“Twenty Yawns” by Pulitzer Prize Winner Jane Smiley with Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo is a perfect bedtime story for all the young ones in our care. Dark, calming illustrations are eye-catching with clear details. The book is well-made with heavy-weight paper. It might be best to count all the “YAWNS” before reading the story just in case you and/or your listener falls asleep early.
Lucy has had such a fun busy day she is ready for bed, but first has to arrange her animals (all have original names!) in her bed and then yawn some more before finally falling asleep. Lucy’s artwork drawings of her family members magically join in her activity; somehow their cheery smiles turn into yawns at just the right time.
Our second brand new book is “The Night Gardener”. The Fan Brothers of Canada have written a delightful tale involving an orphan, mysteriously appearing topiaries, and change in the outlook of a town quite down in the dumps with not much going on.
The artistic gardener is very talented and his creations are so appreciated by the residents. As crowds gather to see the newest one each morning, their interactions increase with each other and they begin to feel more friendly and comfortable. By this time William from the orphanage has begun to help the night gardener and is given his own clippers. What a change an older man makes in his community and in the life of a small boy. Watch for the girl with the two pony tails and the wee pink pig!
These two books are available to purchase as a donation to the Children’s Library to honor a reader. Plus ever so many stories are ready for loaning from Cary. Come get ‘em!
The Cary Memorial Library is open Mondays-Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 532-1302.
Editor’s Note: The following article is a synopsis written by staff members and volunteers of the Cary Memorial Library in Houlton highlighting one of the suggested reading books, as determined by the staff.
