WAIT! SHAMELESS INTERRUPTION. I’m chillin’ in the spotlight over at KID-LIT 411 today – HERE.
Author: Michelle Robinson
Illustrator: Leonie Lord
Publisher: Peachtree, 2013, first published in GB, by Orchard Books, 2013
Age: 3 – 8yrs
Themes: excuses, gorillas, pizza
Opening: You know we ordered a pizza? A GREAT BIG one with extra cheese? Well. I’m afraid I have some BAD news…
Summary: (from SLJ) After a gorilla shows up at the door, a boy has the wildest night of his life. Unfortunately, he then must explain to his family about crayon on the walls, toys and piles of dirty clothes all over the house, and a broken window and vase. And that’s not even the bad news! When the delivery boy arrives with dinner, the gorilla scares him away and then eats all of the pizza. Soon after, the animal slips discreetly out the door, too, leaving the boy to explain the situation, and his family with a messy house and nothing to eat.
Why I like this book: IT’S FUNNY! And not just the text: the illustrations are right up my alley, with bold strokes simple textures and great use of basic color schemes, and I enjoyed the spare use of ‘ornamental’ fonts – simple and not distracting. I can’t say all of the dialogue was age specific (no, I don’t know any kids who say ‘overexcited’), but the fun trumps any hiccups!
Resources/Activities: discuss excuses a child or adult may have used to avoid trouble (like having to go to the bathroom, so I could spit out all those mushy peas!); below is a page to color downloaded from the author’s page – HERE
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks and parent/teacher resources go to Susanna Hill’s blog – HERE
Sounds ca-razy…just like me! 😉
And congrats on being featured on KidLit411! Naturally, I think you deserve to be spotlighted.
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Mwah!
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What a great premise! The coloring page has me laughing.
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Waaay too cute!
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Yes! Thanks for popping over, Beverly!
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Wow. I can’t get through this list today as I keep adding the books to my library list.
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I am still suffering from shock, as I just returned from the library, and was not ‘allowed’ to take out some books, but I need to figure out what policy changes have been made before I walk back in for a ‘friendly discussion’. It could be a life-restructuring change for this PB junkie!
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I’m interested to see the ending. I was surprised by No Fits, Nilson! by Zachariah OHora.
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Always glad to hear what you (and Enzo) think, Stacy!
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What an adorable book! Zooming over to 411 when I get home.
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Groovy!
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This book has your name all over it. The illustrations and humor are wonderful!
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I’m that transparent, huh? lol
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Kind of a Cat in the Hat, but with a gorilla! a gorilla! Excellent!
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Rather hungry too!
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:D~ (I’m trying a new smiley face here)
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That was supposed to be drool.
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Hahahaha!
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hi Julie! This sounds like a whole lot of fun….. love the colourful illustrations. You pick such fun books!
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Funny, after all these PPBF posts I’ m seeing a pattern I didn’t know was there too !
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This is too funny, Julie! And I love your ‘shameless’ interruption…loved your post on kidlit411.:)
Wonderful activity ideas as well…kids will relate to this, for sure.:)
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Wish I had more opportunities to observe kids being read to, might start attending a few storytime hrs at the library!
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What a great idea, Julie!
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I just saw you on KidLit 411 and can’t believe you didn’t tell us. Shame on you. 🙂 This book looks like a good one for Finley. He loves the funny stuff.
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My kind of book buddy!
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This sounds like an awesome book! I love the coloring sheet! 😉
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I know, I hope there are more where that one came from!
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Loved the kidlit411 (even though I got there extremely late) and love the look of this book (even though I’m here extremely late too!) The whole concept sounds like fun, and I’m sure it’s a book kids will love! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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How is one extremely late to a sitting post? If ever I give a party, to which you will hopefully want to arrive punctually, be rest assured, you will receive a personal invitation.
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