Big Girl Panties: Fran Manushkin and Valeria Petrone

Big Girl Panties begins:

Bye-bye, diapers!

I wear panties.

Happy panties!

Snappy panties!

Panties! Panties! Hip hooray!

Panties for every single day.

(art of 7 colorful patterned pairs of undies)

This is a true board book—small size and sturdy pages. It’s also a celebration of the joys of moving up and moving on in life, from a tot’s perspective. Oh, the thrill of graduating to panties! It discusses who can wear panties and who cannot in child-like fashion. I especially like the spread in which the girl-tot is informing her stuffed animals that:

No, crocodile!

You can’t wear panties.

Only big girls can wear panties.

Valeria Petrone’s style is perfect for this board book. It’s colorful, relatable, and contemporary. Love the hair!

(Also reviewed by Lorie Ann here on readertotz!)

Big Girl Panties

Author: Fran Manushkin

Illustrator: Valeria Petrone

Robin Corey Books, 2012

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/robincorey/

Not That Tutu! Michelle Sinclair Colman

I am one who doesn't need a reason to wear a tutu. This book with a fabric tutu on the cover caught my eye immediately. 

Michelle Sinclair Colman's text shares the young, female protagonist, Taylor, who wears her tutu everywhere, despite the entire family questioning her choice. Hiroe Nakata's loose and bright illustrations keep the exchanges lighthearted and fun. 

"She wore her tutu on her sled.
"Not again," her brother teased."

Taylor shows how tutus can be worn with a swimsuit, snow pants, and cowboy boots. Of course when her tutu is in tatters, she is ready to make a great decision. It, too, surprises her family. Here's to strong-willed totz with great fashion sense!

Not That Tutu!
by Michelle Sinclair Colman
illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
Robin Corey Books, Random House

Big Girl Panties: Fran Manushkin

Graduation from diapers to panties is worth celebrating. Fran Manushkin's text paired with Valeria Petrone's art will jump start your party.

Happy panties!
Snappy panties!
Panties! Panties! Hip hooray!
Panties for every single day.

So if your tot is moving toward this milestone, make it easier with this fun board book. The flat shapes and catchy rhythm will have your panties dancing.

Big  Girl Panties
by Fran Manushkin
illustrated by Valeria Petrone
Robin Corey Books, 2012

Peas on Earth: Todd H. Doodler

Peas on Earth is adorable! What could be better than a sturdy board book filled with hope and peace, um, peas. The art is simple, brightly-colored, and appealing; reminiscent of Todd Parr's style. And the concept is simple--promoting peace, harmony, and getting along with others.

Peas on earth is when dogs get along with cats.
And cats get along with mice.
And mice share their cheese with elephants.
And pigs give everyone piggyback rides!

As an added bonus at the end of the book, there is a pop-up of two happy peas dancing on the earth, shouting, "Give peas a chance!"

I love this book!

Todd H. Doodler is the pen name for Todd H. Goldman, founder of David & Goliath, a company that produces clothing and other merchandise that feature his designs. He's also the author of Animal Soup, The Zoo I Drew, and the Bear in Underwear series

Peas on Earth
Todd H. Doodler
Robin Corey Books, Random House, 2012

The Power of Cute: Charise Mericle Harper

 

 The Power of Cute is subtitled, My Very First Graphic Novel. It's a sturdy lift-the-flap book about a little superhero by the super-prolific and talented Charise Mericle Harper. This superhero wears a hat with bear ears. When approached by a big, scary monster who questions his superpowers, the main character admits that he does not possess any of the powers he is asked about. But he eventually reveals his "power" aka the ability to make big monsters into cute little ones.

With a variety of flaps to lift, wheels to turn, and tabs to pull, I pronounce this book super-cute!

The Power of Cute
Author-illustrator: Charise Mericle Harper
Random House/Robin Corey Books, 2011

Rescue: by Matthew Reinhart

I had lower expectations for this pop-up book, only because of its soft paper cover, but I was immediately impressed when I opened the work. Matthew Reinhart's Rescue illustrations, text, and engineering have great impact and tot appeal!

What appears to be paper collage creates a great collection of those who give their lives to help others: police officers, lifeguards, helicopter pilots, paramedics, and fire fighters. Each spread depicts the individual on the left and a pop-up action scene on the right. The text on the left describes the rescuer, while the text on the right elaborates on the emergency.

Totz will love the high action of society's heroes. My favorite is the the female pilot. The helicopter shoots up off the page as a hiker climbs the ladder to be rescued.

Don't be fooled by the paper binding. It helps to keep the price down, and Rescue is sturdy. It will hold up to many readings!

Rescue, Pop-Up Emergency Vehicles
by Matthew Reinhart
Robin Corey Books, 2011

Bosco's Busy Morning: Chuck Murphy

In this 8x8 lift-the-flap hardback, Bosco the dog speaks directly to totz, which I enjoy. He invites totz to venture into the book:

I'm Bosco.
This book is about
my friends and me.
Let's go see what's
on the next page.

Bosco and his friends go on a simple adventure in which they see things, such as ladybugs, mice, etc., and they count from 1 to 10 along the way. Everything is brightly-colored with pop-ups, pull-tabs, and lift-the-flaps. These are some really unusual novelty elements. I love the spread where Bosco and his pal cat chase three mice off the page. This pop-up is very appealing and clever, as are the others in this cool book. I hope your totz enjoy it as much as I do!

Bosco's Busy Morning
Author-illustrator: Chuck Murphy
Robin Corey Books

Happy Birthday, Little Pookie: Sandra Boynton

Hooray! A new Sandra Boynton board book. I still remember how excited I was when I first saw Sandra's quirky, hilarious cards in the stores years ago. No one else was doing anything like she was at the time, and I consider her a creative pioneer.

Little Pookie is a pig. The first page illustration of him is so pignant, oh, I mean poignant. Really sweet and childlike. Pookie is waking up his/her pig parents because it's Pookie's birthday. However, it's the middle of the night before this big event. So Pookie is coaxed back into bed, only to return at precisely 5:32 a.m. with yet another birthday announcement. Parents reply:

You're back little Pookie.
It's 5:32.
Well, okay, it's your day,
Happy Birthday to you!

The fun day plays out with piggie pancakes, a balloon, and friends. And it ends with a wonderful happy birthday wish. This story took me back to a time when birthdays were so important--when I thought the world revolved around the fact that it was MY birthday!

A sweet, sturdy, rhyming, realistic board books totz will love!

Happy Birthday, Little Pookie
Author-illustrator: Sandra Boynton
Robin Corey Books, 2010

Gigi in the Big City: Charise Mericle Harper

Gigi in the Big City is packed full of lift-the-flap and turn the dial fun! Author/illustrator Charise Mericle Harper has created an amazing day in the city for her character. Bravo to Robin Corey Books for investing all out in the concept.

For more mature totz, (Publishers Weekly advises 4-8) each page is filled with little flaps, pull tabs, and dials which flesh out Gigi's city experience. Multiple layers allow you to dress Gigi in various outfits before she heads off to the museums packed full of imagery. She considers the people she passes and dips into their stories, has a makeover, and concludes the day by writing and dreaming.

Joan is going to LOVE this work as it's packed full of interesting nonfiction facts. From definitions, to examples of shoes, gems, and mythical creatures, to types of books, there's so much to explore!

Gigi and her world are rendered with flat shapes with high kid appeal and a bit of funk to keep things lively. Enter the Big City with Gigi and be ready to be wowed!

Kudos to the team for bringing the board/novelty format to an older audience. Woot!

Gigi in the Big City
by Charise Mericle Harper
Robin Corey Books, 2010

Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug, by J.D. Lester

I'm so happy to see Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants now has a companion board book from Robin Corey Books. J.D. Lester and Hiroe Nakata have teamed together again to bring your totz more rhyming couplets in Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug.

Illustrating both child and parent and animal behaviors, J.D. brings a lot of fun to her spreads.

Daddy calls me Shoo-Be-Doo...
we sing an ocean song. (whales)
Daddy calls me Mini-Me...
we're swinging right along! (monkeys)

Your totz and you will be surprised with each page turn as the nicknames are inventive: Goo-and-Go, Hockey Puck, and Hide 'n' Seek. You'll be adopting them before you know it.

Again, Hiroe's illustrations are light and airy, capturing the atmosphere surrounding a freedom of expression. Joy and lightheartedness are conveyed in the loose white edges around the watercolored imagery.

Enjoy Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug this upcoming Father's Day and then year round! Take a peek at J.D.'s Photototz entry here!

Daddy Calls Me Doodlebug
by J.D. Lester
illustrations by Hiroe Nakata
Robin Corey Books, Random, 2010

Salina Yoon: Find My Feet

In this interactive board book, totz can spin a wheel to match a duck, cow, pig, cat, frog, and horse to their feet. Small hands will find it easy to grasp and turn the wheel, and doing so is pretty much irresistible. This is a great concept that's perfect for younger totz. The colors offer clues--the pink pig matches the pink pig feet--but totz will enjoy the silliness of mixing up the feet as well. This book is brilliant in its simplicity.

Salina Yoon is a prolific author-illustrator of novelty, board, and picture books. She has an adorable website at http://www.salinayoon.com that showcases her titles nicely. I was interested to learn that she was born in Korea and shares a birthday with Albert Einstein.

Find My Feet
Author-illustrator: Salina Yoon
Random House, Robin Corey Books, 2009