Picture Book Review - Books Always Everywhere by Jane Blatt

Sprout had his first class library visit today. He couldn't wait to come home and tell me about it, and show me the two books he checked out to bring home (one on dinosaurs and one on bones - no big surprise from this aspiring paleontologist!). He was surprised that the library was kind of small, but still had lots of cool science books, and also that he didn't need his regular library card to check books out. Got this kiddo trained right, evidently!

By the way, in case you hadn't heard, September is National Library Card Month. This is a great time to visit your library, especially if you haven't been in a while - you might be surprised at all the cool things your library card entitles you to explore. It's also the perfect opportunity to sign your kiddos up for their own cards. Sprout got his card this spring and he is crazy proud of it. Every time we go to the desk to check something out, he has to tell the librarian he can use his own card now, not mommy's. :)

So, onto today's pick, which is a perfect choice for National Library Card Month if I do say so myself, since it's all about books. Jane Blatt's Books Always Everywhere is a lovely piece of poetry all oriented around babies and toddlers who are exploring books of all sorts. It's simple enough to read with the smallest kids - in fact this would be a great introduction to books for a baby storytime or one-on-one session. The large spreads feature just a few pages each, and gorgeous pictures for kids to focus on. I wasn't familiar with Sarah Massini's illustrations before, but I'll be keeping my eyes out for more from her - these pictures are just fantastic!

Of course you know I always look for diversity in books like these, and I'm pleased to say that there's plenty here. Best of all, it feels organic and not forced, adding to the title's overall charm. The other thing I especially love is how joyful the text and illustrations are. Books Always Everywhere is a celebration of books, and as such is as light and effervescent as can be. The kiddos and animals cavorting on the pages are having loads of fun experiencing books -- reading, creating with and sharing them. What better way to send kids the message that books are fun?!

Books Always Everywhere would make a terrific storytime pairing with Lola Reads to Leo or Wild About Books. But you needn't wait til you have all those titles at hand - grab yourself a copy and read it to your little one no matter where you are!

Books Always Everywhere by Jane Blatt, published by Random House Children's Books

Ages 1-4

Source: Library

Sample: "Book build / Book mat / Book chair / Book hat"

Recommended

The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty & Thomas Docherty

Have you ever fallen in love with a book? Like, so in love that you've stolen it? I've never done this myself - I guess it's my inner librarian that quails at the thought of swiping a library book, since those are for *everyone*. But recently I was reading an interview with an author, cannot for the life of me remember who, and he/she admitted that as a child they had loved a book so much that they swiped it from the local library.

What?!

Honestly I suspect this probably happens more than we realize. After all can you really blame a child for doing this, when there is such literary richness on store in today's library. Certainly I'm not condoning the disapparation of public property, but I think we can all remember a time when we came across a book so perfect, so aptly suited to our place in life, that we just wanted to consume it. At least, I can relate to that (it happens to me sometimes still, which is why my bank account is so slim).

That's pretty much what's going on in Helen and Thomas Docherty's new picture book The Snatchabook, a title that, quite honestly, you may want to swipe yourself, it's that good. Eliza Brown, like the rest of the occupants of the forest neighborhood Burrow Down, is snuggling up with her bedtime reads when something strange happens -- Eliza's book vanishes. And Eliza's not the only one, for other families are experiencing the very same thing. It happens again, night after night, until Eliza vows to do something. Lying in wait, she catches the culprint. But rather than a big bad burglar, the villain turns out to be a little bat-like creature called a Snatchabook who steals the books because he loves them, and he has no one to read to him.

Luckily Eliza is able to come up with a plan to satisfy the Snatchabook's hunger for stories. Furthermore, she holds firm in her insistence that the Snatchabook return every last title he pilfered before the fix is to take place. And then, once all the tomes have been restored, Eliza and her friends agree to read to the Snatchabook, and include him in their nightly bedtime story rituals.

I adored The Snatchabook because of the prize it places on the books in the story. These are the most valuable things the forest folk own, and they're devastated when the books disappear. How many of us wouldn't love it if our kids grew up to feel the same way? I've already seen firsthand the devastation Sprout felt when we mislaid one of his beloved dinosaur encyclopedias (turns out we left it at school, and boy was that ever a long weekend). So the message here is one I really embrace with all my little kidlit-lovin' librarian heart. But The Snatchabook is terrific on multiple levels - it works as a morality tale, where the Snatchabook learns stealing is wrong and has to make amends, and it works as a cozy sweet bedtime story, with its deft rhyme scheme and charmingly classic illustrations. There's a lot to appreciate with this one, and I can't wait for more from this husband-wife team.

At the end of this story there was nowhere I wanted to be more than in the burrow with Eliza Bunny and her crew (including the Snatchabook), cuddled up with a book at the end of a long day. The Snatchabook is one your kiddos will clamor for again and again - just don't be surprised if it disappears!

The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ages 3-5
Source: Library (but we didn't steal it, I promise!)
First lines: "One dark, dark night in Burrow Down, a rabbit named Eliza Brown found a book and settled down. . . / when a Snatchabook flew into town."
Recommended

Big Snow by Jonathan Bean

Oh boy, was Sprout disappointed in Christmas this year. Not that he didn't love the activities, the tree, the presents, and the time with family. No, all of that was great, but there was one major component missing: snow.

All those songs about white Christmases and sleigh rides have worked a number on our boy. He's convinced that it isn't really a proper Christmas if there isn't snow on the ground. And because we live in the Pacific Northwest, snow isn't a guarantee at Christmas (or even at all during the season.) Though we did have one day where the snow hit about 3 inches deep, it wasn't the magical-snowman-come-to-life event of Sprout's dreams. Poor kiddo.

Instead, we decided to read about snow, because what else can you do? So we hit the library up for some new wintertime reads, and found an absolute gem among them - Jonathan Bean's Big Snow. We recently read Bean's Building Our House, which Sprout adored; that one was heavy in the bedtime rotation for a good three weeks or more. So when he saw the cover image for that book on the back cover of Big Snow, he put two and two together and deduced that, "This one's going to be my favorite too, Mama." Right he was, no less.

In Big Snow, our hero David is eagerly anticipating a heavy snowfall. Clearly he's heard the weather forecast, because all the while that he's helping his mother get the house ready for guests, David's keeping a watchful eye outside. The flour he spills while making cookies reminds him to take a peek out the door, as do the suds from the bathroom cleaners and the white sheets from the beds. Each time he looks, David sees a progression, from sparse flakes to big fluffy ones, to drifts of snow covering the entire world. David dreams that the house is taken over by a big snow. When he awakes, Dad is home early, and the family ventures outside to explore the familiar neighborhood, made somehow strange by its blanket of white.

I've heard a few comparisons between Big Snow and The Snowy Day, and I have to say that this is not a farfetched notion. Both David and Peter share a sense of wonder at the snow, at the world around them that is transformed by this wintry event. There's a dash of humor in each book, and an appreciation for the thrill that "big snow" brings. One thing I find most appealing about both titles is the fact that the diversity in them doesn't drive the story - you could easily replace David in Big Snow with an Asian or Native American or white character and there would be no difference to the narrative. Truth be told, I didn't even notice the main character's ethnicity (multiracial, perhaps?) until Sprout pointed out that "David's skin is brown like mine!" That's a nice touch, in my opinion, and something we need much more of.

Big Snow is a terrific candidate for a winter-themed storytime (though there's a Christmas tree in the house,  the plot isn't holiday-centric) or a cozy bedtime read. This is the kind of story that kids ask for again and again - not because it's splashy or gimmicky, but just because it's comforting, familiar, and classic.

Big Snow by Jonathan Bean, published by Farrar Straus Giroux
Ages 3-6
Source: Library
Sample: "But then the flour, white and fine, made David think of snow. / So he decided to check the weather. / Small flakes fell softly, white and fine."
Recommended

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins

And we're back! We spent last week at the beach, a little slice of heaven known as the San Juan Islands. We had gorgeous weather (which for us Washingtonians means no rain!), and plenty of good food, games, bike riding, game nights, and of course tons of time to read. The resort where we stay has no television and our cell reception is spotty - the perfect excuse for us to unplug Sprout from screens and get some quality time as a family.

This year I did the unthinkable and didn't pack a huge box of picture books. Instead, I decided to make the great leap forward and add chapter books to our reading rotation. At four years old, I figured Sprout was ready -- Mama's been ready since before he came into our family. I chose my selections carefully, after getting input from some of our readers on Facebook and scouring Pinterest for possible candidates. And before we left, I explained to Sprout that we were trying something new, and showed him the books we were taking. He didn't, frankly, seem all that interested, so I started second-guessing myself, but we were already packed at that point. So forge ahead we did.

And, dear reader, I discovered something about my son that warmed this mama's heart: he's a "just one more chapter, pleeeease???" guy.

Oh yeah.

Interestingly enough, Sprout's first choice for read-aloud was the one I thought we'd have to work up to. Being that we're in a hardcore dinosaur phase, I packed Dick King-Smith's Dinosaur Trouble, a crowd-pleaser with plenty of action, friendship and one big ol' T-Rex. And we did end up reading that one, but not right away. Instead, Sprout dived on one that I packed mostly for myself -- Emily Jenkins's Toys Go Out. And he LOVED it.

Which isn't surprising, because, as I mentioned, it's Emily Jenkins. This girl just knows kids, inside and out, what makes them tick and laugh and well up (she's pretty good at knowing grown-ups too). We've loved so many of her picture books (like this one, and this one, and most especially this one) that I had a hunch her chapter book would be a winner. And with a cast of characters this diverse -- a stingray, a one-eared sheep, a brave buffalo, and a little someone just named Plastic -- well, tell me you wouldn't just immediately crack this open yourself?

Let's be clear: the title tells us right off that we're dealing with toys, but it most certainly doesn't feel like one of those creepy playthings-come-to-life situations. Instead these characters are fully realized and just so unique you can't help but love them. Stingray's a know-it-all, but you love her for it. Lumphy, our buffalo friend, is equal parts fearless and clueless. And Plastic has a great heart, even if she does suffer a bit of identity crisis. Oh, and let's not forget the other characters: Tuk-Tuk, the yellow bath towel and Frank the washing machine, both of whom offer sage advice to our dear ones, from their own perspectives. 

The whole thing is made infinitely more charming by the illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky, which bring the wonder of these delightful creatures to life for young readers. Each one captures the spirit of the characters perfectly, in Zelinsky's inimitably style. Further deepening the emotional connection are small jewel-like moments Jenkins embeds throughout. Like the time Lumphy gets peanut butter on himself (don't ask) and hides so he won't have to be washed. But then the Girl misses him and begins to cry, so Lumphy comes out of hiding, and the Girl's joy is palpable. "'Lumphy!' she cries. 'You were in my boot!' She pets his head. 'How did you get in my boot, you sweetie sweetie?' / For a moment, life is wonderful."

Sharing our first chapter book together as a family read-aloud was bound to be special. But having it be Jenkins's pitch-perfect Toys Go Out? A reading mama couldn't ask for more.

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins, published by Schwartz & Wade

Ages 4-8

Source: Library

Sample: "Lumphy likes the idea of a buffalo shuffle. He does feel queasy during the agitation, but Frank keeps singing as Lumphy sloshes around, and by the first rinse cycle -- when the clean, cool water pours in to wash the soap and peanut butter away -- the buffalo is starting to enjoy himself."

Highly recommended

Wild About You by Judy Sierra {The Children's Bookshelf}

It's been awhile since I wrote about any adoption-themed titles here. Although I used to spotlight these quite frequently, I haven't run across any lately that we just loved. That is, until we came across the newest effort by author Judy Sierra and illustrator Marc Brown, Wild About You. And this is one, my friends, that we truly are wild about!

The story is quite similar to their earlier effort, Wild About Books, in that it is set in a zoo that's populated by some quite inventive animals. This time around, it seems that everybody's having babies -- except for the tree kangaroo and a pair of pandas, who unfortunately seem to be lacking the little additions they are longing for. The pandas in fact are so upset that they are "black, white, and . . . BLUE." (A nice bit of punny humor for you there.)

Then a rescue truck pulls into the zoo, carrying a mysterious foundling egg. Of course the zookeeper asks all the birds if they can foster the little one, but everyone has some complaint. So the tree kangaroo steps right up to pouch-sit, and once the egg hatches, she's thrilled with her unexpected surprise. She's now the mommy to an adorable little penguin! Luckily the other animals pitch in to help out, supplying fresh fish and avian role models. Similarly, the pandas find themselves parenting a little kitten, and the zoo community rallies around them as well. The most terrific part is the final spread, where the entire menagerie gathers together -- those who have keen eyes will pick out other trans-species families in addition to the pandacat and the pengaroo.

We love this title for plenty of reasons: its subtle message (you don't have to "match" in order to be a family), its upbeat tone and positive take on adoption, and of course its infectious rhyme scheme. Brown has pulled out all the stops with these illustrations, utilizing geometric shapes, dots and bold primary colors to bring a warm, cheerful feel to this warm, cheerful story. Families who read this one will be strengthened in all kinds of ways, and foster or adoptive families in particular will find the positive message very reassuring.

This is a gentle treasure, perfect for introducing the topic of adoption in a classroom or home setting. And the next time your kiddos ask about a family that doesn't look alike, just reassure them that "to bring up a baby. . . it takes a whole zoo!".

Wild About You by Judy Sierra, published by Alfred A. Knopf
Ages 3-6
Source: Library
Sample: "So the puffins delivered fresh fish every day. / The flamingos invited her over to play. / And one happy day, she hopped her first hop -- A super-sensational pengaroo bop."
Highly recommended
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This post is part of The Children’s Bookshelf, a weekly linky party with the goal of connecting parents with great books for their kids. Do you have a book review, literacy or book-related post that you think will be helpful for parents? If so, please add your link below.

NOTE: By linking up you are giving permission for any of the co-hosts to pin and/or feature a your photo on a future The Children’s Bookshelf post. Kindly link up to an individual post, not your blog’s homepage. The hosts reserve the right to delete any links to homepages, commercial links, repeat links or otherwise inappropriate links. Thank you for your understanding.

You can also follow The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit TCB’s co-hosts: Sprout’s Bookshelf, What Do We Do All Day?, No Twiddle Twaddle, Smiling Like Sunshine, My Little Bookcase, The Picture Book Review, MemeTales and Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns. You can find more details here.

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Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long {The Children's Bookshelf}

This morning I had one of those heartswell moments as a parent. You know the kind - the ones that get you through years of early morning wake-ups, dirty diapers, tantrums in the grocery store, and all the other not-so-awesome episodes in the life of a mom or dad. These are the moments you live for, that you wish you could just capture for all time.

Being Easter morning, Sprout was awake just after dawn, and snuggled with me for a few minutes speculating on what the day would bring. When I reminded him about the Easter Bunny, he tore off down the hallway to see what goodies were left behind. We're not big on candy for the holiday, but we did get him a chocolate bunny plus a bucket with some small cars and Spiderman action figures. But what was the first thing he retrieved? His book - namely the newest Otis adventure from Loren Long, Otis and the Puppy. Sprout came racing into our room, squealing at the top of his lungs, "It's Otis and the Puppy, Mommy! How did the Easter Bunny know I wanted this book SO SO much??!?"

If you haven't read the Otis books, you must check them out. Really. This is the kind of literature that sticks with kids forever, "instant classics", to use a very well-worn phrase. The plots are relatable, the stories just the right length to read at bedtime, and Otis is a character kids will instantly love. We've so enjoyed the first book, Otis, and the sequel, Otis and the Tornado. And this new addition to the series is no exception.

This time around, Otis has a new friend in the form of a puppy the farmer delivers to the barn one night. Otis and the puppy bond right away, when Otis braves the darkness and invites the puppy to leave the cold doghouse and join him in the barn. And the puppy loves to play games with Otis and the farm animals, especially hide-and-seek. But one day the puppy gets distracted by a butterfly, and while Otis is finding all the other animals, the puppy wanders further and further away. Pretty soon it's clear that the puppy is lost. The farmer and the animals, and Otis of course, search everywhere to no avail. At last it grows dark and the farmer calls off the search for the night - but Otis knows his new friend is out there, and scared, so he musters up all his courage and sets out into the dark on his own to find the puppy.

As with the other Otis titles, Otis and the Puppy wraps up with an ending that hits all the right notes. But for us, the real thrill about this one comes in the illustrations. Oh my heavens, is Loren Long ever a master of his craft, a real storyteller not only through the written word but also through his amazing pictures. The palette here is slightly darker than the previous Otis books, as you might expect for a story that's all about bravery and facing your fears, which in Otis's case means the darkness. And the interplay of light and dark, of shade and shadow, that Long creates is really spectacular. I just about can't pick a favorite spread, but one of the best for me shows shadowy trees, with an owl and squirrel in silhouette, and the beam of Otis's headlight casting just enough light to make out his cheery red paint. Gorgeousness.

The Easter Bunny absolutely scored a home run with this gift. I want to be clear about something -- Sprout's not some kind of crazy kid who only ever wants books and not toys (that would have been me growing up). But he knows what he likes, and he likes Otis. So the sight of this much-coveted title next to his Easter basket just about made his holiday. And as a book-loving mama, it pretty much made mine too.

Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long, published by Philomel
All ages
Source: personal collection
Sample: "One evening, the farmer gathered everyone up in front of the barn and gently placed a burlap sack on the ground. The sack began to wobble, tumble, and roll. It sat up, stretched to the sky, and went Arrhhr. . . arrhhr. . . arrhf!. What could be in there?"
Highly recommended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This post is part of The Children’s Bookshelf, a weekly linky party with the goal of connecting parents with great books for their kids. Do you have a book review, literacy or book-related post that you think will be helpful for parents? If so, please add your link below.

NOTE: By linking up you are giving permission for any of the co-hosts to pin and/or feature a your photo on a future The Children’s Bookshelf post. Kindly link up to an individual post, not your blog’s homepage. The hosts reserve the right to delete any links to homepages, commercial links, repeat links or otherwise inappropriate links. Thank you for your understanding.

You can also follow The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit TCB’s co-hosts: Sprout’s Bookshelf, What Do We Do All Day?, No Twiddle Twaddle, Smiling Like Sunshine, My Little Bookcase, The Picture Book Review, MemeTales and Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns. You can find more details here.

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Happy Read Across America Day!

It's Dr. Seuss Day at Sprout's preschool today in observation of Read Across America Day. He was so excited to dress up like his favorite Dr. Seuss character, the Lorax! ("I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.")

What are you doing to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday?

Picture Book Review - Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis

January can be a rough month when you have a little one. The holidays are over, and with them the excitement of all the activities that lead up to the big celebrations. The weather's not always great (at least not here in the northern climes) so trips to the park are few and far between, or maybe nonexistent. All those new toys are starting to lose their luster and soon moms and dads hear the dreaded "what can I do??"

This is when a trip to the library is in order, not only to load up on fun books to help while away the winter doldrums, but also to look for picture books you can pair with indoor activities. This could be a craft you make, an opportunity for dress-up or other imaginative play, or cooking up some delicious treats. (If you want inspiration for doing this kind of thing, I highly recommend the excellent blog Playing by the Book. This blogger and her kiddos do all kinds of crazy wonderful things inspired by the books they read - oh how I wish we could have playdates at their house!)

And that's where today's book comes in - I can see crafty moms and dads having a wonderful time conjuring up activities to go along with the new picture book by Wynton Marsalis, Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!. Like one of our favorite library finds of this past year, Drum City by Thea Guidone, this rhythmic delight is sure to get you up out of the reading chair and marching around to the beat. Really, I dare you not to!

The premise is pretty simple, which is a good fit for the heavily onomatopoeic text: a young boy explores his world, noting the sounds that occur from the everyday objects around him. There's the rumbling garbage truck, the squeaky back door, the clicky ticking of the alarm clock by the bed. And each group of sounds is compared to a particular musical instrument - so that alarm clock's ticking is like the plucking of a violin, for instance. Soon you can't help but be swept away by the jazzy rhythm that our young hero finds pretty much everywhere.

Visually this is a riot as well. Paul Rogers' bold illustration style causes the objects Marsalis mentions to take on a life all their own. You can practically hear the music of the jazzy washboard player, and the marching tuba players take over the whole spread. The pictures are colorful and fun, adding to the whole sense of wonder and exploration - and fun!

Don't read this one if you don't like doing sound effects -- Sprout's daddy is much better with this book than Mommy is, because he can make all kinds of kooky sounds -- and be ready to do some music of your own once you're done. There's loads of opportunity to get up and pound out a beat, whether it's by making a drum out of art supplies or learning to play the spoons. The possibilities in this jazz-infused title are endless, just like the music you'll suddenly be hearing everywhere you go!

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis, published by Candlewick Press
All ages
Source: Library
Sample: "Our back door squeeeaks. A nosy mouse eeek-eeek-eeeks! / It's also how my sister's saxophone sometimes speee. . . . eeaks."
Recommended

Review and GIVEAWAY!! - Shopping with Dad by Matt Harvey

When Sprout joined our family (more than two years ago now - how on earth is that possible??), we were fortunate to have a full month together at home to bond as a family. Those were great days, or at least I think they were. It's kind of a blur, to be honest, probably because we were all more than a little sleep-deprived. But soon that honeymoon period was over and I had to head back to work, leaving Sprout and his daddy home together for another six weeks.

Frankly, I think we were all terrified.

Undaunted, my darling husband set about incorporating Sprout into our everyday routine. This meant that if there were errands to do, the boys were out and about doing them. It wasn't easy - Jake had to figure out how to navigate a busy store with his wheechair and a little one along - but they got creative. They always had an interesting story for Mommy at the end of the day. And to this day they are shopping buddies, with the weekend likely to find them headed to Costco and Target after swim lessons or a trip to the park.

So when our friend Liz of Barefoot Books offered to sponsor our first giveaway here on Sprout's Bookshelf, it seemed pretty fitting that the book was Shopping with Dad by Matt Harvey.

Sprout was delighted to read this lively picture book about a young girl taking a trip to the store with her dad. Mom makes a list with some pretty zany ingredients (Sprout's favorite: octopus underpants!) and the pair heads through the aisles trying to find everything. But when the little girl is overtaken by a sneeze -- a HUGE sneeze to be precise -- the whole store is suddenly in an uproar. And worst of all, everyone's pointing the finger at Dad for causing all the trouble. Oh no! Will our heroine be brave enough to own up to her part in the mess? And will they ever get their shopping done??

Where to begin with all the things we love about Shopping with Dad. . . for starters, there's the adorable illustrations by Miriam Latimer, bursting with fun and so much energy, just like the preschooler who narrates the tale. (And if you've ever shopped with a three-year-old, you'll recognize a few of the scenarios in this book!) I love all the fun details included in the background - the mouse that peeks into several spreads, the dog running amok with his owner right behind. The multiracial cast of characters is fantastic, and includes people of all ages too. Our heroine's family is transracial, but that's beside the point of the action, which makes the book all the stronger for my mind. And the rhyme scheme is generally pretty cohesive (it does get sticky in a few points), but the big sneeze in the middle is what kids will really love, especially if you put all your best effort into it.

Want a copy of Shopping with Dad for your own library? We just happen to be GIVING AWAY a copy to one lucky reader. Enter using the form below. This contest is open to readers with United States addresses only (sorry, international friends!). Hurry, the contest ends Sunday, August 5th at 12:01 am EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't want to take your chances on the contest? You can purchase a copy of Shopping for Dad for yourself from our friend Liz at Barefoot Books. They have so many other wonderful titles too - many of their books are multicultural in theme and feature not only loads of diversity but also great content!

Best of all, if you order using this link (also posted above) between now and the end of August, 20% of the proceeds of your purchase will be donated to the Tesfa Foundation, an amazing organization that is right now fundraising for their 5x3 Initiative, aiming to build 5 schools in Ethiopia in the next 3 years. What could be better than that?? Get some awesome new books and help kids in Ethiopia at the same time!

Shopping with Dad by Matt Harvey, published by Barefoot Books
Source: provided by publisher for our review (but this review represents our true and honest opinion of this title)
Ages: 3-6
Sample: "My Mom made a list and she gave it to us, To me and my Dad, and we went on the bus. / We got off the bus at the stop by the shop, Dad found us a cart and then -- / WHOOSH! We were off."
Recommended

Library Find - Drum City by Thea Guidone

My youngest nephew plays the drums in his middle school band. Sprout already thinks his cousins are the height of coolness, but the drum thing? That totally seals the deal. Ever since he found out that Cory is a drummer Sprout has gone crazy whenever he sees anything having to do with drums. I think we've read Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb about a thousand times and every single time he sees the first drumming monkey page he yells, "My Cory plays the drums too!!" at the top of his lungs. Seriously.

So you can just imagine the scene that ensued when he saw the book Drum City on the library shelf a few weeks back. "Hey drums!" he screeched, pushing past me to grab the book (thank goodness the librarians in our children's room aren't of the shushing variety). Of course Sprout insisted we read it RIGHT NOW. And again. And again. It was pretty clear right then and there that we had a real favorite on our hands.

I was completely unfamiliar with author Thea Guidone, though I knew Vanessa Newton for her fantastic illustrations for Cedella Marley's One Love. I love Newton's depictions of kids - she gets them spot-on, all gappy teeth and knobby knees and joyful exuberance. And Drum City also gives Newton the opportunity to illustrate some adults, as the crowd of bystanders that witnesses the drum parade. Newton goes all out here - each one of the kids and adults that populate her pages is completely original. There's so much to look at, from the trenchcoated businessman to the fashionable lady to the dredlocked market proprieter. The diversity is organic and natural, adding to the fun vibe that Guidone's text evokes.

And what text it is. You will love, love, love reading this book aloud, and it's a perfect choice for storytime in the library or classroom too. Bouncy and vibrant, Guidone's tale of a procession of kiddos drumming their way through the city is one that's guaranteed to get you out of your chair and moving. The rhymes and rhythms are absolutely infectious, as fun to read as they are to listen to. We like the way the kids utilize whatever is at hand for impromptu music-making: soup pots, washboards, buckets and brooms, sticks and garbage can lids. Since he's been cooking a lot with me lately, Sprout likes to point out the utensils he knows: wooden spoon, whisk, rolling pin.

One of the best things about using the library as much as we do is stumbling into titles we've never heard of - in this case, a real winner. Drum City is a delightful book, as wonderful to look at as it is to read, and a great showcase of author and illustrator skills. I can't wait to see more from this talented pair!

Drum City by Thea Guidone, published by Tricycle Press
Ages 2-5
Source: Library
Sample: "Something is coming. They watch and they wonder, / assuming the booming is summertime thunder. / Thumping and pounding, the echo resounding / the sound of the pound of the drums."
Highly recommended

Bonus: Interview with the engaging Vanessa Newton from The Brown Bookshelf

Picture Book Review: Sing-Along Song by JoAnn Early Macken

For Sprout, one of the perks of having a mom who works for the library system is that I'm always bringing home new titles to read. Even though we go to the library together nearly every week, if I run across something I think Sprout will like, I can't resist checking it out for him. Sometimes it's a new release, other times a familiar favorite, and every once in a while it's a title that's just now popping up on my radar.

A few weeks ago I brought home one such book, Sing-Along Song  by Joanne Early Macken. Somewhere in my travels this title jumped out at me, and just one glimpse at the cover told me it would be a hit with Sprout. And boy, was it ever -- the second I pulled it out of my bag, Sprout was all over it, telling me again and again, "This boy is me, Mama!". (He's pretty much right, by the way - the resemblance is sort of uncanny!) He could hardly wait for us to read it together.

And I'm thrilled to say that Macken does not disappoint with this exuberant celebration of a little boy's day. All along the way, our hero finds something to delight in, from the way the cat stretches to catch a mosquito to the delicious dinner Mama brings to the table. And for each discovery, there's a song that this cheerful tyke can't help singing along to. With the robin in the tree outside, it's a "cheery-up song". With the sleeping dog, it's a "whuffle-woof song". And at his baby sister's bedtime, it's a soft, sweet "gurgle-coo song".

Macken's use of language is pitch-perfect, and her rhymes are infectious. I love the way she uses imagery with each new scenario, for example, showing us how baby sister looks "like a flower bud / wrapped up warm and tight". Too often I think authors shy away from this kind of metaphor in books for the youngest children, which is really a shame. After all, children are the masters of metaphor, comparing the circle of the sun to the round pancake on their plate, or the fluff of popcorn to bubbles in their nighttime bath. Thankfully Macken gets that, and her prose is nothing less than engaging at every turn.

And then the illustrations - what more do I need to say than that they are done by the incomparable LeUyen Pham? I've raved about Pham's artwork before, as we've long been devotees of her sweetly inventive pictures in Whose Knees Are These? and Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim. And Pham delivers yet again, with warm, homey images of a loving family and a curious toddler encountering all the wonders of his everyday life. The simple joy of a small boy gazing out at a sky full of stars is one of my favorite spreads in this title, and there are many, many more.

Sing-Along Song is a fun choice for storytime, and a natural pick for winding down the day at bedtime. And one read-through will have you and your little ones listening closely as you go through your day, finding your own sing-along songs in the world around you. We do!

Sing-Along Song by JoAnn Early Macken, with illustrations by LeUyen Pham
Published by Viking
Source: Library
Ages 2-6
Sample: "Squirrel skips and scampers on the front porch rail, / Scoldin' all the neighborhood and flickin' his tail. / When I hear that squirrel sing his chitter-chat song, / I burst out singin'! I just gotta sing along."
Highly recommended.

NOTE: This is an older book, no longer easily available for purchase, sadly -- check your used bookstore or library!

Let Us Eat Cake!

May's a festive month around our household: two birthdays, Mother's Day, and the anniversary of the day we became a family. This year we're throwing a big shindig for Sprout's third birthday, and the excitement is really starting to build, with lots of talk about cake, presents, cake, decorations, cake and friends who are coming. Oh, and cake - did I say cake?

Sprout's kind of obsessed with the birthday cake this time around. I blame Betty Bunny. Just about every night the book of choice is Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan. I can completely understand why: it's funny and clever, populated by some fantastic characters (our favorites: wiseacre brother Bill and Betty Bunny herself, a real "handful") and full of the kind of real dilemmas kids face. Like, for instance, how you handle it when you want to eat chocolate cake for dinner and Mommy insists on healthy dinner first. (I'm pretty sure Betty Bunny's solution, throwing veggies at her siblings, is probably not the best.) Preschoolers will gobble this one up as surely as Betty Bunny makes short work of her chocolate cake, and the ending is guaranteed to get a laugh every time. Luscious!

If Betty Bunny can't get enough cake, Sugar's on the other end of the spectrum. In Emily Jenkins' Sugar Would Not Eat It, Leo's newly adopted cat Sugar gets hungry, so Leo offers her a piece of his leftover birthday cake. But Sugar refuses, and the more Leo cajoles, the less interested Sugar becomes. In desperation, Leo solicits advice from everyone in his neighborhood. But nothing he tries seems to work: not getting mad, not punishment, not limiting her to only four bites. At last the hungry kitty makes her own preferences clear, and Leo finally realizes that for cats, maybe birthday cake isn't the meal of choice. The illustrations by Giselle Potter add just the right amount of whimsy - we especially love Sugar's vibrant blue fur. A great message here for picky eaters and their parents!

Who Made This Cake? by Chihiro Nakagawa was a hit for Sprout right from the cover - a huge crane and loads of little workmen getting ready for a big project. Turns out the tiny workmen are taking on a massive project: making a birthday cake for a full-size human boy. Think Gulliver and the Lilliputians. This is a resourceful bunch, and they've got plenty of heavy equipment to help with the job: diggers and backhoes, tractors and dump trucks, and an enormouse flatbed to transport the cake pan to the oven. Pumper trucks spread the icing, and a helicopter loads in the final touch, a giant sign reading "Happy Birthday". For little ones obsessed with trucks, trains and all things construction, here's an ingenious twist on the birthday theme. We love it!

Cake-themed reads are fun no matter what time of year your birthday falls. But be forewarned: these delicious titles might just drive you to crack out the baking pans!

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright

Like most kiddos his age, Sprout loves animals, the more exotic the better. He likes to roar like a lion, growl like a bear, hoot like an owl - and sometimes all three together. Lately he's been in a big tiger phase, so we've incorporated some tiger-themed reading into our regular routine. And I've even found myself noticing tigers in a whole new way, thanks to my sweet boy.

One of my resolves this year has been to read more nonfiction for kids. In setting out to dip into the true stories pool, I've been keeping my eyes open for buzzed-about titles, and one that keeps coming up is Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, with pictures by Vicky White. There's a reason this title is getting so much attention: it's simply gorgeous, not only with its photorealistic illustrations, but also in the way Jenkins communicates his point. With subtle gracefulness, Jenkins introduces the concept of endangerment, and in particular the plight of the tiger, "big, beautiful and fierce" as it is. He parallels the fate of other animals with that of the tiger, asking the question of whether we can take steps to change the course of events for this amazing animal. This is a book that will take your breath away, not only for its message but also for its stunning design. Though it's way above his comprehension, Sprout too is captivated by the pictures in this beautiful title. Truly incredible!

In Sam and the Tigers, Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney take ownership of one of the most controversial stories in American history, that of Little Black Sambo. Recognizing that this was a story many people felt strongly about, Lester and Pinkney decided to tell the story in a way that would support the racial identity of African American children. And what they've produced is a story that speaks to the original without relying on stereotype or negative portrayals. Sam is still the ingenious boy in the fancy clothes, who finds a way to put one over on the powerful tigers. In typical Lester and Pinkney fashion, the story is packed with humor and a quality of myth that brings Sam and his world to vivid life. This is a rendition that stacks up neatly with other classics like John Henry - as fantastic as it is compelling. And these are absolutely majestic tigers, in every sense, so real you feel they might spring off the page.

For a very different take, try Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen. This is one that even the youngest kiddos will enjoy hearing read aloud, as its bouncy rhythm is perfect for sharing. A tiny little fly is pestering some pretty big animals: an elephant, a hippo, and (of course) a tiger. But try as they might, none of these huge creatures can best the miniscule fly, who flies away at the end with a wink and a promise. Sprout adores this one, not only for its clever rhyme but also for its eye-popping illustrations by Kevin Waldron. If the cover image of the great big tiger herself doesn't draw your kiddos in, then the gatefold inside, with all the animals struggling to get at that tiny little fly is sure to do it. It's pretty telling that we've renewed this one at least once, and I'm sure that Sprout will have a hard time letting go when it's time to finally take it back to the library!

Want to add some power to your storytime? Try tigers - fierce and fantastic!

Easy Readers - The "Max" Series by Adria F. Klein

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there is a huge need for early reader books featuring characters of color. Series titles in particular are thin on the ground. If you don't believe me, take a look at your local library or bookstore next time. Beyond Diego and Dora, and the occasional Little Bill title, it's pretty darn white over in the easy readers. And yes, I realize that there are excellent choices like "Frog and Toad" and "Little Bear" - but there's also a real lack of representation of diversity in this section of most collections.


Enter Adria F. Klein, a professor in the Education department at California State University and the author of the Max books, published by Picture Window Books. These are entries in the "Read-it! Readers" series, a set of leveled readers that is similar to "I Can Read" or "Step into Reading". The Max titles we've read are at the beginning end of the spectrum: purple and red, the first two steps in the "Read-it!" system.

There's a lot to love about Max. For starters, here's a character with some color! The Library of Congress info page lists Max as "Hispanic-American", which fits, but quite frankly Sprout thinks Max looks just like him, and we are good with that. In the titles we've read there aren't any cultural details clearly linking Max to a particular ethnicity, though if there were we'd welcome that too. What's important is that for once we have a series character of color who is book-based only. Love it! And bonus: many, if not all, of the Max titles are available in bilingual English/Spanish editions. Whether your focus is bilingual education or ESL, these books provide a high-quality option.

So far we've read three Max titles: Max Goes to School, Max Goes to the Barber and Max and the Adoption Day Party. Each one is charmingly simple, with vivid and bright illustrations that support the text in meaningful ways. These are great books not only for fostering reading readiness and supporting emerging readers, but also for introducing kids to new and different situations. Sprout's fascinated by the School title, as it walks kids through the essentials of Max's day: meeting his teacher, finding his desk, eating his lunch, playing at recess. Adoption Day Party provides a basic familiarity with adoption celebrations; while it focuses more on the party aspect rather than on the notion of what adoption means, the book's greatest strength comes from showing that being adopted doesn't mean you're different from everyone else.

A quick online search reveals lots more titles in the Max series. Name a situation, and Max probably has it covered, from staying overnight to going to the dentist to taking his dog to the vet. Fortunately our library carries several Max titles. If yours doesn't, I'd strongly recommend making a purchase suggestion, as these provide much-needed depth and diversity to the early reader section. We're looking forward to exploring more titles with Max -- can't wait until Sprout's reading these to me on his own!

Picture Book Review - Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia

Hitting the right balance with a culturally specific tale is no easy feat. You want the book to appeal to insiders, by being authentic and a true representation of their cultural experience. At the same time you need it to be something that cultural outsiders can appreciate, even if they have no knowledge of traditions or even language. Tough stuff indeed.

The same is true for intergenerational stories - the plot needs to be believable and realistic. Why is this young kid interested in what an oldster has to say, anyway? What's his/her motivation to listen? We've all read historical fiction in which the often-used trope of "come little child, let me tell you a tale" is trotted out, and most of the time it's thin at best. We just aren't given a good rationale for keeps the kiddies enthralled.

And so, since it is both culturally specific and intergenerational, you might think Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji has the deck stacked against it. But you'd be wrong, because this is a story that works on many levels: specific enough to speak to cultural insiders, broad enough to appeal to outsiders, and held together by the truly believable bond between grandfather and grandson.

The book begins with Aneel's grandparents coming from India. Aneel relishes his time with them, especially Dada-ji's wonderful stories. He loves to hear the tales of Dada-ji's amazing strength as a young lad - wrestling elephants and tying cobras in a knot. And what was the young boy's secret? Eating lots of his mother's fluffy-puffy roti, hot from the grill and topped with spicy mango pickle. Mmmmm! Dada-ji can almost taste the roti now! So Aneel asks everyone to make some, but all the members of the family are busy. It's up to Aneel, and he gets to work, making a huge stack of delicious roti for Dada-ji. When the last scrap of roti has been gobbled up, Dada-ji has his famous strength -- and the two go off to the yard to have some new adventures together.

It's interesting to note that this is the first picture book for both author F. Zia and illustrator Ken Min. The quality of this effort certainly speaks to a pair of artists who know how to craft a work that appeals to a broad audience. Sprinkling culturally specific elements throughout the text, Zia lets us in on what life was like for Dada-ji as a young boy. I especially appreciate that she doesn't interrupt the flow of the story to define the Hindi words, but rather includes a glossary in the back for those of us who may be unfamiliar with the terms. And Min's illustrations are spot-on: you can feel the power welling up in Dada-ji as he gulps down the huge stack of roti, and the shifting perspectives he uses (watching from inside the bowl as Aneel dumps the flour down) add a playful element that's just right. I love the energy that bursts from each of the characters, especially Aneel, who is excited to be doing something for his grandfather.

Sprout LOVED this book, which surprised me because it's a bit on the long side and more introspective than some of his favorites. But he asked for it over and over again, and was thrilled when my husband offered to take us all out for Indian food the other night. (Here he is, enjoying his own hot, hot roti - ok, naan bread, but it was hot and delicious too!)

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, published by Lee & Low
Ages 2-6
Source: Library
Sample: "What made the lad so strong? It was the hot, hot roti that sizzled and wizzled on Badi-ma's wood hearth. You see, baba, Badi-ma made the best roti around! Hungry villagers trampled tall fields and swam angry rivers to sniff the fluffy-puffy roti that bubbled and wobbled in ghee on the hot, hot tavva pan."
Recommended

Bonus: interview with F. Zia at The Happy Nappy Bookseller

Picture Book Review - A House in the Woods by Inga Moore

Every night at bedtime, Sprout's allowed to pick out his own reading material. We usually get through 3-4 books while he's taking his bath, and then we do one more once he's all snuggled down in bed. I used to do the selections, trying to reserve a calmer title for that last one of the night, but lately he's all about doing it himself. And for the past several nights, Sprout has chosen only one book for that last selection: A House in the Woods by Inga Moore.

If you're not familiar with Inga Moore, you're in for a treat. She's probably best known for Six-Dinner Sid, about a greedy little black cat whose elaborate plot to get multiple dinners every night eventually trips him up (or does it?). She's also published a number of acclaimed illustrated volumes, most notably her iteration of Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame -- cannot wait until Sprout's old enough for this one!

And in A House in the Woods Inga Moore gives us a book that is as charming and cozy as Wind in the Willows, albeit in a different vein. The plot is fairly simple: a couple of pigs have built themselves perfectly lovely homes in the woods, but when each pig gets an unexpected houseguest, their homes are ruined. Suddenly the two pigs, and Moose and Bear, find themselves without living quarters. What's the most logical solution? Build themselves a proper house, of course. So the unlikely group hires themselves a pack of beaver builders to do the job. Luckily for them, beavers work cheap. Soon enough the little group has a sturdy and suitable home, complete with all the comforts -- all of that for only the price of several plates of peanut butter sandwiches (told you those beavers were a bargain!).

It's just about impossible for me to convey in writing how delightfully lovely this book is. Really, it's the kind of book you read as a child and remember fondly as an adult. The characters all get along splendidly, working together to accomplish their goal. The reward for their hard work is satisfyingly handsome, and best of all they all get to curl up together at the end of the night and dream about their labors. And the illustrations -- oh my, how gorgeous they are! I'm not exaggerating when I say that each time we read it, one of us notices something new: from the crooked stick that one pig finds at the beginning, to the lovely squishy pillows the group brings home from the badger junkyard. Oh, and the friends themselves are pitch-perfect: gangly Moose, all knees and elbows, the busy little pigs, and bumbly Bear.

Sprout thinks a visit to the house in the woods is the perfect way to end the night, and I heartily agree. You'll want to pull yourself and your kiddo right inside this cozy picture book and never leave.

A House in the Woods by Inga Moore, published by Candlewick
All ages
Source: Library
Sample: "Which left the two Little Pigs with nowhere to live--not to mention Moose and Bear. This was a pickle. It really was."
Highly recommended

Picture Book Review - The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster

For a young child, visiting a beloved friend or relative can be a momentous occasion. Even if it's someone the child knows well, staying with them provides a glimpse behind the curtain of their mysterious "other" life. Growing up, I was always proud of the fact that my sisters were full-on adults, with their own homes and cars and jobs. Staying with one of them for a weekend was a huge deal for me. It felt like they lived in an alternate dimension, where there were trips to the park, nights at the movies, ice cream in the afternoon and games to play after dinner. Those visits are some of the fondest memories of my childhood, and really they seem even now to be tinged with magic.

In The Hello, Goodbye Window, Norton Juster and Chris Raschka translate that magic to the printed page, and they do it in masterful fashion, as you might expect from two kidlit superstars. The narrative follows a little girl who's visiting her grandparents overnight. The magic at Nanna and Poppy's starts before you even get inside their house, at the Hello, Goodbye Window. The window, we're told, "looks like a regular window, but it's not". Through the Hello, Goodbye Window, you get a glimpse into Nanna and Poppy's world, where there are loads of magical things -- the sink where a certain baby girl used to get a bath ("really!"), the counter where Poppy whips up breakfast delights, the table that's perfect for coloring. From the inside you can look out at the world through the window too. You can see the stars (Nanna knows all of them!), check the weather, keep an eye on Nanna's garden and look for mysterious visitors (a T-Rex, maybe). Yes, this is indeed a magic window, where you can see all the wonders of the world, both inside and out.

In reading this to Sprout, the first thing that we were both taken by was Chris Raschka's unbelievable artwork. (Yes, the very same Chris Raschka who just won the Caldecott for A Ball for Daisy. Well-deserved on both counts!) Raschka's style is like nothing else, and it completely manifests the spirit of our narrator, a vibrant little beauty with twinkling eyes like her Poppy and curly hair like her Nanna. I love the liveliness of Raschka's drawings, the way they dance and snap and nearly skitter off the page, and then gear down to match the quieter moments of the text. Beautiful stuff, truly.

But what kept us coming back to this one, I think, has to be Juster's text. This is an author who knows his character -- he not only gets her voice down just right, he also captures the essence of this girl and her very special grandparents. There's more than a sense of understanding here. There's also the whiff of wanting to freeze a moment in time, preserve one of these visits for her so it stays there, immediate and lovely, always ready for reliving. I'm just guessing that there's some autobiography involved, and that's quite likely why the book rings so true at every point. Oh, and the fact that the family is multiracial? Icing on a very tasty cake indeed.

Don't miss The Hello, Goodbye Window. Even without that Caldecott win, it was always going to be the best of the very best.

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka, published by Hyperion
Ages 2 and up (oh please, read it with your older kids too!)
Source: Library
Sample quote: "Sometimes when it's hot / Poppy chases me with the hose / and I yell, / "Stop it, Poppy, stop it!" / When he does I ask him / to do it again. / Nanna just shakes her head."
Highly recommended

Bonus: Kathleen Horning's interview with Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer

Library Find - Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler

I love my kid. I really do. But at the moment he's in a stage that frustrates the life out of me. If you have toddlers or have spent much (any) time around them, you'll recognize it -- it's the "no way will I tolerate anything new" phase. Basically this means that his daily selections (food, clothes, books, DVDs) are from a very limited list of personally-approved items. Any deviation from said list is bound to meet up with a pronounced "no, I don't want to" or "no, I don't like it". Or, you know, just "no".

Well, okay, I can play along with this to a limited extent. But since my husband and I happen to believe that trying new things is good, we can't entirely let our dear son dictate everything. So that means that alongside his beloved dinner of noodles and cheese, Sprout is apt to find a taste of asparagus. Paired up with his favorite Cars pajama bottoms, he's likely to have a different t-shirt choice. And in with his tried-and-true library selections, there is bound to be something he thinks he just won't like.

Such was the case for Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. I picked this one up at the library because I was drawn to the energetic cover art, which features a multiracial cast. (The fact that it was sporting a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor seal didn't hurt either.) A quick read through suggested that it might be a bedtime favorite - lots of fun upbeat rhymes, characters swinging and swaying to a jazzy beat, and skin in all shades of pinks and browns. What's not to love, I thought?

Unfortunately Sprout was a harder sell. He pitched a fit the first time I pulled it out, but I persisted. And lo and behold, it has become one of the most-requested titles in the bedtime rotation. Well, how could it not be - seriously, this is a fun one to read together! The premise is simple: a lively family celebration of music, with singing and dancing and beboppin' galore. Wheeler's words put the song in motion, and Christie's vibrant characters look ready to dance right off the page. In each spread, our jazzy baby is dancing with someone new, as the whole family, plus neighbors and friends, get into the act. And the singing and dancing is infectious -- if you can read this one through without wanting to get up and dance yourself, I'd be surprised!

Sprout loves the recurring refrain sung by the main character: "Go, man, go!" My husband taught him to say it in a really jazzy way, which makes him laugh like nobody's business. All in all, this is a fun and funny title that's great for bedtime reading but would make an excellent addition to any storytime program as well. Pair with This Jazz Man for another title that will get kids up and on their feet!

Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, published by Harcourt
Ages 2-7
Source: Library
Sample: "Auntie toe-taps. / Uncle soft-shoes. / Fancy-dancin' Baby sings 'Doo-Wop-Doo!'"
Recommended

Picture Book Review - Lottie Paris Lives Here

Recurring characters are a great device for young kids. They create an instant bond with a new book, becoming more like familiar friends than characters. Some of my best literary memories are with series characters: Frances, Frog and Toad, Pippi Longstocking, Nancy Drew, Henry Huggins.

Kids who otherwise won't tolerate anything new are more open to a different plot peopled by someone they already know. Sprout's right at this developmental stage -- over Christmas break he ate the exact same breakfast every single day, and when I suggested something different, he looked at me like I was nuts. He'd happily listen to the same book four times every night, but Mama needs to switch it up for sanity's sake. Enter series characters: I can easily sell a different Elephant and Piggie title in place of the one that's wearing a bit thin. Whew!

Angela Johnson's Lottie Paris Lives Here is a book all about one of the most endearingly energetic girls in kidlit today. She's smart and spunky, with an attitude and an imagination to match. At times that attitude gets her into trouble (Lottie ends up in the quiet chair on more than one occasion), which makes her all the more lovable. This is a girl who takes life and shakes it awake -- Sprout and I love the spread where Lottie's on the playground, because all that vivacious energy has her near about bursting off the page. Oh, and when Lottie wears a hat? Yep, that's a hat like no other, complete with feathers, flowers and frogs. Woot!

Scott M. Fischer illustrates this humdinger of a picture book. We loved Fischer's Jump!, which has become one of our favorite get-the-wiggles-out reads (here's my review). Fischer brings a similar liveliness to Lottie, giving her eyes that sparkle and snap, a head of luscious curls, and a smile that's about 1000 watts. No boring color palettes for Lottie's world, either -- it's all bright pastels, even down to Lottie's purple-furred puppy. Fischer knows how to draw kids, too, in all kinds of situations. Lottie's equally charming when she's yelling for another cookie, or when she's snuggled up to Papa Pete at the end of a long day's adventures.

I don't know if Angela Johnson is planning to make Lottie Paris a recurring character, but it's my opinion that she should. Lottie is the sort of girl kids are going to bond with instantly and stick with over the course of many books. More, please!

Lottie Paris Lives Here by Angela Johnson, published by Simon and Schuster
Ages 2-6
Source: Library
Sample: "Can you find Lottie in the park? / She's the one going this way / and that way / and under the trees, / around the fountain, / and down the slide. / Lottie Paris plays here."
Recommended

Here Be Dragons

It's a new year -- let's start it off with some fantasy and ferocity, dragon-style!

What is it about dragons? Cuddly or scaly, friendly or forbidding, they make excellent fodder for some really engaging picture books. In an effort to add some whimsy to our bedtime routine -- and to balance out all those truck/train/car/airplane books we seem to end up checking out -- I recently brought home a couple of dragon-themed titles to share with Sprout.

The first choice, A Dragon Moves In by Lisa Falkenstern (whom we love from her illustrations for The Busy Tree), caught Sprout's attention from the get-go. I'm pretty sure it was the artwork, which is sumptuous and oh-so-inviting. Really, this is the kind of book that defines the phrase "feast for the eyes", as every spread has yet more visual delights. And the story's a winner too: Hedgehog and Rabbit stumble on an egg, which promptly hatches into a baby dragon. The pair are thrilled and decide to bring their new friend home, but they aren't prepared for just how thoroughly Dragon will fill up their house. The solution comes pretty easily, as it often does in picture books, but it's just the thing to bring the friends together. Magical and endearing!

And then there's Jack -- King Jack and the Dragon, that is. It's easy to fall in love with this title, right from the first moment, just for the sake of Helen Oxenbury. But Peter Bently's tongue-in-cheek storytelling kept us turning pages. Jack and his band of intrepid knights must protect their castle at all costs. Monsters and dragons can be easily fought, but it's giants that cause the real trouble, as they pull the knights away one by one. Soon Jack is all alone, but he's not scared, exactly. Still, it's a good thing Jack has his own giants. . . to take him home for bath and bed. The clever, subtle humor here will appeal to older preschoolers, while little ones will thrill at the thought of fighting dragons and beasts themselves. And Oxenbury's artwork is of course beyond charming (naturally I find the chubby-cheeked Zack the most appealing, but Jack and Caspar are pretty cute too).

He's a little young for it yet, but one dragon title I can't wait to introduce Sprout to is Ruth Stiles Gannett's My Father's Dragon. I still remember hearing this one read aloud when I was in elementary school, falling under the spell of this inviting tale and its quirky, old-fashioned artwork (that cover - what is it about that cover?? Retro fabulousness!). Though there are other books in the series, this is the one that grabbed and held my attention from the first lines. I'm thrilled that there are new editions of this one still around, that I can share with my own kiddo in the not-too-distant future.

What's your favorite dragon title? Add it together with one of these newer choices for a fun (and fierce) storytime experience!