Wings by Salina Yoon

I'm so happy to feature Wings by Salina Yoon. As the cover notes, it's a book to touch and feel. And it's adorable!

Taking a look at various wings, Salina asks what kind do different birds and insects have. What kind for bumblebees, ducklings, ladybugs, and more.

Each question is answered with a different color as well as a texture insert: shimmery pink butterfly wings, glistening green hummingbird wings.

Salina's illustrations have a thick, varied-width black outline and flat color spaces. Every other spread carries lighter value polka dots in the background. So cute to mimic the ladybug on the cover. She herself has wings which open and close.

Find Wings for your totz. It will be enjoyed! Then check out Salina's Phototoz entry here.

Wings
by Salina Yoon
Little Simon

Poetry Friday: Cobbler, Cobbler

zulily


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.

Grab those sandals and hit the sunshine with your totz this Poetry Friday!

For the Older Sibling: Paris in the Spring with Picasso

I am so happy to recommend Paris in the Spring with Picasso for the older sibling of your totz! Gertrude Stein and her friends were always so compelling to me. How about introducing your children to Paris and Gertrude's friends?

Come along to the Saturday soiree at Gertrude and her brother Leo Stein's home. But before you arrive, spend the day in the city with her fascinating friends, among them: Guillaume Apollinaire, Marie Laurencin, Max Jacob, and Pablo Picasso. Visit each in turn and more as the day progresses, until you are walking past the Notre Dame Cathedral and Circus Medrano as the sun sets. Peek in on Gertrude and her friend Alice B. Toklas as they prepare for the evening. When the guests arrive, the party begins for all.

Joan Yolleck's cheerful conversational tone makes the material completely approachable and fun. She speaks directly to the reader and closes the work by asking what you think the friends will talk about. A nonfiction spread completes the picture book with short biographical notes of the characters.

Marjorie Priceman, Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, is the perfect illustrator for this work. Her loose, free line with transparent layers captures the vitality of both the city and people. She takes freedom to turn the illustration layout when necessary to convey the size and commotion of the street. Her black lines dance among the bold, popping colors. It's obvious she visited Paris in preparation for these paintings. Brava, Schwartz & Wade Books for matching these two artists, Joan and Marjorie.

I heartily recommend this excursion with the older siblings of your totz! Join the soiree!

Paris in the Spring with Picasso
by Joan Yolleck
illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010

Animal I Spy: Kingfisher

A simple, cool idea. Totz can play I spy animals and learn something along the way in this board book:

I spy an animal that lives in a shell.

(Totz are presented with a collage illustration showing a bee, a frog, etc. and a snail.)

I spy an animal with eight legs.

(Totz are presented with a collage illustration showing a centipede, mouse, etc., and a spider.)

The illustrations are not cluttered, which will help young readers succeed in "spying" correctly. The answers are provided via illustrations on the last spread.

Nice sturdy, glossy pages just right for small hands.

Animal I Spy
Kingfisher

Poetry Friday: Jethro Tull's Mother Goose

Ha! How is this for Poetry Friday? A little Jethro Tull singing Mother Goose! I thought the youngest totz would enjoy watching the tadpoles, as well.

Happy Poetry Friday!

Cat the Cat Who is THAT? by Mo Willems

So who has been waiting for Mo's work to reach our youngest readers? Mo for totz? ME! And the day is here!

Balzer & Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing, has published a Cat the Cat series for newborns to age 5. Larger than a traditional board book, the works have extra thick pages and simple, large text.

readertotz can begin to recognize characters, friends of Cat the Cat. While early readers will begin to sound out and sightread repeated phrases. Everyone will enjoy Mo's humor and the encouragement to reach out and make new friends.

You'll recognize Mo's illustrations with a varied black outline and flat color spaces. The palate is subdued a few values but maintains vibrancy.

Enjoy Cat the Cat Who is That? with me. Your totz will love it. Then look for others in the series!

Blarggie, blarggie!

Watch an interview here! "Just because you are very young doesn't mean you don't have a sense of humor."

Cat the Cat Who is THAT?
by Mo Willems
Balzer & Bray, 2010

Poetry Friday: Intery, Mintery

photo from Raising Goslings

Intery, Mintery

Intery, mintery, cutery-corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn;
Wire, brier, limber-lock,
Five geese in a flock;
Sit and sing by a spring,
O-U-T, and in again.

Happy Poetry Friday! Anyone else ever chased by geese? I certainly have been!

~Lorie Ann

It's Vacation Time: Lerryn Korda

A story about the wonderful places imagination and friendship can take you.

Summer is here, and a group of friends are going on vacation. Little Nye is making icepops to take along. Nella is overstuffing her suitcase, so Lester removes things to lighten the load. Out go toys for beach games. Fling away the flippers. No more masks. But the suitcase still won't shut? What's the problem now? Turns out that rubber raft and some imagination is really all they need for their journey. And of course, ice pops.

The bright, attractive, contemporary illustration style is perfect for totz. The pages are not board, but they're sturdier than picture book pages. Totz will enjoy the trip!

It's Vacation Time
author-illustrator: Lerryn Korda
Candlewick
ages 1-3

Poetry Friday: Curly-locks

	Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, And feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream. Illustration by Blanche Fisher Wright Happy Poetry Friday!

Phototoz: Salina Yoon

Give a shout out to Salina Yoon, board book and picture book author/illustrator. Recently, I accurately called her the master of the novelty book. This is her passport photo from when she entered the U.S.A. from Korea. So adorable!

And here's one of her latest board books that we'll be reviewing soon, I'm sure. I can't resist opening and closing those ladybug wings.

Thanks for playing, Salina!

If you are an author or illustrator for children or teens and would like to participate in Photototz, send in your photo and latest book cover to readertotzatclearwiredotnet

Show us your smile!

Star Wars Heroes

Okay, humor me. What parent doesn't want to introduce their totz to Star Wars Heroes? You have to smile, giggle, and open this book!

Each spread photo-illustrates one of the cast from George Lucas' series of films. Characters and their quotes are shiny against beautiful matte galaxy backgrounds. Among the spreads, you'll find these:

"Luke Skywalker is the greatest hero in the galaxy. 'I am a Jedi.'
Yoda is a very old and very wise Jedi Master. 'Help you, I can!'"

There's the surprise inclusion of the youthful Obi-Wan Kenobi and even Anakin. Darth Vater does not make an appearance.

Anyway, I think it's adorable. And you can always prop open Han Solo on your desk for a bit, right? Your totz will fall in love with these characters just as quickly as we did.

"May the force be with you."

Star Wars Heroes
Scholastic
January 2010

More, More, More: Arbor Day Square by Kathryn Galbraith

In honor of Arbor Day today, check out the beautiful book by Kathryn Galbraith, illustrated by Cyd Moore. Poetic language and gentle watercolors are paired together for this book which celebrates trees and the act of planting them.

When Katie settles into her new town on the prairie, all seems to be established, just like back East, but there are no trees.

"There are no trees on the prairie.
No trees for climbing.
Or for shade.
No trees for fruit or warm winter fires.
No trees for birds. Or for beauty."

The townspeople agree to purchase trees, and when the saplings arrive, it takes faith to believe the trees will grow and offer shade in the Square. But they do, even the dogwood in memory of Katie's mother.

Cyd's illustrations set the scene for this picture book of the past. Gentle colors reflect the bright sunshine of the prairie, while spot illustrations accompanying the 1/2 to 2/3 page spreads draw the reader into details which flesh out chosen moments.

Kathryn's text is the spare language of a poet. She closes the work with a conclusion of Arbor Day:

"Celebrating
families,
trees,
and
neighbors.

Year after year.

And the year after that."

Find this book and then plant a tree with your totz!

Arbor Day Square
by Kathryn Galbraith
illustrated by Cyd Moore
Peachtree Publishers, April 1, 2010

Poetry Friday: Me Love Poetry, Cookie Monster

How perfect! Happy Poetry Friday!

Babies Trailer

Oooooh! I can't wait to see this! Take a peek. It's going to be amazing.



See the official trailer here.

Let's Save the Animals: Frances Barry

Let's Save the Animals is skillfully designed so that large lettering tells a story about saving the animals, while brief, in-depth information, which is more appropriate for children slightly older than totz, is included in small type. This makes it easy for you to choose whether the smaller-type content is appropriate to share with your totz. Candlewick states the age as 4-7.

The illustrations are cut-paper images of each animal and simple collage landscapes with cut-outs and reveals. The forms are large and the animals are depicted in a somewhat realistic style that's not cutesy, but has graphic appeal. Unusual partial pages have been bound between full pages. For instance, an elephant's head turns as a half page between spreads that show the entire elephant; a rhino's grassland environment turns as another partial page to work with two rhino spreads.

It begins:

(In large type:)

I wish we could save
all the endangered animals in the world!

I'd save the African elephant,
stomping across the plains
and showering in the lake.

(In smaller type that a parent may or may not choose to share with totz:)
Humans are taking over the land where elephants live. Sometimes elephants are killed for their ivory tusks.

On the inside back cover, there are simple suggestions that empower young children:

I can help protect and save the animals
with these simple actions:

(In big type:)
Let animals sleep, feed,
and play on their own.

(In smaller type)
Disturbing animals in their natural habitats
can do more harm than good.

This is a beautiful book with a poignant, simple, deftly-delivered message.

Let's Save the Animals
A Flip the Flap Book
Ages 4-7

Frances Barry
Candlewick Press

Poetry Friday: Bow, Wow, Wow

Bow, Wow, Wow

Bow, wow, wow,
Whose dog art thou?
Little Tom Tinker's dog,
Bow, wow, wow.

Actually this is a puppy I babysat. :~) Happy Poetry Friday, totz!

April Pick for the Older Sibling: The Solar Car Book

The Solar Car Book
A Complete Build-It-Yourself Kit
Just Add Sun!

This is so incredibly cool. Not only does it contain glossy, sturdy punch-out car parts, a real motor, axles, wheels, and all the parts to build a working model solar car, it also:
1. gives full, understandable instructions on how to assemble this solar car;
2. tells how to get your car to go in circles;
3. tells how to get your car to work indoors;
4. has pages of info about solar power, how cars work, and more science stuff, all written in a brisk, humorous style that appeals;
5. and includes a challenge issued by Klutz to try and beat the records Klutz set in various dashes and marathons when they tested their car.

Below is the back cover, showing the finished car. A friend who's very intrigued by solar cars, built the car and he noted that it must be placed in direct sunlight to work. He had fun putting it together and is now entertaining his family by running it around the driveway and sidewalks.

Once you remove the plastic encased parts on the cover, the spiral-bound book itself remains intact and usable. Well thought out. Kudos to Klutz!























The Solar Car Book
Klutz
by the editors of Klutz, ages 8 and up

Zoo and Toys by Salina Yoon

Salina Yoon could very well be the master of the novelty book. Check out these two she created for Little Scholastic. I, myself, was excited to discover the surprises!

Picture four spreads that introduce colors. Each has an integrated, removable piece with a color and word of a color printed on it. Those in Toys are foil. In Zoo, the colors have a plush texture to match the plush lion on the cover.

After red, yellow, blue, and green are introduced in Toys, the final spread shows all the colors at once, colorful blocks. Orange, gray, brown, and black in Zoo, end with a colorful peacock. Now, take the colored pieces you removed, flip them over and construct a puzzle that duplicates the last spread. So smart!

One to two year old totz, will enjoy Salina's flat shapes that pop with intense color. Two to three year olds can solve the puzzles. These books will be engaging for years. Check them out!

Zoo and Toys
by Salina Yoon
Little Scholastic, 2010

Poetry Friday: Bell Horses

Happy Poetry Friday! I took this photo recently, then found this Mother Goose rhyme, then discovered those cute little horse socks are called Bell Boots. What do you know? :~)

Bell horses, bell horses,
What time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock,
Time to away.

Dot and Dash Meet Their Friends: Emma Dodd

At 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches, this is bigger than your average board book. It has sturdy pages, bright colors, and flaps of varying sizes and shapes to find and lift. Dot is a spotted dog and Dash is a striped cat. The other characters in this particular book in the Dot and Dash series, are cleverly named Big (an elephant), Small (a mouse), and Tall (a giraffe). It begins:

Dot and Dash are ready to play.
"Small!" they call. "Are you ready to play?"

They open a small flap, but no one's home.
On the next spread, they open a 'tall' flap and are greeted by a giraffe.

I like the fact that this book teaches size-relation concepts within a simple story. Totz will be willingly pulled through this simple mystery story, which is perfect for this age. Where, oh where, is Small?

The Dot and Dash page at Scholastic's UK site offers printable coloring pages and a list of Dot and Dash books. Watch for the release of Dot and Dash in the US in May!

Dot and Dash Meet Their Friends, May, 2010
Author-illustrator: Emma Dodd
Scholastic