book or treat 2: into the woods

2002 Broadway Revival Poster [source]  

Last October, I got such a great response for my "Book or Treat: Literary Pumpkins" post, I thought I'd delve into the world of literature again this year for some fun fall celebration ideas.  So step "Into the Woods" with me for some not-so-scary Halloween/Fall Woodland Party inspiration, costumes, and pumpkins.

Woodland Red Riding Hood Party
Inspiration: James Marshall's Red Riding Hood book.

So many choices - dress up as Red Riding Hood,
the wolf, or the Grandmother. [source:birds party blog]

Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
costumes [source: martha stewart]

Woodland Gnome Sweet Gnome Party
Inspiration: Wil Huygen's Gnomes book

Woodland Party table [source: nikkiikkin]

This fall birthday party is totally adaptable as a Halloween party
[source: tradewind tiaras blog]

Better Homes and Gardens Halloween issue 2012

Woodland Forest Children and Owls Party
Inspiration: Elsa Beskow's Children of the Forest book
(More Owl books here. Click here for more books by Elsa Beskow.)

Woodland Party table [source: simplified bee]

Toadstool cupcakes [source: parents.com]

"Mrs. Owl taught them the language of all that squeaks, swims, flies, or
runs.  She taught them to listen to the message of the wind, and to see
the approach of spring even before the first snowdrop".

Give a Hoot craft, made with cardboard t.p. tubes and
cupcake liners. [source: parents.com]

Owl Pumpkins [source: hostess with the mostess]

Woodland Friends Flower Party
Inspiration: Elsa Beskow's The Flowers' Festival book
(More Fairy books here. Click here for more books by Elsa Beskow.)

Better Homes and Garden's Special Interest fall issue 2012
fairy costume here

Leaf Fairy costume [source: martha stewart]

Rose Fairy costume [source: martha stewart]

lily of the valley costumes [source: martha stewart]

Acorn cookies: Hershey's kisses, mini Nilla Wafers,
and itty bitty peanut butter morsels [source: design dazzle]

Fairy Pinecone craft [source: red ted art's blog]

Pumpkin Fairy House [source:good housekeeping]

Looking for literary themed Halloween party ideas for preteens and teens?  Stay tuned...

ARE YOU READY FOR FALL?

"Autumn has caught us in our summer wear." 
- Philip Larkin, British poet (1922-1986)

Here in sunny Southern California, there are not yet many signs of the coming fall, but I have seen a growing number of black crows, getting ready for the pecans to fall from my backyard neighbor's huge tree.  And of course, Halloween merchandise is showing up everywhere.

Cover illustration for by Randolph Caldecott's Sing a Song for Sixpence (1880) - public domain.

This Saturday, September 22, marks the First Day of Autumn.  I noticed this shocking fact when I opened my pocket datebook yesterday, with the approaching equinox staring me in the face (equinox comes from the Latin words for "equal night." The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator.)

When our kids were growing up, we liked to celebrate fall and fun on Halloween, without too much fright.  I've heard many families express the same desire, so I'm constantly on the look-out for fun versus frightening Halloween ideas for my blog (click HERE to see some of my past pumpkin posts).  This year, I'm really liking black birds, versus bats (stay tuned for a fun party idea coming up in October!)

Birds on a wire? Find these cute paper clips HERE.
(Comes with 8 blackbird clips on a 36" cord)

Here's a cute product I recently came across...a teacher used it on a bulletin board with fun photos, literary quotes, and fall poetry.

Reminds me of the well-known English nursery rhyme, Sing A Song Of Sixpence:

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

My book recommendation for today?  A "haunting" quirky fable about crows and a snake:
The Crows of Pearblossom, by Aldous Huxley (yes, the author of Brave New World wrote a children's book)...how two silly crows - with the help of a wise owl - solve the problem of a hungry snake devouring their eggs is a tale of cleverness triumphing over greed.

Born in England and educated at Balliol College, Huxley relocated to Southern California with his family in 1937.  He wrote The Crows of Pearblossom for his niece, Olivia, in 1944 as a Christmas gift.  In 1967 it was published in a small-format edition (now out of print), illustrated by Barbara Cooney.

I ordered the new 2011 edition because I couldn't resist Sophie Blackall's wonderful illustrations!  Read a great overview/history of this picture book, HERE, and the NYTimes review "Aldous Huxley's Brave New Storybook", HERE.

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK FOR FALL

Johnny Appleseed, by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen. This folktale is one of America's oldest and it's based on a true story! John Chapman spent his adult life planting apple trees and maintaining orchards between his home in Massachusetts and the western frontier of Indiana. My kids loved this book (maybe partly because we have a "Jonny"!) The illustrations are done in a beautiful folk style, reminiscent of early American samplers.

From Library School Journal: This homespun book provides the perfect vehicle for the story of the legendary Johnny Appleseed. Lindbergh's poetic narrative, related by an elderly woman to her grandchildren, tells the story of John Chapman's life and travels, including tidbits referring to his kindness and piety, his nonviolence and bravery, and his respect for all living things. Grandmother Hannah's tale, simply told, holds the power to mist readers' eyes. Finely crafted folk art illustrations, painted on canvas and overflowing with tiny details, complement quilt pattern borders on the facing pages of text. Small panels within these borders show vignettes of Chapman's life and legacy. The full-page illustrations embellish Hannah's story and provide a clear glimpse of life on the frontier during the early 1800s. The book includes a short introduction and a page of factual information at the end. A map on the endpapers shows the states through which Chapman travelled.


Did you know --  author Reeve Lindberg is daughter of world-renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife, the talented writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh. About the illustrator:  click here to see other books by Kathy Jakobsen.

You can get an idea of the poetic text and beautiful illustrations of this book from this Scholastic video:

ELSA BESKOW: A SWEDISH ILLUSTRATOR

Cover of a Swedish school reader, Vill du läsa? (Do You Want to Read?)

Autumn is officially here, and what better illustration to post than this beautiful offering by one of my favorite children's book illustrators than Elsa Beskow (1874-1953).

In 1894 Beskow started to contribute to the Swedish children's magazine Jultomten. She went on to publish forty children's books with her own text and images. In her books Beskow used her own childhood experiences as a source for ideas. Her six children also inspired her work. Many of her books focus on nature, the relationships between children and adults, and children's independent initiative. She frequently combined reality with elements from the fairy tale world. In her stories and artwork, children meet elves, goblins, or fairies, and farm animals who can talk with people.

From Peter in Blueberry Land

Elsa Beskow is one of the most well known of all Swedish children's book artists (she's been called the "Beatrix Potter of Scandinavia"). Many of her books became classics and are continually reprinted. Beskow also illustrated ABC books and songbooks for Swedish schools. Her beautiful book pages are often bordered by decorative framework of the Art Nouveau style.

From Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS BY ELSA BESKOW:

AROUND THE YEAR - Delightful verses and delicate, playful illustrations that take young children through the special joys of each month of the year, from icy February to the green shoots of April, the red poppies of July, September’s apples, and the delights of December.

CHILDREN OF THE FOREST - Deep in the roots of an old pine tree live the children of the forest. Playing hide-and-seek with the squirrels, and snowballing in winter, each season brings its own adventures.

PELLE'S NEW SUIT - Pelle shears his lamb and gets the wool carded, spun, dyed, woven and made into a fine new suit.

PETER IN BLUEBERRY LAND - Peter is looking for blueberries for his mother’s birthday and he can’t find a single one. Suddenly he feels a light tap on his shoe, and a strange and magical adventure is about to begin.

WOODY, HAZEL AND LITTLE PIP - Woody and Little Pip Acorn have an unexpected adventure when they take a ride on an oak leaf. Mr. Squirrel and their friend sweet little Hazel Hazelnut go searching for the acorn boys, and they meet gnomes, trolls, a salamander and other woodland creatures along the way. A wonderful, fun story with beautiful illustrations that capture children's imaginations beautifully.

Just a few more days to enter my SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!  Bob Books SIGHT WORDS set for Kindergarten and First Grade is the gift.  To enter, leave a comment, start following my blog, or "like" my Facebook page by September 29th.  Winner will be announced on September 30, 2011.  CLICK HERE for more info. CONTEST OVER.

FALL IS CALLING MY NAME...

Here in Southern California, if it weren't for our "Liquid Amber" trees, we wouldn't get much fall color. When I catch a glimpse out my front window of the leaves beginning to turn red and gold, I can't help but harken back to the days when my kids were still at home...

pumpkin patches, hot cocoa with marshmallows on Saturday mornings, planning Halloween costumes, cooler nights...

My son, Jonny (second from the right with sunglasses)

...and as they got older, marching band practice, and high school football games

and even a few trips to where we could REALLY find fall!

My daughter in NY City's Central Park.

I miss those days, but now I have more free time with my hubby, for fall wanderings, pumpkin lattes, and Autumn Breakfasts out on the patio...

...and more time to search out fun children's books and poems to share with you on my blog.  This poem is perfect for the beginning of fall, and is simply titled:

"PUMPKIN POEM"

One day I found two pumpkin seeds.

I planted one and pulled the weeds.

It sprouted roots and a big, long vine.

A pumpkin grew; I called it mine.

The pumpkin was quite round and fat.

(I really am quite proud of that.)

But there is something I'll admit

That has me worried just a bit.

I ate the other seed, you see.

Now will it grow inside of me?

(I'm so relieved since I have found

That pumpkins only grow in the ground!)

(From: The BIG Book of Reading, Rhyming, and Resources: Programs for Children, Ages 4-8, Authors:  Beth Maddigan, Stefanie Drennan, Roberta E. Thompson)