Baby 365

We did it! This year I vowed to read a book day to my daughter. We finished up reading our 365th board book this month, but we'll keep on reading! This has been such a neat experience. Of course, we have a lot (really a lot) of books around the house, but this project has allowed me to explore what our library has to offer, and given me the excuse to shop for more.

I also felt really humbled by statistics that show nearly half of children are not read to every day. Reading nearly every day was a challenge! And there were a lot of days that we skipped, and a lot of days where we'd read 4 or 5 books. So technically, we didn't read "every day." If a librarian can't read Every. Single. Day without fail, who can?

It has been really fun reading old favorites with my child, and reading those books which were always my favorites to perform during storytime and see her reaction. She likes making chomping noises for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and patting the fluffy dog in Touch and Feel Farm. I also discovered a lot of new authors, and even found that some of my daughter's favorites were affordable books we picked up at the dollar store. Her all-time favorite has to be Jungle Noises. "What sound does a tiger make? Rawr!"

Baby 365

Earlier this year, I made a pledge to read to my baby daughter every day. I was feeling like, "the cobbler's children have no shoes." I had every best intention of reading to her, and LOTS of books to choose from, but with a jam-packed schedule, it was hard to make the time.

I'm about 3 months in... how is it going? It's going really well! I am glad that I'm making the effort. Sometimes we end up skipping a day, but usually there's another day where I really have her attention and we read 2 books so that makes up for it.

I think having a professional relationship with books, I felt a certain pressure to heavily curate my books at home and only offer my daughter the very, very best. Choosing to read every day, weirdly, took the pressure right off. I end up reading whatever we've got to hand. Ratty board book at the local coffee shop? Check. Books at the pediatrician's office? Check. Books from the dollar store? Yes. Library books? Yes, and yes. Pretty much a smattering of everything. I'll say my daughter's taste has really evolved in the past month or so. Board books, with sturdy cardboard pages, are an absolute must. She used to respond to high-contrast, black and white picture books. Lately, she enjoys books with a lot more color and simple words, especially animal sounds. Last night I read her a touch and feel book with fluffy pages that she loved.

Here's a sampling of what we read our first month into this project:

Picture book mini-reviews 38

What Floats in a Moat?
by Lynne Berry
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
July 2013

 Here is a rather lengthy picture book take on Archimede's bath. Archie the goat tries to float across a moat. For science! In rhyming text, Skinny the Chicken gains much weight from downing all the buttermilk in their efforts to get the barrel properly afloat. I liked the angry queen pig. The pen and ink and watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of William Steig's work. The story is appended with an author's note on water displacement.

I borrowed this book from the library.

That is Not a Good Idea!
by Mo Willems
Balzer + Bray
April 2013

Mo Willems has struck gold again with another very funny, action packed story. Where's the piano music for this take on an old black and white silent film? A trio of baby chicks repeat, "That is not a good idea!" as a sweet and silly goose is seemingly lured in by a unctuous fox. Similar in theme to Richard Waring's classic picture book Hungry Hen, children will love the fabulous surprise ending.

 I borrowed this book from the library.

No Fits, Nilson!
by Zachariah O'Hora
Dial Books
June 2013

Let's blame an imaginary friend for tantrums. Nilson is a charming gorilla, who sometimes causes his friend Amelia problems when he decides to go ape. I appreciated small details such as Amelia staring him down and repeating the words "banana ice cream" over and over. Tiny text emanates from her eyes, as she hypnotizes Nilson with the promise of a treat for good behavior. Any child who's ever struggled with self-control will relate to this humorous offering.

I borrowed this book from the library.

What Makes a Baby?
by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Triangle Square
May 2013

This matter of fact volume describes all the ways how modern-day babies are made. It's informative and welcoming for any and all kinds of families - gay, lesbian, adopted, conceived by IVF or surrogacy, etc. Very literal-minded little ones may struggle with the poetic license, "they swirl together in a special kind of dance... the egg tells the sperm all the stories it has to tell about the body it came from..." Bright neon illustrations of yellow, purple and green people are reminiscent of Todd Parr or Keith Haring's work. Highly recommended, as it gets across the message to a child that they are loved and appreciated for who they are with questions such as, "Who was happy that it was YOU who grew?" and "Who was waiting for you to be born?"

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 37

Dig, Dogs, Dig
by James Horvath
Harper Collins
April 2013

Go, Dog, Go meets your favorite construction book in this entertaining rhyming picture book. The dogs living situation is a bit reminiscent of a firehouse - but these dogs are ready for some construction work instead. Even the lines such as, "Run, dogs, run!" and "Dig, dogs, dig!" reminded me of Go, Dog, Go. They uncover a dinosaur bone, while building a park that eventually the whole community can enjoy. Colorful digital illustrations with plenty of full-bleed pages are vibrant and appealing. Endpages feature a lineup of the dogs, each posed with their tools.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Soup Day
by Melissa Iwai
Henry Holt and Co.
April 2010

Multi-media collage illustrations depict a happy little girl's day and the soup she makes with her Mommy on a wintry day in the city. This is a nice multicultural family and plenty of concepts such as counting or shapes are included throughout. The story is appended with a recipe for soup.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Penguin on Vacation
by Salina Yoon
Walker Childrens
April 2013

Here is an adorable story about a penguin who gets tired of the cold and decides to head for warmer climes. In the tropics, he's no good at vacationing - the sunny beach is not the place for skiing, sledding and skating, like he's used to. Fortunately, he makes a new friend, a crab who is able to show him the ropes. Penguin returns the favor by hosting Crab when he comes to visit the Antarctic. Endpages feature crabs on a beach... and crabs bundled up for the snow. Colorful full-bleed pages featuring digital art with thick lines make the pictures easy to see from a distance. This is a natural pick for group story times.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Pirates vs. Cowboys
by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by David Barneda
Knopf Books for Young Readers
March 2013

In this wacky tale, pirates and cowboys have an unlikely showdown in a saloon in Old Cheeanne. Older children will enjoy the heavy use of vernacular from both the pirates and cowboys. Pegleg Highnoon is the only character who can speak both fluent Pirate and Cowboy - and finds the only thing they all really have in common is the need for a bath! The dialect is what makes this a favorite at storytime for me, especially with children old enough to get the sense of humor. Endpages feature pirate treasure maps and a map of the Old West.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 36

Dino Bites!
by Craig Algy Hall
Boxer Books
March 2013

Simple, loud and funny, this story is a total triumph. One dinosaur chomps another in this food chain cumulative story, and all is well until, "The bite buzzed..." causing T-Rex to rather loudly "BUUURP!" the other dinos free again. Dino Bites has enormous kid appeal, large, colorful illustrations with bold dark outlines and a very simple text, sometimes only one word per page. This story is perfect for reading aloud to large groups.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?
by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
Clarion Books
March 2013

A little green duck has lost his new blue socks, and searches high and low for them, asking everyone he meets if they've seen the erstwhile footwear in this rhyming tale. Having checked his box, his friend Fox, Mr. Ox and some peacocks, he goofily realizes... he's been wearing them this whole time. I loved the quirky hidden details such as Fox sitting down to eat a bowl of grapes and in Duck's messy house, presumably a baby picture of him as an egg.
Colorful pen, ink and watercolor illustrations hint at a Dr. Seuss-like sensibility. I highly recommend this not only as a read-aloud but for beginning readers as well.

I borrowed this book from the library.

That's Mine!
by Michael Van Zeveren
Gecko Press
January 2013

A frog, a snake, an eagle, a lizard and all fight over an egg they find in the jungle. After accidentally bonking an elephant on the head, all the animals are very quick to disavow their connection to the egg. When the egg finally hatches a baby crocodile, she knows exactly who to go to: the frog that originally found the egg. The ending is ambiguous enough, we weren't sure if the crocodile is planning to eat the frog, or simply claiming the frog as a parent. A funny translation from the French language original.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Steam Train, Dream Train
by Sherry Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Chronicle Books
April 2013

Here is a soothing bedtime train book all in rhyme. Oil pastels give a textured look to the illustrations. Zoo animals and a dinosaur load up their train with toys, balls, paint, ice cream, sand for sand boxes... a bit random, but in short, everything a boy could ever want. End pages feature engineer coverall stripes.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 35

Jasper and Joop
by Olivier Dunrea
HMH Books for Young Readers
March 2013

Simple sentences compare and contrast neat, Felix Unger type Jasper with his best friend, a slovenly Oscar Maddix type. Illustrations make clear that even when they say the same thing, their reactions are opposite. For example, "Jasper jumps over the puddle. 'Too wet,' he says." readers see Jasper smartly hopping over the puddle with nary a feather out of place. "Joop splashes into the puddle. 'TOO wet!' he honks." with his wings and legs akimbo, gleefully splashing about. A nice gentle adventure for young readers, the book's small size is perfect for tiny hands.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Bye-Bye Baby Brother!
by Sheena Dempsey
Candlewick Press
April 2013

This story takes sibling jealousy head on with a British sensibility. Ruby is sick of her little brother Oliver taking up all of her mother's time. Playing with the dog, Rory, isn't enough to distract her. She dreams up ways to get rid of Oliver even imagining a "Yard Sale. A nice squashy baby in full working order. A bit noisy, but quiets down when given some brown mush to eat. 50c Good Price." After finally getting some quality time with mom, once Oliver's been fed, they pretend to go to the moon, and Ruby gets a story read to her. After the baby is finally put down for a nap, Ruby decides that maybe the baby isn't so bad after all. Endpages feature cute baby toys. This book offers a tender and sweet story for any growing family. 

I borrowed this book from the library.

Peace, Baby!

Linda Ashman

Chronicle Books
May 2013

A diverse group of kids in a wide variety of situations each find something to fight about, but resolve things with the repeating phrase, "Peace, baby." This is a great conflict resolution book to add to your library. Light but colorful digital illustrations retain the feel of pen and ink. Celebratory banners decorate the endpages.

I borrowed this book from the library.

I Dreamt...: A Book About Hope
by Gabriela Olmos, translated by Elisa Amado
Groundwood Books
April 2013

Strong anti-violence/anti-war message in this book, created in collaboration with Mexican artists. Red endpapers feature dried dandelion puffs (as if to make a wish for peace.) A fairly heavy message, which gets a bit dark at times, "I dreamt of pistols that shoot butterflies... and of drug lords who only sell soap bubbles." Varying typefaces in different sizes and colors lend emphasis to the poetic dream images and unite the diverse artistic styles employed. Profits from this book will go to the International Board on Books for Young People for Children in Crisis.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 34

Nora's Chicks
by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Kathryn Brown
Candlewick Press
February 2013

Russian emigre Nora is friendless and lonely on a prairie farm, until she takes in some chicks and meets another little girl down the road. Willie the dog ends up favoring her baby brother Milo, and it isn't until Nora takes on a flock of chicks that she truly has something of her own in their new home. This was a sweet and heartwarming tale. Gentle, yet detail-filled, watercolor artwork features several full spreads and some spot illustrations. Endpages feature blue and yellow flowers in a Russian folk-art design.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Another Night at the Museum
by Milan Trenc
Henry Holt and Co.
March 2013

Melissa and her dad Larry, a guard at the New York Museum of Natural History, are in for a watery adventure when the museum comes to life and floods the city. The father-daughter duo swim with prehistoric sea creatures alongside many famous New York City landmarks. The book features digitally altered watercolors. This lengthy picture book is potentially a good Father's Day selection. The book is appended with questions and facts from the museum.

I borrowed this book from the library.

My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood
by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Shane Evans
Viking Books for Young Readers
March 2013

Colors are equated with emotions for an upbeat African-American boy, the middle child in his family. Lines such as "A purple kind of mood/Cold-plum eating/Grape-juice drinking/On the couch/Bobbing to the beat kind of mood" and "Bomp, bomp/Bip, bip, bap/Orange mood/Moving, schooling/To the hoop/Swish!" make this story rhythmic and fun. The artwork is comprised of digital collage with oil paints and graphite, while the endpages feature rings of pastel color.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever or Snacktime?
by Tammi Sauer and Michael Slack
HMH Books for Young Readers
April 2013

This story stars two unlikely friends: a shark and a minnow see their friendship put to the test when Nugget goes to school and learns about the dangers that sharks pose. Shunning Fang, his now-lonely friend tries to get back in Nugget's good graces by dressing up as a mermaid, extending a dinner invitation, even sending a special delivery message, "You're fintastic!" Saving the minnows from a fisherman's net finally convinces Nugget and his new school friends that Fang can be trusted. The book is appended with a final illustration of Fang proudly showing off a picture of his food chain - a vegetarian menu. A humorous book for shark aficionados. Digital illustrations have a painterly feel.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Millie's Chickens review

Millie's Chickens

by Brenda Williams, illustrated by Valeria Cis
Barefoot Books
May 2015

This sweet British import features rhyming text slightly reminiscent of The House that Jack Built. Appealing illustrations use loose acrylics with saturated color. Millie's idyllic backyard is filled with plants, a slide, a clothesline and happily pecking chickens. One of Millie's hens, Silkie, gets lost, but is quickly found with a clutch of eggs, and Millie is kept contentedly busy looking after the chickens and their new baby chicks. 

Endpapers display an assortment of heritage breed chickens on a soft blue background. The book is appended with a colorful illustrated glossary and informative text on keeping chickens, chicken anatomy, parts of an egg and the life cycle of chickens, as well as suggestions of different cooking methods for eggs.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This review originally appeared in School Library Journal.

How to Catch a Mouse review

How to Catch a Mouse

by Philippa Leathers

Candlewick Press

April 2015

Observant readers will enjoy spotting the mouse hidden in nearly every pencil and watercolor illustration, as Clemmie the cat confidently smirks at her supposed mouse-hunting prowess. Clemmie researches tell-tale signs of a mouse from a book, but is led astray by ordinary household items such as a long pink tail that turns out to be the ribbon of a hat and so on. Gradually, the mouse assembles a costume which hides all distinctive mousy features. 

Clemmie's bushy-tailed fear at finally uncovering a real live mouse is very amusing. Two can play at that game, when Clemmie works on her own art of disguise to finally chase the mouse around. Yellow endpapers feature cat and mouse tracks.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This review originally appeared in School Library Journal.

Bookish Links du Jour 3/8/15

Oh no! There's much consternation on the internets, as author Shannon Hale talks about a sadly frequent phenomenon. Being invited as an author to school visits and finding that only the girls have been invited to her program.

Digital natives prefer reading in print! E-books are gaining in popularity, but the number of readers who read e-books exclusively is still actually very small. Many prefer to switch back and forth, and of course, there are a lot of die-hards who just always prefer paper.

Reading aloud to young children, especially before they start school is one of the best ways to increase reading readiness and future scholastic success. Here's a recent academic paper which breaks down just how much benefit there is to reading children's literature. They show that picture books use 50% more rare words and provide much richer vocabulary than your average children's television show. Also, reading 20 minutes a day will expose your child to over 1,800,000 vocabulary words over the course of a year!

Bookish Links du Jour 3/1/15

Here's one way to enjoy the snowy weather...

Is that a #Hogwarts snow sculpture we see?! MT @PeteKotsonis: Lumos! #harrypotter pic.twitter.com/vGSUlTqY0o
— Scholastic (@Scholastic) February 25, 2015

There's a new Dr. Seuss book is coming out this summer. What Pet Should I Get? is a continuation of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and makes for the seventh posthumously published Seuss book (not counting the 40 plus Cat in the Hat adaptations put out by Tish Rabe and Bonnie Worth.)

Grinches are looking to shut down Little Free Libraries, usually citing building codes and permits. What a shame. The basic idea behind Little Free Libraries is so charming and beautiful - to share favorite books with the community and foster neighborliness. If I had one argument with Little Free Libraries, it's that sadly, I see too many people treat them as "dumping grounds" for books of questionable quality. I've seen far too many moldy books, tattered newspapers, outdated appliance manuals and the like stashed in LFL's around town. C'mon, people! Use them in the spirit that they're intended and the world will be a better place.

People are talking about Pattern Recognition's blog post about shamefully low library director salaries in the rural U.S. Check out the comments for some interesting opinions.

Great Cheese Robbery review

Great Cheese Robbery

by Tim Warnes

Little Tiger Press

March 2015

This British import features anthropomorphized elephants with a subtle nod to Babar. Patrick Elephant looks up to his Daddy who isn't scared of anything, except, of course, for mice. When a cheeky mouse arrives at their doorstep and demands to inspect their household supply of cheese, Daddy Elephant is unable to stop cowering long enough to stop him. 

Before they know it, an army of hungry mice arrive to remove the rest of their food, their refrigerator and most of Patrick's toys, ostensibly for “health and safety” reasons. Fortunately, Mommy Elephant arrives just in time to save the day and restore order. Warmly hued endpapers use a repeating elephant design. 

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This review originally appeared in School Library Journal.

Newbery and Caldecott Picks for 2015

The Newbery and Caldecott awards are going to be announced soon - all of the American Library Association youth media awards, actually, including the Alex, Printz, Morris, Coretta Scott King and Pura Belpre, Batchelder and Seuss Geisel awards. (along with a few more that I'm sure I'm forgetting!) But, the Caldecott and Newbery awards are the ones that get people really excited. I've put together a list of predictions - things that have been getting a lot of buzz. We'll see in a few days, if any of these end up as winners, or if the awards will go to some dark horse from a small press that none of us have heard of.

Caldecott Predictions

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole - Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen

     I loved this book. Will it strike gold?

Brother Hugo and the Bear - Katy Beebe & S.D. Schindler

Flashlight - Lizi Boyd

The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus - Jennifer Fisher Bryant & Michelle Sweet

     Super educational. Teachers and librarians will be so happy if this one wins. I like Michelle Sweet's illustrations a lot, even if they don't feel "strange" enough to win.

Draw! - Raul Colon

Firebird - Misty Copeland & Christopher Myers

Gaston - Kelly DiPuccio & Christian Robinson

Some Bugs -Angela DiTerlizzi & Brendan Wenzel

The Farmer and the Clown - Marla Frazee.

     Lots of good buzz on this nearly wordless picture book. I can see this one winning. I'm a longtime Frazee fan.

Grandfather Gandhi - Arun Ghandi & Bethany Hegedus & Evan Turk

     How great would it be if this was a winner? I love to think of generations of school children enjoying this title.

Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? - Rita Gray & Kenard Pak

Extraordinary Jane - Hannah E. Harrison

Firefly July - Paul B. Janeckzo & Melissa Sweet

Winter is Coming - Tony Johnston & Jim La Marche

Have You Seen My Dragon? - Steve Light 

The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse - Patricia MacLachlan & Hadley Hooper

     Another wonderful biographical picture book. I'm rooting for it.

Viva Frida - Yuyi Morales & Tim O'Meara

     Really distinctive.

Hi, Koo! - Jon J. Muth

     This book is such a charmer!

Baby Bear - Kadir Nelson

The Book with No Pictures - B.J. Novak

     I'm including this book, just to be ornery! I think it would cause such a stir to nominate this book for an award that goes to the best pictures.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art - Barb Rosenstock & Mary GrandPre

     I think people will go wild, if the American illustrator for Harry Potter wins for this book.

Aviary Wonders, Inc.: Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual - Kate Samworth

     Such a strange and wonderful book. This could really be a winner.

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Best Friend - Dan Santat

Henny - Elizabeth Rose Stanton

Bad Bye, Good Bye - Deborah Underwood & Jonathan Bean

Stella's Starliner - Rosemary Wells

Newbery Predictions

Crossover - Alexander Kwame

     I love narrative poetry.

The Madman of Piney Woods - Christopher Paul Curtis

     Lots of buzz for this one. Will multiple award winner Curtis snag the gold again?

Glass Sentence - S.E. Grove

     Fantasy doesn't usually stand a chance, but maybe this one will come up with an award.

The Secret Hum of a Daisy - Tracy Holczer

A Snicker of Magic - Natalie Lloyd

     This is the kind of thing that I'd love to see win. Magical and fun.

West of the Moon - Margi Preus

The Riverman - Aaron Starmer

Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson

     Okay, you heard it here first. I think this book is going to sweep multiple categories. I'm hearing so many wonderful things about it.

Book With No Pictures reading

I've seen plenty of wordless picture books in my day, but this is a first... The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak sure looks like fun.

Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art

This week's topic from The Broke and the Bookish is: Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art.

I'm going to do something a little unusual this week, and instead on concentrating on the pretty, pretty YA covers out there of girls in beautiful dresses, let's look at some of my very favorite picture book artists.

Here we go:

Stella, Fairy of the Forest - Marie Louise Gay

I love this spunky redhead!

The Book of Dragons - Michael Hague

It's true. I have a weakness for dragons. And Michael Hague is one of my very favorite illustrators. I love this book cover.

Little White Rabbit - Kevin Henkes

I love all the books that Henkes has done in this style, starting with Kitten's First Moon and including Old Bear and My Garden. If I had to pick just one of his, I'd go with Little White Rabbit, though.

Mother Goose Picture Puzzles - Will Hillenbrand

I am such a fan of Will Hillenbrand's work. I actually don't know if I'd frame the cover for his collection of Mother Goose rhymes, but I could probably find several of the interior pieces that I'd love to decorate my house with.

Little Red Riding Hood - Trina Schart Hyman

Here's another illustrator that I totally have a crush on. I love all of her work, so it's hard to pick just one. I especially love the cover she did for Ronia, Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren. But, if I'm keeping with the picture book theme, I'd stick with Little Red Riding Hood.

Earth Mother - Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

I actually did have a poster of this book cover decorating my office for several years. I'm a huge fan of the Dillons.

The Lion and the Little Red Bird - Elisa Kleven

Again, here's an illustrator that I really admire. I really liked her take on Sun Bread and The Whole Green World. But, The Lion and the Little Red Bird holds a special place in my heart as the first Elisa Kleven book that I ever read.

Winnie the Pooh - A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

Those original illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard (not the later Disney animations!) have a really sweet and special childhood feeling.

The Library - Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small

What's not to love about this book cover? A redhead librarian overburdened by books... hmmm... sound like anyone we know?

The Real Mother Goose - Blanche Fisher Wright

Well... I don't know if I would go for the cover of this classic Mother Goose collection either, but there are literally dozens of illustrations throughout the book that I would love to frame.

That's my top 10 list of frameable book covers. What are your favorites?

Picture book mini-reviews 33

Polar Bear Morning
by Lauren Thompson
Scholastic Press
January 2013

Two polar bear cubs explore the arctic, finding seals, seagulls and icebergs. Simple text (just a sentence per page) and large, bold shapes in linocut illustrations make this a good choice for very young audiences. Polar Bear Morning is the perfect example of "less is more." This is a nice companion to Polar Bear Night.

I borrowed this book from the library.

The Ant and the Grasshopper
by Rebecca Emberley, illustrated by Ed Emberley
Roaring Brook Press
October 2012

Caveat emptor! This is not the Aesop's fable. Vibrant, eye-spinning illustrations with clashing colors and Cajun slang celebrate New Orleans music. The lesson seems to be "Laissez les bon temps rouler!" or "Let the good times roll!" which is rather the opposite of the moral from the original fable about virtues of hard work and planning for the future. File this alongside gutless re-tellings of The Little Red Hen with new endings where she decides to share her hard-won bread, despite the laziness of her friends. Some readers may appreciate the wildly colorful, deeply saturated collage illustrations, but I found them stomach churning.

I borrowed this book from the library.

999 Frogs Wake Up
by Ken Kimura
NorthSouth Books
January 2013

What a great spring story. 998 frogs (plus their big brother) decide wake everybody up for spring. When they accidentally wake up a hungry snake they assure him that he can sleep a little later if he likes. Cute, "kawai" illustrations with lots of white space retain a very Japanese feel from this import. This is a sequel to 999 Tadpoles.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Red Hat
by Lita Judge
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
March 2013

With one exclamation per page, a bear and his forest animal friends "Wow-za" "Shwooop" and "Doot-do-doo" through the onomatopoeic story, going on a wild adventure with a knitted red hat they find out on a clothesline. Unraveling their way through the forest, the boy finally gets his tangled yarn back and he re-knits it into little hats for everyone. This is a sequel to Red Sled.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 32

The Loopy Coop Hens: Letting Goby Janet Morgan StoekeDial BooksFebruary 2013

Chickens don't fly... like Newton's apple, they'll head straight for the ground. This picture book makes for a fun story for beginning readers, with easy three and four letter words and a repetitive vocabulary. Dot, Pip and Midge are just as charming as the adorably addlepated Minerva Louise from Stoeke's earlier books. The silly chickens are convinced someone must be throwing apples at them - when they finally make their way up into the branches of the tree to investigate they are rewarded with a wonderful view and cheerfully discover that what goes up, must come down.

I borrowed this book from the library.

I'm Not Readingby Jonathan AllenBoxer BooksFebruary 2013

So silly! Adorable Baby Owl (from I'm Not Cute) returns. This time, he's squashed under a boatload of even cuter fluffy baby chicks. This is the book that I didn't know that I needed for preschool storytime. Colorful digital illustrations with soft fluffy edges make Baby Owl look extra cute and huggable. Endpapers feature a plethora of baby chicks. Fortunately, Mama Owl is able to come to the rescue and set everyone to rights so that Baby Owl can finally share his love of reading with everyone.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Oh So Tiny Bunny
David KirkFeiwel & FriendsFebruary 2013

Tiny Bunny is surreal and overly cute. He dreams of all kinds of things (making friends with a dragon, being larger than a forest) but then is super lonely. He awakes to find himself in the company of another bunny. Bright digital illustrations have a glossy sheen. This picture book is sure to be an Easter tie-in favorite, for the colorful bunny cover alone. This would also pair well with other books about making friends.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Busy-Busy Little Chick
by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Brian PinkneyFarrar, Straus & GirouxFebruary 2013

Loose, sweeping watercolors grace this picture book based on African Nkundo folk tale. Busy-Busy Little Chick industriously builds the whole family a new home. What a mensch! Because the story is based on the oral tradition, the book begs to be read aloud with repeated onomatopoeic phrases. There's a nice moral to the story - even though Busy-Busy Little Chick's siblings and mother are lazy, he helps them out anyway, it's just the right thing to do.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 31

Underground
by Denise Fleming
Beach Lane Books
September 2012

Here is a unique and simple picture book with a few words per page. Fleming's distinctive dyed paper pulp illustration technique is, of course, a defining element of the style of this book. Worms, moles and other such creatures are featured in this appreciation of underground natural habitats. Pair this with Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin for a great Dig Into Reading summer storytime!

I borrowed this book from the library.

Exclamation Mark
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Scholastic Press
March 2013

Can punctuation rules make for an exciting children's story? Yes! Yes they can!

Exclamation mark doesn't fit in with all the other periods... even though he tries, he simply stands out too much. Enter the question mark, whose inquisitive nature causes him to quickly strike up a friendship with exclamation mark. But, will exclamation finally get sick and tired of question marks constant questions?

Presented in a very simple format, with lined paper as a background, simple cherry wooden colored endpages, and varying typefaces, Lichtenheld's expressive smiley faces carry the story to a humorous conclusion.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Peepsqueak Wants a Friend
by Leslie Ann Clark
HarperCollins
January 2013

Colorful digital and ink illustrations take us on Peepsqueak's quest for a friend. His repeating line, "You are 2, but I am 1; my search for a friend has just begun," does tend to get a little wearing as he "hopped, skipped, jumped and skittered" in search of a friend. Still, this is a nice story for youngsters in search of encouragement on the ease of making new friends.

I borrowed this book from the library.

You Can Do It!
by Betsy Lewin
Holiday House
January 2013

So simple and fun. Here's a book in the same category as Crosby Bonsall's Mine's the Best with an entire engaging story being told with a vocabulary of less than 25 words. An alligator has a dream of winning a swim competition and puts in plenty of hard work on the journey to victory. An appealing beginning reader, with loose watercolor illustrations, the endpages feature alligators warming up for athletic feats.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture books mini-reviews 30

Nothing Ever Happens at the South Pole
by Stan, Jan & Mike Berenstain
Harper
August 2012

This story has the feel of an early unpublished manuscript... because it turns out that just exactly what it is! A penguin is convinced that nothing interesting ever happens at the South Pole, and blithely misses seeing dangerous polar bears, whales, wolves, etc. Of interest to diehard Berenstain fans, especially for the illustrations, as you can see hints of the trademark Berenstain Bears style.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy

by Jan Thomas
Beach Lane Books
September 2012

This storybook offers typical zany fun from Jan Thomas with a great cowboy on the range feel. As to be expected, the story includes a multitude of very silly cows. I must confess I'm a bit intimidated by the idea of actually singing the cowboy song. If ever a book called for a CD to be included, this is it, but sadly there isn't one. Rats.

Still, if you're a brave, or a very musical storyteller, there's no reason why not to add this to your storytime repertoire.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Surfer Chick

by Kirsty Dempsey, illustrated by Henry Col

Harry N. Abrams

May 2012

This rhyming story includes plenty of beachy slang. A young chick and her dad take to the beach to teach her how to surf in this wacky picture book. Cole's acrylic, colored pencil and watercolor illustrations are bright and colorful, with expressive cartoonish faces for all the anthropomorphized chickens featured in this story. Pair Surfer Chick with Rhinos Who Surf by Julie Mammano for a beachy storytime and don't forget to include this around Father's Day as well.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Waking Dragons

by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Derek Anderson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

October 2012

Here's a cute and simple book. It's a bit reminiscent of How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, but for the younger set with simple rhymes, and a few words per page. Pair Waking Dragons with Night, Knight by Owen Davey, The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring or Lovabye Dragon by Barbara Joose for a knights and dragons storytime session.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Picture book mini-reviews 29

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
HarperCollins
May 2012

Litwin and Dean can't go wrong! A funny, catchy book, easy to sing, popular at storytime, teaches subtraction, and a great message: don't cry over spilled milk (or missing buttons, as the case would have it.) Pete's trademark grooviness is evident as he waltzes past a beach and an ice cream truck, losing buttons all the way. When all the buttons are gone, there's one more surprise... Pete's still got his... bellybutton! Don't miss out on this wonderful crowd pleaser.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Creepy Carrots!

by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
August 2012

What a sublime book. It's just a touch creepy, but the the hilariously inspired silliness of a carrot actually being terrifying prevents things from getting too serious. I loved lines such as "terrible carroty breathing" and the "soft.. sinister... tunktunktunk of carrots creeping." as the main character, a bunny, fears he's being stalked by ill-intenioned carrots. There's a limited palette of black, white and orange, which makes reading this book feel like watching an old horror movie. Plenty of carrots on the end pages, too. Creepy Carrots would be great for Halloween or anytime.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Squid and Octopus Friends for Always
by Tao Nyeu
Dial Books for Young Readers
June 2012

Squid and Octopus are wonderful and charming in this collection of short stories of two best friends with a gentle sense of humor. Each of the stories emphasizes how the two have got each other's back for encouragement and support. I like the limited palette of white, blue, green and yellow and the cute artistic style. Squid and Octopus are sure to join the ranks of other dynamic duos such as George and Martha, Frog and Toad, and Bink and Gollie.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Everything Goes: In the Airport
by Brian Biggs
Balzer + Bray
September 2012

Busy detailed pages, some in graphic novel format feature plenty of sidebar info and speech bubbles. Think Richard Scarry's insane labeling crossed with the humorous hidden details of Martin Handford's Where's Waldo series with a decided transportation bent. This is sure to be endlessly pored over by young airplane fans.

I borrowed this book from the library.