Ah, Those Cows and Flowers

Spend a peaceful afternoon in the fields, enjoying the beautiful flowers and warm sunshine. Gentle cow and cork trees included!

We read The Story of Ferdinand, written by by Munro Leaf, and illustrated Robert Lawson (Viking, 1936). This literary classic tells the tale of Ferdinand, a bull who would rather sit and smell the flowers than fuss and fight. When he is mistakenly put in the bull ring, Ferdinand stays true to his peaceful nature and refuses to charge. It’s the ultimate tale of staying true to yourself and being happier for it.

You’ll need:

  • 1 large tissue box
  • 1 flower coloring template, printed on 8.5″ x 11″ card stock
  • Construction paper
  • Assorted pipe cleaners
  • Scissors and tape for construction
  • Markers for decorating

This project is basically an alternative version of the flower boxes we made for this butterfly garden story time. We just used large tissue boxes instead of box tops.

finished butterfly gardenIn additional to using the flowers on the template, you can also use tissue paper to make lovely flowers, and use drinking straws and sparkle stems to add some texture!

Once the flowers were done, we headed out to the fields to meet Ferdinand the bull! I made him out of a couple shipping boxes. The back of the head was open so I could reach in, and I also cut a hole at the bottom of the head as a “mouth.” During story time, the kids offered their flowers to Ferdinand for sniffing. I had a little air pump inside the head that would puff air out and make the flowers tremble.

I have to say, the air puffs freaked a few kids out. But we also had a basket of red pom pom apples nearby to feed Ferdinand, and that was a massively popular activity. He ate apples for a solid 15 minutes!

This this isn’t the first time Ferdinand has appeared on the blog. You can see him enjoying the spring buds here (as well as a really cool wildflower identification website), and he gets a mention in our International Children’s Book Day list here. We love you Ferdinand!

The Little Bakery with a Big Heart

Is there anything more perfect than pies and picture books? Meet the amazing Jenn Carson, owner of LiLLiPiES bakery! I first met Jenn when she was doing farmers markets and delivering her amazing baked goods to my favorite local coffee shop. Long time blog readers might also remember that Jenn as the architect of this truly astounding Strega Nona house that was part of our 2013 Gingerbread Cottage Challenge.

jens cakes and pastriesOver the years, Jenn’s business has grown exponentially, culminating in a fantastic bakery that also serves delicious breakfasts. And now…she’s a children’s author! It took absolutely no convincing for me to photograph her happy busy eatery, and chat with her about this heartwarming story of baking and family.

Hi Jenn! Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi Dana! I am Head Baker and owner of LiLLiPiES bakery in Princeton. I also teach Artisanal Bread Baking at Mercer County Community College’s Hospitality program. My husband, Ken, and I have three adult children as well as a sweet doggy named Lucy.

You already have an amazing cookbook…what inspired you to write a picture book as well?

I have a background in elementary education and have always seen the importance and beauty in parents baking with their children. Plus, I had a blast collaborating with Sofia for the original cookbook and wanted to work with her again.

Tell us a little about the lovely family that fills the pages of this story…

Pie For My Birthday is a true story of our son, Sean’s 6th birthday. It’s a story about listening to each other, patience, cooperation, and teamwork. In the end, our family worked together to make little pies for Sean’s class.

These days, Sean (that little kindergarten boy in the book) works as a project manager here in New Jersey. James, (the impish little brother in the book) is a civil engineer working in Brooklyn. Sara, (the teeny baby sister in the book) is a college student, majoring in Music and Business. Ken (the Dad) is a Pharmaceutical Chemist who focuses on cancer therapies. We still enjoy cooking together very much.

What was it like to work with the illustrator, Sofia Schreiber?

Working with Sofia was absolutely wonderful. She actually knows my kids and Ken quite well and was able to show their personalities in her paintings for the book. Watching her progression week to week brought me to tears quite often. She is really an amazing talent.

Ok, so this is technically not a question, but we were SO excited to see a donut recipe in the back of the book. Your donuts are LEGEND!

Haha! Glad you enjoy them. I started making them for farmers markets. One farmers market had their opening day on National Donut Day. I thought it would be fun to bake my cake recipes in donut pans, so that customers could try our cake. When the next week came around and the donuts were not offered, I got quite a few requests to bring them back. They’ve been on the menu ever since.

If you were send one message to the little future bakers who read this book, what would it be?

Bake on!

Happy International Children’s Book Day!

Portrait of Hans Christian Andersen, taken by Thora Hallager (1869). Wikimedia Commons

April 2 is not only Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday (happy 219th birthday, Hans!), it’s also International Children’s Book Day! Started in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), International Children’s Book Day is dedicated to children’s books and is committed to inspire a love of reading in children around the globe. Schools and libraries are encouraged to host parties or story times, read picture and chapter books, have kids pen their own tales or poems, and overall celebrate a worldwide appreciation of children’s books.

Every year, a National Section of IBBY is nominated to be the sponsor of International Children’s Book Day. The sponsor decides upon a theme, invites a prominent author to write a message, and an illustrator is asked to design an announcement poster. The 2024 international sponsor is Japan!

Courtesy of IBBY Japan #ICBD24

Japan’s 2024 theme is “Cross the Seas on the Wing of your Imagination.” Author and recipient of the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award Eiko Kadono composed a gorgeous letter encouraging children to listen to stories that travel everywhere. Artist Nana Furiya designed the official poster, which whimsically repeats the theme in several different languages under a tall tree filled with book characters.

As Katie was composing this post, she got to thinking…what are our Princeton University Library colleagues’ favorite children’s books? Katie asked them that very question and also asked them to explain why in just one sentence.The book could be a recent read, a beloved title from the past, or a favorite as of today.

The response was tremendous! Our colleagues shared books we remembered reading as a child, titles we had never heard of before, stories we have poured over multiple times, and others we are eager to pick up and read. Here are the favorites, listed in alphabetical order by last name:

“Aside from being beautifully illustrated by Gary White Deer, it’s based on a true story, largely forgotten by most of the world, that unites the disparate parts of my ethnic heritage (which aren’t actually that disparate in the end).”

April Armstrong – Library Collections Specialist V, Mudd Manuscript Library


“I remember reading the Redwall books every chance I could get while on family vacation in Maine circa 1994. Just a totally immersive, absorbing experience.”

Kathleen Brennan – Records Manager


“Not only has it been a joy to read it with both of my kids, but it’s a surprisingly thoughtful little story about childhood anxieties and misunderstandings.”

Tom Bruno – Assistant Director, Content Access


“The art is gorgeous, the book is inclusive, and it’s a great introduction to graphic novels. Plus, the tea dragons are adorable.”

Halle Burns – Research Data Management Specialist


“’Favorite’ does not seem an apt word for describing a story that made a fourth-grade me sob uncontrollably as if in bereavement, but I would not trade the experience of reading “Little Mermaid” for that of reading ten happy-ending stories combined. (HCA’s “Little Mermaid” in Chinese translation by Ye Junjian, not in its Disneyfied version)

Minjie Chen – Metadata Librarian for the Cotsen Children’s Library


“I still quote this book: ‘You get what you get and you don’t get upset.’”

Carolyn Cole – Senior Library Software Engineer


“It illustrates the process of self-discovery.”

Alicia Cozine – Senior Library IT Operations Engineer


“It is a story about not caring what others think or conforming to the role society has written for you. With hard work, persistence and creativity, you can make anything happen – like surrounding yourself with nature, even in the middle of the city.”

Jessica Hoppe Dağcı – Coordinator, Marquand Library Operations and Special Collections


“Her house is upside-down! She’s essentially the neighborhood witch, and I love how all the kids’ commonplace problems manifest in reality.”

Dominique Dixon – Associate Librarian


“Adventures of a worker bee who likes to eat pollen, make sweets, and organize her honey pots.”

Mireille Djenno – Global Special Collections Librarian


“It opens up a good discussion about where our food comes from.”

Ameet Doshi – Head, Stokes Library


Darlene Dreyer – Assistant to the Associate University Librarian


“I read it as an adult and was very moved by it. The description of the family and beautiful young friendship, and the more than devastating ending.”

Rebecca Friedman – Assistant Librarian, Marquand Library


“I love the details in illustrations, and as a young parent I could totally understand Petson’s life with a naughty kitten. I read it in Russian countless times, and it was translated to many languages (English title: Pancakes for Findus).”

Maria Gorbunova – Rare Books Cataloging Librarian


“Besides beings a nice story for children who love animals, I appreciate that it was an early exposure to thinking about ethics in scientific research. It also provided considerate thoughts about the nature of prejudice and touched on environmentalism, so not merely the endearing tale of a motherly mouse seeking to save her sick child from the spring plow, but that was also a lovely aspect of the story.”

Hannah Hadley – Manager, Open Publishing and Repository Services, Library-Data, Research and Teaching Services


Berta Harvey – Library Collections Specialist V, Lewis Science Library


“My children found it so engaging when they were toddlers. It has very expressive pictures and it’s fun to read.”

Anna Headley – Senior Library Software Engineer


“A book of stories and poems, mostly whimsical, always thoughtful, and sometimes melancholical.”

Regine Heberlein – Library IT Data Analyst


“ALL of Freeman’s picture books are beautiful!”

Flora Kim – Metadata Operations Specialist


“It was the first time I’d seen my own love for books and fantasy stories reflected back in a book.”

Morgan Kirkpatrick – Special Collections Project Cataloging Specialist II


“This is a wonderful story about how love and care impact the ways living beings interact with the world – all wrapped up in an adorable story about a family trying to adopt fearsome watchdogs only for each dog to become more of a marshmallow than the last.”

Brittany Norwood – Policy and International Affairs Librarian


“The illustrations are rich; my son and I see something new each time we read it. It’s also a wonderful story about how even the most contentious relationships can be healed!”

Stephanie Oster – Publicity Manager, Library Communications


“My favorite story to read to my kids when they were young.”

Anu Vedantham – Assistant University Librarian for Research, Teaching, and Social Sciences


“Timeless triumph of peace and gentleness over stupidity and aggression. And the cork trees!”

Eric White – Scheide Librarian and Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections



“The book builds self-esteem and kids learn how quiet is a superpower.”

Emily Wild – Chemistry, Geosciences and Environmental Studies Librarian


And how about Katie and Dr. Dana’s books? Since someone already mentioned her favorite picture book (“…but not Ferdinand”), Katie picked Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White “because it’s a beautiful story of unexpected friendship, growth, family, and life’s hardest lesson: learning to let go.”

Katie also reminded me of how she visited Andersen’s home country during her awesome travels in Europe! You can read more about her adventures in this post!

As for me, I picked this Jan Brett classic from my childhood because “I was horse-obsessed.” I spent countless hours reading, studying, and drawing elaborate tributes to this picture book (you can see a delightful story time project we did for it here):

I wanted a horse so so so soooo very bad growing up. Wished for it, dreamed of it, waited for it. It took a couple decades, but my horse FINALLY arrived! My heart runneth over…

Three cheers for International Children’s Book Day everyone! And may all your stories have happy endings!