purplicious

My niece loves purple.  She loves to read.  Her birthday's coming up.  Must mean there's a new dress on the way!

Using "Purplicious" by Victoria & Elizabeth Kann as inspiration, I knew I had to include an art palette.  She loves to paint!  Each color patch has been free motion appliqued onto the skirt with a small heart in the middle.  Her name was stitched inbetween the colors.

 The dress itself is a dark purple with sparkles all over it that just didn't show up in the picture.  It has gathered sleeves, elastic at the arm band, and a zipper in the back.

Can't wait to celebrate your birthday with you, G!  It will be purplicious!

christmas books...day 25

Christmas Day in the Morning - Pearl S. Buck
A touching story about one farm son's gift to his father. Kids surprising their parents... love it!!!


One Christmas Dawn - Candice Ransom
Luckily, I have spent many a comfy Christmas with my family. For this girl in 1917 Appalachia, it wasn't a sure thing that she would get to see her Daddy! One of my favorite lines... "The mountains held us in, like hands."

christmas books...day 24

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Jan Brett
The classic story illustrated by the classic illustrator. Her designs and details on the "visions of sugar plums" page alone keeps us mystified!

Firefighters Night Before Christmas - Kimbra Cutlip
This is Daddy's version - and although the illustrations aren't my favorite, we love the fireman details included in this take on the classic.

The Barnyard Night Before Christmas - Beth Terrill
Re-written to incorporate the animals, this is a cute rendition that keeps my country-boy's heart happy! It makes my heart happy because it's all about a little mouse's wish for peace.

christmas books...day 23

Bear Stays Up for Christmas - Karma Wilson
This is my story... gotta stay up, gotta stay up, can I FINALLY go to sleep? Feeling a little bit of the pre-holiday get-stuff-finished stress myself! Bear stays up to get everything ready for his friends, and crashes after the big event under the warmth of a quilt made by his friends. Sounds like a good deal to me!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell - Lucille Colandro
This seasonal version of the classic rhyme is a favorite around here. Once again, why the heck would somebody swallow all this weird stuff, I don't know - but we love it! We look around at our stuff and make up our own verses too about swallowing our stuffed animals, ornaments, books, etc. Just don't try and get ME to swallow a bell!

christmas books...day 22

A Cup of Christmas Tea - Tom Hegg & Warren Hanson
A cup of tea? Who can resist? (ok, maybe I'd choose hot chocolate!) So important to take the time to make memories with the ones you love... and even those that you have a hard time loving.

Night Tree - Eve Bunting
I love me some Eve Bunting - she has an amazing way of telling the most truthful, heartfelt stories. I love the idea of cutting down your own tree, and I definitely love the idea of a special family time together and starting fun traditions with your kids.

christmas books...day 21

Through the Animal's Eyes - Christopher Wormell
Woodcut illustrations and serious text carefully leads you through the Christmas story. Lots of animals show up in the story besides the "typical" farm animals you usually see gathered around the manger. In the back of the book they are featured with a short description and interesting fact or two.

The Beautiful Christmas Tree - Charlotte Zolotow
"Beauty is as beauty does"... what can you make out of something that others call ugly? "Living things need love and care." Amazing what a little love can do!

christmas books...day 20

The Little Drummer Boy - Ezra Jack Keats
This song can NOT be read - it MUST be sung (according to my son). It has led to great conversations about why people visit the baby, why the boy has no shoes, and what we can bring to those we love.

Drummer Boy - Loren Long
The author is admittedly inspired by "Little Drummer Boy" song. He takes this little drummer boy on an adventure from a boy's house throughout town and back home again. I love the hands on the last page!

The Christmas Tree Ship - Jeanette Winter
This book is based on a true story of a ship that brought trees from Michigan to Chicago. The Michigan-Chicago connection is perfect for us, of course. But beyond that I appreciate what the wife did to remember her husband.

christmas books...day 19

One Snowy Night - M. Christina Butler
Our version is a "Touch and Feel" book, which automatically puts high in the rankings for Abby! The hedgehog gets a red woolly hat that works its way back to him in a special way.

The Christmas Visitor - Anneliese Lussert
I have always believed that you never know the impact you can have on just one person - a little thing can mean so much, and you never know who that person is, was, or will be. This story is a BIG reminder that we all entertain angels.

Waiting for the Evening Star - Rosemary Wells & Susan Jeffers
A farm in Vermont... syrup over snow... and a wish for family time... and an end to war. "Wishes on the evening star are bound to come true."

christmas books...day 18

Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats
This classic story of a little boy taking a walk - it's one of our favorites! Even though we've read it over and over, my son still loves it when the snow all falls off the tree.

All you Need for a Snowman - Alice Schertle
After the kids finish the first one, they have to build a friend of course. With bright illustrations and a lot of snow, it will get your kids itching to go back outside again and build their own!!!

A Snowman Named Just Bob - Mark Kimball Moulton
The mysterious snowman named Bob gives us a simple reminder about friendship, and might even encourage you to put a sign in your front yard!

christmas books...day 17

Stopping by Woods on a Snow Evening - Robert Frost, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
This classic poem has been beautifully illustrated by Susan Jeffers. The spots of color in the snowy landscape fit the feel of the poem perfectly. My favorite page is when the man lays down to make a snow angel! So many beautiful birds at the end of the book, too.

Over the River and Through the Wood - Lydia Maria Child, illustrated by Christopher Manson
I guess technically it's a Thanksgiving Poem, but I love reading it during Christmastime too. Basically it just makes me want to go for a sleigh ride!!!

christmas books...day 16

An Orange for Frankie - Patricia Polacco
Do you set out oranges at Christmas time? Reading this story makes me want to bring one back from our visit to Michigan!!!

Apple Tree Christmas - Trinka Hakes Noble
Farm life isn't an easy one - and these sisters find fun and enjoyment in the apple tree near their house. What they do with it after the ice storm is even more special.

christmas books...day 15

It's Cynthia Rylant day!!! (aka "sweet & sappy but still love it!!" day)

Christmas in the Country - Cynthia Rylant
A sweet story of an idyllic (to some) life. Although it seems too good to be true, I love those kind of stories at Christmastime.

Silver Packages - Cynthia Rylant
This Appalachian story follows a boy from his childhood chasing the Christmas train to adulthood working as a doctor in the community. It's a bit sentimental of course, but still one of my favorites.

christmas books...day 14

This is the week we start cooking up a storm at our house! Here's a couple yummy goodies for you...

Christmas Cookies : Bite-Size Holiday Lessons - Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This is her second cookie book, and it's centered around Christmas cookies this time. There is a lot of talk of sharing with neighbors, cooking for family, and other sweet lessons. We enjoy this one every time!


The Sweet Smell of Christmas - Patricia M. Scarry
This is a childhood favorite of my husband's - and my mother-in-law gifted us with a new copy so it actually smells. Scratch and sniff is so fun!!

christmas books...day 13

Ruby the Donkey - Mirabel Cecil
My brother & I got this book for Christmas when I was 4 years old. My cover actually looks different than the cover I found online - so it must be a second printing or something? In my book, the donkey has tears and the cover is quite gray and somber. I like this cover better, but it sort of gives away the ending.
Anyway - the story centers around a sad, aging donkey named Ruby. She isn't able to give rides during the summer like she used to and during the cold winter she is unable to grow a thick warm coat. Luckily she has friends to make her one! (GORGEOUS by the way!) And guess who gets chosen to be in the Nativity - Scarlett or Ruby?

The Donkey's Dream - Barbara Berger
So many gorgeous illustrations in this book! (It's also a book from my childhood - I was 9 when I got it.) The illustrations glow from the pages, and are full of symbolism (there is a whole page explaining in the back).
The donkey dreams he is carrying a city, a ship, a fountain, a rose, and a lady. The ending is rather predictable - but beautiful still!

christmas books...day 12

Room for a Little One - Martin Waddell
"There's always room for a little one here." is the repeated saying as the animals all come and join the Kind Ox. Animals that would usually fight are peaceful, and of course they welcome a donkey at the end. The pictures are dark at times (night time in a barn) but the light glows from the pictures at just the right places.

Who is Coming to Our House - Joseph Slate
We have this in board book and I have to say the vocabulary is a little bit much for young ones. However, we love reading about all the animals and trying to guess who's coming! (And this year especially it's been fun for my son to try and rhyme, and figure out what the words mean.)

christmas books...day 11

Winter's Gift - Jane Monroe Donovan
"No matter how bad things get, you should always have hope." A touching story about how a lonely man spends one winter evening, and finds hope for the future.

Welcome, Comfort - Patricia Polacco
Polacco's story begans as a lonely foster boy's dream at Christmastime. It turns into a story of love and acceptance - and a story of finding your place.

christmas books...day 10

(I was so busy watching Glee last night that I forgot to make sure the post was ready to go. oops. Any other Glee fans out there??)

Anyway - on with the books...
It's Tomie dePaola day!!! Let me just begin by saying, I love Tomie. Whenever anyone asks who you would want to have dinner with (as one of those ice-breaker games) - well, he's my go-to guy. Supposedly he has (or in the past has) quite a Christmas party for his friends. Decorating the house with lots of his folk art, I can only imagine what a treat for the eyes it would be. Let alone the fact that he just seems like he'd be a lot of fun!
So with that confession out of the way, I guess you could say I'm a little biased? Keep that in mind as you read the reviews. I did drag my family to Massachusetts this summer to see his exhibit at the Eric Carle Museum, for real!

(Some people really don't like his illustration style. Yes, his people are different. That's what makes them special. But as you read more about him, and why he adds some of the other things in his pictures (doves for example) it just makes me love him more.)

The Legend of the PoinsettiaA weaving mess and a present ruined... then a simple gift becomes beautiful. A lovely legend.

The Legend of Old BefanaCranky old ladies sometimes do care about kids! It's a great story to inspire homemade goodies delivered to a friend or neighbor.

Jingle, the Christmas Clown

I just love this sweet story about giving what you have. Little kids truly can make the best gifts of all!

The Night of Las Posadas

A Christmas miracle in the midst of a Mexican tradition. Well told!

Merry Christmas, Strega NonaAnother sweet story from Strega Nona & Big Anthony - and a reminder that "Christmas has a magic of its own."

There are other Christmas books I don't have - but these should be enough to start your love of Tomie dePaola!!

So - if you visit Tomie.com - you can check out his calendar. Today he's not too busy. Here's what it says for today:
-Concetta dePaola (my Italian grandmother) was born on this day.
-Human Rights Day

(but yesterday he had a doctor's appointment and lit the electric candles for the first time!)

christmas books...day 9

Snowman - Raymond Briggs
This wordless picture book is high on my list of favorites, just because of the fact that it is wordless. I love the fact that it's a different story every time! Yes, a lot of the story is told through the pictures. But the dialogue and commentary is always different, and makes me feel like I'm becoming a better storyteller. If I feel that way, it's surely doing wonders for my kids!

Snowmen at Night - Caralyn Buehner
This is another very well-known snowman book. I first discovered it when I was a librarian. The kids would fight over it after I read it, and LOVED looking for the hidden illustrations. Although the rhymes are *possibly* forced at times, my son thinks it's hilarious!

Snowmen at Christmas - Caralyn Buehner
It's a sequel story - cute, but just doesn't feel as original the second time around. We enjoy it, don't get me wrong - just maybe not the one you should put at the top of your list.

christmas books...day 8

God Gave Us Christmas - Lisa Bergren
I'm not anti-Santa, but I try not to invest all my effort in telling the Santa story during Christmastime. Although it is fun, it is not the reason we celebrate! I like that Momma can spend some time with just one Little Cub when he has such an important question - a good reminder :) I love that she celebrates God being everywhere, and in all of us "even mean ol' Maggie the Moose".

christmas books...day 7

Hush Little Darling: A Christmas Song - Joan Elizabeth Goodman
The "Hush little baby, don't say a word" lullaby has been re-written with a Christmas theme. Conner insists that I sing it to him, no reading! Some of the things the mom & do get are pretty creative! Our favorite page is the page where they are all sledding down the hill.

Look-Alikes Christmas - Joan Steiner
Like any Look-Alikes book, this one makes some gorgeous scenes out of the every day stuff. I'm amazed at her creative process, and how she puts everything together! Maybe this year we'll be inspired to try a simpler version on our own!