Posts Tagged ‘picture books’

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

What’s in a name? Quite a bit, if you ask Thunder Boy, Jr. Even though he looks up to his dad, he wants his own name. Besides, his dad is known as Big Thunder, and he is left with Little Thunder. As he says, “That nickname makes me sound like a burp or a fart.” What follows is a romp through all the possible names Thunder Boy, Jr. can think of to celebrate his own accomplishments, or what he dreams of doing. Most of all, though this book celebrates the relationship between father and son.

I’ve long been a fan of Sherman Alexie’s novels, so when I saw his name on the front of this picture book, Thunder Boy Jr. (Little, Brown and Company, 2016), I had to grab it. (No worries, no children were harmed in this library grab.) Just like in his novels, Alexie’s prose dances across the page. This book would be a hoot to read aloud. I also loved the illustrations, especially the contrast between dark and light. Yuyi Morales’s work is new to me (primarily because I am not as familiar with picture books), but I am not surprised to learn that she has already earned a Caldecott honor for an earlier book.

Besides being a fun book to read and share and look at, this book inspires me to write and invite others to write with me:

  • What is the story of your name? My mom filled me in on more details of where my name came from that went back more generations than I knew.
  • What name would you choose for yourself to mark your accomplishments or dreams? I suspect my daughter would dub me “Crazy Chicken Lady.”

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Picture book roundup

My daughter has picked up a babysitting job this summer. Our delightful six-year-old neighbor comes to our house three or four days a week. I have loved seeing my daughter take on the responsibility of planning a variety of activities for them to enjoy together–cooking, crafts, writing letters to Disney princesses, history explorations, dolls, swimming, art (did you know you can make ice cube paints?), and more.

My favorite, though, is watching my daughter share her love of reading. They go to the library for storytime and summmer reading programs. Every day–several times a day–they read together. At the beginning of the summer, the girl’s parents shared they were worried about her reading abilities because her teachers thought she was behind.

I’m not an expert in early childhood education, but I see much to celebrate in her reading. Is she reading chapter books on her own yet? No, but should all kindgergartners be reading at that level? As I’ve read with her and watched her read with my daughter, I see that she knows all kinds of things about reading:

  • She already has favorite authors and series: Mercer Mayer, Biscuit, Junie B. Jones, Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious.
  • She knows that books share stories and that the best stories are for sharing. She enjoys reading and being read to. She loves reading books with repetition where she can help read.
  • She makes meaning out of what’s on the page–both text and pictures. When she’s not sure of a new word she encounters, she looks at the page to figure it out. Even if she guesses a different word that what is printed, her guess usually makes sense with the story,

Here are some of the books I enjoyed reading with Melanie last week while my daughter was busy with judging at the 4H Fair.

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Biscuit in the Garden by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, pictures by Pat Schories – Biscuit is a new character to me, but he must be popular with my neighbor since I found several books about Biscuit in the library bag. The simple, repetitive text is perfect for beginning readers to join in with the reading. The bright illustrations are delightful. Biscuit is so cute, it’s hard to stay mad even when he gets into the birdseed and makes a mess in the garden. This book invites discovery and surprise as Biscuit explores flowers and bugs and birds in the garden. The next step will be to invite our neighbor to our garden as it begins to produce lots of veggies and fruit.

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My Dog Never Says Please by Suzanne Williams, pictures by Tedd Arnold – This book elicited lots of giggles as we read it together. Ginny Mae is tired of being told what to do. She has to remember to say please, use her best manners at dinner (chew with her mouth closed and use her napkin), clean her room, put on shoes. Through it all, her pesky little brother Jack points out that he does all these things. She also looks enviously at her dog Red, who doesn’t have to do any of these things. Why couldn’t she be a dog? Ginnie Mae gets her wish and moves into the yard with Red, who even shares his fleas. I love the imagination that spills across each page–and the hope that leaves the door to the house open any time Ginny Mae wants to come home.

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Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems: For some time now, I have been hearing my Nerdy Book Club friends sing the praises of Mo Willems, so on our last trip to the library I pulled a few of his books off the shelf for the girls to peruse. Knuffle Bunny came home with us, and I get it now. This book is genius! The first thing our neighbor pointed out was, “Those pictures look real.” Yep, there’s a black and white photograph on each page. Within each photo–and sometimes running out of the frame–are vivid cartoon characters. We had as much fun looking at the pictures as we did reading the text. The text, by the way, captures more drama and adventure than I could have imagined on a trip to the laundry mat. I don’t know about the girls, but I will be looking for more books by Mo Willems. I hope our neighbor has found a new favorite to add to her growing list of things she loves about reading.

What are some of your favorite books to share with young readers?

Disclosure: I participate in the Amazon Associates Program. If you decide to make a purchase by clicking on the affiliate links, Amazon will pay me a commission. This commission doesn’t cost you any extra. All opinions are my own.

An explosion for the senses

November Picture Book Month may be drawing to a close, but I look forward to reading many  more picture books through the coming months. These last books are a feast for the senses that open new vistas past and present.

pecan pie babyPecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010) – If I liked pecans, I would be drooling for pecan pie by the end of this book. Gia is not too sure about the new baby brother or sister on the way. The more everyone else talks about it, the less sure she becomes. Fortunately, Mama knows how to hear and understand her fears. Life might still be as sweet as pecan pie in spite of that “ding dang baby.”

song for the whooping craneSong for the Whooping Crane by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Elsa Warnick (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2000) – I have been interested in cranes ever since I visited the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin on vacation. These magnificent birds have an amazing comeback story. Spinelli’s poetry and Warnick’s watercolors celebrate the beauty and grace of these birds as they migrate throughout the year.

elsies birdElsie’s Bird by Jane Yolen, and David Small (Philomel Books, 2010) – This book is an explosion of sound, from the city streets of Boston to the whispering winds of the Nebraska prairie. Elsie loves the busy city streets, but when her mother dies, her father decides they should move to Nebraska. Now Elsie’s world falls silent except for her pet canary, Timmy. One day Timmy flies out the window and Elsie chases him into the tall grass. Finally, her ears open to the new sounds that surround her new home. After reading this, I want to listen and capture the sounds of my world, too.

greenGreen by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook Press, 2012) – I remember seeing the book trailer and reading rave reviews when this book first came out. Neither the trailer nor the reviews do this gem justice. The vibrant illustrations show green in all its glory, from forest green and sea green to wacky green and not green. My favorite part, though, are the cut outs on each page that reveal new surprises every time I flip the page.

amelia and eleanorAmelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan, pictures by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, 1999) – Someone (I wish I could remember who) from the It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! meme shared this book last week, and I knew I wanted to read it. I have long admired both Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. I can picture these two brave, strong women sneaking out for a late night flight and drive together. Both text and illustrations are captivating, and for the history buffs, the author’s note in the back explains the fact from fiction in the story. Yes, this picture book is inspired by a true story, but Ryan did take some liberties with the facts.

From tall tales to fairy tales

It’s still November so that means it’s still Picture Book Month! I made another trip to the library to find enough picture books to finish out the month. This time my husband went with me and complained that he couldn’t find me. I really wasn’t hiding. It’s just much easier to scoot along the floor while I pull picture books off the shelves to peruse before checking them out. Here are six of the treasures I brought home. The rest will be in a later post.

jumanjiJumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981) – I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I had not read this one before now, nor seen the movie. As with other Van Allsburg books, the black and white drawings drew me in until I felt like I could step right into the story. Though I’m not sure I would want to fall into this story (or game) with roaring lions, stampeding rhinos, and lost guides. I do want to see how the movie captures the story on the big screen.

darkThe Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Little Brown and Company, 2013) – This one belongs on my shelf next to Mercer Mayer’s There’s a Nightmare in My Closet (except I have to return it to the library). Laszlo is afraid of the dark, especially when it’s at home in the basement. Then one night the dark invites Laszlo into its home and Laszlo is no longer afraid of the dark. The angles of dark shadows and light play throughout the illustrations.

little red penThe Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (Harcourt Children’s Books, 2011) – The Little Red Pen is determined to grade all the papers stacked on the desk, but the rest of the office supplies are too afraid to come out of the desk drawer. Only a catastrophe–Little Red Pen falls into the “Pit of No Return”–brings scissors, eraser, pencil, ruler, stapler, and the rest out of hiding to keep the sky from falling and the world from ending. If they can just quit arguing and work together, they might get those papers graded after all. Now why couldn’t my office supplies have been that helpful?

frog prince continuedThe Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka, paintings by Steve Johnson (Viking, 1991) – As soon as I saw Jon Scieszka’s name on the cover, I knew I was in for a fun ride. Life is not happily ever after in the castle. The Frog Prince and his princess just can’t get along now that the royal wedding is over. The Frog Prince decides he was happier as a frog and sets off in the woods to find a witch to change him back. He meets witches aplenty, but none of them go with his story. After some close calls, he makes it back to the castle where another kiss gives a twisted ending.

three little pigsThe Three Litlte Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague (Orchard Books, 2013) – What happens when you mix three pigs (one hungry for potato chips, one hungry for sody-pop, one hungry for books) with one hungry (but really not so terrible) wolf? A delightful twist on the old fairy tale. I’m not sure which made me laugh more–the twists in the story or the illustrations that reveal some very unpig-like pigs.

library lilLibrary Lil by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997) – This whopper of a tall tale starts with Lil’s origins (she was born with a book in her hands) and continues through her exploits as the librarian of Chesterville. She has her work cut out for her because the people of Chesterville much prefer television to books. Just when a thunderstorm knocks out all the power, Lil is ready to turn a town of couch potatoes into readers. Then Bust’em Up Bill zooms into town on his motorcycle. Will he be any match for our fearless librarian? This hilarious adventure is just the thing for all those super librarians I have known and worked with, who do indeed move mountains to get the right book into the right kid’s hands at the right time.

Picture books bring delight!

This week when I headed to the library to find more picture books to celebrate National Picture Book Month (this month!), I was much more excited than nervous like last week. I sat down on the other side of the row of shelves and began browsing. Once again I found some familiar authors among the mix as well as brand new titles and authors (at least new to me). Here are the treasures I discovered this trip in no particular order.

light of the worldThe Light of the World by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Francois Roca (Arthur A Levine Books, 2008) – I fell in love with Katherin Paterson’s writing when I first read Jacob Have I Loved and The Same Stuff as Stars, so when I saw this picture book retelling the life of Jeus, I had to read it. The simple text is beautiful and graceful as it tells an old, old story with freshness. The full page pictures that complement the text are luminous. I wish I had had this book when my daughter was young.

chester raccoon and the big bad bullyChester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson (Tanglewood Press, 2008) – Chester’s first story, The Kissing Hand, is one of the few picture books that my daughter has kept and still rereads. She was as excited as I was to see Chester’s new adventure. This time a bully is disrupting school. Following Mama Raccoon’s good advice, Chester and his friends take on the bully and find a new friend.

if you give a cat a cupcakeIf You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond (Laura Geringer Books, 2008) – If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was a perennial favorite in our house at one time. How could I resist reading another adventure that spirals out of control just to circle back to the beginning? The humor in this series is brilliant. I want to give it a try just for the fun of thinking up all the possible scenarios.

boy who was raised by librariansThe Boy who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Sneed (Peachtree Publishers, 2007) – Okay, how could I resist the title? Melvin grows up spending lots and lots of time in the public library. The three librarians–Marge, Betty, and Leeola–are always there to help him with whatever problem he faces (whether organizing and cataloguing insects or researching the motivation of an eggplant) because that’s just what librarians do. I loved the ending, but I won’t give it away.

pirates guide to recessPirate’s Guide to Recess by James Preller, illustrated by Greg Ruth (Feiwel and Friends, 2013) – When the recess bell rings, pirates take over the school yard. Soon the stormy seas are filled with the clashing of swords as Captain Red encounters fierce Molly and her crew. Clashing swords, walking planks, and mutinying crews fill recess with adventure. I love the action filled text and the imaginative drawings that emphasize creative play. A glossary of pirate terms on the end papers lead readers to their own pirate adventures.

case of the incapacitated capitalsThe Case of the Incapacitated Capitals by Robin Pulver, illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed (Holiday House, 2012) – If there’s a way to make grammar fun, this book might lead the way. Because the students in Mr. Wright’s class have been forgetting to use capital letters correctly, the capital letters are growing sickly. Will the emergency medical team arrive in time to make things right again? This humorous story would be a good introduciton to (or reminder of) the importance of capital letters (and a history of how they got their other name–upper case letters).

butterlyThe Butterfly by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books, 2000) – Polacco draws on her family history to tell the story of a courageous mother and daughter from the French Resistance in Nazi occupied France during World War II. Monique first shares a secret friendship with the ghostly girl who visits her room at night and lives secretly in the basement. When they are discovered, Monique and her mother must act quickly to save the family. This book would be a valuable addition to any study of the Holocaust for any age.

little drummer mouseThe Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006) – Really, I’m not trying to rush Christmas, but I love Mercer Mayer! This retelling of “The Little Drummer Boy” puts a tiny mouse in the starring role. I enjoyed the story, but it was the paintings that really drew me in. I could get lost in in picture, looking for more and more details to surprise and delight me.

canoe daysCanoe Days by Gary Paulsen, illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen (Doubleday, 1999) – Did you know Gary Paulsen had written a picture book that his wife illustrated? I didn’t, but I’m glad I discovered it. The poetic text immerses you in the quiet stillness found floating in a canoe across the lake. The illustrations glow with a soft light that matches the peacefulness. Now I want to take my canoe and float down the river.

jazzJazz by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers (Holiday House, 2006) – This collection of poems echoes the rhythms of jazz as it explores the history of American’s homegrown music. I found it hard to read without tapping my feel along with the poems. The introduction sets the stage with an overview of jazz’s evolution. More information in the back defines jazz terms and gives a timeline of important musical events. The illustrations are filled with vibrant color and movement.

I can’t wait until my next trip to the library. What picture books should I look for?

 

More Picture Books Are Coming!

I continued to stick with the theme of the familiar with the rest of the picture books in my stack. Some were books and authors and illustrators that I had been hearing about–usually more than once for them to stick in my mind.

old bearOld Bear by Kevin Henkes – I don’t listen in on a discussion about picture books before someone speaks up in praise of Kevin Henkes. Old Bear was the only title on the shelf, so I grabbed it. Old Bear falls asleep in his den for the winter, but his dreams carry him throughout the seasons. I loved the illustrations that brought the simple text to life. I want to nap in flowers as big as trees and catch blueberries on my tongue as they rain from the sky.

extra yarnExtra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen – I get it now! I have heard readers rave about this book since it first came out, and now I’m ready to join the chorus. Annabelle found a box filled with yarn and her world will never be the same. She gets busy knitting and knitting and soon the drab black and white of winter is bursting with color and snuggled in sweaters. Not even an evil archduke can steal the magic (even though he tries). This is a book I could read over and over again. I’m not sure which I like better–the story or the illustrations. They blend together perfectly to create this magical tale.

click clack mooClick, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin – This is another book that I have heard many readers rave about. I can see why. I chuckled at the cows with the typewriter and at Farmer Brown’s growing frustration with cows that demand electric blankets. Before long the hens and ducks want their demands heard as well. The lighthearted, whimsical illustrations add to the fun–at least for the reader if not for Farmer Brown.

The last three books in this stack are from authors and illustrators that are new to me, but they are the familiar genres of fairy tale and fantasy. I love the concept of fractured fairy tales where things are turned upside down and topsy turvy in a story I thought was familiar.

wolf who cried boyThe Wolf Who Cried Boy by Bob Hartman and Tim Raglin – This time it’s Little Wolf who raises the false alarm a few too many times. He can’t help it. He’s tired of the same old dishes for dinner and just wants his favorite meal–BOY! But when a boy–a whole troop of them–shows up, his parents are wise to his tricks and won’t look up from the paper. This funny twist on an old favorite will have you howling along with Little Wolf. Not many tots today can relate to tending the sheep, but many of them will relate to Little Wolf trying to get out of dinner and eating snacks instead.

little red riding hoodLittle Red Riding Hood A Newfangled Prairie Tale by Lisa Campbell Ernst – When this Little Red Riding Hood sets off on her bicycle, nothing will stop her from getting to Grandmother’s house–not even a wolf with nefarious plans. The Midwestern grandmother is pretty tough herself as the wolf soon discovers. But never fear, a surprise twist leaves everyone living happily ever after. There’s even a recipe for wheatberry muffins (if you promise to make sure no wolves are lurking around when you add the secret ingredient).

dancing tigerThe Dancing Tiger by Malachy Doyle and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher – I picked this one up based on the title and cover. I could not resist the image of a tiger and little girl dancing under a starry sky. The lyrical paintings and inviting verse invite you to dance along through the seasons, but only when the moon shines bright. It’s also an invitation to pass on treasured traditions from one generation to another.

I am excited by the pictures books I’ve discovered so far. What picture books do you recommend?

The Picture Books Are Coming!

Did you know that November is National Picture Book Month? I didn’t until Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts shared her plans to read #bookaday–and share out on her blog–for the month. I decided to join in the fun.

When it comes to middle grade and young adult literature, I can list hundreds of books on hundreds of topics and genres and by hundreds of authors. But when it comes to picture books, not so much. I’ve been seeing the pictures books shared by other readers and have wanted to explore this format more.

I headed to the children’s room in our  public library and quickly became overwhelmed. All those thin books sticking out at odd angles up and down the shelves. Where do I  even begin? I sat down at one end of the shelves and began browsing. (Of course, I didn’t write down any of the titles I discovered through IMWAYR or other blog posts.) Even so, it didn’t take long to create a stack of books to bring home.

I discovered some familiar friends among the authors. Some wrote books that I enjoyed reading to my daughter when she was younger. Other were authors I recognized from their books for middle grade or young adult readers. The picture books did not disappoint.

hello red foxHello, Red Fox by Eric Carle – My daugher (and me, too) loved Eric Carle. We had board books and hardback and paperback picture books. As soon as she saw Hello, Red Fox, she recognized Carle’s distinctive artwork. I was surprised there was another Carle book that we hadn’t read. Little Frong invites his friends to his birthday party, but Mama Frog thinks they are the wrong color! Using an optical illsusion based on the color wheel, the reader helps Mama Frog “see” the right colors. As a kid, I loved these illusions. I enjoyed the concept even now, but my eyes are getting old! It’s hard to stare at the colors page after page.

louise the adventure of a chickenLouise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo and Harry Bliss – How could I go wrong with a story by Kate DiCamillo? Louise is a brave chicken who yearns for more adventure than she can find in the hen house and farm yard. She discovers pirates sailing over the seas, lions rampaging at the circus, mysterious strangers lurking at a bazaar. After each adventure, she is glad to return home…until the next adventure calls.

holly & ivyThe Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden and Barbara Cooney – Godden’s The Diddakoi was one of my most treasured books from my grandmother’s library. Discovering The Story of Holly & Ivy was like having tea with an old friend. The magic of Christmas wishes brings together three unlikely characters on a cold Christmas night. The oprhan ivy wishes for a family of her own, so she sets out for Appleton to find the grandmother she is sure is waiting for her. Holly wishes to leave her perch in the toy store window so she can be some little girl’s Christmas doll (even if the scary owl Abracadabra says impossible). Mrs. Jones wishes for a child and decorates a tree even though she’s not quite sure what she’s hoping for this Christmas.

strega nona's giftStrega Nona’s Gift by Tomie dePaola – Of course I remembered Strega Nona. This one turned out to be another Christmas story. (I’m really not trying to rush the season, but I do love Christmas stories.) Strega Nona is cooking and cooking and cooking for all the feasts through the month of December in her village of Calabria. She even cooks a feast for the animals, but something goes wrong when Big Anthony can’t resist the goat’s treat. What will it take to set the world right again?

I have even more great picture books to share tomorrow. What picture books should I be looking for to read next? Let me know your suggestions in the comments.