The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and eighteen

There are certain authors and illustrators who are favorites of mine. When I see one of their books in a shop or in a publisher's catalogue, I do my best to get a copy. One of these people is Quentin Blake. Blake is well known for illustrating the books written by Roald Dahl, but he has also written many books of his own including Mr. Magnolia and today's picture book.

Angelo

Quentin Blake

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House UK, 2010, 978-1-849-41046-5

   Long ago a boy called Angelo lived in Italy with his mother, father, and three brothers. The family travelled around the country, all their worldly possessions in a covered cart. When they got to a village, Angelo’s father and his big brothers would build a stage, and when everything was ready, the family members would put on a show. Angelo’s big brothers would do “marvelous balancing tricks,” his father would play the guitar and sing, and then Angelo would do very popular his tight rope act.

   One day Angelo saw that one of the people watching him perform was not smiling “like everyone else.” Instead, the girl looking out of a second floor window was crying. The girl, Angelina, explained that she wished so much that she could travel around the country like Angelo did. She had a miserable life living with her cruel uncle. She was sure that she would be trapped in her uncle’s home “for ever.” Luckily for Angelina, Angelo has an idea.

   In this charming picture book, Britain’s first Children’s Laureate gives readers a tale that is entertaining and heart warming. With its feel-good happy ending and its wonderful illustrations, this is a picture book Quentin Blake fans will want to add to their collection.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and seventeen

In the early nineties I worked part time in an after school program in a public school in Washington DC. One of the things my kids loved was story time because I would go to the library or the book store to get books that I thought would amuse them. The little ones would always rush to sit on the floor (or in my lap) for story time, and over time I noticed that the 'big' kids would also drift over trying not to look as if they were listening.

One of the books that the kids loved was Imogene's Antlers by David Small. Once the story was read, the children liked to guess what was going to happen next, and they would often draw pictures of Imogene with her odd animal appendages.

Imogene’s Antlers

David Small

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Random House, 2010, 978-0-375-81048-0

   One morning Imogene wakes up to discover that she has grown a pair of very large antlers during the night. Getting dressed and getting through doorways takes careful thought, and when Imogene’s mother sees the antlers she faints.

   The family doctor is called, and he says that there is nothing medically wrong with Imogene. The school principal comes over and he glares at Imogene, but he has no advice to offer either. When Imogene’s little brother announces that Imogene has turned into a “rare form of miniature elk” Imogene’s mother faints. Again.

   Though her parents are very upset, the cook and kitchen maid quite like the antlers, finding a number of uses for them. Perhaps it won’t be so bad having antlers.

   First published in 1985, this book has become a much loved classic. Children and their families love reading about the hilarious situation that Imogene finds herself in, and they certainly have a good laugh when they come to the surprising ending. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and sixteen

Technically speaking today's book is a novelty book because it has reusable stickers that you can stick on the pages. However, I think that the stickers are just a bonus feature. The picture book on its own is more than enough for any reader, because every double page spread is packed with wonderful (and often deliciously odd) scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the book, and I have added it to my books-to-pull-out-and-browse collection. Not only is the book entertaining, but readers will also learn a thing or to about the places mentioned in the narrative.

Around the world with Mouk: A sticker adventure

Marc Boutavant

Novelty Book

For ages 4 to 8

Chronicle Books, 2008, 978-0-8118-6926-3

   Mouk has decided that he is going to go on a trip around the world. He practices talking in other languages, he does a little research, sends an email, and calls his friends Popo and Chavapa to tell them about his plans. After packing his backpack, he meets his friends at Chez Titi so that he can explain that he is “off to see the world.”

   Mouk’s first stop is Lapland, which is a province in Finland. He writes to his friends back at home telling them what Lapland is like. He makes friends with a rabbit called Sami, and he offers to help Sami’s grandfather wrap Christmas presents for children from around the world.

   Next Sami goes to visit his friend Elena who lives on a Greek Island that is called Hydra. Sami and Elena go snorkeling and then they sit on the beach relaxing and eating watermelon. Sami learns how to say “hello” in Greek, and he eats some rather strange food.

   Mouk goes on to visit Libya, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, India, China, Australia, Japan, Peru, and the United States. In every country he makes new friends, he sees wonderful things, he learns about the cultures and customs that he encounters, he picks up some of the language, and he gets to sample some of the local cuisine.

   Children are going to love traveling around the world with Mouk the bear. Every double page spread presents readers with a colorful scene that is packed with kooky characters, delightful picture vignettes and mini stories, and information. Then there are Mouk’s letters to his friends back in Paris. These are amusing, and they tell the reader about Mouk’s adventures in the different countries.

   Young readers can also interact with the book by placing the forty-six reusable stickers on the glossy pages, and by looking for the search-and-find items in the pictures. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and fifteen

Last summer my family and I went to Amsterdam. My daughter was very surprised to see that Miffy, a children's book character that she is very fond of, was very popular there, until she realized that the little white rabbit was created by a Dutch author. In Dutch, Miffy is called Nijintje, which I must confess is a word I have a hard time pronouncing. I enjoyed looking at all the Miffy books (which I couldn't read of course) and the Miffy merchandise. In fact I have a Dutch Miffy sitting on a shelf in my office.

For today's picture book I have a Miffy title in which Miffy discovers that anyone can create art. You don't have to a famous or an adult to create a piece of art. In addition, the little rabbit learns how rewarding the creative process is.

Miffy the artist

Dick Bruna

Picture Book

For ages 2 to 4

Abrams, 2007, 978-1-85437-823-1

   One day Miffy, the little white rabbit, goes to the art gallery to look at the paintings and the other works of art. On her way home, Miffy thinks about the things she has seen, and when she gets to her house, Miffy gets out some crayons and she starts to draw.

   Happily, Miffy creates pictures, exploring ideas with her colors. Her pictures remind her of things and places, and they give her a great feeling of satisfaction.

   In this charming Miffy title, the author uses simple concepts and memorable art to help children see that anyone can create art. He shows children that drawing or painting or sculpting helps us to explore our world in new ways, and connects us with memories and emotions.

   This is one in a series of books about Miffy. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and fourteen

I have a special fondness for picture books that have detailed artwork. Today's picture book is just such a title. It has artwork that you will want to explore for a while, and interesting page features that children will like. The story is charming, and perfectly touched with magic.

Up and Way with the Little Witch

Lieve Baeten

Picture book

For ages 4 to 7

North South, 2011, 978-0-7358-4004-1

   Lizzy the Little Witch has a friend called Trixie staying with her for the night, and Lizzy is reading Trixie (who is a very small witch indeed) a story. In the story, this is a Witch Princess who rides around on a magic carpet. Inspired by the story, Lizzy casts a spell on her carpet, and to her delight the spell works. Under the light of a full moon, the carpet carries Lizzy and Trixie “off into the night.”

   After flying for quite a while, they see a caravan moving across the countryside below. The witches swoop down to investigate, hoping that they will find something to eat. Caravan Witch is delighted to see the two young witches, and she not only feeds them, but she also gives them a little show as well.

   After bidding Caravan Witch goodbye, the witches fly on, soaring over mountains and the river. Below them, the witches see a light shining out into the darkness. Trixie really needs to go to the bathroom, so they fly down towards the river and soon they see Boat Witch sitting on her strange witch craft. Hopefully she will be able to help them.

   With wonderfully detailed illustrations and interesting novelty features on the pages, this Little Witch title is sure to charm young readers who like adventures that have a magical element. 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and thirteen

Finding creative ways to help little children understand how to get along is not easy. They don't like it when someone new comes into their territory, and often they respond to such an 'invasion' by getting upset. Today's picture book shows children how one little cat copes when a dog moves into her home.

Cleo and Caspar

Caroline Mockford

Picture book

For ages 2 to 4

Barefoot Books, 2001, 1-84148-440-7

   One day Cleo wakes up and she runs downstairs. Something or someone is making a noise, and like all cats, she is curious and wants to know what is going on. When Cleo looks around a door, she sees a most extraordinary thing. There is a small brown and white dog in the house. In her house!

   Cleo’s person introduces Cleo to Caspar, and Cleo gives the little dog a sniff. Unfortunately, this prompts the dog to bark, which makes Cleo hiss with anger. Then Cleo runs away and she hides in a tree. What is she going to do?

   Getting used to change is never easy, particularly if you are not very big. This picture book, with its sweet acrylic illustrations and its simple rhyming text, explores how one little cat deals with a big change.

   This is one in a series of books about Cleo the cat.

Poetry Friday - A review of Around the World on Eighty Legs

Happy Friday everyone! I have a really wonderful book of poetry for you today; a book that combines delightful and often funny poetry with zoological information about animals. As they look through the book, children will get to meet a variety of animals that live in countries around the world.

Around the world on eighty legs

Amy Gibson

Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 5 to 8

Scholastic, 2011, 978-0-439-58755-6

Imagine what it would be like to travel around the world, visiting all kinds of curious and interesting animals. Which animals would you want to meet? In this delightful picture book, Amy Gibson takes us to six of the seven of the world’s continents. She also throws in the Arctic for good measure.

   The journey begins in South America where we meet a Howler monkey, an animal that has a voice “so piercing few can stand / their eerie calls at break of day.” Even more curious is the Basilisk, a lizard - with the name of a mythological creature - that is able to literally walk on water. If you think this is odd, then you should meet the Hoatzin, a bird that smells so terrible that “you’ll smell him / ‘fore you see him.”

   Next we go to the “Far, far north and far, far, south.” Here we meet caribou, Arctic foxes, auks, penguins, and other creatures. We see large and ferocious predators like the polar bear with its sharp teeth, and tiny krill that serve as a “smorgasbord” for hungry whales and seals. The tiny shrimp are such an excellent source of food that “everybody wants to eat them,” but “nobody wants to be them.”

   Amy Gibson goes on to tell us about some African animals (lions, rhinos, warthogs and others), and animals from Asia, and Australia. Though the poems are wonderfully silly, they also give the reader a fair bit of information as well. To add to this information, the author provides her readers with a ‘Menagerie of Facts’ at the back of the book.

   Children who like animals are sure to enjoy this poetry picture book. They will appreciate the way in which the variety of poetry forms are beautifully paired with Daniel Salmieri’s funny and expressive illustrations.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and twelve

For today's picture book I have another Easter title. I used to love Easter egg hunts when I was a child, so I was happy to get this book in the mail. The story is both amusing and sweet, and the illustrations are quite lovely. 

Who hid the Easter Eggs?

Pirkko Vainio

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

North South, 2011, 978-0-7358-2304-4

   Every year the grandmother who lives in the house hides Easter eggs in her garden for her grandchildren. One spring day Harry the squirrel sees the grandmother coming out of her house carrying a basket of eggs and he knows that it is Easter again. Harry enjoys following her around, watching to see where she places the beautifully decorated eggs.

   After the grandmother goes back indoors, Harry sees that he is not the only one who admires the pretty eggs. Jack the jackdaw also likes the eggs, and to Harry’s horror, the bird steals the eggs. Harry follows Jack to his nest and he sees that Jack has put every single Easter egg into his nest. Jack explains that he wants to have eggs in his nest like all the other birds. Though Harry is sympathetic, he tells Jack that he has to return the eggs to their hiding places. Will they have enough time to get the eggs hidden in the right places before the children arrive?

   With beautiful illustrations throughout, colorful characters, and a charming story, this picture book is sure to be a firm favorite with children who like Easter egg hunts of their own.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!