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Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Eighty-Nine

Every parent, caregiver, or teacher is used to having their advice ignored. As a result, heads are bumped, fingers are burned on hot pans, pocket money is misplaced, goldfish expire, and so on. You get the idea I am sure. In today's picture book you will meet a child who ignores his mother's warning about what not to do on Doodleday, and he learns a valuable lesson. 

DoodledayDoodleday
Ross Collins
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Albert Whitman, 2011, 978-0-8075-1683-6
   Harvey’s mom is going to the store and she tells Harvey not to disturb his father. Harvey tells her that he will “just do some drawing,” which makes his mother completely freak out! Apparently it is “Doodleday” and “Nobody draws on Doodleday and that’’s that.”
   After his mother leaves, Harvey takes out some pencils and…yes indeed…he draws a picture. He draws a picture of a big blue “Fat…and hairy” fly. To Harvey’s horror, his picture becomes a huge (as in as big as a small cow) fat and hairy fly doddle that flies around and creates havoc in the kitchen. What is Harvey to do?
   Quickly Harvey draws a big purple hairy spider. Everyone knows that spiders eat flies. Right? Wrong. Harvey’s doodle spider is not interesting in the fly. Instead, it is interested in Harvey’s dad, and soon the poor man is trussed up and unable to move. Clearly, Harvey has a lot to learn about the dangers of Doddleday.
   This wonderful picture book will delight young artists and make readers of all ages laugh out loud. With its expressive illustrations (complete with pencil doodles) and its unique story, this is a book that children will want to read again and again. 
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