"Fall smells purple: old leaves, crushed berries, squishy plums with worms in them. Purple: the smell of all things mixed together."
Showing posts with label S. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Red Sings from Treetops
Monday, December 28, 2009
Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep: A Yarn About Wool
Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep: A Yarn About Wool by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott 2000
Follow Farmer Brown and his shivering sheep through the complete process of turning wool into yarn. The sheep are perturbed by the loss of their wool, and even a little embarrassed. They trail after Farmer Brown to see what will become of their lovely white wool. In the end, they are wearing their wool again, in a more fashionable and colorful way.
Appropriate for ages 3-6
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Spoon
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon 2009
If you think a jealous spoon that needs a self-esteem boost can’t teach your child a thing or two, think again. Rosenthal uses an expressive cast of utensils to teach us that our insecurities about ourselves are sometimes a delusion. The Spoon in this story realizes that he is pretty useful after all, and better appreciates the unique abilities that he possesses.
Appropriate for ages 3-5
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen 2003
Mr. Magee and his dog Dee are ecstatic about hitting the road and encountering the adventures that await them in the mountains. Little do they know that a famished bear and a gawking raccoon will visit their campsite. The chain of events that take place will have them heading home in a dash.
“And on the way home Magee said to Dee, “That trip wasn’t quite like I thought it would be.” So when they got home, with the sky turning red, they decided to camp in the backyard instead.”
The artwork by Van Dusen deftly showcases the joys of camping, whether in the wilderness or at home. The images of the Maine landscape are crisp, and endearing.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Sometimes You Get What You Want
Sometimes You Get What You Want by Meredith Gary, illustrated by Lisa Brown 2008
Children will relate to the text by Gary that focuses on day to day activities and the emotions that arise when we get what we want, and when we don’t. No doubt, a great conversation will ensue after reading this book with your child.
“Sometimes you can make as much noise as you want. Sometimes you have to be quiet. Sometimes you can do it yourself. Sometimes you need a little help. Sometimes you have to go right to sleep, but sometimes you don’t.”
Appropriate for ages 2-6
Friday, November 6, 2009
Say Hello
Say Hello by Jack Foreman, illustrated by Michael Foreman 2008
A dog and a little boy are experiencing what it feels like to be lonely and left out. A group of kids having a great time can be very intimidating, but it only takes the kindness of one to begin the process of friendship and belonging.
The spare text and illustrations leave ample room to observe the moral of kindness towards others, and the powerful life change it can render.
Appropriate for ages 3-6
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Little Farm by the Sea
Little Farm by the Sea by Kay Chorao 1998
The busyness and importance of small farms is rendered here with clarity. It takes daily hard work to run a farm, and the jobs of each season are explored. Animals are born, produce is shared, and the community is enriched because of this small farm by the sea. There are fun details to discover on each beautifully illustrated page. A trip to a small farm or farmer’s market in your town is sure to follow.
Appropriate for ages 3-8
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Those Darn Squirrels!
Those Darn Squirrels! By Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri 2008
An old man lives alone and finds pleasure in attracting birds to his yard so he can paint their pictures. He takes great pains to provide seeds and berries for his feathered friends. The neighborhood gang of squirrels and all their shenanigans interrupts his plans. The squirrels calmly construct clever ways to fill their bellies, and it looks as though they may prevail until they give Old Man Fookwire the biggest surprise of all.
The old man’s demeanor changes from one of frustration to unexpected happiness at the guests in his yard. There is a sweet respect between the creatures in this story that speaks volumes.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Other Side
The Other Side by Istvan Banyai 2005
The visual journey taken in this wordless book is stunning. We discover a unique perspective in very familiar scenes by seeing what is behind, above, or underneath what we see. The plotline is not linked on every page, but there are recurring subjects, colors and themes. Those who are willing to look hard, and study the images, will have their thoughts stretched and challenged to see the world through new eyes.
Appropriate for ages 5-10
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Billy and Milly, Short and Silly
Billy and Milly, Short and Silly by Eve Feldman, illustrated by Tuesday Mourning 2009
Numerous short rhyming stories introduce the playful world of language. Billy and Milly are featured in each scene, and a fun story is told with simple verbs and nouns. The illustrations are vivid, and play an important role in understanding the humorous tales. Drama is sometimes created by page turns to resolve a problem.
Mourning’s modern collage-like artwork evokes the many changing moods of children, and the bright colors explode off the page.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Stanley at Sea
Stanley at Sea by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin 2008
Wandering in search for food seems to be the only option for Stanley when his owners don’t share their picnic. As he drools and trots along he is joined by three of his hungry friends. Their sniffers take them on a journey for nourishment, until they board a boat that begins to float away from the dock. They are completely surrounded by water.
“The only thing they knew was-they were moving! Houses and bushes and trees raced past. The dogs were so shocked, they forgot to be hungry.”
They continue to ride the waves out to sea. They assume that since they are Outside, they will eventually come to a fence. Will they find more food at the End of Outside, and will they ever be united with their owners?
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sophie and the Next-Door Monsters
Sophie and the Next-Door Monsters by Chris Case 2008
Sophie enjoys playing on her own, but when her mom insists that they invite the new neighbors over she views the next-door monsters as an interruption. She puts on protective gear in case they decide to kidnap her. To her astonishment, the youngest monster Charlie makes her laugh and even has magical powers. Sophie’s cat follows them around with a perturbed look on its face, especially when Charlie turns him into a potato. Charlie’s expression as he tries on Sophie’s hats is silly, and endearing.
Case uses a subtle voice to remind children that meeting new people can bring very pleasant surprises.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sally and the Purple Socks
Sally and the Purple Socks by Lisze Bechtold 2008Sally the duck is ecstatic to receive her new purple socks in the mail. Uncertain as to what size she specified, they nevertheless fit perfectly. The socks begin to take on a life of their own, growing at a speedy rate. But Sally is unperturbed and comes up with clever ways to use her soft, cozy, warm, luxurious and magical socks. A rainstorm brings things back down to size, and Sally is even more thankful for her purple toe warmers.
The silly suspense of this book would be perfect for a clothing themed story time.
Appropriate for ages 3-8
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Snail House
The Snail House by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Gillian Tyler 2001
This story begins in the lap of a Grandma, which reassures us that it will be riveting. Add to it children who shrink to miniature size, and a traveling shell house on a snail’s back, and we know the story will be even more engaging. The snail covers a very short distance through the garden and yet adventure is prevalent in the form of an earthquake, a disappearing baby, and a brush with death.
The visual feast presented to us by Tyler, in pen-and-ink and watercolor, coincides beautifully with the conversational narrative by Ahlberg. The garden scenes passing outside the whimsical windows of the snail house are stunning.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Baby Shower
The Baby Shower by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Judy Love 2007
Ms. Brindle Cow’s friends want to celebrate the birth of her calf. They romp through the countryside carrying their special gifts with them. They sing a sweet song as they go:
“We love you, Brindle. Yes, we do. We’ll love your darling baby, too. Mr. Bull congratulations! We’ve come to join the celebrations.”
The happy ending has a surprise that is doubly fun. Each animal lays out their gift to welcome the babies, and the excitement on their faces is infectious.
This is a cute way of describing what a baby shower is to curious young children. The love and support of family and friends is of utmost importance, and this fact is illustrated in a charming way.
Appropriate for ages 3-6
Saturday, September 19, 2009
SuperHero ABC
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod 2008
Combining the popularity of superheroes with an alphabet book makes for an effective learning tool. The superheroes powers are introduced one letter at a time. There is the female Firefly who “fights felons in the forest”, and has “fat feet". The Odor Officer appears when “offensive odors” fill the air. The alliterations for each word add even more humor.
The cartoon illustrations by McLeod look very much like a comic book in an oversize format. The bold colors, and word balloons attest to the action that prevails throughout the book.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Song of Night
Song of Night by Katherine Riley Nakamura, illustrated by Linnea Riley 2002
This story warmly introduces animal families getting ready for bed. The illustrations by Riley (Mouse Mess) are beautifully soft, as if you could reach out and rub the rabbit’s fur. The rituals of sleep-time readiness, from teeth brushing to a bedtime story, are full of humor and love. The connection between each family is shown as they all gaze up at a mellow moon.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes the Trash!
Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes the Trash! By Barbara Odanaka, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand 2006
“Here comes the trash truck!” is a common cry heard in many households. In this story two young swine’s wake up to the loud belching of a garbage truck. Their canine friends run outside and follow the truck as it makes it’s stinky rounds. Kids will be delighted by the expressions on the trucks, and the slimy grossness that is devoured by each one. The two pigs continue to reenact the munching machines long after they growl away.
The text is energetic and combines perfectly with the vividly stained illustrations.
“Melon rinds, moldy bread, toss ‘em in and forge ahead!”
Appropriate for ages 3-8
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Stick
Stick by Steve Breen 2007
Stick the frog has a taste for adventure, and he wants to explore on his own. While attempting to devour lunch one day, his long tongue gets stuck on a dragonfly. He gets lifted off of his lily pad, and sets out for the ride of his life. He avoids near death, lands on many kinds of animals, and surprises passersby in the jazzy city of New Orleans. During his wild ride, he looks slightly dazed, but strangely amused. When he lands on the marina and sees the sun beginning to set, he realizes that he misses home more than he thought he would. A feathered friend gladly returns him home to his mom. But the long journey has made this young frog hungry, which causes Stick to ingest another interesting snack.
Breen’s artwork is a mixture of close-ups, larger action shots, and aerial views. The fun suspense and silliness is rendered in beautiful details. The swamps of New Orleans are wonderfully displayed, and a map of Stick’s journey is on the endpapers.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Monday, August 24, 2009
Adele & Simon
Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock 2006
Simon is picked up at school by his big sister Adele, who urges Simon to “try not to lose anything today.” We soon learn that Simon has a knack for getting distracted and misplacing his things. Paris in the 20th century holds many bustling scenes with distractions around each corner. The route that Adele & Simon take is leisurely, and includes a street market, gardens, and the grounds of Notre-Dame. As Simon looses his things (crayons, a glove, his knapsack), kind Parisians help him search, but he ends up sauntering to the next beautiful locale. These same Parisians follow through in a special way, preventing undue frustration from Simon’s mom when he arrives home empty handed.
Each pen-and-ink illustration by McClintock is full of details which make the visual game of hide-and-seek a delight. The journey the children take through the city is depicted on endpaper maps. Each neighborhood or landmark covered in the story is described in more detail at the back of the book. If you have never been to Paris, the astonishing artwork of this book will make you dream of visiting someday. If you have been to this enchanted city, memories will loom large as you immerse yourself in the pictures.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
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