​The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse
Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrations by Hadley Hooper
 
Here’s a lovely gift for budding young artists. Little Henri Matisse lives in a grey town in northern France. But he becomes aware of color as he notices his mother’s brightly painted plates and the red rugs on their walls and floors. He visits local silk weavers as they create textiles blossoming with many-colored patterns. Henri mixes paint for his mother; his father gives him pigeons--Henri loves their red feet and their colored feathers changing in the light. (Kids will be amused when he imagines himself as a grown-up painter.) Hooper’s adorable little Henri and the gorgeous reds, blues, and oranges of her vibrant relief prints will surely appeal to other young artists. MacLachlan, speaking directly to readers, asks if you had seen all this, “would it be a surprise that you became a fine painter who painted light and movement and the iridescence of birds?” Author and artist add notes for fascinated adults. 

2014, Ages 3 to 7

Check it out from your library using the library catalog. Donate to an improved Sebastopol Regional Library here.

Recommended by: Barbara Talcroft
Barbara Talcroft reviews children’s books professionally for childrenslit.com and for Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.  She has a Master’s degree in International Children’s Literature.  She also has many years’ experience as a teacher.  Barbara is one of the founders of LANTERN and its past chairperson.

Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds
Marianne Dubuc
Translated by Yvette Ghione
 
It’s holiday shopping time! Follow this busy little mouse as he delivers packages to the animals on his route. Each has a special house - some dwell in trees, some underground or on mountaintops. Some take Mr. Postmouse under the sea or into Mr. Dragon’s fiery lair, where he shares a well-barbecued sausage. Dubuc lets her imagination run wild as she creates cutaway views of rooms and detailed furnishings appropriate to the residents. Readers can spend hours examining them and exclaiming over such marvels as the thieving magpie’s treehouse, crammed with jewels, a stolen watch and a silver spoon (think of Rossini). And that’s just a sample of the wonders waiting in the houses of rabbits, ants, Mr. Snake, or the icy Penguin igloo. Is Mr. Postmouse exhausted at day’s end? No, perky and smiling, he delivers the last package to his tiny son at their own house--topped with a Swiss cheese roof. A treasure for a lucky reader!

2015, Ages 4 to 8

Check it out from your library using the library catalog. Donate to an improved Sebastopol Regional Library here.

Recommended by: Barbara Talcroft
Barbara Talcroft reviews children’s books professionally for childrenslit.com and for Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.  She has a Master’s degree in International Children’s Literature.  She also has many years’ experience as a teacher.  Barbara is one of the founders of LANTERN and its past chairperson.