LiBEARians, Private Eye Monkeys, and Other Funny Picture Books

By Jan Pease

This may or may not be secret information, but I can’t stand it when people refer to the library as “liberry” and to me as a liberrian.     So that makes a new book by Alison Donald, “The New LiBEARian,” both irritating and funny. This begs the question: if the person sitting at the librarian’s desk looks and sounds like a big bear, will Story Time ever be safe again?

Two more very funny books that were written by Steve Sheinkin incorporate time travel, famous historical people, and general silliness.   In the first, Abraham Lincoln escapes from his book and 1860 and pursues his dream of being a professional wrestler.  “Abraham Lincoln, Pro Wrestler” is the title to look for.  The second book is “Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean.”    Imagine what would happen if the famous First Lady got tired of doing chores at the White House and ran off to join a pirate crew. By the way, all three of these books use the idea of characters escaping off the page of books as a plot device. Is it something in the water?

“Baby Monkey, Private Eye” is a Brian Selznick mixture of picture book, beginning reader, and  graphic novel.  Mr. Selznick experiments with combinations of text and pictures and ties it all together  into a cohesive story.

“When Sophie Thinks She Can’t,”  by Mollie Bang, is the third book about a little girl named  Sophie in the series that started with “When Sophie Gets Angry—Really Really Angry.”   Ms. Bang writes books that help books that help children deal with feelings and frustrations.  She is a favorite author of mine.  I like the message in “When Sophie Thinks She Can’t,” which is that having difficulty solving a problem doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.  It just means that  you can learn to solve that problem, in math or in life.

“Be Brave, Little Penguin,” by Giles Andreae, is a sweet story about a little penguin with a big
problem.  Pip Pip is afraid of water, so he can’t swim in the ocean.  Maybe he needs to read “When Sophie Thinks She Can’t!”  Of course, his mommy helps  him be brave enough to jump into the sea where his penguin instinct takes over and he swims like a pro. 

Finally, I have to tell you about “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car.”  Kathy Dopirak wrote this little book that fits perfectly with the tune “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”  A car says good night to all his vehicle friends.“Twinkle, twinkle little car, How you love to travel far!”

I love picture books!  If it’s been awhile since you shared a picture book with a child, borrow a book, borrow a child, and enjoy what happens when you put the two together.  See you at the library!

Snakes Invade Library!!!

 By Jan Pease

At story hour on February 15, in honor of the Chinese New Year, we read “The Great Race” and we made snake finger puppets to celebrate the Year of the Snake.  My group of little boys carefully colored and decorated their snakes, and then we all talked together in little snake voices.  It reminded me again of the wonder of working with young children.  Remember that on Fridays, through May 10^th, Preschool Story hour features singing, movement, at least one book and a simple project.  Even the younger siblings proudly made their snakes today. 

Occasionally I sing a cowboy song at story hour.  I don’t know why those have stayed with me; most of them were songs I learned to sing while learning simple guitar chords when I was about 15.    “Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy,” written and illustrated by Jan Thomas, is one of our new books.  This very funny book includes the link to hear the cowboy sing his lullaby.  Children will also find several fun activities just for them at www.janthomasbooks.com.

   

I love to read book reviews posted online, and I find it interesting to see that a book that gets only “one star” may be given “five stars” by someone else.  “See Me Run,” written and illustrated by Paul Meisel, is one of those books.    This story of dogs romping and running around who dig up the skeleton of a huge dinosaur is very funny .   The “I Like to Read” series includes short texts, familiar vocabulary, repetition to reinforce learning, and illustrations that are designed to be a part of the learning experience.  This information is found on the publisher’s website, holidayhouse.com.  “See Me Run” received the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor award in 2012. 

Eve Bunting also has a new book for beginning readers, “Frog’s Flying Adventures.”  This is her fourth book in the “Frog and Friends” series, part of the I Am a Reader imprint from Sleeping Bear Press.   Check out the website at www.I-Am-A-Reader.com for activities and strategies to help  your beginning reader.  “Frog’s Flying Adventures” is a level 2 book, for grades 1-2. 

Rosemary Wells was inspired by her two daughters for the “Max and Ruby” books, and now her five granddaughters are giving her new stories to tell.  “Time-out for Sophie” introduces a new character, Sophie, an adorable little mouse who has to take time out again and again because of her behavior.  When Grandma takes a time out from Sophie, the lesson finally sinks in and Sophie’ behavior changes for the better.  (Until the final page. ) 

These picture books are waiting for you at Litchfield Public Library!  I hope to see you there!

A Plethora of Picture Books, by Jan Pease

If a group of crows is a murder of crows, and a group of zebras is a zeal of zebras, what is the collective noun for picture books? 

Picture books are only getting more beautiful, and here is a bevy of beauties.

A rabble of butterflies swarms in “Butterflies,” by Seymour Simon. Kirkus Reviews states: “Simon may have done more than any other living author to help us understand and appreciate the beauty of our planet and our universe.” 

 A group of caterpillars is called an army.  Marilyn Singer uses her poem, “Caterpillars” to frame close up views of caterpillars and the butterflies they transform into. An army of 10 caterpillars, the plants they love and the butterfly or moth they become is the focus of “10 Little Caterpillars,”  by Bill Martin Jr. and Lois Ehlert.  They are the creators of the classic children’s book, “Chicka Chicka Boom  Boom,” and their new book looks like an instant classic.

A pack of dogs is featured in a very unusual book by Michael J. Rosen, “The Hound Dog’s Haiku.” These are poems for dog lovers.  My own dog, Harley,  is a Shit Tsu who loves his squeaky toys.  Here is the Shit Tsu Haiku:

                 toy dog’s own toy chest:

                 snowman, hedgehog, fake steak, jet-

                 squeak is all they speak

“What Puppies Do Best” is an adorable picture book by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.  A litter of puppies of all breeds, sizes, and shapes romps across the pages as they play with cute children.  What could  be sweeter?

Gorgeous photographs by Jason Stemple are paired with the poetry of Jane Yolen in “Birds of a Feather.”  Yolen captures the personality of each bird perfectly.  This congregation of birds is well worth a look. 

“A B C Animal Jamboree,” by Giles Andreae  is a collection of short, silly poems about animals that will delight  even the youngest animal lovers.  This menagerie will be featured at story hour this week.

By the way, the collective noun for a group of books is library.  These fantastic picture books, and more, are waiting for you.  See you there!