Children's Bookshelf - February 2010
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Love is in the Library’s Air
by Lynne Perrigo and Deborah White

February is a busy month at the Westport Public Library. While Connecticut’s wintry days keep everyone longing to cozy up inside, don’t forget about the warmth found inside the walls of our children’s library with offerings in great books, children’s programs, and programs designed for parents and caregivers. We polled our children’s librarians about their favorite lovey-dovey books and here is what waits for you on even the coldest of days:

From Miss Annie: You Are My I love You by Maryann K. Cusimano, is perfect for creative preschoolers. Engaging, lyrical text and soft watercolor illustrations make this picture book a great choice for bedtime sharing. An adult bear curls up with a baby bear and explains their special connection, “I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild.” The joy of spending time together running, spinning, splashing and hugging is captured in a warm and lighthearted way, and the baby bear’s toy animals often join in the fun.

From Miss Deborah: Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons on Love by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer is a sweet little picture book that doubles as a dictionary. Each page has a word that is defined in the context of baking cookies. Since all words are also related to love, the combination of love and sugar cookies can’t be beat! Soft, realistic illustrations add an additional tenderness to this new book. For ages 5 and up.

How Mommy Met Daddy by Katharina Grossmann-Hensel is a quirky picture book story told by a child who relates how his parents met and fell in love. Although they appear to be opposites in every way, once they accidentally meet, they instantly fall in love. The illustrations are whimsical and add a delightful dimension to a sweet story that all children like to hear told by their parents. For ages 5 and up.

From Candace: In The Pigs’ Wedding by Helme Heine, two pigs marry and celebrate with their friends in splendid fashion. When Porker and Curlytail decide to tie the knot, their nuptials are a sight to behold — and wallow in. Children will learn about friendship and creative problem solving. Note: We will be featuring an ongoing screening of the film version of this book in the children’s library to celebrate “Pig-Out at the Library” on February 27.

From Miss Lynne: I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy is for for ages 2 and up. “I saw the baby! Did you see the baby?” “Yes! I saw the baby, the teeny weeny thing.” All the animals — fish, bird, squirrel, insect, frog — share the joyous experiences of seeing, feeding, singing to, tickling and kissing the new baby. It’s so exciting!

From Kris: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli is a warmhearted tale that examines the effect love and affection can have on a dreary existence. Mr. Hatch leads a painfully ordered and monotonous life, but his world changes the day a giant candy-filled heart is delivered to him with a note that reads, “Somebody loves you.” For ages 4-7.

Join us for these programs — all free and open to the public!

“Pig-Out at the Library” starring Daisy the Pig will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Join Farmer Minor, with his special friend Daisy, for a fun celebration of E.B. White’s book Charlotte’s Web. For ages 5 and up. Seating is limited. Free tickets will be available in the Westport Children’s Library beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of the event.

“Book Voyages” is a program for children in grades 1 and 2 who want to explore the lands of folktales, poetry and stories. They will discover great books to read on their own. Register now! Program dates and themes are: Thursday, February 4 for Series Fun and Thursday, March 4 for Look Out for Aliens! The program takes place at 4 p.m.

“Authors @ the Library,” featuring Anne Ford, will take place on Wednesday, February 10 at 10 a.m. Co-authors Anne Ford and John-Richard Thompson will speak about their book A Special Mother: Getting through the Early Days of a Child’s Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities and Related Disorder. Anne Ford, the great-granddaughter of Henry Ford, served as Chair of the National Center for Learning Disabilities from 1989 to 2001. She is also the author of Laughing Allegra, a memoir of raising her severely learning disabled daughter and On Their Own: Creating an Independent Future for Your Adult Child with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. Thompson is an award-winning playwright and novelist, who collaborated with Anne Ford at NCLD. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Co-sponsored by Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities.

Westport Public Library is located at 20 Jesup Road in Westport. For more information, call 203-291-4800 or visit www.westportlibrary.org.