Books — by Guest Mom Kristin Fine
My absolute favorite pastime is wonderful independent bookstores. Yes, reading too. Although this particular place in my life isn’t so great for reading — or at least remembering what I have read! Anyway. My point was that to me, a good hour in a great bookstore is like a mini vacation.
Books grab me. Sometimes the story. Sometimes the cover. Often the beauty and smell of the pages. The weight in my hand. I’ve been to independent bookstores in every city I go to and my favorite (lucky me) remains right where I live in Connecticut. Diane's Books in Greenwich is simply the best.
And not just for books for grown ups, it's also spectacular for kids. I have never been steered wrong — and often I simply start to mention a direction and they manage to read my mind. Their advice is always rich and dead on. Diane, the owner, has such a passion for books, stories and reading. She’ll even stay open late — as she did for me tonight.
I’ve been finding parallels in my preference for independent retailers that line up with the locavore movement for food. (Which as an aside reminds me of a book I love: Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. I digress again!) I try to shop locally and support my local independent retailers over the chains.
Greenwich has changed so much from when I was a child — the Five and Dime is now a Saks! As for kids stores, it is ours, Baby Gap, and Best and Co..Ugh!
Back to Diane's. She’s the best. Call her for books as gifts and for your self — and go there if you can. Come to LOVE also! Shopping locally you get an opinion, a point of view, an interaction. Probably something different and special. Quality over quantity.
So the great books I left with tonight are for kids:
Pippi Longstocking, which has always been a favorite, is now available in an edition illustrated by Lauren Child of Charlie and Lola fame. I am so excited to share this with my daughter.
The Lonely Moose by John Segal is beautiful and sweet. And funny. With a wonderful comment on friendship.
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers is also about friendship.
And for me:
The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins. My coolest writer friend recommended this.
Red Bird by Mary Oliver is a collection of incredibly true poems. I keep it by my bed and say I’ll read 3 before sleep, but like chocolates, I cannot stop very easily. Just one more I tell myself until the chance of going to bed at a reasonable hour evaporates.
Lastly a Random:
The Backyard Birdsong Guide by Donald Kroodsma, is a true birders science book that can be appreciated by kids and adults alike. It is part bird book with pretty and clear illustrations and on the other part you press a button and have a clear perfect sound guide of the birds call. Very cool.
Books grab me. Sometimes the story. Sometimes the cover. Often the beauty and smell of the pages. The weight in my hand. I’ve been to independent bookstores in every city I go to and my favorite (lucky me) remains right where I live in Connecticut. Diane's Books in Greenwich is simply the best.
And not just for books for grown ups, it's also spectacular for kids. I have never been steered wrong — and often I simply start to mention a direction and they manage to read my mind. Their advice is always rich and dead on. Diane, the owner, has such a passion for books, stories and reading. She’ll even stay open late — as she did for me tonight.
I’ve been finding parallels in my preference for independent retailers that line up with the locavore movement for food. (Which as an aside reminds me of a book I love: Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. I digress again!) I try to shop locally and support my local independent retailers over the chains.
Greenwich has changed so much from when I was a child — the Five and Dime is now a Saks! As for kids stores, it is ours, Baby Gap, and Best and Co..Ugh!
Back to Diane's. She’s the best. Call her for books as gifts and for your self — and go there if you can. Come to LOVE also! Shopping locally you get an opinion, a point of view, an interaction. Probably something different and special. Quality over quantity.
So the great books I left with tonight are for kids:
Pippi Longstocking, which has always been a favorite, is now available in an edition illustrated by Lauren Child of Charlie and Lola fame. I am so excited to share this with my daughter.
The Lonely Moose by John Segal is beautiful and sweet. And funny. With a wonderful comment on friendship.
The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers is also about friendship.
And for me:
The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins. My coolest writer friend recommended this.
Red Bird by Mary Oliver is a collection of incredibly true poems. I keep it by my bed and say I’ll read 3 before sleep, but like chocolates, I cannot stop very easily. Just one more I tell myself until the chance of going to bed at a reasonable hour evaporates.
Lastly a Random:
The Backyard Birdsong Guide by Donald Kroodsma, is a true birders science book that can be appreciated by kids and adults alike. It is part bird book with pretty and clear illustrations and on the other part you press a button and have a clear perfect sound guide of the birds call. Very cool.
Labels: children's lit, guest mom
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Wednesday, June 11, 2008
3 Comments:
This is a lovely list worthy of bookmarking. Thank you for sharing. Still swooning over that collage. I'm off to check out Jan's website...
OMG my stepdad was sharing this book with my kids this weekend. So much fun.sv
That Pippi Longstocking book has been on my wishlist for a while - I really MUST get it (more for me than anything else! I loved the stories as a child).
I love Lauren Child's illustrations. Another favourite is Nicoletta Ceccoli (Barefoot Books have a number of books illustrated by her). Mind you, the list just gets longer and longer!
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