Picture books for everyone

Chilly da Vinci by J. Rutland

At face value, readers will get exactly what you might expect from this book. A penguin inventor who is dismissed by his peers. Very young readers will join Chilly in his dismay at his failures and anticipate his success. But this is more to this story than the hunt for a successful invention. We see Chilly's supreme confidence in his ideas and the way he is plagued by doubts after failure. We follow his whole thought process, the scientific principles behind each invention. We see how, in time, he learns from his failures. In a broad way it can serve as a simple introduction to the scientific method. Older readers may enjoy brainstorming their own inventions or improvements on Chilly's failures.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non fiction book review - Journey of York

The Journey of York by Hasan Davis

Every American school child learns about the Lewis and Clark expedition. By which I mean, we all learn that Lewis and Clark traveled to the west coast. That's it. Maybe we learn that they took "men" and Sacajawea. We certainly don't learn about York. Our history books hardly mention slaves except in context of the Civil War. So this book gives us essentially an outsider perspective. We see how York was used by Lewis and Clark in negotiations, how he was mistreated by other members of the expedition. It's a slightly darker, far more accurate, version of exploration than we are usually given. Definitely a good choice to supplement what kids are learning in school.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Happy New Year!

Here's to a new year of achievement, joy, and good books!

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 1

Last year I posted about painting the central figures of this nativity scene. The set actually came with several other pieces that I didn't have time to complete then. I've finished the whole set now and it holds a place of honor beneath my tree.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"  Isaiah 9:6

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 2

I picked up a blank triptych at a thrift store. It just begged to be turned into a nativity scene.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 3

I sometimes have grand, impossible ideas when it comes to puppet designs. My attempts to make them reality end in disappointment. It never seems to stop me though. This is one of my recent designs.

 In this case, the reality entirely lived up to my expectations. If anything, I actually like the puppet even better than my doodle.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 4

I decided this year that I'd like to make ornaments for most of the people at the office. Mostly I stuck with designs I'd done before but a few new shapes found their way into the mix.