The Librarian

I tripped over this book tonight as I was tidying things away in the lounge, I thought it was a sign that I should mention it on my blog. Jane Hissey is so very awesome. If you and your children have not yet discovered her, may I recommend that you take a BIG bag with you next time you visit the library, and make sure you bring some of her books home. Pure loveliness.   I promise.  x Library Girl.

I'd dedicate it to Frances stories. Russell Hoban captures the quirks and curiosities of childhood so brilliantly (albeit in the guise of badgers) that these books are a great pleasure for children and adults alike. We'd read Bread and Jam for Frances , followed by bread and jam snacks (imagine). Very cute pictures by Lillian Hoban too We'd read Best Friends for Frances and then have trolley rides down the library aisles. We'd sing Frances songs, and write a little ditty or two. We'd celebrate being one-off delightful characters, every one of us. This would be our complete reading list:          A Baby Sister for Frances           A Bargain for Frances          Best Friends for France          A Birthday for Frances          Bread and Jam for Frances

For months I have been driving past a secondhand bookshop on my way to visit a friend. It was a big old rundown looking place, and somehow didn't appeal. But this week I had a bit of time on my hands so decided to have  a look. It turned out to be a bookish girl's dream come true. It literally had books bursting out of it. Room after room of books from floor to ceiling, in a great big messy jumble. It was a fluke to find things, but that somehow made the find all the more satisfying. I'm determined to collect all the books I read when I was young, and I found some real keepers here. It reminded me just how important it is to take the blinkers off sometimes. Take a look around, there may be some treasures waiting for you in a wee corner shop that you've never noticed before. Three Astrid Lindgren titles: Ronia, the robber's daughter, Emil Gets into Mischief, and Mardie, as well as another Sue Barton book for my growing collection Little Grey Rabbit by Ali...

There are some children's book illustrators who have made magic.  Tasha Tudor is one of them. She illustrated nearly 100 books in her lifetime (1915-2008). Hunt her out if you haven't found her already. My favourite (so far - I haven't happened across them all yet!) is her book 'A Time to Keep', a book of festivals and holidays, with the most delicious illustrations of family rituals and good times. I so want to own this book! I also want to track down the edition of 'The Night before Christmas' by Clement C Moore that she illustrated. I have seen some of the pages from it and it looks beautiful.

Books about mice are always so cosy and comfy. Sometimes I still imagine that I might come upon a mouse house in the local oak trees complete with bed chambers, four poster beds, fluffy quilts and unchipped sets of cornish ware china. That'd be a happy day. Till then I'll keep on reading my all-time favourite mice books - the Brambly Hedge series, The Foxwood Tales, and Angelina Ballerina. Check in next week - it's Book Chat week again. x

There are some books that I still just love to read, at any excuse. This is only the beginning of a selection of children's books that I collect to read when I need some time with my 'inner kiddie'.