Poetry Friday - A review of Sylvia Long's Mother Goose

The first Mother Goose book containing nursery rhymes was published by John Newbery in 1791. Since then dozens of Mother Goose books have been published in many languages, and many have been created using unusual formats. What I like about today's poetry title are the cunning and richly detailed illustrations that Sylvia Long has created to accompany the Mother Goose rhymes.

Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose
Sylvia Long
Picture Book
For ages 2 to 5
Chronicle, 1999, 978-0811820882
Let us go on a trip down lanes peopled with animals in cunning old-fashioned outfits. Let's encounter rhymes that are old friends, and ones that will become new friends. Though the rhymes are in their original form, the illustrations are full of surprises. The reader will find that the illustrator has put her own personal twist to these old, much beloved, rhymes. Instead of having poor Humpty Dumpty break open, Sylvia Long has the egg fall of the wall, crack, and reveal a little duckling that is inside the egg. In "Hey Diddle Diddle" the cow, dressed in a tutu and ballet slippers, leaps gracefully over the moon, and a spoonbill bird is the one who runs away with the dish - who just happens to be a turtle.
   In addition to many of the more familiar Mother Goose rhymes, Sylvia Long has added some of the less well knows rhymes to her beautifully illustrated collection. It is a treat to be able to enjoy these rhymes, to laugh at the funny things that happen to the characters in them, and to indulge in this wonderful literary legacy that belongs to us all.

Picture Book Monday - A Review of It's a Firefly Night and a BOOK GIVEAWAY!

I did not grow up in a part of the world where there are fireflies. I was twenty-two before I saw my first firefly in a park in Washington D.C, and I have to tell you that the moment when I saw the little insects blinking and flying across the grass is one that I will never forget. Today's picture book celebrates one little girl's firefly night, showing to great effect how magical it is.

As a special treat, the author of this charming book, Dianne Ochiltree, has sent me two signed copies of this book to give to two lucky readers. If you want to be entered in the drawing for the books please email me at editor (at) lookingglassreview (dot) com. 

It’s a Firefly Night

Dianne Ochiltree

Illustrated by Betsy Snyder

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Blue Apple Books, 2013, 978-1-60905-291-1

It is a warm summer night. The moon is glowing high in a sky that is dotted with bright stars. Daddy tells his little daughter that “It’s a firefly night.” Clad in her nightie the little girl, with her dog, runs out into the front yard. Fireflies blink all around her. There are even fireflies sitting on the dog’s fur!

   Together the dog and girl chase the fireflies and soon she has five fireflies in a jar. She races across the grass to show her father the fireflies’ “dancing-light show.” Though she loves to catch fireflies, the little girl knows that they are not hers to keep and she lets them go.

   In this beautifully written magical book the author’s rhyming words are paired with lovely multimedia art to give readers a picture of a special summer evening that is alight with the sparkle and glow of fireflies. At the back of the book the author provides readers with interesting facts about fireflies. 

Poetry Friday - A review of Wee Rhymes: Baby's First Poetry Book

Introducing very little children to the beauty of language is something many of my writing friends and colleagues love to do. Jane Yolen, a wonderful writer and poet who has charmed children with her rhyming How do dinosaur books, now brings us a new poetry collection that was written for babies and toddlers. Throughout the book wonderful rhymes are paired with Jane Dyer's delightful illustrations.

Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book

Jane Yolen

Illustrated by Jane Dyer

Poetry Picture Book

For infants to children age 5

Simon and Schuster, 2013, 978-1-4169-4898-8

Between them author and poet Jane Yolen and illustrator Jane Dyer have nine grandchildren, and they have both spent countless hours playing and spending time with these precious children. Not surprisingly, they believe that “literature begins in the cradle” and that “rhymes are our earliest cultural artifacts.” Mother Goose rhymes and simple pieces of verse that have a singsong element should be a vital part of every little child’s life. In this book such poems are paired with Jane Dyer’s deliciously sweet and lovely artwork to give little children and their grownups a gift that they can share for hours and hours.

   Many of the poems in this book will be familiar, including the first poem, The Rose is Red. Later on Pat-A-Cake, Girls and Boys Come out to Play and This Little Pig appear. These Mother Goose rhymes have been charming little children for generations.

  In addition to these old favorites, there are new poems that Jane Yolen has written, many of which explore everyday moments in a child’s day. There is the poem Oops, Whoops, which tells the story of what happens when a cup full of milk falls to the floor. The child is comforted and told not to “yowl” for Daddy is coming “With a great big towel.” There is also a poem about piggyback rides and one about going to the supermarket to “Ride down every aisle.” In other poems we share a ride in a swing, slip down a slide, and play in a sandbox. In Nap Time we encounter a child who is not sleepy and who wants to go to the park. After all, how can one sleep when “it’s not dark.” The poem comes to a close with the child asking for a blankie, a hankie and a story, but before the story can be told we hear a “Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.”

   This collection of poems is a perfect title to give new parents or grandparents as a gift.

Picture Book Monday - A Review of Big City Otto

Losing a friend can be a very painful experience, and sometimes the pain is so deep that we never forget what that friend was like and how special he or she was. In today's book you will meet Otto, an elephant whose best friend Georgie is kidnapped. Otto never forgets Georgie, and encouraged by a parrot chum, he sets off to find him. Be prepared to laugh a great deal when you read this graphic novel story. It is deliciously funny and full of truly outrageous adventures.

Big City Otto: Elephants Never Forget
Bill Slavin and Esperanca Melo
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Graphic Novel
For ages 8 to 12
Kids Can Press, 2011, 978-1-55453-476-0
Otto is an elephant who has never quite got over the loss of his best friend, Georgie the chimp. Otto was orphaned when he was still very little, and Georgie’s family took him in and raised him as one of their own. Naturally, the elephant and the chimp grew very close.
   Some time ago Georgie was kidnapped, or rather chimpnapped, by the Man with the Wooden Nose, and Otto is still grieving. Otto’s friend Crackers the parrot discusses the chimpnapping with Otto again, and he figures out that Georgie was taken in a ship to America. Being a very brainy bird, and a friend who dearly wants to reunite Georgie and Otto, Crackers finds a way to get Otto onto a plane that is flying to New York City. This is no mean feat since Otto is rather large and is therefore very difficult to hide or disguise.
   When they get to America the two friends start getting into trouble from the very beginning. They have to break out of the airport in the middle of the night, and when they get to the city they realize that finding Georgie is not going to be easy because the city is huge.
   After a number of false starts, Crackers and Otto meet a performing monkey who suggests they go to the zoo where there are wild animals. Perhaps one of them will know about Georgie or the Man with the Wooden Nose. Crackers and Otto dare to hope that they are finally going to make some progress, never imagining that a great deal of danger awaits them at the zoo.
   In this deliciously funny, sweet, and entertaining graphic novel we meet a not-too-bright elephant and a canny and loyal parrot who cannot seem to stay out of trouble. Wonderful adventures and colorful characters make this a winning graphic novel that fans of this genre are going to love.

Poetry Friday: A Review of Poetry for Young People: Animal Poems

When I first started to read and enjoy poetry, many of the poems that attracted me were about animals. I learned The Owl and the Pussycat by heart and had a grand time reading The Tyger out loud with my father, trying to make the poem sound as dramatic as possible. Today's book of poetry brings these two poems and many others to readers who enjoy whiling away some time with some wonderful poetry animals.

Poetry for Young People: Animal Poems

Edited by John Hollander

Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 9 and up

Sterling, 2004, 978-1-4027-0926-5

Animals and humans have been interacting in all kinds of ways for thousands of years, and for this reason humans have been writing about animals ever since they acquired the ability to write. Some writers and poets have told stories about animals or described them, while others have tried to imagine what it would be like to be an animal, seeing the world through an animal’s eyes.

   For this collection of poems John Hollander has brought together poems about animals that people in North America, Europe, and East Asia have written in the last four centuries. Some of the poems tell the story of talking animals. For example, in The Owl and the Pussycat we hear about an unlikely pair of lovers who sail away “in a pea-green boat” and are married by a “piggy-wig” that has “a ring at the end of his nose.”

   In Fable by Ralph Waldo Emerson we meeting a talking squirrel who gets into a quarrel with a mountain. The squirrel admits that the mountain is “doubtless very big,” but that does not mean that the squirrel is not important too. After all, a squirrel is “spry” and can “crack a nut,” which a mountain most certainly cannot do.

   Other poems provide readers with a description of an animal, helping us to understand what the animal is like. In The Eagle by Lord Alfred Tennyson, we hear about the bird that lives “Close to the sun in lonely lands,” and that “watches from his mountain walls. / And like a thunderbolt he falls.”  Though it is not grand and regal, the jelly fish that Marianne Moore describes in her poem, A Jelly-Fish is still an extraordinary creature. In her opinion the jelly fish is “a fluctuating charm” that is both visible and invisible.

   Throughout this excellent book all the poems are prefaced by a note from the editor. These notes provide readers with further information about the poet and the poet’s intentions, and some of the notes also tell us a little about the poem and its history.

   This title is one in an excellent series of books of poetry published by Sterling Publishing.

Picture Book Monday - A Review of How to Heal a Broken Wing

For as long as I can remember I have been an animal lover. My parents, and then my husband, have had to put up with the injured birds, mice, voles, squirrels, dogs and cats that I have brought home. Many of my 'patients' didn't make it, but a few have. I will never forget how I felt when my bluebird chicks flew up to where their parents were waiting for them, and how thrilled I was when my one-eyed starling flew off to start a new life. In today's picture book we will meet some people who open their hearts to an injured bird and whose hearts, I am sure, are enriched because they did.

How to Heal a Broken Wing

Bob Graham

Picture Book

For ages 5 and up

Candlewick Press, 2013, 978-0-7636-3903-7

One day high up above the city streets, a pigeon flew into a glass window and then fell to the ground below. No one saw the accident or the fall, and no one saw the pigeon lying on the cement with its eyes closed, a single feather lying beside it. People walked by the fallen bird, never looking down, until Will came along.

   The little boy saw the pigeon and realized that it was alive and injured. He picked the bird up and showed his find to mother, who was, at first, unsure of what to do. Then she took off her scarf and wrapped it around the bird and together they took the animal home.

   Will’s father did not know what to do either when he saw the bird, but when he saw his son’s concern and hope, he too took on the cause of the bird. Together Will, his mother and his father did everything they could to make their injured guest comfortable. Though they could not put the feather the bird had lost back where it belonged, they could hope that the broken wing would heal.

   This beautifully illustrated book, with its spare and meaningful text shows to great effect how powerful hope can be. We see how the little boy and his parents have the same willingness to do what they can to help another living thing that is in trouble, and how they invest time and effort on its behalf.

   This is a book that readers of all ages will appreciate.

Poetry Friday - A review of Here in Harlem

I took a very long time to read today's poetry title, not because it was hard to read or very long, but because I read several of the poems more than once. They were so beautifully crafted that I had to go back to get a second look. If you are interested in poems that tell stories then this is the book for you. The voices that speak to us from the pages are true and honest, and they give us pictures of a wide variety of people.

Here in Harlem: Poems in many voices

Walter Dean Myers

Poetry

For ages 9 and up

Holiday House, 2004, 978-0-8234-2212-8

Author and poet Walter Dean Myers grew up in Harlem, and after he read Edgar Lee Master’s book Spoon River Anthology, he was inspired to create a collection of poems that celebrate people from Harlem whom the author knew or “whose lives have touched” his own. Many of the people whom he admires greatly appear in these poems. Following the advice of poet E.B Yeats, Walter Dean Myers wrote about a community that he loved dearly, “whose people would gladden his heart.”

   The first ‘voice’ we hear belongs to Mali Evans, a twelve-year-old girl. Mali hopes that when she is old she will be like Mrs. Purvis who walks like a monarch “Down the avenue, as if the streets / Were her queendom” and who is “an ancient lady / Tree-tough and deep-rooted.”

   Later in the book we meet Milton Brooks, an undertaker who does his best to comfort those left behind. He tries to “ease the pain” of these people by telling them that the dearly departed will “wake up home.” The only time Mr. Brooks cannot help weeping is when a child dies, and he prays to the Lord that he will not have to watch more “old men shuffling children to / the grave.”

   Later still we find ourselves keeping company with Delia Pierce, who is a hairdresser. Like hairdressers and barbers all over the world, Delia hears all the news in the community and she is not shy to share what she has heard. She tells us about Carla who is getting married for the third time and who “uses men like a Christmas tree uses tinsel.” She tells us about Darlene who is going south, Sister Smith whose husband chases women, Cindy Lou who sneaks out at night, Betty Mae who tells tales about her former glory, and Deacon Grier who would “sit home all day and sip champagne” with a “light-skinned” girl called Baby Jane. Of course, Delia tells us that she “ain’t the kind to talk behind / nobody’s back.”

   Every poem in this collection gives readers a beautiful portrait of a person, and together they capture the flavor of a unique community. Paired with beautiful black and white period photos, the poems are like gems that we can savor and delight in.

Picture Book Monday - A review of What Goes Up

Every so often I decide to start a new project, to take a new direction with my work. Often, in the beginning, I cannot seem to get things to work the way I want them to work. Figuratively speaking, I fall on my face a lot. It is awfully easy to get discouraged at these times and I feel like giving up. From now on, when I have those 'I want to give up' moments, I will pull today's picture book off my shelf. It is the best pick-me-up in book form that I have found, and it always, always puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I think this book should be compulsory reading for everyone.

What goes up

Paula Bowles

Picture Book

For ages 6 and up

Tiger Tales, 2013, 978-1-58925-119-9

Martin the dragon is sad, and the children in the village, who love Martin, are worried about their scaly friend. When they ask him what is wrong, Martin explains that he wishes he could fly. Unfortunately, his wings are just too small to support his body, and inevitably “What goes up, must come down.”

   Then Martin sees a bumblebee buzz by and he gets a splendid idea. “Stripes must be the key to flying,” he says and he quickly paints some stripes on his body. Alas, stripes are not what Martin needs.

   After Martin sees autumn leaves drift by on the breeze he decides that what he needs to do to fly is to be in a tree. Then he, like the leaves, will be carried off by the wind. After sitting in the tree for quite some time, Martin determines that dragons and leaves do not behave in the same way.

   Martin tries to be fluffy like a cloud, but when he - wrapped in dandelion fluff - leaps into the air, he and his fluff crashes to the ground. Poor Martin is feeling “so low” that the children decide to take him in hand. There must be something that they can do to help their friend.

   Sometimes something we want very badly indeed seems completely out of reach. No matter how hard we try, that coveted something is unattainable. This charming, funny, and delightfully sweet picture book story will remind readers of all ages that one cannot give up hope. With a little help from our friends, we can achieve just about anything our heart desires, even when our wings seem too small for the job.

Poetry Friday - A review of Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors

There are so many animal species on our planet today that sometimes we forget to remember that millions of species have gone extinct over the millennia. The ones that here now are the survivors, the ones who had that little something that made it possible for them to survive climate change, meteorite strikes, and the rise of humans. Today's book of poetry celebrates some of these survivors, and it is a wonderful book to explore and to share with others.

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors

Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by Beckie Prange

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 7 and up

Houghton Mifflin, 2010, 978-0-618-71719-4

Four point six billion years ago Earth was a glowing ball floating in space; it was newly formed and was therefore, a place where living organisms could not survive. Then the seas began to form, and when the right conditions occurred, tiny single-celled organisms evolved. These bacteria were simple creatures, and yet they helped make our planet home suitable for the plants and animals that appeared later in Earth’s story. They were, in short “miraculous.” In fact, all the plant and animal species that exist today are miracles. Ninety-nine percent of all species that have appeared on Earth have gone extinct, which makes the one percent that are sharing Earth with us true survivors.

   Many millions of years after bacteria appeared shelled organisms called mollusks arrived on the scene. These animals have soft bodies that are protected by a shell. We often find the empty shells of these animals on beaches, and admire the beautiful cones and swirls. The pearly interiors of the shells look so lovely that we wish we could climb inside and knock on the shell’s
“tiny door / and ask to meet the mollusk” that made the shell.

   The author of this book then goes on to introduce us to several other families of living things that have been very successful here on Earth. These include the lichens, sharks, and diatoms. The poem about sharks is a delightfully clever concrete poem, and the one about diatoms is beautifully simple.

   Next, the author looks at several species that have survived on earth for many millions of years. We meet a gecko who can shed its tail when a predator threatens it. The fallen tail end wiggles and distracts the predator for long enough that the gecko has time to flee. These extraordinary animals wipe their eyes with their tongues, and they can climb straight up smooth walls thanks to tiny hairs on their feet that work rather like Velcro.

   Another species that we meet are ants, who “never seem to play at all,” and who form complex societies that have fascinated scientists for years. Later on in the book we come across a page dedicated to dandelions. It may seem strange that they are here, but then we remember how hard it is to get rid of dandelions in our lawns and gardens. These hardy plants can grow in many kinds of environments and are so successful that they can take over an area in no time at all.

   Throughout this book superbly crafted poems are paired with gorgeous illustrations and sections of informative text. Each piece of text includes information about how long the featured species or family has been around, which some people will find particularly interesting. Who knew that dandelions have been populating our planet for five million years!

Picture Book Monday - A Review of Look! Another Book!

Seek-and-find books are a wonderful invention. I often use them to get children who are bookaphobic to look at books, to give books a chance. Often, to their surprise, these children discover that the books I give them are entertaining and even funny. Bob Staake's seek-and-find books are an excellent example of this genre because the artwork is full of stories. Children can have a grand time coming up with their own tales as they explore the pictures.

Look! Another Book!
Bob Staake
Picture Book
For ages 5 and up
Little Brown, 2012, 978-0-31620459-0
It wasn’t that long ago when there were no seek-and-find books for children. Then the author of the Waldo books, Martin Handford, began creating his delightful titles, and authors and illustrators were inspired to create a wide variety of seek-and-find books.
   In 2011 Bob Staake unleashed Look! A Book! on the world, and children (and adults) got to enjoy exploring his unique, colorful, and often funny illustrations.  Now we have another Look!  title that once again encourages readers to “Discover things, both small and large,” on the pages. Words play a minor role in the book and we are promised that there are more pictures “than you’ve ever seen.”
   Sure enough, the pages are covered with colorful scenes that are jam packed with bizarre looking characters. The first scene is in a mall. A mall? A boring mall? No, this mall is nothing like any mall you or I have ever seen. In this mall, animals, humans, and robots are walking around, selling things, shopping, eating, and having adventures. There is a pirate ship - complete with a pirate - in the middle of a decorative pond. A sporting goods store and an antiques store are housed in houses, and in the food court there is a place where you can buy a honey baked haggis. There is a man who has a bat flying out of the top of his hat, and a boy wearing a cowboy outfit is riding on the back of a dolphin.
     Well that certainly was wild! Perhaps the next scene will be more ‘normal.’ Here we are looking at a school and the school yard. It is recess time and the children are out running around and playing. Actually, there are animals here too. And robots. And a ghost and a monster. Is that an alien peering around the side of the school? It would appear that this scene is just as wonderfully bizarre as the last one.
   In all there are seven scenes to explore in this book and each one is full of things to find. In addition, there are things going on in the artwork that encourages storytelling. For example, in the zoo scene there is a crab in a pot of fondue and for some reason the zoo keeper is walking a little green monster on a leash. Why are these things happening? Why are all the animals out of their cages and walking around? Children can have a little fun coming up with little stories to explain why these things are going on.
   After readers are convinced that they have found all they can, they can go to the back of the book where there is a list of more things to find, things that are “MORE tough” to locate. Who can resist a challenge like this?
   With a wonderful rhyming text, die-cuts on many of the pages, and remarkable illustrations, this is a book that will provide readers with hours of entertainment. This book demonstrates very well that pictures are indeed “worth A LOT!”

Poetry Friday - A review of Cousins of Clouds: Elephant poems

These days, much of the news that we hear about elephants is not good. In fact it is downright depressing, and I confess that I have a hard time listening to the stories on the radio about the poaching problems in Africa and the habitat loss issues in Asia. When today's book arrived in the mail, I felt a little conflicted. Do I want to read this book, I asked myself. Thankfully I did read it. It is a lovely book and it reminded me that we need to keep on doing everything we can to save elephants, no matter how bad the situation looks. 

Cousins of Clouds: Elephant poems

Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy
Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Clarion Books, 2011, 978-0-618-90349-8

Since ancient times, humans have been fascinated by elephants. There is something about elephants that captures the imagination, and people cannot help being drawn to these large animals with their tiny eyes, large plodding feet, long trunk, and gently swaying walk.

   In this remarkable poetry title, poems, artwork, and sections of informative text are combined to give readers a book that looks elephants in a number of ways. We read about how people in many different cultures have elephants in their mythology. In the poem “Cousins of Clouds” we hear of how, long ago, elephants “were great kings of the sky.” One day the elephants angered a prophet by arguing in his presence. To punish the elephants the prophet cursed them so that their wings shriveled to become “pitiful ears,” and thus elephants became earth bound. Now these “cousins of clouds” can only dream of flying as they flap their ears.

   We hear about two working elephants; one walks down a street in Bangkok surrounded by cars, and another works in Africa, carrying tourists who want to see Africa’s wildlife up close.

   We hear how much an elephant enjoys a mud bath, and how an elephant’s trunk, with its more than forty thousand muscles, allows the animal to use this curious-looking appendage as a finger, a fork, an arm, a nose, and a piece of rope.

   We also learn that elephant females work together to protect their precious babies, caring for them for several years. As one would expect in such intelligent and social animals, elephants have several ways to communicate with one another. In addition to making trumpeting noises with their trunks, elephants can communicate over long distances using low sounds that are “near silent.”

   Using a wide variety of poetic forms the author of this book beautifully shares her affection for elephants with the reader. Each poem focuses on an elephant related topic, and it is accompanied by an illustration and a section of text. The text offers readers further information about the topic that is featured on that page. By the time readers get to the end of the book they are able to see how truly wondrous elephants are and how vital it is to protect and cherish them.

  

Picture Book Monday - A review of If you spent a day with Thoreau at Walden Pond

Years ago, when my husband was doing his graduate degree at Harvard, I visited him and he took me to Walden Pond. It was a clear day in early fall and I fell in love with the place at once, taking dozens of photographs of the trees, the pond, and the little treasures that I saw about me. Today's picture book captures the magic of Walden Pond, taking readers back in time so that they can explore the special place with Henry David Thoreau, who lived near the pond for two years.

If you spent a day with Thoreau at Walden Pond

Robert Burleigh

Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Picture Book

For ages 7 to 9

Henry Holt, 2012, 978-0-8050-9137-3

More than one hundred and fifty years ago, a man called Henry David Thoreau left his town life and went to live in the woods next to Walden Pond, which is near the town of Concord in Massachusetts.  He lived in a tiny cabin that he built himself, and explored the woods around his home, getting to know the plants and animals intimately. He wrote down notes in his journal, and later Thoreau wrote a book about his life in the little cabin. It was called Walden, or Life in the Woods, and it is now considered to be one of America’s greatest books.

   In this book readers are invited to imagine what it would be like to spend a day with Thoreau at Walden Pond. As readers explore Thoreau’s world, they will see how simple and yet how rich his life was.

   If you could go back in time to visit Thoreau you would have to get to his cabin early because Thoreau “wakes with the sun.” Perhaps you and Thoreau would go out onto the pond in a little row boat. You could help him weed his bean patch and walk with him in the woods. You wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost because Henry knows his way around the woods. You might even go to Fair Haven Hill to pick huckleberries.

   Moving quietly through the woods and across the meadows you would see all kinds of animals. There in the sky is a hawk “soaring and tumbling, over and over.” You might chase after a fox, or watch two species of ants waging a war. With Thoreau for company you will learn how to see the natural world around you in a new way.

   In this unique picture book, Robert Burleigh’s beautifully spare prose is paired with Wendell Minor’s atmospheric illustrations to give readers a picture of what Thoreau’s life at Walden Pond was like. Readers will get a sense of how peaceful the time was, and how the simple life that Thoreau had allowed him to connect with his environment in a meaningful way.

   At the back of the book the author provides readers with further information about Thoreau and his time at Walden Pond. There is also a collection of quotations from Thoreau’s writings, all of which have relevance in the modern day. Since some of the quotations are written in language that is difficult to understand, the author provides readers with “modern interpretations,” to help us appreciate the sayings more fully.

Poetry Friday - A review of Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs

I know that there are some people who think that frogs, lizards, snakes and other reptiles and amphibians are  "creepy" and "nasty." I am not one of these people. I was the kind of kid who collected tadpoles and watched them turn into frogs. I loved to watch geckos walk across the ceiling of my room, and even kept a grass snake in a tank for a while. I was therefore delighted to discover today's poetry book because it is full of amphibians and reptiles. What is special about this book is that even people who don't typically like these animals will find these poems enjoyable.

Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs

Douglas Florian

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Harcourt, 2001, 978-0-152-05248-5

Even though many of us might be repelled or frightened by reptiles and amphibians, we often cannot help finding these creatures rather interesting. They come in so many shapes and sizes, and live in so many different kinds of habitats. We love to shiver when we read about how long their teeth are, how venomous they are, or how slimy they feel.

   In this delightful collection of poetry, poet and artist, Douglas Florian, introduces us to some of the world’s reptiles and amphibians. We begins with the skink, which slinks along the ground and through the grass and which can drop off its tail if something provokes it. The tortoise is next, and it too has a novel way to protect itself from predators. It wears “a helmet / on my back” which guards the animal “from attack.” Unlike a helmet, the tortoises shell will not fall off if the animal coughs or sneezes.

  Later on we meet a gecko, which can walk up walls with ease, crocodiles and alligators, the iguana, the midwife toad, and many other interesting creatures. With clever rhymes, touches of humor, and interesting facts, Douglas Florian gives his readers a unique poetry experience.

   Throughout the book the poems are accompanied by the poet’s own artwork.

Picture Book Monday - A review of Lumpito and the painter from Spain

Many of us have cats and dogs who share our lives and whom we adore. How many of us try to imagine what it would be like to be the family cat or dog? How many of us try to see the world from a cat or dog's point of view? In today's picture book we get to meet a dog who really existed and whose life, at first, wasn't  terribly enjoyable. Thankfully, the dog was introduced to a man who understood him and appreciated him, and the man, who was called Pablo Picasso, changed the dog's life in the best possible way.

Lumpito and the painter from Spain

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by Dean Griffiths

Picture Books

For ages 5 to 8

Pajama Press, 2013, 978-1-927485-00-2

Lump was a dachshund who lived in Rome with a photographer called David and a dog called Big Dog. Unfortunately, Big Dog and Lump were not friends. Big Dog liked to steal Lump’s food and every night poor Lump slept “with one eye open because he was afraid of what Big Dog might do.”

   One day David announced that he and Lump were going to meet a famous painter. David had a small car and after it was loaded with all his cameras and other equipment, there was only room for one small dog. Together David and Lump drove to a beautiful villa in the south of France where Lump met a famous painter called Pablo Picasso.

   Just a few minutes after arriving at the villa, another dog turned up. Another dog that was bigger than Lump. It was going to be Big Dog situation all over again and Lump was determined that he was not going to let this larger dog “push him around.” Lump needn’t have worried. The dog, Yan, wanted to be friends and had no interest in bullying Lump.

   The painter decided to called Lump Lumpito, and he shared his fish lunch with the little dog. Picasso  also lay in the grass with Lumpito and rubbed his tummy. In the evening he held Lumpito in his arms, and together they looked up at the stars. The painter and the dog were delightfully content when they were together.

   Every so often a human and a dog meet and they are friends from that moment on. This was what happened when Picasso met a little dachshund called Lump. A special connection developed between them, and for Lump, and probably for the famous painter as well, it was a friendship full of joy.

   With a wonderful story and lovely illustrations, this book serves as a tribute to friendship and it will charm readers of all ages.

Poetry Friday - A Review of The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Verses

Finding the perfect pet can take some time and some people spend many hours researching the potential pets that they are considering getting. In today's poetry title you will meet a little girl who takes takes her researching efforts very seriously indeed, with very humorous results.

The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Verses

Lisa Wheeler

Illustrated by Zachariah OHara

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Simon and Schuster, 2013, 978-1-4169-7595-3

A little girl wants a pet, but her parents say “Not quite yet,” and they advise their daughter to do “research” and “Devise a scientific plan” to determine which pet would be right for her. Not deterred by this unusual demand, the little girl gets a notebook and “prepped to study in the field,” she goes to a farm to see potential pets for herself.

   Carefully the little girl makes field observations of a cow, a chicken, a pony, a dove, and a sheep. Though some of the animals seem promising at first, she soon realizes that a farm animal will not work for her. The sheep is too smelly, the pony too troublesome, and the chicken is downright aggressive. No, farm animals are out of the question. Perhaps a zoo animal would be a better fit.

   The little girl is not at the zoo long before it becomes clear that a monkey, penguin, tiger, polar bear, or hippo will not make a good pet. One might eat her, the other is very odiferous, and could one ever get used to having a pet that eats raw fish? And what about a pet that has fur that is “full of bugs and lice?” No, zoo animals will not do at all.

   Woodland animals are not much better, so the little girl decides that she needs to try animals that are perhaps a little less exotic. This time she will “bring some beasties in” so that she can properly test out each potential pet in her home. Surely one of the animals will end up being the right one.

   Children who are eager to have a pet of their own are going to enjoy this wonderful picture book with its unique collection of poems. With plenty of humor and a clever use of language, the author gives her readers a special poetry picture book experience.

A review of a perfect title for Father's Day

This coming Sunday, on June 16th, we celebrate Father's Day. It is a day when we spoil fathers and show them how much we love and appreciate them. In honor of this day, I have reviewed a book that celebrates the many ways in which fathers show their children, through their actions, how much they are loved.

When a dad says "I love you"

Douglas Wood

Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2013, 978-0-689-87532-8

We all know what the words “I love you” mean, but did you know that many people say “I love you” without saying these words at all? Dads are particularly good at doing this. Instead of saying the words, they show you how much you are loved. They make pancakes for you, admire your muscles, play games with you, and call you silly names like Flap-doodle or Scatterwhomp. When they help you ride your bike or read you your favorite story for the three hundredth time they are saying “I love you.”  When they answer your countless “Why?” questions without complaining they are also saying “I love you.”

            In this heartwarming, sometimes sweetly funny, book, Douglas Wood, who brought us the books A Quiet Place and Old Turtle, shows children that there are so many ways to say “I love you,” and often these expressions of love are incredibly precious. Throughout the book the simple text is paired with softly expressive illustrations of animal children sharing wonderful moments with their fathers.

Poetry Friday - A review of Fold me a Poem

I never really knew much about origami until my daughter began to make paper cranes in school when she was seven years old. Since then she has made dozens and dozens of cranes and has also created beautiful boxes, stars, and other shapes. She loves collecting the colorful origami papers, and spends hours looking through her stash, searching for just the right paper for her next project.
In today's poetry title you will meet another child who loves origami and who builds a little world with the little paper creations he makes.

Fold me a poem 

Kristine O’Connell George

Illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Harcourt, 2005, 978-0-152-02501-4

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of folding paper to create little paper animals and flowers. Often people who enjoy creating Origami use special paper that can be one solid color or that is printed with many intricate and colorful designs. Though the paper creations look simple, some of them take a lot of skill to make.

   In this book the author explores the world of origami in a unique way, taking us into through the day of a little boy who enjoys making the often beautiful paper sculptures. We begin in the morning, when the little boy greets the day with an origami rooster. A buffalo with a “shaggy head” gallops across the tablecloth during breakfast. There is a camel on the table too, but something went wrong with the folding process and the poor animal is not standing up properly. The boy leans the camel against a salt shaker “sand dune” so that he can “double-check the directions.”

   In his room, the little boy’s green origami dog has three new dogs friends made with printed paper. On the book shelf a black crow origami is hiding in the shadows, and a lion and cheetah are racing across the floor to see who is fastest.

   The little boy spreads out his origami paper on a table and examines his treasure trove of colors. What will he make next?

   In this lovely book clever illustrations are paired with beautifully spare yet evocative poems to show us how simple paper animals can brighten a boy’s day, providing him with hours full of creativity and play. After reading this book young readers might be tempted to try making some origami animals and flowers themselves.

   

Picture Book Monday - A review of Ribbit!

When we are presented with something that is out of the ordinary many of us overreact, often in a negative way. We are suspicious and prone to consider the unfamiliar something to be potentially dangerous. In today's picture book the author shows to great effect how such suspicious and distrustful behavior can create an environment that lacks open mindedness and a willingness to listen and observe. What is remarkable about this book is that the author manages to convey his powerful message with humor and sensitivity.

Ribbit!

Rodrigo Folgueira

Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

Picture Book

For ages 6 and up

Random House, 2013, 978-0-307-98146-2

One morning the frogs who lived in a pond woke up to find that they were no longer alone. There was a pink pig sitting on a rock in their pond, and when the chief frog asked “What can we do for you?” the pig answered “Ribbit!” Not surprisingly, the frogs were astonished when they heard this. Did the pig think it was a frog? Was it making fun of them?

The other animals soon heard about the pig at the frog pond and they came to see what was going on. “Why would a pig want to be a frog?” a parrot wondered aloud. Naturall, the frogs found this comment offensive and soon all the animals were shouting at one another.  The animals laughed at the situation, except for the frogs, who were getting more and more annoyed. Finally the frog chief decided that they needed to consult the wise old beetle. Surely he would be able to explain the pig’s strange behavior.

Often, when a strange situation presents itself, people get into a tizzy. They argue, they hurt each other’s feelings, and they analyze everything more than is necessary. This book shows readers that sometimes the reason for a person’s behavior is very simple. Sometimes the answer we are looking for is right there, and all we have to do is to think less and feel more and we will find the answer.

With lovely expressive illustrations and a story that is timeless and ageless, this picture book explores an important topic with sensitivity and gentle humor.

Poetry Friday - A review of A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems

The first concrete poem I encountered was The Mouse's Tale which appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  I thought it was a very clever poem and enjoyed reading it out loud with my father. I did not encounter another concrete poem until a few years ago, and I was delighted to see that this unique poetry form is becoming more and more popular.

A poke in the I: A collection of concrete poems

Paul B. Janeczko

Illustrated by Chris Raschka

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Candlewick Press, 2005, 978-0-7636-2376-0

For most of us a poem is a form of writing where words are presented to the reader in creative ways to conjure up images, thoughts, and feelings. How the words look on the page is not really that important. Concrete poems are still a form of poetry, but their appearance matters a great deal. They are “visually arresting” because the poet has tried to create a visual effect with his or her words in addition to an intellectual and emotional effect.

   For this splendid collection of concrete poems, Paul Janeczko has chosen poems that are presented in unique pictorial ways. For example in Skipping Rope Spell by John Agard, the lines of the poem are not presented in well behaved rows that stretch from left to right. Instead, they swirl across the pages, twirling the way skipping ropes do when they are circling through the air.

   In Sylvia Cassedy’s poem Queue the words stand in a neat line down the page, one word under the other, just the way people stand in a line when they are waiting for a bus at a bus stop. Similarly, the words in the poem Popsicle are arranged to look like a popsicle, a rectangle of words describing the melting sweet summer delight that ends with the word “sticky,” which forms the popsicle’s stick.

  In Sky Day Dream, the poet Robert Froman creates pictures of floating thoughts that drift up the pages like clouds, getting smaller and smaller the higher up the page they go. Surely this is exactly what happens to our thoughts when we lie in the grass daydreaming about this and that.

   This is a perfect book to share with readers who are under the impression that poetry is dull and perhaps even inaccessible. The poems, paired with Chris Raschka’s multimedia artwork, show to great effect how visual, unusual, and funny poems can be.

Picture Book Monday - A review of Hugless Douglas and the big sleepover

Hugless Douglas is one of my favorite children's picture book characters. He is a big bumbling bear who often gets things wrong, but he is so sweet and lovable that no one really minds. In today's picture book title you will find out what happens when Douglas goes to a friend's house to spend the night.

Hugless Douglas and the big sleepover

David Melling

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Tiger Tales, 2013, 978-1-58925-116-8

Hugless Douglas the bear is very excited because he has been invited to a sleepover at Rabbit’s house. Douglas packs a bag and then he sets off full of hope and anticipation. Douglas gets stuck in a tree, and then he manages to get lost. He decides to climb a tree so that he can see where he is, but unfortunately the tree he chooses isn’t really suited to being climbed by a large and heavy bear. The tree bends lower and lower to the ground and then Douglas falls into a bush on top of Little Sheep.

Little Sheep knows the way to Rabbit’s House and Douglas is sure that there is more than enough room at Rabbit’s for one little sheep and a bear. Paw in paw they walk to Rabbit’s burrow and when they get there Douglas realizes that he brought more than one sheep with him. In fact there are ten sheep in all. Rabbit is not at all concerned about the arrival of so many guests. In fact, she is delighted to see all the sheep.

The sheep manage to get through Rabbit’s rather small doorway, but there is no way Douglas is going to be able to squeeze through the snug entrance. They are going to have to rethink their sleepover plan.

Readers who have enjoyed the other Douglas Douglas books are going to love this new adventure. Once again Douglas gets himself into a spot of trouble, and once again his misadventures are laugh-out-loud funny. The expressions on the faces of the characters and the situations they get into are deliciously ridiculous. This book is a must for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up.

Poetry Friday - A review of Poems to Learn by Heart

One Christmas, when I was around seven or eight, I was given a book of poetry. I remember that I was very disappointed with the book because it wasn't the collection of fairy tales that I wanted. Then my father started to read the poems to me and I heard about a tiger "burning bright," for the first time. We laughed at Lear's funny limericks and that book of poetry became one of my favorite books. I ended up learning a lot of the poems by heart and many of them are still with me. Every so often I dig them out of my memory and enjoy them.

Poems to Learn by Heart

Caroline Kennedy

Illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 8 and up

Hyperion, 2013, 978-142310805-4

There was a time, not that long ago, when children and young people were expected to memorize reams of information and pages of text, both poetry and prose. Nowadays, thanks in part to the digitalization of our world, children think that memorizing quotes, passages from classic books, and poems is no longer necessary. The truth is that there is a good reason for having poems and pieces of literature at your fingertips. Caroline Kennedy feels that “a poem can remind us that others have journeyed far and returned safely home.” Poems can encourage and sustain us when life is throwing challenges our way. Firmly believing in the power of poetry to heal and support people, Caroline Kennedy has collected more than a hundred poems to memorize that will appeal to readers of all ages.

            She begins by giving her readers a simple and humorous poem called The First Book by Rita Dove. In the poem, the poet encourages us to open the book and “Dig in.” It might be a little hard to get started, but it will be worth it in the end and if you do, “the world as you think / you know it” will never be the same.

            After this warming up poem, we begin our journey in earnest. The book is divided into eleven chapters, each one of which focuses on a theme such as “Here I am and other poems about the self,” and “I’m expecting You! and other poems about friendship and love.” Readers will find poems to memorize that are only a few lines long, and others that are longer and perhaps more challenging. They will come across poems they have heard or heard about such as If by Rudyard Kipling and The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash. They will also discover many poems that are new to them, poems that vibrate with power and whose language delights the tongue. Perhaps a funny bone will be tickled, or perhaps an image will make the reader pause and think.

            As the pages are turned, readers will encounter the words of Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, William Blake, William Shakespeare, Langston Hughes and many other wordsmiths who found a wide variety of ways to excite, amuse, and touch readers.

   All in all this marvelous collection is perfect for dipping in, and perfect for sharing. Jon K. Muth’s gorgeous watercolors provide a lovely backdrop for the poems and for Caroline Kennedy’s words.

            

Picture Book Monday - A review of Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping

I loved camping when I was a kid. Camping on the beach every summer was something I looked forward to for months. I would have had a hard time dealing with Scaredy Squirrel because he is is under the impression that camping is a highly dangerous activity. In fact, I am pretty sure he would have driven me crazy. Or perhaps not.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping

Melanie Watt

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 8

Kids Can Press, 2013, 978-1-894786-86-7

Some people love camping. They enjoy the simple life in the great outdoors, savoring such uncomplicated pleasures as sitting around a campfire at night, sleeping in a tent, and going for long invigorating hikes.  Scaredy Squirrel is not such a person. He prefers the comfort of home to the discomfort of camp life, and he knows that camping is fraught with such dangers as skunks, mosquitoes, quicksand, and zippers.

Scaredy decides that the way to enjoy camping is to do so vicariously, by watching “The Joy of Camping” on the television. There is a problem though.  Scaredy does not have an electrical outlet in his tree home. He is going to have to use a long extension cord and go to a nearby campsite to plug in the cord. Being the cautious (some might even say neurotic) fellow that he is, Scaredy dons his Wilderness Outfit. Scaredy does a little pre-expedition training and then, armed with pliers, tomato juice, a bag of cement and other supplies, Scaredy sets off. One thing he isn’t prepared for is a surprise, which is exactly what he finds.

Scaredy Squirrel is, without a doubt, one of the funniest picture book characters out there. What makes him so endearing is the fact that he is not perfect. He is afraid of just about everything and is committed to living life as safely as possible. He hates change in all its forms. The amusing thing is Scaredy is forced to deal with change, and it is delightful to see how he copes. Though he is decidedly overanxious, he is not, thankfully, unable to see the many gifts that life has to offer, and he manages to find ways to enjoy those gifts in his own very distinctive way.

Poetry Friday - Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a twist

When I was around eight years old I went on a fairy tale jag. I read every fairy tale I could get my hands on, and my godmother got me a set of books that I loved. In each book the author, Ruth Manning-Sanders, focused on fairy tales about one kind of magical being. There was a book about giants, one about magical animals, one about dragons, one about witches, and so on. The author retold the stories in creative ways giving readers wonderful descriptions of places and characters. In today's poetry title you are going to meet some familiar fairy tale characters, but their 'voices' are not going to be what you are used to. Have fun!

Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a twist

Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlitch

Illustrated by Matt Mahurin

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 7 to 10

Boyds Mills Press, 2013, 978-1-59078-867-7

Fairy tales have been delighting and terrifying children for generations. The stories have played important roles in popular culture and many have been turned into plays, musicals, and films. The one thing that they have in common is that the “good guys” almost always win, and the “bad guys” usually get their just desserts. In a world that is full of chaos, unknowns, and unhappy endings, fairy tales can help us to feel comforted and secure.

Jane Yolen, the author and poet, clearly loves fairy tales, and she has written many such stories over the years. For this poetry collection she has collaborated with children’s book author and poet Rebecca Kai Dotlich. Together they have created poems that allow young readers to look at some classic fairy tales in a new way. Instead of telling the stories in the third person, which is the way most fairy tales are presented, they use the voices of the characters in the stories to present a fresh point of view. For every story there are two poems. Sometimes the poems are from the point of view of one character, and sometimes we hear from two characters.

For example, in Hansel and Gretel, Gretel begins by talking about how she and her brother should have guessed at once that they “were in deep, deep trouble” when they found the witch’s house with its “chocolate doorknobs” and “marzipan bricks.” Then we hear from Hans, who has quite a different approach. He is optimistic and says, “No worries, no need to fear.” He is convinced that he, Hans, will be able to save the day.

Sometimes we even hear from characters who do not appear in the stories, characters who surely might have popped out of the pages if someone had had thought to write them in. For example in The Three Bears,  the first poem we read allows us to hear not just bear voices and Goldilocks voice. We also hear the voice of Officer Bruin who has come to “view / The ruin.”

Readers of all ages who like fairy tales are going to enjoy exploring the thirty poems in this book. It is interesting to hear how different the voices of the characters sound and how many perspectives there are in one tale. Readers might be tempted to try their hand at writing some of their own fairy tale poems. What would Jack’s beanstalk have to say about being climbed, and what would Cinderella’s glass slipper have to say about the girl who charmed a prince?

Picture Book Monday - A review of It’s Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones!

I am an annoyingly organized person. Or so I am told. I do certain chores on certain days, like my mother does, and my grandmother did. There is something comforting about having a wash-the-linens day, and a do-the-food-shopping day. In today's picture book you will meet a lady who does a different task on each week day, but there is something unique about the way she does her chores, something delightfully odd.

It’s Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones!

Warren Hanson

Illustrated by Tricia Tusa

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Simon and Schuster, 2013, 978-1-4424-1229-3

Mrs. Jolly Bones has a full week ahead of her. Being an organized soul, she assigns a certain task to every week day. On Monday she does the laundry, on Tuesday she gardens, on Wednesday she cleans the house, on Thursday she does the grocery shopping, and on Friday she bakes.

   These chores sound pretty straight forward. They are the kinds of chores that men and women all over the world do every day, right? Yes they are, but it is unlikely that many people do their chores in quite the same manner as Mrs. Jolly Bones.

   For example, on Monday, when Mrs. Jolly Bones does the laundry, she gathers and sorts the laundry, she washes the clothes and dries them. Then she irons and folds everything. So far her laundry day has been very normal. What is rather unusual is that Mrs. Jolly Bones then takes all those clean fresh-smelling clothes and tosses them out of the window so that they will “brighten up the street.”

   If you think this is odd, wait until you see what she does after she cleans the house, or what she does with the groceries she buys on Thursday.

   Children love books that contain surprises, and this particular book is full of them. The story has a normal beginning and then it becomes clear that Mrs. Jolly Bones has her own way of doing things, ways that will keep readers guessing all the way through the book.

   Children are going not only going to enjoy hearing about Mrs. Jolly Bones and her strange behavior, but they are also going to love exploring Trish Tusa’s cunning and amusing artwork.

Happy Mother's Day!

Poetry Friday - A review of Face Bug

Imagine what it would be like to go to a museum where they were displaying a series of photos showing the faces of insects and spiders. If one were an insect or spider this would be like going to a portrait gallery. Today's book combines poetry and art to take readers into The Face Bug Museum, and it is quite a trip.

Face Bug
J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrations by Kelly Murphy
Photographs by Frederic B. Siskind
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 6 to 10
Boyds Mills Press, 2013, 978-1-59078-925-4
Come one, come all! The Face Bug Museum is open, and insects, spiders, and their guests are invited to take a look at the photographs that is on display. The photographers who took the pictures feel that “you never really know bugs till you look them in the eye,” which is why all the photographs focus on the heads and faces of insects and spiders. Bring your camera and be prepared to be amazed, and perhaps even shocked. Don’t worry if the faces make you feel faint. Tiny Vet is “standing by” to treat anyone who gets the heebie geebies.
   We begin with the Hickory Horned Devil, which is the larva of a moth. The creature in the photo looks like a cross between a porcupine and a “Country-colored coral reef,” and it is certainly scary, but in reality this caterpillar is a gentle creature and the only living thing that needs fear it are the leaves it snacks on.
   In the next photo we see the head of an Eastern Carpenter Bee. Though they look threatening, these bees are not a danger to anyone. They do like to drill holes in wood though, so you might find their holes in your home if it is made out of wood.
   Further on in the show you will meet the Bush Katydid. This rather showy insect is standing on a stage in front of its photograph and it has happy to talk about itself. It admits that it looks rather like a grasshopper, but its green body can make it look like a leaf in the right surroundings, which is handy in a world that is full of predators. In addition to being a master of camouflage, the katydid is a singer and a “petty thief.”
   In this memorable book Patrick Lewis’ amusing poems are paired with wonderful photos and amusing illustrations to give young readers a tour through a museum that is unlike any other. Information about each insect or spider species is incorporated into the poems. Readers will also find additional facts about the fourteen creepy crawlies featured in the show at the back of the book. Children will get to know the insect and spider characters that appear on the pages, and they may even finding themselves growing fond of them.

Picture Book Monday - A review of The Museum

I still remember the first time I went to a real art museum. My father took me to the National Gallery in London. I was so in love with the lions and fountain and Trafalgar Square that he had a hard time getting me into the museum, but once I was inside I felt as if I had been transported to a magical place. It was a magical place, and I will never forget how much I enjoyed my time there.

Today's book celebrates art museums and it explores the nature of creativity.

The Museum

Susan Verde

Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Picture Book

For ages 6 and up

Abrams, 2013, 978-1-4197-0594-6

One sunny day a girl goes to the art museum and when she looks at a work of art she doesn’t just see the painting or the sculpture, she reacts to it. As she tells us, “something happens in my heart.” Her response to the art cannot be contained and her body “goes into action.”

   When she sees a painting of a ballet dancer she feels that she needs to pose as a dancer does and stand on her “tippy-toes.” A painting of swirling stars in a night sky makes her feel “twirly swirly,” while a painting of a sad blue face makes her feel lonely and down. A field of flowers makes her feel skippy, and abstract colorful swirls and squiggles give her a fit of the “giggles.”

   Then the girl comes across a large empty canvas. What does it mean? Is the non-painting “a joke?”

   In this delightful picture book the author and illustrator celebrate art museums and the journeys and adventures that they allow us to take when we look at the artworks in their galleries. The story also explores the way art can be created out of nothing, cajoled out into the open by inspiration and creativity. The emotions the little girl in the story experiences seem to bounce off the pages, and the ending will give readers of all ages something to think about.

Poetry Friday - A review of The year comes round: Haiku Through the Seasons

Traditionally haiku poems were used to capture precious moments, moments that were little gems from the natural world. Often the poems were seasonal in nature. In today's poetry title we travel through a year and the author gives us a haiku with a nature theme for every month.

The year comes round: Haiku Through the Seasons

Sid Farrar

Illustrated by Ilse Plume

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 9

Albert Whitman, 2012, 978-0-8075-8129-2

It is wintertime and when we get up in the morning there is frost on the windows so that “Each windowpane’s a / masterpiece,” of delicate frost designs.  When snow falls, children build a snowman, who hopes that the “noon sun won’t / notice” that it is there.

   In the spring a mother robin’s eggs hatch and she has to get busy finding food for her chicks. Luckily food is plentiful and she is able to bring an earthworm “back to her nest to / meet her family.”

   Summer evenings bring careful watchers a special treat. As light fades “fireflies quietly blink / their secrets.” This is also the time of year when one is most likely to experience a violent thunderstorm. Fed by the heat and moisture in the air, “Thick, black clouds grumble” above the “parched earth below.”

   Haiku is a poetry form that traditionally uses words to capture a picture of something from the natural world, and the poems are often seasonal in nature. The author of this book follows the Japanese haiku custom by focusing on nature, taking readers through the twelve months of the year with gem like poems. The poems are paired with lovely illustrations and at the back of the book readers will find more information about haiku, and “The Cycle of Life.”

Picture Book Monday - A review of Baby Penguins Everywhere!

I work from home, which means that I spend a lot of time alone. At least alone in the sense that there are no other humans around. I usually have three dogs and at least one of my two cats in my office when I am working. I love working at home, but there are times when I crave human company. I can therefore relate to the penguin in this story, who, like me, enjoys her time alone. Most of the time.

Baby Penguins Everywhere!

Melissa Guion

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Penguin, 2012, 978-0-399-25535-9

Floating on an ice floe, a penguin enjoys the “peace and quiet of the sea and ice.” However, there are times when she feels rather lonely. Then one day she finds a hat floating in the water, and in the hat there is a little penguin. One little penguin is a big surprise, but then another penguin chick pops out of the hat, which is followed by another.

   Soon there are baby penguins all over the place, and the penguin who was once lonely is lonely no longer. Instead, she is extremely busy playing with and taking care of the baby penguins. In fact, she is so busy that she gets rather tired and worn out.

   Though we love our family and friends, and though we want to spend time with them and do things for them, all of us have moments when we start to feel a little overwhelmed, when we need a little time to ourselves to sit and be quiet.

   In this sweet and beautifully minimal book, Melissa Guion explores the idea that everyone needs a little break once in a while, and she manages to do so with sensitivity and humor.

Poetry Friday - A Review of Forest has a song

I love reading poetry collections where the poems look at the seasons, and have reviewed several titles of this kind over the years. Today's title takes readers on a journey through the seasons in a forest, and we have a little girl for company who shows us some of the wonderful places, plants, animals, and trees that can be found in forest.

Forest has a song

Amy Ludwig Vanderwater

Illustrated by Robbin Gourley

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 and up

Clarion, 2013, 978-0-618-84349-7

Not far from a girl’s little red house there is a forest. One morning, while she is outside, the girl hears a “pinecone fall” and she smells the “spicy” tang of the pine trees on the wind. She is drawn to the forest that seems to be asking her to “Come visit. / Please?”

   In the forest she meets a chickadee, whom she invites to come and eat some of seeds that she is holding. She tells the little bird that it is “safe to land” on her hand and that she is not a threat. The bird is afraid of the child, but at the same time it cannot help seeing the seeds that rest in the hand that is still. Perhaps such a small child is not something to fear after all.

   In the spring the child finds fiddleheads in the forest. These are ferns that are uncurling as the weather warms,  and their presence indicates that winter is finally over. High in a tree she hears a tree fog calling. It is trying to convince a potential wife that it is “one great frog.”

  Summer is the perfect time to have adventures in the forest. Barefoot, the girl walks on a bed of moss, her feet sinking into the “velvet green.” She wishes her socks felt as good as the moss does. Summer is also the time when poison ivy grows everywhere. One must look for those three leaves and avoid them because “One green / touch can itch / so much.”

  In fall the maple trees begin to change their “leaves to red,” and one hears the call of geese overhead. Then the first snow arrives and the girl stands outside in the woods with her eyes closed listening to “snowy voices / crystal clear.”

   This lovely book takes readers through a forest year. We celebrate special moments with the girl, and explore the lovely world that is her refuge and her playground. We discover treasures from nature, and meet animals who share their lives with us.

   Throughout the book beautiful poems in a variety of forms are paired with emotive watercolor paintings that readers will enjoy reading and looking at again and again.