The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and fifty-four

A few years ago a YouTube video about a lion called Christian went viral on the Internet. I was one of the millions of people who watched as a full grown lion hugged the two humans who had raised him, and whom he hadn't seen in a year. Now you can watch a five part documentary about Christian and his human family on YouTube, and it is a fascinating and very moving story. Today I have a picture book that tells Christian's story so that young children can find out how love truly can overcome the most astonishing obstacles.

Christian, the Hugging Lion

Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Illustrated by Amy June Bates

Nonfiction Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-8662-1

   Harrods is a department store in London where you can buy just about anything. One day in 1969 two young men, Ace and John, went to Harrods to see what was for sale, and they saw a lion cub in a cage. They both felt that “A store is no place for a lion to live,” so that bought the cub and took him home to their apartment.

   John and Ace named the cub Christian, and soon he was a much loved pet. Like most kittens, Christian liked to play with toys. What was unusual was that he also liked to hug Ace and John by putting his paws on their shoulders.

   After a year or so John and Ace realized that it was one thing to share an apartment with a lion cub, and altogether another thing to share an apartment with a half grown teenage lion. Something had to be done. They did not want to take Christian to the zoo. Would it be possible for Christian to adjust to being a wild lion? Could they take him to Africa and let him run free in his ancestral habitat?

   This is the true story of two men and the lion who was their friend. A few years ago a YouTube movie showing Christian and his human family went viral, and it has been viewed by millions of people since then. Christian is now a celebrity, and his story has touched the hearts of people all over the world

   Beautifully retold by authors Justin Richardson and Peter Parnall, and illustrated Amy June Bates, this is a wonderful version of Christian’s story that is suitable for young children.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and fifty-three

There are some people out there who are very rarely intimidated by anything. I'm sorry to say that I am not one of these people. Leaving my comfort zone makes me feel uncomfortable, and when I was a kid I tried to avoid doing things that were unfamiliar. I therefore feel a strong kinship with the main character in today's picture book. Hannah is a duck who has her fears, and who needs help to overcome them.

Hannah Duck

Anji Yamamura

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Kane/Miller, 2008, 978-1-933605-74-6

For six days a week Hannah Duck is “peaceful and content,” staying at home with Gigi the parakeet and KameKame the turtle. On Sundays Hannah goes for a walk and this makes her very anxious and worried. Every Sunday she looks through the park gate, and every Sunday she turns around and goes back home. She just can’t make herself walk through the gate into the unknown.

   Every Sunday Gigi and KameKame ask Hannah how her walk went and Hannah pretends that everything went well and that she had a good time. Then one Sunday Hannah decides to come clean. She tells her friends that she doesn’t like her Sunday walks because they scare her. When he hears this, Gigi offers to go with Hannah. Perhaps if she has a friend with her, she will not be so frightened to try something new.

   Going someplace that is unfamiliar makes many people feel anxious and unsure. Often they avoid going someplace simply because they are afraid of it. In this book, Anji Yamamura addresses this issue with sensitivity and warmth, showing young readers how rewarding it is to overcome your fear of the unknown. After all, you may discover something that will make your life happier and richer. She also celebrates the power of friendship, showing to great effect how friends can help one do things that are seemingly impossible. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and fifty-two

I remember having a discussion with someone several years ago. She asked me why I was reviewing children's books and helping authors to write children's books. I explained how fulfilling my work is and how happy it makes me."What does being happy have to do with anything?" she said with a straight face. She honestly did not think that being happy was something one should strive for. Since then, I have met many people who have the same opinion. Finding happiness simply isn't something that they even consider.


In today's picture book you will meet a sheep who finds happiness very easily. Could it be that we could learn a thing or two from a sheep?

Selma

Jutta Bauer

Picture Book

Ages 3 and up

Kane Miller, 2003, 1-929132-50-6

   There is no doubt that the world has become a very complicated place, and it is very easy to lose sight of what is important in life. This is not the case for Selma however, and she is truly an inspiration.

   Selma the sheep has very simple tastes, and she knows what she likes to do and how she likes to spend her days. Selma likes to “eat a little grass” here and there, spend time with her children and her friends, sleep, and “exercise in the afternoon.” What is very special about Selma is that even if she had more time, or if she had a million dollars to her wooly name, she would not change her life in any significant way. Things are the way she likes them, simple and uncomplicated.

   Selma’s story is a reminder that the search for happiness does not need to be a difficult business. We just have to look at ourselves in simple terms and find the things that really make us happy – just like the kindly sheep does.

   With very simple text and minimal artwork this little book is a treat for readers of all ages.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and fifty-one

There is nothing like starting the day with a smile on your face, and if you are feeling a little grumbly of a morning, then this is the book for you. The illustrations are unique, the story is funny, and the ending is just right.

Erroll

Hannah Shaw

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2010, 978-0-375-86105-5

   One day Bob is preparing to dip into his package of Nutti Nutts when a squirrel pokes his head out of the package. Bob is very surprised to the see the squirrel, and he is even more surprised when he discovers that the squirrel, who is called Erroll, can talk.

   Being a hospitable boy, Bob makes Erroll a peanut butter sandwich, which the squirrel enjoys enormously. In fact he enjoys it so much that he gets covered with peanut butter “from head to tail.” Bob does his best to clean Erroll up, but it is not easy to wash or wipe off a squirrel if he is not interested in getting clean. In fact, it is pretty much impossible. Doggedly Bob chases Erroll around the house, and soon the place is a mess. Little does Bob know that this is just the beginning of his adventure with Erroll.

   Children who enjoy watching squirrels in their garden are sure to be amused by the story in this picture book. With wonderfully quirky illustrations and engaging characters, this is a perfect story to read out loud.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and fifty

I live in a small quiet town where the pace of life is slow, and where many people are happy to enjoy simple pleasures. When I visit big cities I usually tire of the pace, the noise, and the hubbub very quickly, and I am glad to come home again.

In today's picture book, you will meet a young boy who discovers that change and 'progress' is not always a good thing.

Me, All Alone, At the End of the World

M.T. Anderson

Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Picture Book

Ages 6 and up

Candlewick Press, 2005, 076361586-2

   A boy lives alone at the End of the World, and though he is by himself (except for the mule) and though he has to eat gristle and hardtack, he is content with his life, putting together fossils, whistling, and playing with a ball. Then everything changes; a strange looking man called Constantine Shimmer arrives and he starts up a touring business. Soon the boy’s world is full of activity, people, and machines. Many come to see The End of the World, guided by Mr. Shimmer, and they also come to see the boy who lives there.

   Before he quite knows what he is doing the boy begins to work as a guide, seduced by the charm of meeting other children. The boy shows the newcomers all his favorite places and pastimes and they love it all. They love it so much that when Mr. Shimmer’s Inn at the End of the World is built and ready, they come back to The End of the World again and again.

   The boy has so much fun with his new friends and they do many wonderful things together including hang gliding, skating, and riding a roller-coaster. Naturally enough the boy has the time of his life, but he begins to notice that all of Mr. Shimmer’s buildings and businesses are changing the End of the World. Now is it a place of “More fun! More Fun!” where solitude is impossible, where one cannot think, and where peace is gone.

   The boy discovers something that many readers will find interesting and surprising – that one does not need a great deal of ‘stuff,’ nor does one need a lot of company, to be happy. There is a lot to be said for solitude, quiet, and simplicity.

   Beautifully illustrated and written with clarity and perception, this is a very special picture book that has a message for readers of all ages.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and forty-nine

Taking care of a baby, when you are new to babies and their needs, can be quite a challenge. Somehow, one always seems to be trying to figure out what needs to be done next. In this picture book, a family faces the challenge of having to take care of a HUGE baby, and as bystanders, we can enjoy a good laugh at the problems they face. For a family who have a new baby, this book is a must. 

The Wicked Big Toddlah

Kevin Hawkes

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2007, 978-0-375-82427-2

   When the new baby arrives, it is soon very clear that he is not like most babies. He is enormous, and after Uncle Bert says, “That’s a wicked big toddlah ya got theyah,” everyone starts to call the baby Toddie. Toddie is so big that his family members need to tie him to the flat bed of a truck so that they can take him home from the hospital.

  Not surprisingly, taking care of such an enormous baby is a huge task. Changing his diaper is excruciating. When he is able to sit up, the family are at least able to bathe him in the ocean, though they are not happy when he lifts fishing boats out of the water.

   The older Toddie gets, the more challenging it is to care for him. When the family goes camping, he plays with a live moose and a bear. During blueberry picking season, he eats blueberries by the bucketful. He is so big that his greeting terrifies the family members who come over for Thanksgiving.

   In this delightfully funny picture book, we meet a family who are blessed with a baby who is bigger than a house. Readers can sense how much Toddie is loved, and how much of a challenge he is at the same time. Though Toddie is so huge, his needs are much like those of any small child. Child will laugh out loud when they see the tricky situations Toddie and his family get into.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book one hundred and forty-eight

I love journals and journaling, and recently I started working on a journal with my own artwork in it. It is interesting to notice have differently one looks at the world if one is considering things in terms of how one might go about drawing them.

In today's picture book you will meet a little boy who carries a drawing book around with him, and who captures a story on paper during a visit to the zoo. I think this book is inspired. It is also inspirational for artists of all ages. 

Danny’s Drawing Book

Sue Heap

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Candlewick Press, 2007, 978-0-7636-3654-8

   It is a snowy day, and Danny and his friend Ettie are at the zoo. The children see a mother elephant with her baby, and there is a red scarf hanging on a tree nearby. Inspired by what he sees, Danny opens up his yellow drawing book and he draws a picture of a baby elephant wearing a red scarf. Feeling chilly, the children go into the warm nocturnal house where they see an aardvark. Danny puts a drawing of an aardvark next to the one that he created of the elephant. Ettie thinks that the two animals like each other, and sure enough, as Danny’s picture story unfolds, the elephant and the aardvark become good friends.

   In Danny’s picture story, the aardvark and the elephant decide that they want to go to Africa, but they cannot figure out how to get there. The aardvark does not want to go by boat, by car, or by train. Wanting to help the two animals, Danny draws himself and Ettie into the story and he draws a picture of the four of them flying to Africa in a wonderful little plane. When they arrive, the two animals and the two children have a wonderful time together. Who knew that being in a story could be so much fun.

   In this picture book, Sue Heap gives us a story within a story, taking us on a journey that is unique and memorable. With Danny’s childlike paintings and illustrations on every page, children will feel as if they are actually looking at Danny’s drawing book and they might – it is to be hoped – be inspired to take their own drawing book adventure. After all, all you need is a drawing book, a pencil, and maybe some colors to take a trip into the unknown.

Poetry Friday - A review of The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal

Today's book is very special indeed because it not only contains poems, but it also contains wonderful illustrations, field notes about birds, and journal entries. The author beautifully combines many different elements to give readers a unique bookish experience.

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal

Sallie Wolf

Poetry and Nonfiction

For ages 6 to 9

Charlesbridge, 2010, 978-1-58089-318-3

   When Sallie Wolf was in the seventh grade, her teacher taught the children in her class how to identify birds, study their behavior, and write down their observations. Ever since then Sallie has been bird watching, and in this book she invites us to share her interest in birds by taking a journey through the seasons, telling us about some of the birds that she sees.

   She begins with spring, giving us lists of some of the birds that she sees at this time of year. There is a painting of a crocus and a delightful poem about early crocuses and brown creepers who “circle up tree trunks.” We get to meet a robin who “makes a laughing sound” as it goes about making a nest. There are also notes about the birds she sees, as well as sketches and little watercolor paintings of birds, flowers, and a tree.

   In the summer there are seagulls who “hang out at the mall” and spend their time “fighting over French fries / and scraps of burgers.” Robins take a bath, cleaning their feathers vigorously until they are “Freshly groomed and tidy.”

   In this very personal and beautifully presented book, we take a journey through the year reading notes about birds, lists of birds, journal entries, and poems. There are delightful illustrations throughout, some of which are simple ink sketches, and others that are delicate watercolor paintings.

   At the beginning of the book, the author explains how she came to be interested in birds, and at the back of the book she tells us about her journaling journey, which she began when she was a child.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and forty-seven

Sometimes it isn't easy to teach children right from wrong, especially when one is struggling. The accepted rules of behavior are often ignored at such times. In this book, award winning author Karen Hesse tells the story of three children who learn an important lesson.

Spuds

Karen Hesse

Illustrated by Wendy Watson

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Scholastic, 2008, 978-0-439-87993-4

   Jack, Maybelle, and Eddie live with their mother, who is working the night shift tonight. Lately she has been working so hard that “she got nothin’ left over” for herself or her children. Maybelle, who is the eldest, decides that they should go to Mr. Kenney’s potato field to glean the potatoes that the harvester left behind. After all, not to take them would be “just plain wasteful.”

   As they walk to Mr. Kenney’s field, Maybelle rhapsodizes about all the wonderful things Ma will be able to make using the potatoes that they are going to get. When they get to the field, the children set about collecting as many potatoes as they can with only the light of the moon to guide them.

   Tired but happy, they make their way home through the frost covered countryside. When they get home, Jack spills the contents of their bags on the floor, which is when he discovers the horrible truth. Most of what they collected are rocks!

   In this beautifully written picture book, Newbery Award winning author Karen Hesse takes us into the home of poor family whose members are having a hard time making ends meet. Readers will be moved as they see how the three children try to help out, and they will understand the lesson the children learn as a result of their actions.

   Accompanied by Wendy Watson’s lovely illustrations, this is a story that will give young readers something meaningful to think about. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and forty-six

I used to think that the main purpose of picture books is to entertain children. I now know better. They also help children to see how beautiful the written word can be. They convey important messages that children need to hear. They tell stories about people, times, and places.

Since I started this picture book celebration, I have reviewed all kinds of picture books, many of which make the reader stop and think. Today's picture book is more light hearted. It explores the way a witch tries to solve a puzzling problem, and it is funny!

Winnie the Witch

Korky Paul and Valerie Thomas

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 8

HarperCollins, 2007, 978-0061173127

   Winnie is a witch with a fondness for the color black. In fact she likes it so much that her entire house is black inside and out. In addition, Winnie’s cat Wilbur is also black, which is not surprising when one considers that he is a witch’s cat. Winnie can see Wilbur in her house when he has his lovely green eyes open, but when he dozes off, which is something cats do a lot, then Winnie can’t see him at all because he blends in perfectly with her very black house. Winnie ends up sitting on Wilbur, and tripping over him again and again, until she finally gets fed up. With a wave of her wand Winnie turns Wilbur from a black cat into a bright green cat.

   This new state of affairs works very well until Wilbur goes outside for a breath of fresh air. On the grass, Wilbur becomes invisible, and once again he trips up his mistress who ends up in a very prickly rose bush. Clearly Winnie is going to have to come up with another solution.

   A delightful tale with very amusing and highly detailed multimedia illustrations, this story is sure to entertain the young and the not-so-young with its simple story and droll characters.