Sunday, December 21, 2014

Skippyjon Jones Snow What

A new book in the Skippyjon #1 New York Times bestselling series! 
I haven't done a picture book on readertotz in a while since we largely focus on board books. But here's a new book -- Skippyjon Jones Snow What -- in a series I'd love to see translated into board books one day.
In this one . . . fairy tales are not Skippyjon Jones's cup of tea, but his sister adores Snow White. During a reading of the tale, Skippyjon's mind starts to wander and he winds up as a character in the story! It's more challenging than expected when he is faced with seven little chihuahua dogs and the prospect of kissing the princess in the tale . . . a girl! But it is to save her from an evil queen after all . . . what to do?
I remember reading the first book about this character, Skippyjon Jones, aloud to friends in a brick and mortar bookstore shortly after it first came out. I was so enamored of this cat (who thinks he's a chihuahua) and the playful language in the book that I wanted to share him with anyone who would listen. He's one of those characters that's sure to be enjoyed for many many years to come by future generations of young readers.
Here's hoping for board books!
Skippyjon Jones Snow What
Author-illustrator: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 2014


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Happy Holidays from Chronicle!

Happy Holidays from beloved Chronicle! The Little Library will be given away in National Library Week, 2015. Don't you love that?

Friday, November 21, 2014

Poetry Friday: On the Wing

Happy Poetry Friday! Take a look at On the Wing by David Elliott and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. #beautyallaround



The Caribbean Flamingo

Singular...
an ember
waiting
to ignite.

In multitude...
a conflagration!
The sky is set
alight!

On the Wing
by David Elliott
illustrated by Becca Stadtlander
Candlewick Press, 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Roar! Roar! by Sebastien Braun

Can You Say It, Too? Roar! Roar! by Sebastien Braun is another fun entry into the lift-the-flap collection for babies.



On each spread, a wild creature asks a question about someone nearby. Who's in the reeds? Who's beside the log? Behind the flap awaits a cheerful creature ready to sound off. Your totz will enjoy imitating the hippo, gator, and lion. A double flap at the end offers a fun surprise.

Gotta love Nosy Crow. Thanks, Sebastien! You are bringing joy to the smallest readers!

Can You Say It, Too? Roar! Roar!
by Sebastien Braun
Nosy Crow, 2014

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Peekaboo Barn: Night and Day Studios

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/peekaboo-barn-nat-sims/1118476923?ean=9780763675578

Farm books are perennial totz favorites. This one is a simple, sturdy book, with animal sounds on the left pages and the same barn on the right page. On each spread, the doors of the barn can be opened (the double doors are each a flap) to reveal the animal(s) making the sounds. It's simple, but effective and cute. It was originally a very successful app. And, as you can see on the cover, the app is free with the board book, via a scratch-off code. I think this is one totz will enjoy!

Ages 0-3

Peekaboo Barn
Night and Day Studios
Candlewick Entertainment

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Oversized: Mamoko, New York, and Animalium

How about 3 huge books for little hands, all from Big Picture Press? Two are even board books!



The World of Mamoko, In the Time of Dragons will pull your totz into a story they can tell. While searching for characters, introduced right up front, they can read, reread, and tell at least 26 different tales by following their chosen beastie. From Stewart Snowt to Jasper Fuggle-Hop to Alec Ratz, the stories are just waiting to be discovered. They can also watch for hidden objects and find coins and mushrooms on every page. This would be a great book to share in a backseat for a long Thanksgiving roadtrip! The oversize board book will last and last.

OR



how about a visit to New York, by Josh Cochran. I'm headed there myself next month so this is a timely treat. Your totz can explore the city through this big book doubling as a two-sided chart. All the while, the reader can search for 80 objects nested in the cityscape. This work gets me revved up for New York City. I'm sure it will do the same for your family. The stiff pages will hold up to little hands. The graphic imagery reminds me of the seventies and maybe a little of A Yellow Submarine.

AND FINALLY,



Animalium.  Imagine a museum inside a book! Written by Jenny Broom and illustrated by Katie Scott, this is a treasure. Six galleries present everything from invertebrates to mammals. I love this intro:

"This museum is like none you've ever visited before. It's open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and its collection boasts a fascinating catalog of the world's creatures, with each exhibit in immaculate condition and presented in fantastic detail."

From the rich paper it is printed on. to the choices for illustration, to the text, this masterpiece warrants inclusion in homes, school, and libraries. Please find this labor of love and soar into it with your totz.

The World of Mamoko, In the Time of Dragons
by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
Big Picture Press, 2014

New York
by Josh Cochran
Big Picture Press, 2014

Animalium
by Jenny Broom
illustrated by Katie Scott
Big Picture Press, 2014

Monday, October 27, 2014

A New Chick for Chickies: Janee Trasler

The Chickies are back!



And they...just got a brother who tends to join all their favorite activities, without an invite. But with a pause, the Chickies see they now have a conga line, a beach ball team, and a five-piece band. All is well until, "Craaack...Chickies got a brother. And another. And another. And another. Oh, brother!"

Janee Trasler's wit and art will win giggles from your totz. And be sure to listen in to the free song here. Thank you for another book about the beloved Chickies, Janee and HarperFestival!

A New Chick for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2014

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book celebrates 18 years!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boo-who-joan-holub/1111813844?ean=9780590059053
Published book and Joan's original illustrated dummy.

Happy Halloween, totz!
Readertotz co-founder Joan Holub celebrates
Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book
a Halloween riddle book for totz
published by Scholastic 18 years ago and still in print.

Guess who says boo?
(lift the flap)
A ghost!

Recently spotted by Joan's series co-author Suzanne Williams 
(Goddess Girls; Grimmtastic Girls; and Heroes in Training)
in Barnes and Noble:


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

A Visit to Dr. Duck: Rosemary Wells

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-visit-to-dr-duck-rosemary-wells/1118328687?ean=9780763672294
Felix overdoes it with the chocolate one night and wakes up feeling ill. Mama tries various remedies such as tea and fresh air, but Felix is still "not feeling perkier."

A visit to Dr. Duck is in order. But Felix is afraid.

His fears are soon soothed and the visit goes well with a check of his vitals, including ears and temperature. A dose of "Happy Tummy" does the trick, and by morning, Felix is his old self.

A reassuring book to help sooth totz' fears before a visit to the doctor. Sweet and tender, and just what the doctor ordered!

A Visit to Dr. Duck
Author-illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Candlewick Press (2014 board book edition)

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

TIme for Bed: Petr Horacek

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-for-bed-petr-horacek/1118476916?ean=9780763667795 
There's one page for each progressive "time", from playtime to bedtime and everything between for a full totz' day.

Time to play.
Time to put away my toys.

As you move through the book, the pages get smaller and smaller as the day comes to a close:

Time for a story.
And time to say good night.

With a turn of the last page, the covers are in place for a restful sleep.

A realistic comforting look at the "times" of a totz day that will lend comfort and enjoyment at a day's end.

Illustrated by the popular Petr Horacek of Suzy Goose and many other totz favorites.

Author-illustrator: Petr Horacek

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Honk, Honk! Baa, Baa! by Petr Horacek



Love this simple, straightforward lift-the-flap book. With the introduction of smaller and smaller barnyard animals, each page reduces in size (the flaps), until unexpectedly, the final spread utilizes all the previous cutaways to portray a cow. A fun surprise!

Of course Petr's art is fresh with a great, free pencil line, resist work, textured backgrounds, and splotches of bright color. All age totz will respond to this timeless board book.

HEE-HAW,
HEE-HAW,
says
the donkey.

Have fun sounding out each of the animals!

Honk, Honk! Baa, Baa!
by Petr Horacek
Candlewick Press, 2014

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Poetry Friday Classic: Singing, by Mary Blair



Here's a classic from Mary Blair's The Golden Book of Little Verses for Poetry Friday. Enjoy with your "young and round" readertotz.

Singing

When baby birds
Are round and young
Their thoughts like little
Chirps are sung.

And singing has
A bird-like sound
When boys and girls
Are young and round.

The Golden Book of Little Verses
by Mary Blair
Golden Books, 1953

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Color For Baby: Yana Peel

http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Imprint&mode=book&isbn=076367124X&bkview=p&pix=y



Introduce your babiez and totz (recommended ages 0 to 3) to well-known contemporary, modern, and impressionist artists. Four mini fold-out books come inside a box. Each is themed on red, yellow, green, or blue, and features famous works from Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Damien Hirst, Henri Matisse, and Yves Klein, among others.

This is the third title in the Art for Baby series. Also check out Art For Baby and Faces For Baby. Love all of these books!

Yana Peel is the CEO of Intelligence Squared. In 2011, she was honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and received the Mont Blanc Award for Arts Patronage.

Color For Baby
Curated by Yana Peel
Big Picture Press (Candlewick Press)

Friday, September 5, 2014

Poetry Friday: Hello, I'm Johnny Cash



Watch for this beauty, lovingly created to honor Johnny Cash. G. Neri's free verse pairs beautifully with A.G. Ford's paintings. Here's an excerpt for Poetry Friday. Don't you hear Johnny's voice?

J.R. didn't know
what to do,
so he just started singing
the spirituals from
Jack's funeral,
and Momma
stopped crying
to listen.
J.R. kept singing
all afternoon,
letting his pain
pour out through
his high strong voice,
which carried for miles
across the fields
to the heavens above.

Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
by G. Neri
illustrated by A. G. Ford
Candlwick Press, 2014

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Bizzy Bear's Big Building Book: Benji Davies

http://nosycrow.com/books/benji-davies/bizzy-bear-s-busy-building-day

Bigger than a typical board book at 9x9 inches (230 mm x 230 mm in the UK where Nosy Crow is located), Bizzy Bear's Big Building Book is super-sturdy with lots of moving parts. There's a wheel to spin which makes the drill appear to be turning. And a pull-tab to make the saw go back and forth. And plenty of flaps, big and small, to lift as bear and his friends build away. What are they making? A tree house that's got the most surprising moving part of all zooming from its top.

An engaging intro to basic tools that's sure to intrigue totz.

Bizzy Bear's Big Building Book
Author-illustrator: Benji Davies
Nosy Crow
September 2014

Friday, August 29, 2014

Photo Friday: Photos Framed by Ruth Thomson



Haven't celebrated Photo Friday lately, so here's a great recommend. Photos Framed by Ruth Thomson is captivating. Think of the world's most memorable photos, and then child appropriate descriptions of the image, the photographer, and general photo thoughts. There are Blow Up and Zoom In notes as well to spur further thought and discussion.

From "Louis Daguerre" photographed by Jean-Baptiste Sabatier-Blot to Steve McCurry's "Afghan Girl" this is a beautiful collection of the world's 27 iconic photographs. Ruth's accompanying text is completely absorbing. Like me, you probably won't be able to put it down. The Older Sibs of your totz will be engaged.

Photos Framed
by Ruth Thomson
Candlewick Press, 2014

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Mini Myths: Joan Holub and Leslie Patricelli

 
 
I've been waiting for this pairing of awesome: our own readertotz' Joan Holub and Leslie Patricelli! It doesn't get better!

Mini Myths is their series collaboration releasing September 16th. Play Nice, Hercules! and Be Patient, Pandora! are the first to pub. Following Joan's hit series with Suzanne Williams, Goddess Girls and Heroes in Training, Joan was primed to translate myths for totz. And she does it so well! Tight language conveys the essence of both Pandora and Hercules. Following a dear concluding truth, each book ends with a short synopsis of the myth itself.

Leslie's illustrations bring new beloved characters to board books, but you will recognize her infectious style from her Baby books. How fun to have more to love.

You will treasure these gems as they bring myths to your totz with heartfelt truths. Wonderful! Thank you, Joan and Leslie!

Be Patient, Pandora!
Play Nice, Hercules!
by Joan Holub
illustrated by Leslie Patricelli
Abrams Appleseed, 2014

Monday, August 4, 2014

Growl! Growl!: Sebastien Braun

http://nosycrow.com/books/can-you-say-it-too-series
A combination "I Spy" and "Say the animal sound" board book that's a hit with two totz on my block. They see part of an animal, then lift the flaps to see the entire creature. Then they make its noise. Oodles of fun for them and they were mesmerized by the bright artwork.

One of four titles in the Can You Say It, Too? series, along with Moo! Moo!, Woof! Woof!, and Roar! Roar!

12 pages, ages 9 months and up.

Growl! Growl!
Author-Publisher: Nosy Crow
Illustrator: Sebastien Braun
2014

Friday, August 1, 2014

Poetry Friday: i haiku you



If you follow my personal blog, you know I am a haiku fan, often writing ekphrastic works. How about a collection of love haikus to share with your totz? I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder is a little gem with quaint, light illustrations. Happy Poetry Friday!

love is in the air-
every time our hearts meet up,
i get butterflies

i haiku you
by Betsy Snyder
Random House, 2012