The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and twenty

I have a pair of cats who have a very unusual fondness for foods that are decidedly uncatlike. When they think I am not looking, they try to swipe raw mushrooms, peas, pieces of apple, and I have even caught Suma with a piece of linguine in her mouth.

Today's picture book is about a cat who is lucky enough to have someone who likes to cook meals for him, but who does not realize how lucky he is.

Pino and the Signora’s Pasta

Janet Pedersen

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Candlewick Press, 2005, 076362396-2

  Every day the Signora comes and feeds Pino and the other homeless cats of Rome. All the cats are delighted to see Signora, who makes a delectable pasta sauce that is “spiced to perfection.” All the cats except for Pino that is. Pino is tired of eating pasta. He wants “a tasty chop” or a “delicious fish.”

   Determined to get something to eat that will appeal to his taste buds, Pino goes out to find a “better meal.” He soon comes to an outdoor café, where he samples a delectable fish, until a waiter tells Pino to “Shooo, cat! Shooo!” Poor Pino slinks away. Next Pino finds a pizzeria, but he is not welcome there either. Where will Pino be able to find a meal that will please his stomach and his heart?

   In this clever picture book, we meet a cat who does not realize that what he seeks is under his nose the whole time. Sometimes we have to take a journey to better understand that what we really want is something that we already have.

   With a lyrical text and amusing illustrations, this is a story that both entertains and enlightens.

Poetry Friday - A review of Birds of a Feather

Happy Friday everyone! Just the other day I discovered that the swallows are back from the south. They are already busy building their nests inside our barn. For me the arrival of the swallows means that summer is on the way, even though there is frost on the mountains this morning!

In today's poetry book, Jane Yolen gives us a very intimate look into the lives of several bird species. Her poems made me feel that I now know these birds not just as beautiful animals to admire, but as creatures that have personalities.

Birds of a Feather

Jane Yolen

Photographs by Jason Stemple

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 8 to 12

Boyds Mills Press, 2011, 978-1-59078-830-1

   People of all ages love watching birds. They peer at them through binoculars, take photos of them, and read bird guides and other books to learn all about them. Often bird enthusiasts have all kinds of facts and figures at their fingertips, and they can talk at length about the habits of the birds that they study.

   In this exceptional book of poetry, Jane Yolen invites bird lovers to look at birds in a new way. What makes the poems special is that they are full of surprises. Jane uses humor and an uncanny eye for detail to help us see the birds in an altogether more familiar and personal way. For each of the fourteen bird species described, she gives us a poem and some informative text. Her poetry is accompanied by wonderful photos that were taken by Jason Stemple.  

   Jane begins by telling us about the “Regal Eagle.” When you look at the photo, the bald eagle certainly looks very regal. What many people don’t know is that this “king” is no match for a “mob of crows” that can drive the eagle away “wing to wing.” It would appear that the bald eagle is not all powerful after all.

  Later on in the book, there is a haiku for a “Cool Kingfisher.” In the photo, we see a belted kingfisher sitting on a piece of dead wood. The bird does look “cool” because it has something that many people would love to have: the bird has a “blue Mohawk” of feathers that stick up from its head.

   The Hooded Merganser’s appearance is also commented on in a poem in which Jane asks, “Is that a marshmallow on your head?” The question is funny, and it is also the kind of thing anyone might wonder as they look at a hooded merganser. The bird does look like it has a marshmallow on its head. In addition is has a distinct “circus clown” look about it with its orange eyes and its odd looking plumage.

   The combination of the beautiful photos and Jane Yolen’s creative and intimate poems makes this book of poetry wonderfully accessible for readers of all kinds.

   

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and nineteen

Today is Arbor Day here in the U.S. It is a day when people come together to plant trees and to appreciate trees for their beauty and for the many things they give us. Today's picture book tells the story of how one town started a tradition of planting trees every spring.

Arbor Day Square

Kathryn O. Gilbraith

Illustrated by Cyd Moore

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Peachtree Publishers, 2010, 978-56145-517-2

   Katie and Papa live in a new town on the prairie. New buildings pop up every week, and the town now has stores, a church, and a schoolhouse. In what is going to be the town square Papa paces out the land, planning where paths will go. When it is ready, the town square will be where the townsfolk gather for concerts, socials, speeches, and celebrations. There is one thing that is missing though. There are no trees.

   At a town meeting the townsfolk decide that their town needs trees, and they all chip in some money to buy fifteen young trees. Eagerly the townsfolk wait for their trees, and then at last the baby trees arrive on a train. The saplings “spindly and green” don’t look like much, and it is hard to believe that they will ever provide shade and beauty in the town square, but Papa tells Katie “Don’t worry. They’ll grow.”

   Together the townspeople, young and old, work to plant the trees in what will be the new town square. They plant trees near the school and church, and Katie and Papa plant a flouring dogwood in memory of Mama, who is no longer with them.

   That evening the townsfolk dance and picnic under the stars, and they decide to have a tree planting celebration the following year.

   In this wonderful picture book, the author and illustrator tell the story of how a small prairie town starts a tree planting tradition. The author and Illustrator beautifully capture the pride that the townsfolk have in their trees, and the pleasure those trees give to people for generations to come. The tradition of planting trees every spring connects the people to their past, and to their future.

   The story is loosely based on the true story about the first Arbor Day, which was celebrated in Nebraska in April, 1872. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and eighteen

There are certain authors and illustrators who are favorites of mine. When I see one of their books in a shop or in a publisher's catalogue, I do my best to get a copy. One of these people is Quentin Blake. Blake is well known for illustrating the books written by Roald Dahl, but he has also written many books of his own including Mr. Magnolia and today's picture book.

Angelo

Quentin Blake

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Random House UK, 2010, 978-1-849-41046-5

   Long ago a boy called Angelo lived in Italy with his mother, father, and three brothers. The family travelled around the country, all their worldly possessions in a covered cart. When they got to a village, Angelo’s father and his big brothers would build a stage, and when everything was ready, the family members would put on a show. Angelo’s big brothers would do “marvelous balancing tricks,” his father would play the guitar and sing, and then Angelo would do very popular his tight rope act.

   One day Angelo saw that one of the people watching him perform was not smiling “like everyone else.” Instead, the girl looking out of a second floor window was crying. The girl, Angelina, explained that she wished so much that she could travel around the country like Angelo did. She had a miserable life living with her cruel uncle. She was sure that she would be trapped in her uncle’s home “for ever.” Luckily for Angelina, Angelo has an idea.

   In this charming picture book, Britain’s first Children’s Laureate gives readers a tale that is entertaining and heart warming. With its feel-good happy ending and its wonderful illustrations, this is a picture book Quentin Blake fans will want to add to their collection.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and seventeen

In the early nineties I worked part time in an after school program in a public school in Washington DC. One of the things my kids loved was story time because I would go to the library or the book store to get books that I thought would amuse them. The little ones would always rush to sit on the floor (or in my lap) for story time, and over time I noticed that the 'big' kids would also drift over trying not to look as if they were listening.

One of the books that the kids loved was Imogene's Antlers by David Small. Once the story was read, the children liked to guess what was going to happen next, and they would often draw pictures of Imogene with her odd animal appendages.

Imogene’s Antlers

David Small

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Random House, 2010, 978-0-375-81048-0

   One morning Imogene wakes up to discover that she has grown a pair of very large antlers during the night. Getting dressed and getting through doorways takes careful thought, and when Imogene’s mother sees the antlers she faints.

   The family doctor is called, and he says that there is nothing medically wrong with Imogene. The school principal comes over and he glares at Imogene, but he has no advice to offer either. When Imogene’s little brother announces that Imogene has turned into a “rare form of miniature elk” Imogene’s mother faints. Again.

   Though her parents are very upset, the cook and kitchen maid quite like the antlers, finding a number of uses for them. Perhaps it won’t be so bad having antlers.

   First published in 1985, this book has become a much loved classic. Children and their families love reading about the hilarious situation that Imogene finds herself in, and they certainly have a good laugh when they come to the surprising ending. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and sixteen

Technically speaking today's book is a novelty book because it has reusable stickers that you can stick on the pages. However, I think that the stickers are just a bonus feature. The picture book on its own is more than enough for any reader, because every double page spread is packed with wonderful (and often deliciously odd) scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the book, and I have added it to my books-to-pull-out-and-browse collection. Not only is the book entertaining, but readers will also learn a thing or to about the places mentioned in the narrative.

Around the world with Mouk: A sticker adventure

Marc Boutavant

Novelty Book

For ages 4 to 8

Chronicle Books, 2008, 978-0-8118-6926-3

   Mouk has decided that he is going to go on a trip around the world. He practices talking in other languages, he does a little research, sends an email, and calls his friends Popo and Chavapa to tell them about his plans. After packing his backpack, he meets his friends at Chez Titi so that he can explain that he is “off to see the world.”

   Mouk’s first stop is Lapland, which is a province in Finland. He writes to his friends back at home telling them what Lapland is like. He makes friends with a rabbit called Sami, and he offers to help Sami’s grandfather wrap Christmas presents for children from around the world.

   Next Sami goes to visit his friend Elena who lives on a Greek Island that is called Hydra. Sami and Elena go snorkeling and then they sit on the beach relaxing and eating watermelon. Sami learns how to say “hello” in Greek, and he eats some rather strange food.

   Mouk goes on to visit Libya, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, India, China, Australia, Japan, Peru, and the United States. In every country he makes new friends, he sees wonderful things, he learns about the cultures and customs that he encounters, he picks up some of the language, and he gets to sample some of the local cuisine.

   Children are going to love traveling around the world with Mouk the bear. Every double page spread presents readers with a colorful scene that is packed with kooky characters, delightful picture vignettes and mini stories, and information. Then there are Mouk’s letters to his friends back in Paris. These are amusing, and they tell the reader about Mouk’s adventures in the different countries.

   Young readers can also interact with the book by placing the forty-six reusable stickers on the glossy pages, and by looking for the search-and-find items in the pictures. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and fifteen

Last summer my family and I went to Amsterdam. My daughter was very surprised to see that Miffy, a children's book character that she is very fond of, was very popular there, until she realized that the little white rabbit was created by a Dutch author. In Dutch, Miffy is called Nijintje, which I must confess is a word I have a hard time pronouncing. I enjoyed looking at all the Miffy books (which I couldn't read of course) and the Miffy merchandise. In fact I have a Dutch Miffy sitting on a shelf in my office.

For today's picture book I have a Miffy title in which Miffy discovers that anyone can create art. You don't have to a famous or an adult to create a piece of art. In addition, the little rabbit learns how rewarding the creative process is.

Miffy the artist

Dick Bruna

Picture Book

For ages 2 to 4

Abrams, 2007, 978-1-85437-823-1

   One day Miffy, the little white rabbit, goes to the art gallery to look at the paintings and the other works of art. On her way home, Miffy thinks about the things she has seen, and when she gets to her house, Miffy gets out some crayons and she starts to draw.

   Happily, Miffy creates pictures, exploring ideas with her colors. Her pictures remind her of things and places, and they give her a great feeling of satisfaction.

   In this charming Miffy title, the author uses simple concepts and memorable art to help children see that anyone can create art. He shows children that drawing or painting or sculpting helps us to explore our world in new ways, and connects us with memories and emotions.

   This is one in a series of books about Miffy. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and fourteen

I have a special fondness for picture books that have detailed artwork. Today's picture book is just such a title. It has artwork that you will want to explore for a while, and interesting page features that children will like. The story is charming, and perfectly touched with magic.

Up and Way with the Little Witch

Lieve Baeten

Picture book

For ages 4 to 7

North South, 2011, 978-0-7358-4004-1

   Lizzy the Little Witch has a friend called Trixie staying with her for the night, and Lizzy is reading Trixie (who is a very small witch indeed) a story. In the story, this is a Witch Princess who rides around on a magic carpet. Inspired by the story, Lizzy casts a spell on her carpet, and to her delight the spell works. Under the light of a full moon, the carpet carries Lizzy and Trixie “off into the night.”

   After flying for quite a while, they see a caravan moving across the countryside below. The witches swoop down to investigate, hoping that they will find something to eat. Caravan Witch is delighted to see the two young witches, and she not only feeds them, but she also gives them a little show as well.

   After bidding Caravan Witch goodbye, the witches fly on, soaring over mountains and the river. Below them, the witches see a light shining out into the darkness. Trixie really needs to go to the bathroom, so they fly down towards the river and soon they see Boat Witch sitting on her strange witch craft. Hopefully she will be able to help them.

   With wonderfully detailed illustrations and interesting novelty features on the pages, this Little Witch title is sure to charm young readers who like adventures that have a magical element. 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and thirteen

Finding creative ways to help little children understand how to get along is not easy. They don't like it when someone new comes into their territory, and often they respond to such an 'invasion' by getting upset. Today's picture book shows children how one little cat copes when a dog moves into her home.

Cleo and Caspar

Caroline Mockford

Picture book

For ages 2 to 4

Barefoot Books, 2001, 1-84148-440-7

   One day Cleo wakes up and she runs downstairs. Something or someone is making a noise, and like all cats, she is curious and wants to know what is going on. When Cleo looks around a door, she sees a most extraordinary thing. There is a small brown and white dog in the house. In her house!

   Cleo’s person introduces Cleo to Caspar, and Cleo gives the little dog a sniff. Unfortunately, this prompts the dog to bark, which makes Cleo hiss with anger. Then Cleo runs away and she hides in a tree. What is she going to do?

   Getting used to change is never easy, particularly if you are not very big. This picture book, with its sweet acrylic illustrations and its simple rhyming text, explores how one little cat deals with a big change.

   This is one in a series of books about Cleo the cat.