Book Review: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

Imaginary friends are hanging out all around us adults and we don't even notice most of the time.  They're sharing cupcakes, drawing pictures, having conversations and going on adventures with the whimsical youngsters in our lives.  (When I do a head-count during storytime, I should probably start including all the imaginary friends in the room.  That would definitely boost my numbers.)

Have you ever asked your little one where that imaginary friend came from?  In The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, author and illustrator Dan Santat offers an answer to this question.  They're all relaxing together over in the land of rainbows and misty mountains, awaiting the glorious day when a child beams them up (see page 4 for more information).  Beekle waits every day for his turn, but it never comes.

Sleepover with Beatrice & Bear

Are you looking for a sweet story that will help a child with the topic of separation? Here's your book!

Sleepover with Beatrice & Bear is a heartwarming story about two unlikely friends with very different sleep schedules. One spring day Beatrice and Bear stumble upon each other, and quickly a friendship is formed. They didn't just become friends, they became the absolute best of friends. They do everything together, but what are they to do when Bear has to hibernate for the winter? You have to read it to find out!
This story gives a great idea for how a child can cope with loved ones they see intermittently - what to do while they wait! And how to share the time they spent away from each other.

Pick up Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear, by Monica Carnesi, at your local library to ensure a fun time for all!  

~ Roller Derby Librarian

Gifted Toddler or Preschooler?

Gravity by Jason Chin will spur your burgeoning genius in the playpen or your fledgling engineer in the sandbox to Einsteinian heights of intellectual prowess. Well, maybe not Einsteinian, but Newtonian at the very least! This visual edification of the abstract concept of "gravity" will send the Wiggles scurrying in ignominious defeat as little ones everywhere pack this mentally stimulating tome into diaper bags, strollers, and grandpa's knitting or golf bags. From the plummeting copy of the book depicted in detail-rich watercolor on the first page to the comical depiction on the absolute last page of a startled child trying desperately not to drop the jug of lemonade that suddenly falls into his hands, Chin holds young (or perhaps not so young) scientists' attention effortlessly.

The simple oversized text compels the reader to follow the star-blazing path of book, toys, and fruit as they first defy and then helplessly succumb to the law of gravity. The eye-popping view of the sun as it looms over this drifting collection of childhood flotsam successfully brings into focus the interconnectivity of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. A compilation of preschooler-friendly facts rounds out this exceptional foray into exploring one of the most important forces of the universe.

MightyM  

Haiku presented by Koo

Koo is a charming panda bear who will melt your heart and tickle your funny bone in this very delightful first introduction into the Japanese form of poetry known as haiku. Hi, Koo! A year of seasons by author and illustrator, Jon J. Muth, captures the essence of each season with simple haiku and beautiful paintings that you and your children will want to read over and over.  Very helpful is the author's note defining traditional haiku, "made up of seventeen sound parts called on (pronounced own) --- divided into three lines with five, then seven, then five on." Muth, however, does not adhere to this rigid structure because he believes..."haiku is like an instant captured in words---using sensory images."

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster by Mike Wohnoutka

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster by Mike Wohnoutka is a classic tale of an unlikely friendship.

Judging by the cover illustration, things at first glance don't look so good for Little Puppy.  Big Green Monster, with his stegosaurus-like spine ridges and sharp, pointy teeth, is fixing a decidedly unfriendly expression on him.  In contrast, Little Puppy, (whose head is about the size of one of those pointy teeth), smiles expectantly up at Big Green Monster and wags his tail.

Irresistible Illustrations

Never judge a book by its cover, so they say.  Though I tend to agree with the literal and metaphorical implications of the all-too-familiar saying, I have to say that I can't help myself when it comes to picture books.  Some are just so stunningly illustrated that they are irresistible.  And, on the rare occasion when those gorgeous illustrations reveal a beautiful story, we have something quite remarkable in our hands.  Such books are truly works of art, to be read again and again for years to come.  Here are few titles that have recently ended up in my "wow" collection at the library:

My Bus

My Bus, by Byron Barton is a fun little book that's sure to become a read aloud favorite.

Joe drives a bus.  He picks up and drops off a variety of brightly-colored chunky-sized cats and dogs all over town.  As the animals board the bus the count is predictable....one dog gets on at stop number one, two cats get on at stop number two, etc, until the bus is full of cats and dogs.  When the animals get off the bus, however, they do so in random groupings -(two cats and one dog, one cat and two dogs, etc.),  and with varying purposes and destinations, (some board a boat, others take a plane...) and so it goes until only one dog is left on the bus with Joe.  This is Joe's own dog, as it turns out, and the two leave the bus at the station and head for home in Joe's little car.  

More than a good little story, this book introduces the concepts of ordinal and cardinal numbers as well as different forms of transportation, a variety of verbs to convey different kinds of action, and simple counting from one to ten.  It's perfect for toddlers and a good choice for preschoolers or even beginning readers. 

-Miss Meg

Kindergarten Jitter Busters

Helping to wrestle "First Day of School" panic to its knees a la Ready and Waiting For You, our last featured book, can make any child feel as brave as a superhero. With that in mind, here are three more new books that offer innovative, if unorthodox, game plans to make sure even the shyest child comes out on top.

Oliver and his Alligator by Paul Schmid introduces a painfully shy little boy who, on his first day of school, "...felt his brave wasn't nearly as big as he needed it to be." His solution? Why, to stop by the swamp of course--and pick up an alligator! Whenever he's asked a question or feeling overwhelmed, he mumbles, "Munch, Munch!" Oliver becomes calmer as his alligator mysteriously grows fatter... Schmid's droll text and illustrations will tug grins from even the most wan-faced, quaking child.

If you were a T-Rex, would you be afraid of school? No, because dinosaurs always win! Bob Shea's unruly dino is ready to invade the hallowed halls of academia. Even glitter and glue haven't got a chance against a red, over-energized, toothy lizard.

 Reluctant scholars will embrace Dinosaur vs. School as the perfect book to sneak into a backpack for moral support.                                           

All right, there's no way out--You-have-to-go-to-school!!! Now what? Sarah Maizes' On My Way to School  gives kids plenty of options as to their modes of transportation: a pirate ship, kangaroo, covered wagon, and, yes, a tiger-filled school bus. There is nothing subtle about Michael Paraskevas' illustrations. Livi the reluctant, cowboy boot-wearing student is resplendent with her out-of-control pigtails and garish red and green pet frog. Going from an unidentifiable mound beneath the covers to queen of the classroom is as uncomplicated as turning a page for Livi and her revved up imagination. Children will forget all about first day of school jitters as they excitedly point out the crazy pigtails on...a blue elephant?        MightyM

First Day of School Blues

In neighborhoods all over the country crowded hallways are filled with teary-eyed parents and wailing children. Ah, the trauma. Oh, the guilt. What if there were a way to bypass all this gut-wrenching "First Day of School" drama? In Ready and Waiting for You, everyone on the bus and in the school is waiting for your child. Page-sized "gate folds" invite little hands to open the "doors" to reveal friendly faces welcoming the anxious child to the exciting world of school. See? There's nothing to worry about!

The multiracial children and adults featured are cleverly created from colorful torn-paper. Illustrator Catherine Stock takes the reader on a cheery visual tour from the bright yellow school bus to the sunny classroom and everywhere in between.

Judi Moreillon's cheerful repetitive text practically begs the child to read along. The invitation at the book's end will help put most fears to rest while creating a mindset of hopeful expectation:

          "Come in. Come in.
          Come in through this door...
          We won't be a whole school till you do.
          Everyone's waiting for you!"

MightyM

Book Review: The Monkey Goes Bananas by C.P. Bloom

Sometimes you just need a good laugh.  When you and your preschooler run into one of those times, I suggest The Monkey Goes Bananas.  This new picture book by C. P. Bloom and illustrated by Peter Raymundo is laugh-out-loud funny.

This exuberant book gets the story started right away on the title page, where we see our hero deep in "The Thinker" style contemplation. Next, on the copyright page, we discover that The Monkey is trying to figure out how to get to a lovely bunch of bananas that are on the next island.  At first, he simply tries crossing The Water to get to the banana island, but soon he finds his situation complicated by The Shark.

Book Review: Dot by Patricia Intriago

I've been seeing dots lately.  No, it's not a result of heat exhaustion; though I'd love to see some wet dots falling from the sky sometime soon.  Actually, I've been seeing dots in some lovely, well-rounded picture books.  The dot deluge all began with Dot by Patricia Intriago. The contrasting, simple imagery makes it great for babies, the clever wordplay makes it intriguing for preschoolers, and the minimalist design makes it thrilling for adults.  I especially love the juxtaposition of the hard dot and the soft dot, complete with a child's finger pressing down on the dot to test its flexibility.  Can you hear the loud and quite dots making different sounds?  How would a happy dot look? What about a sad dot?  Take this book home and you'll find out, along with a dab or two of other surprises!

Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!

There's bad and then there's BAD. Well-behaved prehistoric pals calmly color, paste, and build, but T-Rex can't seem to get with the program. Blocks topple, scissors fly, and artwork shreds amid Tyrannobully's reign of destruction. Classmates finally band together and ostracize the obstreperous miscreant. No fun! Even little thunder lizards can feel sad and lonely. Bit by bit, step by step, the repentant reptile makes amends and is welcomed back into the fold despite an inadvertent catastrophe. At long last peace prevails in "Dino-topia," or maybe not...

Zachariah Ohora's playful illustrations are boisterously paired with Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's sparse but cleverly rhymed text in Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! Children finding themselves adrift within the hierarchical confusion of classroom politics will take comfort in seeing that even misbehaving dinosaurs can get a second chance.

MightyM

Book Review: The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water

Picnics! Camping! Thunderstorms! Fireworks! Daisy chains! Swimming! These words all conjure up great summer memories! Well...maybe not so much swimming...if you're at all timid of the water.  Some of us take to the water like fish and others have to be coaxed, ever so gently.  And while we may all eventually learn how to swim, we don't all like the sport with the same enthusiasm.  Now crocodiles are born to the water and thrive in that environment. So what about The crocodile who didn't like water? Unlike his brothers and sisters this little crocodile does not like the water. He is really great at climbing trees, but everyone else would rather be in swim club.  He wants to play with his siblings. Afterall he can see they are having a great time splashing about. So he trys very hard to overcome his fear.

Book Review: Breathe by Scott Magoon

     Every so often a picture book crosses my path that I just fall in love with.  Breathe by Scott Magoon is definitely one of those books.  

     Breathe follows a day in the life of a baby white whale.  The book opens with an illustration of the mother whale lifting her baby up to the water's surface for a nice deep breath.  From there the baby whale goes on an exploration of his world where he plays, swims, makes new friends and, most importantly, always remembers to take a few moments to just breathe.  

Bean Bags and Beyond!

For those of you who have been to a storytime at any Pima County Public Library branch, you know that we love bean bags.  We are borderline fanatical about them.  And, so are the kids.  In fact, at Himmel Park Branch, if the storytime doesn't end with the bean bag song, well, you better have some scarves or a parachute to distract the group from the terrible fact that you didn't play the bean bag song.  It can get ugly, believe me.  There has been crying, screaming, and clawing of the face, even. Pure anguish can result, and, let me tell you, combine that with a toddler and you'll have some scary stuff brewing. So, we LOVE the bean bag song.

Where Have You Been?

Have you ever wondered where a cat or a squirrel has been or where a bird flies or a whale sails?  Those are the kind of questions answered in  Where Have You Been? a lesser-known book by legendary children's author Margaret Wise Brown (Good Night Moon).  As you read along you'll learn a bit about each animal's habitat....little bee has been in the pink apple tree, while little mole has been down a long dark hole.  

The simple rhyming stanzas that introduce each animal share the same format, making this an ideal book for interactive storytelling as well as an interesting alternative for children who are learning to read.   The pattern of the repetitive text is so easily replicable that you might find yourself playing the game of thinking up new stanzas for animals not pictured in the story.  And by pointing out the pattern, you'll be helping your child learn about and better understand what a pattern is, an important concept in math, art, and science.  

Be sure to note and enjoy the beautiful and humorous illustrations by husband and wife team Leo and Diane Dillon.   Enjoy!   - Miss Meg

Joone by Emily Kate Moon

Meet Joone, an adorable and quirky five year old who lives with her Grandpa and her turtle, Dr. Chin. Joone shows us what a day in her life looks like, and reminds us to enjoy every minute of ours.

I don't think they make books any cuter than this. Joone, written and illustrated by Emily Kate Moon, is an adorable picture book about the what makes life special - the little things. The illustrations were created in gouche and pencil - and fit the sweetness of this story to a tee.

Enjoy!

~ Roller Derby Librarian

Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover

 With all the tutu-flouncing wannabe princesses flitting through homes and birthday parties, one wonders if daughters everywhere really did get eaten by Cinderella. Aside from instigating an overdue intervention to stem the "pinkpocalypse," there is an another option out there for beleaguered parents. Enter books like Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover.

The eponymous, stuffed, lavender-haired doll does EVERYTHING with her girl, Amelia. Unfortunately, Amelia's dog does not view this friendship with favor. The growling canine stalks after Princess Sparkle-Heart as she attends tea parties, royal weddings, and bubble bath extravaganzas. It's not the dog's fault clumps of stuffing are discovered scattered all over the house (and in between his teeth). After the crying and wailing die down, Mom and Amelia set out to engineer the best makeover ever.

Josh Schneider's Orphan Annie-ish illustrations and timely story transform what could have been "just another princess book" into something every little girl allergic to tulle will treasure for a long, long time.

MightyM

Book Review: Stella's Starliner

If you haven't yet discovered Rosemary Wells, read on.  And if you have, well, read on.  I have been entranced by her many characters over the years including Max, Ruby, Yoko, and Sophie and was recently delighted to discover her newly published picture book, Stella's Starliner.  Stella is a young fox who lives with her mom and dad in a silver house by the side of the road.  Inside the house is tidy and compact with a room for sleeping, a room for being awake, and a kitchen for eating pancakes on Sunday morning. Stella has everything she needs and not a worry in the world. Until the day a band of bullying weasels stop by and say mean things to Stella declaring she is poor and her house is nothing but a tin can.  "Their words stung Stella's heart like the stings of bees."  Being a sensitive fox  she won't tell mama what is bothering her because she doesn't want her to feel the stings too. But wise mama knows and comforts Stella with an imaginative story about the Starliner sailing through the Milky Way and landing on a bright, sunny island.

Book Review: Pom and Pim

      Little Pom and his stuffed toy of indeterminate species, Pim, are off for the day. They are lucky that it is a bright warm day, but as Pom carries Pim along, he trips on a rock and they both fall down.  Bad luck!  Or is it? Because he is on the ground, Pom discovers some money – good luck!  This picture book by Lena and Olaf Landstrom is a clever and preschool-friendly retelling of the old Chinese good luck/bad luck parable. Pom and Pim was originally published in Swedish under the title Pom uch Pim, and it’s kind of fun to think of the blending of different cultures that brought this book together.

Book Review: Musk Ox Counts by Erin Cabatingan

Pick up any picture book and there is a pretty good chance that at least one of the characters will be a monkey, a cat, a dog, a horse, a pig, a cow, or a bird--really, any animal you might name when singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm."  But, what about the poor old musk ox?  How often do you find this arctic mammal, known for its musky odor and thick mane of hair, in a children's story?  The fact of the matter is that musk oxen are severely underrepresented in children's literature.  It's a good thing, then, that author Erin Cabatingan and illustrator Matthew Myers have made it their personal mission to raise awareness about this malodorous creature, so that, maybe one day, a child will think to sing "Old McDonald had a musk ox..."

Do you have a kid who’s crazy about wheels?  Two excellent new picture books:  And the cars go… by William Bee, and The Diggers are Coming by Susan Steggall are sure to please the gear-heads in your home.  Both books contain lots of interesting vocabulary words to describe the different types of vehicles and the sounds they make:  "mixers tumble, twist, and turn…..tippers tremble along and trundle about", and both books contain a mystery which is only revealed at the end of the story.   In the case of The Diggers are Coming, the question all along is "what are they building?"  It’s interesting to note the many kinds of construction vehicles necessary to get the job done and to see the progression of the task from empty lot to finished product.       My favorite book of the two, however, is

  

Extraordinary Jane

Jane Bouffant is, sad to say, ORDINARY. Her mom is famous. Her dad is famous. Her six brothers are famous. Her six sisters are, you guessed it, famous. What is even more problematic is that her, dare we say it again, FAMOUS family performs in the equally FAMOUS Barnaby Beluchi Circus. What's an exceptionally undistinguished dog to do?
Hannah E. Harrison takes advantage of every inch of Extraordinary Jane (including the endpapers) to chronicle Jane's misadventures on the path toward self-discovery. The bright acrylic images caper across the pages as cannon launchers, trapeze swings, and a giant out-of-control balancing ball get the better of Jane. The big tent proves perilous for our furry protagonist until slowly but surely Jane's secret talent is revealed to everyone's satisfaction.
Simple sentences and bold text will draw any shy adventurer into Jane's Extraordinary life with a heartwarming welcome.

MightyM

Book Review: Maple

I fell in love with Maple, the book and the character, on page one.  Maple is an endearing little girl who is named for the Maple tree planted in her honor before she was born.  The story follows Maple as she grows through the years and the changing seasons with the tree as her constant friend. When she is too noisy mom and dad send her outside to play by her tree.  She sings to, sways with and sometimes pretends to be a tree. She loves her tree but wishes sometimes she had a real play mate.  Then, one Spring day as she is playing under the shade of the tree she is surprised by a newly planted sapling, and then even more surprised to learn she is going to be a big sister. She is delighted with her baby sister. And when she is too noisy (quite often) takes her outside to play and rest beneath the tree's dancing leaves.

Book Review: Little Gorilla

     I recently had the chance to visit some classrooms and read to the children some of my favorite stories for Love of Reading week.   Little Gorilla was one that I read in nearly every class, and it was a big hit.  Even though the Little Gorilla was written close to 40 years ago,  it has a gentle and comforting message that still resonates with today's kids.

Book Review: This Plus That by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

In honor of Love of Reading Week, I absolutely must mention Amy Krouse Rosenthal's This Plus That: Life's Little Equations.  You will fall in love with this book and most likely spend the rest of your day creating your own little equations.  As is true of most of Rosenthal's picture books, it is based on a beautifully simple concept: This + That = Something.  Easy enough.  She includes "Yes + No = Maybe" and "Wishes + Frosting = Birthday."  There is "Small + Bottle = Baby" and "Tall + Coffee = Grownup."  The fun continues as you turn each page and attempt to guess the solution of the equation before reading.  You'll even see some more complex operations toward the end of the book, such as subtraction and division, which spices up the pattern a bit.

Rufus Goes to School

Rufus is a pig. An adorable pig, who loves books! He looks over his favorite book countless times, but alas, he cannot read the words. Rufus knows just the cure - school! That's where they will teach him to read! Rufus Goes to School, written by Kim T. Griswell and illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev, is a delightful story that teaches us personal growth is obtained with strength, perseverance, and not letting anyone stereotype you.

All you need to go to school is a desire and a backpack, right? Unfortunately, Rufus finds out there is a little more to it than that. Delightful illustrations and sweet characters will have you and your family cheering for Rufus after the last page is read! You might even want to turn back to page one and start all over...

Enjoy!
    ~ Roller Derby Librarian

Hilarious Alphabet Books

After Bill Martin's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, the bar was raised as to what we might hope to expect from alphabet books. No more mindless repetition of those 26 letters--humor, curiosity, and the thrill of the hunt were finally combined to initiate little ones into the magical world of reading. Two worthy additions to this club of wacky and informative picture books are: A is for Salad and Z is for Moose.

Mike Lester's quirky pairing of letters and illustrations prove confusing at first. "A" is for "salad?" What's going on? "B" is for "Viking?" Mr. Lester seems to have lost it--until you look closely at the decidedly goofy critters posing with their alphabetical counterparts. The Alligator eating a salad and the Beaver wearing a Viking helmet "might" give many pint-sized sleuths a clue. Children of all ages will have a rip-roaring good time trying to guess why "N" is for "lunch" (or why we really don't need those troublesome letters "X" and "Y").

Photobomb. We've all been victims or perpetrators. But in Kelly Bingham's Z is for Moose, Moose gets the prize, hands down. Zebra is directing an alphabet photo shoot. There's the expected apple, ball, and cat along with twenty-three (oops) twenty-four other characters calmly waiting in line for Zebra's cue. Wait a minute, the alphabet doesn't have 27 letters! Tell that to Moose who starts his shenanigans by chasing the ducks off the stage when it's "D's" turn. He slinks onto Elephant's shoot, and then stomps on a hat Zebra has placed front and center for the "H" page. All the while Moose whines and moans and impatiently asks, "Is it my turn yet?" Finally, it's time to bring on the "M," and Moose is upstaged by a MOUSE! Everyone will whoosh a breath of relief as they flip to the satisfying conclusion .

Learning the alphabet will never be the same.
MightyM

Book Review: The classic treasury of childhood wonders

I recently discovered this delightful treasury as I was browsing the shelves for another book.  I love finding books by serendipity. Compiled by Susan H. Magsamen and published by National Geographic, the Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders: favorite adventures, stories, poems, and songs for making lasting memories, is beautifully designed from cover-to-cover. No exaggeration!
Even the table of contents is eyecatching and inviting. The treasury is divided into five broad subject headings that speak to a child's heart: outdoor exploring; dream it, make it; magic and make-believe; yummy in my tummy; and bathtime, bedtime, dreamtime. (Well, that last topic might speak more to a parent's heart at the end of a busy day.) You can begin at the beginning, or open this book anywhere and read poems or nursery rhymes, feast on the beautiful art by artists and illustrators, and guide your child through more than 30 activities which help develop skills in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and more.

Book Review: Dog Loves Books

   As anyone who has ever come to the library to Read to a Dog knows, dogs love books.  However, the title character in Louise Yates' charming picture book Dog Loves Books might just love books a little more than most.  Dog loves books so much that he opens his own bookstore -- and in this economy, no less!