Nibbling trees

Oh books books books.  such a good distraction from our appalling colds and coughs...  whether you are reading them aloud, trying to read them yourself from memory or simply trying to chew them.

Christopher Nibble by Charlotte Middleton.  Christopher Nibble is a quirky little guinea pig who, along with all the residents of Dandeville adores eating dandelions...  unfortunately the dandelions run out.  Christopher finds the last one, cares for it, waits, and then blows the dandelion clock to re-sow the favourite food all over again.  This is a unique little story that J picked herself at the library.  She liked the endpaper pictures of Christoher Nibble in all his different pairs of shorts.  I like the theme of growing things and the illustration of the dandelion seeds blowing everywhere is gorgeous.  It is also hilarious to me as an adult that the dandelions would run out.  That would never happen... maybe we need a few guinea pigs in our garden?!

Up the Tree by Margaret Atwood.  This is so nicely and simply illustrated and its also a pleasant poem-story written by Atwood in her early days.  A foreword explains the illustrations were in only 2 clours, red and blue (with a purple-brown mix of the 2 for interest) due to printing cost limitations.  Its all the more beautiful for the lack of colour.  I wish we owned this one... its whimsical, its fun, its about that freedom to play in a tree all day.  I love anything about trees or treehouses anyhow.  I will never tire of reading it over and over.

(My message in 'Book borrowers round up' posts is to say: use your local library whenever you can.  borrow books... go... borrow them.  Keep our local libraries open! )