PPBF: Shrunken Treasures

Author/Illustrator: Scott Nash
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2016
Age: 5-8
Themes: classics, literature, humorous stories
Opening: Introducing: the Versizer! The book you are holding in your hands is a marvel of squishy science. After many years of mulling and figuring, I have developed a device called the Versizer that will transform lengthy novels, myths, and epic poems into delightful nuggets of nonsense.
Summary: (from my library catalog) The plots of nine classic stories are summarized in this collection of silly verses.

Why I like this book: Such a fun introduction to literary classics! The bright and adorable illustrations add light-hearted amusement to these ‘shrunken’ interpretations of some heavy tales. After having analyzed a number of them in high school, I believe my adult kids would love to read these too!  (ps – in case there is a curious botanist amongst us, the late afternoon shadows grew from Cornus stolonifera, or Yellow-twig dogwood)

Resources/Activities: Discuss what makes a story, poem or book a classic; draw your own favorite characters; write your own shrunken poems about favorite fairy tales or fables.

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

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PPBF: Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)

Author/Illustrator: Keith Negley
Publisher: Nobrow, 2015; first publ. in England by Flying Eye, 2015
Ages: 4-7
Themes: feelings, emotions, men and emotions
Opening: It’s not always easy being a tough guy…You might not think it, but tough guys have feelings too.

Summary: (from my library catalog) Explains through simple text and colorful illustrations that tough guys have the same feelings as you and I.

Why I like this book: It’s such a bright and attractive, bold yet simply illustrated book which compliments and leaves much room for reflecting on the simple statements on each page.

Resources/activities: there is so much to talk about – each spread will easily invite discussion; expand upon feelings that not-so-tough guys, or strong women might have too, and how similar we all are.

For existing PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE, and for today’s list: HERE

PPBF: Miss Twiggley’s Tree and a winner!

Congratulations ASHLEY WOLFF! You guessed right, yet there are 2 correct guesses: fox and chicken (I’m nice like that). This is YOUR prize – a copy of my favorite picture book!

Author/Illustrator: Dorothea Warren Fox
Publisher: Purple House Press, 1966
Ages: 4-7
Themes: friendship, animals, treehouses
Opening: Funny Miss Twiggley lived in a tree with a dog named Puss and a color TV. She did what she liked, and she liked what she did, but when company came Miss Twiggley hid.

Summary: (from Amazon) Why did Miss Twiggley live in a tree? Why did she send her dog, Puss, out to do the shopping? Why did she always run away and hide when people came to visit? And it was rumored that Miss Twiggley had even more peculiar habits…

Old Miss Twiggley
Was friendly with bears.
“They shed on the sofa,” she said,
“But who cares?”

And was it true, as the mayor’s wife had heard, that she actually slept in her hat? “Simply disgraceful!” they said. But when a hurricane hits the town and the water rises, everyone is grateful to Miss Twiggley and her tree. Even better, Miss Twiggley herself learns a very important lesson, with a warm and happy ending.

This is my personal favorite. Hard to believe I can chose one, but it speaks to my heart! I found Miss Twiggley late, but it was a meeting of kindred spirits (pssst – I grew up with a willow tree in our backyard). Even after the magic of reading bedtime stories had faded, I still read this one with my big kids – sure is nice that they humor me! For those of you who know me better it is transparent – I identify strongly with the main character. Please find and read this. Let me know if you share the admiration.

Resources/activities: Read it. Read it again!; Build a treehouse (I’d like one!); look into fostering animals from your local Humane Society; make an disaster preparedness plan 

For existing PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

PPBF: Henny Penny (*giveaway series)

#4 in the *giveaway: please take a guess at which animal is present in all four classics. Add your guess to the comment section for a chance to win a copy of my favorite book, featured next week.

Author/Illustrator: Paul Galdone
Publisher: Clarion, 1968
Age: 3 and up
Themes: farm animals, panic, cumulative stories
Opening: One day when Henny Penny was scratching among the leaves, an acorn fell out of a tree and struck her on the head.
Summary: (from my library catalog) A cumulative tale about Henny Penny and her barnyard friends who were literally outfoxed on their journey to tell the king the sky was falling.

Why I like this book: one of my favorite classic tales, and this is the version I remember from the library at my elementary school. The colors, compositions and expressions are striking, and the story has aways made me laugh (maybe because I am known to go into an excited panic easily too!).

Resources/Activities: Ask readers why the they think a cast of birds was chosen over any other animal; break off in groups and perform this as a skit – compare and contrast how the interpretations may differ.

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

*giveaway contest rules: find an animal that is present in all four of the classics in the series of picture books, starting with Rosie’s Walk, The Hare and the Tortoise, Over in the Meadow and Henny Penny. Mention your guess in the comment section after the fourth book is featured today, April 8th.

 

PPBF: Over in the Meadow

No foolin’! The 3rd stunner in the *giveaway series to celebrate my 4th blogiversary!Author: John Langstaff
Illustrator: Feodor Rojankovsky
Publisher: Voyager Books/Harcourt, 1957
Age: 3 and up
Themes: mothers, meadow animals, cumulative stories
Opening: Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun, lived an old mother turtle and her little turtle one.
Summary: (from my library catalog) A presentation of an old counting rhyme about meadow animals and their activities.

Why I like this book: This was one of my favorites to read aloud when the kids were very young, and one they learned by heart quite easily. This rhyme has been rewritten and illustrated numerous times since, with the same or with a completely different cast of characters. Some of my faves: Ezra Jack Keats, David A. Carter, Louise Voce, Jane Cabrera, and Paul Galdone.

Resources/Activities: Make lists of animals and/or insects and identify some of their regular activities; Discuss where we find meadows; visit a meadow.

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

*giveaway contest rules: find an animal that is present in all four of the classics in the series of picture books, starting with Rosie’s Walk. Mention your guess in the comment section after the fourth book is featured on April 8th.