Sue Ann Martin
Host, The Children's BookshelfSue Ann Martin is professor emerita of Communication and Dramatic Arts and the founding and past Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She first became interested in children’s literature when she wrote her PhD thesis on the oral characteristics of the Caldecott Award-winning children’s books. Her PhD is in Speech and Interpretation with a cognate in Early Childhood Education. She went on to review children’s books for the Detroit Free Press, write three popular resource books for teachers regarding children’s books and the creative process. She also reviewed newly-published books for Arts Almanac specials on WCMU Public Radio. Her 2002 children’s books special for WCMU won a Merit Award in Special Interest Programming from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.
“Reading books aloud to young children,” Martin says, “is one of the most satisfying ways to introduce them to the beautiful sounds and lilts of the language, to the wonders of the world, to the excitement of suspense and to the pleasure of concentration, while at the same time, bonding with the child in a genuine, long lasting way. My mother did the same for me as she read hours and hours of Robert Louis Stevenson poems.”
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The Nutcracker with text based on the ballet and with gorgeous illustrations by Susan Jeffers is a visual holiday treat. This outstanding picture book, originally published in 2007 but still available today, is an oldie but goodie. -
The Snow Man written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Jeanette Winter is a real story beautifully told both in words and in pictures. Readers 4-8 years of age and up as well as moms, dads and teachers will be fascinated by billy barr’s life. -
COUNTING KINDNESS: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children written by Hollis Kurman and illustrated by Barroux is a touching and beautifully designed counting book that also puts forth ten important ways grownups and children can make children from faraway places feel a sense of belonging. -
OUR TABLE written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds is a wise picture book about what happens to a family when its members are taken over by their electronic devices and forget to come together around the family dinner table. -
The Little Book of JOY written by two spiritual masters His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams and Rachel Neumann and illustrated by Rafael López is a beautifully put forth picture book about what the feeling of joy is and where and how joy can be found in daily life. -
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess cleverly written and illustrated by Tom Gauld is a grand fairytale for children 4-8 years of age. -
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen and illustrated by Abby Hanlon is an ear tickling tale about a boy who has lost his ability to rhyme words---even when that rhyming word is on the tip of everyone else’s tongue. -
BOO! HISS! by the talented Cyndi Marko is a perfect chapter book about togetherness for readers 6-9 years old who are beginning to enjoy the colorful and creative aspects of the graphic novel. -
POWWOW DAY is written by Traci Sorell, a member of the Cherokee Nation and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, a member of the Chickasaw Nation. Children 5-8 years of age will enjoy learning all this book has to offer. -
Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion----A True Story written by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Júlia Sardà is a romp full of fun as the title’s alliteration forecasts. It all revolves around silver mining in, as the author seems to feel, the great state of Idaho!
