Monday, July 25, 2016

The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books - New Logo

Sage Merriman


Happy to share the new logo (badge, emblem) for The Grandfather List....


I worked with a designer at www.Fiverr.com at a total cost of $5.50. (Yes, this operation has that kind of limited budget - and Fiverr is worthy of exploration.)

New Logo for the forthcoming Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

The first annual iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. 


The nominations process is underway with frequent announcements made on Twitter (#SageMerriman). 


Please suggest worthy books in Comments below (and share your thoughts on improving this logo).

Friday, July 22, 2016

A “Worthy” Book: Cynthia Rylant’s THE RELATIVES CAME

Sage Merriman



Not (yet) nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books


But I do want to mention that I read and enjoyed THE RELATIVES CAME and found it “worthy” of grandfatherly attention. 

Illustrations by Stephen Gammell are warm-hearted and won Caldecott Honor Book recognition.

I’m reading more by Cynthia Rylant these days....

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

THE BEAR ATE YOUR SANDWICH - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books

Sage Merriman


Hats Off to Author-Illustrator Julia Sarcone-Roach


THE BEAR ATE YOUR SANDWICH is a book that’s fun to read and, no doubt, to discuss with a lap full of grandkids.

More than that, it is a rarity among picturebooks for its ability to deliver a surprise ending.

I’ll say no more so as not to spoil the effect, but suggest you read this modern classic yourself.


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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.




Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

KNOW WHAT I SAW? - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picture Books

Sage Merriman

Aileen Fisher's KNOW WHAT I SAW? is the Perfect Counting Book


Actually, it’s a countdown book since the counting is backwards - from ten down to one.

What makes it perfect (for ages 2-5) is the illustrations by Deborah Durland... combined with a wonderful and effortless pattern of rhymes throughout. 

It’s just the kind of book a grandfather can enjoy reading aloud to a lapful of the next generation.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.



Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.



Wednesday, July 6, 2016

IDEAS ARE ALL AROUND - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

Sage Merriman


Author-Illustrator Philip C. Stead Outdoes Himself in Modern Classic 


A writer takes his dog, Wednesday, on a walk through familiar environs, looking for an idea for his next book. Along the way... something wonderful happens... so simple and subtle you will find yourself re-reading it and taking in more of the illustrations... long after the children go to bed.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.



Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

Two “Purple Crayon” Books Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

Sage Merriman


Rare Double-Nomination for Crocket Johnson's HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON and A PICTURE FOR HAROLD’S ROOM 


These two books have been around long enough to have whiskers, but I find them irresistible... which means timeless in their appeal. 

Crockett Johnson died in 1975. He was a successful syndicated cartoonist (with his Barnaby comic strip). Later he turned to writing and illustrating children’s picturebooks. To this task he brought tremendous insight and subtlety in both writing and illustration.

Happily, there are other Harold books by Crockett Johnson.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.




Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

TWENTY YAWNS - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

Sage Merriman

Jane Smiley's TWENTY YAWNS is enough to put you to sleep.


(Not a problem, since that’s the purpose of this beautiful picturebook.) 


In this story, a family at the beach heads for their home/cabin, tired after a full and active day. Soon everyone’s overcome by yawns.

A great bedtime read-aloud book, beautifully illustrated by Laren Castillo... and a possibility for The Grandfather List.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.




Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.



Saturday, July 2, 2016

HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOOD NIGHT? - Nominated for The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks

Sage Merriman


Jane Yolen’s HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOOD NIGHT? is one mad romp of a bedtime story. 


I find it irresistible read-aloud material and even think it could help put grandkids to bed. That is why it’s today’s nominee (the 4th, so far) for the Grandfather List....

I should add that the illustrations by Mark Teague are terrific.

Yolen and Teague have collaborated on at least 10 books in their HOW DO DINOSAURS...? series, so I’m half expecting to find other gems.

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The first iteration of The Grandfather List of Children’s Picturebooks will be published in January 2017. Final selections will be made from among books that have been nominated.




Please suggest your favorite children’s picturebooks in Comments below or by emailing Sage [at] SageMerriman [dot] com.