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

Trying to make friends can be complicated, no matter how old you are. Sometimes you just can't find the right people, and sometimes there just aren't that many people around. The main character in today's story, who is a fish,  desperately wants to have a friend, but he lives in a fish tank alone. Not surprisingly, trying to make friends is going to be a tad difficult.

Swim Swim

James Proimos

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 8

Scholastic, 2010, 978-0-545-09419-1

  Lerch is a little fish who lives in a fish tank, and he is lonely. He needs a friend, and so he sets off to try to find one. After a little bit of a swim, he asks the pebbles in the bottom of his tank if they will be his friends. For some reason, the pebbles refuse to respond. Lerch does not let their behavior get him down, and he swims off to find a friend somewhere else.

   Soon he comes across a little figurine of a diver who is sitting on the bottom of the tank. Very politely Lerch asks the diver if he will be his friend. No answer. Poor Lerch leaves thinking that the diver does not want to talk to him either.

   When Lerch meets a group of bubbles he even goes so far as to talk bubble to them when he realizes that they probably don’t talk fish. The poor fellow is devastated when the bubbles float to the surface and pop. Isn’t there anyone out there who loves him?

   Children will love the bright colorful comic book style art in this clever, funny, and ultimately sweet story. The author allows his audience to think that poor Lerch is heading for disaster, and then he turns everything around to give us a surprising and highly satisfying ending.

   

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

Not long ago I was in the park watching a family enjoying a little time together. There was a little girl who was seven or eight years old, her parents, and her baby sister. The parents were cooing over the baby, praising her as she tried to crawl. The little girl watched these activities with a look of disgust on her face. I could tell that she was wondering why everyone was making such a fuss over the baby.

With this event fresh in my mind, I started to read today's picture book and it made me laugh. The main character in this story would have commiserated with the little girl in the park.

Lazy Little Loafers

Susan Orlean

Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Abrams, 2008, 978-0-8109-7027-4

   How do babies get away with it? How do they get away with basically doing no work at all? In fact, how do they get away with being downright lazy? These are questions that one little girl has been puzzling over for some time. As she walks to school one day, she considers that some of the babies she sees, some of the ones wearing sunglasses, might be working in show business. Though, there can’t be “many roles for chubby little people,” and we all know that cute babies doesn’t stay cute for long because they grow so fast.

   Okay, so maybe a few babies are actors or models. What about the ones that seem to think their job is to push their stroller around? For heaven’s sake! That does not qualify as a job. Nor does staggering around trying to walk.

   While she is crossing Central Park, the girl sees lots of babies “all loafing around and looking as happy as clams.” Here she is having to go to school in “back-to-school clothes and stiff new shoes” with a heavy backpack on her back, and all they have to do is to have snacks, wave at dogs, and hang out with their friends. How unfair is that! It is only when she gets to school that the real answer to her question finally comes to her.

   Any child who has envied a baby its easy life will thoroughly enjoy this clever picture book. They will completely sympathize with the girl narrator, and appreciate her decidedly annoyed tone of voice as she assesses the situation. The surprise ending is sure to make readers of all ages laugh.

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

Children love to read stories where characters have what I call accidental adventures. These are adventures that happen and that are not planned. Without even meaning to, the hero finds him or herself catapulted into an adventure that is full of surprises.

Today's picture book is just such a title. What makes it special is that it is basically wordless, which makes it perfect for young children who cannot yet read on their own.

The red scarf

Anne Villeneuve

Wordless Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Tundra Books, 2010, 978-0-88776-989-4

   It is yet another gray day, and Turpin the taxi driver is off to work. He gives a lady a lift and then a gentleman, who is wearing a top hat, a long black coat, and a red scarf. Unfortunately, the gentleman leaves his scarf behind when he leaves the taxi. When Turpin sees the scarf lying on the back seat, he picks it up and runs after the gentleman.

   Turpin is about to follow the gentleman into a large colorful tent when a lizard riding a unicycle stops him. Turpin explains that he wants to return the scarf, and the lizard allows him to enter the tent. Almost as soon as he enters the tent, Turpin is almost run down by a polar bear on roller skates. Then he is eaten by a lion. Is this the end of Turpin?

   In this most wordless picture book (there are eight words at the beginning of the tale) Anne Villeneuve tells the story of a very extraordinary day in the life of a taxi driver. Children will love following Turpin’s circus tent adventures as he tries to return a piece of lost property.

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

There are many picture book stories out there about the little guy who prevails despite the fact that he or she is smaller/weaker/older than everyone else. The Little Engine that Could is a classic example of this kind of story. For today's picture book, I have a tale about a little hamster who wants to participate in a hot rod car race, and who has to overcome considerable obstacles to be able to do so. 

Hot Rod Hamster

Cynthia Lord

Illustrated by Derek Anderson

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Scholastic, 2010, 978-0-545-03530-9

   Imagine that you are a hamster and that you want to participate in a hot rod race. The biggest challenge you will face will be trying to find a car that is the small enough for you. This is exactly what happens to the hamster in this story. Eager to participate in a hot rod race, the hamster goes to a junk yard and he asks the dog there to help me build a car.

   The dog shows the hamster a “shiny painted blue car” and a rather rusty little green one. The green one is just about the right size for the hamster, so he, the dog, and the dogs little rat helpers set about giving the little green car a much needed overhaul. They choose new wheels, a new engine, and a paint job.

   At the raceway, the other competitors, who are all dogs, make fun of the hamster. “You’ll get lost in our dust,” one of the dogs says. This, not surprisingly, greatly annoys the hamster and he prepares to show them all what a hot rod hamster can do.

   Young children who like race cars are sure to enjoy this amusing story. Not only are there pictures galore of all kinds of cars, but they will get to meet a diminutive main character who pursues his dream despite the fact that the cards are stacked against him.

   With colorful illustrations and an engaging text, this is a picture book that is sure to amuse and entertain.

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

I have found that often the best way to help my daughter understand and appreciate an important lesson is to share a book with her that addresses the lesson. Reading a story to her and then discussing it has proven to be a lot more effective that giving her a lecture.

Today's picture book is a charming story about a little crocodile who finds out that being honest can actually be a good thing. The book shows how the crocodile child struggles with his own conscience, which makes the story credible and meaningful. 

Little Croc’s Purse

Lizzie Finley

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Random House UK, 2010, 978-1-862-30906-7

   One day Little Croc is in the park playing hide and seek with his friends when he finds a large pink and white purse. Urged on by his friends, Little Croc opens the purse and he finds that it is full of money. The other crocodiles tell Little Croc that he should keep the purse, and that “No one returns things nowadays,” but Little Croc ignores them, and he sets off for the police station.

   Along the way, Little Croc is tempted again and again to spend some of the money in the purse. He would like to give a charity collector a donation, and he sees a beautiful pair of boots in the window of his favorite shop that he would like to buy. Little Croc gets very thirsty as he carries the heavy purse through the streets, and he wishes he could buy himself a ice-cold lemonade with a little of the money. Would the owner mind if he bought himself a drink? Should he keep the purse after all?

   In this quite charming picture book, Lizzie Finley explores the idea that honesty really is the best policy. Little children will sympathize as they watch Little Croc trying to come to terms with what he wants and what is right. They will be delighted to see how things turn out.

   Charming multimedia illustrations and a loveable main character makes this story a must read for all young children.

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

We had a pet pig living in our house for several years. Gracie was a miniature Vietnamese potbelly and she was both intelligent and lovable. Though Gracie was much smaller than the average farm pig, she was still very strong and she could do a lot of damage when she chose to. In today's picture book you will meet a lady who has a pet pig who becomes just too enormous to keep in her house, and she has to figure out what she is going to do to house her very large pet. 

Granny Gomez and Jigsaw

Deborah Underwood

Illustrated by Scott Magoon

Picture book

For ages 5 to 7

Hyperion, 2010, 978-078685216-1

   Granny Gomez has a lovely home and hobbies she enjoys. The only thing that she is missing is some companionship. She decides that perhaps what she needs is a pet cat or dog. Granny’s friend William agrees that a cat or dog would be nice, but they are “not very special.”

   The very next day, Granny finds a basket on her front porch, and in it there is a baby pig. Granny is not too keen on the pig at first, but after she decides to keep him (save him from being eaten) she grows very fond of him.

   Soon Jigsaw the pig is living in her house, and he is an excellent companion. The problem is that he is also a growing companion. Eventually Jigsaw gets so big that Granny has no choice but to build a barn for him, which she does. In fact, the barn she builds is “as nice as Granny’s house.” Jigsaw is happily settled, which is wonderful, but Granny still has one problem to solve.

   In this charming picture book, we meet two characters who form a very special bond of friendship. Children will enjoy seeing how Granny copes with the problems associated with having a pet pig, and they will love the unusual but perfect ending. 

Poetry Friday - A review of Days like this

I really enjoy reading a collection of poems that have a common theme but that were written by different people. You get such an interesting diversity of voices and styles as you turn the pages. Today's Poetry Friday title is just such a book. All the poems are relatively short, and they all describe some aspect of childhood days. Simon Jame's illustrations further tie the poems together with their images of children going about doing what children do. 

Days Like This: A Collection of Small Poems

Illustrator:  Simon James
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 5 and up
Candlewick Press, 2005, 978-0763623142
Childhood is full of small adventures of all kinds, and this collection of poems by Simon James, Charlotte Zolotow, Ogden Nash and others, is a tribute to those adventures, to those little moments that come together to fill up a child's days.

   For example there is that ramble that three little children take with their dad when they have to walk "across on stepping stones" to cross a river. There is the family picnic on the beach, and the little boy remembers how they didn't wear any hats or shoes or socks, and that he dropped his jelly sandwich in the sand. In addition, there is a boy talking about his first day at school, which was so uninspiring that he says that "I don't think I'll do back."

   In this collection, Simon James has truly captured the essence of happy childhood times with his funny, sweet, and evocative watercolor and ink illustrations. He shows children in happy moments, quiet moments, thoughtful moments, loving moments, and so much more. This is truly a collection for readers of all ages, a collection that will continue to have meaning even as the readers grow up and move on.

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.