http://hamptonroads.com/node/584234 Books en-us Copyright 2012 PilotOnline.com / HamptonRoads.com. Sat, 26 May 2012 18:29:18 -0400 Every mother says it: “No, honey, you don’t need to get me anything for Mother’s Day. Just being your mom is enough.” http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/moms-everywhere Mon, 21 May 2012 09:17:14 -0400  “Giants Beware!” Raphael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre, ages 7 and up, First Second, $14.99. “The One and Only Ivan,” Katherine Applegate, ages 8-12, HarperCollins, $16.99 http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/girls-and-gorillas Mon, 21 May 2012 09:15:19 -0400 How interesting can they be? They’re just ducks. Actually, as zoologist Nicola Davies (author of a distinguished list of science books for young readers), there’s a lot going on in their feathered world, from late-night snacking to quacking, splashing water fights.   http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/books-feather Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:12:04 -0400 “What are you doing?” I asked my daughter and her friend, who were standing, suspiciously quiet, at the window. “We’re looking at the tree,” my daughter said, pointing across the street at a massive maple, which had just leafed out in the freshest green. “It’s beautiful.” http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/shades-green Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:09:02 -0400  I GET REPORTS several times a week about who is friends with whom in Grade 3. It’s a crucial part of life, affecting playground activities, lunchroom seating and chess partnerships. http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/best-books-worst-friends Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:05:33 -0400 You know you’ve entered a brave new world when Cinderella leaves behind not a glass slipper, but an entire foot.   http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/life-no-fairytale-cyborg-cinderella Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:02:39 -0400  In the universe of Bad Kitty, stray-cat policy is a major political issue, debates are on-air hissy fits, and if a political ad happens to imply that your opponent is actually a “big, stupid, sloppy dog,” well, that’s just the way the system works. http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/democracy-side-hairballs Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:59:14 -0400 Hanukkah and Christmas have come and gone, but some special times are worth holding on to for a little longer. Even after the days have passed, you can revel in the holiday feeling by sharing one of these books with a young reader. “Chanukah Lights” by Michael J. Rosen and Robert Sabuda. Ages 5 and up. Candlewick Press, $34.99. http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/looking-back-holidays Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:51:21 -0500 “A Dog Is a Dog” by Stephen Shaskan. Ages 2-6. Chronicle Books. $14.99. There’s nothing more straightforward than a big-eyed puppy dog – right? Stephen Shaskan’s playful floppy-eared pooch in “A Dog Is a Dog” wears sunglasses when he lounges in a kiddie pool and a striped scarf when he skates. But is he hiding behind more than a pair of shades? http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/hide-and-seek Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:42:56 -0500 The greatest adventure in the world is childhood – and by any measure, Allen Say and Ed Young have had extraordinary adventures. Now, after decades of telling other stories, the two author-illustrators have dived into their own histories to produce beautiful memoirs combining art and memory in a dreamlike way. http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/greatest-adventure Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:40:59 -0500