an exploration of the foibles of rules and ownership

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an exploration of the foibles of rules and ownership

ages 2 to 8 years
Ownership is a slippery concept, especially where pets are concerned. Is it really possible to own another living thing—and how does the pet view your relationship anyway! It gets even more complex if your ‘pet’ is actually a wild animal. Wilfred is pretty sure he owns a moose! He calls the moose Marcel and gives him a list of rules, some of which the moose follows really well, others not so well. But Wilfred is happy

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a profound exploration of death and the intertwining of grief and joy

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a profound exploration of death and the intertwining of grief and joy

ages 6 years to adult
Because grief, when it visits, consumes us and seems to blanket all the world in sadness, our inclination is to shield children from its depths, or to show them how to escape as quickly as possible. It’s a strange, if quintessentially human, response. Our great love for the children we care about motivates us but 

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on the permanence and importance of words

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on the permanence and importance of words

For over a hundred years now, we’ve been telling ourselves that the pen is mightier than the sword. And although it sometimes it seems that the sword is winning, ideologies and causes and words usually come before the sword. Which is why it’s so important that our words be words of truth and hope and love. The solemn thoughts in the above quote are from In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner. They're spoken by a father to his young, beloved daughter

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encouragement to imagine and rethink our own purpose and place in life

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encouragement to imagine and rethink our own purpose and place in life

ages 4 years to grownup
There’s an architect’s sensibility running through this book—probably because both author and illustrator trained as architects. It has a feel for space and design that's modern yet classic, a bit like an excursion to a modern art gallery. Simple shapes become

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one book each—these are funny! because they're so true!

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one book each—these are funny! because they're so true!

a board book for baby and a fun picture book for grownups
Does this pretty much sum up life for you too? (I’m sure there’s a male equivalent: ‘I was going to be the perfect husband. I was to going to paint and build and mow and mow and mow???’) Check out the rest of Judy Horacek’s 'Topic of the Month' cartoons here—so funny.

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a whale of a counting ride!

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a whale of a counting ride!

Counting is fun. Counting backwards is even more fun. Counting funny animals backwards — best! In this totally charming book, animals line up roughly by size—and there’s a bossy seagull who keeps them all in line while they wait. The animals make cheeky jokes, push and shove each other and play a game of animal Word Chain. It’s all lots of fun and things build to a surprising and funny climax.

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movie night: Children of Heaven + a lovely friendship book

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movie night: Children of Heaven + a lovely friendship book

ages 5 years and up (if you're willing to read out subtitles)
Here’s a wonderful movie that you might like to try for a family movie night. Children of Heaven is an Iranian film about a boy who loses his sister’s only pair of shoes. Their family is poor and their mother is ill so the children conspire to share the boy’s shoes. It’s sad, funny, charming and troubling all at once. 

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