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Best of 2025
All Gertie’s favorite picture books from this year. New or newly discovered. I’ve been away from Gertie and the book blog for so long! But that is because I’ve been hard at work learning to be a real, authentic, children’s library person and keeper of books and reader (out loud!) of stories in a brick and mortar public library. Aren’t I lucky? In my new role I get to read dozens of picture books every week. These are some of my very favorite from the year. Some are newly published and others I’ve just discovered. This was such a wonderful…
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Gertie’s Pearls: Fashion Fun for Every Human
Gertie was such a cozy fashion icon to her family. She had a look, which reflected her pride and dignity as a woman with a college degree, a beautiful soprano singing voice, and her background as a farm girl from Maryland. Even when she worked in the garden she wore a blouse and slacks. I don’t ever remember seeing her in shorts or a t-shirt! She had jewelry that reflected her lived experiences, gifts from my grandfather, her love for her children and grandchildren, and her travels. She had a beautiful pearl necklace from Japan, a pink kilt from Scotland…
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Cozy Day Reads
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There’s snow on the ground and it’s cold and sparkling outside. Sometimes the winter seems long, and we’re waiting for the spring. Difficult things have been happening in the big grown-up world lately. We’re looking for signs of hope, and signs of help. We’re waiting. We’re enduring. But sometimes we need the comfort of people who love us, and good books, and the quiet of snow falling, on city streets and backyard swings. Gertie always says, it’s okay to rest. Let’s put soft and kind things into the world this week. Here are some books for the month of January…
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The Little Red Chair
Welcome to the place where Gertie reads. Books are places waiting to be visited and people waiting to be known. Books are a magic wardrobe, or a magic wand, or, sometimes, a magic mirror. Who is that waiting to be met? Who do you see there staring back at you? Sometimes it’s stranger, holding out their hand, saying “Come with me! Listen to me. Try to understand what I’m telling you.” And sometimes books are a chair to sit in, just for you. A quilt to wrap you up, warm and tight. A soothing cup of tea for your weary…
A Book for Every Reader
I’m Gwen, the author of Gertie’s Book Blog, a place for book recommendations for kids, teens, and their grown-ups. I’m a reader, writer, public library enthusiast, parent of not-so-littles, and former teacher. Gertie was my grandmother, and is the inspiration for the voice of Gertie’s Book Blog. I hope you find it as warm and wise and thoughtful about books and the kids who read them as she was. All artwork is by Christy Boyer.
Gertie's Book Blog 