Day: February 14, 2008

Nic Bishop Spiders

| Tasha

Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop.

Breathtaking photographs accompany gripping information in this award-winning nonfiction book for children.  The photographs are crystal-clear, illustrate the text well, and will get children dashing from one to the next.   Each page is a different color, highlighting the photographs themselves and lending an air of fun to the book. The text is easy to read and fascinating. 

Highly recommended for any child, but especially for those who enjoy nonfiction more than stories.  This is a perfect bedtime or lap book for those children who will want to pore over the details in the photographs and talk about their own discoveries.

Make sure you read the note at the end that talks about Bishop’s techniques.  They are just as interesting as the spiders themselves. 

Nic Bishops website:  nicbishop.com

Jazz Baby

| Tasha

Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

Jazz Baby is awake in his crib when the rhythms and music start and he claps along with the beat.  Then everyone joins in making their own signature sounds and dancing in different styles.  This musical picture book has plenty of opportunities for children to hum, sing and move along with the story.  The text is pure rhythm and rhyme where you can feel your feet tapping and your body swaying along.  It is a joy to read aloud and will be a joy to listen to as well.

The illustrations by Christie are also winning, as we see family members will all different skin tones, styles and movements.  It is a look at diversity within a loving family unit filled with several generations of love.  The illustrations just like the words seem to capture jazz itself, its flow and its improvisational aspects. 

Highly recommended for reading aloud, make sure everyone is invited to move, wiggle and clap along.  They will anyway!

Author’s website:  www.lisawheelerbooks.com

Illustrator’s website:  www.gas-art.com

Cybils!

| Tasha

The 2nd Annual Children’s and Young Adult Blogger’s Literary Awards have been announced!  Congratulations to the winners!

I am especially pleased with the winners in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category which I helped to nominate and which happen to be two of my favorites in each of the age groups!  I am thrilled!

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex



Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Both of these books are real wonders that offer fresh perspectives, unique situations, and great characterizations.