Day: April 21, 2009

Bubble Trouble

| Tasha

Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar

Little Mabel blew a bubble, and it caused a lot of trouble…

Such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way.

What an opening!  And if your tongue tripped on those two lines, you will find yourself tripping along throughout the book.  When Mabel blows the bubble, her little brother is caught inside it and drifts off into the air.  As he drifts along more and more people follow behind and try to get him down.  Only naughty Abel is able to find a solution (which involves a slingshot and a long fall). 

Mahy has created a tongue-twister of a picture book that is a great delight to read aloud (with a little practice).  The rhymes and rhythm create a galloping effect and a fast pace.  Dunbar’s illustrations are great fun too with strange bright-colored birds and whimsical houses that contrast nicely with the watercolor and cut paper characters. 

Get your tongue loosened up and enjoy!  Children as young as two will enjoy the rhythm and wildness here.

Redwoods

| Tasha

Redwoods by Jason Chin

A boy waiting for the subway finds a book on redwood trees on the bench next to him.  As he becomes immersed in the information, the world around him changes until he finds himself in the middle of a redwood forest.  Through the boy’s eyes readers will get to repel to the top of the redwood crowns, stand on enormous stumps, and view the redwoods compared to a city skyline.  This book is the epitome of an informational book made accessible and fun.  Though the text is primarily factual, the illustrations take it to a different level of wonder and interest.

Chin’s text culls the most fascinating facts about the great redwood trees while combining them with illustrations that are fantastical and fun.  The book reads aloud well thanks to the charm of the illustrations and Chin’s talent at writing facts with readability and interest in mind.

This book will have your spirit soaring to the tops of these gargantuan trees and my is the view fine.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.