow. Pets included dogs, mice,hamsters, cats, lizards, parrots , rabbits and more. Our own Number Seven drew the two pictures below using the book.

Gifts From The Gods

Gifts From the Gods by Lise Lunge-Larsen, illustrated by Gareth Hinds, 2011 Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

I picked a new Mythology picture book at the library that we are all enjoying!  The stories are told in delightful, uncomplicated language and the illustrations are fun and expressive. The text explains how we inherited the many words from ancient mythology into our western culture and language. Very interesting, I recommend it! This nice picture book will be very useful as a read-aloud in a young Latin Club!

From the publisher: Ancient names come to rich and fascinating life in this lavishly illustrated gift book for mythology fans and word lovers.Did you know that “museums” were initially temples built to worship the nine muses, the goddesses of the arts? That “Janus” was the god of the doorways and hallways, and we have named our janitors after him?Where did these words — and other words, such as chaos, genius, nemesis, panic, echo, and narcissus — come from? From the ancient stories of the Greeks — stories that rang so true and wise that the names of the characters have survived for centuries as words we use every day. The brief stories here not only impart the subtle wisdom of these ancient tales, but make us understand the words, and our own world, more deeply.

Irena's Jar of Secrets

Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, illustrated by Ron Mazellan, 2011 Lee& Low Books. 


I first heard about Irena Sendler from my sister Marta, but the film starring Anna Paquin is still to become available on Netflix. Then I picked up a children's book about her, and now here is another one. It is beautiful, and the courageous story is beautifully told and illustrated. Irena, singlehandedly, and courageously, saved the life of hundreds of Jewish children in Poland during WWII. You can read a little about her here.

Finally! The story of the real "Father of Flight" told to American children!

The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith, illustrated by Eva Montanari, 2011 Abram Books for Young Readers.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this title as I perused the new non-fiction books at Main Library last night. My faithful readers of course already know of Alberto Santos-Dumont and therefore are way ahead of the game. I went directly to Amazon to let all of those million of readers about this long-hidden historical truth! Here is my review on this important Picture Book!

If you read this book to your children, or to yourself, skip to author's note right away: there you will understand how the story of the "Father of Flight", as Santos-Dumont is known in Europe and South America, is finally being told to the American children. The familiar anecdote the author tells is so very much the same as our own family anecdote! In our case it is this Brazilian wife, not the husband (in the book's case it was the author's husband) that has exclaimed, again and again, about how wrong Americans are to think the Wright Brothers--of whom I had never heard growing up in Brazil--who take that claim. No! It was Alberto Santos-Dumont, a clever, inventive and fashionable Brazilian living in Paris, who was the first one to build, and take off, and fly, and land, in an aeroplane!! Why, any child in South American knows that! (The Wrights brothers, I tell my kids, didn't take off--their aeroplane was thrown down a cliff! To what my engineer-minded son retorts, "No, Mom, he was pushed down a ramp". Same thing). I have looked for anything printed for kids in the USA about him and have come up empty handed every time! We have visited his museum in Petropolis, Brazil, as the author surely has, and believe me, it wasn't only the airplane he invented! Kudos to Victoria Griffith for writing this wonderful book and may Santos-Dumont enter the American milieu full-force!

A Picture Book about J. R. R. Tolkien

J. R. R. Tolkien by Alexandra and John Wallner, 2011 Holiday House.

I had seen it on the library catalog while it was still on order... and picked it up yesterday.  The author and illustrator pair have done many children's picture books together, including the nice "Picture Book of..." American history series.

 The interesting and wonderful thing about Tolkien's life isn't easy to tell in a book for kids, because they were the things living inside his heart: his intelligence and discipline, his hard work, his love and dedication to his wife and children, his faith. This picture book tells the life of the renowned author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and it was a life of sorrows, and very ordinary. I like their imaginative way to tell it, illustrated as a progressive board game and populated by his fictional characters. While I may not love the style of the illustrations, the overall effect was sweet. This book can tell a child that a very "regular" life can amount to great things, and that a good writer need not have an exciting and adventurous life.

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.


A nice find at the library! I love picture books that bring forth mathematics concepts to children in beautiful ways. This is a very nice picture book for young readers that explore the concept of spirals present in the natural world. Wonderfully illustrated, and written in simple, poetic language. On the two last pages the author offers more information on the subject and explains the basic mathematics behind each one. This will be very useful for an elementary school child who will be attracted by the book and want to know a little more. 

Two animal-friendship picture books

A friend for Einstein : the smallest stallion,  by Charlie Cantrell and Rachel Wagner.


Suryia & Roscoe : the true story of an unlikely friendship, by Bhagavan "Doc" Antle with Thea Feldman ; photographs by Barry Bland.

The girls and I enjoyed reading these two real-life new books from the library on animal friendships. Both are illustrated with great photos and tell stories of unusual animals that have formed playful relationships with friendly dogs. Fun and interesting reading!

New Picture Book on Guadalupe

Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses
by Amy Cordoba and Eugene Gollogly

I don't usually post books with which I may have some quibbles, but this one is a worthy one. This a very nice retelling of the famous, true story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, found by my friend Caitilin at our public library. I recommend the book but must list a couple of quibbles: the bishop of Mexico City at the time is historically documented to have been very kind and generous towards the poor and ignorant Juan Diego, and this book  paints a slightly different story. The second one is found in the Afterword by Eugene Gollogly, which is almost entirely accurate but for the unfortunate linkage of Our Lady's protection and the dissenter Liberation Theology movement, opposed by the Church. If you skip these minor points, enjoy the lovely book!

Two clever Picture Books!

 A Filth of Starlings and A Drove of Bullocks by Patrick George, May 2011

I loved Portuguese collective nouns as a child in Brazil, and have been intrigued and amused by them in English. These two new pictures books I found at the library offer a fun array of animal collective nouns! These books bring the fun of words and the visual satisfaction of art all in one package. The clever, imaginative illustrations reveal the words as visual puns: the dolphins in a "pod" of dolphins are listening to their iPods, and the the hogs in their "parcel" are... wrapped as parcels and ready to ship!  

Don't miss them!

Picture Book of the Week

Out of Sight by Pitaus & Gervais, 2011 Chronicle Books 

Number Seven has enjoyed this new title from the library immensely, opening the  creative windows and learning all sorts of interesting new animal information. Large format, great art, a winner!

Summer Picture Books!

Here are a few new picture books we picked up from the library this late summer season and that were chosen family favorites:

A Butterfly is Patient by Diana Aston

Hardcover, 40 pages, Chronicle books, May 2011

I have been waiting for the next installment of this lovely series and this one doesn't disappoint! The pictures alone are just wonderful! We love butterflies and acreage living has only made us appreciate these creatures all

the more. A gorgeous boo with plenty of interesting, curious and scientific information for kids of all ages!

Energy Island by Allan Drummond

Hardcover, 40 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, March 2011

Environmental complexities aside, I have loved Alan Drummond's books and found this one very interesting. We can all be more responsible about using natural resources and the true story of Energy Island is inspiring! (Watch here Number Three reading aloud Alan Drummond's adaptation of Moby Dick in speech class).

The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss

Tricycle Press, July 2011

Number Six chose this title among some other biographical accounts we have at home, as she, like me, loves true stories of courage and inspiration. I asked her about the book and she said, "This girl worked in a lighthouse and saved people's lives!". So there.

Statue of Liberty by Elizabeth Mann

Mikaya Press, April 2011

OK, so there are lots of books for kids about the Statue of Liberty, but this one, as with the rest of the books in the new series, is especially informative and interesting. The whole process is well documented and written in engaging language. As it is, we found many new facts we did not know before--such as the fundraiser tours and dinners offered inside different parts of the statue in Paris during its construction! Check it out!

Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Catherine Paterson and illustrated by Pamela Dalton

Chronicle Books, June 2011

This is one beautifully illustrated book! The text is from Saint Francis' Canticle of Creation, and the illustrations are done by paper cutting using an old German tradition. Do visit the look-inside feature on its Amazon page it is worth it! I have also pre-ordered the illustrator's next publication to my amazon cart! I am thinking this will be a marvelous Christmas gift for a young godchild!

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubin, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, 2011 Holiday House, NY.

Among the new books we picked up at the library last week, there is this gem. I had heard about her story from my sister who watched the film starring Anna Paquin, but this film is yet to be available on Netflix. The book has wonderful illustrations and tells the story of the courageous Catholic nurse who was able to use creativity and courage to save hundreds of Jewish children from the sub-human conditions of life in the Warsaw ghetto. A story of charity and courage changing the life of so many! A must read!

Shipwrecked! by Rhoda Blumberg

I am so excited to have found out this fascinating story of the first Japanese citizen ever in American soil... his being stranded in an island at 14, then rescued by a whaling ship... at the same time Melville was going around in a whaler and taking copious notes of that adventurous life, which later became part of his masterwork Moby Dick.

The book describes Manjiro's arrival in Hawaii and Massachusetts after that, his eventual return to Japan,his imprisonment and then his being named a Samurai, and finally his role in the opening of Japan to the rest of the world. A true story with so many incredible chapters! The illustrations are all very interesting as well! This is lenghthy picture book, and excellent!

Using inter-library loan I also borrowed Manjiro by Emily Arnold

McCully which is also excellent if a bit shorter, but brings new facts into the story.

The Secret Cave: Discovering Lascaux

The Secret Cave, Discovering Lascaux, by Emily Arnold McCully, 2010 Farrar Straus Giroux, NY.

Emily Arnold McCully's books, both written and illustrated by her, tell fascinating true stories that are appealing to readers of any age. This one tells the story of the boys who found the famous cave paintings at Lascaux, France.

Jeanne Birdsall's Picture Book

Flora's Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Matt Phelan, 2010 Clarion Books.

Jeanne Birdsall is the award-winning author of our dear Penderwicks series, the story of the widower professor, his Latin exclamations, and his four daughters. This week we have her picture book at home, and as expected it has the right balance of contemporary and traditional flavors... The illustrations are adorable and you can see some of the illustrator's work in the Amazon page.

Flora is a big sister, in charge of her little brother... and an afternoon windy day whimsical whirl reminds her of how much she really loves him. This book has the repetitive poetics little children love... it makes me wish I had a little toddler still around, begging for a read-aloud!

In our house, we are literally counting the days for the publishing of the next Penderwicks book...