By Word of Beth BLOG Banner

  • Vincent’s Colors by Vincent van Gogh — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | March 19, 2018

    Title: Vincent’s Colors Author/Illustrator: Vincent van Gogh Publisher: New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art / San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 2005 Genre: Non-fiction picture book Audience Age: 3 to 10 or more years Themes, topics: Vincent van Gogh’s art, creativity, color Opening Sentences: A yellow sky with yellow sun, a jug in squares of blue and…

  • Unbound by Ann E. Burg — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | March 12, 2018

    Title: Unbound Author: Ann E. Burg Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2016 Genre: Middle Grade historical fiction, verse novel Audience Age: 10 to 14 years Themes/topics: Slavery, escaped slaves, freedom, hidden community in Great Dismal Swamp Opening Sentences: When Mama tells me I’m goin to the Big House, she makes me promise to always be good,…

  • Twinderella: a Fractioned Fairy Tale by Corey Rosen Schwartz — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | March 5, 2018

    Title: Twinderella: A Fractioned Fairy Tale Author: Corey Rosen Schwartz Illustrator: Deborah Marcero Publisher: New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction, fractured fairy tale Audience Age: 3 to 8 Themes/topics: Twins, a new take on the old fairy tale of Cinderella, fractions, numbers, math Opening Sentences: Most of you have heard the story…

  • Sam and Eva by Debbie Ohi — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | February 26, 2018

    Title: Sam and Eva Author/Illustrator: Debbie Ridpath Ohi Publisher: New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 3 to 8 years old Themes/topics: friendship, art, cooperation, teamwork Opening Sentences: Sam had just begun to draw when Eva arrived. Synopsis: I loved this book! Debbie is so good…

  • The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, ill by Melissa Sweet — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | February 19, 2018

    Title: The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus Author: Jen Bryant Illustrator: Melissa Sweet Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2014 Genre: Picture book, nonfiction/biography Audience Age: 5 to 10 Themes/topics: Words, lists, Peter Mark Roget’s life, thesaurus Opening Sentences (sort of): Peter snuggled deeper into Uncle’s lap as the carriage clattered through the valleys of Switzerland.…

  • Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt — Reprise Book Recommendation

    By Beth | January 29, 2018

    This was first posted on June 4, 2015. I hope you enjoy revisiting this book! If you haven’t already read it, I urge you to do so. Title: Okay for Now Author: Gary D. Schmidt Publisher: New York: Sandpiper, 2011, 2013. Genre: Late Middle Grade, early YA Audience Age: 11 to 14 years old Themes/topics:…

  • No One But You by Douglas Wood — Reprise Book Recommendation

    By Beth | January 22, 2018

    For the next few weeks, I’ll be reprising a few posts from the archives. I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting these posts, as I have. This was originally shared as a Perfect Picture Book post on October 26, 2012. This lovely book explores the way each of us sees things differently. We are both the same…

  • Martin Luther King Jr.: A King Family Tribute — book recommendation

    By Beth | January 15, 2018

    Today, since it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I am commemorating the man with a book about him. Title: Martin Luther King Jr.: A King Family Tribute Edited by: Angela Farris Watkins (niece of Dr. King) Publisher: New York: Abrams, 2012 Genre: Non-fiction, photo album, tribute Audience Age: 12 to as old as a…

  • Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali — bonus book recommendation today!

    By Beth | January 8, 2018

    Bonus book today! I had intended to post about this book when I got to the letter S in my regular posts, but after I finished reading the book, I just couldn’t wait to share it with you.   Title: Saints and Misfits Author: S.K. Ali Publisher: New York: Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon…

  • Happy ManyDays to you all!

    By Beth | December 18, 2017

    The alphabetical posts will resume in the new year. Today, I wanted to simply wish you all happy holidays, whatever you happen to celebrate (or not celebrate). My penguin suggests that stars are a good thing to celebrate! There are so many celebrations at this time of year: Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, just to…

  • Kate McMullan

    By Beth | December 4, 2017

    Oops! This went live before it was finished! Sorry! Since I posted about artist James McMullan in my last post two weeks ago, it seems only fitting that I post about children’s writer, Kate McMullan, this week. Jim and Kate have been married for 38 years, and they make a marvelous team personally and creatively.…

  • Celebrating James McMullan

    By Beth | November 27, 2017

    There’s a fabulous article in the December 2017 issue of Vanity Fair magazine that I want to draw your attention to. It is about artist extraordinaire James McMullan — as Vanity Fair calls him, “Performance Artist.” That moniker is a tribute to the many posters he has done for Lincoln Center productions over the past…