Picture Books

Nibbles: A Green Tale

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Nibbles: A Green Tale by Charlotte Middleton

The guinea pigs of Dandeville loved eating dandelion leaves.  Nibbles loved eating them even more than he loved playing soccer.  He ate them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.  But then dandelion leaves started to run low.  Cabbage began replacing it on restaurant menus and dandelion leaves became a hot commodity on the Internet.  Eventually, there were no more dandelion leaves because they had all been eaten.  All but one dandelion that was growing outside of Nibbles’ window.  Even though Nibbles wanted badly to eat the leaves, he didn’t.  Instead he started to do research on dandelion and began to take very good care of his dandelion.  He waited patiently until it grew seeds and then headed to a tall hill where he blew the seeds into the air.  Soon the fields were filled with dandelions again, and Nibbles had found something besides eating dandelions that he loved.  Growing them!

This is a very appealing book that takes the lesson of renewable resources to a level that even small children can understand.  Middleton’s brilliant choice was to use dandelion greens as the scarce resource, because we all have dandelions taking over our lawns and gardens.  In this way she made something that we see as a nuisance into a commodity.   Middleton’s mixed media art is friendly, filled with round-bellied guinea pigs and plenty of green.  The hair tufts and whiskers done in real fuzz and string make the illustrations engaging and interesting. 

A great choice when talking with preschoolers about going green or gardening, this book will be a welcome addition to units and story times.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Marshall Cavendish.

Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly: Serving Up Imagination

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Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly by Carolyn Parkhurst, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

Henry is doing a pretend cooking show with his 2-year-old little sister Eleanor, whom he calls Elliebelly.  They have plans to demonstrate the incredible-sounding “raspberry-marshmallow-peanut butter waffles with barbecued banana bacon.”  But first they have to do their theme song.  And then they need to put on their chef hats.  That’s where things start to go awry, because Elliebelly insists that they must wear pirate hats instead.  In the argument that follows, Henry doesn’t get any help from his off-page mother, so he copes as best he can.  Now wearing pirate hats, next incorporating dolls into the hosting and then the recipes, and finally trying to explain that all of their effort was for pretend waffles.  Luckily, their mother has some real waffles waiting for them, but probably not any barbecued banana bacon on the side.

Parkhurst has captured the interplay between siblings perfectly here.  There are the moments where everything is going fine, and then those bumpy patches, and finally when it all falls apart.  The interjections from the off-page mother are funny, well-timed and not very helpful, as mother interjections tend to be.  The characters of the two children are well drawn.  Henry is a great big brother but is not above complete exasperation as his plans fall to bits around him. 

The emphasis on pretending and the flexibility of ideas is a pleasure to read.  I love that there is no frantic notion of cleanliness here, the children are allowed to play, allowed to work their way through disagreements, and yet there is an adult right there if needed.  And yes, they make a splendid mess as most children do. 

Yaccarino’s art lends a great modern vibe to a book that could have skewed differently.  His visual interplay of the two children adds to the appeal.  He also supports the humor of the text, as with the first picture of Henry after putting on the pirate hat.  Pure misery, but oh so funny!

Funny, clever and imaginative, this book reads aloud like a dream.  If you are doing a unit or story time on cooking, this will make a great addition, especially for slightly older children who will relate best to the humor of a younger sibling.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Feiwel & Friends.

Rooster Prince of Breslov

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The Rooster Prince of Breslov by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

When the prince decided to leave the splendor of his life as royalty behind and become a rooster, only one man could save him.  The king and queen had tried doctors and magicians, but nothing worked.  Only one old man was left to try.  The old man joined the prince in his fantasy, also acting like a rooster by removing his clothes and pecking at the floor.  This went on for a day.  At the end of the second day, the old man pointed to two mattresses that had been placed in the room and asked the prince what they were.  The man then asked why people should be the only ones to sleep comfortably and the prince agreed.  They both slept on mattresses that night.  The next day, black bread arrived.  And through similar persuasion, the man got the prince to eat.  This progressed until there was a table and chairs and a warm blanket.  On the sixth day, they wore clothes again.  And on the seventh day, there was the Sabbath feast.  In the end, the prince returned to being a prince, but always remembered that he had once been a rooster.

Stampler has taken this beloved Yiddish folk tale and tuned it for modern audiences.  She allows the humor of the situations to stand on their own, not overplaying it at all.  Her writing has a nice arc that speaks to the overwhelming nature of indulgence and the need to sometimes throw it all away.  She also honors the teachers of the world, those that listen and understand, those that join us right in the trenches of life and help us navigate them.  The book reads aloud nicely with each day carrying repetition from the first, underlining the folk tale heritage of the story.

Yelchin’s illustrations are wonderfully peculiar, suiting the story well.  He uses interesting perspectives to show the man and the prince together, sometimes from above, sometimes from behind, sometimes from the side.  It lends a lot of dynamism to the book.  The illustrations are brightly colored and unique.

A book about finding wisdom and learning to be a man by becoming a rooster, this folk tale is a delight to read.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Mr. Putney’s Quacking Dog: Word Play Fun

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Mr. Putney’s Quacking Dog by Jon Agee

I love puns.  Frankly, I couldn’t have groan up in my family without loving them.  Winking smile  So this book is write up my alley!  Mr. Putney has a lot of animal friends, but you have to guess their names.  The word play is a combination of illustrations and words with half of the joke coming from the text and half from the pictures.  Some of the word play is easier than others, but all is amusing and some will have you laughing out loud.  This book would be a stitch with a group of kids who enjoy reading and words.  In fact, it would make a great basis of an art project or for a writing project to create their own puns. 

Agee’s illustrations are in his signature style.  Outlined in thick black lines, they are disarmingly simple and filled with a sly humor.  An ideal companion to the book’s concept, they add appeal to the word play.  Mr. Putney is a straight-laced character whose reactions are satisfying and funny as he deals with each of the unique animals in the book.  There is a certain delight in seeing him doused, thrown into the air, or just shocked by a loud noise.

Get this into the hands of kids who love guessing games and word play.  Or just into the hands of any punny folks you know.  Appropriate for ages 5-8. 

Reviewed from library copy.

Ernest the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit

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Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit by Catherine Rayner

Ernest has a problem, he doesn’t fit into the book!  He tries to shuffle in forward, but that doesn’t work.  He tries to squeeze in backward.  Nope.  He can get his middle to fit, but not his legs or head.  Luckily, Ernest has a small friend with a big idea.  It’s just going to take some tape and some paper.  They work for a long time until…  Well, you will just have to read it to find out how they manage to fit Ernest into his book.  Children will respond to the visual puzzle of how to get Ernest to fit into the book.  The final unveiling is definitely worth the suspense and build up.

Rayner has created a very simple book that is filled with a gentle humor.  The process of problem solving is played out here, from the issue itself through trial and error, and finally the brilliant solution!  It is a book that also demonstrations creativity and perseverance.  Rayner’s illustrations are charming mix of media with paint, crayon and paper arts.  The background to the illustrations is graph paper giving a great mathematical and structural feel to the whimsical art.  It is a dynamic pairing.

A great book to share with a group, this book will have everyone cheering Ernest and his friend and their solution to how to fit a big moose in a small book.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

In the Wild

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In the Wild by David Elliott illlustrated by Holly Meade

This book of poems explores wild animals throughout the world.  Intriguing animals from the lion to the panda to the polar bear are examined through poems that get to the very heart of them.  The poems are brief and at the same time evocative.  Paired with the watercolor and woodcut illustrations, the book is an inviting collection of poems suitable for the young child. 

Elliott writes his poems with a great sense of play and curiosity.  Turn the page, and you will get a contrasting approach with seriousness and grace.  It is this interplay of tone that makes this book so very readable, one never knows just what will happen in the next poem or what the next featured animal will be.  Meade’s illustrations offer a unified look for these ever-changing poems.  She stylishly captures the animals in iconic poses and situations that are made stylized and beautiful through her woodcuts.  The illustrations will project well to a group and offer large two-page spreads that show the animals in their habitats. 

A great pairing of the appeal of animals and the poetic form, this book is a magnificent addition to library collections.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Last Song

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Last Song by Eric Rohmann

Marry an old Scottish poem to contemporary art and you have this beautifully simple book.  Follow the day of a squirrel family as they wake from nestling together and dash out of their tree hollow into the sun.  Smile as they wrestle together on the ground in the bright day.  Watch as the day turns to night and the moon rises.  See the stars sprinkle the sky, linger a bit, then return with them to the warm snuggles of sleep.  This book embraces the simple pleasures of life, the joy of simply being out in a sunny day and a clear night, and the brilliance of being together.  Done with a die cut cover, this book is sized in an inviting small way for little hands.

The poem is brief in itself and sprinkled throughout the book, it offers short phrases for a framework for the book.  The treat here is Rohmann and his ability to take an old poem and breathe new, modern life into it.  He also manages to make it entirely accessible for children, something that would not be possible if they just were read the poem.  Rohmann’s watercolor illustrations are deep colored and buoyant with happiness.  This is not a book that asks deep questions, rather one that basks in the small things in life.

A warm, cuddly book that would make an ideal gift for a child.  Due to its small size, it will work best with smaller groups or single children.  It would also make a great jumping-off point for discussions about the small things that matter so much in children’s lives.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Roaring Brook Press.

Also featured on 7 Imp.

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Dotty

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Dotty by Erica S. Perl, illustrated by Julia Denos

Wherever Ida goes, Dotty goes too.  Even on her first day of school, Dotty comes along: huge, horned and covered in red spots.  Once Ida is at school, she realizes that many of the others in her class have brought their own imaginary friends too.  But as the year goes on, the other children start to leave their imaginary friends behind.  Ida though is still connected to Dotty, still carrying the blue string that ties them together.  Eventually, the other children tease Ida about Dotty, even the children who had imaginary friends of their own just a few months ago.  When Ida reacts angrily and Dotty bashes into a girl who was once Ida’s friend, they have to write apologies to each other.  Ida’s teacher finds out about Dotty and turns out to be a kindred spirit, just what Ida needed.

This is a book that really embraces imaginary friends, tying it winningly with the first day of school and growing older.  Best of all is the ending of the book which took a turn that I had not been expecting.  It is a book that honors imagination and creativity, embracing being different and maturing at your own pace or just not maturing entirely at all.  Perl’s writing is charming and warm, really creating a world filled with imaginary creatures that dwindle away slowly.  Denos’ art is equally successful with a modern edge and children who are modern and yet not slick.  They look like the children I see every day.  She also has a great mix of ethnicities that is done effortlessly.

While this is a book about imaginary friends, I would also include it in any return-to-school unit because it addresses the larger issues of people being different in ways that are not immediately apparent.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

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If You’re a Monster and You Know It

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If You’re a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

A great pick for a preschool Halloween party, this book will have kids wiggling and giggling to the silly monster movements.  Set to the same song as If You’re Happy and You Know It, children will immediately be able to sing right along.  Children will be growling, snapping their claws, stomping their paws, and twitching their tails along with the monsters in the book.  Those monsters are done in neon-bright colors against a black background, creating a very dynamic book for children to enjoy.  I recommend finishing up with some black paper and bright colored scraps and letting the children create their own monsters to take home.

Completely child friendly, this book will have even the most reluctant listeners paying attention and playing along.  Happily, the song takes more enthusiasm than skill, so everyone can join in and not have to worry.  The Emberleys have created a book that fills a niche in story times, a monster book that is non-scary but not babyish.  What a treat!

Appropriate for ages 2-4.  Make sure to have this one in your trick-or-treat bag for fall!

You can listen to the song here.

Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.

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