The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Four

Being in a birthdayish kind of mood, I have decided to offer you a picture book about a very special birthday. Ollie is a sweet little zebra who has stripes and long floppy ears, and this book is about his birthday celebration. If you have a small child or small children in your life, you would do well to take a look at the Ollie books. Children and adults alike find him hard to resist. I can only hope that the rest of the books in this series will be published in the U.S.soon.

I love birthdays

Anna Walker

Picture Book

For ages 2 to 5

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-8320-0

Like many people of all ages around the world, Ollie loves birthdays. On his special day, Ollie’s friends bring him a “big surprise,” and they arrange a treasure hunt in the garden. They bring a “yummy” treat for all to share, and the friends don party hats, play tunes, and dance. All these things are wonderful, but there is more to come, and more birthday delights to share.

   In this delightful Ollie title, the charming little zebra and his friends are back. Little children will love this heartwarming story, with its musical text and its appealing watercolor illustrations. Readers of all ages will find it hard not to smile as they share Ollie’s special day. 

Canadian Children's Book Publisher is given the Order of Canada

 Groundwood publisher Patsy Aldana is appointed as a member of the Order of Canada

January 3, 2011 (TORONTO) — Groundwood Books Publisher Patsy Aldana has been appointed as a member of the Order of Canada by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The announcement was made in Ottawa on December 30, 2010. Aldana was chosen for her contributions to children’s publishing in Canada and around the world.

Aldana founded Groundwood Books in 1978 in response to the perceived lack of a children’s literary tradition in Canada. Incorporated into House of Anansi Press in 2005, Groundwood is committed to publishing books that feature representations of marginalized voices and experiences that are not often heard. Groundwood Books has won seventeen Governor General’s Literary Awards to date.

Internationally, Aldana has just completed a term as the President of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Founded on the belief that books can build bridges of understanding and peace between people, the organization is now comprised of seventy-two National Sections worldwide. Its newest members are the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Aldana has most recently been named the 2011 recipient of the Ontario Library Association Les Fowlie Intellectual Freedom Award.

An op-ed from the January 3, 2011 edition of the Globe and Mail, which outlines Aldana’s beliefs on the importance of reading, is excerpted below:

Adults sometimes forget what reading means to children. Patsy Aldana of Toronto, publisher of Groundwood Books, who was named a member of the Order of Canada last week, has made children’s reading her life’s work. Reading is healing, she says. Reading is a window into oneself and others. Reading is a bulwark of democracy. And we don’t do enough, she says, to nurture our children’s love of reading.


Each child, Ms. Aldana says, should have access to books that are right for him or her. She is distressed that, in Ontario surveys, children and teenagers report that they are getting less pleasure from books than they used to. She blames that on an education system that in her view puts too much emphasis on literacy as a skill for future workers, and not enough emphasis on reading pleasure. Reading “talks to you about who you are, or it tells you something about who the other is. So they’re windows and mirrors.” And it’s essential to becoming a free person in a democratic society. “If you become a reader, you have a chance to become a critical thinker, to be a person who has some power over your life.”


Children’s love of reading is inherent and therefore timeless and universal. Adults can’t kill it, but they should heed Ms. Aldana’s message and do more to nurture it.

The Order of Canada is one of Canda's highest civilian honours. It was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation. Over the last forty years, more than five thousand people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Three

I am always on the look out for wordless picture books, and the ones created by Pat Schories, which look at the life of a little dog called Jack, are delightful. Here is a review of the latest book in this series.

When Jack goes out

Pat Schories

Wordless picture book

Ages 4 to 6

Boyds Mills Press, 2010, 978-1-59078-652-9

   Some time ago, Jack the dog met some very odd but charming alien visitors, and they are back. This time they turn up when Jack is chained to his doghouse at night. The little visitors are delighted to see Jack again, and they soon release him from his chain.

   Soon Jack and the little aliens are having a great time playing in the sandbox and swimming in the pond. They have such a wonderful time in fact, that the aliens decide that they want to take Jack home with them!

   This is the fifth wordless book that Pat Schories has created which features Jack the dog as the main character. Young children who don’t yet know how to read will love the fact that they can ‘read’ this book all by themselves. Children who can read will enjoy the detailed and rich illustrations, and they will love the surprising and satisfying ending.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Two

Three and a half years ago, on our farm in Virginia, we had two ducks who waddled around, eating insects in the vineyard and terrorizing the dogs. Though Scout and Jemima were not very brainy, they were very funny, and Jemima very generously laid eggs for us that we all enjoyed eating. I would like you to meet Duck and Goose, a pair of wonderful little birds created by Tad Hill. Every time I see a picture of these two I am reminded of my own ducks.

Duck and Goose

Tad Hills

Picture Book

Ages infants to age 3

Random House, 2006, 978-0-375-83611-4

   One morning Duck sees a large round thing lying in the grass. It is covered with colored spots, and Duck immediately decides that he has found an egg. Goose sees the same round thing, and he too decides that the object is an egg. Both birds then lay claim to the egg. Duck says that the egg is his because he “saw it first.” Goose insists that the egg is his because he “touched it first.”

   Soon a full-scale argument is raging around the egg, and after a lot of “fussing,” “slipping and sliding,” “honking and quacking,” the two birds manage to seat themselves on top of the egg. They are not getting along mind you, and the only thing they can agree on at first is that they “mustn’t disturb the little one” who is inside the egg.

   This charming picture book shows to great effect how two very different personalities can overcome their differences and find a common ground. Both Duck and Goose are strong willed and stubborn, and neither one wants to give in. Thankfully, something comes along that unites them in a very special way.

   This is one in a series of books about Duck and Goose. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book One

Happy New Year and welcome to the first day of the TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration. A few years ago I reviewed a book called Willow, which charmed me. I was therefore delighted to find out that the author and illustrator who created Willow have worked together again to bring us another book featuring their delight main character. Here is my review of this new title. 

Willow and the Snow Day Dance

Denise Brennan-Nelson

Illustrated by Cyd Moore

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 8

Sleeping Bear Press, 2011, 978-1-58536-522-7

   Willow has just moved to her new home, and she wastes no time getting busy. Soon Willow and her mother are planting a garden, but then they discover that they don’t have enough plants to fill their garden space. Willow decides to write to her neighbors. She asks them if they can help her fill her garden by donating a plant or two.

   By summertime, Willow’s garden is flourishing, and she delivers flowers to all her neighbors, including Mr. Larch, who lives next door. Mr. Larch is old, crabby, unneighborly, and anti-social, but Willow doesn’t know this. She takes him flowers anyway, and she asks him and all the other neighbors if they have any “scraps” to donate for her garden art projects. Soon her garden is full of old junk that Willow turns into interesting works of art.

   In the fall, Willow shares the vegetables from her garden with all the neighbors, including Mr. Larch, and she asks everyone to donate to the annual hat and mitten drive at her school. Can it be that Mr. Larch’s cold heart is starting to thaw, warmed by Willow’s friendship?

  This delightful book brings back the character who charmed readers in Willow. Once again, the little girl with the wild hair shows readers how a little creativity and a big heart can make the world a much happier place. 

Happy New Year!

Please join the TTLG Picture Book Celebration in 2011. One picture book review for every day of the year!

A delightful trio of apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch

I imagine that some of you bought or received a new iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch over the holidays, and I want to tell you about some wonderful children's book apps that work with these devices.

PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit is an interactive version of Beatrix Potter's wonderful story. It is a joy to look at, and children will love the way some of the illustrations move. Children can read their book on their own or have it read to them (with highlighted words). Here is a small video to show you what it looks like.



It can be purchased through your device in the interactive children's book category for just $1.99!

There is also a collection of twelve Beatrix Potter books for the iPad that is called Beatrix Potter Collection - Premium Talkie Book. There are not interactive elements, but children can have the books read to them. The titles in the collection are: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Tailor of Gloucester, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, The Tale of Tom Kitten, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies, The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse, and The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes. Though there are no bells and whistles on this one, the artwork looks beautiful, just like in the print books, and this app would be wonderful to have during a car ride or plane journey. Costing only $0.99, this is a good deal. You can find it in the children's book category or by using the search.



Another interactive book that I was thrilled to see was the Alice in Wonderland for iPad. The illustrations are beautiful and the interactive elements will hook children on this deliciously bizarre story. You can try the book out for free in the Lite version. Here is a movie to show you what it looks like. The full version costs $8.99



I will have some more children's book app recommendations for you next week. Enjoy!

Storybird - A website for readers, writers, and illustrators.

For those of you out there who like to write or illustrate, I have a treat for you. Take a look at Storybird, a website where you can write stories, or create art for stories. You can write by yourself, or collaborate with other people. You can even have the stories you created printed in book form. Or, if you don't feel like creating, you can read and look at other people's creations. Here is a little video about Storybird.

And here is a quick tour describing how to use Storybird.

I am going to try this out myself very soon. What a great idea!

Merry Christmas!

We wish you a very merry Christmas!

Random House releases a new app for the iPad

RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND SMASHING IDEAS RELEASE

FIRST BOOK-BASED CHILDREN’S APP FOR iPAD

Wild About Books for iPad available in iTunes store on December 16th

Random House Children’s Books (www.randomhouse.com/kids), together with leading digital media agency Smashing Ideas, today announced that Wild About Books for iPad will be available in the iTunes store on December 16th. Based on the New York Times bestselling children’s picture book Wild About Books, by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown, the app retails for $7.99, but is available now for a special introductory price of $4.99. This is the first product in the partnership between Random House, Inc. and Smashing Ideas, with more interactive digital books based on key properties such as pat the bunny, Little Golden Books^®, and others scheduled to follow in the coming months.

“Wild About Books for iPad is packed full of delightful interactive elements and sound effects that will encourage kids to explore each page and come back to the app time and again," said Chip Gibson, President and Publisher, Random House Children’s Books. “Every scene of the story uses the iPad screen and capabilities to deliver new experiences for readers.”

The award-winning picture book now roars to life in 16 animated and interactive scenes where kids can tilt, swipe, and tap their way through Judy Sierra’s rollicking rhymed story. Readers can choose to listen or turn off the narration and read at their own pace. Whether they’re making monkeys flip, beach balls bounce, animals stampede, or bears burp, parents and kids are sure to laugh, learn, and get wild about books together.

“Wild About Books for iPad capitalizes on a groundbreaking 3-D interpretation,” said Ben Roberts, Director, ePublishing, Smashing Ideas and co-creator of Alice for the iPad. “Marc Brown’s gorgeous illustrations are linked to iPad movements so that each page becomes a scene in a 3-D world that you can twist and turn to intimately navigate and explore.”

Wild About Books, Judy Sierra’s funny animal tale about librarian Molly McGrew, who introduces animals to reading, was published in 2004 to critical acclaim, winning the coveted E. B. White Read Aloud Award. With playful art paintings by Arthur creator Marc Brown, it was also named an ALA Notable Children’s Book and a Book Sense Book of the Year. Having sold nearly 500,000 copies to date, it has found a permanent place on bookshelves in libraries and homes across the country.

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, eBooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (www.randomhouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

Smashing Ideas, founded in 1996, has become one of the leading digital media agencies for the youth market by creating immersive, interactive content that transforms consumer-driven brand experiences in a digital world. Cartoon Network, Disney, GE, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Verizon Wireless, and more have called upon the company to develop engaging, online, ITV, and mobile experiences for their audiences. Smashing Ideas is based in Seattle, with offices in Portland and in the U.K.