G Is for One Gzonk: an alpha-number-bet book by Tony DiTerlizzi.

This book, written by Tiny DiTerlooney aka Tony DiTerlizzi, is an homage to Dr. Seuss with wildly imaginative creatures named amazing names who follow in alphabetical order (kind of).  DiTerlizzi offers his own special mix of language, humor and illustration that modernize the classic format.  I enjoyed that this was an alphabet book for older children where only the creature matches the letter being featured and DiTerlizzi takes pains to point out how nothing else on the page matches.  I also appreciated how the narrator of the book is drawn in a realistic style while the other illustrations appear flat and drawn.  This changes over the course of the book, which is just charming.

This is not an alphabet book for preschoolers.  This is one to share with first graders and older.  It is very silly, full of laughs, and rather sophisticated.  It will be enjoyed as a lap book or a book to be read to one’s self rather than a read aloud for a crowd. 

Dimity Dumpty: the Story of Humpty’s Little Sister by Bob Graham.

The Dumpty family is part of a traveling circus. They do a high trapeze act, but Dimity is not like the rest of her family.  She is quiet and has no interest in joining the family act.  In fact, her favorite thing is to head for a still place and play music on her flute.  It isn’t until her brother Humpty takes a bad fall that she finds her voice and her place.

I enjoyed this story of a quiet child who remains true to herself.  My favorite illustrations are the ones where Dimity is playing her flute surrounded by listeners.  The language used to describe Dimity’s playing is also evocative: “soft as a snail on a cabbage leaf, quiet as the grass growing on the hill, gentle as a beetle’s breath.”  They are a joy to read aloud and really create a sense of who Dimity is by showing and not telling.  It is a lovely thing to find in a picture book. 

Use this with other take offs on nursery rhymes or for units on siblings.  Quiet children, or even noisy ones with a gentle soul will enjoy this book.

I really want to find time to talk about the great award winners that were announced this week. How thrilled I am that a graphic novel won the Printz, how much I enjoyed the Newbery and how happy I am that Flotsam won. But it has been one of those weeks at the library, from visiting legislators on Tuesday to a personnel situation that is affecting my every work hour. Perhaps tomorrow I can find a few minutes to review the books piled on my desk. Balancing love of children’s books with directing a library can be a trick. Please bear with me and know that I am busily reading books and hoping to share them with you soon!

Author John Green, winner of a Printz honor for An Abundance of Katherines, was caught on video learning about the award. (It’s the one dated January 22nd.)  It is priceless!  John and his brother are exchanging videos back and forth on his blog, giving a wonderful, humorous glimpse at a teen-book author. 

Well, last year I had the great joy of typing at lightning speed and trying to get the awards up almost live on this blog. This year, the webcast is full, so I can’t get in. I will just have to wait until 10 am for the press release to be made public. I can’t wait to see what wins!

Brave Bitsy and the Bear by Angela McAllister and Tiphanie Beeke.

Little Bitsy, a purple toy bunny, falls out of her girl’s pocket and gets lost in the woods.  A huge brown bear finds her an agrees to help her get home before he goes to sleep for the winter.  As the bear walks her home, he starts to drift off and fall asleep over and over again.  Bitsy sings bouncy songs, marching songs, and even shouts to keep him awake.  Once Bitsy is safely home, she begins to worry about the bear and whether he managed to make it safely to his warm cave before he fell asleep.  So she takes a ball of red wool, ties one end to her garden gate, and heads off to make sure Bear is OK.  She finds him asleep on the ground.  He is cold and covered with snow.  All of the animals hear her singing and work together to build bear a shelter right where he is sleeping. 

This is a lovely story.  I adored the fact that the tiny singing bunny and the huge bear show such care for one another.  I also enjoyed the bravery of Bitsy heading back into the forest to see if her new friend was alright.  The illustrations complete the circle of the book, filled with bright warmth whenever the friends are awake and together.  They are also cold and grey when bear is in trouble. 

This is a book that can inspire even the smallest of us to try to help, to go out of our way, and to care.  It is a grand book to read aloud because of all of Bitsy’s singing.  A tale of inspiring friendship, share Bitsy with preschoolers and kindergarteners for a great addition to bear, bunny or friendly storytimes.

Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman.

What a book!  I finally managed to sneak it out of the house to return it to the library.  It is the story of a flock of amazing chickens who solve the problems of the Greenstalk farm.  They get the farmer’s watch out of the well, make dinner for Mrs. Greenstalk, help the son with his homework, rescue the cow and the sheep, and much more. 

This book is all about the illustrations.  The words on the page are auxiliary, just carrying the story forward.  It is all about the flurry of feathers and beating wings of the heroic chickens as they accomplish their mission.  The illustrations much be pored over to get the best out of them.  Find the bathing caps on the diving chickens, the chicken peeking out of the kitchen garbage, and the alarmed chicken who finds himself almost under the cow.  Also keep an eye out on each page for the dozing chicken with an egg.

This book is pure fun.  Laugh out loud glee will be heard from all children and adults.  We found ourselves talking over one another to point out our discoveries on each page.  And then we read it over and over again to see it all again.  What a joy!

Not only does this site have a great logo, but it also is the place to go to find out about the horror genre.  Monster Librarian offers new and upcoming releases, an index to reviews of horror books, and best of all separate sections for adults, teens and children!  Once you click on an age-group, you will find the books split into categories like werewolves, Buffy, and  supernatural.   The collection of titles is impressive and is made fun to browse with cover shots as well as descriptions.  Sweet!

Banjo Granny by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Barry Root. 

This warm book tells the story of Owen’s granny who hears that he adores bluegrass music.  So she takes her trusty banjo case with its taped handle and heads off to see Owen.  She has to cross a river, a mountain and a desert to get there.  Granny’s journey is presented along with Owen’s time waiting for her, being told by the birds how the journey is progressing.  Until the final moment when they are joyfully together.

This musical book reflects the rhythms of bluegrass music with prose that dances along and is filled with repetition that creates a real sense of song.  The illustrations are bright, warm and filled with sunshine.  Granny is a wonderful character who is undaunted by each obstacle, pulling a solution out of her worn banjo case. 

Use this one in storytimes for preschoolers and even toddlers who are willing to sit a little bit.  They will get caught up in the rhythm and completely enjoy what Granny pulls from her case.  The mix of magic, warmth and love is what grandparents are all about.  That is completely captured in this book.  A perfect gift for grandchildren or grandparents as well.