What Does Cow Say? giveaway

In celebration of my spring release, What Does Cow Say? (Scholastic/Cartwheel Books), I'm giving away this cute barn carrying case, small plush cow, and an autographed copy of the book. This rhyming lift-the-large-flap board book is mega-sturdy and bigger than many board books at 7" x 8.5".

To enter: Click here: JOAN'S BLOG POST to drop a comment with a creative (g-rated) guess regarding what a cow might say other than the obvious. The cowments posted so far have been udderly amoosing! Two winners will be randomly chosen March 30th and posted here at readertotz and on Joan's blog. Be sure to leave your contact email, or come back then to see if you've won.


















Story scoop: These farm animals have big mouths! When the sun came up, Duck went Quack which woke his neighbor, Cow, who went MOO, which woke Rooster who went Cock-a-doodle-doo. . . As each animal awakens, totz can guess what it says and open its big-flap beak, snout, or mouth to read its signature sound. The final spread shows a child waking up--with open arms and a final HOORAY! to welcome the day!

Art scoop: Instead of a manuscript, I submitted this 2-page dummy to Scholastic/Cartwheel for consideration. All the mouths had working flaps taped over them, so they'd lift to reveal the animal sound below. A lot goes into creating these seemingly uncomplicated books. For instance, the title and some of the text changed during the editing process. And as you can see, artist Jannie Ho made the book way cuter than my proposal.












Lucky me to have Jannie illustrate this book! She studied illustration at Parsons School of Design in NYC, and was a designer at Nickelodeon, Scholastic, and associate art director at TIME Magazine for Kids before becoming a full-time illustrator. Wow!

~ Joan Holub

What Does Cow Say?
Author: Joan Holub
Illustrator: Jannie Ho
Scholastic, Cartwheel Books, 2011

Poetry Friday: Little Jumping Joan

How did I not think to post this for our own Joan? Happy Poetry Friday!

illustration by Kate Greenaway

LITTLE JUMPING JOAN

Here am I, little jumping Joan,

When nobody’s with me

I’m always alone.

February: Around the Block with Sesame Street

I thought this was adorable, don't you? Enjoy!

Nosh Schlep Schluff, BabYiddish: Laurel Snyder

How fun to have a book for totz of Yiddish! What a find!

I eagerly opened Nosh Schlep Schluff BabYiddish and was charmed to discover words in my own vocabulary that I didn't even know were Yiddish. How about "schmooze," "klutz," and "nosh?" The quaint rhymes on each page introduce the language in a fun way.

"If you want to start a ruckus,
wave your arms and shake your TUCHES!"

The board book takes you through a day of a preschooler, from morning bedside to sleeping at night. Tiphanie Beeke's watercolor illustrations on heavy paper are refreshing in our digital age. There are textures, rough edges, and paint strokes to be enjoyed.

You and your totz are going to enjoy this intro to Yiddish more than a "bissel!"

Nosh Schlep Schluff BabYiddish
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Random House, 2011

February: Community Service

Why not force a flower bulb with your totz and display the early sign of spring in your window for all to see?

Poetry Friday: The Flying Pig

THE FLYING PIG

Dickory, dickory, dare,

The pig flew up in the air;

The man in brown soon brought him down,

Dickory, dickory, dare. 

Happy Poetry Friday!

February: For the Older Sibling: Dinosaur vs. The Potty

A small red dinosaur is the hero in this dynamic picture book, which taps into totz' notions of their own invincibility. This is a hero that will appeal to girls and boys alike. Dinosaur conquers lemonade, the sprinkler, and juice...yet he proclaims over and over that he still does not need to use the potty. Eventually he does a "potty dance" and totz will breathlessly watch as he makes a dash for the bathroom. Will he make it in time?

I first met Dinosaur in Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, which I also enjoyed. These books are fresh, fun, and address real-life issues that concern totz. I "roar" for more, Bob Shea. I can't wait to see what Dinosaur is up to in the next episode.

Dinosaur vs. The Potty
Author-illustrator: Bob Shea
Disney * Hyperion Books, 2010

The More We Get Together: Caroline Jayne Church

I've enjoyed Caroline Jayne Church's work since Here Comes Halloween. Her art and writing styles in The More We Get Together, and in her other work, are sweet and appealing without being saccharine. There's an economy of line and words here, yet the illustrations are expressive and the stories have heart.

"The more we get together, the happier we'll be."

At six spreads plus cover, this is a true board book with thick pages, which will stand up to many readings and handlings. Church is prolific, so be sure to check out the wealth of her other wonderful books that are available.

The More We Get Together
Author-illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church
Scholastic/Cartwheel Books, 2011

Poetry Friday: A Tot Conductor

Ah, the poetry of this tot'z joy. I LOVE it! Don't you, too?

Busy Bear Cubs: John Schindel

Prepare to be absolutely charmed by these bear cubs, captured by Lisa and Mike Husar along with John Schindel's text. Short rhymes provide the context for the bears to hide, ride, turn, and learn.

Black bears, grizzlies, pandas, and polar bears are all featured. Each page features two actions and bears having tremendous fun.

Whether your totz love bears or enjoy imitating, this is a great addition to your library. And of course, it concludes with, "Bear cub sleeping". Perfect before a nap or bedtime. Note, this is the 11th book in the Tricycle Press Busy series. Yay!

Busy Bear Cubs
by John Schindel
illustrated by Lisa and Mike Husar
Tricycle Press, 2009

Poetry Friday: Come to the Window

Isn't this delightful? Share it with your own totz. :~)

Come to the Window

Come to the window,

My baby, with me,

And look at the stars

That shine on the sea!

There are two little stars

That play bo-peep

With two little fish

Far down in the deep;

And two little frogs

Cry "Neap, neap, neap;"

I see a dear baby

That should be asleep.