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Friday, July 20, 2012

Picture book mini-reviews, part 11

Good Night, Laila Tov
by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Jui Ishida
Random House Children's Books
March 2012

Here's another Jewish family picture book from Laurel Snyder. This is as sweet and gentle as her other books have been snarky and funny. A mom and dad plant trees everywhere they go and their two kids fall asleep - a lot! The tables are turned when the children tuck their parents in when they return home. Cozy illustrations show the family bathed in yellow light. This could be nice as a bedtime story or for Tu Bishvat.

I borrowed this book from the library.

An Awesome Book
by Dallas Clayton
HarperCollins
March 2012

This book may be a little more for grown-ups than for kids? It's kind of along the same lines as Oh, the Places You'll Go by Seuss, crossed with the silly sensibility of Todd Parr.  Things get off to a strong start, "There are places in the world where people do not dream... of rocket-powered unicorns." Busy sketches full of detail have a hipster vibe to them. The artwork reminded me a little of Hallmark Shoebox greetings, too. This is a reprint of a 2008 release.

I borrowed this book from the library.

That's Not Funny!
by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds
Andersen Press, USA
September 2010

Willis treats us to a silly story of a naughty hyena, who LOVES to laugh at all the animals when he puts a banana peel on their path to step on. The joke is on him when after a long series of mishaps, Hyena lands in "a huge, steaming heap of Elephant's POO!" Colorful illustrations really bring the African plains to life. Pair this with Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears or any of Eric Kimmel's Anansi books for a fun storytime.

I borrowed this book from the library.

National Geographic Kids Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters, and Ridiculous Riddles
edited by Robin Terry
National Geographic Society
March 2012

Kids jokes are just too funny. You'll be holding your belly, and rolling your eyes as you groan over these delightfully corny jokes.

Jokes like:
"Q: What rock group has four men who don't sing? 
A: Mount Rushmore."

Knock knocks like these:
"Knock, knock"
"Who's there?"
"T. Rex."
"T. Rex who?"
"There's a T. Rex at your door, and you want to know his name?"

And unique tongue-twisters such as:
"Girl gargoyle, guy gargoyle."

will all be very well received by kids with a sense of humor.

Brilliant color photos of all manner of wild animals and an appealing layout make this a perfect choice for reluctant readers. I highly recommend this book!

I borrowed this book from the library.

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