Rachel Isadora has created a reading and visual gem for the younger crowd with My Dog Laughs. The children and their dogs show how varied dogs are, as well as their owners. Each page shows how dogs make mistakes, give kisses, make friends, fart, eat and laugh. Each page shows there are tall, short, fluffy and all kinds of dogs. Yet, sometimes dogs look the same, too. Isadora shows how people take care of and love their canine buddies. Without being pushy, Isadora also shows […]
America is our gal!
Douglas Wood has created a very idealistic look at America and Americans. What is presented is what we were told this country is about: freedom, differences, agreeing to disagree. There is not even “oh sometimes we disagree so much we decide to kill each other like in the news shows us.” It does mention that we are human and sometimes we make mistakes. It speaks of the Fourth of July, the Bill of Rights and other things that does make America unique. It does show […]
A loose tooth and one heck of an imagination
The good news about Dory Fantasmagory: Head in the Clouds is I got it for free. This is another story where a child is not thinking and gets herself into trouble but does not seem to learn her lesson. This is usually due to the fact she is “so cute” or her teacher is unable to find a punishment Dory realizes is to curve her trouble-making and not “mean”, or her parents have a “modern” take on parenting, or in more than one case, her […]
When the Ghosts Come Ashore and every place else
I know I read When the Ghosts Come Ashore. I am just not sure what I read. I mean I know what I read. Jaqcqui Germain is obvious: she explores the issues of race, gender, and violence. She talks about St. Louis and sees it live, laugh, love and bleed. She hits you in the gut and smacks you, too. But same time this is a love story. Germain is not for a one sit reading. You need to read each poem. Chew on it. […]





