Picture Book

Crow Call by Lois Lowry

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Crow Call
Author: Lois Lowry
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline
Published October 1st, 2009 by Scholastic Press

Goodreads Summary: Two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry has crafted a beautiful picture book about the power of longing and the importance of reconnection between a girl and her father in post-WWII America.

This is the story of young Liz, her father, and their strained relationship. Dad has been away at WWII for longer than she can remember, and they begin their journey of reconnection through a hunting shirt, cherry pie, tender conversation, and the crow call. This allegorical story shows how, like the birds gathering above, the relationship between the girl and her father is graced with the chance to fly.

Review: This book felt very real, so I was not surprised to learn that it was based on a day in Lois Lowry’s life, when she went hunting with her father after he returned from World War II. As more of our children’s fathers and mothers return from Iraq and Afghanistan, I can’t think of a more appropriate book. Liz longs for a connection with her father, but she is uncomfortable saying the word, “Daddy.” The reader feels her sense of longing and reaches for the connection with her. This is a beautiful picture book that can be read to students of all ages.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Often, classics and YAL grapple with the emotional effects of soldiers in wars. The pulse of the war reaches family members, create a lasting aftermath of emotions like uncertainty, loneliness, and helplessness. I would love to see this book paired with a book about war (whether the other text takes place during the war or after the war). Teachers might have students pick out lines or actions that show the emotions that subside after a family member returns from war.

Discussion Questions: How is the crow call symbolic?; Why does Liz fear the hunting side of her father? Does he recognize this? How do you know?; What does the ending show about her relationship with her father?

We Flagged: “I practice his name to myself, whispering it under my breath. Daddy. Daddy” (p. 7).

Read This If You Loved: Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick, The Silver Path by Christine Harris, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Recommended For: 

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Bogart and Vinnie by Audrey Vernick

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Bogart and Vinnie: A Completely Made-Up Story of True Friendship
Author: Audrewy Vernick
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Published June 18th, 2013 by Walkers Children

Goodreads Summary: When Vinnie, a crazy-happy dog, gets lost while visiting a nature preserve with his family, he finds comfort in the company of Bogart, a big, lazy rhinoceros. Vinnie loves his new friend, but Bogart would rather just take a nap. A friendship soon blossoms-even if Vinnie’s definition of “friendship” is very different from Bogart’s-and when word of their unique situation spreads, Bogart and Vinnie are a worldwide sensation! But as soon as their fifteen seconds of fame ends, what’s left is a bond even Bogart can’t ignore.

Pairing picture-book veteran, Henry Cole, with up-and-coming author, Audrey Vernick, this clever spoof of the unendingly popular interspecies animal-friendship story is full of heart and humor.

My Review: I love Vinnie! He is one of the happiest, joyful characters in a picture book every. Just seeing him makes me smile. I mean, how could Bogart not want to be his friend. But the funniest part of the friendship is the opposite attracts aspect. Bogart is not happy and joyful. He is content with standing on his hill eating grass, but then here comes Vinnie to change his life. Vernick cleverly plays off of the unlikely friendship hype (which is so adorable!), but without making fun of it.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This book would be so much fun to read after introducing say Owen and Mzee or other unlikely friendships (always an easy compare and contrast activity), but then what would take it to a whole new level is to ask kids to write their own stories about two animals that are unlikely friends—I think some hilariousness would come out of these stories.

Discussion Questions: What makes Bogart and Vinnie unlikely friends?

We Flagged: “Way in back, rarely visited, stood Bogart, a square-lipped rhinoceros. He breathed in the grassy peace of the rhino range—his alone. He cherished the quiet, his tail curled with happiness.

Vinnie raced straight toward Bogart as though reuniting with an old friend.
“I love you! I’m Vinnie! Hi!”
Nobody knew what attracted Vinnie to Bogart. Was it his color? His shape? His horn? His other horn? THe way he completely ignored Vinnie?” (p. 6-7)

Read This If You Loved: Owen and Mzee by Craig Hatkoff, Elephant and Piggie (series) by Mo Willems, Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon, You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Julie at Bloomsbury for providing a copy for review!!**

Millie and the Big Rescue by Alexander Steffensmeier

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Millie and the Big Rescue
Author and Illustrator: Alexander Steffensmeier
Published August 13th, 2013 by Walker Childrens

Goodreads Summary: A game of hide and seek on the farm goes awry when Millie gets stuck in her hiding place at the top of a tree. But when the farmer and all the other animals try to help, they get stuck as well. Who will rescue Millie and her friends?

Millie’s charming comedy of errors is back in full effect, guaranteeing this new installment in the series will be a hit among young readers as it introduces essential members of the community: firefighters!

My Review and Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: The farm is full of animals that just want to have fun, but one interesting choice by Millie causes havoc. This book would be great for a read aloud. Students will have so much fun predicting what is going to happen next and guessing the effects of the different events.

Discussion Questions:  Why was the tree a bad hiding place for Millie? Where else could she have hidden?; If you could have a picnic anywhere, where would you choose?

We Flagged: “Millie loved to play hide-and-see. So did her friends on the farm. even when all the good hiding places were taken, Millie somehow managed to find the best spot. Ready or not, here come the chickens. Millie was nowhere to be found.” (p. 2-3)

Read This If You Loved: The Night Horses by Anaka Jones, Fire Fuego! Brave Bomberos by Susan Middleton, Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer, Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Julie at Bloomsbury for providing a copy for review!!**

Skinny Little Tree by Jayme Martin

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Skinny Little Tree
Author: Jayme Martin
Published June 30th, 2013 by Outskirts Press

Goodreads Summary: “All the seasons are worth living…” May Skinny Little Tree, Wiggly Worms, and Little Leaves remind you that all the seasons of life are worth living.

Review: This is a fabulous book to teach children about the changing of seasons. A little boy approaches Skinny Little Tree and asks her whey she is smiling, weeping, worried, etc., and she tells him why she is feeling those emotions. She responds with an answer that shows she doesn’t understand how her environment changes as the seasons change. After each season, there is a workbook page that asks the reader to draw a different element of the plot. I imagine that kids would have a lot of great fun with this interactive text!

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This would be a great book to pair with a unit about the changing seasons or the emotions that we feel. I think kids would have a lot of fun with the interactive drawing sections. I’d love to see students write their own books from the perspective of a different inanimate object as it responds to the seasons changing. For example, a student might choose to write from the perspective of a pond as it goes through the seasons of a year.

It is reminiscent of many Eric Carle books, so teachers might find it valuable to pair them to teach author’s craft.

Discussion Questions: What changes does Skinny Little Tree experience as the seasons change? Which was your favorite season? Why?; What does Skinny Little Tree come to understand by the end of the book?; How does the repetition in this book add to the story?

We Flagged: “‘Skinny Little Tree, / why are you smiling at me?’ / ‘Because Wiggly Worms / are tickling my toes'” (p. 3-4).

Read This If You Loved: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Jayme Martin for providing me with this copy for review!**

Penguin on Vacation by Salina Yoon

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Penguin on Vacation
Author and Illustrator: Salina Yoon
Published August 16th, 2013 by Walker Childrens

Goodreads Summary: Penguin’s tired of the snow and cold–so he decides to go on vacation! But where should he go? And what new friends will he meet along the way?

Seasoned illustrator Salina Yoon’s spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring this favorite character to life, ensuring that readers will be clamoring for more Penguin stories–whether they find their home in the cold or the warm.

My Review: My friend Niki has talked about how wonderful Yoon’s Penguin books are, but I hadn’t gotten my hands on one until now. After reading Penguin on Vacation, I can see why this character is one that is loved. He is curious, friendly, and cute.  I also am a huge fan of Crab as he was there just as Penguin needed him. This book is a great celebration of odd frienships.

Teacher Tools for Navigation: Read aloud! Primary students will love Penguin and this book is a perfect book to read either before a break or during Friendship Week. It can also be a fun read aloud during a discussion of habitats.

Discussion Questions: Would Penguins and Crabs be able to switch habitats?

We Flagged: 

PoVsample3
Copyright © 2013 by Salina Yoon

Read This If You Loved: Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon, One Cool Friend by Tony Buzzeo, Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, Penguin Pete by Marcus Pfister, Owen and Mzee by Craig Hatkoff

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Julie at Bloomsbury for providing a copy for review!**

Jimmy the Joey by Deborah Lee Rose and Susan Kelly

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NF PB 2013

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

jimmy

Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue
Authors: Deborah Lee Rose and Susan Kelly
Photographer: Susan Kelly
Published July 9th, 2013 by National Geographic Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary: This warm and inspirational photographic picture book for ages 4 to 8 is a compelling and uplifting true story, with a sweet message about coping with loss that draws attention to an important and threatened wild animal.

Jimmy is an adorable baby koala whose tender tale is sure to strike at the heartstrings of every animal lover. Readers will marvel at Jimmy’s new life at Koala Hospital, being raised by loving human caregivers and interacting with other koalas healing from injury. The book also introduces young readers to the need for conservational awareness: Through Jimmy’s life story readers will come to understand the many obstacles koalas and other species face today.

My Review: So I must warn you. This book is full of adorable. You fall in love with Joey instantly and will love every second of his story. Joey’s story is combined with information about koalas as well as information about conservation. However, it never gets preachy; it is just the facts of Jimmy’s story. Oh, and did I say ADORABLE?!?!

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This will be a favorite read aloud in elementary classrooms. How can you not love reading about this adorable koala. The read aloud cold easily move into cause and effect discussions about how the environmental changes are effecting animals. Jimmy would be a great introduction to deforestation.

Discussion Questions: How did the tearing down of forests effect Jimmy’s life?; Why does the Koala Hospital let the koalas go after they are better?

We Flagged: “Many trees in the forest had been cut down to make room for roads and people’s houses. The mother koala needed to find a new tree with plenty of fresh leaves to eat. One starry night, with her joey holding tight to her fur, the mother koala climbed slowly to the ground.” (p. 6)

Read This If You Loved: Seymour Simon animal nonfiction books, Let’s Make a Difference: We Can Help Orangutans by Gabriella Francine, Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, Seabird in the Forest by Joan Dunning

Recommended For: 

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**Thank you to Tracey at Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy for review!!**

Children’s Book Poll Results

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Baby Library Poll2

Last Sunday we asked for your help. 
We are both having baby boys very soon (Ricki in December, Kellee in February) and are looking to make sure they have the best books available. To make sure we didn’t miss anything, we asked you all to share with us the MUST HAVE classic and contemporary picture books we need for them. 
Today we are so excited to share the results

Recommended Classic Picture Books

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

29291

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Barn

401730

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

310259

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

310258

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

4948

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

32929

Wilson’s World by Edith Thatcher Hurd

The Going-to-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

53580

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.

759611

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

153540

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.

chicka

Recommended Contemporary Picture Books

10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann

773915

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

835495

Knuffled Bunny by Mo Willems

58924

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Phillip C. Stead

13170028

May We Sleep Here Tonight? by Tan Koide

2038110

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

2769817

The Family Book by Todd Parr

120654

Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli

577348

The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty

17773504

Peas on Earth by Todd H. Doodler

12676022

Journey by Aaron Becker

17262290

Nathaniel Willy Scared Silly by Judith Mathews

440972

The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson

17659588

Button Nose by Nina Laden

6024642

Sick Day for Amos by Phillip C. Stead

7268995

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

1220282

Little You by Richard Van Camp

17074068

 There are many books on this list which we may have overlooked!
Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite picture books with us and we cannot wait to get these for our babies’ libraries!

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