Bibliophile's Corner

A Thing Called Snow

by Yuval Zommer

Flap Copy Description:

"What is snow like?"

Autumn is turning to winter, and Fox and Hare head deep into the forest in search of snow for the first time. Each of their animal friends describes it differently: white, cold, fluffy, sparkly...Fox and Hare wonder if they'll ever know what snow is. But then, overnight, flakes start to fall. White, cold, fluffy, sparkly... SNOW!

My Thoughts:

This beautifully illustrated picture book is the perfect wintertime read for young readers, or for a parent or teacher to share with children. Yuval Zommer has not only illustrated the book, but he is also the author of the lovely text. I highly recommend A Thing Called Snow for children aged four to seven.

Click here to learn about the author/illustrator, Yuval Zommer.

Storyteller's Journey

Winter Inspiration

As I've mentioned numerous times before, snow, and the entire season of winter, really inspire my writing. So much so, that my husband and I first created our Lindstrom Wintertime Tales because we love the snow so much. Well, since we've moved to a higher elevation in Washington State, we're ecstatic about the amount of snow we've already received. Here are a few photos I took over the Christmas holiday.

Since I took this image through our kitchen window, it needed some work to remove a bit of light glare. Many thanks to my son Kevin (who was home for the holidays) who helped me achieve that feat!

This is one of many selfies my husband has taken of us since we've moved to Venersborg. Can you tell how happy we are? While I enjoy hiking in the beautiful natural settings near our home, Michael loves painting!

This image was taken on New Year's Eve. Is that not just magical? I can't claim the visit from the doe, but she sure made for a celebratory image to begin a new year.

I have plenty of inspiration to write in 2022!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Balatron - (noun)

a clown; a joker.

Example: The adolescent behaved more like a balatron, than a student, at school.

 

Bibliophile's Corner

The Memory of Babel

by Christelle Dabos

Flap Copy Description:

In this gripping third volume of the Christelle Dabos's best-selling Mirror Visitor saga, Ophelia, the mirror-traveling heroine, finds herself on the ark of Babel, where she guards secret that may provide a key to both the past and the future.

After two years and seven months biding her time on Anima, her home ark, it is finally time to act, to put what she has discovered in the Book of Farouk to use. Under an assumed identity she travels to Babel, a cosmopolitan and thoroughly modern ark that is the jewel of the universe. Will her talent as a reader suffice to avoid being lured into a deadly trap by her ever more fearful adversaries? Will she ever see Thorn, her betrothed, again?

My Thoughts:

Like so many readers around the world, I am a huge fan of the Mirror Visitor books by Christelle Dabos. So, it's no surprise that I also love the third book in the series. As not only a reader but a writer, I know how difficult it is to create a story - and characters - that remain interesting throughout the series. Ms. Dabos has done it brilliantly! My interest in the plot and cast of characters was not only heightened, now I'm hungry for more. I highly recommend all the books in this four-volume series to readers who love fantasy novels!

Click here to learn about the author, Christelle Dabos.

Storyteller's Journey

A Wide Range of Reading

Like most bibliophiles, one of my favorite gifts to receive is a book. Well, I made a haul over the holidays! What occurred to me is that while I read mostly children's books (for a variety of reasons), I really enjoy a wide range of genres. The photo on the left is evidence to that fact. I believe that having a wide range of genres from which to read is sort of like cross-training my mind as a writer. Styles, word choices, etc. can be found in all sorts of well-written books.

So, while the wheels of mind slowly get moving again after my holiday break, I'll be diving into these books, as well as others. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Happy New Year!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Forelsket - (noun)

the indescribable euphoria you feel when you start to fall in love.

Example: The college freshman was overcome with forelsket upon meeting the guy seated next to her in her Fine Art class.

Bibliophile’s Corner

The Snowflake

By Benji Davies

Flap Copy Description:

High, high up in the clouds, a tiny snowflake is made. Perfectly fluffy and white, she tumbles and bounces inside the cloud, but then she begins to fall...

Exquisitely written and beautifully illustrated, The Snowflake tells the tale of one snowflake and one little girl - both longing for their own special place in the world. They discover that wherever we go, and however we fall, in the end we all find a way to shine.

My Thoughts:

This beautiful picture book begins its story high in the winter sky, something I find fascinating - and I believe young children will too. The journey the snowflake is thrust into is a lovely metaphor for life. I highly recommend The Snowflake for readers aged four to eight!

Click here to learn about the author/illustrator, Benji Davies.