Books May 2014
Dinner with the
Highbrows by Kimberly Willis Holt, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
Holt has written other picture books, but I know her better
for her middle grade chapter books like Dancing
in the Cadillac Light and When
Zachary Beaver Came to Town. In this new picture book, Bernard Worrywart is
invited to dinner at the home of Gilbert Highbrow. Expecting the Highbrows to
live up to their name, Bernard’s mother primes him with table manners for the
week prior to the dinner. Imagine Bernard’s surprise at the informal meal he
partakes with the Highbrows at a classic Italian restaurant. Brooker’s
illustrations do justice to the comical writing, with colorful backgrounds and
superb facial expressions. Great light read for those days when you need a
transition before lunch or closing of the day.
When the Wind Blew
by Allison Jackson, illustrated by Doris Barrette
A cleverly constructed nursery rhyme with a lesson at the
end. Using familiar rhyme patterns along with familiar nursery rhymes, Jackson
lets the wind take us from rock a bye baby through the old woman in a shoe, Jack
be nimble as well as several others. As the wind blows pieces of each nursery
rhyme in and out of the story, the old woman follows trying to put all things
to rights. Eventually she returns home and discovers that the most precious of
all her “things,” her many children, are safe and that’s how she likes it. The
penultimate verse expresses the moral of the story: “The woman and children
returned to their shoe,/but discovered that they’d learned a lesson or
two./From kitten to king, they examined the cost/Of constantly grasping for
things that are lost.” So, no more chasing after the wind and the things that
it blows. Great book for those children who know all the nursery rhymes. Those
who aren’t familiar with these will still laugh at the antics and enjoy the
colorful drawings.
Sophie Sleeps Over
by Marisabina Russo
Sophie is an anthropomorphized bunny whose best bunny friend
is Olive. For Olive’s birthday, she invites Sophie to sleep over and Sophie is
“happy from the tops of her ears to the tips of her toes.” The picture that
accompanies this line shows Sophie in her bright green dress and orange trim,
dancing on one foot, carrying her sleepover pillow case in one hand and the
purple paper wrapped gift in the other. Sophie’s face has the sublime smile of
a child who knows she is in for a good time. Of course, there are a few
predictable bumps in the road. But, all turns out well. Such a sweet story and
the illustrations are inspirational. I love Sophie!
Tea with Grandpa
by Barney Saltzberg
A little girl with beautiful curls celebrates tea with her
grandpa. Told in short verse, with a few large-font words on each page, the
reader is not aware that grandpa and his little sweetie are celebrating virtual
tea via computer screens. A story for today when so many grandparents live far
from the grandchildren. This one will be sent to Rayne, our own sweetie in
California! She can read it to us at our next tea party!
What’s Your Favorite
Animal by Eric Carle and Friends
Several well-known children’s authors and illustrators have
answered this question, resulting in a picture book of multiple styles that
includes animals for all tastes. Chris Raschka loves the snail, Nick Bruel does
not choose the Kitty, which gets him in predictable trouble, and Lane Smith
chooses a pachyderm, one with large tusks and a great smile. If you are helping
children to recognize different illustrative styles and author voice, this
would be a useful book. Otherwise, I would leave it on the shelf. Of course,
the kids might say differently!
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