PPBF: Animal Masquerade

Author/Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2012 (Originally under Au carnaval des animaux, 2011)
Themes: animals, disguises, masquerade

Age Level: 3-7, but my teens loved this too!
Opening: see image below

Synopsis: from Kids Can Press: The lion is going as an elephant, the elephant as a parrot, and the parrot as a turtle! Each costume gives way to another, yielding new surprises on every page, and revealing a menagerie of familiar and unusual animals. Young children will delight in the absurd and amusing images (who wouldn’t love a ladybug dressed as a hippopotamus?) and will also appreciate the gags (a fish costumed as a cat is dubbed a “catfish”) and other bits of silly sweetness. Recapping this reading adventure: a detailed panorama at book’s end, showing all the party guests in their fanciful finery.

Why I am recommending this book again: I could not believe my eyes last week when I noticed this book is out of print! I have hand-sold numerous copies and truly enjoy it EVERY time I read it. I’m so incredibly sad about this! It’s so much fun and even the youngest hang in for all 120 pages! So if you find a copy (for sale, little thieves!) snap it up! And again: If anyone out there ever makes a costume of an animal ‘in costume’ send me a photo!

Resource/Activity: make your own costumes: http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/halloween/costumes/; Blog: My Disguises great photos and ideas for kids of ALL ages.

For more links to posts on Perfect Picture Books and resources, visit Susanna Hill’s blog every Friday.

#kidlitwomen: My Homage-Doodles

Inspired by the #kidlitwomen articles and actions during Women’s History Month, I’ve been doodling my Tiger into images from picture books illustrated by a few of my favorites. You can follow these posts on Instagram, where I also post ‘image packets’ daily from other female illustrators I admire in children’s literature.

Sandra Boynton

Nina Crews

Tove Janson

Alice Provensen

 

Rosemary Wells

Kitty Crowther

LeUyen Pham

Barbara Cooney

Ingrid Vang Nyman

Hyewon Yum

Marianne Dubuc

Anna Dewdney

Lois Ehlert

 

PPBF: In Front of My House

Author/Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2010 (originally published in France under Devant ma maison)
Ages: 3-7yrs
Themes: space perception, imagination, characters in literature
Opening: On a little hill, behind a brown fence, under a big oak tree, is…
Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A child explores the world around his home and fills it with characters from the stories and fables he knows. 

I like this book because: each spread is a page turner, that is how the book/story is designed, which makes it a great read-aloud. I reviewed another of Dubuc’s books, Animal Parade, and though the design is similar I still think both stand on their own. I am REALLY looking forward to her new book coming out NEXT WEEK – The Lion and the Bird

Resources/activities: have children make a list from memory of things in front of their own dwellings; make a diorama from the list; discuss different living arrangements – among classmates and around the world – watch the videos form this wonderful series, Families of the World – HERE

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

 

PPBF: Animal Masquerade

Author/Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc

Publisher:Kids Can Press, 2012 (Originally under Au carnaval des animaux, 2011)

Genre: fiction

Themes: animals, disguises, masquerade

Age Level: 3-7, but my teens loved this too!

Opening: Come one, come all to the animal masquerade. Disguises are a must!

Synopsis: from Kids Can Press: The lion is going as an elephant, the elephant as a parrot, and the parrot as a turtle! Each costume gives way to another, yielding new surprises on every page, and revealing a menagerie of familiar and unusual animals. Young children will delight in the absurd and amusing images (who wouldn’t love a ladybug dressed as a hippopotamus?) and will also appreciate the gags (a fish costumed as a cat is dubbed a “catfish”) and other bits of silly sweetness. Recapping this reading adventure: a detailed panorama at book’s end, showing all the party guests in their fanciful finery.

Why I like this book: I don’t like this book, I LOVE IT! You can read it, over and over right away! If anyone out there ever makes a costume of an animal ‘in costume’ send me a photo!

Resource/Activity: make your own costumes: http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/halloween/costumes/ ; Blog: My Disguises great photos and ideas for kids of ALL ages

For more links to posts on Perfect Picture Books and resources, visit Susanna Hill’s blog every Friday.

PS: It is Day Four of the 15 Habits of Great Writers Challenge and we have been prompted to ‘practice’ publicly. Well, I did that last night when I read a MS to my shiny and new kid-lit crit-group. It was scary but fun and helpful, and I appreciate my fellow members soooo much!