Poetry Friday - A review of the Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat is one of my favorite poems. I cannot explain why this is so, but there is something about the language that appeals to me. For today's poetry title, I have a review of a very unique version of Edward's Lear's famous poem.

The Owl and the Pussycat

Edward Lear
Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 8 and up
Kids Can Press, 2007, 978-1553378280
An owl and pussycat are in love but they live in a place where owls and pussycats are not supposed to consort with one another. And so, the lovers decide to run away together. They get into a pea-green boat and after deciding that they will get married, they sail "away for a year and a day?" until they get to the island where the bong tree grows.

   Here the lovers meet a pig who has a ring in its nose. Being a kind and friendly creature the pig agrees to sell them its ring for a shilling. Then the pair are finally able to get married. Best of all, in this wonderful land they are surrounded by other couples like themselves, mixed couples who are together because they love one another and who do not need to fear that they will be persecuted in any way.

   In this unique book, Stephane Jorisch has created some extraordinary illustrations for Edward Lear's famous and much loved poem. He presents the voyage of the owl and the pussycat as being a special journey not just of lovers going to be married, but also of lovers seeking a place where they can live together in peace, a place where they won't have to worry about what others will say or do.

   Jorisch's quirky illustrations offer readers plenty to look at and to think about, and one cannot help feeling that Edward Lear would heartily approve of this new twist on his classic little love story.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and forty-five

Some children like to have adventure-filled and lively stories read to them before their naps or at bedtime. Others like to be soothed by soft words and pretty illustrations. Today's picture book is of the latter variety and it is a perfect title to read just before a nap or bedtime. The text is simple, the art is lovely, and children will  be charmed by the ending. 

Where to sleep

Kandy Radzinski

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Sleeping Bear Press, 978-1-58536-436-7

   Imagine that you are a kitten living in the country. Where would you sleep when the shadows are getting long, and when the time for playing and exploring is over? This little kitten considers sleeping in the vegetable patch, but she knows she will end up chasing bunnies instead of sleeping. She could sleep in the henhouse with the chickens, but everyone knows that the hens “stay up late and talk, talk, talk.” The porch swing is too covered with “toys and things,” and the soft brown shoe is far too small to accommodate a kitten. Surely there must be someplace that is just right for a cozy kitten nap.

   As they look through this book, little children will enjoy seeing where the little kitten goes and what she does as she tries to find the perfect sleeping place. With its simple and minimal text and its sweetly expressive illustrations, this book would be a perfect title to share with a child before nap time or last thing at night.

Unusual Heroes Blog Book Tour - The Warrior Sheep go west

Today I am participating in the Unusual Heroes blog book tour. The tour (set up by the publisher Sourcebooks) is promoting two new books, and in both of them the heroes of the stories are...well...rather unusual. Today I have a review of The Warrior Sheep go West. The review is followed by a letter from one of the main characters. Her name is Jaycey, and she is a sheep.


 The Warrior Sheep go West

Christine and Christopher Russell

Fiction

For ages 9 to 11

Sourcebooks, 2011, 978-1-4022-5925-8

   It has been raining for several days, and Ida White’s five rare breed sheep are taking shelter in the barn with the chickens and Ida’s laptop. Ida likes to provide her chickens with music, and while the sheep are listening to a download on the laptop a pop-up appears on the screen showing a big red tongue. A voice says, “you Rams and Ewes and Lambs. This message is for you. We’re gonna slaughter you. We’re on our way. Red Tongue! Remember the name!”

   Sal remembers that the Songs of the Fleece, the sheep verses that had been handed down from ewe to lamb for centuries, refers to this threat. It is up to her and her friends to stop the dreaded Red Tongue from killing helpless sheep and they must go west to a place where “the sun scorches and the hottest winds blow.” Since there are no hot winds in Wales, the sheep are going to have to go much further west, to America.

   What the sheep don’t know is that Holly, a crackpot American scientist’s wife, has decided that the five sheep, who are famous, are perfect specimens to be used in her husband’s big project. Being a very rich person, Holly quickly arranges to have the sheep flown to America, along with Ida White and her grandson Tod.    

   Before they quite have the time to think things through, Ida and Todd are on American soil and their sheep are destined to be used for nefarious purposes by Holly’s mad spouse. Holly knows the sheep are smart, but she does not know that these five animals have an uncanny ability for getting in, and then out, of unfortunate situations. Holly may have plans for the sheep, but they are bent on stopping Red Tongue before it is too late, and nothing is going to stop them.

   Readers who enjoyed the first Warrior Sheep title are sure to enjoy this new adventure. Once again the sheep set out to save sheepkind at great risk to their wooly selves. Chases across a desert, a mad scientist, a Wild West ghost town, and five loveable main characters makes this a winning title for young readers.

A letter from Jaycey, a sheep who has a keen fashion sense.

Dear Marya,

Ohmygrass….Did I actually say that? I’m a sheep. Well, actually I’m a Jacob sheep and as everyone knows, Jacobs are the prettiest sheep in the Universe. I have the cutest little horns and a super soft black and white fleece. Sal, the ewe I share a field with, says I shouldn’t be so vain. Not after the trouble I got us into in Las Vegas! And I suppose she’s right. I very nearly got chopped up by a crazy stage magician. Really! It was sooo scary! Ohmygrass…I’ve gone all wobbly on my dainty hooves just thinking about it. If it hadn’t been for my friends Wills and Sal and Links and Oxo I wouldn’t be here now enjoying a rainy day in England. Actually, I’m not totally enjoying it because the rain makes my fleece frizzy.

   Wills and Sal and Links and Oxo are Rare Breed sheep like myself – though obviously not so pretty. TBH Sal’s got a rather fat bottom and Oxo eats all the time and Links, who fancies himself as a rap musician, can hardly see through his curly fleece and Wills is a really skinny lamb. But you know all that.

   What you probably don’t know is why we went to America in the first place. Well, it was because Sal told us about Red Tongue, an evil monster who wanted to kill all the sheep in the world. Starting in the West! That’s where you live, I guess, but you don’t have to worry. We tracked him down and finally got rid of him. He was baaarking mad and got the end he deserved. Huh! He learned not to mess with us Rare Breed sheep!

Ohmygrass...Ida, the farmer who owns us has just tipped a great heap of cauliflowers into our field. I’d better go and snaffle one before Oxo eats the lot!

It’s been sooooo nice talking to you.

Love and kisses from Jaycey


Join me on September 5th for another Unusual Heroes Blog Tour Post, which will be about a book called Sally's Bones. To say that this book is unusual is an understatement.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and forty-four

For many children a new school year is just around the corner. Backpacks have been packed up, new school clothes are ready and waiting, and children are trying to adjust to the idea that soon they will not be able to sleep in every morning.
   For today's picture book  title I have a charming little picture book about two little chicks who go to school for the first time.      

Two little chicks go to school

Valeri Gorbachev

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

NorthSouth, 2011, 978-0-7358-4027-0

   Two little chicks are going to school for the first time, and not surprisingly they are feeling rather scared. They tell their new teacher, Mrs. Heron, that they “don’t know anyone,” and she reassures them that they “will make friends quickly.”

   Unfortunately, every time the two little chicks try to make friends with someone, the person they are trying to befriend tells them to “Shhhhhhh.” Beaver, Rabbit, and Frog are all too busy doing something else to pay attention to the two little newcomers. At snack time, the two little chicks sit all by themselves. Their first day of school is turning out to be rather a disappointment.

   Children who are going to the school for the first time will be very reassured by this story. They will see that sometimes it takes a little time to makes friends, and that school is not something to be afraid of.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and forty-three

For the last week, my daughter and her friends have been working very hard on enjoying their last free week of summer before school starts. We have gone to the lake, bought ice cream cones, she has had sleepovers, and she had gone bike riding. For today's picture book review I have my last summer title of the year to share with you.

Lily and Trooper’s Summer

Jung-Hee Spetter

Picture Book

For ages 3 to 5

Front Street/Lemniscaat, 1998, 1-886910-37-5

It is summer, and Lily and Trooper have to decide what they are going to do with their day. They look out of their window and soon after they are on their way to the beach. The sun is wonderfully warm, but the water is rather cold. Of course, this doesn’t stop Lily and her canine friend from going for a swim.

   When it is time to head home, Lily and Trooper take a souvenir with them, a little fish, which they put in a fish bowl. The little girl and the dog want to make their new friend feel welcome, so they go outside to pick some flowers for him. The fish seems to like his gift, but then so do some bees!

   In this charming Lily and Trooper title, we get to share a delightful summer day with the little redheaded girl and her best friend. The author captures the essence of summer in her story, and her illustrations are vibrant with bright summery colors. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and forty-two

I used to live in a part of the world where they have two seasons: summer and not summer. Now I get to enjoy four seasons, and I love all of them. I also love books that explore the seasons in interesting ways. Today's book is just such a title.

Seasons

Anna Crausaz

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Kane/Miller, 2010, 978-1-61067-006-7

   Everything is green outside, and the little girl knows that it must be springtime. She can smell blossoms and the green grass, and she can hear the blackbirds “singing about their favorite season.”

   When she sees fireflies sitting on the plants and sending their little messages of light into the night, the little girl knows that summer has arrived. There are tomatoes to gather and she can smell the basil, verbena, and mint plants. At the beach she plays in the sand and she thinks that “Sometimes summer is the taste of sand in your mouth!”

   Autumn has come, and little ants are getting lifts on dandelion seed parachutes that are carried on the breeze. The forest “smells of moss, mushrooms and wet ground,” and the little girl plays in the fallen leaves.

   In winter the little girl loves to smell the wood fire smoke. She listens to the “silence of the snow” and tastes snowflakes on her tongue.

   In this book, Anna Crausaz pairs her truly lovely illustrations with a simple lyrical text that captures the sounds, smells, sights, and tastes of spring, summer, fall, and winter. The simplicity of the art and text combine to give the reader a reading experience that is beautiful and sensory.

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

Earlier in the year I reviewed a book called The Big Wicked Toddlah. I am delighted to be able to tell you that Kevin Hawkes has created another title about the overly large toddler that is just as amusing as the first one was. This time the ginormous toddler goes to New York City for a vacation where he has some rather dramatic adventures. 

The Wicked Big Toddlah Goes to New York

Kevin Hawkes

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2011, 978-0-375-86188-8

   Toddie the enormous (and I do mean ENORMOUS) toddler is going New York City to get “a little culture.” Toddie’s mother warns her enormous child not to touch anything, and his father explains that “the trick to bein’ a tourist is to blend in with the locals.” This is a very noble sentiment to be sure but one cannot help wondering how they are going to blend in when they have a huge toddler with them.

   The family begins their big city adventure by going to a baseball game, and Toddie has a grand time watching the game, cheering, and doing the wave. After the game is over, Toddie’s parents travel on the train, and Toddie follows the vehicle across the city because he is too big to fit inside. At one of the train stops Toddie gets distracted, and before he realizes what is going on he finds himself all alone.

   For a while Toddie is upset, but then he meets a dog who leads the big child to a park where there are lots of other children. He has a grand time playing all kinds of “toddlah” games, and then some of Toddie’s new friends invite him to go to the Museum of Natural History with them. Toddie’s big city adventure is turning out to be a great deal of fun.

   Readers who have a little brother or sister of their own will have a grand time reading about Toddie and his adventures. They are sure to love the funny ending, and to see how Toddie, despite his enormous size, manages to keep some things secret from his family.

   This is the second book about the Wicked Big Toddlah that Kevin Hawkes has created.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and forty

Many dog owners love to take their dogs with them when they go on trips to the beach or to a park, and they often get quite irate when they arrive at their destination only to see a large NO DOGS ALLOWED sign posted next to the parking lot. What are they supposed to do now?

In this delightful picture book you will see how one very large family solves this problem in a unique and very loving way.

No Dogs Allowed!

Sonia Manzano

Illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2004, 0-689-83088-2

   Iris is a seven year old and she lives in the Bronx in New York City with her Mami, her Papi, her big sister Shorty, and her dog El Exigente. One day the family decides to go to the “Enchanted State Park,” and so they get up very early, pack up enough food for a small army, and meet up with all the friends and relatives who are going with them. Everyone is taking something, except El Exigente, who is just taking himself.

   Soon a convoy of cars is heading for the state park. Papi’s car breaks down and then they get lost, but eventually they get to their destination. Iris is super excited to go “jumping in the Enchanted Lake and getting some enchanted sun and eating some enchanted lunch and taking an enchanted nap…” and so on. Then Shorty sees a big sign that says: NO DOGS ALLOWED! What are they going to do? Are they going to have to go home after that long drive just because someone decided that poor El Exigente and his fellow dogs are not allowed in the park?

   This deliciously funny picture book beautifully captures the warmth of a Hispanic family during a day trip to a lake. The names Ivy gives her relatives, her exaggerations, and the way in which they all deal with the NO DOGS ALLOWED sign is priceless. Readers will find themselves envying Ivy for her colorful and loving family.

   

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and thirty-nine

Learning how to live with other people can be challenging. They have strange idiosyncrasies, annoying habits, and faults that try our patience. Why is he is so messy? What does she eat with her mouth open? Why won't they ever help with the chores? These are surely complaints that many of your will be familiar with. 

Today's picture book tells the story of a little girl who is incredibly messy. Children will laugh at loud as they follow her adventures, and they will sympathize with her family members who do their best to cope having someone in their lives who is "totally the messiest!"

Super-Completely and totally the messiest!

Judith Viorst

Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Simon and Schuster, 2001, 978-1-4169-4200-9

   Olivia is a very neat child, and her room reflects her determination to make sure that everything is in its proper place. Her big brother Jake is “sort of” neat, and he certainly is not a “HUGE slob.” Olivia’s little sister Sophie is the messiest person Olivia has ever met. Sophie’s room is quite simply a disgusting mess, and you would have to be crazy to go in there.

   The thing of it is that Sophie does not confine her messiness to her room. Everything she touches or goes near ends up messed up in some way. When the family went to the beach, Sophie singlehandedly managed to destroy seven contest quality sandcastles with her pail and a towel. At the farm, Sophie tripped on her shoelaces and managed to wreck the vegetable garden and upset all the animals. Except the pigs. The pigs thought Sophie was one of them.

   Sophie’s family members ask her to be “neat” and “careful.” They beg her to “watch where you’re going and watch what you are doing.” If only she would “pay attention.” The thing is that Sophie really does try. For a little while. Until she forgets.

   In this charming picture book, we meet a little girl who is delightful, funny, smart, loving, and well meaning. Watching Sophie create chaos wherever she goes reminds us that we all have out faults, and we are all, like Sophie, loveable in spite of these faults.

   With wonderful illustrations and an irrepressible main character, this is a picture book that children and their grownups are sure to enjoy.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and thirty-eight

I think it is rather funny how children so often wish they were grownups, and grownups look back on their childhood with nostalgia. We always want what we cannot have. In today's picture book you will meet a little girl who is in a big hurry to grow up. Thankfully there is someone around to remind her that being who she is right now is perfect.

Francesca

Vanita Oelschlager

Illustrated by Mike Blanc

Picture book

For ages 6 to 8

VanitaBooks, 2008, 978-0-9800162-4-6

   Francesca is forever dreaming of what she is going to do when she is grown up. There are so many “possibilities,” so many career paths to choose from. One day Francesca talks to Mrs. Pinkler, who is weeding her flowerbed in the garden next door. Mrs. Pinkler tells Francesca that it fine to have dreams, they make life interesting. At the same time, “striving” for those dreams all the time “is not as marvelous as it seems.”

    How can Francesca be a dancer if she doesn’t first practice the craft? How can she be a teacher if you doesn’t first learn to “read, to spell and do math?” In short, how can Francesca achieve great things in the future if she does not live her childhood and teen hood to the fullest first.

   All too often children are in an enormous hurry to grow up. They want to do the things they see grownups doing so much that they fail to realize that there is a time and place for everything. Now it is their time to be a kid, and in the future it will be their time to be adults.

   In this clever picture book, Vanita Oelschlager’s text is paired with Mike Blanc’s lovely illustrations to convey a message that all children need to hear.