Beware of the Frog by William Bee.

Just the cover alone warns you that this is no ordinary picture book, so don’t be reading this to kids who freak out easily.  But kids who are a little older than most picture book readers and others who enjoy a good twist will completely adore this book.

Sweet Mrs. Collywobbles lives on the edge of a dark woods.  Luckily, she has something to protect her from the odd things that may live in the woods.  She has her pet frog.  What will happen when the Greedy Goblin who loves to steal things comes out of the woods and heads for Mrs. Collywobbles house?  Will he heed the Beware of the Frog sign on the gate? 

I couldn’t spoil this book for you.  You must head out and get a copy to see what happens next.  The illustrations have a vintage style to them with modern pops.  The voice of the book switches between near saccharine when talking about Mrs. Collywobbles to darkly sinister when creatures come out of the woods.  It is a delight to read aloud and work with those voices as well as the twists of the book. 

Highly recommended, this is the read-aloud of the year for me.  This is the book I would hand to those worried parents who have to read in front of second and third grade classrooms.  It will delight kids of that age, guaranteed.  Younger children will a taste for the strange will also enjoy it.

Doctor Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre.

Ted, a young bear, bumped his knee as he got up and realized that he needed a doctor.  Not seeing one anywhere, Ted decided instead to become a doctor himself.  Now he is ready to deal with his mother’s possible case of the measles, his teacher’s probable mumps, and the many issues his principal faces.  Somehow no one appreciates his help, until an incident at the playground shows exactly why every school has room for another doctor.

This book is a treat.  The illustrations are boldly done with their bright colors and thick black outlines.  Ted is a charming main character whose embodiment of his new role is believable and very funny.  The writing in the book is frank and simple, adding to the humor.  It is perfect for reading aloud, especially for a smaller group where the pictures can be enjoyed more fully.

Let’s hope that Doctor Ted will be making housecalls all across your neighborhood.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Keep Your Eye on the Kid: the Early Years of Buster Keaton by Catherine Brighton.

A tantalizing look into the life of Buster Keaton and how he became a movie star in the 1920s.  This picture book biography briefly tells the reader about the childhood and eventual film success of Keaton from his own point of view.  From being sucked out of the window by a tornado to being tossed bodily across the stage by his father as part of the act, Keaton’s childhood leads him directly to his movie career.

Being written in the first person gives this book an immediacy and inherent ring of truth.  That is needed, because so much of his life is easy to disbelieve.  The illustrations are the true star of the book, using a style that evokes the feel of the 20s.  They offer unique vistas of not only the stage and movie sets but also the streets of the time.  Giving readers their own feeling of flying through the air at times, they are the perfect accompaniment to this true story.

Though I have watched most of Keaton’s films, I knew little of his childhood and his theater background.  It was  great to learn more and wonderful to see that Keaton is being presented to another generation of children who can watch in disbelief as he risks his life time after time on the set.  Recommended for ages 7-10.

Alfred’s Nose by Vivienne Flesher.

I’ve always enjoyed picture books for small children that use photographs.  I know that that is why this one zoomed to the top of my toppling picture book piles.  Anyone else a sucker for photos?  Frankly, I’m not sure why I am…

Alfred is a French bulldog with a smooshed-looking nose.  Everyone loves him, but he hates the way he looks.  His tongue always sticks out, his nose won’t hold up glasses, and his head is as round as a pumpkin.  To fix this, Alfred looks for accessories that will help.  He finds a bin of animal noses that he can strap on his face, but only one of them will cover both his nose and tongue!  And then he can’t give his sloppy kisses!  What’s a dog to do?

Crisp, clear colored photographs make this book work.  As does the equally clear text that moves the story right along.  The selection of fake noses will have both you and the children you are sharing the book with laughing.  I am particularly partial to the elephant nose, myself. 

Not a revolutionary picture book, but one that will bring smiles to everyone who reads it.  Recommended for ages 4-6.

Jumpy Jack & Googily by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall.

Picture books can be so derivative that it gets dull to open them and read one more.  But the reason I keep on reading is that between all of the dull ones, there are gems.  This book is original and genuinely funny.

Jumpy Jack, the snail is very afraid of monsters.  Everywhere they go Googily has to check to make sure that monsters aren’t there.  Googily assures Jumpy Jack that it is silly to be so afraid and is amazed at his friends imagination.  It gets especially ridiculous when Jumpy Jack imagines a monster in his room who "might be wearing short trousers and a bowler hat." 

Children really get the humor here right from the first page.  Giggling is guaranteed.  Rosoff, who excels at writing humor for children, has outdone herself here.  The humor gets broader and broader as the pages go by, but her writing tone remains the same gentle, sensible one which of course just makes the whole thing even more amusing.  Blackall’s illustrations convey a simple, even barren landscape, and a world of normalcy with unusual touches.  Just perfect for the story.

Highly recommended to share with all children.  This book is appropriate for ages 4-7. 

Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements.

A classic child reaction to vegetables is looked at with great detail and humor in the book.  The young boy at the center of the episode knows that horror lurks every Tuesday night in the form of peas.  And he is expected to eat THREE!  From the very touch of the pea on his tongue, his body goes into a series of rejections of the vegetable’s presence.  All ending with a gulp and a realization that peas aren’t so bad after all.  But still, there is the horror of Wednesday night’s broccoli to despair about.

There is so much to enjoy about this book.  The illustrations are an intriguing and fun mix of photographs, and brown paper.  The text is perfect for reading aloud and the humor is thick and laugh-out-loud funny for both adults and kids.  Adults will particularly enjoy the asides of the two parents who are not at all impressed with the boy’s display but not angry either.  A great tone to set in a picture book!

Recommended for both picky eaters and kids who will eat anything because of the great sense of humor.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by JoAnn Early Macken, illustrated by Pam Paparone

This poetic book takes a look at the fascinating world of seeds that fly through the air.  I found this an especially appropriate book as my windows are filled with drifting cottonwood fluff, so thick it looks like a heavy snow in the air.  Children will enjoy finding seeds that they know, like dandelions and maple tree seeds.  Some of the seeds will be new, like the basswood or touch-me-nots which have interesting journeys they make. 

The marriage of poetry and science is such a winning one here.  Macken has created a book that doesn’t shy away from making nature whimsical and fascinating.  Paparone’s illustrations add to the whimsical nature of the book too.

Whether you have cottonwood fluff floating by or not, this is the perfect season to enter into a discussion of seeds and to try your hand at spinning maple seed propellers to the ground.  Recommended for ages 4-7.

Professor Bumble and the Monster of the Deep by Daniel Napp.

Every Monday Professor Bumble headed to the lake to go swimming with his friend Beluga, a goldfish.  But one day, a grumpy Otter is already at the lake fishing and tells them that they can’t swim because they will scare away the fish.  When they insist on swimming anyway, the Otter tells them that they will be attacked by the Monster of the Deep!  Thinking of their safety, Professor Bumble stays on shore to watch for the monster while Beluga swims.  But when Beluga sinks below the surface, Bumble must rescue him despite the danger.

This book is pure fun.  Readers will recognize what is about to happen, but it is all the more delightful for that.  There are so many really nice touches throughout the book.  One of my favorites is that Beluga swims in the lake IN his bowl.  This book reads so well aloud, it will be perfect for ending a day at school, but I wouldn’t use it to quite down a class.  It’s just too much silly fun for that.

Recommended as a read aloud for preschoolers through second graders. 

The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray.

In a barren, ramshackle kingdom lives a king and his three daughters.  Their mother died years early and that is when the kingdom started to decline.  Before her death, the queen asked each of her daughters to select something of hers to keep.  The two older daughters selected shoes and a crown, but the youngest princess chose a very special box containing bottles and boxes filled with raindrops, rainbow, sunlight, spider web, a feather, nightingale song, and an apple seed.  The king sets a challenge for his three daughters.  The one who can make their mark and make him proud at the end of the next 7 days and nights will become the ruler of the kingdom.  The two older girls build enormous towers to reach the moon and stars, one of wood the other of metal.  The youngest princess plants seeds, cares for them, and works very hard using the gifts left by her mother.  By the end of the week, she and the many people of the kingdom who see what she is doing and help, have transformed the barren land into green grass and trees. 

This story of one person creating change and doing good is very powerful.  Encapsulated in a folktale structure, the moral is not overly stated but instead stands on its own.  The folktale structure is an important one, taking this modern tale and combining it firmly with tradition.  Ray’s language is a joy to read aloud, as it fairly dances off the tongue.  In fact, Ray has created a princess tale that will resonate with everyone who hears it.  Her artwork also lends another level to the story.  These princesses are not golden-haired and fair, but dark complexioned and more universal as characters.  The art too merges traditional feel with modern on each page.

Highly recommended as a read aloud for "green" days at school or for a princess book that will appeal to everyone.  It would also be a pleasure to add to apple story times for preschoolers who are ready for a longer book.  Appropriate for ages 4-8.