Beautiful Blue Eyes is the follow up to Marianne Richmond’s Beautiful Brown Eyes. A large hardcover book, inside you’ll find soft watercolor drawings and rhyming prose.

“I watched, and I waited
as your eyes chose their hue,
deciding in time
on their beautiful blue.

Blue as a butterfly
or the sparkling sea.
Blue as the bluebird
who sings in her tree.”

Reading it, I feel it has a relaxing rhythm. But it somehow leaves me melancholy. It’s designed for a parent to be the reader with an insight into emotions. For example, “And when tears fall down your blues tell too, of disappointment or worry about some thing or some who.”

The only really criticism I have is the use of the word “blah”. I don’t like that word and feel it shouldn’t be taught in a children’s book. My son, 5, isn’t too fond of the book either. He says “it’s boring”. That said, that doesn’t mean it won’t appeal to other children who might enjoy it.

Beautiful Blue Eyes is published by Sourcebooks  and retails for $15.99. It comes out in April 2011.

Jennifer Fosberry’s new book My Name Is Not Alexander is now out and it delivers the same vibrant illustrations and style as her other work, My Name Is Not Isabella.

From the moment Alexander wakes up in bed, he goes through an imaginary trip through history and pretends to be some of the innovative men who influenced and shaped out world.

Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, and Fred Astaire are just a few of the examples the little boy proudly tells his dad.

When I read it to my kids, ages 2 and 5, they pay attention to the book. I think it’s the bold typography and detailed pictures that get them interested (watch the video on the sidebar). They’re too young to understand who these famous men are but when they’re older and want to read the book for themselves, there’s a “Men Who Changed The World” section in the back.

After reading this book you might want to ask your child what they want to be when they grow up. My son’s usual answer is that he wants to be a doctor, and I’m fine with that!

My Name Is Not Alexander is published by Sourcebooks and retails for $16.99.

Jennifer Fosberry will be touring to promote this book. Here are the places you can meet her!

Thursday, March 10^th

2:00 PM

Towne Center Books

555 Main Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566

Friday, March 11^th

10:00 AM

Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista Boulevard
Corte Madera, CA 94925

Saturday, March 12^th

1:00 PM

Costco

43621 Pacific Commons Blvd

Fremont, CA 94538

Sunday, March 13^th

11:30 AM

Kepler’s

1010 El Camino Real

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Tuesday, March 15^th

10:30 AM

Tattered Cover Book Store

2526 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80206

Wednesday, March 16^th

6:30 PM

Barnes & Noble, Pima & Shea location

Scottsdale Fiesta Shopping Center
10500 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Thursday, March 17^th

Time – TBD

Changing Hands Bookstore

6428 S McClintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85283

Saturday, March 19^th

11:00 AM

The King’s English Bookshop

1511 South 1500 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Saturday, March 19^th

1:00 PM

Barnes & Noble

1780 North Woodland Park Drive

Layton, UT 84041

Sunday, March 20^th

3:30 PM

Books and Books

265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Wednesday, March 23^rd

4:00 PM

The Book Mark

299 Atlantic Blvd
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Phone: 904-241-9026

Saturday, March 26^th

10:00 AM

Doylestown Bookshop

16 S Main Street

Doylestown, PA

This is the coolest activity book I’ve seen in a long time. Papertoy Monsters is a paper-folding book created by Brian Castleforte and 24 papertoy designers. Inside are colorful pages filled with 50 die-cut monsters that you can pop out, fold and glue.

Even as a parent, I’m excited to get going on building these creations. On each page with the monster, there’s there’s a bio so you get to know their personality. Just to name a few, there’s Ice Huggy, the snow yeti, Yucky Chuck, the mutant lunchbox monster, and Nom Nom, the eater of cities.

There’s a difficulty level for each die-cut: easy, intermediate and advanced. Papertoy Monsters is a new type of origami for kids. It’s $16.95 and published by Workman.

I really like this book and think it’s a great gift idea. Definitely bring it along when you’re in a long car trip or on a plane. It’s recommended for ages 9+ but of course, can be enjoyed by younger kids too.

Now here’s something free for everyone…a Valentine’s Day Papertoy Monster to download!

Also, watch the video on the sidebar and check out their Facebook and Tumblr pages too.

Now here’s your chance to win a copy of Papertoy Monsters!

1. Simply leave a comment! (Make sure you can be reached by email)

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES

2. Copy and Tweet: @mrsmogul I want to win the book Papertoy Monsters! #mogulbaby (Make sure you leave a comment for your entry. You can do this once daily until Feb 7)

3. Blog about it and leave a link in comment.

4. “Like” Mogul Baby (if you already do leave a comment)

Deadline: Monday, February 7 at midnight EST. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. Winner will be given 48 hours to claim prize. The name will be posted here. Good luck!

Congrats to Danelle!

My daughter likes to put on shoes and she’s only two. That’s why it’s no surprise that she likes the book Shoe-La-La.

Follow four friends, Emily, Ashley, Kaitlin, and Claire as they go shoe shopping.

“Shoes with zippers, Shoes with straps, Shoes with buckles, Shoes with taps!”

The girls try on many different pairs before deciding what to finally wear at the end of their shoe adventure.

The author, Karen Beaumont, presents rollicking rhymes and the illustrator, LeUyen Pham (she also illustrates for Julianne Moore’s Strawberry books) delivers vibrant pictures.

Overall: A fun, simple story for the young shoe fanatic! (Watch the video clip on the book on the sidebar.)

You can buy it at Scholastic. ($16.99)

We’re giving away three copies of Shoe-La-La!

TO ENTER:

1. Simply leave a comment! (Make sure you can be reached by email)

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES

2. Copy and Tweet: @mrsmogul I want to win the book Shoe-La-La! (Make sure you leave a comment for your entry. You can do this once daily until Feb 6)

3. Blog about it and leave a link in comment.

Deadline: Sunday, February 6 at midnight EST. This one open to only U.S. residents. The 3 winners will be given 48 hours to claim prizes. The names will be posted here. Good luck!

Congrats to Lea, Christina, & Carol!

The press release says you’ll get “two cow stories, three cow poems, eleven or so cow jokes, one cow myth, a cow comic book, and way too many unexplained chickens!”   You’ll also get humor, imagination, introductions to famous cow composers, word play, riddles, heroism, AND a look at the golden age of overambitious farm animals.”

Published by Workman, retail price is $15.95.

I think Amazing Cows! is just a fun, playful book. After all, it is Sandra Boynton, known for her many bestsellers as well as her greeting cards. Here are a couple of pages from the book.

A charming book that I recently read is Hannah and the Talking Tree. Written and illustrated by Elke Weiss, the pages are full of color accompanied with an entertaining story.

The story is about a little girl named Hannah who has very big ears and a special gift. She’s able to hear the world around her. When other children tease her about them she runs away and ends up under a solitary tree. She befriends it and find out it is sad because all the trees surrounding it were destroyed. Hannah takes action and helps build a forest again….with the help of the children who had initially rejected her.

My kids, ages 4 and 2, like the book when I read it to them and the drawings especially keep them engaged. There are two lessons learned. One, it’s okay to be different and two, the reader might be inspired with environmental activism. A nice hardcover book to give as a gift. It’s $16.95.

If I Could Keep You Little is a sweet hardcover book from bestselling and award-winning author Marianne Richmond.

The book, written in insightful prose, showcases the moments in a child’s life as they grow.

Here’s an excerpt:

“If I could keep you little,
I’d decide on matching clothes.
But then I’d miss you choosing
Dots on top and stripes below

If I could keep you little
I’d cut your bread in shapes.
But then I’d miss you finding
“Hey! I like ketchup with my grapes!”

Richmond’s illustrations are charming and reading through the book, it touched me. As a parent, If I Could Keep You Little might make you appreciate your little ones being so young before they grow up and fly the nest! This book is going to make you go “awwww.”

Published by sourcebooks, it retails for $15.99.

I want to recommend two cute books to give to a toddler and an older sibling this holiday season.

Miles To Go is a really nice hardcover book for car enthusiasts. It’s all about a little boy named Miles who takes off to preschool in his toy car (with mom trailing along) and experiences an adventurous trip. There’s the neighborhood dog to greet, puddles to navigate and roads to cross. When he’s at school he invites his friend Otto over to his house to play…with their cars of course!

The author-illustrator Jamie Harper does a good job speaking in the language of little kids and the drawings are delightful and entertaining too. This one is definitely for your family’s library.

Potty by Leslie Patricelli is an adorable board book too! There comes a point in a toddler’s life when going in one’s diaper is only one possible option, and the question must be raised: Should I go in my potty?

This book features simple, colorful drawings of a baby finally making it to the potty and successfully using it. The story makes my 2-year-old laugh every time. Whether it encourages potty training, I’m not sure…but it is charming.

Both books are published by Candlewick Press.

A wonderful bedtime book I wanted to share with you today is Moon Dreams by Ruth Martin. The story is about a little girl named Luna who loves to look at the moon each night before she drifts off to sleep. Like many small children, Luna wonders where the moon goes when the sun is out so she searches for it in her dreams.

Besides the charming story, the illustrations by Olivier Latyk really make this picture book a keeper. The drawings are whimsical and keep a reader’s attention.

Moon Dreams is recommended for ages 4-7, however my toddler is very entertained by this book so I say buy it if your child is under 4. Price is $15.99 and published by Candlewick Press.

My Name Is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry is a very unique picture book. It’s about a little girl who goes about an ordinary day pretending to be some of the groundbreaking women who changed history. While interacting with her mom, Isabella turns into people like Annie the sharpshooter, Rosa the activist, and Marie the scientist. Also with the help of illustrator MIke Litwin, the drawings are beautifully done and are engaging.

Readers will learn about who Isabella is talking about by reading the section called Women Who Changed The World at the back of the book. Bios of the likes of Marie Curie and Rosa Parks are listed. And let’s not forget mommy as being a role model. My Name Is Not Isabella isn’t a Cinderella-type story. It will hopefully inspire young kids to dream big.

Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, price is $16.99.

Watch the video on the sidebar on how the drawings were made!