One thing I firmly believe is that a good children's book that can equally be enjoyed by adults is a gem, indeed. Not too long ago, I decided that I wanted to delve in and explore the world of children's and middle grade books. It is a grand, wide world, and there are many countless titles to check out. Over the last wee while, I have found the beginning of a collection that have brought me much delight. And they've enchanted the little girl's spirit that is alive within me. Today's selection is a small part of my growing collection...
Meet Lily, Tess, and Rosie. Three cousins who live on Cobble Street with their Aunt Lucy whilst their parents are a part of the traveling with the ballet. This series of six short but sweet stories follow the adventures of this cousin trio throughout the course of about a year. From their shared attic bedroom, the girls pull together their imaginations and creative ideas and come up with many plans. Some of their adventures include creating a cookie company, surprising their Aunt Lucy, meeting new friends and neighbors, putting on special shows, hosting seasonal parties, making their very own newspaper, and planning delicious treats to bake along the way. The cousins are all unique and bring their special talents and interests to the table, creating an incredibly memorable and special year for everyone.
These six books aren't long, and the writing is obviously aimed towards young readers. But something just really drew me into these stories. As I look back on my reading journal, I described these books over and over again as charming, really sweet, gentle, delightful, cozy, and whimsical. They are full of imagination and wonder and the goodness of childhood. These stories really brought to life the joys of an old-fashioned childhood, before technology and the internet and before children grew up quicker than they're supposed to. They are true comfort reads...for adults and children, alike. And equally important to the story being delightful and charming and whimsical, the illustrations in this book are just incredibly delightful and charming and whimsical...and sweet. I'm a sucker for illustrations and these are some of the best I've seen. In my opinion, if you don't want to jump right into a children's story and it's illustrations, then it's not a book for me. And this is one I really wished I could jump right into. It had that quintessential "storybook" feel.
If you have children, these would make wonderful stories to read together. And as an adult, I think these make some really sweet, charming stories to read, reminding you of the "good ole days".
The books in The Cobble Street Cousins series are:
(by Cynthia Rylant)
♥ In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen
♥ A Little Shopping
♥ Special Gifts
♥ Some Good News
♥ Summer Party
♥ Wedding Flowers
I highly recommend this little series of stories...for children and adults alike. You will be charmed and your heart will be warmed. Trust me.
Until next time, dear friends...
May your week be splendid!
♥