Monday, April 27, 2009

Biscuit Visits the Petting Zoo: Alyssa Satin Capucilli

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/harperchildrensimages/isbn/large/6/9780061625206.jpg
I've been a Biscuit fan since the first I Can Read early reader titled Biscuit was released in 1997. I remember precisely how I first became aware of the book. I was standing in a Barnes & Noble store in Seattle when I overheard two young girls talking about Biscuit and saying how much they loved him. Of course, I took a look at the book myself after that and fell in love with the simplicity and charm of this character. It's not easy creating a book with minimal text that still manages to hold the attention and garner the love of young readers. Yet there's a need for these books. (This one's cited for ages 2-6.)

Since then, there have been many more early readers and board books featuring Biscuit, the little yellow puppy. Now we have Biscuit Visits the Petting Zoo. Biscuit and his girl go to a petting zoo where they meet various other animals who have woolly, fuzzy, silky, etc, features which young readers can stroke to learn what 'woolly' and 'furry' feel like. I'm a fan of touch-and-feel books and totz seem to love them, too!

Biscuit Visits the Petting Zoo
Alyssa Satin Capucilli ~ author
Rose Mary Berlin, in the style of Pat Schories ~ illustrator
HarperCollins, 2009

4 comments:

Little Willow said...

I'm a fan of the Biscuit series as well. The simple sentences and repetition of barks and other animal sounds (or action sounds)
are quite good for the target audience. I really like how many different activities and holidays Biscuit learns about - he's a well-rounded pooch!

Joan Holub said...

LOL! He is well-rounded, isn't he, Little Willow. Since you're an animal fan like me, it makes sense you'd be drawn to this pooch, too.

Simple sentences and repetition are perfect for totz and young elementary ages. I'm fascinated by books with minimal text that still manage to include characters and storylines with heart.

Lorie Ann Grover said...

I've never seen a Biscuit book. I'll keep a look out though!

Little Willow said...

Lorie Ann, you must check out Biscuit. There are the early readers as well as the board books and lift-the-flap books.

Joan, YES! Do you know how hard it is to find a cute and simple Hanukkah book for toddlers? :)