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  Ladybug Girl and Her Mama by Jacky Davis & illustrated by David Soman Ladybug Girl loves her mama, and can’t wait to spend the day with her. They plant flowers in the garden, share a special lunch, and enjoy a favorite movie. Together-time has never been so sweet. Just right for Mother’s Day! My …

Like a moth to flame, one cover drew me to it when I spotted it on the shelf on my last trip to the library. It was a burst of yellow sunshine among dozens of books – literally, the book jacket was painted in vibrant yellow, my favorite colour. Read more after the jump. I am [...]

One Witch

Written by Laura Leuck

Illustrated by S.D. Schindler

Walker and Company, 2003

ISBN: 0-8027-8860-2

One Witch is a counting book.  The witch in question has an empty cauldron and sets off to fill it, receiving gruesome contributions from a variety of spooky friends - two cats, three scarecrows, and so on (all the way up to ten).  She then sends off invitations to everyone who’s helped her (thus counting back down from ten again) combines the myriad gross and random ingredients into a stew, and everybody gets to enjoy a bowl.

A spooky counting book that won’t let you down!

Goodnight, Baby Monster

Written by Laura Leuck

Illustrated by Nigel McMullen

HarperCollins, 2002

ISBN: 0-06-029151-6

Creepy creature babies everywhere, from monsters to spiders, goblins to gremlins and many more, are getting ready for bed in this charming book.  Lots of people like a nice, calming bedtime story to read to their babies and toddlers, but some of us get a little sick of the same tired old thing night after night.  Voila!  Goodnight, Baby Monster solves the dilemma of a parent who’s looking for something a little different.

You won’t find lambs or bunnies in here, or bid goodnight to a

My Monster Mama Loves Me So

Written by Laura Leuck

Illustrated by Mark Buehner

HarperCollins, 1999

ISBN: 0-688-16866-3

How does a little monster know his mama loves him?  There are the obvious things, like bug cookies and hairy hugs, of course.  And coming to all his ‘beastball’ games.  Or singing monster lullabies to help him sleep.

Leuck has come up with a whole book full of monstrous versions of things moms do for their little ones, and it’s every bit as adorable as you might be thinking, with great illustrations by Mark Buehner.  The short rhyming book takes you through a day in the life of a little monster, detailing all the ways his monster mama loves him and the things she does for him.

Author: Laura Leuck
Illustrator: S. D. Schindler (on JOMB)
Published: 2003 Walker Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0802777295

Chapters.ca Amazon.com

A ghastly cast of grinning graveyard neighbours pool revolting resources to concoct (and consume) an oozing, gurgling, gruesome stew in this superbly illustrated Hallowe’en counting rhyme.

Other books mentioned:

• The Ghost of Nicholas Greebe

Pop over to Big A, Little A for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

HOTLINE VOICES: Thanks to Todd Melby of 2 Below Zero for telling us about The Witches (by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake).

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.