The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book one hundred and thirty-three

There is something really exciting about adopting a puppy. I have done it twice, and both times it was a wonderful experience. I have also adopted an elderly dog, and I have to say that bringing Rusty home and having him in my life was a gift. Perhaps he wasn't cute and funny they way a puppy is, but he was a fabulous companion who made me feel like a queen.

“Let’s get a pup!” said Kate

Bob Graham

Picture book

For ages 5 to 7

Candlewick Press, 2003, 978-0763621933

   Last winter Kate’s cat Tiger died and she is missing his presence in her life, especially when she lies in bed. There is a noticeable “lonely place” at the end of her bed.

   One summer morning Kate runs into her parent’s room shouting, “Let’s get a pup!” Luckily for her, her parents are more than willing to get a new family pet, and very soon Kate and her parents are driving to the Rescue Center.

   At the Rescue Center, they see dogs of all kinds, many of which are not what they are looking for. Then they see Dave. Dave is small and cute and “brand new,” and he is just what they want. Then they see Rosie. She is old, large, and slow, but she has an air of “Good Intention.” Kate and her family wish Rosie well, hoping that someone would come along who will let her lie on their floor, or couch, or bed. If only…

   In this delightful picture book, we meet a family in need of a dog, and two dogs in need of a family. Children and their grownups will be thrilled that in this story there is a wonderfully happy ending.

   With a touching story and expressive illustrations, this book is a must for anyone who has a fondness for dogs.

Poetry Friday - A review of Punctuation Celebration

When I was a child, I thought that punctuation was a waste of time. I created enormous sentences that went on and on and on. Finally, my father took me in hand and he explained why at least some punctuation was a good idea. Today's poetry book contains humorous poems that will help children to better understand how to use commonly used forms of punctuation.

Punctuation Celebration

Elsa Knight Bruno

Illustrated by Jenny Whitehead

Poetry Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Henry Holt, 2009, 978-0-8050-7973-9

   You are invited to a special event that is taking place in just a moment or two. The event is a “sporty exploration / Into words and punctuation.” During the event, you are going to meet all the forms of punctuation that people commonly use. Perhaps you are wondering why you need to make the acquaintance of the period, the comma, the colon, the question mark, and some of their friends. Well, the reason is quite simple. If you get to know them, then you will be able to mix words and punctuation with ease, creating stories, reports, and who knows what else.

   Let’s begin with probably the easiest form of punctuation, the period. It is easy to use it because wherever a sentence ends, the period “comes and plops, / and where is plops, the sentence STOPS.” Periods are also used to abbreviate things when you don’t feel like spelling out street, dozen, or pound.

   Next, there is that form of punctuation that looks so wonderful. The question mark is easy to place. All you have to do is to put it “after words that ask.”

   In this very clever poetry picture book, the author helps young readers and writers to understand when to use twelve different forms of punctuation. Each form of punctuation has a poem that explains how and when it should be used, and on the facing page, another little poem demonstrates how it is used in a piece of writing.

   With lashings of clever humor, the author makes what could be a dry subject very accessible and entertaining. Jenny Whitehead’s multimedia illustrations compliment the poems, adding color, pizzazz, and visual interest to the pages.

J. Patrick Lewis Named Children’s Poet Laureate

Position raises awareness of children’s natural affinity for poetry

May 12th, 2011

CHICAGO — The Poetry Foundation is pleased to announce that poet J. Patrick Lewis will serve as the nation’s third Children’s Poet Laureate: Consultant in Children’s Poetry to the Poetry Foundation for a two-year tenure. The award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize, aims to raise awareness that children have a natural receptivity to poetry and are its most appreciative audience, especially when poems are written specifically for them.

“Pat’s many books bring great joy to young readers—the future of poetry,” said Poetry Foundation president John Barr. “He has profuse gifts as a poet—with wordplay, humor, and technical facility—and truly loves writing for and to children. To say that in children’s poetry Pat has found his calling is no mean thing because he has excelled in so many other walks of life: scholar, economist, and author. What Pat Lewis brings to the office of Children’s Poet Laureate is a life fully lived and, of course, tremendous joy for his craft and audience.”

The author of more than 50 books of poetry for children, Lewis began his career as an academic; he taught in the departments of business, accounting, and economics at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, until 1998, when he left to devote himself to writing full time. His books for children include Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles; The Last Resort; The Shoe Tree of Chagrin; and A Hippopotamusn’t: And Other Animal Poems. His children’s poetry has appeared in Highlights for Children, Cricket, and Ranger Rick, among many other places, and his writing has been widely anthologized. His contributions to children’s literature have been recognized with the 2011 Poetry Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Ohioana Awards’ 2004 Alice Louise Wood Memorial Prize. His first book of poetry for adults, Gulls Hold Up the Sky: Poems 1983–2010, was published in 2010. A father of three and grandfather of five, he visits more than 30 elementary schools a year, keynotes at literature conferences, and presents teachers’ workshops on introducing poetry in the classroom.

Findings from the Poetry Foundation’s seminal research study, Poetry in America, demonstrate that a lifelong love for poetry is most likely to result if cultivated early in childhood and reinforced thereafter. During his laureateship, Lewis will give two major public readings for children and their families, teachers, and librarians. He will also serve as an advisor to the Poetry Foundation on children’s literature and may engage in a variety of projects and events to help instill a love of poetry among the nation’s youngest readers. The Poetry Foundation made the appointment with input from a panel of experts in the field of children’s literature.

* * *

About the Poetry Foundation

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit poetryfoundation.org.

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

The world is a full of dreadfully self centered people. There are the dictators who are willing to kill their people so that they can hold onto their power. There are the CEOs who are willing to fleece their employees and stockholders.There are the politicians who think nothing of deceiving the people who voted for them. It can be very depressing.

Today's book is about a giant who is generous and kind. Who is willing to give up his dream so that he can fulfill the dreams and needs of others. It is the perfect book to read when the woes of the world - big or small - are feeling heavy on ones shoulders.

The Spiffiest Giant in town

Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Penguin, 2002, 0-14-240275-3

George is a giant who goes around every day wearing an old gown and a pair of old sandals. To say that he is scruffy looking is an understatement, and he is acutely aware of his less than fashionable look. One day George discovers that there is a new shop in town that sells clothes in giant sizes. He buys himself a very spiffy outfit and looks forward to being the “spiffiest giant in town.”

   Then George meets a very unhappy giraffe who has a nasty cold. What the giraffe needs is a long warm scarf that will keep his long cold neck warm. Being a very generous and kind giant, George gives the giraffe his new striped tie.

   As George walks home, he comes to the river and there he meets a goat sitting in a boat. The goat is very upset because a storm blew away his sail. How can he possible get from place to place in his boat without a sail? George quickly comes up with a solution. He gives the goat his new shirt and walks away feeling very happy. He has an undershirt to wear and he really doesn’t miss his shirt much at all, and he is still the “spiffiest giant in town.”

   In this heartwarming picture book, children will meet a giant who has a big and kind heart. Children will love the way George is rewarded for his kindness, and they will appreciate the fact that there are far more important things in this world than looking “spiffy.”

   This book was written and illustrated by the talented pair who gave us The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book one hundred and thirty-one

A few months ago I reviewed my first Clarice Bean book and I enjoyed it enormously. What a delightfully quirky and unique book. Today's book is another Clarice Bean title, complete with Clarice's peculiar family, and her wonderful way of expressing herself. 

Clarice Bean, What Planet are you from?

Lauren Child

Picture Book

For ages 6 to 8

Candlewick Press, 2010, 978-0763647964

   Clarice Bean is learning about planet Earth in school, and her teacher is also encouraging the children to do a project called “The Environment.” The teacher gives the students little books to write in for the project, but Clarice is having trouble coming up with ideas for her assignment.

   Clarice is busy reading comics in the laundry room when her big brother Kurt starts making a commotion in the kitchen. He has read in the newspaper that a an old tree is going to be chopped down on Navarino Street, which is Clarice’s street. Kurt is so upset about the tree, that he and his friend Morten decide that they are going to camp in, or at least next to, the tree. They are going to be ecowarriors.

   When Kurt does not come home by eight o’clock that evening, the family goes out to the tree to see what is going on, and they find that Grandad and his friend Bert are also camped next to the tree. The next day Clarice and her friends make posters that say “Free the Tree,” and when he gets home from work Clarice’s father decides to make dinner for the ecowarriors. Will their voices, posters, and presence around the tree be enough to save it?

   In this wonderfully funny and quirky picture book, Clarice Bean and her nutty…er…unique family (and friends) come together to fight for something that they believe in. Saving the tree brings everyone together, despite their differences. With an engaging and amusing text and wonderful multimedia illustrations, this title is sure to entertain young readers, and it will encourage them to think green, just like Clarice Bean.

  

  

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

Every so often I come across a picture book in which the text and artwork combine perfectly to create a book that is a true work of art. Today's picture book is just such a title, and it would make a great gift for readers of all ages because its message is truly timeless and ageless.

The Dancing tiger

Malachy Doyle

Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Penguin, 2005, 0-670-06020-8

One night, when the summer moon is full, a little girl sees a tiger dancing in the woods near her house. She goes to investigate, and when he realizes that she is watching him the big and beautiful animal “gasp in fright.” The girl is also afraid but the “laughter in his lightening eyes” makes her realize that the tiger is not a danger to her. The tiger invites her to join him on the nights of the full moon as long as she keeps him a secret.

   The girl is glad to keep the dancing tiger a secret, and every month, for just one night, she joins her friend in the woods to dance in the moonlight. They dance through spring flowers, autumn leaves, and in the snow, for year after year. Then there comes a time when the girl is no longer a girl, and her secret has to be passed on.

   This magical book will take young readers into a moonlit world where two friends enjoy precious hours in each other’s company. The rhyming text is perfectly paired with Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher’s gorgeous and softly colored paintings. 

Anniversary - The birthday of Roger Hargreaves, creator of the Mr. Men books

On this day in 1935 Charles Roger Hargreaves was born. Hargreaves  was an English author and illustrator of children's books, notably the Mr. Men and Little Miss series, intended for very young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with brightly-colored, boldly drawn illustrations, have been part of popular culture for over 25 years, with sales of over 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.

Hargreaves was born in a private hospital at 201 Bath Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire to Alfred Reginald and Ethel Mary Hargreaves. He grew up in High Lees at 703 Halifax Road, Cleckheaton, outside of which there now is a commemorative plaque.

Hargreaves spent a year working in his father's laundry and dry-cleaning business before starting out in advertising. His original ambition was to be a cartoonist, and in 1971, while working as the creative director at a London firm, he wrote the first Mr. Men book, Mr. Tickle. Initially he had difficulty finding a publisher, but once he did the books became an instant success, selling over one million copies within three years. In 1975 it spawned a BBC animated television series called the Mr. Men Show, Mr. Tickle being voiced by Arthur Lowe.

By 1976, Hargreaves had quit his day job. In 1981 the Little Miss series of books was launched, and in 1983 it also was made into a television series, narrated by John Alderton. He voiced the Men and Pauline Collins voiced the Misses. Although Hargreaves wrote many other children's stories—including the Timbuctoo series of 25 books, John Mouse and the Roundy and Squarey books—he is best known for his 46 Mr. Men and 33 Little Miss books.

Between 1979 and 1982 Hargreaves lived with his family in Guernsey. Then they settled at Sussex House Farm near Cowden, Kent. Hargreaves died in 1988 at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells following a stroke. After his death, his son Adam continued writing and drawing the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters with new stories. However, in April 2004 Hargreaves's wife Christine sold the rights to the Mr. Men characters to the UK entertainment group Chorion, for £28 million.

Hargreaves and his wife had four children: Adam, Giles and twins Sophie and Amelia. The first of the Mr. Men characters is reported to have been created when Adam, at age 6, asked his father what a tickle looked like. Hargreaves drew a figure with a round orange body and long rubbery arms, which became Mr. Tickle.

In honor of Hargreaves' wonderful books, Google has released "tons of doodles" featuring the now famous Mr. Men and Little Miss characters.To find out more about the books, you can visit the Mr. Men and Little Miss website.

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

There is no doubt that there are times when my dogs drive me crazy. Sometimes they bark too much. Sometimes their shedding makes it impossible to keep the house clean. Then there are those days when they roll in something nasty or get sprayed by a skunk. Why would any sane person put up with all this aggravation. If you don't know the answer to that question, then you haven't been lucky enough to have a dog in your life. 

Today's book is a tribute to all dogs, who have so much to give, and who are such wonderful friends and companions.

Wag!

Patrick McDonnell

Picture Book

For ages 5 and up

Little Brown, 2009, 978-0-316-04548-3

   Earl is a little black and white dog whose tail is forever wagging. It goes “Fwip Fwip Fwip” all the time. It wags when Earl is eating, or when he is playing ball. It wags for “belly rubs, chewy toys, snacky-snacks, and snowflakes.” That tail wags when Earl sees his old friends and when he sees potential new ones. Why does Earl’s tail wag though? Does anyone know?

   Mooch the cat tries to tell us the answer to this question, but he forgets what he wants to say. Jules the littler cat doesn’t know. Mooch then decides that the answer is a secret. Finally, Mooch decides that he knows the answer.

   In this charming picture book, Patrick McDonnell the creator of the much loved Mutts cartoon strip, celebrates the secret that lies in the heart of every dog. He reminds us that there is one thing that we can share and give that is more important than anything else in the world. Dogs, of course, are perfect candidates to show us poor humans what this secret is because they are so good at sharing it.

   With his minimal art and text, and his loveable dog and cat characters, Patrick McDonnell gives readers of all ages a book that they will be able to appreciate and savor for the rest of their lives. 

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

Once, when I was traveling with my parents in Europe, I left my beloved half bald pink teddy bear in a hotel. When I realized that Pinky was missing, I had a major melt down. Luckily the people at the hotel saved Pinky, and they kindly mailed him to us. After a all long snuggle session, Pinky and I had a long discussion about the adventures that we had had when we were apart.

Today's picture book is about another little child whose favorite toy goes missing and what happens.

Raf

Anke de Vries

Illustrated by Charlotte Dematons

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 6

Lemniscaat, 2008, 978-1-59078-749-6

   Ben is a little boy who never goes anywhere without Raf, his stuffed giraffe. Then one day Ben cannot find Raf anywhere, and he goes to bed feeling very sad indeed. The next morning it is snowing, and Ben gets an unexpected postcard from Africa. Imagine how he feels when he reads the postcard and discovers that it is from Raf. Apparently, Raf has been found and now he is traveling across the desert.

   In his second postcard, Raf tells Ben that he is now visiting a big lake. A lot of pink birds live there and unfortunately they are pooping on Raf’s nose. Raf is much relieved when the birds fly away and some elephants arrive on the scene. Raf is not in the least bit frightened of the elephant. In fact he is happy that the elephants helped him have a “nice shower,” even though he has shrunk a little after drying off in the sun.

   In this charming picture book, we meet an intrepid little traveler who has all kinds of adventures and who sends postcards to his little boy describing his experiences. Children will enjoy sharing Raf’s adventures, reading his postcards with Ben as they turn the pages. They will also sympathize with the little boy whose world is a much less enjoyable place when Raf isn’t in it. 

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

For some years now, Arthur Geisert has been creating fabulous picture books whose characters are all pigs. Often the pigs build extraordinary buildings or machines, and the stories in the books are always unique and memorable. Here is a wordless picture book that recently came out.

Ice

Arthur Geisert

Wordless Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Enchanted Lion Books, 2011, 978-1-59270-098-1

   There is a community of pigs who live on a little desert island that is surrounded by open ocean. Unfortunately, the island is a very dry and hot place, and all the pigs are feeling the heat. To make matters worse, their water supply is dangerously low. The pigs gather together one evening and after consulting their globe, they decide that they are going to have to travel north to get some ice to bring home.

   The pigs don’t have any fast technologically advanced vehicles at their disposal, but they do have a ship, and when they make a few adjustments to this vessel, they create a ship that can sail through the air as well as on the water. Now they can travel north to get the ice they need, but how will they get their ice home?

   In this wonderfully entertaining wordless picture book, Arthur Geisert gives readers another look into the piggy world that he created for his book Oops. Young readers will enjoy following the adventures of these brave and resourceful pigs, and they will be delighted to find out that these porcine characters find a creative way to solve their problems.