Petite Stag Favorite

Have you misplaced something lately? Hermelin is just the mouse you need to meet.

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Hermelin

I have met the most wonderful character, a very smart detective named Hermelin the Detective Mouse by Mini Grey.  This book is so much fun.  The illustrations are wonderful, they almost have a Richard Scarry feel to them in how much is happening on the pages.  If you happen to watch this video below, you will see that the publisher likened this book to Ratatouille meets Sherlock Holmes!

Hermelin is very smart, he loves to read books as well as type notes on his type writer.  Even more so he loves to solve mysteries of lost things.  The people who live on his street misplace things quite often which keeps Hermelin quite busy.  The residents are so thrilled that all of the mysteries and misplaced things have been found that they throw a thank you party for Hermelin, however it does not go as planned.

Hermelin is charming in his innocence.  When he is discovered he ponders over what is so bad about a mouse?  He is perplexed and so naturally he consults his encyclopedia and realized the devastating truth.  “Unclean, unhygienic, unwanted”  Worst of all a “pest”.  At this point you feel so badly for this darling binocular wearing mouse.

But do not despair quite yet, just when the reader begins to fret for Hermelin and his mental state and future, Hermelin awakes to find a note in his bed and an advertisement needing a detective mouse with just his set of special skills.  Hermelin joins Emily(who happens to live downstairs) for breakfast and they put together their plan for a detective agency.  This book is perfect for little ones four to eight year olds.  My almost two-year old likes looking at the illustrations especially looking around the pages for Hermelin.  I personally loved reading this book there is so much to see, it is the type of book that you notice something new in the illustrations with each reading.

Don’t forget to enter to win our baby bundle, the giveaway ends tomorrow night!  Hurry for your chance to win.

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How to Enter

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The Perfect Book for Sensitive Souls

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My eldest daughter is a sensitive soul.  A petite who worries about what others think and sometimes struggles with being shy, not all of the time, but there are times where she’s worried that others are laughing at her and not with her.  Sometimes that worry stifles her confidence.  I am sure most of you can relate to this in some way.  There are lots of sensitive souls walking among us.  As a mom, teacher and book lover I look for books that resonate, that are important and have the potential to impact my girls.

Source: Candlewick Press

Source: Candlewick Press

Recently we borrowed Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance by Birgitta Sif from the library this book does all of these things.  This is the story of Frances Dean a petite who loves to dance, she is moved by the wind and the birds signing in the trees, she loves to dance – it is her passion.  The only problem is that she is unsure of dancing when others may be watching.  She is worried that they will see her.  This is something that I could relate to immediately, my darling daughter does the same thing, and that is when my heart skipped a beat, Frances Dean is like so many little girls and boys, who have hidden talents that they are apprehensive to share.

Frances Dean goes from smiling and dancing everywhere she goes to being incredibly sad, she forgets how to dance, she even slumps down on her park bench, which worries her bird friends who she always danced freely with.  The birds in this story show Frances Dean  another little girl who can sing and sings even when people might be watching, Frances Dean wonders if she will be able to be like the little girl and share her talent without worry.  She builds her own confidence and when she feels comfortable and is ready, then she begins to share her talent and passion with those around her.  What she discovers is that people love her dancing and that they even want her to teach them her moves.

One thing that I love is that her parents aren’t featured in the problem solving.  Frances Dean works to build her confidence and does it herself.  I think that this is the first story I have read where the petite is empowered on her own.

This book is beautifully written, even the inscription by Ms. Sif is sincere and completely touching.

To all those who live with all their heart

This book is absolutely perfect in every way.  As a teacher I have taught many students who were sensitive souls just like Frances Dean, this book is so much more than a picture book about a little girl, it is inspiring, confidence building and empowering.  This book should be in all classrooms and school libraries.

Happy Saturday,
Erin

The Princess in Black

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I’ve mentioned before my petites love of all things princess (here).  A few weeks ago I was doing some research on early chapter books for her and one title keep popping up – The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale with illustrations from the amazing LeUyen Pham.

The Princess in Black

This book is all about Princess Magnolia, who is a perfectly charming pink frilly dress wearing princess.  However, when her monster alarm sounds she is ready to change into her alter-ego The Princess in Black.  The Princess in Black is fearless and knows just what to do to save the goats from dangerous monster who is threatening to eat them.  She does this all while sneaking out of a tea party with Duchess Wigtower.  The only real problem is that the Duchess is sneaky – will she find out what Princess Magnolia is hiding?  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

What I love about this book, where to start.  I’ve read a huge amount of princess stories and this one is by far my favorite.  I thought I may need to sell the petite on it, since she is so used to her Disney princesses, however, this book needs no arm twisting – that is what happens when you read a truly wonderful story about a strong willed heroine.  It is a perfect early chapter book – the chapters are shorter and really engaging.  It is a real page turner, numerous times in reading the story my petite begged me to read just one more chapter.  She was just dying to know what would happen and to be honest, so was I.

I also love the illustrations, they are vibrant and really fun.  The book itself is high quality, the pages are thick and glossy and really sturdy for little hands.  Another aspect that is by far my favorite, this book is not just for girls.  This book is for any petite that likes adventure, if you like a strong will protagonist who saves the day, then this book is for you.  The Princess in Black is awesome!

I am thrilled that book #2 is slated to come out sometime in the fall, which will be a welcome addition to our shelves.  This is a great book, I am sure your petites will enjoy it as much as mine did.  Here is a bit more about this fabulous book.  Enjoy!

Source: Candlewick Press

Source: Candlewick Press

A Girl with Gumption: Julia’s House for Lost Creatures

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Source: Macmillan

Source: Macmillan

Name Your LinkIn Ben Hatke’s lovely story Julia’s House for Lost Creatures you will quickly fall in love with the protagonist.  Julia is a little gal with gumption.  The petites and I love this book.  The magic starts even before the story begins with the amazing illustrations – Julia’s house resides upon a giant tortoise!  The petites screamed with delight, the adventure continues just as you would expect.  Julia is delightful, she has a lovely house with a fire and toast and tea, but alas her house is too quiet.  Although I have to say I think her house is delightful, I love that she is sitting reading by the fire with a cup of tea, Julia is my kind of girl.

She gets to work making an inviting sign for Lost Creatures and low and behold the most amazing bunch show up; dragon, mermaids, goblins, ghosts and trolls are just a few.

These lost creatures are not very good at cleaning up, as my petite pointed out during the story.  Julia then goes to work again making a chore chart for her new guests.

The story is completely delightful, the illustrations are divine.  I love that she opens her home to lost creatures and has this sweet nature about her.  I also love that she helps the creatures to be responsible and creates a chore chart – this was a huge hit with my petite, she asked if she could have a chore chart too…thank you Ben Hatke, thank you very much.

I adore Julia, her strong will and gumption.  Those amazing red curls.  Everything about this book is visually pleasing, it is a book that has to be read numerous times to see all of the little details, a book you want to read to discover said details with your petites.  I can’t wait to see what Mr. Hatke comes up with next.