That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems is a cute tale told in the style of an old school silent film. There is one black page that has white sentences on it and a frame around the words while on the opposite page there are characters acting out the story. Every three pages there are little chicks warning a character that something is a bad idea, but the chracter falls into the trap anyway. The little chicks are quite endearing and don't worry, you'll still be surprised by the ending. The easy sentences and repeating concepts are great for children 4-8 years old.
Miss Fox's Class Goes Green written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Anne Kennedy has lovely tips on the front and back cover for people who wish to be kinder to the environment. The book gently explains what being "green" means and it's not that someone is feeling sick. The book gives simple ideas for how people can be green with making minimal effort. It was nice to see some of the ideas. A lot of them were very basic, but I really like the idea of having a toy swap instead of throwing them. This book is great for children up to ages 8, but even I learned something by reading it.
If You Give A Cat A Cupcake is written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. Who knew cats were so much work? The story tells of a cat who was given a cupcake and of course asks for sprinkles. One thing leads to another and another until the day is spent and the little girl is exhausted, but it doesn't end there because when they get home from a long day the little girl makes the mistake of giving the cat a cupcake. This is a cute book with adorable pictures. There are simple words and sentences making this book good for kids up to 8 years old.
From the man who brought you Marvel 1602 and The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman works with Dave McKean to bring you a picture book called Crazy Hair. This book is about a man with some crazy hair where inside this hair you never know what you'll find. The book has a fantastical quality common to Gaiman books with pictures to match. This book is also good for children up to ages 8.
Pirates Guide To First Grade is written by James Preller and illustrated by Greg Ruth. This story is about a boy who imagines a world of pirates all around him. His bus is his ship and his teacher is his Captain and imaginary pirates follow him everywhere. He struggles with first grade until his captain takes an interest in him and encourages him through pirate related education. This book is a fun read, but it does make school sound like a drag until his teacher takes a special interest in him. Also the grammar in the book is that of pirates so parents may be hearing things like, shiver me timbers at the breakfast table. This book is entertaining for children up to 8 years old.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Caldecott Medal Winning Picture Books
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka is a picture book without words and Caldecott winner for 2012. Words aren't needed to convey the story of this children's book about a dog and her beloved red ball. One day a little girl takes her dog Daisy to the park to play with her ball. Another dog decides to play ball with Daisy, but is a little to zealous and accidentally punctures the ball causing it to miserably deflate. Daisy is heartbroken as she carries her deflated mass home with her and mourns over it until the next day when her little girl takes her back to the park where they throw away the ball. The pair end up running into the other dog again and are pleased to see that the dog and his owner brought a blue ball to replace the broken one. The water color illustrations are endearing and sure to please young readers.
Flotsam is written and illustrated by David Wiesner and won the Caldecott award for 2007. In this book a very scientifically minded boy goes with his family to the beach and sees what he can uncover with his various magnifying devices. He is happily discovering the ordinary when he happens upon an extraordinary underwater camera. While looking at his new discovery he finds that there is a roll of film just waiting to be developed so he takes it to a one hour photo and replaces the roll of film with a new one. The pictures he finds opens a world of enchantment beneath the sea. Wonder he could never have imagined. He also discovers that this camera has been passed along from beach goer to beach goer and the boy adds his picture to the new roll and sends the camera on it's next adventure. These carefully detailed pictures don't need words to tell this enchanting story.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a a creative combinations of gouacge, pencil, ink and collage illustrations with die-cut holes that are designed to engage readers. This picture book was a 2000 Caledecott winner. It's a story of a man who started out with an Overcoat that he wore so much, he wore it out, but he wasn't done. He turned it into something else and something else after that. Each die-cut gives the reader a clue as to what the next use of the material will be. This book shows children how to think outside of the box in order to reuse their stuff instead of just throwing it away. There are short sentences and colorful pages making this book ideal for children up to 8 years old.
Smoky Night is written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz. It is the Caldecott winner of 1995. Diaz uses bright acrylics to bring this story to life. This picture book is for older children and depicts a Los Angeles riot in the streets that eventually forces the people in the building to leave their home. Though the riot is a serious topic the author uses the event to bring people closer together and overcome racial differences. There are several sentences on each page and this combined with the serious subject matter make this reader better for older children ages 7-12.
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say is 1994's Caldecott winner and beautifully illustrated with painted images. This story follows a young Japanese man as he immigrates to North America where he is enchanted by California. He goes back to Japan where he marries his childhood sweetheart and brings her back to California with him. They start a family and live happily for many years until he starts to yearn for home. This story is a beautiful depiction of immigration and cultural exchange. There are a couple of sentences to each page and the words go from easy to moderate making this book good for children up to 8.
Flotsam is written and illustrated by David Wiesner and won the Caldecott award for 2007. In this book a very scientifically minded boy goes with his family to the beach and sees what he can uncover with his various magnifying devices. He is happily discovering the ordinary when he happens upon an extraordinary underwater camera. While looking at his new discovery he finds that there is a roll of film just waiting to be developed so he takes it to a one hour photo and replaces the roll of film with a new one. The pictures he finds opens a world of enchantment beneath the sea. Wonder he could never have imagined. He also discovers that this camera has been passed along from beach goer to beach goer and the boy adds his picture to the new roll and sends the camera on it's next adventure. These carefully detailed pictures don't need words to tell this enchanting story.
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback is a a creative combinations of gouacge, pencil, ink and collage illustrations with die-cut holes that are designed to engage readers. This picture book was a 2000 Caledecott winner. It's a story of a man who started out with an Overcoat that he wore so much, he wore it out, but he wasn't done. He turned it into something else and something else after that. Each die-cut gives the reader a clue as to what the next use of the material will be. This book shows children how to think outside of the box in order to reuse their stuff instead of just throwing it away. There are short sentences and colorful pages making this book ideal for children up to 8 years old.
Smoky Night is written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz. It is the Caldecott winner of 1995. Diaz uses bright acrylics to bring this story to life. This picture book is for older children and depicts a Los Angeles riot in the streets that eventually forces the people in the building to leave their home. Though the riot is a serious topic the author uses the event to bring people closer together and overcome racial differences. There are several sentences on each page and this combined with the serious subject matter make this reader better for older children ages 7-12.
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say is 1994's Caldecott winner and beautifully illustrated with painted images. This story follows a young Japanese man as he immigrates to North America where he is enchanted by California. He goes back to Japan where he marries his childhood sweetheart and brings her back to California with him. They start a family and live happily for many years until he starts to yearn for home. This story is a beautiful depiction of immigration and cultural exchange. There are a couple of sentences to each page and the words go from easy to moderate making this book good for children up to 8.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Board Books
Winnie-the-Pooh's Colors is inspired by A.A. Milne and the illustrations are after the style of Ernest H. Shepard. These classic characters introduce colors to toddlers. The book is simple with very few words and simple sentences on each page and an illustration of each color discussed on that page.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems is an adorable board book about a pigeon that doesn't like to be told what to do. We can all relate to that. The pigeon goes from Angry to sad and finally happy until he discovers that he has given the bus driver exactly what he wanted in the first place. The simple drawings still manage to convey quite a bit of emotions and with simple words and sentences this is a cute book that parents won't mind having to repeat over and over again.
My Very First Book of Animal Sounds by Eric Carle is a board book meant for the littlest of readers. The book is uniquely designed to engage your little ones in learning what sounds go with each animal. The book is a flip book, but the bottom half flips separate than the top with an animal on top and a sound on the bottom. Adults will have fun making their kids giggle while making a rooster say roar and a cow meow. There is one word on each page making this book ideal for a first book.
llama llama hippity-hop is a book by Anna Dewdney author of one of my favorite children's series. All of the llama llama books are great for rhyming which help children with their early literacy skills. This board book has very few words, but they do rhyme and the little llama is so cute.
In The Garden is written by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Manelle Oliphant is a book for toddles. The story is about a boy who starts a garden and waits patiently while it grows. While there are only one or two words on each page the book tells a much longer story with it's charming illustrations. It's amazing how much of a story can be told from so few words.
The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems is an adorable board book about a pigeon that doesn't like to be told what to do. We can all relate to that. The pigeon goes from Angry to sad and finally happy until he discovers that he has given the bus driver exactly what he wanted in the first place. The simple drawings still manage to convey quite a bit of emotions and with simple words and sentences this is a cute book that parents won't mind having to repeat over and over again.
My Very First Book of Animal Sounds by Eric Carle is a board book meant for the littlest of readers. The book is uniquely designed to engage your little ones in learning what sounds go with each animal. The book is a flip book, but the bottom half flips separate than the top with an animal on top and a sound on the bottom. Adults will have fun making their kids giggle while making a rooster say roar and a cow meow. There is one word on each page making this book ideal for a first book.
llama llama hippity-hop is a book by Anna Dewdney author of one of my favorite children's series. All of the llama llama books are great for rhyming which help children with their early literacy skills. This board book has very few words, but they do rhyme and the little llama is so cute.
In The Garden is written by Elizabeth Spurr and illustrated by Manelle Oliphant is a book for toddles. The story is about a boy who starts a garden and waits patiently while it grows. While there are only one or two words on each page the book tells a much longer story with it's charming illustrations. It's amazing how much of a story can be told from so few words.
Marvel 1602
Gaiman's Marvel 1602 is a graphic novel set in an alternate reality that seems like a combination between historical and fantasy. Superheros from this time period take on different pesonas in this adventure. The identities become known the farther you delve into this graphic read. Javier works to find people with superhuman powers and provide a safe place for them to live in peace while another group is seeking to hunt them down at the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign all while a eminent storm is brewing. I won't divulge who will prevail in this Marvel creation, but those who are fans of Marvel superhero graphic novels are sure to enjoy this creation by Gaiman. It's fun figuring out which superheroes are the characters are as the story unfolds.
Those who like this graphic novel may also like Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 Torn by Joss Whedon.
Those who like this graphic novel may also like Astonishing X-Men Volume 3 Torn by Joss Whedon.
Friday, May 3, 2013
California Connection
California Connection by Chunichi Knott was an interesting read for me. It's classified as an Urban Fiction and I have to say that honestly I had never read anything from this genre. This genre seems popular with Sollers Point crowd and Chunichi is one of the more circulated authors.
This novel focused on the interaction of several characters living in urban Virginia. The protagonist is Jewel though each chapter focuses on a different character in the first person. The reader follows as Jewel seeks out a wealthy man, Calico and finds that his wealth comes from dealing drugs. His name is Calico because he is the "Connection" in California. Jewel seems to want to impress Calico by showing how much of a gangstress she can be, but this only gets her into trouble with the law at the same time that drama arises with Sasha, a good friend of hers. While she tries to help Sasha out of a financial mess and teach her the ways of gold digging Sasha has more nefarious plans.
The storyline sped up the more that the characters were developed and it became a quick read. It's not for the faint of heart as there are lots of drug references, strong erotic language and gratuitous swearing. The book ended with a surprise and left you wondering what happened. Luckily there is a sequel on the shelves called California Connection 2.
This novel focused on the interaction of several characters living in urban Virginia. The protagonist is Jewel though each chapter focuses on a different character in the first person. The reader follows as Jewel seeks out a wealthy man, Calico and finds that his wealth comes from dealing drugs. His name is Calico because he is the "Connection" in California. Jewel seems to want to impress Calico by showing how much of a gangstress she can be, but this only gets her into trouble with the law at the same time that drama arises with Sasha, a good friend of hers. While she tries to help Sasha out of a financial mess and teach her the ways of gold digging Sasha has more nefarious plans.
The storyline sped up the more that the characters were developed and it became a quick read. It's not for the faint of heart as there are lots of drug references, strong erotic language and gratuitous swearing. The book ended with a surprise and left you wondering what happened. Luckily there is a sequel on the shelves called California Connection 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)