Author Archives: M.R. Nelson

Cover of the book Mama Zooms

Mama Zooms

Mama Zooms, by Jane Cowen-Fletcher  I’ll confess that this book entered our rotation because I thought it should: I liked the positive depiction of a wheelchair user. But it is a sweet, if simple, story, too. The child imagines all sorts of adventures while riding on mama’s lap. It was never a particular favorite of […]

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My Happy Life book cover

My Happy Life

My Happy Life, by Rose Lagercrantz, illustrated by Eva Eriksson  By the time this sweet little chapter book came into our lives, it was far too easy for my older daughter. But she read it anyway. It was a gift to her younger sister, who isn’t quite reading at this level on her own yet, […]

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Have You Seen My Potty book cover

Have You Seen My Potty

Have You Seen My Potty, by Mij Kelly, illustrated by Mary McQuillan  We were recently in New Zealand visiting family. My nephew is in the midst of potty training, and both my husband and I found ourselves reminiscing fondly about this book. It was a gift from some friends, and it was by far the most […]

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The Dark Blue 100 Ride Bus Ticket book cover

The Dark Blue 100 Ride Bus Ticket

The Dark Blue 100 Ride Bus Ticket, by Margeret Mahy  My older daughter absolutely loves this book, and it was one of the first chapter books with actual tension and potential bad things happening that she not only tolerated, but really liked.  Perhaps she was OK with the tension because the premise was so obviously […]

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Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! book cover

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck

Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly This is a thoroughly charming picture book about a little boy who thinks he doesn’t like his Auntie’s kisses… until one week, she misses her usual visit. It was a gift from New Zealand, from a Kiwi author whose books we […]

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The Ghost Library book cover

The Ghost Library

The Ghost Library, By David Melling  We found this utterly charming picture book at the library a year or two ago, and my younger daughter loves it. She just checked it out again, which prompted me to post about it. It is the story of a little girl who loves to read. One night, a […]

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Snake and Lizard book cover

Snake and Lizard

Snake and Lizard, by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop I didn’t set out to post two Joy Cowley books in a row, but we do have a lot of her books, so I guess it was bound to happen eventually! My older daughter loves to read, but hates tension in her books. We are […]

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Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas book cover

Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Christmas

Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Christmas, by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller Since it is near Christmas time, I thought I’d share a favorite Christmas book. In Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Christmas, the farm animals stage a mini revolt against the thought of a cold bath while Mrs. Wishy-Washy goes into town. My parents gave this book to my […]

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