Day: March 11, 2008

Twilight Hunt

| Tasha

Twilight Hunt by Narelle Oliver.

A screech owl heads out on a hunt to bring her babies food.  But every time she’s about to catch something it manages to evade her by camouflaging itself in the environment.  Sharp eyes will see not only the one animal hiding but many animals in each image blending gracefully into the surroundings. 

The marriage of great language and wonderful images is perfection here.  The language contains those great words that will expand small readers’ vocabulary without them even realizing it.  Lizards scuttle, moths skim and wingbeats are noiseless.  The brief but powerful text leads from one picture to the next where children will lean closer to see the hidden creatures and by the end they too will be noiseless and even breathless.

A powerful book about an intriguing subject, this book is better used with a very small group or one-on-one because of the delicacy and details of the illustrations.  Simply elegant and lovely.

The Getaway

| Tasha

 

The Getaway by Ed Vere.

Looking for a breakneck-paced picture book that will immediately grab small boys and keep them enthralled?  Have I got a book for you!  Fingers McGraw is an infamous cheese thief and the reader is immediately enlisted to help him escape with his stolen cheeses.  Jumbo Wayne Jr. is hot on his trail and all the reader needs to do is keep their eyes open and whistle when they see an elephant approaching.  How hard could that be? 

Great dialogue for adults features classic movie quotes and lines that will have you putting on your wildest vintage PI voice ever.  The book is just plain wild fun to share with kids.  Vere’s words make the book flow, but his art is just as wild and wonderful, helping to increase the pace of the text.  Fingers always has his ears blowing back in the breeze as he tears past a background of real photographs.  Yes, the art is evocative of Knuffle Bunny’s style, but is done with more close up photos so it also has a feel all its own.

A sure-fire hit with kids, save this one for a short school day or a Friday afternoon when the wigglies set in.  Recommended for ages 4-7.