The Doll and The Kitten, Dare Wright
The story of Edith the doll and her exploits at a farm was first published in 1960. Dare Wright captures the story using black and white photographs of her Lenci doll Edith, and two stuffed bears, Mr. Bear and Little Bear. She adds plenty of farm animals, including some fantastic photos of kittens. The story is told through Edith’s eyes as she longs for a pet to take home to the city. Mr. Bear tells her "no" repeatedly until an incident with a kitten in the hayloft convinces him that Edith should have a kitten. The photography is fabulous, the story is sweet, and the book is enjoyable from start to finish. Dare Wright wrote and photographed a number of books between 1959 and 1981 using the Edith doll. Her photography is incredibly creative and I find the books so charming. I loved them as a child when my grandmother read them to me and still do as an adult; I occasionally sit down and read one just for fun! (Karen Myrick)
Birdsongs, Betsy Franco, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
An excellent book for a variety of age levels, Birdsongs introduces young readers to the wonders of the outdoors. It is essentially a counting book, but going backwards, with each number representing the times a bird sounds its call. For very young readers who cannot quite sit through much narrative, simply reading the birdsongs themselves and identifying the birds makes a wonderful and entertaining read-aloud experience. Older children will enjoy imitating the birds themselves, and will learn about habitat, behavior, and appearance of a variety of common birds (these include mourning doves, chipping sparrows, crows, and hummingbirds). The illustrations, while collage, are as detailed as a painting, making the read-aloud experience never dull for parents, too. (Diane Magras)
Zen Ties, Jon J. Muth
One of the most popular books in Born to Read’s Peaceable Stories initiative is Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth. Many program participants have told Born to Read that they plan to give copies to everyone they know, adults and children alike. These Muth fans will be delighted to know that a companion book, Zen Ties, is now available. This story follows the same characters—Stillwater the panda and his human friends, Addy, Michael, and Karl—and introduces Stillwater’s nephew, Koo, who is visiting for the summer. Koo speaks in sparse, poetic language. ("Hi, Koo!" says Stillwater at the train station.) Over the course of the summer, Stillwater and Koo help the children see another side of their cranky neighbor, Miss Whitaker.
Here Comes Darrell, Leda Schubert, illustrated by Mary Azarian
If you grew up in a small northern New England town or live in one now, Here Comes Darrell should be part of your collection. The Born to Read staff discovered it, but you don’t have to be a child to enjoy it! Darrell is based on a real handyman who worked for the author, one of those men who neglects his own house to make sure others are secure and comfortable, whether the black flies are biting or a blizzard is in progress or it’s mud season and "the roads are like chocolate pudding." Gorgeous illustrations by artist Mary Azarian capture those perfect details like the granite blocks on the house foundation; author Leda Schubert combines details of Darrell’s work with a surprise ending. (Carolyn Sloan)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
This short, lyrical, powerful book is the musings of a thoughtful man suddenly thrust into a nightmarish existence. It is Bauby’s true story of what the world looks like to a person completely paralyzed but for his left eye. Through blinks coded to an alphabet chart, Bauby was able to communicate and write this book, through which he reveals the anguish of a sane and active mind trapped, he feared, forever. In parts, this book is painful to read, so easily can one associate with Bauby’s struggles. But his descriptions can also be poignant and beautiful (such as when his children come to visit for Father’s Day, a holiday they never celebrated before). Witty and self-deprecating and never saccharine, this text shows medical professionals so many struggles that patients encounter. It has been a favorite text in Literature & Medicine. (Diane Magras)
The Inspector Barlach Mysteries, Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Perhaps if you are looking for a few good mysteries, you would consider a German playwright’s take on the genre. "A Notion of Evil" was the subtitle for the old Let’s Talk About It series of early books in the mystery genre. Facilitator Michael Bachem chose Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Inspector Barlach Mysteries to add depth to the series. Dürrenmatt is an appropriate compliment to Doyle and Sayers, but probes more deeply into the philosophy of human behavior.
The two novellas in the book do indeed address the question of evil in all its subtle complexity. You won’t find descriptions of mutilated bodies or forensic minutiae or personal battles with the bottle when you slip through the shadows of evil with Inspector Barlach, but you will find a man old with experience in the minds and motives of the human potential for evil. You can count on twists of plot, unexpected connections, and complex deductions. I read The Inpector Barlach Mysteries too fast the first time; the second time increased the pleasure! (Carolyn Sloan)
Back to the Top
Notes from an Open Book welcomes feedback from its readers. Please contact Diane Magras by email at diane@mainehumanities.org or by phone at (207)773-5051 ext. 208 (toll-free 1-866-637-3233, ext. 208) to respond.