The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, pictures by Dan Hanna.

Mr. Fish swims around with a permanent scowl on his face.  He won’t even try to cheer up because that just the way he is.  He doesn’t know how to be anything but dreary and dull and dour.  As fish after fish try to cheer him up, he just becomes more and more dismal until he is upside down flopped on a rock at the bottom of the sea.  That is where a beautiful silver fish finds him and kisses him.  And suddenly his attitude changes.

Readers will be drawn into the book by the rollicking rhyme and the repetition, making this the perfect book to share with toddlers and preschoolers.  Even now, weeks after reading it my sons launch into the chorus from the book with great gusto on the spur of the moment.  The illustrations will project well to a room and by reading it to a class you will bring them out of their own pout-pouts.

Recommended for toddler story times, this book may not be deep literature, but it is great fun.

Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Mac Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ross MacDonald.

This is the gripping and fascinating true story of the creation of Superman.  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were high school students in Cleveland during the Depression.  Jerry was a writer, who loved adventure and science fiction.  Joe loved to draw and illustrated many of Jerry’s stories.  Together in 1934, they created Superman, a hero who was also as shy and reserved as both of them were.  For three years they tried to sell Superman to publishers.  It wasn’t until they found one interested in publishing comic books rather than comic strips that they got a deal.  The comics debuted in 1938 and were an instant success. 

And the end of the book, you will find a historical piece on the copyright issues of Superman which is equally interesting as the book itself.  This picture book will be of interest to all children who enjoy superhero stories.  Its vintage feel captures the time period perfectly while the comics and action themselves make it a thrill visually.  The text is just the right length to tell the full story, but not too much to overwhelm young readers or listeners.  The book reads aloud well and could be used in elementary classes about writing and creativity.

A great example of a nonfiction picture book recommended for ages 6-8, this book will fly off your shelves.  Up up and away!