A Picture Perfect Childhood (Paperback)

~ Cay Gibson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

No matter how busy you are, no matter how short on time you are, no matter how dirty your house is, no matter how stressed you are...you have time to read, travel, study, talk, dance, paint, write, sing, and wonder each day with your child. All you have to do is stop time. That's right! Stop time...with your child and a picture book...for just 15-minutes a day. Cay Gibson does for reading what Rachael Ray does for cooking. She makes it a joyful feast for everyone. Gibson believes that picture books make an excellent catalyst for transporting children into areas of study they would not normally be interested in. "A Picture Perfect Childhood" is a tempting photo album of picture books that can be used to enhance the child's imagination, comprehension, and desire for learning.as well as the adult's.and it only takes 15-minutes a day.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Cay Gibson (January 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615179819
• ISBN-13: 978-0615179810
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #411,078 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picture Books for Childhood and Beyond, February 26, 2008

By	A. VanHecke "Love2learn Mom" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are only a few books that I know I'll love even before I see them - and this was definitely one. Picture book afficionado Cay Gibson serves up a delicious array of picture books of all sorts to discover and savor for yourself from your local library (and hopefully start a collection of your own as well).

I'm a big fan of picture books - especially the beautifully illustrated ones that are wonderfully in fashion at present (my habits run along the lines of prominently displaying them in our house to inspire reading, purchasing picture books to coordinate with our homeschool studies - particular in history and science, and even, occasionally, reading picture books aloud to unsuspecting dinner guests) and I'm delighted to have this great place to start to discover many more titles.

The substance of this book is comprised of essays on the value of picture books and how to incorporate them into your lives along with numerous creative and inspiring book lists. Here is a sampling of the booklists you'll find:

List for Teenaged Readers and Reluctant Readers

Children's Hour (A Twelve Month Historical Timeline along with supplementary reading in subjects like science, art, music and language arts)

Teaching Virtues Through Books

Spanning the Globe

Let's Get Cooking with Literature (Picture Books about Cooking and Recipes)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Black History Month

Gardening Treasures

Immigration Booklist

Pioneers and Westward Movement

World War II

Christmas Booklist

This is the sort of book (further enhanced by spacious margins and room for additional notes) that I can readily imagine dragging to the library and to book sales and keeping track of which favorites we've read and which ones we own. A very welcome addition to our home library and one that also looks to be useful in making purchasing recommendations to our public library.

Though this book was written by a Catholic homeschool mom (and includes a number of fine, specifically Catholic titles), its scope is quite broad and would be of interest to many parents, teachers and librarians.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work, February 19, 2008

By	Alice Gunther "Alice Gunther" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was amazed to discover what an unbeatable resource this is for parents or anyone who wants to add beauty and imagination to the life of a child. Although we are a family of booklovers and have read many picture books, "Picture Perfect Childhood" has opened the door for me to countless new works we will long enjoy and remember. So much more than a mere "booklist," Cay Gibson brings her recommendations to life through insightful and entertaining commentary and the real voice of a mother who loves her children. She organizes her recommendations in unique ways, helping the reader to see connections and pursue favorite interests with ease.

Very inspiring.

This is a book that will remain in my purse for library and bookstore visits for many years to come. That's if my children will part with it long enough for me to pack it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cay Gibson has done it again!, February 28, 2008

By	M. E. Barrett "HMSCHLMOMOF5" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

She's written another book that inspires, informs and helps parents create a reading atmosphere in their children's lives. Picture Perfect Childhood is a lovely book that incorporates essays about the value of picture books as well as many comprehensive book lists that will make easy a parent's job of choosing books. My favorite parts; the month-by-month list (I recently sat with March open while I reserved the books online at my library and purchased a few here), the spanning the world list and the Teaching Virtues Through Books.

Picture Perfect Childhood will be a valued and much used resource in any home where there are parents who are passionate about their children becoming readers.