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Lap Time - Book Reviews
These Books Spark Creativity!

by Terry Miller Shannon
Sometimes all it takes to make a child dream, imagine, and create is a spark from a book like these:

Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street
By Roni Schotter, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
ISBN: 0531071367

This truly delightful book actually sparked/sparkled creativity in me! Eva sits with her notebook, but can't write anything because "Nothing ever happens on 90th Street." But the quirky neighbors offer her advice, and Eva takes matters into her own hands (or should I say she tosses matter from her fingertips . . .?). What happens is a delightful orchestration of romance, food, and plot--all perfectly illustrated. The ending is so satisfying, I had to go back and reread the story.

If You Were a Writer
By Joan Lowery Nixon, illustrated by Bruce Degen
ISBN: 0689719000

Melia's mom is a writer. In this charmingly illustrated picture book, Mom gives Melia the scoop on how to think like a writer. Before you know it, Melia is making up stories with which she enchants her siblings. Better yet, she learns how satisfying it is to create a tale of her own. By the end of the book, Melia knows she is a writer. And the reader of the book feels the same way.

Love That Dog
By Sharon Creech
ISBN: 0064409597

A student named Jack reluctantly learns to love writing and reading poetry in this book composed of free verse poems. The new poet pens a tale about his dog that brought tears to my eyes. This is a quick, moving read, and may well inspire readers (ages 8-12) to try their hand at verse.

Drawing Lessons from a Bear
By David McPhail
ISBN: 0316563455

This little bear has a passion for drawing. It starts when he doodles in the dirt floor of their den. The more he draws, the better his drawings are. He scrounges paper scraps. He draws pictures for his mom who hangs them up. When he grows up, he draws for royalty. The end papers include some tips on drawing (I plan to try some of these myself!) This book will encourage all your little Rembrandts to believe in themselves and their art. What could be more important?

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Terry Miller Shannon and her son, Tim Warner, wrote a funny, rhyming picture book. Tim's three-year-old bath-loving son inspired TUB TOYS (Tricycle Press, 2002), which MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW says is "..greatly recommended..whimsical and fun." Check it out at Tub Toys



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