We're finally close to 2021. 2020 has been quite a year and it'll be good to start a new one. Sometimes it's hard to get into the new year, but I don't think I'll have that issue this time. It's been hard to be creative sometimes, whether writing or reading. I definitely want to do more reading, but the motivation is often missing. With books like these two below though, they definitely motivate me to read more. I hope they will for you as well. Happy Everything and see you in the New Year!
Woodland Dreams by Karen Jameson & Marc Boutavant
From the publisher: Chronicle Books
Wander into the woods for a lyrical celebration of forest animals settling in for the night. As nature walk turns to moonlight stroll, each and every creature finds its own way home. Pairing poetic verse and a gorgeous, painterly art style, WOODLAND DREAMS promises a sweet and cozy goodnight.
You will fall in love with this book. The words are magic in your mouth; delicious to speak and a treat to hear. The illustrations are gorgeous; warm and inviting, comforting and familiar. I look at this book and just smile. I guess I’m describing more of how it makes me feel. It’s a joy to read and gaze at all the details. A perfect gift for anyone. Beautifully produced.
Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata, Marianna Raskin (Illustrations)
From the publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Being a quadruplet can make it hard to stand out from the crowd. Becca’s three brothers all have something that makes them...them. Jake has his music and dancing, Jammer plays hockey, and K.C. thinks they’re all living in a simulation and doesn’t see the point of doing much of anything. Becca is the only one with nothing to make her special.
But when she finds a tiny, sick piglet on the side of the road, Becca knows this is it. This is her thing. She names the piglet Saucy and between her own pleading and Saucy’s sweet, pink face, Becca convinces her family to take her in. Soon, Saucy is as big a part of the family as anyone else—and getting bigger. With each pound Saucy gains, the more capable she becomes of destroying the house and landing Becca in trouble.
Some tough decisions need to be made about Becca’s pet, and her search for solutions brings to light exactly where Saucy came from. Turns out, there are a lot more scared piglets out there, and saving them may take Becca and her brothers finally doing something together.
This is quite a story. Unique with quadruplets and each one is fascinating with their own interests and quirks. They are separate but come together to help each other out. It’s touching when they sleep on the kitchen floor with Saucy. The whole family is realistic, including Grandma.
There was a part where I stopped reading because I knew what they had to do. And I didn’t want them to because I didn’t want to see it. I’m trying not to give anything away, so this is cryptic, I know. And I grew up on the prairies, I’ve seen pigs and cows and horses. But I never had one or raised one. And never had to see what these kids in the story saw. All the pigs I knew belonged to one family and lived in a nice barn.
I enjoy reading Cynthia Kadohata’s books, the writing is always wonderful.
