What We Found At The Library, #12

Lauren's Favorite: Ollie the Stomper by Olivier Dunrea

I was completely charmed by this little book! The story is so simple and quick -- about a disgruntled duck who stomps around barefoot while his friends wear bright boots -- that Lauren ended up nearly reading it to herself. And despite it's simplicity, it didn't ever get old for me, either. Perhaps seeing the excited concentration on Lauren's face had something to do with that, but it really is a sweet book. Now that I've known and loved it, we'll absolutely be checking out the rest of this author's series. I love it when that happens.

Mia's Favorite: La La Rose by Satomi Ichikawa

Since we really enjoyed another of this author's books, Come Fly With Me, we were excited to find this book as well. The story follows a beloved stuffed rabbit on an adventure through Paris' Luxembourg Gardens. La La Rose gets separated from her little girl, Clementine, and is swept up into the action of the Gardens, trying desperately to find her friend again. Through frightening little boys tossing her in the air, to being plunged into a fountain's pool, La La Rose becomes more and more hopeless, but never stops searching. With the happy ending reuniting Clementine and La La Rose, this book left us comfortable and satisfied. All the problems of the world were gone. Plus, the illustrations are so detailed and sweet, it would have been a good story even without any words.

Mama's Favorite: Previously by Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingman (Illustrator)

I can't really explain this book well -- words escape me, and you know that's unusual. Starting with Goldilocks and linking up several different fairy tale characters (Jack and the beanstalk, The Gingerbread Boy, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Jack & Jill...), the author weaves a tale of history wherein all those characters are somehow related. Goldilocks had previously been in the woods where Jack was running away from the beanstalk. Jack had previously been playing soccer when his little sister, Jill, came tumbling down a hill and broke her crown. Previously, they'd been arguing over breakfast when the Frog Prince appeared at their window. Previously, the frog had been a prince who fell in love with Cinderella who'd previously been bumped into the Gingerbread boy, who'd been baked in an oven after he was a sack of flour...a grain of wheat...a seed sown by Goldilocks' uncle. See what I mean? It's weird. And wonderful. I laughed out loud several times at the unlikely ways the author linked up those familiar characters.

Now it's your turn! What have you been reading lately? Children's books, Spiritual books, Novels, Cookbooks, anything at all -- link up and share your discoveries!