Poetry Friday: Peek-A-Boo Zoo

Lift-the-flaps to see who is playing peek-a-boo this Poetry Friday!

"I am a cool bird.
I waddle and slide.
In the ice-cold sea,
I swim and glide.

Guess who?"

Look for Peek-A-Boo Farm as well. Happy reading!

Peek-A-Boo Zoo
by Joyce Wan
Cartwheel Books

Top Shelf: Maybe Tomorrow?

This is my favorite picture book of 2019, so far! I place it in the "perfect picture book" category.

"I miss Little Bird," said Elba.
"I miss her, too," said Norris.
"But you didn't know her."
"No, but you are my friend, so I can help you miss her."

Elba is dragging a big block behind her while Norris dances everywhere, surrounded by butterflies. Elba's heavy block makes her slowly walk and "think darkly." The block isn't fun. Something sad is waiting to come out, according to Norris. Maybe tomorrow it will, says Elba.

As the two friends spend time together, and the butterflies help tote the block, the sadness is shared and held. The block does grow smaller, but Elba accepts she will always have it, and Norris commits to helping her carry it.

Elba's block represents the death of Little Bird, but as you explore this work with your first readers, the block might also be any loss. This gem is a blessing to our shelves and us, regardless of age. Paired with Charlotte Agell's text is Ana Ramirez Gonzalez's art which manages to carry both characters' emotions beautifully. I hope Maybe Tomorrow? is found, given the chance to comfort, and passed forward. Brilliant!

Maybe Tomorrow?
by Charlotte Agell
illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez
Scholastic Press, 2019

Leo Lionni's Friends: First Board Books

You can introduce your totz to our beloved Leo Lionni with these board books, inspired by his body of work. Whether celebrating spring or introducing the alphabet, Leo's adorable mice will be loved by first readers. Adults will enjoy the references back to earlier books.

Spring, I know you're
here when I hear the
BUZZ of the bees in the meadow...
(From A Little Book About Spring)

W is for wide wall.
X is for x-tra special surprise.
(From A Little Book About ABCs)

Welcome your totz to the world with Leo's little mice. They help us to see, learn, and celebrate!

A Little Book About Spring
A Little Book About ABCs
illustrated by Leo Lionni and Julie Hamilton
Random House, 2019

Hello, World: How Do Apples Grow? and Ocean Life

The series Hello, World introduces How Do Apples Grow? and Ocean Life, both written and illustrated by Jill McDonald. Readertotz will be introduced to science and nature concepts in this durable board book series.

How Do Apples Grow? walks the first reader from seed to ripe apple.

"In spring, buds on its branches open into pink and white flowers. Each flower will become an apple."

The work concludes: "Good things are worth waiting for!"

In Ocean Life, McDonald continues her bright, cheerful illustrations and invites the first reader to, "Dive in and take a look!"

"Whales are the giants of the ocean. A blue whale can grow to be as long as two school buses! Whales breathe air through a blowhole on their head."

After the overview of sea life, the reader is encouraged to choose their own underwater favorite.

Hello, World is a strong addition to the first science book category.

Hello, World
How Do Apples Grow?
Ocean Life
by Jill McDonald
Doubleday

Hello Honeybees: Hannah Rogge

Give a little love to our precious honeybees with Hello HoneyBees from Chronicle Books. Hannah Rogge's text introduces the life and work of the honeybee, while Emily Dove's illustrations include two puzzle piece bees, attached by ribbons, to play in pages cut in the shape of a hive.

Little fingers can speed the bees about the garden to collect pollen, mimic the wiggle dance, and build the honeycomb. Then, busy bees can begin again.

Lets share our love and appreciation for our bees with our readertotz. This is a beautiful board book that does just that and more.

Hello Honeybees
by Hannah Rogge
illustrated by Emily Dove
Chronicle Books, 2019

Poetry Friday: Wake Up, Color Pup

Wake Up, Color Pup is a gleeful, energetic look at dawn for a little white puppy. Bouncing with rhyme, the pup bounds outside into yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, and green. He meets little animals, insects, and a fish along the way as he follows a bird. The colors collect on his coat, until:

Drip,
drop,
spatter.
Bark!

The rain falls, and all pup's color is washed away. He shivers in the dark gray until finding all the colors in a puddle. With a roll and a shake, the world is awake again with color.

Here is a beautiful introduction and celebration of colorful life. Happy Poetry Friday!

Wake Up, Color Pup
by Taia Morley
Random House Children's Books, 2019

Touch and Explore, Construction and Who Lives Where? Stephanie Babin

Publisher Twirl is knocking it out of the park! I'm excited to share recent titles of these high quality board books. Watch for more upcoming, but today, I'll point to two written by Stephanie Babin.

Touch and Explore Construction, illustrated by Benjamin Becue, brings a new dimension to the building themed book. Inserts hold relevant textures within the scenes. Safety cones are shiny plastic, rubble feels like rubble, a crinkled paper feels like wood, and wet paint feels sticky.

Setting up, demolition, building a house and road are featured along with more. Various races, genders, and ethnicities work, walk, and play side by side. Smaller font offers further information such as: Even the repair of a streetlight is a small construction site!

Also by Stephanie Babin, illustrated by Kiko, is Who Lives Where? This is one of my favorite Twirl books. The left spread establishes a location and inhabitants who live there. i.e. In the House: a guinea pig, a cat, a spider. Each says where they live and the illustration includes the home, which may or may not be inhabited. The cat is not in her bed. The right spread shows those isolated animals and a sliding panel reveals their home. A reader might try to recall the mouse (slide the panel) lives in a hole.

I find the engineering satisfying. The panels slide easily with a nice click. The book explores the house, farm, garden, mountains, savanna, and sea. The sole lives in the sand, while the guinea fowl makes a home in a shrub.

There's an elegance and higher expectation in the tot in these two books by Babin. Brava!

Touch and Explore, Construction
by Stephanie Babin
illustrated by Benjamin Becue
Who Lives Where?
by Stephanie Babin
illustrated by Kiko
Twirl, first published in France

Open the Garage Door: Christopher Santoro

Here is a lift-the-flap which brings a freshness to the vehicle board book. A car is in the garage; a police car is behind a shrub, and a tractor is in the barn. Aside from doors, clever devices are used, like the shrub, to hide other modes of transportation: a tarp covers a motorcycle, a school bus is beyond the curtained window, and a race flag covers the winner.

Start your engines and open the 11 flaps with your readertotz.

Open the Garage Door...
illustrated by Christopher Santoro
Random House, 2019

More, more, more: Chicago Treasure

For those who love Chicago, or are looking for an introduction, Chicago Treasure is now available. Blending city sights, nursery rhymes, stories, fables, and art, local children are photoshopped into illustrations, art, and photography. At times, final art strongly parallel's original source material, including imagery from the Harry Potter series, Disney movies, and The Wizard of Oz film.

With diversity and inclusivity of children with differing abilities, the work is fresh for today's readers. Many students from The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled participated in the project, and each is child is credited.

Following the first section, "Just Imagine," featuring multicultural stories and rhymes, the "Now Showing!" section places children into art masterpieces. Aside from introducing paintings, the imagery may be a help as tots imagine themselves in relation to fine art.

"Sightings" includes the photoshopped children and animals within scenes of Chicago. Short place descriptions are offered.  Impalas, bears, and zebras accompany adolescents traveling through the city.

A conclusion shares how a few of the children have grown since the project first began. All proceeds are donated to nonprofit groups. You might enjoy this ambitious book of love in honor of Chicago and her children.

Chicago Treasure
Larry Broutman, Rich Green, John Rabias
Lake Claremont Press
Broutman Photography, 2019

Hug Me: Little Bunny, Little Bear

These two little board book, finger puppets will illustrate a parent's love for their tot. Whether taking the wee one dancing, tickling a belly, or sharing a treat, love is shared with a hug at the conclusion of both books.

Digital art is enhanced with soft puppet arms that are easy to manipulate to illustrate the featured spread. The interactive book will offer snuggles to bear, rabbit, and totz alike. 

Hug Me, Finger Puppet Book, Little Bear
Hug Me, Finger Puppet Book, Little Bunny
design by Lydia Ortiz
Chronicle Books, 2019

Top Shelf, Poetry Friday: Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets

Happy Poetry Friday! Our Top Shelf pick today is Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets. Bringing both shapes and Muslim worship to the picture book page, this work is an enriching masterpiece. From the rectangular mosque door to the octagon fountain, acts of worship and their setting in various countries are illuminated.

"Arch is the mihrab
that guides our way.
We stand and face it
each time we pray.

Relish this celebration with your readertotz! Happy Poetry Friday!

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets
A Muslim Book of Shapes
by Hena Khan
illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
Chronicle Books, 2018

Read & Ride, Magical Horses: Liz Mytinger

Welcome, newborn totz, to 2019! The world is wide and wonderful and full of books. As author/illustrators, Joan Holub and I continue to share the best board books which cross our paths. May you find joy in them with your family.

First up this year is Read & Ride Magical Horses. Four shaped board books nest inside a flat book box. When opened, the horses, pegasus, and unicorn have three scenes to meander through. Each horse additionally opens to share his/her story. Chestnut is curious. Blizzard is brave. Flicker is graceful, and Cloud is kind. Active verbs such as soar, gallop, and trot, are illustrated as well as kindness to community.

This dual book and play set will entertain and certainly be beloved by little horse enthusiasts.

Read & Ride Magical Horses
Illustrated by Liz Mytinger
Chronicle Books, March 2019

Poetry Friday: Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?

For your construction worker and transportation enthusiastic totz, there's Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas? for the season. Diggers, cherry pickers, tanker trucks and more get into their holiday spirit.

"Where do Zambonis spend Christmas
after all the ice is clear?
Do they skate across a frozen lake,
spreading Christmas cheer?"

A white mouse takes the reader through Brianna Caplan Sayres rocking rhyme and Christian Slade's cheerful illustrations. Happy Christmas Poetry Friday!

Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?
by Brianna Caplan Sayres
illustrated by Christian Slade
Random House, 2018

Meet the Latkes: Alan Silberberg

Happy Hanukkah! You might celebrate the holiday with this humorous picture book from Alan Silberberg, Meet the Latkes. A family of potato pancakes listens to Grandpa Latke's story, which does include Mega-Bees and alien potatoes. Applesauce, the dog, will set the telling straight for your readertotz.

Humor for your holiday, as the menorah is lit and dreidels are spun.

Meet the Latkes
by Alan Silberberg
Viking, 2018

My Very First 100 Words: English, French, Spanish

Sculpted, crafted, or painted, 100 things are included in My Very First 100 Words in English, French, and Spanish. Each page offers a collection of adorable subjects like "my special things," "at home," or "under the sea."

Whether found objects, crafted content, felted creatures, crocheted or knit gems, each page offers the corresponding English words for the collection pictured, the French term, and then the Spanish. Accompanying, thick flash cards give the specific language words for the objects individually shown. A younger child might match the fox in the book to the el zorro and le renard card. The older child might memorize all three names.

What a fun beginning to learning words in other languages. It is a boost to seeing beyond your child's own spoken word.

My Very First 100 Words in English, French, and Spanish
Cico Kidz, 2018

Poetry Friday: Run Wild

Put down your devices and Run Wild with David Covell this Poetry Friday. The exuberant, free illustrations and his injunctions will scoot you right out the door. Even if there's rain and a fall. Get up and keep going.

"Hey, You.
Sky's blue!
(forget your shoes)
Open
that door
and...

Sprout, you're out!
Chase the wind...
Can you grab it?

Go ahead...
Race a rabbit!
Crunch. Crack. Twig. Snap!

Happy Poetry Friday to you and your totz! Come on and explore!

Run Wild
by David Covell
Viking, 2018

House: by Michael Slack

House, First Words Board Books is a collection of five books which slip into the house-shaped box with die-cut windows. Four little books illustrate objects from the rooms they represent, while the larger book covers the living room. The final double-spread in each book shows the assembled, featured room. A black cat creates continuity with it's appearance. The entire set reads retro and future, simultaneously. Design lovers will soak in the imagery.

Whether it's a locate-the-object book, imaginary play in the house, or simply identifying things in our home, this a beautiful collection.

House, First Word Board Books
by Michael Slack
Chronicle Books, 2018

Poetry Friday: Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?

Happy Poetry Friday to you and your totz! Enjoy this singsong board board of air transport quieting down for the night.

Where do skywriting planes sleep
after writing way up high?
Do moms read them bedtime stories
that are written in the sky?

Where do hot-air balloons sleep
after flames have made them rise?
Do they float off into dreamland
as the sunset fills the skies?

Beautiful, yes?

Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?
by Brianna Caplan Sayres
illustrated by Christian Slade
Random House, 2018

Dr. Seuss's You are Kind

Who better to affirm a child's personhood and one's kindness than Horton the Elephant? Random House has released a small book titled, Dr. Seuss's You are Kind. Horton exemplifies friendship through his previous illustrations in Dr. Seuss books. He listens, helps with problems, and stands up for what is right.

"You teach EVERYONE MATTERS."

This is the perfect nugget of truth for your readertotz in today's atmosphere. Show them Horton who never gives up.

Dr. Seuss's You are Kind
Random House, 2018
Seussville.com

Little Scientist: Emily Kleinman

Chunky truth is what you find in mudpuppy's Little Scientist series by Emily Kleinman. The four square books fit in the little square box, ready for little fingers. Each book features four scientists and one field of study, including: earth and life, chemists, physicists, and astronomers. Diverse, great women and men are showcased in this science introduction.

"Jane Goodall learned that chimpanzees can feel love--just like we do.
Jacques Cousteau revealed the mysteries of the great ocean blue." Earth & Life Scientists

Enjoy this colorful little series with your readertotz. Share sixteen heroes who have walked before us and loved our beautiful world and beyond.

Little Scientist, Boxed Set
by Emily Kleinman
illustrated by Lydia Ortiz and Patrick Rafanan
mudpuppy, 2018