Egmont’s Last List

Via Writing and Illustrating comes word that Egmont is closing their doors at the end of January, leaving their authors to fend for themselves. I can only imagine the emotional turmoil these writers must be going through right now. This blog posts lists the final set of books available from Egmont. Buying these books isn’t the only way to show these writers some much needed love. You can also review the books on Amazon or Goodreads, or check out copies of the books from your local library. It’s all good.

2015 Reading Resolutions

Last year, Reading in Winter got me hooked on reading challenges. Theirs was pleasantly complicated and arranged in a bingo format that kept me reading until I’d read all the books. Goodreads has a basic reading challenge too — you set a goal for how many books you’re going to read this year, and then do it. This year I had a few particular reading habits I wanted to put in place, but couldn’t find a reading challenge that would prompt me to do them all. So I made up my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Mouseton Abbey

I may be desperately seeking last minute Christmas gifts, but I’m not that desperate. Or am I? Related Links: More Wordless Wednesdays on Caterpickles

Help Penguin Random House #GiveABook to a child in need this holiday season

This holiday season, Penguin Random House wants to use social media to spread the joy of reading to children in need throughout the U.S. Every time someone posts or tweets a message containing the hashtag #GiveaBook on Facebook or Twitter between now and 12/25, Penguin will donate a new book to Save the Children.

Book Review: Cat and Crow (Classic Caterpickles)

Last night, out of the blue, The Seven-Year-Old pulled this picture book off the shelf and asked if she could read it to me. Listening to…

Caterpickles consults Daddyo: What does “fever and ague” mean?

One of the things I love most about reading old books are the weird medical terms you can find buried within them. My daughter, running across the term “fever and ague” in a Little House on the Prairie book, naturally wanted to know what it meant.

Wordless Wednesday: The Seven-Year-Old finally gets her kitten

Introducing Canelo, our new super sweet and snuggly 4 month old kitten.

The Villains of Children’s Fiction in the Dock

Over the weekend, a Caterpickles reader in London sent me a copy of an infographic from Lovereading detailing the sentences famous children’s book villains would have received, had they been tried in a European court (Thanks, Joe!).

I had two responses to it: 1) I cannot believe the terrible things that happen in children’s books. 2) Mr. McGregor TOTALLY deserved what he got.

Classic Caterpickles: “Does Santa smoke?” Or how to use Santa to talk to your kids about smoking

This year, Patricia McColl self-published a version of Clement Moore’s classic poem, Twas the Night before Christmas, which edited out all mention of Santa smoking his pipe. And that’s a shame, because censoring objectionable things in old books robs parents of a chance to talk to their kids about why opinions on those things have changed.

Wordless Wednesday: Sick Day

This fall, The Six-Year-Old caught a particularly nasty cold that dragged on for what seemed like weeks and weeks. In truth, it was five consecutive days…