Cathy O’Sheal

Older than Linda, Phillip and Carrie.  Married (to the same guy!) for 26 years with 2 teenage children (reason for the gray hair).  Worked for 10 years (before children) as a nurse in intensive care.  Developed my love for children's books when I had my own children and have worked as a volunteer in all the school libraries in Vestavia.  I always have a book with me and enjoy reading all types of books.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
by Laura Numeroff

A fabulous, funny read aloud for ages 2-6. The illustrations are imaginative, and children love to have this read to them over and over. Many other books of this type by the same author and illustrator are just as entertaining--we still have all of them and they were my son’s favorites as a preschooler (If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Party, If You Take a Mouse to School, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies).

Officer Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann

This Caldecott winner is a real find! Humorous read aloud about teamwork for ages 4-8, it also has a message on safety woven into the story.

Love, Ruby Lavender
by Deborah Wiles

Great story for ages 8-12 about a girl and her grandmother and their every day adventures in a small Mississippi town. This book has a unique way of telling much of this poignant story in letters and newspaper articles. This author has written two other children’s books (Each Little Bird that Sings and Aurora County All-Stars) which I highly recommend.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead
by Avi

(or anything by Avi, actually)

For ages 9 and up, a Newberry Medal winner and a great book for boys, this is the first in a trilogy. This is a good adventure book that takes place in England during the Middle Ages. Along with a great story, one learns a little history and what life was like for young people during the Middle Ages. The second book, Crispin: At the Edge of the World came out a few months ago and is in my "to read stack", but my son read it and really enjoyed it. The third book in the trilogy has not yet been released.