Making Friends! Just Like Us! by Jess Stockham

With a big windstorm hitting our area, it was natural to pick up Child's Play, Making Friends! Just Like Us! by Jess Stockham. Those polar bears on the cover feel most appropriate, right now.

So the concept is that animals and people do the very same acts. We chatter, kiss, and hold hands just like budgies, fish, and chimpanzees. Stockham first illustrates the exchange between the animals. Then by lifting a flap, we see children performing the same action.
You might talk about each activity as you enjoy the colorful, cheerful spreads with your totz. The series continues with Having Fun!, Together! and Taking it Easy!

Snuggle up and enjoy this lift-the-flap!


Making Friends! Just Like Us!
by Jess Stockham
Child's Play, 2008

Phototoz: Ronica Stromberg

Ronica Stromberg sent in her totz photo! So cute. :~)

The Time-for-Bed Angel is a bedtime picture book about a rambunctious boy named Andrew and the guardian angel, Sam, who watches over him. It reassures even the most accident-prone children that they are loved and cared for at all times.

Thanks for playing, Ronica!

Feel free to join us, authors and illustrators. Just send your totz photo and book cover to readertotzatclearwiredotnet. We'll be happy to share!

December: Around the Block with Sesame Street

Just in time for the holidays. Sing along with your totz!



~Lorie Ann

David Martin and Melissa Sweet: Christmas Tree

This board book is adorable. A small manageable size, nice and sturdy, 26 pages. It goes through various items used in real life, then we see the smaller versions of these as ornaments that go on a holiday tree--star, ball, sled. A nice combo of a holiday book that teaches basic words.

I'm a huge fan of Melissa Sweet's work! Very cute!

A Christmas Tree
David Martin, author
Melissa Sweet, illustrator
Candlewick Press, 2009

Photototz: Loreen Leedy

Thanks for playing with us, Loreen! Just adorable!



Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story, a 32 page picture book. The story of Rufus and his wacky antics is told entirely with similes. The surprise ending explains why Rufus was acting so... crazy!

We'd love to share other totz photos. Send them, authors and illustrators, to readertotzatclearwiredotnet

~Lorie Ann

David Martin and Melissa Sweet: Hanukkah Lights

This sturdy board book mentions many of the components of Hanukkah and serves as a good intro to the holiday for totz. It's 5.25 x 5.25 inches square, 26 pages, self-cover--just the right size for small hands to join in the celebration or learn about a new holiday!

Hanukkah candles,
shinging bright.
One more candle
every night.

As I mentioned last month, I'm a huge fan of Melissa Sweet's work!

Hanukkah Lights
David Martin, author
Melissa Sweet, illustrator
Candlewick Press, 2009

November Pick for the Older Sib: The Princess's Blankets

I chose The Princess's Blankets as my pick for the older sibling this month because of it's traditional fantasy storytelling paired with fine art. The combination is stunning!

In a time when the publishing industry is focused on zombies, knock offs, and the naughty child, author Carol Ann Duffy's picture book shines with freshness. Imagine a princess who is always cold, concerned parents, a stranger with hard cold eyes, and a musician with a warm heart. Then ponder what truly warms the soul. Is it receiving the world in your lap, despite what it might rob from others, or could it be a song played in love, and a warm kiss on a fingertip?

Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick, has illustrated Duffy's text with fine art paintings. These are Catherine Hyde's interpretations of the story and each work is valued and noted separately in the introduction. Hyde works on acrylic on canvas with gold, copper, and silver leaf. The end flap quotes her as saying:

"I read and reread the story many times until I saw it in terms of atmosphere and color. I wanted the mood to change like the seasons as the story progressed, so the paintings run from hot and bright to moody and harsh and finally to warm and sensual."



This beautiful work ought to garner awards left and right. Add it to your collection and enrich storytime with the older siblings of your totz!

The Princess's Blankets
by Carol Ann Duffy
paintings by Catherine Hyde
Templar Books, 2009

~Lorie Ann Grover

Wednesdays Win Winner!

Many thanks to all of you who visited readertotz this month! Congratulations to Julie, the winner of the three books posted in November's Wednesdays Win blogs. Julie (aunteegem), please email joanholubauthor4 (at) aol (dot) com with your snailmail address.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

Photototz: Joan Holub

This so looks like Joan. The very same smile! Reserved but confident. That's my friend, author of over 100 children's books!

Authors and illustrators, send us your pics as totz with your latest book cover. We'll be happy to load them! Parents and grandparents, share photos of your readertotz reading. Send submissions to readertotzatclearwiredotnet

Children's Books as iPhone Apps: The next new thing?

When board books are no longer made of board, will we cease to call them board books?

I just read an interview with author-illustrator Elizabeth O. Dulemba at Greg Pincus's blog, The Happy Accident. She has created an iPhone app of her children's book, Lula's Brew.

Since I had just heard from another author-illustrator, my very talented friend Maryann Cocca-Leffler, with the news that she had created an iPhone app for her book, What A Pest!, I was extra-intrigued. Is the idea of children's books as iPhone apps gathering momentum? The catalog page at the site offering Maryann's book app is PicPocketBooks.

Some scoop from Maryann Cocca-Leffler:

I’m very excited that my book WHAT A PEST! will be reaching and teaching the Iphone generation! Picpocketbooks.com has licensed my book, which I wrote and illustrated. WHAT A PEST! can now be downloaded to an Iphone or Itouch for $2.99. Who would have thought when I entered the children’s book industry over 25 years ago that my books would make their way into the pocket of readers? Sharing books on the Iphone is another way to expose children to books and as an author-illustrator that has always been my goal. Picpocketbooks.com has also added a wonderful audio of the story as well as a word highlighting feature so the child can easily follow along.

WHAT A PEST! is an early reader about two sisters. The older one thinks the younger one is a pest but in the end they realize how important they are to each other. The story itself is loosely based on personal experiences on many levels. I have a younger sister…and I also have two daughters. Growing up, my sister, Diane was a pest! (Now she is my best friend). She was always hanging around with me and my friends and getting in the way. We also sang together and one time she got the chicken pox before a performance. By blending many ideas and watching my own daughters struggle with sisterhood, I came up with the story WHAT A PEST! I hope you enjoy it!

Maryann's newest picture book is Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew. I love it!

Thanks, Maryann! ~ Joan Holub

Totz Fanfare: Bedtime Kiss For Little Fish makes the Parents Magazine Top 20 List!

Congratulations to Lorie Ann Grover and Debra Ziss! The totz are cheering them because their board book, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish, just made the Parents 20 Best Children's Books, 2009 list. Publishers Weekly called this book "Utterly serene from start to finish." Woo hoo!

~ Joan Holub

Little Willow and Joan Holub do WBBT today!

After going to KidLitCon last month in D.C. and meeting so many dedicated children's book bloggers, it has been fun to visit some of their blogs all week in the Winter Blog Blast Tour 2009 (WBBT).

According to Little Willow: For the past two years, Colleen from Chasing Ray has organized series upon series of author interviews. These blog tours, hosted and posted at various blogs, have been dubbed the Summer Blog Blast Tour (SBBT for short) and Winter Blog Blast Tour (aka WBBT). Each event is one week long and involves a multitude of authors, bloggers, and readers.

Little Willow was kind enough to include me in WBBT at her blog at http://slayground.livejournal.com today. Drop by if you're in the neighborhood.

Here's the rest of the impressive lineup for Friday, November 20th:

Friday, November 20th
Lisa Schroeder at Writing & Ruminating
Alan DeNiro at Shaken & Stirred
Joan Holub at Bildungsroman (aka Little Willow's fabulous Slayground blog)
Pam Bachorz at Mother Reader
Sheba Karim at Finding Wonderland
Robin LaFevers at HipWriterMama

Wednesdays Win: Babysitter

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Nursery, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

2009 Winter Blog Blast Tour Schedule begins Monday!

The 2009 WBBT (Winter Blog Blast Tour) begins Monday! For the past two years Colleen Mondor of Chasing Ray has organized week-long blogs in summer (SBBT) and winter (WBBT), which bring some amazing authors and bloggers together. Check out the Master Schedule below for blog appearances Monday through Friday of this week. Colleen will update the master schedule daily with links and author quotes.

Monday, November 16th
Jim Ottaviani at Chasing Ray
Courtney Sheinmel at Bildungsroman
Derek Landy at Finding Wonderland
Mary E. Pearson at Miss Erin
Megan Whalen Turner at HipWriterMama
Frances Hardinge at Fuse Number 8

Tuesday, November 17th
Ann Marie Fleming at Chasing Ray
Laurie Faria Stolarz at Bildungsroman
Patrick Carman at Miss Erin
Jacqueline Kelly at HipWriterMama
Dan Santat at Fuse Number 8
Nova Ren Suma at Shelf Elf

Wednesday, November 18th
Sy Montgomery Pt 1 at Chasing Ray
Jacqui Robbins at Bildungsroman
Sarwat Chadda at Finding Wonderland
Cynthia Leitich Smith at HipWriterMama
Beth Kephart at Shelf Elf

Thursday, November 19th
Sy Montgomery Pt 2 at Chasing Ray
Laini Taylor at Shelf Elf
Jim DiBartolo at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Amanda Marrone at Writing & Ruminating
Thomas Randall at Bildungsroman
Michael Hague at Fuse Number 8

Friday, November 20th
Lisa Schroeder at Writing & Ruminating
Alan DeNiro at Shaken & Stirred
Joan Holub at Bildungsroman
Pam Bachorz at Mother Reader
Sheba Karim at Finding Wonderland
Robin LaFevers at HipWriterMama

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

Poetry Friday: Pippins

Enjoy those Washington apples with your totz!

Pippins

Up in the orchard there is a green tree,
With the finest of pippins you ever did see;
The apples are ripe and ready to fall,
And Richard and Robin shall gather them all.

Watch Big A Little A in case there's a roundup!

Wednesdays Win: Sleepover

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Sleepover, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

Jess Stockham: Nursery

The four books in the image above are part of the First Time series, which chronicles "firsts" in the life of totz. The illustrations are childlike and very cute! The story moves along at a quick pace, almost as if we're listening in on conversations between totz, or overhearing their thoughts as they experience a first day at nursery school. For instance, this is the text at the bottom of a 2-page spread where kids are in the play area:

Oh no! I've spilt it! Watch out!
I like this crown. Can I be a nurse?

This device is a clever way of make readertotz feel part of the school scene as they read and may very well make them more comfy on their first day of nursery school!

Nursery (First Time series)
Illustrator: Jess Stockham
Child's Play

Poetry Friday: Ben Stiller on Sesame Street

Enjoy this song full of rhyme with your totz!

Catch the full roundup soon...

In the Pages Interview with Leslie Patricelli

Lovely interview with Leslie Patricelli at In the Pages! I learned more that I didn't know AND the Monkey Drummer is still in the works. I'm so excited! Woot!

Then check out the adorable Patterson Puppies with your older totz. :~)

~Lorie Ann

Wednesdays Win: Nursery

Happy Wednesday!
Drop a comment for a chance to win Nursery, illustrated by Jess Stockham (Child's Play). Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday. One lucky winner will win the 3 books posted on Wednesdays Win throughout November. We'll announce the winner for the month on November 25th. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won.

Good luck!

(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us within two weeks after they are announced on readertotz as the winner. Not responsible if books are lost in transit by the USPS--we can't replace them. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

Illustrator Love: Jon Klassen

My friend just pointed out Jon Klassen's work to me. Is this not GORGEOUS?

Absolutely inspiring. Check out his website here or his blog here.

He also did preliminary drawings for Coraline. Okay, can someone tell me WHY hasn't Jon been asked to do a picture book yet? Or board book for our totz? Seriously. I searched Amazon and found nothing.

Calling children's book art directors and editors. Sign, Jon!

Quentin Blake's Ten Frogs

As a parent of a tot, how can you not pick up Quentin Blake's Ten Frogs, A first book about numbers? I see the imagery and immediately the BFG is conjured up in my mind with such happiness. :~) Roald Dahl's characters and Quentin's own shift through my thoughts.



Quentin was the head of the illustration department at the Royal College of Art and the first to hold the title Children's Laureate in 1999.

Here is our chance to introduce totz to this iconographic imagery of children's literature. Pavilion Children's has gathered Quentin's images to help teach counting from one to ten. An extra spread of 100 wasps closes the board book which touts a cut out cover.

Smile with your totz over one crow, four cats, and ten frogs. Learn to count with a laureate!

Quentin Blake's Ten Frogs
by Quentin Blake
Pavilion Children's, 2009

Poetry Friday: Twinkle, Twinkle (full text)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye
Till the sun is in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Through I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Star image from Cambridge Educational Toys! Jennie of Biblio File is hosting this week's Poetry Friday.

Scholastic: Hello, Dinosaurs!

A small 6-page sturdy board book wrapped in fabric and backed with a hand puppet that includes 5 dinosaurs, one of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue. For ages 1-2.
I haven't seen anything quite like this before. The book fits in the palm of your hand and is attached to a fabric 'glove' with dino finger puppets on each finger. I think babies and totz will get a kick out of this while getting a painless introduction to colors.
Red dinosaur loves to fly.
Orange dinosaur stretching to the sky.

Hello, Dinosaurs
Scholastic

Poetry Friday: Cobbler, Cobbler

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe,
Give it a stitch and that will do.
Here's a nail, and there's a prod,
And now my shoe is well shod.

Kelly has the Poetry Friday roundup! And get these cute shoes, not in need of a cobbler, at Stardust. :~)

Photototz: Call for entries

Joan and I are launching a segment called: Photototz! We are inviting all authors/illustrators to send a cover of their latest book AND a photo of when they were a tot. We'll stream these onto the blog and collect the entries in the sidebar. It should be fun!

If you'd like to participate, send your images to readertotzatclearwiredotnet Share a little baby smile and celebrate your recent release!

To get things going, here's mine. I'm a tot of 20 months. :~)

And if you are a parent or grandparent of a tot, feel free to send a photo of you reading together to the above address. We'll be happy to share it with our growing community!

Show us those baby faces, readertotz!

Wednesdays Win: Library Lion

Drop a comment here on readertotz for a chance to win Library Lion published by Candlewick Press! Don't forget to check in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday and will announce all the winners for the month on October 21 end of the day. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won. Good luck!
(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us at the email provided on October 21 within 10 days to be eligible. Thanks!)

CONGRATULATIONS JANE MARTIZ OF winningreadings.blogspot.com You won the October Wednesdays Win at readertotz! Please email joanholub at aol dot com with your snailmail address.

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

Little Hoot: Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace

I'm so pleased to see Chronicle has released the "Little" books in board book format! They are sold as a beautiful boxed set, but I think each deserves a separate review. So today, I'm appreciating Little Hoot. I first came across Little Hoot through Bookie Woogie's great review.



Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal ponders the trials of a little owl, so tired, he just wants to go to bed. But of course, his parents make him stay up. How hard is that when all your friends are asleep and all you can think of is sleep, sleep, sleep!

What a fun way to explore the opposite of what is maybe a struggle with your totz: going to bed. Genius!

Jen Corace's delicate, varied ink lines and soft watercolor washes are the perfect compliment to Amy's text. I particularly enjoy the sparseness and wide white spaces.

The font is a wonderful, thin match for both story and art.

Note: the board book cover show Little Hoot in green jammies, while on the picture book cover, he's wearing blue, like the above image. Hm. Why the change? Interesting.

Read this sweet, smart board book with your totz because "they owl lived happily ever after."

Little Hoot
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
illustrated by Jen Corace
Chronicle Books, 2009 (board book)

Poetry Friday: I had a Little Nut-Tree

At our library this week, the parking lot is covered with acorns. This Mother Goose rhyme came to mind. I'm sure your totz will pick up the line, "Couldn't catch me!"

I Had a Little Nut-Tree

I had a little nut-tree, nothing would it bear
But a silver nutmeg and a golden pear;
The king of Spain's daughter came to visit me,
And all because of my little nut-tree.
I skipped over water, I danced over sea.
And all the birds in the air couldn't catch me.

Catch the roundup with Laura Salas!

Older Sibling Pick of the Month: An Amelia Bedelia Celebration

This 214 page hardcover book contains four complete books, a CD of the stories for listening as you read, eight brainteasers and puzzles, two tasty recipes, and four crafts, and is priced at $19.99. Peggy Parish was a third grade teacher when Amelia Bedelia was first published in 1963. She passed away in 1988 and fans still begged for more. Her nephew, Herman Parish, has written 15 more Amelia Bedelia stories.

I was a big fan of Amelia Bedelia as a girl. It was one of the books that made me laugh and made me want to read. I'm glad the books continue.

An Amelia Bedelia Celebration
Authors: Peggy Parish and Herman Parish
Illustrators: Lynn Sweat and Fritz Siebel
Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)

Wednesdays Win: A Little Kitty

Drop a comment for a chance to win A Little Kitty, a board book by Jane Feder and Amy Schwartz. Stop in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday and will announce all the winners for the month on October 21. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won. Good luck!
(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us at the email provided on October 21 within 10 days to be eligible. Thanks!)

~ Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub

Lucy Cousins: Maisy's Toys Los juguetes de Maisy

A first introduction to French for totz 18 months and older.
What's in Maisy's toybox? Turns out there's:
la pelota, ball
los bloques, blocks
and more!
A simple, useful book illustrated in the bold black line and bright colors of Lucy Cousins. Other books in this dual-language series include: Maisy's Animals (Los animales de Maisy), Maisy's Clothes (La ropa de Maisy), and Maisy's Food (Los alimentos de Maisy.)

Maisy's Toys Los juguetes de Maisy
Lucy Cousins, author-illustrator
Candlewick Press

Poetry Friday: Little Robin Redbreast

Little Robin Redbreast
Sat upon a tree,
Up went the Pussy-Cat,
And down went he;
Down came Pussy-Cat,
Away Robin ran,
Says little Robin Redbreast--
Catch me if you can.
Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a spade,
Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and then he was afraid.
Little Robin chirped and sung, and what did pussy say?
Pussy-Cat said Mew, mew mew,--and Robin flew away.

Catch the full Poetry Friday roundup with Anastasia Suen at Picture Book of the Day.

Wednesday's Win: Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book

Halloween's coming! Drop a comment here on readertotz for a chance to win Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap book by Joan Holub, published by Scholastic/Cartwheel Books! Don't forget to check in each week--we'll post a new contest every Wednesday and will announce one winner for all the books this month on October 21. Don’t forget to check back to see if you've won. Good luck!
(Due to mailing costs, USA only. Winners must contact us at the email provided on October 21 within 10 days to be eligible. Thanks!)

THE WINNER OF ALL THE SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAYS WIN BOOKS ON READERTOTZ IS KATIE KING. CONGRATULATIONS, KATIE! PLEASE EMAIL joanholub at aol dot com WITH A SNAILMAIL ADDRESS.

~ Joan Holub and Lorie Ann Grover

Ten Sleepy Sheep: Phyllis Root, Susan Gaber

My pick this week is Ten Sleepy Sheep by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Susan Gaber. What a fun concept to turn the tables and find the sheep not wanting to go to sleep themselves in the countdown.

Phyllis' rhyme has a beautiful, elegant cadence that contributes to the quiet tone of the book.

"Nine sheep race
past the tall green gate.
Wind sighs.
Whippoorwill cries.
Sleep, sleep."

The rich language spills naturally in the reading and will be memorized by parents and totz. Counting down from ten to one is an adventure in the onset of night.

Susan's paintings in acrylic and pastel continue the tone set by Phyllis in their gentle detail. Apart from the first and last spread, each is a painting bordered by white with an accompanying spot illustration. Every spot encapsulates the one sheep drifting off to sleep.


Susan has a wonderful palette that reflects the deepening night while still remaining colorful.

Ten Sleepy Sheep is a beautiful addition to any totz board book collection. Count down to sleep as you read this lovely book before bed.

Ten Sleepy Sheep
by Phyllis Root
illustrated by Susan Gaber
Candlewick, 2009

Poetry Friday: Twenty White Horses

Twenty white horses
Upon a red hill;
Now they tramp,
Now they champ,
Now they stand still.

(A child's teeth.)

This nursery rhyme reminded me of Laurie Keller's work. If you aren't familiar with her books, snatch them right up!

I'm looking for the poetry roundup this week still. Stay tuned! Just found it with Kelly at Crossover!

Totz Fanfare: Shampoodle

Congrats to Joan on this FANTASTIC Kirkus review of Shampoodle! Woohoo! The totz are cheering!

Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2009)

Holub, Joan

SHAMPOODLE

Illus. by Tim Bowers

This Step into Reading title is a crazed, out-of-breath, fly-on-the-wall peek at picture-day morning at the Shampoodle salon for dogs. Four stylists are simply no match for seven rambunctious dogs. Add in the distraction of three cats, and chaos ensues. Snappy rhyming verses lead children through the fiasco to the hysterical hairstyles that are the result (all, oddly enough, look remarkably like the stylists that crafted them): “New hair. Blue hair. / Beads with knots. / Purple hair with polka dots. / Spiked hair. Mohawk. / Striped like skunk. / Glitter critter. / Super funk.” Short sentences, easy vocabulary and a large font fit the Step 2 level. Bowers’s characters all have wonderful personality, especially the pooches. Beginning readers will have to stop laughing at the pictures before they will be able to read the text. Very funny—there may be a short film in this somewhere. (Early reader. 4-7)

Welcome October with The Count!

So perfect to kick off October with your totz! Do the "Batty Bat!"



~Lorie Ann