Book Review of "Where's Stretch?"Written by Sherri Allen
Review of: Where's Stretch by Karen Pandell, illustrated by Jill McElmurry Candlewick Press, July 2004 Hardcover, 18 pages ISBN: 0763615943 Recommended Ages: 2 - 5 Review by Sherri Allen: Children love lift-the-flap books. Children love dogs. Author Karen Pandell and Illustrator Jill McElmurry successfully combine two in "Where's Stretch?" a charming book that young readers will adore. The family of Stretch, dog, is getting ready for laundry day when they decide to give Stretch a bath. Of course, Stretch makes himself scarce and search for Stretch begins. Is he in closet? No. Is he in bathtub? No. Where can that dog be? Your children will delight in search for Stretch and will love surprise at end when Stretch's hiding place is revealed. The text is effectively presented as family dialogue, bringing reader into search for Stretch and eliminating a lot of unnecessary words that would detract from story and make things harder for beginning reader. The story was so compelling and easy to follow, my 2-and-a-half year old memorized book after having it only half a day. A few months later, after newness has worn off, it is still one of her favorite books.
| | ANTIQUE MAPS & PRINTS – UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFTS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCHWritten by Neil Street
Stumped this holiday season for what to give that “person with everything?” One category of gift that can be found in almost every price range is a genuine antique map or print. Presented framed or matted, or simply “as is,” an antique map or print is a gift that can be tailored for any individual on your list, and it’s a gift that will stand out for its thoughtfulness and uniqueness.Sound expensive? Well, it can be of course, but you may be surprised to learn that antique prints of all kinds can be quite affordable, sometimes starting as low as $25. And yes, they are still “real thing” – antique, printed works of art on paper, usually hand-colored at time of publication, and generally more than 100 years old. The collecting of antique maps and prints is an old pursuit, and one that has been practiced for centuries. This is one of reasons why there is a well-established worldwide market. Most antique maps and prints on market today began life as a page in a book – perhaps an atlas, or a book of botanical prints, or a natural history book. But don’t be put off by fact that these prints (plates, as they are known in collecting circles) are derived from books. Antique books are very different from books of today. The pages were printed by a less automated method, sometimes even on a hand-operated press. Illustrated pages (the prints we collect today) were printed separately from text pages, and, if color was needed, each page was individually hand-colored. These very small print runs were then collated and bound into books, often with a beautiful leather binding. Over centuries, books were broken apart, and prints have been circulated ever since. In terms of origin, there is no substantive difference between a large, genuine Audubon print selling for tens of thousands of dollars and a fifty dollar antique print from a lesser known bird book. The most compelling reason for considering an antique map or antique print as a gift is that it can truly be personalized for just about anyone on your list. First, it’s obvious that everyone is from somewhere, which means that an antique map of a hometown or country is always a fascinating gift for recipient. For United States, it is almost always possible to find a mid-19th century state map, and frequently, town and regional maps as well. If you are looking for an antique map from overseas, choices abound, with country and regional maps from every part of world (or known world, depending on year of publication) and from all time periods. Antique maps of home town or “the old country” are just beginning when it comes to personalizing a gift. Different genres of maps appeal to different people – for example, antique harbor charts or sea charts for sailors on your list, antique geological maps for rock collectors, antique island maps for travelers, and so on. Turning to antique prints, another world opens up. Antique botanical prints – often with gorgeous hand coloring – are perfect for gardeners and plant lovers; antique exploration prints for outdoor enthusiasts, antique historical prints, antique fashion prints, antique architectural prints, antique racehorse prints, culinary prints, butterfly prints, nautical prints, sporting prints, even shimmering, illuminated manuscript pages, and much more, are all available. The list, in effect, is almost endless. It is difficult to conceive of person who, when presented with an antique print that reflects their special interest, could fail to be gratified and made to feel a little more special.
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