Patricia MacLachlanRecensioni

{My Thoughts} – This a a neat little poetry like book about dogs. The short little poems describe each of the dogs. It is amazing how different each dog can be in terms of the things they like, their background, their job, their personality and more. This book helps children to know that each dog is different but they are each special in their own ways.

The words within the book go hand and hand with the illustrations. The illustrations help to bring the words on the pages into a more believable perspective. I really enjoyed it because I like animals and I like poetry. I can’t wait until I let my children read it, because I am certain they will enjoy it also.

{My Thoughts} – Jacob is the father to Anna and Caleb. They have been doing their best to make ends meet around their property without the help of a woman. But Jacob has decided that he is lonely and he does want the help of a woman so he puts an add in the paper asking for a wife. It doesn’t take long for him to get a reply from a lady named Sarah. Sarah is not your typical woman though. She likes to do things for herself and she has lots of beliefs in independence. So once she gets her bearings she asks Jacob to teach her how to plow the fields, how to drive the wagon and how to ride a horse. She picks it all up very quickly.

All of Sarah’s independence starts to worry Anna and Caleb though. They think she wants to learn all this stuff so that she can leave them and not come back. They think that she misses her home in Maine and isn’t interested in being their dad’s new wife and their new mother. Does Sarah want to go back home? Does she want to be married? Does she want to be stuck in a land far from everything she’s familiar with? Does she want to become a mother to two children that are quickly growing up? I suppose you will need to read the book to find out.

My daughter had brought this book home, because she needed to read it for her AR program at school. I decided to read it with her, and I must say it is a nice little story. I may need to track down the other four books to this series sometime in the future.

If you like books similar to that of the Little House on the Prairie I am quite certain you will enjoy this book as well.

Cute story of a family who does animal rescue and the new neighbors who move in next door. Not much depth for an adult read, but should be fine for the target audience of younger children.

Grandma and grandchild are half a world apart, but she reminds him that they still see the same moon.

A sweet/bittersweet tale that will personally touch many of us who live far away from our families.½

This lovely book is an ode to cats, those who have kittens, those who are strays who come in from the rain, those who are the boss and let their owner know they are in charge.

Then, there are cats that like to crawl under the covers at night, others who are beatiful with white fur. some ar born in the farmer's barn, and there are cats who love to wait and then surprise the people who care for them.

Anone who loves cats will like this book.

A loving family of mother, father and two sisters, rescue and place Geat Pyrenees dogs. Brushed often, still there is always white fur adhering to almost every surface. There is a constant place of dogs rescued and brought into this home to be placed in another. It takes a lot of love and patience to get attached to a dog only to find a home for him/her. But, there is one dog that remains with them and this dog will perform a wonderful task when a little boy is dropped off at the neighbors house.

The family learns that he refuses to talk, and is very attached to their family dog. The two sisters grow to love the little boy, and the mother welcomes the little boy's aunt with whom he lives.

A nice story with a bit of drama, lots of love and the mission to help a little boy relearn to talk.

This is a beautifully illustrated book, depicting the emotions of a child and grandmother who live in different parts of the world, and long to be together more often. As always, this author writes with a depth of feeling and emotions that are heartfelt. She begins with the differences in the weather wherein she is experiencing snow, in Africa, her grandson is livling where the sun is hot. She writes of memories of reading books to him, and now he reads books, mainly about the moon.

Where she lives, there is ice skating on the pond of frozen ice. And if he were there with her, she would hold his hand and skate with him. Where he is, there is swimming on a lake and sand castles are made with the hot sand. He has sweet dogs and so does she.

It is obvious she loves her grandson and longs to keep the connection tied tight. This is a beautiful book highly recommended to any grand parent and grand child.

Four Stars

Nora's family moved from Russia. They moved in the hope of having a farm that will sustain their meals. Nora's brother is a baby and cannot talk with her. The next house can be seen, but it is not near. Nora's wants something of her own. Her father purchased baby chicken's to grow for food. Nora became very fond of the peeps and named each of them. One day a chick was missing. The neighbor girl, Susannah brought the chick to Nora. They then became friends.

One day, the chicks followed Nora and her friend to church. As her family walked down the aisle, so did the chickens. The minsiter smiled and said Welsome! "And welcome to Nora's chicks.

In addition to the chicks, a stray dog appears. Nora called him Milo. Now, she feels as though she has her mother, father, a brother., a family of chicks and a dog.

This isn't indepth, but it is a cute story.

AR: 3.4

Sylvie is ten, and thinks about how exciting it would be away from her parent's Wyoming farm. Then summer vacation arrives and Sylvie starts discovering how exciting small town life can be.

Cute story.

Memories of living on a farm in the middle of a prairie, as told by a child from a century ago. There are descriptions included that must have been experienced, and they make the narrative richer. The illustrations are of mixed media, unusual, but don't distract the reader, just enhance the book.½

A young boy recounts his great grandfather's tales from his youth, of school days in a one room schoolhouse, and of Three Names, their dog, in this charming little book.

Each page has a short poem about the cat featured, as told BY the cat featured. The illustrations are lovely, with just a slight touch of whimsy.½

A sweet book about a child born and raised on a farm as told from his perspective and from his family's reminisces. The illustrations are superb, too. This one is a keeper.

This is another lovely story of family love and life on the prarie. Told of the life of the family Great Grandfather, it was a quieter, moe subdued life. The children looked forward to school as it presented interaction tat as so very needed when the houses are far apart from each other and the land is flat and seems never ending.

The story revolves around famly values, taking care of one another, particularly centered around the dog with three names, Lilly, Boos and Pal. Great-Grandfather called him Three Names. He rids on the big wagon with the children who are transported to school.

Because houses are so far apart, school is the main place of interaction. And unlike many children today who hate the summer to end, the children on the prarie cannot wait for it to behin.

Three names was a pet to all thea dults and children with whom he cam in contact with, except for a young boy named William. In the winter when the snow piled high on the big, flat prarie, the wind whipped the air and it was necessary to build a fire inside the school for warmth. Winter holidays meant parties for everyone. All children and their extended familes attended the festivites of lights in the windows which were welcoming becons for people to find the school. There was fiddle playing, food, punch, singing and the teacher graciously sacrificed his earnings and gave a book as a present to each student. Three Names was part of the party and he howled when he liked something.

Life on the prarie, may have been somewhat boring for the children, yet, there were instances of terror when the flat lands were ripe for tornadoes. When this occurred on a school day, there was a cellar where children could hide from the nastiness above. Three Names shook as he heard the howls and ugly sounds.

When school ended, it was with sadness, not clapping. But this too was a time for celebration. And each student wore starched shirts, or dresses and shiny shoes of the girls.

Yet another occasion for food, fiddle playing and a celebration as each graduate heard their name called. And, because Three Names attended school as well, he too was sad when another year of learning ended.

While I didn't live on a prarie, this book reminded me that there were occasions of school festivies, when everyone was dressed as well as our parents could afford. And, always, there was an air of excitement, especially during holidays where we shared and gave and received a presentt of the person who had the name to give or receive.

Halloween was a special event at my small school. The teacher gave us black and orange paper to cut out pumpkins and black cats. Our decorations adorned the school windows. There were no restrictions of watching for anyone who had an allergy that would exempt them from sharing cup cakes, candy and punch.

There was a Haloween parade and their were judges for customes. My mother always made a creative outfit and she was sure we would win. There was always tension when she didn't win the prize for us. My sisters and I hated that because it put a damper on the fun time.

We had a Christmas concert, and it wasn't called a "holiday" concert. My knees shook as I sang the three lines of solo during the concert. It wasn't a time of political correctness and I remember singing the words "Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel who mourns in lowly excile until the King of God appears " Even James H_____. looked handsome with his white shirt and slicked hair. The dark lights in the audience hid my grandmother's face, but I knew she would be in the audience and would wait for me to walk to home together.

And, the firehall always had a special event when Santa would arrive to give us an orange and a small box of candy which had a heavy string affixed to the outside so we could carry it wighout dropping. There were no instances of fruit and vegetables instead of a box of candy that was made by the local Main Street candy store was a very special treat!

This book was a tribute to times gone by, when special times were set aside to celebrate an important happening. Life was hard, but good on the prarie. At least Patricia MacLachlan thought so. She should know because she was raised in the prarie, and while this book was a tribute to Three Names, it also was an accurate depiction of how many children felt during all seasons of the year.

This is aother light read of a family working together to appreciate the joys and simplicities of life. I continue to read Patricia MacLachlan's works because she writes with such style and depth of feeling that after reading her books, I am left with a sense of calm and joy.

In this story, Sylvie Bloom's mother was an well-known, renowned opera singer who gave the fame and glory behind to live on a country farm with a husband and two children. She cannot understand why her mother left all the glory behind to now sing with chickens and cows and live a simple life.

This haunts Sylvie to the point of fear that one day her mother will regret all she gave up and will return to that life, leaving her family behind. There is nothing that would confirm her feelings. Instead, her mother is very content and loves the life she has with two childen, a wonderful community and the calmness of a sky filled with stars and a husband who takes her in his arms and dances with her.

When Sylvie is asked to accompany the local sherrif and ride in his vehicle with her to see the happenings of the communitiy, she uses her writing skills to produce poems about her life and about what she discovers in the rural roads and the small town existence.

When she becomes sick with Phemumonia, her mother could have sung on stage with her former opera-singing partner who happens to have a concert nearby, and instead she stays home with Sylvie while her father and brother attend the concert, she learns the meaning of love and that her mother would not change anything for the wondeful life she has.

When the owners of a cat Nigel, and a dog Julia noticed that a small room was newly painted, small little boots were found in a bag, a big piece of furniture was in the newly painted room Nigel predicted it was for a baby. And sure enough, a baby soon arrived. The first reaction was "We don't need a baby." But, as they noticed the baby and her actions they couldn't help but want to be with her night and day.

A cute book co-written by Patricia MacLachlan and her daughter Emily. This is told from the imagined perspective of the two animals who noted she was a bitty little thing. Soon they called her Bittle. When she cried, they ran to her crib. Nigel wrapped himself around the baby and purred. She stopped crying.

Nigel hit the hanging ornaments on the mobile above her bed, and he sang a song to her when she needed company. Nigel Meowed, and Julia howled. Bittle smiled. Soon she threw all her toys out of the crib and the animals threw them back at her, except for one kept by Julia.

They both admitted helping Bittle was hard work, but fun as well. They both slept under the crib in order to quickly be with her when she cried or needed a playmate. When she crawled, they followed her. When she played with the toilet paper, Julla told her she
really liked the toilet as well.

The babies first words were Wolf, and Meow.

There's nothing in depth, but every book by this author is special. The way in which they paint the relationship with the baby and the animals is touching.

While not my favorite, it did bring a smile as I read it.

This is not as a nice tale of nine-year-old Jacob whose life is turned upside down when his parents bring home triplets from the hospital.

Rather than being jealous, as many children might be, he is enthralled with the three little girl identical babies. Prior to this, he begged his parents for a puppy. He knows what a litter of puppies looks like, but a liter of baby girls is quite different. He learns that they are not a litter, which is what he called them for his science school project, but as they grow they each have unique personalities. He previously called them "The Trips." Now, he knows they are individual children.

Each makes different sounds, each one relates to him differently, and while they all look alike, they are not puppies of a litter, they are independt little babies. When his parents bring them to class while he is giving his science presentation regarding their growth, one of the babies takes her first steps. The entire class is enthralled and claps, leaving Jacob with a huge smile, and an A for his efforts.

There isn't a sad life-changing event in this book as with some other of her works, rather, this is a fun story of a family working together to make this major shift be a happy part of their lives as together, with a loving assistant who adds additional love to the family.

If you are looking for a fast read of a story that is heart warming, then this is a good book.

The writing is as beautiful as ever with the team of Patricia MacLachlan and her daughter Emily MacLachLan Charst

This book contains such stunning artistry that I read it three times and carefully examine all the minute detail in the breathtaking art. I understand why David Diaz was the recipient of so many stellar awards for illustrative abilities.

Page after stunning page, Patricia MacLachlan and her daughter Emily wove the story of a young pregnant mother who enjoys her pregnancy and loves the world around her. Her husband is kind, her grown cat brought the gift of three kittens, each a different color and beautifully rendered,

As the expectant mother tells the reader of her lovely life, the words convey gratitude and a sense of the miracle of pregnancy and delivery of a life.

The joy of motherhood is obvious as the young mother notes she still has all the lovely things that surround her, only now, they are
rendered more meaningful because they are shared with her baby.

I've read many beautifully illustrated books. This one is breathtaking and a notch above others.

I highly recommend you obtain a copy and keep it on your shelf where you can continue to soak in the beauty of the story and the accompanying are rendered iradescently with rich patterns of the joy and appreciate of nature. The book radiates joy and color and incredibly captures the wonderful feeling of carrying a life inside. The is a book of nature and the appreciation and beauty therein.

FIVE STARS

ohn loves to spend time with his grandparents. This is a special story of a little boy who is attached to his blind grandfather and learns to "see" the way in which his grandfather does. Through quiet listening, his grandfather shows John how to feel the time of day, how to name the specific flowers by smell, and how to see through the way in which the wind blows. There are many ways in which his grandfather influences him with a deep shared love.

I particularly like the way in which this author paints a story of family love, of time spent together reading, feeling the sun, the wind, and knowing despite challenges, life can be very good indeed.

Another wonderful book by this author who never fails to touch the heart through her remarkable ability to paint images of life lived in love and meaning.

The book jacket reviewing this beautiful tale notes that MacLahclan writes with "spare & poignant prose," and that is surely true. Never maudliln, always heartfelt, this story looks at familial grief and plodding through day by day after losing a husband and father.

Finn and Fiona O'Brien loved their father deeply. They remember him through his pithy phrases. He was a therapist and his language seemed to deeply address both happy and sad life occurences. When their father is tragically killed in a car accident after he swerved to miss hitting a dog and little boy, they grapple with how to move forward.

Their loving mother is supportive, and is also grieving deeply. Together, the three of them, and others whose lives he impacted remember the love he so freely gave to all. He loved playing basketball with his family and it became a tradition of fun. His favorite song was Dona Nobis Pacem, "Grant Us Peace." and the family remembers him by listening to this beautiful music.

Woven in the tale is one of Declan O'Brien's clients who calls once a week to check in with the family. He adds a clear sense of how special this wonderful man was who helped so many through love, patience and kindness.

When Luke recommends that Finn and Fiona volunteer at a local animal shelter, they soon find meaning in helping dogs without a home. In particular, Finn, whose grief is so very raw, finds a dog whose master died. Slowly, Finn brings this dog away from the wall where he was stationed away from interaction. Fiona also finds a soul mate with a dog they bring home.

Stunningly beautiful, the author never fails to touch the heart of many readers.

What a delightful feast for the eyes. I read this, read it again, then again. The sheer beauty of the writing and the exquisite illustrations lead me to return this to the library and then purchase a personal copy. While my new years resolution for 2024 is to cull my books and only keep those at the top of the list, this one certainly qualifies as a keeper.

Interestingly, the artist chose to use a cut out format to the illustrations so that one page lead to another to another and yet another.

Beginning with the winter awakening from a nap, the first cut out leading to page two focuses on the sounds of spring and the caw of crows. The earth contains spiders with beautiful webs, and large birds crossing the sea while there is a mole underground making a path. The earth guides the chimp to her night nest, while the zebra finds his mother from the other hundreds of black and white stripes mesh together, but are unique in their pattern.

As the other seasons progress, the winter returns as the reindeer living on the tundra graze for food while the ice glistens and the baby polar bears carefully navigate via their padded paws. As the Friend eart pours summer rains to fill the streams throughout the fields and downhill of the mountains, the water flows out to the sea. The earth blows hearty autumn winds the sweep the trees as the colored leaves float to the ground.

As the winter coats the earth once again with snow and ice, the mother animals find dens for their babies to be born and hibernate until once again the spring returns.

Stunningly beautiful this book is one to enjoy, like the seasons, changing again and again.

If she writes young adult Newbery books, or works with imaginative artists to create increibly beautifully illustrated books, this is a writer who deserves to be one of the best of the best and favorite to many.

FIVE STARS

This book was loaned to us in the months leading up to Ms birth and we liked it so much we bought it shortly after Ms was born. Mx really seemed to be comforted by the fact he would always be the 1st. It is sweet story about becoming a big sibling and I'm not going to lie, I lost it a bit on the "You were the first to teach us how to be parents" page.

After so many wonderful books by this author, this book fell flat. Unlike so many of her wonderful description books, this one lack the sentimentality and joy of the many other books I've read. I kept hoping for some redeeming qualities, but it was page after page of boredom.

Two grandchildren are spending the summer with their beloved grandparents who live on an island. Sadly, Louisiana and her brother Jake help as much as possible, but this his macular degeneration is not a condition that can be stopped, and gradually wears away at the eye's vision.

The children's parents are on an archeological dig and Louisiana and Jacke love being with their grandparens so much so that they do not want to leave as the new school system approaches.

Louisiana meets a fascinating boy who lives on the island. And he quickly becomes someone to love and adore. Even this relationship seemed emotionless.

Jacke is the remeeming character. He likes to paint and is quite a wonderful photographer. He tries to take photos of things he knows his grandfather cherishes and wants very much to hang them throughout the house while grandpa's eyes afford some semblance of sight.

There is a storm on the island, but even that lacks description of the fear such a storm can create.

After so many wonderful books by this author, I'm not giving up. I have many more to read, and I am quite sure the many books I haven't read yet will be stellar.

I'll admit it, reading this little book and looking at the striking illustrations brought a tightness to my throat, and a dampness to my eyes. I will gift it to my granddaughters, as they will soon be moving away from their current home, and what they knew first.