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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Our Favorite Author

A few weeks ago Emi attended her first book reading/signing. We were eating breakfast at one of our favorite spots in the city and as we were walking out we saw it... a sign in the book store for the Amy Krouse Rosenthal. What luck! We absolutely adore her and were tickled pink to discover she would be reading her latest book, Duck! Rabbit!

While Emi was probably the youngest in the crowd she tried her best to listen to Mrs. Rosenthal describe all about the inspiration for her books.


Amy was very engaging and had some children from the audience go up and read stories with her. After she read a couple of her favorites, we were able to have her sign a few books for us to take home. Hooray!

As much as I love Emi's interest in books, there are a few I could do without. One book I particularly detest is Good Night Moon. If you ask me, this book blows – it's painfully repetitive and features a creepy old rabbit lady whispering "hush." Not exactly the last image I’d like to see before going to bed. However, Emi goes nuts for this book, thanks to my mom, who taught her to look for the little mouse on each and every page.

What I appreciate most about Amy Krouse Rosenthal is her simple storytelling, layered with memorable wit and charm. I believe that parents love her as much as their children because her books are so bearable to read, even for the 105th time!

Here are some of my favorites:

Darling book, great pictures. Duck! Rabbit! is a fun way to learn all about different view-points and perspectives.

Little Oink is a cute story about a little pig who loves to be neat and clean. The kids think it’s hilarious that he has to make his room messy in order to go out and play.

Spoon thinks he is boring and no fun compared to his friends, knife, fork and chopsticks. He learns to appreciate all that he and the other spoons have to offer.

At the signing, it dawned on me that Amy also wrote one of my favorite books, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. It's not a kids book, but a charming and ingeniously adapted memoir of her life from A to Z. It’s a very easy read and tremendously entertaining.

I'm crossing my fingers Emi will grow out of her Good Night Moon phase. Otherwise, this mom might have to "lose" the book and leave it at Grandma's house.

-Kacey
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28 comments:

Crazee Juls said...

What a really cool experience. Living in a small town, we rarely ever have authors in this area...

I did get to me Janet Wong...when she came to a Literature festival when I was finishing up my masters last year. She is my "new" favorite children's author. :)

Jen said...

I hear you with Goodnight Moon but check out Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner. It's for adults not kids but is a really great read and your post reminded me of it.

Just SO said...

Those books sound really fun. I'll have to check them out. How neat that you were able to catch that book signing. Goodnight Moon was never big in our house.

Jillene said...

I DESPISE Good Night Moon. And these look lik GREAT books. I will have to find them at my local bookstore.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

emi and her piggies are soooo cute! and i can feel her excitement in seeing the book come to life. how much fun!!! good work momma!

Karen M. Peterson said...

Ugh, I can't stand Good Night Moon. Glad to know it's not just me!

And that's very exciting that you got to attend the book signing. I love chatting with authors and listening to them talk about their work.

Amy said...

That is so neat. I love to read to my little one.

Randi Troxell said...

she is sooo cute being so little at the book signing... and im a loser, i know... good night moon was my faveorite!!lol!

Tulip Row said...

That is lucky! I will always remember the day Aliki came to Anderson! I still have my signed book somewhere...

wendy said...

oh I lost good night moon ages ago, before he could get attached. so cool that you got to see akr - I l o v e her, I think I may have even gotten you the encyclopedia book.
xoox

Kathy B! said...

I love her books... and sadly, they are just a fond memory as we have moved on to big kid lit :)

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Cool experience. I have not read any of hers, but I am anxious to check them out. Thank you for sharing.

Felicia - I complete Me said...

I have good night moon. I've been reading it for a while to my little man. The rabbit lady is quite creepy. I need to add some more books because my little man goes crazy every time he sees a book. He's only 9 months.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the book review, I will check them out:)

Helene said...

How cool was that!!! I bet that was such a wonderful experience for your daughter to meet one of her favorite authors! My little twins love Goodnight Moon...I've taken to hiding it and when they ask for it before bedtime, I tell them I have no clue where it is and eventually they decide it's okay to read something else. I'm horrible, right?

Valerie said...

I can't wait to take my grandson to book readings/signings. He already loves being read to. I will definitely try some of the ones you recommended but will stay away from Goodnight Moon lol.

Have a blessed day!

Connie said...

I love the first photo - of Emi peeking over the chair in front. That's adorable!

I love that our kids love books. It's so good for them... even the ones I do not like, like Dr. Suess (yes, I must be an alien, but I got tired of them when I was a kid... yet I gritted my teeth and just went with it). I'm not that fond of the preachy Berenstain Bears either... but my daughter (new 6yo) loves them and will sit and read them cover to cover... can't complain about that. When a child asks to take a 'toy' to school, and comes out of their room with a book in hand... life is good :)

Anonymous said...

Haha! Creepy old lady!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I must have Little Oink!

Anonymous said...

How exciting!!

More Than Words said...

Wow..how awesome is that!!

By the way, did you girls know that your blog made it on the Nielsen Power 50 Mom list?????

Jennifer said...

Thanks for the author tip! I'll have to check them out at the library!

~ Jennifer

Fiauna said...

The titles alone draw me in. I'll be checking out a few of these, for sure.

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

Always looking for fabulous new books - we (and by "we" I mean "me") are quite the bookstore addicts.

I rather like Goodnight Goon - a funny monster style spoof of Goodnight Moon, and much more entertaining for both audiences.

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

That sounds do neat! What a fun experience. :)

Heather of the EO said...

These books look so great. I already love them, just for the illustrations on the covers.

Counselormama said...

I feel the same way about that creepy rabbit lady! Thanks for some new material I can look into!

peewee said...

oh no...Eric Carle's "have you seen my cat" is the worst kids book EVER! ANd of course, back in the day, it was my nephew's FAVORITE BOOK! I kept trying to hide it....but funny how the thngs you TRY to hide always resurface, but the stuff you lose stays lost.