As a picture book writer, lifelong reader, professional storyteller, and parent of a toddler, I spend a LOT of time thinking about children’s books. Welcome to my (and Z’s) semi-regular review of the must-reads for parents, kiddos, and picture book writers.

I know I’ve been quiet for a long time. Life has continued to be nuts, so any spare time I’ve managed to find is dedicated to working on my upcoming book (preorder here!) or, if I’m really lucky, sleeping.

Today is Z’s third birthday. I’m overflowing with clichés about how fast time flies, how big she’s grown, how she’s a real person full of opinions and jokes and a deep-seeded love of Old MacDonald.

So of course, she picked farm animals as the theme for her birthday party.

Her party reminded me that I’ve been meaning to recommend just ONE specific book to all of you since Z and I discovered it in October. Better late than never, right?

Read this, please: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. It’s a gentle meandering through an old farmhouse purchased by Blackall, a Caldecott-winning author-illustrator. Years before, twelve children were born and raised there. When Blackall found it, it was falling down.

Blackall takes the unique and delightful approach of using materials from the old farmhouse in her illustrations—fragments of wallpaper and fabric and furniture—to build a beautiful, layered world.

The illustrations are frankly stunning, but I love the prose even more. The entire book is one long, long sentence. I’ve read it dozens of times now, and every single line always flows satisfyingly off the tongue. It is perfectly paced, with occasional internal rhymes placed exactly where they need to be to move the story along.

Farmhouse is calm and gentle, perfect for bedtime. Last night I cuddled up with my little farmer Z and savored this book with her. I had to try very had not to get choked up reading the final line: “where they’ll live on, now, in this book that you hold, / like your stories will, so long as they’re told.” I hope she carries this story and all the others we read together with her, to fill her life with love, wonder, beauty, and peace.

Marnie is just a couple of months away!

Marnie and the Floating Thoughts is really and truly happening, thanks to the amazing supporters of my Kickstarter in the fall. If you’re in Denver, I’d love to see you at the book’s launch party at the gorgeous Arrowhead Acres (RSVP here) or at my upcoming reading at Second Star to the Right. Check out the flyer below for all the details, and feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!

Stay tuned for even more Marnie updates in the coming months! And I promise more book recommendations in the next iteration of Reading with Z.

With love and wonder,

Jordyn

Learn more about my writing at www.jordynjefferson.com. Preorder my debut picture book here.