Poetry Friday - A review of Zombies! Evacuate the school

Here is a poetry book that is not only full of funny poems, but that also will help young readers to write their own poems. 

Zombies! Evacuate the school

Sara Holbrook

Illustrated by Karen Sandstrom

Poetry

For ages 8 to 11

Boyds Mills Press, 2010, 978-1-59078-820-2

   Do you remember reading sing songy poems in an old Mother Goose book? Perhaps you had a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson’s A child’s garden of verses? I am willing to guess that you think writing poetry is easy. Sure it is, all you have to do is to make words rhyme. Actually, it is not easy at all, which is what Sara Holbrook discovered when one of her middle school teachers told her to write a poem. Not knowing how to even begin to write a poem, Sara ‘borrowed’ a poem from a book of poetry that she had at home. Needless to say, she was “busted” and told to write her own poem.

   Thankfully, Sara has come a long way since she was in middle school. For this book, she explores school days and experiences using various poetry forms. What makes this book unique is that she is determined to help would-be poets to find their own voice. Mixed in with the poems are tips to help writers who want to try writing poems of their own. Prompts, questions, and suggestions will help readers to begin their own journey into poetry writing.

   The third poem in the book is about a journey on a big yellow school bus. Full of onomatopoeic words, it perfectly captures the noise and discomfort that comes with riding on a bumpy school bus. A note next to the poem talks about how Sara Holbrook used her own remembered bus rides to “write this bumpin,’ thumpin,’ omopatopeia-jumpin’” poem.

   Later on in the book, she shows readers how imagery and “sensory details” can be used to great effect. In Oh No! a child sees two girls carrying a tray of delicious cupcakes walking by. Of course, the child hopes that he or she will get to taste the delicious treats, but unfortunately, the birthday party is in another class.

   In this book, Sara Holbrook uses humor, sensitivity, and creativity to help readers to appreciate poetry on a new level. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Seven

Many years ago I read a series of books about a little girl who frequently gets into trouble, and who has all kinds of delightful little adventures. These My Naughty Little Sister books became some of my favorite books, and when my daughter was little I bought a set of the books for her. The illustrator of these books is Shirley Hughes, a talented artist and storyteller in her own right. Shirley Hughes has created a lovely set of picture books about a little boy called Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose. Here is one of the Alfie titles. 

An evening at Alfie’s

Shirley Hughes

Picture Book and Audio CD (Series)

For ages 3 to 6

Random House UK, 2010, 978-1-862-30991-3

   Alfie’s mum and dad are going out for the evening, and Maureen, who is a neighbor, is going to babysit Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose. The evening begins very well. Maureen reads Alfie a story, she tucks him into bed, and then Alfie lies in bed and looks at “the patch of light on the ceiling.

   Then Alfie hears a noise on the landing, a “drip-drip” sound, and he goes to investigate. He is very surprised when he sees that water is splashing down from the ceiling and there is a puddle on the landing floor. Alfie tells Maureen all about the drip, and when she comes to investigate, the dipping is worse then ever. Maureen and Alfie put buckets and bowls under the drips, and then they call Maureen’s mother. Hopefully she can help.

   Shirley Hughes is the queen of creating picture books in which everyday events are described in an engaging and interesting way. Children will be delighted to watch the way things become more and more chaotic in Alfie’s house as more and more water drips down from the ceiling. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Six

Many children all over the world love dinosaurs. The are fascinated by the bizarre animals with their long necks, or armored skins, or horns. Today's picture book is about a really really small dinosaur who learns how to be brave for himself, and for someone else. The charming main character in this story first came on the scene in The Littlest Dinosaur. It is wonderful to have him back.

The Littlest dinosaur’s big adventure

Michael Foreman

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 6

Walker, 2009, 0-8027-9545-5

   The littlest dinosaur is very little indeed, and one day, urged on by a bouncy cheerful frog, he crosses a river by walking on the lily pads that float on the water. None of his family could do this because they are far too big and heavy.

   On the other side of the river, the littlest dinosaur finds himself on the edge of a field that is full of flowers, buzzing bees, and butterflies. He enjoys the beauty of the place and appreciates that “it is fun to be small” when you are surrounded by so much loveliness. Then the light begins to fade, and the littlest dinosaur finds himself in a big forest. Being small, all alone, and lost in a big dark forest is not much fun at all. Reminding himself that he has “the heart of a dinosaur” even though he is tiny, the littlest dinosaur presses on. Surely he will be able to find his way home somehow.

   In this sweet littlest dinosaur picture book, Michael Foreman shows us that one does not have to be big to be brave. The award winning author and illustrator gives us a story that is warming and memorable.

The Cybils finalists are announced.

For the last couple of months children's book bloggers have spent hours reading books published in 2010 that were nominated by readers for the Cybils awards. The lists of the finalists are now in. Just in case you don't know, the Cybils are "are given each year by bloggers for the year's best children's and young adult titles. Nominations open to the public on October 1st." The books that were chosen as finalists are all excellent titles. Take a look:

Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)

Fiction Picture Books

Graphic Novels (Middle Grade)

Graphic Novels (Young Adult)

Middle Grade Novels

Nonfiction Books (Middle Grade & Young Adult)

Nonfiction Picture Books

Poetry

Young Adult Novels

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Five

When I first moved to my town in Oregon, one of the things that struck me straight away was the way in which people, complete strangers, smiled at me and greeted me in the street, in the shops, and on the hiking trails. It is so warming to connect with others with a simple "hello," "good morning," or "isn't it a lovely day." This meaningful picture book shows readers what can happen when people do not make this connection.

So close

Natalia Colombo

Picture Book

Ages 6 and up

Tundra Books, 2008, 978-1-77049-207-3

   Every morning Mr. Duck and Mr. Rabbit walk right past each other on their way to work. Every evening Mr. Duck and Mr. Rabbit walk past each other on their way home from work. They never exchange a word or a look. They never think to say “hello.” Imagine how much better their lives could be if they greeted each other. Why, they might even become friends.

   This short picture book will resonate with readers of all ages. So often people are in such a hurry that they don’t notice their neighbors. They don’t make eye contact or acknowledge one another. This picture book shows readers how easy it is to break out of this pattern. It shows them to great effect how rewarding reaching out to others can be.

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.