The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: One hundred and sixty

Many years ago, when I was teaching in a school program, I had a little student who was incredibly shy. During recess she played house behind a big tree, and in the classroom she found a little corner to hide herself in. When she wanted to talk to me she would tug on my shirt, and when I bent down to her level she would whisper in my ear. The character in today's picture book reminds me a lot of my little student. Both the little girls are shy and quiet, and both are longing to find a way to make their voices heard.

Willow’s Whispers

Lana Button

Illustrated by Tania Howells

Picture book

For ages 4 to 7

Kids Can Press, 2010, 978-1-55453-280-3

   Willow has a problem. She is has a very small voice that is so soft that everything she says comes out as a whisper. When children invite Willow to sit at their table with them, they cannot hear her tiny “I’d love to,” and assume that she wants to sit alone. When her teacher, Mrs. Post, asks her if she wants apple or orange juice, Willow tells her that she wants apple, but because Mrs. Post cannot hear what Willow is saying she gives her orange instead.

   The only person who is able to hear Willow and who understands that her “big, strong voice” is stuck somewhere inside her is her father. He does his best to comfort her, and tells her that one day her voice “will wiggle its way out.” The problem is that Willow needs that big voice now. How is she going to get it to come out?

   There are many children who have a small voice that refuses to speak out, and it is a very difficult problem to deal with. In this inspirational picture book, Lana Button’s story will help children to see that they can find a solution to their problem. All they have to do is to be creative and have faith in themselves. Throughout the book, the text is beautifully complimented by Tania Howell’s minimal art. 

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

Every since I began reading Roald Dahl's books, I have had a great fondness for Quentin Blake's art. Now I tend to request any book that he has illustrated, including ones that are written by other people. Today's book is a perfect example of how important it is to pair a story text with the skills of the right illustrator. When you have an unusual and even slightly wacky story with colorful characters and odd situations, then Quentin Blake's illustrations are likely to be a good fit. In this book Quentin Blake's art is a perfect fit, bringing John Yoeman's amusing story to life to great effect.

The wild washerwoman

John Yoeman

Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Picture book

For ages 5 to 7

Andersen Press, 2009, 978-0-7613-5152-8

   Far away from here and long ago seven washerwomen lived and worked together. They all worked for the same man, a mean fellow called Mr. Balthazar Tight. Every day Perkin the delivery boy would bring the women a load of laundry in his goat-cart, and every day the seven washerwomen had to iron and wash laundry from dawn ‘til dusk. It was a very hard life, and one day the washerwomen decided that they had had enough. Without any warning they tipped a huge mountain of laundry on top of their boss, and ran off.

   The washerwomen loved their new found freedom so much that they quite simple went wild. In fact, they became quite a nuisance, and villagers were afraid of them. No one was brave enough to try to stop them and everyone wondered if there was anything or anyone who could calm them down.

   In this wonderfully amusing story children will discover that is not wise to push a group of washerwomen to the brink. If you do, there is a good chance that you will live to regret it.

   Throughout the book, Quentin Blake’s amusing illustrations perfectly compliment the text, giving readers an amusing story time experience.

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

Hugs are one of those things that can bring a little sunshine into a grey day, and I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the people who live in Ashland, my home of almost four years, are very huggy. It is always interesting to see visitors or new arrivals experiencing this phenomena. Some look puzzled, some are not sure how to respond, and some are a little prickly, just like the porcupine in this story.

How do you hug a porcupine?

Lauren Isop

Illustrated by Gwen Millward

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4424-1291-0

   There are lots of ways we can show our affection for others, but one of the best ways is to give them a hug. This is especially true when we want to show animals how much we love them. They cannot, alas, understand what we are saying when we talk to them, but they surely must understand what a hug means.

   Most animals are easy to hug, even big ones like horses and cows. Cats and dogs are very easy to hug because they can be picked up. Bunnies are even easier. It might be challenging to hug a giraffe or an elephant, but it can be done. You need to be a little careful when you hug a hedgehog, but that too can be achieved if you are cautious. You probably can even figure out how to hug an ostrich. There is one animal though that is not easy to hug at all and this is a porcupine. With all those long spines, a porcupine is quite a challenge. The thing is, under all those spines a porcupine is just as deserving of a hug as all the animals that are “soft and furry.”

   With its rhyming text and its amusing art, the story explores the idea that everyone deserves a hug. At times it might be a challenge to give someone a hug, but it can be done if you are creative. And careful.

   

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

Most little children go through a stage when they like to say, as often as is possible, "I can do it BY MYSELF." Sometimes they can, and sometimes they can't. I have seen many little children who are not able to read holding a book very importantly and telling their version of the story using their imagination and the art for inspiration. In today's book, no pretending will be necessary because the book is wordless. Children will be happy to say, "I can read this one BY MYSELF."

Polo and Lily

Regis Faller

Wordless Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Roaring Brook Press, 2009, 978-1-59643-496-7

   The sun is just coming up and Polo is outside his tree house watering his garden and harvesting tomatoes. Happily Polo cuts up veggies, puts them in a pot, catches a fish, and makes himself a delicious meal, which he eats in the evening. He reads a book in bed and then goes to sleep.

   While he is sleeping, a little cloud floats up over his island and the person sleeping on the cloud, Lily the rabbit, quite suddenly finds herself catapulted through Polo’s bedroom window. Both Polo and Lily are rather startled at first, but then they are able to laugh at the situation. It is not every day that someone comes for a visit, transported on a cloud.

   In this delightful wordless book we meet a little dog whose quiet life is turned upside down when a cheerful rabbit arrives unexpectedly. Children who do not know how to read yet will be delighted that they can follow the story without any adult help, and older readers will enjoy making up dialogue for the two characters.

   This is one in a series of books about Polo and his adventures.

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

Though I have no younger siblings of my own, I can remember experiencing the whole older sibling 'thing' when I went to other people's houses. My friends and I were always older, and the little brothers and sisters would be our shadows, driving us crazy and forcing us to run off to find a place where we could play our own games in peace. Today's picture book explores this scenario from the point of view of the younger sibling, and it makes me regret all those times that we ran away. Or at least most of them.


My wild sister and me

Iris Wewer

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

NorthSouth, 2011, 978-0-7358-4003-4

   When you have a wild sister, life can be very interesting. Most days a young boy and his big sister have a splendid time pretending that they are animals. They “stomp and romp” through the house pretending that they are big bears. They “soar high above the clouds,” being birds with “big strong wings.” They dress up as rabbits and hop around outside, playing Catch-the-bunny.

   Everything is going wonderfully until Penny from next door invites the big sister to go swimming. The young brother is left behind, right in the middle of a “bunny adventure,” and he is very upset. In fact, he is so upset that he hatches a plan. He is going to make his big sister pay for abandoning him in such a thoughtless way.

   Young children who have older siblings will have no problem identifying with the main character in this story. They will love to see the way the two children overcome their differences, and will appreciate the wonderful games the two children play together.

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

These days many people seem to spend their lives running from place to place so fast that they forget why they started running in the first place. They get distracted by the noise and bustle around them. Today's picture book is about a bear who has a similar experience. It is only when something goes wrong that he finally remembers what his initial goal was.

Addis Berner Bear Forgets

Joel Stewart

Picture book

For ages 4 to 7

Random House UK, 2008, 978-0-385-61004-9

   Addis Berner Bear arrives in the city in winter. It is cold and snowy and he is very confused by the hustle and bustle of the city. Everything is so big, “so loud and fast,” that Addis Berner Bear quite forgets his old life, and he also forgets why he came to the city in the first place.

   As he wanders through the city seeing extraordinary things and meeting all kinds of people, Addis Berner Bear discovers that he isn’t the only one who cannot remember why he came to the city. There are many other people around who are in a similar situation.

   Then something truly terrible happens. Two wicked men steal Addis Berner Bear’s trumpet. Addis Berner Bear is heartbroken at his loss, which is when help arrives.

   Young children will be fascinated by this story of a bear who gets lost, and who quite by accident finds the answer to his biggest question. With beautiful illustrations and a stunningly simple and lyrical text, this is a story that children will want to come back to again and again.

Poetry Friday: A review of Commotion in the Ocean

Happy Friday! Today I have a poetry title for you that is a little unusual because it is a board book. There are plenty of board picture books out there that are written in rhyme, but not many poetry collections in board book form. With its sturdy board pages, bright illustrations, and amusing characters, this book provides little children with an amusing poetry experience.

Commotion in the Ocean

Giles Andreae

Illustrated by David Wojtowycz

Poetry Board Book

For ages 3 to 5

Tiger Tales, 2001, 978-1-58925-863-1

   The ocean is a very busy place, a place where there is a “curious commotion.” In fact, it is so curious that we are going to take a visit under the waves to meet some of the creatures that live there.

   Here are some dolphins who have a very unique way of communicating. Instead of speaking and say “How do you do?” that make noises that to our ears sound like “Click-whistle-squeak.” Then there is the angelfish, a fish that thinks it is the “prettiest thing in the sea,” and the shark that swims through the water with a grin on its face, it jaws open to reveal its long sharp teeth. “Why don’t you come a bit closer?” it asks, and “take a good look inside?”

   Near an old wrecked ship, a pair of stingrays swim by, flapping their “wings.” We are warned not too go to close to these creatures because their tails really can sting. We shouldn’t go too near a pair of lobsters either because with a “clippety-clap” and a “snippety-snap” the lobsters can snip our fingers “in two.”

   Young children are sure to enjoy the eighteen amusing poems in this colorful board book. They will meet creatures that are familiar, like sharks and turtles, and some that may be new to them, like stingrays and barnacles. Big and small, fierce and benign, these often smiling (sometimes toothy) creatures are sure to capture the interest of little children.

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.