Who am I and why am I writing this blog? Hmmm…
I’ve loved books since I was a toddler in the 60’s, and I’ve never outgrown my love of great children’s literature.
I’m a mom to four awesome people — one teaching in Europe, one in college, two in high school. We’ve had a rich time learning together via homeschooling, reading countless books over mugs of tea.
I earned a degree in Writing, and find pleasure in words.
I believe in non-electronic pastimes for children — books and paints and rain boots and hammers and bicycles and ukuleles and fresh air and the wide world — for the sakes of their bodies and minds and souls.
water is interesting
peeling potatoes is interesting
Hi Jill,
I’m excited about your blog! We’re always looking for new ideas. Do you have some specific poetry books that you recommend? We’ve been using A Child’s Introduction to Poetry this year and I’m wondering what would be a good follow-up with poems that are pretty easy to understand.
Grace to you,
Doreen
Doreen,
I’d say it depends a bit on how your kids have responded so far to poetry. If they are interested enough to absorb it without the beautiful pictures you’ve had in your book, there are a number of books I like with large collections of poetry such as Favorite Poems Old and New, The Book of 1000 Poems, or The Oxford Book of Children’s Verse by Iona and Peter Opie. If your kids prefer to see illustrations which help them enjoy the poetry, there are a number of beautiful books that I’ve seen in my library with more of the classic poetry, such as The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems, or the Poetry for Young People series which are picture-book-size volumes featuring only one poet, or one with much more of a children’s poetry flavor that I own called The Random House Book of Poetry for Children by Jack Prelutsky. If you are looking for a more heavily illustrated book, I’d scope some out at the library to decide if you want to even purchase them or just borrow them because I think they must be quite pricey!
LOVE the photos that you put on here! I think I TOOK the one of Little You
When and where was the most recent one taken? It is a GREAT picture of all of you beautiful people!
I really like this, Mom! It’s interesting, fun, and informative. I love the pictures you chose!
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get to your new about page. It’s wonderful! I’m going back through your archives today to figure out some first chapter books to get for Orison for Christmas. He just turned 6 and is a reading fiend!
Oh, Molly…I simply cannot believe you didn’t get to this earlier!! Thanks very much for your encouragement.
Jill,
I am the author of a soon-to-be-released picture book. This is my first ever book and I’m working on ways to promote my work. Now I have to be honest, I have great respect for illustrators. Their work is something I could only dream to have the talent for.
My picture book profits are 100% being donated to charity. It is going to the Toledo Children’s Hospital oncology unit. My nephew was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2009. I’ve spent countless hours with him and his friends in the hospital. They are true heroes and teach me everyday what real strength is. I am using the money to buy games, toys, books, video games and things for the kids to do, whom spend weeks at a time admitted.
I’m writing you on behalf of my illustrator Karl A. Diaz. My picture book is his first ever published art and we are working to get both of our names and work out there. As you can tell this is very close to my heart. Karl did all 23 pages and bookmark as a donation to the charity. His work is beautiful and unique. Is it possible for you to do an illustrator piece or even an interview with him on your blog?
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!
-Erika
Erika: Your book sounds like a work of love. I don’t foresee doing any interviews on my blog, but I wish you all the best in your efforts on behalf of the hospital. Have you read
Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie
, by Jordan Sonnenblick? It’s about a young boy with leukemia, and is a fantastic story.
I love your blog. I have a new blog about children’s literature. May I put a link to your blog?
http://polliwogpages.blogspot.com
Yvonne, by all means! I am honored by any link with your blog. I am non-techno enough that I don’t even know what a button/link is! But if you know how to do this, be my guest
Do you have a button/link?
[...] February 20th, 2011Black History Month: Books for 12 and underI’ve known Jill Swanson for a long time. You’d have to look far and wide to find someone more devoted to education [...]
I have made a button for you. Please email me at yvonblake(at)faithwriters(dot)net so I may send it the code to you.
I will explain how to use it on your blog (if you want to).
I found your blog via a google search for My Naughty Little Sister, and loved the trip down memory lane.
I’ve been asked to choose a story or a poem to be read out at the non-religious naming ceremony of my best friend’s daughter, who is also two that day. I won’t be there because I live abroad. I’d love to choose an extract from a children’s book that would express hope for the future, happiness, love and the importance of friendship.
If you have any ideas, I would be very, very grateful for assistance!
Rebecca
mountainwords (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi, Rebecca. The naming ceremony sounds like a beautiful day. I’ll think about it and see if I come up with anything. At any rate, I’d love to hear what you choose!
Rebecca,
As I was looking for a poem for tomorrow’s blog, I came across one called “Barter” by Sara Teasdale which made me think of you. As far as a book, one that comes to mind is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. At least that has all the themes that you mentioned and there might be something in the closing couple of chapters that brings all of that together. Best of luck!
Thank you so much for introducing me to Barter – what a beautiful poem. I am going to use it – I couldn’t think of a better message to send to a child.
I’m so glad it works!
Loved stumbling across your blog as I why searching for some inspiration for a illustration/cartoon I am working on.
Funnily enough it will contain marmite, though I don’t like it myself
Claire, I enjoyed your blog! I have a great deal of trouble commenting on blogspot as I am about as techno as an earthworm, but…your site is very cool. I’ll be looking for your marmite-inclusive illustration
Hello!
Thanks for popping over to my blog
I have been with blogpsot for nearly five years now and the thing I hate about it, is the ruddy comment section! I am hoping that one day they will get around to fixing it, as you are not alone (far from it) in having problems with it.
Marmite is a teeny part of it, but it made me smile after reading above thing about it
Hi Jill,
I was wondering if you had an email where I can contact you in regards to picture books reviews.
Thanks,
Ashley
Sure. You can email me at jillswanson61@gmail.com
Jill
Hi Jill,
My family and I currently live in West Africa. Senegal, to be exact. We are church-planting missionaries. I’m just curious which country you lived in, and for how long?
I found the link to your site on Molly Piper’s blog. Glad to find another good resource for great books! We are a reading family!
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
Nice to meet a fellow-West African-dweller! We lived next door, in Guinea, for about 5 years. I haven’t been to Senegal, but we have several friends who live in Dakar, or who used to. Living overseas and taking time to read as a family is a great way to raise kids!
Lindsay,
I am a missionary in Senegal also – and good friends with Molly Piper. Who are you, and where do you live??? Have we met? If you have little kids, we should probably be friends!
Cara Herzberg
I have just been introduced to your blog and enjoy it thoroughly! You have great book suggestions and I need all I can get with my 3 little readers. Thank you!
Hi Jill,
I’m sure we have met a couple times, but I doubt you remember me. My husband and I are missionaries in Senegal, and I just want to tell you that I ADORE this blog. Julie Steller told me about it a while ago, and I devour it. Thank you for writing it, and for putting up pictures of all the books. I have two two year olds who would possibly sit and read all day if they didn’t have to eat and nap, and your blog is my guiding light. Whenever people ask what they can send us for the kids, I have a list of books ready from your blog. There is so much junk out there, I would have no way to discern, from this distance, what I should request for my kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Cara, I do remember you, and have had updates on you from time to time from Julie, the Networking Queen! Thank you so much for your encouragement. I love that your kids are itty-bitty book worms! And having lived overseas, I do understand the difficulty of knowing just how to use those precious pounds of shipping or baggage allowance! All the best to you as you head into hot season…