Book-A-Day Almanac
Discover the stories behind the children’s book classics and the new books on their way to becoming classics.
Brave Chicken Little
Elementary School, Picture BookAugust has been designated Get Ready for Kindergarten month, so this month’s Almanac entries focus on books that discuss the kindergarten experience. When I think about what reading heritage all kindergarten-bound children should be familiar with, I think of folklore and fairy tales. Robert Byrd’s Brave Chicken Little, a variation on the familiar tale, was […]
Animals, Fairy TaleFeatured on August 28
Little Red Riding Hood
Elementary School, Picture Book, PreschoolBorn in Philadelphia on April 8, 1939, Trina Schart Hyman trained as an illustrator and spent over three decades creating beautiful books and artwork for children. Beloved by her editors, Trina, who was always a force to be reckoned with, delighted in making sure they actually studied what she had drawn. She usually wove in […]
Award Winning, Caldecott, Fairy Tale, FolktaleFeatured on April 8
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Elementary School, Middle School, Picture Book Just when I think I can’t be surprised about the existence of a holiday, one comes along that amazes me. Today we celebrate Moldy Cheese Day. Molds play an important part in the production of delicious—but often stinky—blue cheeses like Roquefort and Gorgonzola. Even the milder Brie and Camembert get created by the introduction of […]
Fairy Tale, HumorFeatured on October 9
Mirror Mirror
Elementary School, Picture Book, Poetry On October 3rd we celebrated National Poetry Day. Normally people set aside the month of April to celebrate poetry, but I actually think children’s poetry should be honored at least once a month. Even for children who think they don’t like to read, a poem can be a magical entry into the literary world. I […]
Fairy TaleFeatured on October 6
Ella Enchanted
Elementary School, Fantasy, Middle SchoolToward the end of March, World Folk Tales and Fables Week has been set up to encourage children and adults to explore the lessons learned from folk tales and fables. I’d like to finish our celebration with one of the most popular retellings of a folk tale published in the last fifteen years. Gail Carson […]
Adventure, Award Winning, Fairy Tale, Magic, Newbery, QuestFeatured on March 27
Interrupting Chicken
Elementary School, Picture BookFrom March 22–28, we celebrate World Folk Tales and Fables Week, established to encourage children and adults to explore the lessons learned from folk tales and fables. Although folk and fairy tales form the basis of world literature and culture, adults have often questioned introducing them to children. After all, the material in these legends […]
Award Winning, Bedtime, Caldecott, Fairy Tale, Family, FolktaleFeatured on March 23
Daily children’s book recommendations and events from Anita Silvey.
Discover the stories behind the children’s book classics . . .
The new books on their way to becoming classics . . .
And events from the world of children’s books—and the world at large.
