PPBF: Dark Night

Author/Illustrator: Dorothée De Monfreid
Publisher: Random House, 2009
Age: 3-7
Opening: It was a dark night.
Summary: (via Amazon) Little Felix is all alone, walking home through the forest when he hears a spooky howling and spots a wolf approaching! His luck turns from bad to worse when a tiger scares away the wolf and a crocodile scares away the tiger! Can something as small as a rabbit help Felix scare away the wild things prowling the woods? This empowering picture book is perfect for any child who’s ever wanted to turn the tables on scary beasts lurking at night.

Themes: dark, fear, courage

I like this book because: Nothing like jumping right into a dark forest in the middle of the night to get a story started! I am a big fan of picture books with simple use of color and silhouette to keep the reader focussed on the bare essentials of a good story (if you haven’t already noticed!).

Resources: read other books about confronting fear of the dark, like The Dark, Handler and Klassen (see trailer below), or It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg – review here; check out more of Dorothée De Monfreid’s delightful work here and here.

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

Random Tandem with Catherine!

Julie skipped passed the billy goats and gave them her signature facial expression.

They laughed and said, Mornin’ Julie, good day to ya.

– Catherine M. Johnson

We are at it again! It’s been far too long since Catherine and I did a tandem post, pairing either drawing, paintings, or verse – or all of the above! This time Catherine suggested the animal and the gesture. Come to think of it, I think Catherine has made most of the suggestions, and I have profited from them immensely. Some have gone on to become full fledged picture book manuscripts. Fingers crossed that it happens again!

I also had to nab this painting of Catherine’s (off Instagram) to show you too. I love the colors and its sweet hugable face!

PPBF: I Know An Old Lady

Author: Rose Bonne; Music by Alan Mills
Illustrator: Abner Graboff
Publisher: Rand McNally, 1961
Age: 3-6
Themes: fly, nonsense, cumulative tale
Opening: I know an old lady who swallowed a fly. I don’t know why she swallowed a fly! I guess she’ll die!

Summary: (from Amazon) For more than a century, this deceptively simple rhyme has delighted children and parents alike. Its galloping rhythm is perfect for reading out loud, becoming a memory game as the list of animals grows—from fly and spider to bird, cat, dog, and goat. Abner Graboff’s bright and starting illustrations combine beautifully with the original verse to bring this subversive, irreverent tale to life.

I like this book because: my friend Bonnie gave it to me, one of the only children’s books she found while sorting out items at the home her parents lived in for decades. So first, special meaning, but Bonnie knew I’d like this one – and I say, who wouldn’t? This classic is an example of bold graphic style and humorous simplicity paired with the definitive version of this cumulative nonsense song in American history! Am I too passionate?

Resources/Activities: watch a fly as it moves around, on your arm, the dog, your lunch! Play a color/fly swatter game like this one HERE; have fun withe the folllowing fingerplay:

Five Little Flies Fingerplay
Five little flies buzzing through a hive,
One snuck some honey, and took a deep dive.
Four little flies buzzing through a door,
One slipped and fell, Crash! on the floor.
Three little flies buzzing through the trees,
One bumped the bark and bloodied his knees.
Two little flies buzzing through a shoe,
One held his nose and said, PEE YOO!
One little fly buzzing through a bun,
The swatter goes SPLAT! Now there are none For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

PPFB: Karen’s Opposites

Thas

One of my favorites in celebration of Alice Provensen, who passed away at age 99 just weeks ago, on April 23, 2018. 

Author/Illustrator: Alice and Martin Provensen
Publisher: Golden Press, 1963
Age: 2-5
Opening: (see spread below)
Summary: concept book of opposites.

Themes: opposites, siblings, children

I like this book because: It is a PERFECT concept book. Yup. Think I’m exaggerating? Go find a copy and we can talk.

Resources: Look for other opposites in your home, classroom. Read more about the Provensen. According to Alice, “we were a true collaboration. Martin and I really were one artist.” Read the NYT obituary here.

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

PPBF: Fox Eyes

Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Publisher: Pantheon Books, 1951; illustrations: 1977
Age: 3-7
Themes: foxes, animals, animal habits
Opening: (image below)

Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A fox causes consternation among the animals whose secrets he discovers. Little do they realize that because of the fox’s secret, they have no cause for worry.

I like this book because: I was intrigued by an image that Jama Kim Rattigan posted from the book and was so glad I could get it through my local library system. And that cover!!! Wow! What a surprise! But my favorite part of the book has become the sound of the fox’s cough – Whiskerchew!

Resources/Activities: great companion book when discussing animal habits, habitats, and their sleeping and hunting rhythms, together with Night Animals from Gianna Marino, or Owl Moon from Jane Yolen.

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