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

Not long ago my daughter was bemoaning the fact that her life is "so complicated." We both agreed that small children have an easier time of it because they have so few responsibilities. Of course little children have a different opinion. They resent the way they are not allowed to do all the "fun stuff" because they are too small. I can sympathize with this, and therefore today I have a review of a book that was written for little children who are forced to hear the words "you are too small" over and over again. 

A small surprise

Louise Yates

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2009, 978-0-375-85698-3

One day a little rabbit, who is out in the world on his own, comes to a circus. He sees a sign that explains that there are jobs available at the circus but “small animals need not apply.” Though he is definitely a small animal, the rabbit goes into the big circus tent anyway.

   Inside he meets a large gorilla, a tall giraffe, a hefty rhino, a big lion, a long snake, and a bear. The rabbit admits that he is small. He admits that he is too small to wipe his own nose, to tie his shoes, to walk far without getting tired, and to eat his food without making a mess. However, there are things that small animals are very good at doing.

   When you are young, and small, grownups are always telling you that you are too little to do practically everything that is really worthwhile doing, and it is very annoying. This book was specifically written for little children who are forced to experience this exasperating adult behavior. With its minimal text and its deliciously funny illustrations, this book is a perfect fit for little children because it reminds them that there are things that are best done by small people. 

Poetry Friday - A review of Rumble, Roar, Dinosaur!

There a a few topics that seem to have a universal appeal for children. The ones that come to mind are: dragons, wizards, witches, princesses (for girls mostly), dogs, cats, bears, and dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are HUGE, especially for kindergarten and elementary school kids.

Since I happen to find dinosaurs interesting as well, I am happy to review dino-centric books. For this reason, I really enjoyed reviewing today's poetry title, which combines poetry, illustrations, and lift-the-flaps to give little children a dinofabulous bookish experience. 

Rumble, Roar, Dinosaur!

Tom Mitton

Illustrated by Lynne Chapman

Novelty Poetry book

For ages 5 to 7

Kingfisher, 2010, 978-0-7534-1932-8

   Many children have a passion for dinosaurs. They cannot resist looking at pictures of these strange creatures of long ago, and love learning new facts about hadrosaurs, stegosaurs, and their relatives.

   In this unique book, Tom Mitton’s amusing poems are paired with Lynne Chapman’s colorful and expressive illustrations to give young readers a memorable dinosaurish bookish experience. On the first spread there is an introduction from the dinosaurs in which they tell us that we “can read about us on our very own pages” and that we should “take a look and watch us in our world of long ago.”

   What follows are seven double page spreads, each one of which features one kind of dinosaur. Here, on the first spread, is a herd of hadrosaurs “honking through the trees.” We read that hadrosaurs had special horns on their heads that helped them to communicate with each other. When we open the flap on one of the pages we see two a picture of these dinosaurs making their singular noise.

   Further in the book we get to meet elasmosaurus, a marine creature that had a long neck “like a snake” with a tiny head on the end. Open the flap and we can see how that neck helped the elasmosaurus catch its food.

   The poems throughout the book are cleverly written and amusing, and at the same time they provide young dinosaur fans with lots of dinosaur facts that will engage their interest.

   At the back of the book, the author gives us more facts about the seven dinosaur types that are described in the book.

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

As the mother of a tween girl, I often worry that my daughter will get caught up in what I call the "look at me" crowd. These are tweens and teens who think their appearance defines them. They spend so much of their time creating an image for themselves that they spend no time at all thinking about what they are like as people.

In today's picture book you will meet an elephant who is, like all elephants, rather odd looking. Thankfully, Willy the elephant has the good sense not to worry about how he looks. Instead, he focuses on helping the people around him, which means that he is loved and appreciated. 

Willy

Geert De Kockere

Illustrated by Carll Cneut

Picture Book

For ages 5 and up

Eerdmans, 2011, 978-0-8028-5395-0

  Willy is an elephant, which means that he has four pillar-like legs, an enormous body, huge ears that flap, a trunk attached to his face, and a tail with a “ridiculous brush at the end” attached to his rear. In short, Willy is not exactly beautiful. In fact he is downright odd looking.

   One would think his oddness would be a problem for Willy. But it isn’t. He is “invited everywhere.” Having such big ears, Willy is an excellent listener. He hears about happy things, and he hears about the events that made people sob and sigh. Willy’s tail serves as an excellent paintbrush, and his trunk does an admirable job beating time in the choir. Of course, some people make unkind remarks about Willy’s appearance, but Willy’s friends and admirers “brushed off,” “overruled,” or “swept away” these words.

   Most of us have our own version of Willy’s big ears, his long dangly trunk, or his funny little tail. We wish we were blonder, bigger, smaller, and so many other things. Luckily Willy is here, in this book, to remind us that what we look like doesn’t matter. What matters is how we choose to help others, and how we are loved.

   With a message that is ageless and timeless, and a loveable main character, this is a picture book that will resonate with readers of all ages.   

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book three hundred

Many people have written stories that are told from the point of view of a stuffed animal. Through their glass or button eyes we have found out what it is like to have the kinds of adventures that stuffed animals have. In today's picture book you will meet a stuffed animal who does not have a special dramatic adventure. Instead, Bunny shows us what it is like to grow up with a little boy, and how the boy and Bunny teach each other all kinds of important lessons.

Bunny’s Lessons

Harriet Ziefert

Illustrated by Barroux

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Blue Apple, 2011, 978-1-60905-028-3

   Bunny and his little boy Charlie are the best of friends. Over the years, Bunny has learned all kinds of things from Charlie. He has learned about loud music, and that meals of butter noodles are messy. He has learned about pretending, time-outs, and what it feels like to be jealous.

   Sometimes Bunny’s times with Charlie are wonderful, like when Charlie reads to him. Other times are really unpleasant, like the time when Charlie paints Bunny blue. Thankfully the bad times can usually be turned into good ones.

   In this delightful picture book we explore a close friendship between a little boy and his toy bunny. Just like all friendships, there are high points and low points, and just like all good friendships, the bonds of love make it all worthwhile.

   With wonderful illustrations and a loveable main character, this is a picture book that little children will love to read again and again, savoring Bunny’s lessons as they snuggle with their own favorite stuffed animal.

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

I have days when I just cannot bear to read a book that is sad. I don't want to have to suffer with a character as he or she tries to survive in a dangerous world. I want to experience the book equivalent of being wrapped in a cozy quilt. Today's picture book is just such a cozy quilt title. It is sweet, funny, and is a perfect book to read when the world is looking rather grim and frightening. 

Very Hairy Bear

Alice Schertle

Illustrated by Matt Phelan

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Harcourt, 2007, 978-0-15-216568-0

  The very hairy bear is hairy all over. He has a hairy body, and hairy feet, and a hairy head. The only part of him that is not hairy is his “no-hair nose.”

   In spring, the bear does not care that his nose has no hair. He is far too busy catching tasty salmon in the river. During the summer months, the bear has a fine time raiding bee hives. Even when his no-hair nose gets stung and covered with honey, the bear does not mind. His no-hair nose is very useful in the fall when he uses it to find all those acorns that the squirrels hid under the oak trees. There is a time of year though when having a no-hair nose is a problem.

   With gorgeous soft illustrations and a delightful story, this is a picture book that children will find irresistible. They will laugh at the bear’s antics, and smile when they see how he solves his nose problem.

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

It is not easy to teach a child how to problem-solve. Often children expect their grownups to fix everything for them, to make bad things go away, and to make things goods easy to acquire. In today's picture book you will meet a little girl who takes the initiative, and who figures out how to solve a problem that is very dear to her heart.

I want a dog!

Helga Bansch

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

NorthSouth, 2009, 978-0-7358-2255-9

   Lisa loves dogs, all kinds of dogs, and more than anything else in the world she wants a dog of her own. The problem is that her parents feel that their apartment “is too small for a dog.” People give Lisa toys that have a dog theme, trying to satisfy her need for a pet, but these gifts, though well meant, really don’t fill that doggy shaped hole in Lisa’s heart.

   Lisa tries being really really good in the hope that her parents will reward her with a dog, of course. But they don’t. Then she tries to be bad, but that does not work either. Finally Lisa realizes that she is going to have to think outside the box to solve her problem.

   In this delightful and sweetly funny picture book, children will meet a little girl who knows what she wants, and who uses her head to get what she wants. Children will be delighted when they see what Lisa does, and they will appreciate how she figured it out all by herself. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and ninety-seven

Most of us, at some point, wish we could do something interesting that is different from our everyday lives. Sometimes those of us who pursue an adventure, end up having some unexpected misadventures instead. Today's picture book is about a little girl whose quest for a little excitement does not quite go as planned. 

The Child Cruncher

Mathilde Stein

Illustrated by Mies van Hout

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Lemniscaat, 2008, 978-1-59078-635-2

   It is summertime, and a little girl is bored because there is no one to play with and nothing to do. Luckily a “big, ugly villain” comes along and kidnaps the little girl. Finally she is going to have a little excitement in her life. Of course, the little girl tells her dad that she is being kidnapped. Dad, who is working in his study, tells her to remember to brush her teeth and to “Have fun.”

   The little girl has every intention on having fun. She and the villain have a wild ride on a horse through the forest until they get to the villain’s den. The villain is in a terrible mood and he goes to bed “without saying goodnight.” The little girl decides that she will try to cheer him up, and she gives his den a makeover while he is asleep. Instead of being pleased, the villain behaves very badly and he then explains that he intends on having the little girl for breakfast. The little girl is very peeved. Her adventure has not turned out as she had hoped and she is not going to accept being stuck with “an ordinary old child cruncher.” What a nuisance!

   Children who suffer from bouts of I’m-bored-itis and there-is-nothing-to-do-itis will surely appreciate this clever and unique picture book. The will appreciate the little girl’s keen need to do something interesting (for a change), and will laugh out loud when they see how she deals with the child cruncher.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book two hundred and ninety-six

Most of us have something in our lives that we are passionate about. I have always been a bibliophile, and like the little girl in today's picture book, I used to spend many hours reading at home or at the library. Luckily my love of books was balanced by my fondness for outdoor games, play dates, and other activities. This is not the case with Lily, as you will see. Lily thinks that reading books is the only worthwhile pastime. 

Library Lily

Gillian Shields

Illustrated by Francesca Chessa

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Eerdmans, 2011, 978-0-8028-5401-8

   Once Lily learns how to read there is no stopping her. She reads all the time and “she couldn’t stop.” Lily reads at night under her bed covers, she reads when she is supposed to be eating her dinner. She reads so much that she does not notice the seasons unfolding outside, and she never plays or does the kinds of things other children do.

  One day Lily’s mother takes her to the park and she encourages Lily to try to “have an adventure.” Lily cannot imagine how one can have an adventure if one is not reading a book. Then Lily meets a little girl called Milly, and Lily is shocked to find out that Milly hates to read! Instead, Milly likes to play, climb, and explore. Milly invites Lily to climb the tree that she is in and Lily discovers that “There’s a whole world out there.” Who knew!

   In this wonderful picture book, we meet two very different little girls who, through their friendship, share their passions with each other. By becoming friends, they find out that the world is an incredibly rich place full of adventures that you can enjoy within the covers of a book, and outside in the real world.

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

I always enjoy hearing the unique words that toddlers come up for things. Yesterday my friend's grandson told me all about his "gaga" and I had no idea what he was talking about until my friend explained that "gaga" means Grandma. My own daughter loved to pat her "goggies," and read books about "pincessess" and ate "sketti" for dinner.

In today's picture book you will meet a little girl who uses a word that baffles her family members. Try as they might, they cannot figure out what she is saying.

“Shwatsit!”

Christine Ditchfield

Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House, 2009, 978-0-375-84181-1

   Babies sometimes have their own words for things, words that we can usually figure out after a while, but this baby has a word that she says all the time and it is a word that no one can translate. What on earth does “Shwatsit” mean?

  Try as they might, the baby’s parents and siblings cannot figure out what “Shwatsit” means. It could be anything. It could mean “bus” or “Joe,” “brush” or “grass.” The baby says it all the time; when she is at home, when she is at the park, when she is following her mother around the house, and when she is saying goodbye to her brothers and sister when they get on the school bus.

   In this charming picture book children will meet a “clever tot” who has developed a very unique word, a word that is very clear once you understand what it means.

   With a rhyming text and a delightful and funny story, this is a perfect picture book to share with young children.

Poetry Friday - A review of Cat Poems

When I come home, my three dogs always give me an enthusiastic welcome, even if I have only been gone for ten minutes. My two cats have a different approach. First their feign indifference. Then then come over and give me a look as if to say "and where were you may I ask?" Only after they have made it clear that I really am not worthy of their notice will they condescend to say hello. Such is the way of cats. 

Today's poetry picture book perfectly captures the quirky personalities of cats. 

Cat Poems

Dave Crawley

Illustrated by Tamara Petrosino

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 7 to 10

Boyds Mills Press, 2005, 1-59078-287-9

   Anyone who has spent a decent amount of time with a cat knows that cats are singular creatures that cannot be forced to do things that they do not want to do. If you think that you have the upper hand, you will soon discover that you have been had, and that the feline is the one who has won the battle. Don’t believe me? Well, take a look at this book, and you will see what I am talking about.

   The author begins by telling us about Malabar. Malabar was a beautiful cat who was chosen to be the new spokescat for Fluffyfood, a brand of cat food. After being groomed, stroked, and combed by a team of people, Malabar was offered two cans of food. One was Fluffyfood, and one was “another brand.” While the cameras rolled and “watchers clapped,” Malabar began to eat the food. The problem was that he chose to eat the rival brand of food instead of the sample of Fluffyfood.

  Then there is the story about the cat who cannot read, “To think he could would be absurd.” Though words on a page are beyond him, this cat does seem to know how to read minds. I say this, because whenever his mistress tries to read a book, the cat “stops and flops on chapter one” making it impossible for the girl to do her homework. The cat clearly knows that the girl “didn’t want to work,” and he makes it easy for her to avoid doing so.

   Unlike dogs, cats are not really interested in pleasing their people. They will not do tricks, and rarely respond to efforts to train them. The truth is that cats are far too intelligent to chase sticks, to sit on command, or to come when they are called. Why should they when they know all too well that we humans will feed them and play with them no matter what they do. It would seem that cats are adept people trainers.

   In this book, Dave Crawley’s delightful poems are paired with Tamara Petrosino’s illustrations to give cat lovers of all ages a special cat-centric bookish experience. Cat owners will nod as they read about the felines in his poems, recognizing attitudes and behaviors. They will laugh at the cat antics described, and will appreciate that Dave Crawley is clearly an unrepentant cat fan.