Friday, October 28, 2016

Poetry Friday: I Love Hugs and Kisses

I Love Hugs and Kisses (Heart-Felt Books) Cover

So many occasions for hugs and kisses. Especially with panda, felt, flap arms and ears on this board book cover. Happy Poetry Friday to you and yours!

Hug me when we take a walk.
Kiss me when we quack and talk!

Hug me when we go to the zoo.
Kiss me when I have a boo-boo.

I Love Hugs and Kisses
by Sandra Magsamen
Scholastic, 2016

Monday, October 24, 2016

Peekaboo Wild: Nat Sims and Night & Day Studios

Peekaboo Wild Cover

We talk about raising the profile of board books at readertotz, and we aim to encourage writers and illustrators to keep the bar high in content and imagery. Peekaboo Wild, A Lift-the-Flap Book does that. Each spread takes a location and illustrates the animals who live there.

Who lives in the bamboo forest?
Red panda
Pandas
Who else lives there?
Pangolin
Tiger

The inclusions aren't restricted to the most common animal. Your totz are given the opportunity to learn more than other animal board books usually present. Corey Lunn's art is flat and graphic, with clear edges. The work was created by Nat Sims and the Night & Day team. Interesting, yes?

We appreciate the bar set high. More, more, more!

Peekaboo Wild, A Lift-the-Flap Book
by Nat Sims and Night & Day Studios
illustrated by Corey Lunn
Candlewick Entertainment

Friday, October 21, 2016

Poetry Friday: I Will Love You Forever

I Will Love You Forever Cover

There's always room for a mother's declaration of love for her totz. Enjoy this dear board book. Happy Poetry Friday!

When I saw you for
the very first time
I was filled with joy
that you were mine.

I knew I would
love you forever.

I Will Love You Forever
by Caroline Jayne Church
Cartwheel Books, Scholastic

Thursday, October 20, 2016

One Minute till Bedtime: Kenn Nesbitt

Image result for one minute till bedtime image

So excited to be in this upcoming collection! Three starred reviews so far!

KIRKUS REVIEW


A substantial compilation of new poems for children by over 130 poets.
The opening salvo of former Children’s Poet Laureate Nesbitt’s hefty anthology of “60-second” poems designed to send children “off to sleep” lets the cat out of the bag as to what bedtime’s really about. Having performed basic end-of-day tasks (“Had a bath and / brushed my teeth; / those on top / and underneath”) and prepped for a good night’s sleep, Nesbitt’s speaker rejoices: “All that’s done; / at last I’m freed. / Finally, / it’s time to read.” Here, as throughout the collection, Niemann’s boldly inked drawing of a teddy bear’s free-fall dive into the waiting pool of an open book succinctly and suggestively captures the spirit of the accompanying poem—and, in this case, the entire anthology. Presented with over 140 new poems by many of today’s most prominent children’s poets (Mary Ann Hoberman, Margarita Engle, Jack Prelutsky, Ron Koertge, Nikki Grimes), readers are treated to lyric nighttime reflections on topics as disparate as relationships with favorite pets or grandparents, beloved “toasty, warm jammies,” and one’s blankie—“old and manky.” There’s also plenty of nonsense verse sure to inspire wild dreaming “on the road to morning.” These pithy poetic observations and Niemann’s engaging illustrations prove at once antidote and anodyne for the sleep-averse child demanding just one more….
A dreamy collection of bedtime poems and witty illustrations that’s anything but sleepy. (Poetry. 4-10)

"Toasty, warm jammies," is me!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Love You, Hug You, Read to You! Tish Rabe

Love You, Hug You, Read to You! Cover

How about prompting questions for you to ask your totz below the board book text?

What is Little Bunny holding?
Who is sitting with Little Bunny?
What did they all do today?

On each spread, Random House and author Tish Rabe provide further interactions to accompany Frank Endersby's pencil and watercolor paintings. All bears the message:

There are three things I'll always do...
love you,
hug you,
read to you!

What do you think? Are the additional questions helpful? Of course the work can be read straight through without pause. Different totz and readers will approach the book differently. As long as we all continue to read together daily!

Love You, Hug You, Read to You!
by Tish Rabe
illustrated by Frank Endersby
Random House

Friday, October 7, 2016

Poetry Friday: Seeking a Witch

Seeking a Witch Cover

For Poetry Friday and to set the atmosphere with your readertotz, find Seeking a Witch. The bold limited palate, pops for the Halloween theme. Allie Smith's graphic imagery is a fun match to Angela Diterlizzi's rolling rhyme.

"I'm seeking a
witch
and everyone knows
Your skin must
be green
With a wart
on your nose."

The pages will be turned quickly in this new board book from Little Simon. Happy Poetry Friday to youuuuuuu.

Seeking a Witch
by Angela Diterlizzi
illustrated by Allie Smith
Little Simon, 2016

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Art Play: Marion Deuchars

Art Play Cover

It is...as fabulous as I hoped. The off-white paper is inviting; the exercises are fun and interesting. This work-inside-the-book is educational, inspiring, clever, and delightful. Whether they scribble, blow paint, or color a dream, the older siblings of readertotz will be expressing themselves on paper. Pencils, ink, cut paper, and printing are a few of the means for creating. How about pictograph signs, newspaper portraits, tackling perspective, or spinning thaumatropes?

Art Play is aptly titled. Go ahead. You'll want to play right alongside your young artist!

Art Play
by Marion Deuchars
Laurence King Publishing
www.letsmakesomegreatart.com

Baa Baa Smart Sheep and I Love Lemonade: The Sommersets

Baa Baa Smart Sheep Cover

I Love Lemonade Cover

Oh, now. How about a little mischief? You are going to find it with Little Baa Baa. If bored, Quirky Turkey had better watch out. A mysterious pile of brown balls may not exactly be smarty tablets. And sweet revenge with a glass of yellow liquid might actually backfire.

The pacing is brilliant, the line drawings so expressive you will be delighted. Baa Baa Smart Sheep and I Love Lemonade have been the favs of 2016 with totz AND seniors. (#readergrands) My in-laws have shared them with hoots and howls with their retirement community.

Thanks, Mark and Rowan Sommerset. More, more, more!

Baa Baa Smart Sheep
I Love Lemonade
by Mark and Rowan Sommerset
Candlewick Press, 2016

Monday, October 3, 2016

Animals: Ingela P. Arrhenius

Animals Cover

It's HUGE! Likely as big as your totz, the graphic depiction of various animals by children's designer in Sweden, Ingela P. Arrhenius, is captivating. There's no particular order or arrangement in the beasts, but there is a celebration of shapes, including lettering which changes from piece to piece. The palette is subdued. All imagery is caught on the endpapers for comparison.

Consider this for young storytime groups or singular readers who are ready to meet an array of animals and twirling letters. Each is friendly and waits introduction.

Animals
by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Candlewick Press, 2016