more by Don Freeman

Okay, folks, I've discovered many of you out there who are pretty wild about Don Freeman.  Who isn't?!  All at our house have really enjoyed your recommendations!  And since we've had so much fun reading more Don Freeman stories, I wanted to pass them along to you, my readers.  Our favorite is still Dandelion, kindly recommended by Tarin Lewis, with a close runner-up of Mop Top.  And who doesn't have a copy of Corduroy?  But lately, we've read and re-read Norman the Doorman and Pet of the Met many, many thanks to Sarah Ellison Murray's recommendations.

Let's begin with Norman the Doorman, isn't that just a fun title to say aloud?!  Norman the mouse serves as an incognito doorman for the Majestic Museum of Art where he doubles as tour guide of the art pieces hidden away in storage.  He dreams of touring the upstairs floors of the art museum.  Meanwhile, he paints in his free time.

Similarly, in Pet of the Met by both Lydia and Don Freeman Maestro Petrini (also a mouse) serves as page turner for the prompter of the Metropolitan Opera House.  "During his spare time Maestro Petrini would put on his own opera performances with his family as the cast.  Of all the operas their favorite was The Magic Flute by Mozart."  Petrini's family dreams of seeing a live performance.

Freeman captivates his audience's attention in both stories by presenting characters with both a passion and a dream.  Then he inserts a hindrance to that dream, which in both books heightens the action and adventure.  As he captivates his young audience through his storyline, Freeman also exposes the arts in such a way that fosters intrigue -- the best way for cultivating arts interest/appreciation.  So check out Norman the Doorman and Pet of the Met and re-discover why we love Don Freeman.  To discover more about Don Freeman: check out the Don Freeman website.

Note: last fall, I had to sneak Norman the Doorman into my bag and back to the library to avoid any further late fees before the children discovered it missing.  We just checked it out again, and the children reacted as though they were reuniting with a long, lost friend.

Don Freeman

We all know author and illustrator Don Freeman best by his iconic, beloved, green-overalled, button-less bear, Corduroy.  How many times have you read this favorite to your children?  It's a classic!  Now, let me recommend a few more Freeman titles to give you a break from reading Corduroy.

Since it's fall, start out with Earl the Squirrel. Earl's mother tells him that it's "high time you went out and learned how to find acorns on your own."  Find out how Earl acquires his bright red scarf, the only color that vibrates through Freeman's black-and-white scratchboard illustrations.  Then join Earl on his adventurous quest to forage acorns for the winter. 

My friend Tarin recommended our very favorite Freeman book Dandelion.  The charming, lovable lion receives an invitation to a birthday party and decides to spiffy himself up before arrival.  This delightful story uses humor to teach the timeless lesson "just be yourself."  We had to go out and purchase this one!

And then there's Mop Top.  Oh where to begin with Mop Top . . . first I'd have to stop howling with laughter.  We've all known a mop top, and I for one think that I'd like to save this for the tween / teen years when I can start handing it out.  Laughter aside, this is a witty story about a little boy who never wants to have his hair cut.



So readers, please, please share your comments on your favorite Don Freeman book!