Rude Cakes: Rowboat Watkins

Sometimes a special book comes across my path, and I LOVE IT! I share it with everyone, hold it close, tuck it on my shelf, and treasure it. And later I realize I NEVER TOLD READERTOTZ ABOUT IT!

Call me a rude cake, but Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins was my tip-top favorite book of 2015. Rowboat Watkins, a former Sendak Fellow, offers a surprising, original, and oh-so-humorous picture book to our readertotz. He illustrates the difference between rude and polite with Cakes and Giant Cyclopses. Yes, cyclopses.

Rowboat was a 2016, Ezra Jack Keats, New Illustrator Honor Award Winner. Here's what others have had to say:

"The zaniest picture book premise of the year."--Boston Globe
"A truly surreal story, crammed with hilarious details and gently laced with an important lesson."--School Library Journal, starred review
"Hilarious and full of surprises. Pure picture book genius!"-Antoinette Portis, author of the New York Times Bestseller, Not a Box

I'm so glad the genius was seen. I cannot wait for more from Rowboat. More, more, more!

Rude Cakes
by Rowboat Watkins
Chronicle Books, 2015

Hello, World! Solar System: Jill McDonald

I love bringing nonfiction to our totz! Introduce our place in space with Hello, World! Solar System by Jill McDonald. With mixed media illustrations, the reader hops from planet to planet gaining a few facts for each along the way.

"We live on a planet called
EARTH.
From space it looks like
a swirled blue marble.
*Earth is the third planet from the sun."

I look forward to seeing more from the Hello, World! series. Bravo, Doubleday for raising the bar for board books. Hello, nature and science!

Note: Pluto is included. Yay!

Hello, World! Solar System
by Jill McDonald
Doubleday, 2016

Celebrate your Mighty Dads this Father's Day with the board book or picture book!

Happy Father's Day!

The New York Times bestselling

MIGHTY DADS

by readertotz co-blogger Joan Holub

and illustrated by James Dean of Pete the Cat

is now a board book, too.

Amazon

    Barnes & Noble

Indie

Trailer

More, more, more: Roy's House

How about combining simple text for readertotz with art by Roy Lichtenstein? I love getting fine art in front of the littlest readers and Susan Goldman Rubin does that with Roy's House. There's an air of Goodnight Moon as the home is described using Lichtenstein's paintings.

"In Roy's House, there is
a bedroom with yellow
pillows and lamps.

Let's go into the studio.
Roy paints pictures here!"

There's so much to see and discuss, from color, to home elements and objects, to Pop Art. I love this work for readertotz! I'd like to see the picture book released as a board book. Maybe soon?

Roy's House
by Susan Goldman Rubin
art by Roy Lichtenstein
Chronicle Books, 2016

Pete the Cat, The Wheels on the Bus: James Dean

The wheels on the bus go round and round as Pete the Cat drives through town. The horn, the wipers, and the signals are all in gear as the kitties say, "Come on, Pete!" There's a point when Pete gives over the wheel to a dog so everyone can rock out. It's completely groovy to have Pete on the board book scene. Welcome!

Pete the Cat, The Wheels on the Bus
by James Dean
HarperFestival, 2015

Poetry Friday: Sweep Up the Sun and Among a Thousand Fireflies

Breathtaking. The poems of Helen Frost alongside Rick Lieder's photographs are stunning. And then there are the layered meanings and life lessons within the pages. Celebrate Poetry Friday with this duo.



"Alone in the sky,
or flying with friends,
your wings will carry you far,
stitching earth to sky
with invisible thread,
at home
     wherever you are."



"Across a distance
wide and dark
she looks out from
her flower
and sees---

Light. Dark.
Light. Dark."

Sweep Up the Sun, 2015
Among a Thousand Fireflies, 2016
by Helen Frost
photographs by Rick Lieder
Candlewick Press

More, more, more: Flora and the Peacocks; Swan, the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova

For your readertotz intrigued by dance, you must see these two beauties, both from Chronicle Books.



Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle is an elaborate presentation of suspicion, jealousy, rejection, and acceptance. Two peacocks, jealous of Flora, steal her fan so she can no longer resemble them. In response to her grief, the birds grow repentant, restore Flora's fan in a new way, and befriend her. Occasional lift-the-flaps crescendo in an enormous poster-sized flap of acceptance. There's so much to discuss with your totz arising from this lush work.



The second masterwork is Swan, the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, by Laurel Snyder, and illustrated by Julie Morstad. The work is an exquisite match of text and art, honoring the great ballet dancer.

The city is big.
     Anna is small.
The snow is
     everywhere
and all around.

There's such atmosphere. Relish each page turn as Anna grows and you witness her life, feeding the world with beauty.

Flora and the Peacocks
by Molly Idle
Chronicle Books, 2016

Swan, the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova
by Laurel Snyder
illustrated by Julie Morstad
Chronicle Books, 2015

A Moment for Wallpaper: Murals Wallpaper

How fantastic is this?



We don't often take a break from board books, but this is too fabulous not to mention. Find the ordering details here from Murals Wallpaper. Love this, don't you?

Crocopotamus: Mary Murphy

Giggles will erupt as your readertotz flip through Mary Murphy's Crocopotamus. Combinations of animals just wait to be discovered. How about a Zekey or an Eleger. Of course there are matches for animals we know and love, too. Big, bold rough-edged images and hand-lettered text set a playful tone in this board book for the earliest readers.

Crocopotamus
by Mary Murphy
Candlewick Press, 2016

Cozy Classics: Jack and Holman Wang

There is always a desire to bring great lit to our totz. Chronicle Books has tackled the project with their Cozy Classics. Little felted figures in elaborate settings by Jack and Holman Wang illustrate: Pride & Prejudice, Moby Dick, War & Peace, Great Expectations, and more. Their unique concept is that one word is illustrated per spread. How do you reduce War & Peace to 12 words? Intriguing, yes?

So your totz aren't going to track the entire plot, aside from the barest bones, but they will be introduced to imagery that may linger a long while. It's possible even a love will be ignited for what we hold dear in adult literature. I respect that a subject isn't shied away from either. Miss Havisham is on fire.

As usual, Chronicle gets it right.

Cozy Classics
War & Peace
Moby Dick
Pride & Prejudice
Great Expectations
by Jack and Holman Wang
Chronicle Books, 2016

Bob The Artist: Marion Deuchars

Bob appreciates his FINE legs, until he's teased about them. Unsuccessfully, he tries to change them and eventually just hides them. That is until he visits an art gallery. Inspired, he draws attention to his beak by painting it daily. With affirmation for his creativity, he grows confident and finally accepts his legs. And everyone else does, too.

Refusing to be cowed, the reader is emboldened to express herself further and gain self acceptance, possibly changing others' opinions. This is a fresh look at empowerment. Here is the gift of art to impact another, encourage expression, and change lives.

Marion Deuchars' illustrations are endearing in their simplicity. The color palette pops of Matisse. Publisher Laurence King believes in this book. Top quality presentation in every detail proves it.

This is one of my favorite picture books of the year, so far. I love Bob The Artist. You likely will, too. Skinny legs and all.

Bob The Artist
by Marion Deuchars
Lawrence King, 2016

I'm a Monster Truck: Dennis R. Shealy

I'm back from my trip to the Middle East, and one of the first things I heard is that there's a readertot who likes monster trucks. "Do you have a book on them you could recommend?" Well, I do!

I'm a Monster Truck by Dennis R. Shealy just came to my attention.

"I smash!
I bash!
CRASH!
I love the sound
of breaking glass!
'Cause I'm a...
MONSTER TRUCK!"

Bob Staake's zany graphic imagery is perfect to capture the atmosphere of a monster truck event. Between Shealy's text and Staake's illustration, your totz will feel as if they are in the stands. Sure to be a hit with lovers of locomotion, look for I'm a Monster Truck.

I'm a Monster Truck
by Dennis R. Shealy
illustrated by Bob Staake
Random House, 2011, 2016

Hello World! Weather: Jill McDonald

How about an introduction to weather? The Hello, World! series from Doubleday brings exactly that in Weather by Jill McDonald. With childlike imagery, the reader sees various conditions and the clothes needed to enjoy them. The repeated spread of the children's house offers great comparisons as the weather changes. Questions will get your totz checking to see what the weather is like today.

How refreshing to bring science and environmental awareness to our smallest readers. Well done, Doubleday!

Hello, World!
Weather
by Jill McDonald
Doubleday, 2016

Grumpy Bird: Jeremy Tankard

Today's recommend is Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. When Bird wakes, he's just grumpy. Too grumpy to do much of anything but walk. As he does, he passes others who join him on his stroll. With friends at his side, it isn't long before Bird is able to lose his grumps.

Tankard's thick bold black outlines along with photo collage and abstract shapes invite a fast read as well as a slow one. One can quickly read the action, but there's also an opportunity to linger with so much to see in each spread. This work, along with its truth, should have wide appeal. Note: a hardcover was released in 2007.

Grumpy Bird
by Jeremy Tankard
Scholastic Press, 2016

Steam Train, Dream Train: Colors and 1-2-3: Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

Inspired by the New York Times Bestselling Picture Book, Steam Train, Dream Train, Colors and 1-2-3 are now in a board book form. In Colors, each car of a different color is focused on, while in 1-2-3 the animals and objects are counted, with a note of the featured car's name.

Of course the oil pastel illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld are from the original beautiful picture book, while the new accompanying rhymes by Sherri Duskey Rinker are fresh. In both books, I did miss a final image of the entire train. I don't think it will stop your totz from responding well to these two concept board books. All aboard!

Steam Train, Dream Train Colors
Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3
by Sherri Duskey Rinker
illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Chronicle Books, 2016

Big Kid Power: Maria van Lieshout

It's all about empowerment in the Big Kid Power series from Chronicle Books. Bye-Bye Binky and I Use the Potty help your totz on their journeys to independence.

Rehearsing the past, how diapers and a binky were helpful when they were babies, the protagonists show how they've abandoned both for better ways. Instead of a binky, one can ask for a hug. Instead of diapers, one can wear underwear.

Illustrations have a comic feel with limited color and small dots used for shadows. Both works have saturated color making the books pop from the shelf and in your hand. The above illustrations don't capture the neon color.

This a great series by Maria van Lieshout. We'll be watching for more!

Bye-Bye Binky
I Use the Potty
by Maria van Lieshout
Chronicle Books, 2016

Poetry Friday: In the Land of Words

With the paperback edition of In the Land of Words, compiled in 2004, you can celebrate Poetry Friday with Coretta Scott King Award Winner Eloise Greenfield. The accompanying fabric illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, another Coretta Scott King Award Winner, are layered and stitched with exuberance.

I particularly enjoyed the backstory Eloise included for her poems in Part One. Happy Poetry Friday to all!

I Go to the Land

I go to the land of words,

for I am at home there,

and never leave

for long. My thirst

pushes me through

the open door.

The more I drink

of the falling water,

the more I know.

I drink. I think.

I grow.

In the Land of Words

by Eloise Greenfield

illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist

Armistad, 2016

  

More, more, more: The Tree in the Courtyard

Stopping everything to tell you about The Tree in the Courtyard, Looking Through Anne Frank's Window. It's chilling. It's beautiful. I don't want you to miss it. Please don't.

Jeff Gottesfeld's text is delicate and poignant while Peter McCarty's brown ink on watercolor paper set the perfect tone. The work is based on this quote from Anne Frank:

"The two of us looked out at the blue sky,
the bare chestnut tree glistening with dew,
the seagulls and other birds glinting with silver
as they swooped through the air, and we were
so moved and entranced that we couldn't speak."

The text weaves the view of the tree with the life of Anne and her family. The conclusion is full of hope as seedpods are planted worldwide in her remembrance. This must win awards. Period.

The Tree in the Courtyard, Looking Through Anne Frank's Window
by Jeff Gottesfeld
illustrated by Peter McCarty
Knopf, 2016

Mother Goose: Rosemary Wells

How delightful Iona Opies' compiled Mother Goose rhymes, illustrated by Rosemary Wells, are available in board book volumes. One, Two, Three, Mother Goose and Snuggle Up with Mother Goose are sweet collections for your totz. If your wee ones don't yet know Rosemary's rabbits, ducks and cats, here is the perfect opportunity to make the introductions.

Practice counting or snuggle up for a rest with these two gems from Candlewick Press.

Snuggle Up with Mother Goose
One, Two, Three, Mother Goose
edited by Iona Opie
illustratd by Rosemary Wells
Candlewick Press, 2015, 2106

Poetry Friday: Emma Dodd

Here are two illustrated poems in a small format to celebrate Poetry Friday. Emma Dodd's digital illustrations and heartfelt text are to be treasured. (Note the above pink sun is actually gold foil.)

When I Grow Up

When I grow up,
   I want to be...
clever and funny,
   wild and free.


When You Were Born

When you were born,
the rain stopped...
    the sun came out,
and the sky turned blue.

When you were born,
the snow melted...
    the birds sang,
and the flowers grew.


When I Grow Up
When You Were Born
by Emma Dodd
Templar Books, 2015