Leslie Patricelli

My love for the written word started early - my first sentence, as carefully inscribed in my baby book by my mother, was "I want my book!" I am dedicated to doing my best to passing on my love of books to my own two children. In pursuit of that goal, I've been reading to them since they were in utero! Now that they are older, they have their own opinions on what makes a good book. And when Team Mom sent me these beautiful titles from author and illustrator, Leslie Patricelli, I knew that these were books we all could agree were perfect!

As the director of Team Mom, Marie Baker explains: "Through bright and engaging artwork, Leslie manages to capture the fun and silliness of being a kid, while teaching simple concepts. Whether it’s the witty picture book about a child’s adventure on a swing or the tale of a baby and an ice-cream cone, it’s no wonder Leslie has received glowing reviews from magazines such as Scholastic Parent and Child and School Library Journal."

Take a look at the two books we were lucky enough to receive and you'll agree - no library is complete without Leslie Patricelli's books!

Higher! Higher!

One child. One swing. An obliging dad. The inevitable plea to go Higher! Higher! Add Leslie Patricelli's wildly expressive illustrations, and an everyday past time reaches new heights of humor and whimsy.

suggested retail price (U.S./CAN):$15.99 / $17.50
type/format:Picture book / Hard Cover
age range: 2 yrs - 5 yrs
# of pages: 32
grade range:Preschool - Kindergarten

Baby Happy Baby Sad

A towering ice-cream cone makes Baby HAPPY. But when that delectable treat goes splat, it makes Baby SAD. And how quickly HAPPY turns to SAD when a favorite red balloon flies away! Even the littlest listeners will relate to this playful look at a pair of emotions that are part of every baby’s day. YES! This must-have toddler title sheds light on some concepts with a comical flair that will make readers HAPPY.

suggested retail price (U.S./CAN):$6.99 / $7.50
type/format:Board book / Board Book
age range:1 yr - 3 yrs
# of pages: 24
grade range:Preschool
subjects:Best for Baby; Books for Toddlers; Feelings

About the Author/Illustrator: "My Grandma was a pastel artist and, for as long as I can remember, an artist is what I wanted to be too," says children's author and illustrator Leslie Patricelli. "My hobby as a kid was drawing cartoons and writing stories, and I started to consider a career in art in seventh grade. When the multiple choice career test I took resulted in a recommendation that I pursue a career in forestry, I went back and changed all my answers, so that it recommended instead that I pursue graphic design since they didn't have children's book writer or cartoonist on the list." Leslie Patricelli lives in Seattle, WA with her husband, two children, and cats Sassy and Elvin.

You can read more about Mrs. Patricelli here and be sure to check out her delightful interactive website where you can play games, print coloring pages, see videos and more! I especially loved her "about me" page - look what happens when you move your mouse over everyone's pictures!.

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.