" the rainbow connection..the lovers, the dreamers and me.."

“Creativity takes courage. ”

― Henri Matisse

      Have you ever imagined what color you would be if you were a crayon or colored marker? Have you ever thought what a responsibility it must be to shade every Valentines Day heart or Santa Claus hat? What if your career depended upon keeping  fluffy clouds milky white or the sky a brilliant blue?

  Mmmmm- imagine life as a crayon. What hue are you?

 What are the top selling children's picture books under the reading rainbow this week? No surprise the number one best selling tale has spent over forty-two weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT written by Drew Daywalt with illustrations by Oliver Jeffers has captured the hearts and imaginations of children aged 3 to 103. The forty page beautifully designed book is recommended for pre-school children but all readers and listeners will be enthralled by the way crayons magically come alive with feeling and emotion. Each color delightfully addresses their own personal issues. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT has been highly recommended for and by parents, teachers

 and care-givers.

Among the best selling children's books this week is Mo Willems persuasive story of a filthy bird who needs to take the plunge in THE PIGEON NEEDS A BATH and author Adam Rubin's deliciously fun, DRAGONS LOVE TACOS, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.

 HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS, by Todd and Sonja Burpoi llustrated by Wilson Ong is the children's version of an adult novel vividly describing a moving religious encounter. 

You will love reading GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld as a bed time story as the rhythm and flow of the words will gently turn off the motor of every childs eventful evening while wishing a "goodnight" to dozing machines. 

Speaking of machines, LOCOMOTIVE by Brian Floca celebrates vehicles that mesmerize young readers.  Winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, and a New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2013 selection; "Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11," also a Sibert Honor Book and New York Times Best Illustrated Book; "Lightship," a Sibert Honor Book; and "The Racecar Alphabet" and "Five Trucks." The talented Floca is also the illustrator of Avi's popular Poppy Stories, Kate Messner's three Marty McGuire novels, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan's "Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring" (a Sibert Honor Book and winner of the Orbis Pictus Award).

Other books rounding out the top sellers list are:

HERE COMES THE EASTER CAT, by Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Claudia Rueda the story of a crazy kitty seeking holiday glory. 

JOURNEY, by Aaron Becker. A gripping journey of a lonely little girl who draws a red door on her bedroom wall and enters an imaginary world.

PRESS HERE, by Hervé Tullet.  The story of dancing color.

 And  a tale of "here comes the bride", Jane O'Connor's

FANCY NANCY AND THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY, iillustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. 

Remember, nothing says "I LOVE YOU" like reading with children or providing them with books. You are helping them develop the most precious life skill, handing them keys to unlock doors of creativity and knowledge, making their own possibilities endless.