Poetry Friday: Peek-a BOO!

Nina Laden's latest board book Peek-a BOO! is a perfect celebration of Poetry Friday and the holiday tomorrow. There's a lot of buzz for this clever book. It's going to be enjoyed for many, many years. A new holiday classic. Congrats, Nina!

Peek-a BOO!
Peek-a BREW!
Peek-a FLEW!

Peek-a BOO!
By Nina Laden
Chronicle Books, 2015

Owl Babies: Martin Waddell

Owl Babies in board book format! I'm so excited! This is a beloved favorite of our family, and I'm so glad it's formatted again for little hands.

The cover is lightened, the background blue rather than black, maybe to make it less scary? Otherwise Patrick Benson's perfect imagery is untouched, as well as Martin Waddell's text. Bravo, Candlewick!

I met Martin years ago and can still hear his voice reading as Sarah, Percy, and Bill await the return of their mother. Here is a lifework to treasure.

Owl Babies
By Martin Waddell
Illustrated by Patrick Benson
Candlewick Press, 2015, 2nd US edition

Poetry Friday: Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling

Filling little boxes with treasures from home, helps a Chinese American brother and sister prepare for a move. The picture book-in-verse tells a complete story as a novel-in-verse would. Another delight from Chronicle, and it's perfect for Poetry Friday!

Leaf

One stray leaf
flutters down
onto my box--
Eucalyptus!
If I had a koala I'd feed
her this minty meal all
day long--
the perfect treasure
to remind me of home.

Double Happiness
By Nancy Tupper Ling
Illustrated by Alina Chau
Chronicle Books, 2015

Are You My Mommy? by Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy has another adorable board book for your totz. Are You My Mommy? asks a little dog of the various farm animals. Each mother says no but introduces the puppy to her baby. New words are likely introduced such as duckling, foal, and calf.

The thick black outline for characters and the Murphy Brush typeset against soft watercolor settings create vibrant spreads. Candlewick Press has a gem in Mary Murphy.

Are You My Mommy?
by Mary Murphy
Candlewick Press, 2015

Arf! Arf! and Quack! Quack! by Sebastien Braun

Nosy Crow has a series titled Can You Say It, Too? The big flaps are easy to lift for little hands. Quack! Quack! and Arf! Arf! are the two I most recently ran across from Sebastien Braun. The former is set near a pond and the latter by the sea. Answers to the questions are printed on the backside of the flaps.

The series could easily have been titled, "Who's that?" With each question and flap, another character is present as well. The additions can expand the interactive read. Double flaps at the conclusion are a nice surprise.

Chunky and sturdy with adorable animals, these are sure to be read and reread. Look for the whole series.

Quack! Quack!
Arf! Arf!
by Sebastien Braun
Nosy Crow, 2015

Poetry Friday: Bathtime for Chickies, by Janee Trasler

I'm a chickies fan! Thanks, Janee Trasler for another peek into the life of the chickies. In Bathtime for Chickies we find the little birds covered in grime and grub, resisting bathing, and then not wanting to get out of the bath…over and over. Pig washes them once; Cow follows up the perfume/lotion mess; and the cooking catastrophe is cleaned up by Sheep.

"Once they're clean
     and shiny too,
     what will
little chickies
     do?

Take a guess. Just know Pig, Cow, and Sheep join those little chickies. Happy Poetry Friday, readertotz!

Bathtime for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2015

More, more, more: Pool, by JiHyeon Lee

I'm a huge fan of wordless picture books. Before your summer ends and school starts up again, find Pool by JiHyeon Lee. As a young boy approaches the public pool, it seems the entire town turns out and jumps in ahead of him. But…what if he dives beneath all the floaties and splashing swimmers to find a girl down below. Maybe there is a world of coral, fish, and mythic creatures, tiny and great, to be discovered.

With their descent, color saturates the oversized format, and the reader is lost in another world created with color pencils and oil pastels. When the two friends resurface, it's possible their discoveries return with them and cause the pool to empty. The book is dedicated: "For Those Who Want To Swim Freely in the World."

This is JiHyeon Lee's first book. The work so clearly taps into the imagination it feels as if she has read our own wishes. Brava! Joan and I will be waiting for more from this gifted newcomer.

Pool
by JiHyeon Lee
Chronicle Books, 2015, originally published in South Korea, 2013

All Shook Up! and Who's There? Alain Crozon

I have two lift-the-flaps that are unique and stand out from the stack. Alain Crozon's All Shook Up! and Who's There? are strong, graphic additions to the market which invite page turns and giggles.

The limited palate of blue, yellow, black, and red; the matte pages; and thick black line create all the fun. Whether you are reading and lifting to discover what's inside the fearless fish or the nesting dolls, or exploring movement in fluttering feathers and spiky hair, the reads are interactive and dosed with joy.

I love these two, and so will your totz!

All Shook Up!
Who's There?
Alain Crozon
Chronicle Books, 2015

Poetry Friday: What Pet Should I Get?

Happy Poetry Friday! It's time to "Make up your mind," with two totz, the boy and girl from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, trying to decide which pet to take home. How lovely to have one more Dr. Seuss book to treasure with back matter to explain context. Enjoy!

"Dad said we could have one.
Dad said he would pay.
I went to the Pet Shop.
I went there with Kay.

And so we went in..."

What Pet Should I Get?
by Dr. Seuss
Random House, 2015

Poetry Friday: The Bus is for Us!

Poetry Friday will be a beauty with The Bus is for Us! Michael Rosen's text swings through locomotive options, real and imaginary, while Gillian Tyler's illustrations softly wisp along the reader. Find this rhyming picture book and then take a ride somewhere delightful with your totz. Consider taking the bus!

"I do, of course,
like riding a horse.

I like to float
in a little boat.

I like trips
in big ships.

But the best is the bus.
The bus is for us."

The Bus is for Us!
by Michael Rosen
illustrated by Gillian Tyler
Candlewick Press, 2015

Poetry Friday: Funny Face, Sunny Face

Happy Poetry Friday! Here's a little Funny Face, Sunny Face to brighten your day with your totz. It's oh, so catchy.

"Sticky lips, licky lips,
love-you
kiss-me-quicky lips.

Peeky nose,
beaky nose,
rub-a-
     dub-a-
        cheeky nose."

Funny Face, Sunny Face
by Sally Symes
illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Nosy Crow, 2015

More, more, more: The New Small Person

Elmore Green began life as an only child, happy with his status in the family. No one ever ate his jelly beans, until "somebody else came along." The small person, being cut major slack within the family, makes Elmore wish he would go away. And when he only grows larger and moves into Elmore's room, there's little hope left in life.

But a bad dream and finding a bit of comfort from the younger sib, along with a large dose of admiration, and someone to laugh with, changes Elmore's perspective. Enough to share his jellybeans. Except the orange ones, of course.

Lauren Child is the master of wry humor, truthful twists, and everyday observations. The New Small Person is a brilliant work to add to your collection beside Charlie, Lola, and Clarice Bean. More, more, more, we say!

The New Small Person
by Lauren Child
Candlewick Press, 2014

Shark Bite! by Beatrice Costamagna, Little Bee Books

Shark Bite! is a fun read for your readertotz, helping them to see maybe the fearsome can be friendly after all. On each spread, Mark the shark shows his teeth, and a pull tab allows the reader to chomp through the book.

Scary, then angry, then laughing, thanks to the tickling octopus, Mark finds friendship in the sea. Beatrice Costamagna's illustrations are bright and inviting. Look for Shark Bite! for your readertotz and take a bite out of this board book this summer.

Shark Bite!
illustrated by Beatrice Costamagna
Little Bee Books, 2015

Poetry Friday: Itty Bitty Kitty, by Joan Holub

So adorable with rhyme throughout. Itty Bitty Kitty is a great pick for Poetry Friday! Enjoy our own Joan Holub's bouncy, punchy text accompanied by the cutest illustrations by James Burks. Move over Clifford!

    It was a furry purry,
snuggly huggly,
cutie patootie,
                   itty...
                     bitty...
                       kitty!
                    He had sparkly green eys
                 and was just the right size
                 for a girl like Ava.

Itty Bitty Kitty
by Joan Holub
illustrated by James Burks
Harper, 2015

Poetry Friday: Beach House

Oh, these two caught it: the summer sun and fun at a beach house. This is perfect for your Poetry Friday out at the shore. Deanna Caswell's text is lyrical while Amy June Bates captures sunshine in her watercolors. Enjoy!

A long, long drive.

It's been a year
     of dreaming, waiting.

Summer's here.

Doors fly open.
     End of the road.

"To the beach!"
     "Not yet--unload."

Beach House
by Deanna Caswell
illustrated by Amy June Bates
Chronicle Books, 2015

Young reader recites Mighty Dads at a construction site

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly! Lucille Colandro

Can it be done again? Yes! In board book format for little totz' hands. And how about dropping the line, "Perhaps she'll die."? Why can't a cough release all the Old Lady's new friends she has temporarily ingested? Much more friendly thanks to Lucille Colandro's text.

And then Jared Lee's illustrations add a frenzy to the story with tiny pen hash marks zinging across the imagery. The layout is brilliant. (That black dog is the cutest ever and with a few others, smartly avoids being eaten!)

Colandro dedicated the work to the Cartwheel Team. I agree. Bravo!

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!
by Lucille Colandro
illustrated by Jared Lee
Cartwheel Books, July 2015

Poetry Friday: After the Bell Rings

Here's a collection of poems centered on all things after school. Read a few for this Poetry Friday!

Escape

Out of the prison gates I slip,
I zig and zag, I dodge and dip,
Through the dark forest of towering trees,
Leaving no trail for my enemies.
Across the wild river on a narrow log,
Past the castle with the howling wolf-dog,
One last mad dash! I got home okay!
Good thing that my school is just three blocks away.

After the Bell Rings, Poems About After-School Time
by Carol Diggory Shields
illustrated by Paul Meisel
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015

Polar Bear's Underwear: tupera tupera

How can you not chuckle just by saying the title: Polar Bear's Underwear? Right? This Chronicle Books release isn't a board book, but the stiff pages with underwear cutouts will hold up to little hands.

As Polar Bear and Mouse look for the missing undergarment, they find other underwear with design hints as to whom the clothing might belong. The zebra's is striped. The butterfly's is tiny and covered in flowers. The guessing game will keep the giggles going along with the fun tighty-whitey ending.

Tupera Tupera, the team of Tatsuya Kameyama and Atsuko Nakagawa's layered collage hints at Eric Carle while holding its own freshness. Enjoy!

Polar Bear's Underwear
by tupera tupera
Chronicle Books

Poetry Friday: Blown Away

Happy Poetry Friday! Look at this cutie and consider adding it to your collection!



"A windy day.
A brand-new kite.
For Penguin Blue
a maiden flight.

The kite so high. The wind so strong.
It's pulling Penguin Blue along."

And so begins the adventure!

Blown Away
by Rob Biddulph
Harper, 2015

Giveaway! Autographed Mini Myths board books for preschoolers.

Mythology life lessons in board books for totz! 

Giving away 4 autographed Mini Myths board books

by readertotz co-founder, Joan Holub,

illustrated by Leslie Patricelli, creator of Yummy Yucky

and other amazing board books.

Abrams Books

Please do this to enter:

"Like" readertotz on Facebook 

"Like" Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover on Facebook

Drop a quick comment here on this post.

Entry rules: 

Must be over 18. Must like books! :o) 

USA only. 

2 randomly chosen winners each receive 2 autographed Mini Myths books (author's choice). 

Winners names posted here and notified via email (if email provided). 

Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any social networking site. Ends June 10th. 

Good luck!

Poetry Friday: Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry

Celebrate Poetry Friday with Vern Kousky's delightful owl, Otto. A secret poet eventually scorned, he finds his voice with the realization that, "Poetry should be shared with everyone." He quotes T.S. Eliot, Joyce Kilmer, and more, while writing his own words. "The more the owls listen, the less they feel like laughing."

"Dear Moon, you must be lonely
so high up in the sky.
I'm sure your heart's so heavy,
sometimes you want to cry."

Enjoy Otto the Bard, today!

Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry
Vern Kousky
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015

More, more, more: Before After

I love this book! Leaving it out on the coffee table, I've seen it engage all ages, totz to seniors. The wordless imagery usually plays across a spread, revealing a "before and after" scene, situation, or object. The touch of humor, or seriousness, and clean illustrations with a gentle palette sustain the page turns. Occasionally a full spread follows a full spread enhancing the beat of the book.

From acorn to tree, to more complicated strings echoing subjects: squid to ink, pigeon to quill pen, quill pen to typewriter, pigeon to airmail letter, the reader is engaged. Pick up this work and be caught between the profound and daily "before and afters." This work deserved a major award.

Before After
by Anne-Margot Ramstein and Matthias Aregui
Candlewick Press, 2014

Guinea Pig Party: Holly Surplice

Counting with a troop of guinea pigs is a delight! What better place than in a party. From ten to one, the party winds down, yet when one wishes really hard for his friends again, the guinea pig party twirls into action.

Holly Surplice's pig party introduces counting backwards, patterns, active verbs, and bright colors. It's a little gem to celebrate or get a party going. Share it with your totz!

Guinea Pig Party
by Holly Surplice
Nosy Crow, 2015

#Giveaway The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations

Happy National Photo Month to everyone! I'm honored to be included in this excellent collection of poetry, highlighting celebrations: The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations. The contributors and compilers have created a treasure to inspire appreciation for poetry and days of joy.

"Like" readertotz on Facebook, drop a comment on the link relating to this post, and you'll be entered to win either a Teacher Edition or Child Edition. (Note if you are a teacher or librarian!)



Here is my poem to enjoy as you click those selfies this month!



You can visit Poetry Celebrations to see 12 more things to party about in May. Shout out to Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell for editing, supporting, and impacting the world through poetry!

The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations
Teacher/Librarian Edition
Children's Edition
edited by Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell
Pomelo Books, 2015

Recommends from Books Around the Table

I love it when Joan and I review the same books on readertotz. We live across the country from each other, and we work fairly independently on totz as we write our own works. So if you see a book reviewed twice you can believe we recommend it! i.e. the last two Harry posts!



In place of a review this week, I want to redirect everyone to Books Around the Table. Author/Illustrator Laura Kvasnosky looks over her new grandson's collection of board books and is heartened by what she finds. Enjoy!

Hide and Seek Harry On the Farm: Kenny Harrison

There are lots of farm-theme books out now that it's spring. The cover of this one caught my attention right away and made me smile.

Two kids are on the farm playing with Harry the hippo. And what does Harry want to play? Hide-and-seek. Totz will laugh as Harry tries to hide behind a plow or in a haystack. He may think he’s hiding, but he never quite manages to completely camouflage himself. In the end, he is found, and the game begins again.

A cute and sturdy board book.

Hide and Seek Harry On the Farm

Author-illustrator: Kenny Harrison

Candlewick Press, 2015

Hide and Seek Harry: Kenny Harrison

Harry the Hippo has two friends, a girl and boy. Whether they are playing hide-and-seek on the farm or at the playground, totz will enjoy helping the children find Harry. There's something adorable about a large entity hiding when his size makes him very easy to spot. Say a hippo behind a cow or a sunflower. It's giggle-worthy for older readers and helpful for wee ones to find Harry.

The series will likely be a hit with your young readers. Invite Harry onto your bookshelf!

Hide and Seek Harry, On the Farm
Hide and Seek Harry, At the Playground
by Kenny Harrison
Candlewick Press, 2015

Maisy’s Plane / Maisy’s Tractor: Lucy Cousins

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In Maisy’s Plane, Maisy is flying herself to a party. I love seeing her in the plane, taking charge like this. How exciting when she starts the engine. And when the propeller goes around and around. Vroom, Vroom! In the end, we find out that her destination is a party for Eddie the elephant. Well done, Maisy!

Pair Maisy's Plane with Maisy’s Tractor. In this one, we see Maisy driving a tractor. Chug, chug! She’s plowing and working hard, appearing competent. She finds lost lambs and brings them home. Well done, Maisy!

Maisy serves as a wonderful, confident role-model for girl totz in both of these books!

Well done, Candlewick!

 

Maisy’s Plane

Maisy’s Tractor

A Go With Maisy Board Book

Author-illustrator: Lucy Cousins

Candlewick Press, 2014

Star Wars Epic Yarns: Jack & Holman Wang

You HAVE TO get ready for May 4th, (May the Fourth Be With You), with this brand new board book trilogy from Chronicle Books. Think felt art, twelve words, and 12 epic scenes from the original Star Wars movies in each book.

It's absolutely adorable and detailed. Watch this behind the scenes take from Jack and Holman Wang:



What a great way to introduce your Padawan readertotz to this epic tale. I love it!

Star Wars, Epic Yarns
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
by Jack & Holman Wang
Chronicle Books, April 2015

Cutie Pie Looks for the Easter Bunny: Jannie Ho

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Another cute book from Jannie Ho! It’s full of chunky tabs that work really well. Cutie Pie, the yellow chick, is searching for the Easter Bunny. She meets lots of other friends everywhere she looks, and they all have Easter eggs. In the end, she finally has an Easter egg of her own. Very sweet and satisfying ending for toddlers.

Liz Reed interviews Jannie Ho.

Cutie Pie Looks for the Easter Bunny

A Tiny Tab Book

Illustrated by Jannie Ho

Nosy Crow, 2014

Poetry Friday: Interstellar Cinderella

I have a GREAT recommend for Poetry Friday. Interstellar Cinderella! Right now, while we are enjoying the new release of the movie Cinderella, how about balancing the focus with this picture book? Deborah Underwood's text is jaunty and refreshing, setting a high bar for girls and showing to both genders that strength, intelligence, and focus is beautiful. Meg Hunt's illustrations are the perfect combination of modern and retro. Think Mary Blair meets Maureen Andermann. So, here's the opening:

"Once upon a planetoid,
amid her tools and sprockets,
a girl named Cinderella dreamed
of fixing fancy rockets.

She fixed the robot dishwashers
and zoombrooms in her care,
but late each night she snuck away
to study ship repair."

Happy Poetry Friday to all those scientific Cinderellas and those who see her beauty!

Interstellar Cinderella
by Deborah Underwood
illustrated by Meg Hunt
Chronicle Books, 2015

Brush Your Hair, Medusa! & Make A Wish, Midas! Joan Holub

 

 

Readertotz co-founder, Joan Holub (me!), is celebrating the release of two board books in the Mini Myths series today. Mini Myths bring Greek mythology to preschoolers by using real-world toddler experiences to retell each myth (includes a super-short totz-size summary of the original myth at the end) Leslie Patricelli's illustrations are so cute!

Play Nice, Hercules! is a kindle monthly deal on Amazon for $1.99 through March 31.

Brush Your Hair, Medusa!

Make A Wish, Midas! 

Author: Joan Holub

Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli

Abrams Appleseed, March 2015

Poetry Friday: Bronzeville, Boys and Girls

Celebrate Poetry Friday with the paperback Bronzeville, Boys and Girls, by the Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks. With thick painterly illustrations by Faith Ringgold, you'll slip right into the cozy neighborhood. How wonderful this collection is still in print!

Paulette

What good is sun
If I can't run?

"Your'e eight, and ready
To be a lady."

That is what my Mama says.
She is right again, I guess.

But there! I saw a squirrel fly
Where it is secret, green, and high.

And there! Those ants are bustling brown,
And I require to chase them down!

What good is sun
If I can't run?

Bronzeville, Boys and Girls
by Gwendolyn Brooks
illustrated by Faith Ringgold
Amistad

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

I loved it as a picture book, and I think it translates into the board format well. Chris Haughton's Oh No, George! is a gem that explodes across the small space. Your readers will worry and cheer for George on his journey in self control. Even if cake, cats, and dirt are so appealing.

The tiniest readertotz will be drawn to the full spreads every-other page. Kirkus called it: "A natural for reading aloud." You'll be saying it together: "Oh no, George!"

Disclosure: my new son-in-law is named George. #toomuchfun

Oh No, George!
by Chris Haughton
Candlewick Press, 2015

Lucky Tucker: Leslie McGuirk

On St. Patrick's Day, Tucker the dog starts off on the wrong paw. He is taken for a walk in the rain...BEFORE breakfast. And his favorite squeak toy gets stuck under the couch. He takes swift action by rolling in a bed of four-leaf clovers. Little does he know that it belongs to a certain leprechaun. The day turns out to be Tucker's luckiest ever!

This sturdy board book held my attention and I really enjoyed the character of Tucker, as always!

Lucky Tucker 
Author-illustrator:Leslie McGuirk
Candlewick, 2015

Poetry Friday: The Death of the Hat

How about The Death of the Hat, A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects, selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka, for Poetry Friday? What a brilliant anthology from the Early Middle Ages, to the Victorian Period, to Contemporary. A fascinating idea, yes?

Paul says, "I believe that poetry is meant to be shared-that's what anthologies are all about-so I hope you share a couple of these poems with someone close to you." So, here you go:

(Note: it's fascinating to see this collection illustrated with the vibrant paintings of Chris. Fresh and loose, the imagery helps bring the words a step closer through time.)

From the Renaissance:

Kim Ku, translated by Kevin O'Rourke

I spy the three-colored peach blossom
floating down the mountain stream.
A free spirit, I jump in, fully clothed.
Flowers scooped
in my arms, I splash up and down in the water.

The Death of the Hat, A brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects
selected by Paul B. Janeczko
illustrated by Chris Raschka
Candlewick Press, 2015

This Little Piggy: Natalie Marshall

Scholastic has a new piggy board book. Squeee! Or, rather, Weee!

The story is the traditional This Little Piggy Went to Market nursery rhyme that ends in:

This Little Piggy went 
WEEE! WEEE! WEEE! 
... all the way home!

The front of the tabs (on right of each page) shows the five little piggies, and the back of each tab shows which toe to wiggle. A fun idea! It's very sturdy. And ...

This Little Piggy is cute, cute, cute!

This Little Piggy, a fingers and toes nursery rhyme book
Illustrator: Natalie Marshall
Scholastic, 2015

Be Patient, Pandora! is the Kindle Daily Deal!

Be Patient, Pandora!

is the Kindle Kids Daily Deal. 

$1.99 today only

till the stroke of midnight. 

The Mini Myths board book series

brings mythology to preschoolers.

by readertotz co-founder Joan Holub

illustrated by Leslie Patricelli.

readertotz Newsflash: The Very Big Wiggle

On March 5, 2015, Penguin Young Readers will launch THE VERY BIG WIGGLE Tour, a month-long national car and costume tour to celebrate Eric Carle’s classic picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Beginning at The Reading Bug in San Carlos, CA, the caterpillar costume will travel across the country in a custom Volkswagen Bug on a route shaped like Carle’s iconic character. The car will make over twenty stops at libraries, independent bookstores, and Barnes & Noble locations, before arriving in Western Massachusetts the weekend of March 20^th, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day. Celebrate Caterpillar's 40^th birthday!  

Use #VHCday, and check out tour stops at http://penguinontour.tumblr.com. To join the photo contest, submit images to The World of Eric Carle Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/theworldofEricCarle), or tag the page in your posts. 

Since its publication in 1969, 38 million copies of the book have sold worldwide and it has been published in over 60 languages. Today, every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is sold.

Happy Birthday, Caterpillar! 

Poetry Friday: Everything, by Emma Dodd

Emma Dodd is one of my favorite authors writing for our youngest readers. Here's a verse from Everything. Sensitive, endearing illustrations are accented with gold foil beautifully. Happy Poetry Friday!

"I love you when you're in a muddle.
Your tears tell me you
need a cuddle."

Everything
by Emma Dodd
Templar Books, 2015

Poetry Friday: Construction

Keeping up our trend of trucks and such, here's Construction by Sally Sutton for Poetry Friday.



"Dig the ground. Dig the ground.
Bore down in the mud.
Shove the piles in one by one.

Slip! SLAP!
THUD!"

Brian Lovelock's speckled yet clean illustrations pop the poetry. Look for Construction today! "Ring! ZING! POW!"

Construction
by Sally Sutton
illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Candlewick Press, 2014

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street: Mark Lee

I love to see a picture book successfully reformated as a board book. Sometimes I wonder if the original concept has finally found its very best form.

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street from 2013 is now available as a board book. With sparse text; large imagery and grand scope; an introduction to vehicles and counting; and a child protagonist solving the problem, this a great addition for little hands.

"an officer blows his whistle.
another waves her hands.
Truck 12 carries squealing pigs;
13 is piled with sand."

Illustrator Kurt Cyrus keeps the problem solving, bicycling boy in each spread in his clean portrayals of the traffic jam. Mark Lee's text rhymes straight to the solution. Joan and I welcome 20 Big Trucks to the library for readertotz. You'll want a copy in your own home...and then maybe a scoop of ice cream.

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street
by Mark Lee
illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
Candlewick Press, 2015