PPBF: The Day the Babies Crawled Away

Author/Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2003
Age Level: 2-6
Themes: babies, rescue, picnicking, stories in rhyme
Opening: Remember the day the babies crawled away? We moms and dads were eating pies, the babies saw some butterflies– and what do you know? Surprise! Surprise! The babies crawled away!
Summary: A boy follows five babies who crawl away from a picnic and saves the day by bringing them back.

Why I like this book: I like it despite it’s imperfections. Nay! I love it all the more because it’s not perfect. It’s genuine. I found it incredibly easy and fun to read aloud – even to myself! You can’t help but inflect it with lighthearted pleasure! Might just be the book to help the beginning babysitter, or mind-numbing nanny, learn how to read with kids! The rhyme isn’t tight, but I think that’s what I like – it’s natural! Of course, I am a sucker for silhouettes, and though I am not particularly fond of 80′s neon color-scream, it adds to the unlikely twists. I read somewhere that parents might not like showing a parental inattentiveness, but I have had a baby crawl away, and a toddler ride a bike with training wheels so fast only the ice cream sign at the kiosk stopped her from reaching the main street, and my kids LOVE to hear the tales of their own escape!

Activities: Create pictures with scratch paper, the kind that looks black until you scratch away to reveal bright rainbow colors. You can buy it ready made, but when I was a kid, we made our own, by covering a piece of paper with crayon and painting it over in black. Mom didn’t care for the mess, but didn’t mind it on the patio!

Go to Susanna Hill’s blog for more Perfect Picture Books and activities.

PPBF: Looking for a Moose

Author: Phyllis Root
Illustrator: Randy Cecil
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2006
Age Level: 3-5
Themes:moose, stories in rhyme
Opening: ”Have you ever seen a moose- a long-leggy moose- a branch-antler, dinner-diving, bulgy-nose moose?”
Summary: (From Amazon) Spurred by Phyllis Root’s sing-songy text and Randy Cecil’s buoyant illustrations, this hunt for an elusive moose through woods, swamps, bushes, and hills is just as fun as the final surprise discovery of moose en masse.

original is in color

Why I like this book: It’s just a fantabulous read-aloud, with energetic rhythm, but also because it reminded me of a naive search for moose in the white mountains of New Hampshire, many noons ago. A ranger happened upon us and let us know the noises we heard were squirrels, and the moose would not be as close to the road at that time of day. Ahem.

Activity: make your own moose antlers – click on the photo for instructions on activitybucket.com; create rhyming adjectives by putting two words together to describe something, or make up some new ones.

Moosey on over to Susanna Hill’s blog for more Perfect Picture Books and activities – any day!

PPBF: Benny and the Binky

Author: Barbro Lindgren (English Translation: Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard)
Illustrator: Olof Landström
Publisher: R&S Books, 20o2; First Published in Sweden as Jamen Benny, 2001
Age Level: 2-5
Themes: siblings

Opening: Benny has a brother now. He wanted one. And then he got one.
Summary: (From Amazon) One morning Benny awakens to find a bassinet standing next to him. Finally, Benny has a brother! All Benny’s new sibling does is scream and scream – until his mother gives him a binky. Benny wants a binky, too, but his mother says he’s too old for one. And Benny’s brother isn’t willing to share. Benny soon grows tired of his new brother – he’d rather have the binky. So when his mother isn’t looking, Benny runs away with the binky. He feels triumphant, until he meets up with some porcine bullies. Fortunately, he is rescued, and after running all the way home, Benny restores the binky to its rightful owner.

Why I like this book: There are picture books I admire for their stunning illustrations, the orchestration of their design, or their transporting texts that hum in my head for days. A few collaborations have a good marriage of these elements, and finding them is a complete thrill. And then there are  the very few I find difficult to describe: the renderings are cute, simple on first glance. The text doesn’t necessarily sing with rhyme or alliteration. But when I turn the pages slowly, carefully, I realize I’ve been duped. A clever deceptive sort of perfection. The only word that rings, that even comes close is  T R U E . This book is.

Activities/Resources: This is the kind of book I wish we’d had when our second child arrived, it might have led to good discussions on what our oldest was expecting, and how they felt after the arrival. This is the perfect time to reintroduce baby games that an older sibling could teach his or her new sibling: finger plays, nursery songs and rhymes. Here is a board on Pinterest, that might spark…interest (sorry – couldn’t help myself!). And if you are as enamored as I am with this book, read more Benny books along with this Kirkus review:

PPBF: When I Was Born

Author: Isabel Minhos Martins
Illustrator: Madalena Matoso
Publisher: Tate Publishing, 2010; First Published in Portuguese as Quando Eu Nasci; Planeta Tangerina, 2010
Age Level: 3-8
Themes: world around us, senses
Opening: When I was born I had never seen anything. Only the darkness of my mother’s tummy.
Summary: (From Amazon) When I Was Born revisits the adventure of discovering the world for the first time. Breathing, seeing, hearing, tasting, and touch are encountered afresh in this beautifully illustrated, poetic tale, reintroducing readers to the richness and delight of life.

Click on image for more pics and  a mini review by awesome print maker Mina Braun.

 

Why I like this book: I love the simple, bright, eye-pleasing art. The artist makes wise use of  negative space. And the whole design, especially the text font gives it a 60′s feeling. The story is a gentle journey of curiosity and falling in love with the world. Read this excerpt aloud: Or how nice it is when someone whispers in your ear. Or how loud it can be when something falls. Or how a leaf falling just goes: plip!

Activity: Talking about the senses and identifying favorite sights, sounds, tastes will probably come naturally from the child(ren) being read to.

Related review : http://minabraun.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

PPBF: It Jes Happened

Author: Don Tate
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2012
Age Level: 6 and up
Themes: African American painters, folk art, Alabama, biography
Opening: It was early summer in Montgomery, Alabama, 1939. On downtown Monroe Avenue, an elderly man sat on a wooden crate. With a board laid across his lap and the stub of a pencil grasped in his hand, he began to draw a picture on the back of a discarded laundry soap box.
Summary: A biography of twentieth-cenury African American folk artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of eighty-five began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life in Alabama.

Why I like this book: This is a beautifully written story of a very poor man whose light certainly shined within (Traylor is now considered to be one of the most important self-taught folk artists). Here another excerpt: ‘Rectangles became bodies; circles became heads and eyes; lines became outstretched arms, hands, and legs. He filled in shapes with sketchy lines and smoothed out edges.’ In researching this post I was surprised to find out that Tate is better known as an illustrator. I was so taken by the story that I asked, and found out, that there will (hopefully) soon be a site where we can view Traylor’s original work.
Resources/Activities: Check out the teacher’s guide on Don Tate’s website, by Debbie Gonzales.

For more PPBF picks, go to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog – HERE

PPBF: Aa, A was an apple pie

Italian cover – best resolution I could find

Author/Illustrator: Etienne Delessert
Publisher: Creative Editions, 2005
Age Level: the Italian website where I nabbed the cover photo says 0-5; I like their way of thinking.
Themes: alphabet book
Opening: Aa A was an apple pie
Summary: Yes, the book walks us from Aa to Zz, and ampersand, but this is a classic nursery rhyme from the 1660′s (!) reintroduced with playful creatures by Delessert.

Why I like this book: The classic text is so much fun, I’m kind of glad I didn’t already know it: ‘Dd dealt it, Ee ate it…Tt took it, Uu upset it’. But for me it’s the the illustrations: bright, cheerful, playful and light as a feather. If you are not familiar with Delessert’s books, I must take pity on you. Click on his name, above, to go to the gallery on his website. This self-taught Swiss artist, now living in the US, speaks the visual language of picture books, and has received numerous awards, but who cares about awards – just check out one of his books. You have more than eighty to choose from!

Resources/Activities: make personalized alphabet books, using the children’s own illustrations or collaged from magazines; I found a fun marching game, which is a lot like a ‘Pie Walk’, and many other alphabet related activities at A to Z Teaching Stuff HERE. 

For more PPBF picks go to Susanna Hill’s blog – any day!

PPBF: One Gorilla, A Counting Book

Author/Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2012
Age Level: 3-7
Themes: counting book, primates
Opening: ’1 gorilla.’ (The suspense is killing you now, eh?)
Summary: Spoiler alert: 1 – 10, and a little extra. Okay, so there is not much of a story going on here, BUT there is, really, once you get past 10…

Why I like this book: I don’t. I LOVE IT! The primate master is at it again! If, by some remote chance, you don’t know who Anthony Browne is, or if you’ve only read a book or two, I obviously need to fill you in. This Brit has been making picture books since the mid-seventies, been bestowed with a gazillion awards, and was the UKs Children’s Laureate from 2009-2011. Not only does he write wonderful books (about 40 now), he illustrates them. But when describing his work ‘illustrate’ is too simple a word. He breathes life into his pictures, and they breathe life back into the viewer. Stunning comes close – you do feel a bit of an electric shock, but with a strong magnetic pull. Try it.

From WILLY THE DREAMER

‘Wise guy’ quote: (I nabbed Browne’s from a post at forbiddenplanet.co.uk) “‘I hope to encourage more children to discover and love reading, but I want to focus particularly on the appreciation of picture books, and the reading of both pictures and words. Picture books are for everybody at any age, not books to be left behind as we grow older. The best ones leave a tantalising gap between the pictures and the words, a gap that is filled by the reader’s imagination, adding so much to the excitement of reading a book.’”

Resources/Activities: this counting book can easily prompt a discussion on what a primate is, their different habitats – even the different sounds each one makes – HERE is the link to a website from the National Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin, with a whole bunch of calls you can listen to.

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks go to Susanna Hill’s blog – any day

PPBF: There’s NO Such Thing as a Dragon

Author/Illustrator: Jack Kent
Publisher: A Golden Book, 1975
Age Level: 3-7
Themes: dragons, imagination
Opening: Bill Bixbee was rather surprised when he woke up one morning and found a dragon in his room. It was a small dragon, about the size of a kitten.
Summary: Bill Bixbee’s mother won’t admit that dragons exist until it’s nearly too late.

Why I like this book: I am quoting directly from goodreads because it phrases what I want to say so perfectly: “Charming text and playful illustrations show that a little attention can make a big difference, no matter what size the problem.” I love finding a book that has endured. The writing is still fresh, and the illustrations crisp, to the point, and loaded with humor. Unfortunately, I sometimes find superbly skilled renderings that don’t add to the story – they only show what I’ve already read – but certainly NOT HERE! And the man has made over 40 books for me to delight in discovering.
Resources/Activities: Imagination and dragons? Make puppets, of course! I liked the Australian accents on the following video, and thought you can add anything you want to his simple demonstration, with a bit of glue or needle and thread. I tend to make puppets with socks because of the large collection of singles that have accumulated in a family of four over the years. But I’d reach for a paper bag, some crayons and a box of saved thingamabobs next!

http://childrensatheneum.blogspot.com/2009/11/illustrator-of-week-jack-kent.html

Click HERE to read more about Jack Kent on Children’s Atheneum
For more PPBF picks, go to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog – HERE

I’m off to the mountains for the weekend, so I’ll get to your comments next week.

PPBF: The Country Bunny

Author: Du Bose Heyward
Illustrator: Marjorie Flack
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1939,1967
Age Level: 4-8
Themes: Easter, rabbits
Opening: We hear of the Easter Bunny who comes each Easter Day before sunrise to bring eggs for boys and girls, so we think there is only one. But this is not so.
Summary: To the surprise of many, the little country cottontail becomes one of the special Easter bunnies even though she has twenty-one children of her very own. (You go, girl!)

Why I like this book: This story is about a new Easter bunny, one of five that deliver the eggs. No, not really. It’s the story of a simple little girl determined to achieve her dream. She plans well, and with patience and wisdom earns the chance to prove herself  – and her bravery. On the back of my edition there is a quote: It’s difficult to believe that this very modern feminist tale was originally written in 1939…A gem of a fantasy. – Learning. But is it so very difficult? I am certain there were women as wise, patient and brave as Little Cottontail Mother (like my grandmother) for Heyward to use as a role model . But maybe there were not as many wise or brave publishers. Oh, and by the way, the illustrations are AWESOME!
Resources/Activities: check out the art projects, performance, and writing activities from April Sanders, eHow contributor – HERE; read  another classic, The Story About Ping which Marjorie Flack wrote, but was illustrated by Kurt Wiese.

Read a New Yorker article on The Country Bunny’s history HERE

For more PPBF picks, go to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog – HERE

Stampler Sampler!

I am very happy to be part of the Picture Book Blog Tour for Ann Redisch Stampler. One of her previous picture books is already a favorite: The Rooster Prince of Breslov, Clarion, 2010. Ann also writes young adult fiction – click HERE to read about her book Where It Began, Simon Pulse,  2012.

Ann prefers to read printed books – and she likes anything chocolate. Read more about the author in an interview at Shelf-Employed.

You can also enter to win the following books – click here: A rafflecopter giveaway

Title: The Wooden Sword
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler (click on the name to find all her PB titles)
Illustrator: Carol Liddiment
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2012
Age Level: 5-8yrs
Themes: folklore, Afghanistan, rulers (Shah), Jews
Summary: (from the publisher) Disguised in servant’s clothes, an Afghani shah slips out of his palace to learn more about his people. When he encounters a poor Jewish shoemaker full of faith that everything will turn out just as it should, the shah grows curious. Vowing that no harm will befall the poor man, he decides to test that faith, only to find that the shoemaker’s cheerful optimism cannot be shaken. But the biggest challenge of the poor man’s life is yet to come!

What do I think? I love a good folktale, and this delight is new to me (hint for the lovely librarians at my library: time to put the folktales-rack back!). The Wooden Sword puts the reader through a range of emotions. Every time the shah pushes this poor servant, the reader is filled with worry and wonder, and each time pleasantly amazed at the servant’s courage and strength…and wit! The illustrations add so much about Jewish and Afghani culture to the story, that I know it will raise interesting questions from young readers. I almost wish an object-identification-map were included for some of the spreads!

JUST RELEASED:

Title: The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrator: Francesca Carabelli
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2013
Age Level: 4-8yrs
Themes: cats, ailurophobia, Tel-Aviv
Summary: (from the publisher) There are lots of cats on Ben Yehuda Street, but it is the friendship between a little grey cat with a pink collar and a fluffy white stray cat that brings two lonely neighbors together.

What do I think? Unfortunately I am still waiting to review this book – hurry up Ms.Postperson! The smiling cat illustrations (and look at those tails!) on the cover would be enough for me to pick this one up. I was intrigued by the setting too, having once hosted an exchange student from Tel-Aviv (Hi Miki!) when I was in high school. Should it arrive today, you can bet I’ll revise this post within the hour! Fingers crossed! IT”S HERE! Thanks, Ms. Postperson! This is a sweet story of neighbors reaching out in their own way, in their own time. Did I mention all the cats? “Free cats, fat cats, living-on-the-sidewalk cats.” The illustrator paints life into the characters and setting with good use of texture and layers. As in The Wooden Sword, a few symbols of the character’s culture are shown, like the hamsa amulet hanging in Mr. Modiano’s apartment. And I got to learn a little Hebrew too, as Mr. Modiano says, “Lo, lo, lo.” Always.

For those of you new to the tour, here’s the schedule:
Mon – March 18 – Alyson at Kid Lit Frenzy
Tue – March 19 – Alethea at Read Now Sleep Later
Wed – March 20 – Gail at Nightengail Art
Thu – March 21 – Danielle at There’s a Book
Fri – March 22 – Wendy at Noodling with Words
Sat – March 23 - The Cats on Ben Yehuda Launch Party at Children’s Book World, Los Angeles
Mon – March 25 - Julie Rowan-Zoch
Tue – March 26 – Joanna at Miss Marple’s Musings
Wed – March 27 – Niki at Daydream Reader
Thu – March 28 – Cynthia at Teaching in Cute Shoes
Fri – March 29 – Colby at Sharpread

Here are some links to purchase, but I hope you will ask at your local independent bookseller first!

Wooden Sword:
 http://amzn.com/0807592013; 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wooden-sword-ann-redisch-stampler/1111573928?ean=9780807592014&itm=1&usri=9780807592014

http://www.bookdepository.com/Wooden-Sword-Ann-Redisch-Stampler/9780807592014

Cats on Ben Yehuda:

http://amzn.com/0761381236

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cats-on-ben-yehuda-street-ann-redisch-stampler/1110607147?ean=9780761381235&itm=1&usri=9780761381235

http://www.bookdepository.com/Cats-on-Ben-Yehuda-Street-Ann-Redisch-Stampler/9780761381235