What we're reading

We're a family of readers. I'll periodically offer family reviews of books that we're reading. I'm linking our favorites to Amazon.com, not because I expect you folks to buy them, but to offer information and more in-depth reviews than I've got time to write. Enjoy!

The Dancing Tiger written by Malachy Doyle and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. A find from the library enjoyed by all of the fine young gents. It's got lovely dreamy pictures and a gentle rhyming text that's fun to read out loud. Sweet but not sappy.

The Seven Silly Eaters written by Mary Ann Hoberman, wonderfully illustrated by Marla Frazee, has been a favorite since the lovely ladies were small. Another rhyming text that's great fun to read aloud. The story of this growing family of picky eaters is charming, and the pictures make the book. I've read this so many times over the years that I've darn near got it by heart, and I still (usually) enjoy reading it just one more time.

Everywhere Babies written by Susan Meyers and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Lovely text, and charming pictures. We enjoy Marla Frazee's illustrations so much that we seek out pictures books she's illustrated. (We've also got Hush, Little Baby.) My baby likes to point at the babies, and I'll admit I get a little teary each time I read "Every day, everywhere, babies are loved..."

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace was a girlhood favorite of mine. I still remember reading about the adventures of imaginative brown-haired Betsy, shy red-haired Tacy, and joining the best friends to turn the inseparable twosome into a tight-knit threesome in the second book in the series (Betsy-Tacy and Tib), pretty blonde Tib. My second lovely lady is so fascinated by this series that she wants to visit the "real" Deep Valley, Lovelace's childhood home in Mankato, Minnesota. It's such a warm feeling to share the books that I loved when I was a girl with a child who feels the same way. The Betsy-Tacy series follows Betsy and her friends from just before Betsy's fifth birthday party (Betsy-Tacy) until Betsy gets married (Betsy's Wedding). I remember losing interest once Betsy and her friends got to high school, but my daughter is still going strong, nearly finished reading Betsy and Joe.

"It's a very good book because it's all about life and growing up," says my lovely lady when asked why you should read Betsy-Tacy.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale (I found a neato annotated version of the original tale here). I just finished pre-reading this book for the oldest lovely lady's upcoming school year reading list. Even though it's a young adult novel, I stayed up waaaay too late reading just one more chapter. I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale. Hale manages to weave the elements of the original tale into her story to create a believeable coming-of-age story that's exciting (villains and sword-play), charming (friendships and true love), and magical without a witch or fairy in sight.

Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt. I started reading this book today. It promises to be interesting. I'm thoroughly enjoying the first chapter, and I'm looking forward to hanging out in the hammock with some iced tea and more about Shakespeare tomorrow afternoon.

My wonderful loving husband is reading a golf book. I'm not writing about it. This is my blog, and I'm declaring a golf book ban.

What are you reading?