Author and illustrator Michelle Nelson-Schmidt recommends The Story of Ferdinand, written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. “The Story of Ferdinand is a classic and one of my very favorite children’s picture books. It’s the story of a sweet bull who is content to smell the flowers of life, who stays true to himself despite the world’s pressures to change him. Staying true to oneself is a theme close to my heart. The exquisite ink drawings perfectly complement the story. The scene where Ferdinand sits under a tree just smiling and loving life puts me in my happy place. We all should be lucky enough to live as Ferdinand does.”
The Story of Ferdinand (The Viking Press, 1936) is recommended for ages 3-5.
Be sure to check out the following books written and illustrated by Nelson-Schmidt: Dog and Mouse (Kane Miller Books, 2015), Bob Is a Unicorn (Kane Miller Books, 2014), and Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster (Kane Miller Books, 2013).
Learn more at WhatIfMonsters.com.
If you are on Facebook, find Michelle Nelson-Schmidt at Facebook.com/Michelle.NelsonSchmidt.