The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Eighty-Two

In today's picture book, we see how two children who have very different lives discover that they have a great deal in common.

Country Kid, City Kid

Julie Cummins

Illustrated by Ted Rand

Picture Book

Ages 3 to 6

Henry Holt, 2002, 0-8050-6467-2

   With the passing of the seasons, two children who are miles apart live their lives in such different ways. Ben lives in the country, closely linked to the earth and its rhythms. Far away Jody goes about her days working and playing in a city world with its street noises, shops full of people, and conveniences. Both children do the same kinds of things, but they do them in such dissimilar ways. When they meet at summer camp, they find that their differences don’t prevent them from being good friends. They share what they have in common and explore what they don’t.

   In soft watercolor illustrations and with the clever use of insets and frames, the illustrator brings to life two very different worlds where a tree flames over a county postbox in the fall, and where slush splashes on city boots in the winter. On one side of a double page spread one sees a scene from country life, and on the other side one scenes a scene from city life. Then, as one comes towards the end of the book, both children come together on one page, sharing space and friendship. The author shows us that we can be very different because of where we come from ,and yet still have enough in common to become friends. This is a very lovely and special book.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Eighty-One

Sometimes, despite everything we try to do to avoid it, an animal finds a way to touch our hearts and enter our lives. This is the story about a little dog who manages to win the heart of a writer who really believes that she does not need a dog.

Snowflake comes to stay

Karel Hayes

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 7

Down East, 2010, 978-089272-850-3

Harriet lives in a little log house in a village in the north. One snowy winter day, Harriet is trying to finish the book she is writing. For some reason the ending refuses to work out right, and Harriet is soon surrounded by balled up pieces of paper. Then Harriet receives a phone call from her friend Monique. Monique has a little puppy that she wants Harriet to take. Monique has been trying for years to get Harriet to take one of her dogs. Though Harriet really does not want a dog, she agrees to take the puppy for a week.

   Soon the puppy, Snowflake, is happily ensconced in Harriet’s home. She has a few accidents of course, and she loves to chew and play with scarves, slippers, mittens, papers, “and even a dictionary.” Harriet doesn’t let Snowflake sleep in her bed, but everywhere else she goes, Snowflake goes with her. All goes well until Snowflake does the unforgiveable; she chews up Harriet’s book manuscript!

   This charming picture book is based on the true story of the author’s relationship with her own dog Snowy. With charming pictures and an engaging narrative, this is a picture book that will resonate with dog lovers of all ages. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Eighty

Many years ago I discovered Shirley Hughes' Alfie books. I quickly fell in love with her characters and have been collecting the books ever since. In today's picture book, we meet Annie Rose, Alfie's little sister. Readers will surely appreciate Shirley Hughes' sensitive portrait of family life.

Annie Rose is my Little Sister

Shirley Hughes

Picture Book

Ages 3 to 6

Random House UK, 2003, 978-0099408567

Annie Rose is a little girl and she is a little sister. Like all little sisters, she wants her big brother to play with her, to read to her, and to share his friends with her. Annie Rose’s big brother tells us all about his little sister, and he is delightfully honest about her. We can quickly see that though she can be very exasperating at times, he loves her very much indeed. The little boy knows all her funny ways, the games she plays, and what she likes to do. He is ready to admit that she is good at playing, but he also offers up the information that he finds it "very annoying" that she "always wants to play with my toys. She seems to like them better than her own."

   With her signature illustrations, Shirley Hughes has created yet another wonderful book about childhood and the doings of children. She seems to be able to understand all the things that are important to a small child, and puts them together in such a way that we have a complete and rounded picture of a certain child's small, very important, little world. There are the toys and books, best friends, daisy chains, trips to the beach, temper tantrums, and all those significant things that make up the daily happenings in a child's life.

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring!

Enjoy spring with books about this lovely season.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seventy-Nine

If you have not yet met Farmer Brown and his precocious farm animals, then you are in for a treat today. Allow me to introduce Farmer Brown, Duck, and the rest of the animals on the farm. Farmer Brown no doubt wishes that his animals would behave like normal farm animals, but they don't. In fact they are very unusual indeed.

Thump, Quack, Moo

Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 6

Simon and Schuster, 2008, 978-1-4169-1630-7

   Farmer Brown is very excited because soon it will be time for the annual Corn Maze Festival, and he has big plans for his corn maze. The chickens are helping Farmer Brown by putting up a fence around the field, and the cows are helping to paint the barn. Duck doesn’t want to have anything to do with the project, but when Farmer Brown threatens not to get any more “special-order organic duck feed,” Duck has no choice. He too starts to help Farmer Brown by building the ticket booth for the hot-air balloon ride. The chickens and cows are excited about the project, but Duck is not.

   Every day Farmer Brown works on the maze, sketching, measuring, counting, and cutting. Every night Duck makes his own little adjustments to the maze. He too sketches, measures, counts, and cuts. Of course, Duck uses a glow-in-the-dark ruler, and night-vision goggles. It is clear that Duck is up to something, and Farmer Brown has no clue as to what is going on.

   Once again, Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin bring us a hilarious farmyard tale that has a delicious ending. We almost feel sorry for Farmer Brown. Clearly is doesn’t pay to cross a group of creative farm animals. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seventy-Eight

Some years ago a book came out called The Gruffalo. In the story, there is a monster who has charmed thousands of young readers and their families. Now the Gruffalo is back, and he has his little daughter with him. In today's picture book young readers will see how the Gruffalo's child makes a very important discovery.

The Gruffalo’s Child

Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 7

Penguin, 2005, 0-8037-3009-8

   On a cold wintery day, the Gruffalo tells his child that no gruffalo should ever set foot “in the deep dark wood.” The child, of course, is curious to know why the deep dark wood is dangerous for gruffalos, and her father explains that the Big Bad Mouse lives there. This terrible creature has strong muscles, a “terribly long” tail, eyes that are like “pools of terrible fire,” and wire like whiskers.

   One snowy night, while her father is snoring away in their cave, the Gruffalo’s child sneaks off and she goes into the woods. She soon sees a trail in the snow and she wonders if this is the trail of the Big Bad Mouse. When she gets to the end of the trail, she discovers that the trail was made by a snake. Next the Gruffalo’s child sees glowing eyes looking down at her from a tree, but the eyes do not belong to the Big Bad Mouse either. They belong to an owl.

   After finding a number of animals who are not the Big Bad Mouse, the Gruffalo’s child finds a mouse that is small and certainly not bad. In fact, the mouse would make a tasty “midnight feast” for the Gruffalo’s child. The mouse then tells the Gruffalo’s child that he has a friend that the little gruffalo “ought to meet.”

   In this delightful picture book, the Graffalo’s child discovers that it wise to listen to her father’s warning. Readers who enjoyed the first book about the Gruffalo will love this new tale with its engaging rhyming text and its 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seventy-Seven

In today's picture book you are going to meet a dog who is rather unique. Not only does he wanted to be adopted, but he has particular person in mind, and he does everything he can to make sure that she notices him.

Doggie in the window

Elaine Arsenault

Pictures by Fanny

Picture Book

Ages 3 to 5

Groundwood, 2003, 0-88899-619-5

   Doggie is the kind of dog who does not give up without a fight. More than anything he would like Mademoiselle Madeleine from the costume shop next door to adopt him, but he cannot get the lady to even notice him sitting in the pet shop window. He does every cute trick he can think of, but Mademoiselle Madeleine just doesn’t see him, so eager is she to get to her shop and to work.  

   One night Doggie manages to get out of his cage and he finds that there is a hole in the wall between the pet shop and the costume shop next door. Once Mademoiselle Madeleine has gone home, Doggie gets to work with the fabric, sewing machine and other bits and pieces that he finds lying around the shop.

   The next morning, Doggie is dressed up in the outfit he made for himself during the night, and what an outfit it is. He now looks like a cat, complete with a long cat-like tail, pointy ears, and whiskers. It would appear that Doggie is a master costume maker, and he hopes that he will impress Mademoiselle Madeleine enough that she will at last notice him.

   The deliciously funny antics of this loveable dog who wants to be adopted by a seamstress (and who indeed wants to be a seamstress himself) are sure to bring smiles to the face of anyone who reads this book. The illustrator has created flat image paintings in bright colors and she has taken great care to give Doggie, our hero, great personality and vivacity. There is no doubt that this is a dog in a million.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seventy-Six

Losing something precious can be a very painful experience for a child, but it can also be a very painful experience for the thing that gets lost. In today's picture book you are going to meet a teddy bear who gets lost, but who decides that he is not going to take his situation lying down.

Red Ted and the Lost Things

Michael Rosen

Illustrated by Joel Stewart

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 7

Candlewick Press, 2009, 978-0-7636-4537-3

   One day, Red Ted’s little girl, Stevie, leaves Red Ted on the train by accident. Red Ted ends up in a huge room that is full of things that people have left on trains. He is put on a shelf next to a toy crocodile, and the crocodile explains that they are in the “Place for Lost Things.” The crocodile has been there so long that he no longer remembers the child he once belonged to.

   For a short while, Red Ted cries. What a terrible situation he is in. Then Red Ted decides that he is not going to wait to be found. Instead, he is going to find Stevie for himself. The brave little bear, with the crocodile in tow, makes his way out of the train station. The toys have no idea where to go next, but luckily a friendly cat thinks she may know where Stevie lives. The cat loves cheese, and Red Ted has a cheesy aroma on his fluffy person that smells familiar.

   This heartwarming picture book will surely charm anyone who has been lost, or who has lost something precious. Being lost can be very upsetting, and Michael Rosen captures Red Ted’s feelings and his courage to perfection. Joel Stewart’s mixed media illustrations with their graphic novel format are delightfully unique, perfectly complimenting the text throughout the tale. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone!

If you are looking for a few St. Patrick's Day books to share with your children take a look at the TTLG St. Patrick's Day Feature. I hope you have a wonderful day.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seventy-Five

Today's book is a must for readers of all ages who like dogs. The pictures are delightful, and the ending is surprising and wonderfully amusing.

Dogs

Emily Gravett

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-8703-1

   Have you noticed that there are dozens of different kinds of dogs? There are really big ones, and teeny tiny ones. There are dogs that are tough, and others that are total pushovers. There are dogs that bark up a storm, and dogs that are very quiet. There are good dogs who fetch slippers, and there are bad ones that chew slippers to bits. All of these dogs are loved by the narrator of this story, but there is one kind in particular that the narrator likes the best.

    Dog loving readers of all ages are sure to enjoy this amusing and clever picture book. There is a dog for everyone on the pages, and readers will enjoy trying to decide which of all the pooches is their favorite. Just in case readers get too complacent, there is an  unexpected ending that is deliciously funny.