BookWorm – Page 2 – Amy Tetreault

I love reading.

Whether it’s fiction stories about faraway lands, biographies of spunky women, or non-fiction accounts of good cooking, I’m a reader. I’m even a connoisseur of little kid books.

And my favorite little kid book is a Caldecott Honor Book by Mr. Mo Willems. Maybe you’ve heard of it? “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!”

This amazing book is the simple story of a pigeon who really, really, really wants to drive a bus. Alas, the busdriver won’t let him and expects you (dear reader) to help in his mission against letting the pigeon drive the bus.

It’s funny, it’s quirky, it’s irreverent and it never ceases to make me smile. If you haven’t read this book, go plunk yourself down in the children’s section of your nearest local bookstore and check out the pigeon’s adventures. (Or some of his pals.)

Besides the basic awesomeness of this book, I also really love the author. I mean, just check out his dining room.

And if you live in my neck of the woods (the ole’ 01915), then familiarize yourself with all these great kids books at Cornerstone Books on Wednesdays and Saturdays with their Celebrity Story Hour, which invites local “celebrities” (they use the term loosely) to read to a group of adoring children. I’ve already been a guest “celebrity,” but this is a great weekly event for you and your kids to check out in the future!

PS: Did you know the Pigeon tweets?! The hilarity will never end.

OK. My fabulous friend Courtney recommended this book to me, coyly mentioning that it was her favorite book ever!. Which, if you know Courtney, is a big deal.

So I dove in headfirst and, let me tell you, was not disappointed. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows tells the story of writer Juliet Ashton and her relationship with the quirky residents of Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. Instead of a straight narrative, the book is a compilation of letters between Juliet and the Guernesy crew. The letters mostly discuss the occupation of Guernsey during WWII, which includes touching acts of camaraderie and heroism, as well as distressing tales of a war-torn island.

Sure, there’s no real “main character” (Juliet is blissfully wonderful, but not the end all, be all). And sure, the tales of Guernsey’s German occupation are tragic and disheartening. And, yeah, occasionally the discussion of books made me go “hey! stop telling me about books! i’m reading a book! tell me about your life!”

But never have I wanted to join a literary society so much.

And besides, aren’t you just dying to know where the name “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” came from?

Category: BookWorm

Because I’m a Bookworm…Little Kid Edition

Because I’m a Bookworm: Guernsey Edition