Skip to main content

Ernestine's Milky Way


Written by Kerry Madden-Lunsford
Illustrated by Emily Sutton
Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019. Picture Book.

Ernestine lives in the Smoky Mountains with her Mama while her Daddy is at war. She and her Mama milk their cow Ole Peg every morning. One day Ernestine's Mama gives her a special job: she has to take two jars of milk down yonder to their neighbors, all by herself. It's a little daunting to the plucky five-year-old, but she begins her journey as the morning star lights her way. The path takes Ernestine through terrain marked only by plants and wildlife, from thickets of crabapple to a valley of doghobble. Along the way she hears animal sounds that make her nervous. Could that scratcha-scratcha-scratchin be a bear? Her mantra reassures her throughout it all: "I'm five years old and a big girl!" 

Ernestine's Milky Way reads like a bighearted folktale about neighborliness, courage, and dairy. The rich, colorful illustrations reveal details about a different time, a different place and a different way of life. Recommended as a read-aloud in small settings. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The House with Nobody in It

  The House with Nobody in It By Jon Klassen Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2026. Board Book.  The House with Nobody in It may very well be your child's first ghost story. The simple story begins with the narrator explaining to readers that this house used to have someone in it, but there is now nobody there. Toddlers and preschoolers will love contradicting this statement as they peek through the house that the board book forms, as the ghost is clearly visible throughout the story.  This unique and imaginative board book is the perfect thing to read during Halloween season! The book itself plays into the experience, with cutouts and clever turns that make it especially interactive. The illustrations are superb, simple but well crafted, adding to the story's theme as a whole. This will likely be a book that gets many repeat reads!

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...

De la hora del cuento: La letra "B"

  Cuentos La bicicleta nueva Por Darcy Day Zoells New York : Clavis, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Mari tiene una bicicleta nueva. Ahora el mundo luce diferente. ¡Hay tantas cosas que puede hacer! ¿Hacia dónde irĆ”? ¿QuĆ© descubrirĆ”? ¿ConocerĆ” a nuevos amigos? ¡AcompaƱa a Mari a descubrir lo mĆ”s importante que la bicicleta puede llevar!" --Editor Cuentitos Me gusta mi bici Por AG Ferrari New York : Holiday House, 2022. FĆ”cil. "Ilustraciones y texto fĆ”cil muestran las ventajas de andar en bicicleta cuando las calles estĆ”n llenas de otros veh̕culos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "B" Baby Ballena El oso polar y la bailarina El tejado de Benito Mi abuela es una bruja ¡Hola, Lola! A la bodega