The Rain Stomper by Addie K. Boswell, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

See that cover image, it beautifully captures the spirit and energy of this book.  Jazmin wakes up on the first day of spring and prepares to be in the parade.  She puts on her red suit, picks up her baton and dreams of the cheering crowds.  But then she hears thunder and rain begins to pour down.  Jazmin is stunned.  Rain ruins parades.  But then she gets angry and takes action:  she heads into the rain, stomping, pounding, kicking and racing.  A crowd begins to gather around Jazmin as she splashes, spins and jumps.  Jazmin has her parade after all, just a different one than she planned.

There are several things that make this book work so very well.  First is the writing that is energized with verbs that move and beat and swirl.  One can’t read the text without rhythm and movement.  Second are the vivid and motion-filled illustrations that also inspire movement.  And the final important component is frustration being turned into action, demonstrating a healthy way to release emotions, until by the end the emotion has changed into triumph.  All of this accomplished with no lecturing or finger pointing, just great book creation.

This will work well as a read aloud for preschoolers who are itching to move.  I’d get them wiggling along with Jazmin and be prepared for an impromptu parade forming.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.

A child’s day: an alphabet of play by Ida Pearle

Opening with a very appropriate poem from Robert Louis Stevenson "To Any Reader," this picture book pairs the alphabet effortlessly with children’s play.  It has only one word on each page, but each word works well.  It won’t be ideal for reading aloud, because children will love to chat about the pictures and words that are part of their own lives.

Pearle has create a picture book that celebrates our diversity and our similarities at the same time on each and every page.  The children portrayed come in all different colors, some obviously one sex or the other but others are androgynous.  Every child will see themselves on this page, though the person doing their favorite activity may look nothing like them.  This is a book for building those invisible bridges of understanding.  Pearle’s illustrations are done in cut-paper collages with bright colors and bold graphic statements.  Modern and yet somehow evocative of the picture books of my own childhood, both parents and children will be drawn to the art.

This is a book meant to share.  It’s a great conversation starter for toddlers and preschoolers.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.

I Get So Hungry by Bebe Moore Campbell; illustrated by Amy Bates.

Nikki is a girl who eats to feel better.  She even sneaks potato chips during class when she is teased.  Her new teacher, Mrs. Patterson is also heavy and Nikki sees her sneaking a cookie from her purse during the day too.  When Nikki goes to the doctor later, she is told to not eat any more junk food.  Her mother agrees, but on the way home buys them some doughnuts.  When they return from Christmas break, Mrs. Patterson has changed.  She isn’t sneaking food, she’s drinking water and she spends her early mornings walking.  Nikki joins Mrs. Patterson on her walks in the mornings and starts to watch what she is eating too. 

This picture book perfectly captures the issues of family and youth obesity.  I appreciated that Nikki has good friends.  She is not a loner, not disliked, but she is teased by one boy in her class.  The depiction of using food as a mood stabilizer is also well done.  There is no miraculous weight loss here, which is also a good thing.  Rather there is a change in attitude and lifestyle.  Bates’ illustrations are filled with doughnuts and potato chips at first and then transition to vegetables and the green of the outdoors. 

This book is ideal for classroom use when speaking about good nutrition.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.