Recommended Recent Reads
Snippets about children's books I've loved recently. And a weekly sketch!
Middle Grade:
ALONE by Megan E. Freeman. This novel in verse is an engaging and fascinating read about a young girl who is left behind when her entire community is evacuated. She spends years fending for herself, with only a rottweiler named George for company. The author uses poetry to great effect, especially during scenes in which the stakes are particularly high. It’s on the long side for a middle grade verse novel, but it’s fast paced and should capture the imagination of any preteen or teen who picks it up. Adults too!
If you’ve never read a verse novel before, this could be a good one to start with!
Picture Book:
THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT by Randi Sonenshine, illustrated by Anne Hunter. This book is a lovely nonfiction book about not only the beavers and their lodge, but about all the life that happens in and around it. The rhyming text, reminiscent of “The House that Jack Built,” is lyrical and flowy and and an absolute joy to read aloud.
Sketch of the Week:
This is not a sketch, but a linoleum block print! I created this spot illustration of Hansel picking up pebbles as part of my homework for the Children’s Book Pro course I took through SVS Learn. This is a test print. The finished image will be a combination of block print and collage.