After two glorious springlike days here in New Hampshire, we’re experiencing snow again on March 9.  However, it’s not unusual to have snow in March and some of our worst storms.
When I was growing up, we children heard stories of the “Blizzard of ‘88″ and my grandparents’ experience.  In the eastern part of the United States, the storm began on March 11 and paralyzed cities, towns, and the countryside.  My grandfather told of shoveling snow from the house to the barn that was above his head.  Others tales related how people got lost in it and froze to death.
An earlier blizzard occurred in the western part of the …read more

 
When I wrote the post, Thoughts of Gardening for Young and Older, I planned a companion one with books and resources about gardening.
Whether you’re gardening by yourself or as a family, here are some books and resources that may be helpful.  More people than ever are likely to plant gardens and raise their food this year, along with some flowers to boost their spirits. 
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy
Gardening with Kids by Catherine Woran and Martyn Cox
Gardening with Children (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide)
Seedfolks, a novel about planting and gardening and togetherness by Paul Fleischman
ToySmith …read more

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary- Candace Fleming
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2008:
“The scrapbook technique . . . remains fresh and lively, a great way to provide a huge amount of information in a format that invites both browsing and in-depth study.”
Review, New York Times Book Review, November 9, 2008:
“The format of ‘The Lincolns’ may be aimed at young readers, but, given Candace Fleming’s unerring eye for the dramatic quotation (with the Lincolns, there were a lot of those), this birth-to-death biography of Mary and Abraham is hard to put down even for readers who know …read more

Whether you voted for Barach Obama or someone else, your children will be learning about him as the 44th President of the United States and the opportunities that exist for any natural born citizen of this country.  Most schools featured live TV coverage of the Inauguration for teachers, support staff and students.  Books already are out about Barack Obama.
As youngsters study Obama and the Presidency, you may want to acquire books, too, for your own library or home study program.
A few suggestions:
Barack Obama, President for a New Era (Gateway Biographies) by Marlene Targ Brill
Barack Obama: Our 44th President by Beatrice …read more

The estate of A.A. Milne has authorized a sequel to the original Winnie the Pooh books, and will publish “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” on October 5. This is the first authorized sequal to the 1926 book, Winnie the Pooh and will be written by novelist David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess.
Benedictus and Burgess have captured the “spirit and quality of those original books,” stated Michael Brown, the trustee of the estate.
Look for the book in early October from Penguin Young Readers. As Jeffrey A Trachtenberg of the Wall Street Journal said today, even Eeyore might smile about …read more

THURSDAY THIRTEEN
On Monday, I wrote about National Bird Day.  Then I began thinking about the books out there that mentioned birds, either non-fiction guides and informational ones or fiction stories.  I’ve often written about birds in nature stories and in fiction pieces, too. 
What did I find?  Here are 13 of them for Thursday Thirteen.

Birdscapes: A Pop-Up Celebration of Bird Songs in Stereo Sound by Miyoko Chu and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; illustrated by Julia Hargreaves
Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien
Alex and Me by Irene M. Pepperbert.  (About a scientist and a parrot who develop a special relationship.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the …read more

Today my husband and I are flying south to be reacquainted with our second son after one long year. We were in Guatemala City at this time last year signing our papers to officially adopt him.
Now, after a year of paperwork, DNA tests, and waiting, we are on the airplane to bring him home. Ironically, as I was looking through my emails and media information a few days ago I came across this new book that is said to have gorgeous artwork and a “message that sparkles with hope”.
Wish: Wishing Around the World by Roseanne Thong begins with Guatemalan children …read more

Autobiographical Fraud
The third in a recent flurry of autobiographies has been proven a contrived story, one that was praised on Oprah’s show, as well as by others.  Berkley Books cancelled a Holocast love story, Angel in the Fence, due to come out in February, after they found out the story was not true as initially claimed.
This book follows two published books, A Million Little Pieces and Love and Consequences, which the authors eventually admitted were fabricated.  A children’s book, Angel Girl, based on the supposed Holocaust love story, appeared in print earlier this year.
With these widely publicized books coming to light …read more

  Today we have as our guest at One Book Two Book, Susanna Reich, author of Painting the Wild Frontier: The Art and Adventures of George Catlin. 
I’ve traveled over much of the country Catlin painted and have seen his work in museums. I’ve also written about him, so I was fascinated by Susanna’s book. 
It’s a “must read” for anyone who wants to learn more about the Old West and enjoy the adventures and paintings of Catlin.  Susanna has written this as a fun-to-read story, even though it’s a biography.  (Yes, I know, some people think biographies aren’t exciting.  But when someone …read more

As this year rapidly races to a halt we here at One Book, Two Book have found some astounding new releases that your kids will be reaching for even before they shake those deliciously wrapped boxes.
With that said, here is your list of stocking stuffers for 2008, complete with our favorites. All of the “Best of” books were published and released in 2008.
The Best Holiday Books, 2008
The Best Non-Fiction Books, 2008
The Best Board Books, 2008
Best Picture Books, 2008 
The Best Books for Middle Readers/Tweens, 2008
Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
Mary Emma’s Favorite Books 
Marcie’s Favorite Books