February Books

While we await the Newbery and Caldecott winners, we still have time to check out other books!

What is a Concept Book?

A concept book is generally a picture book written for young children in which the pages are all about one concept or sometimes one object. Concept books can be told primarily through pictures and many of them have very few words, but they can also be wordy, with the text carrying the burden of the concept. Alphabet books and counting books are all concept books, but concept books are not limited to these two types.

Here are a few of the concept books that have come across my desk in the last few weeks.

 Wet by Carey Sookocheff

A concept book on what it means to be wet. Narrated by a small boy who goes from the pool to the rain to the tub, all experiences where he or some/one/thing around him gets wet. The pictures are simple drawings using a limited palette of colors, light blue, pale green and yellow, all very soothing and well-matched to the text. What are some ways that you get wet? Can you think of all of the ways that Sookocheff has?

Out by Arree Chung

There are only four or five words in this book including, Out! which is used repeatedly with different meanings at different times. While this appears to be a simple book, it is not really that simple or easy to interpret meaning that when working with young children there could be many different interpretations. For example, either the dog of the child is called Jo Jo. Which one is it? An argument could be made either way until near the end when the child calls the dog Jo Jo.  There is quite a bit of mischief that goes on between the pages of this book, but it will take careful reading of the minimal words and illustrations to know what is really going on.

How Many Hugs? By heather Swain, Illustrated by Steven Henry

An unusual counting book, where hugs are counted for various animals, all with numerous legs/arms. The hugs are the number of appendages divided by two, so those who are quick with math problems might be able to figure out how many hugs an octopus or a squid could give.

The Five Forms by Barbara McClintock

A young girl finds a book about the five forms, with strict instructions not to try these forms without an experienced teacher. As most children would do, she does not follow directions, and each form conjures up the real animal, a crane, a leopard, a snake and a dragon soon inhabit her home. But, the final form returns all to normal. A little more story than most concept books, but still a learning experience.

Friendship books 

It's always time to talk about friendship and there are a plethora of books about friendship. These three all contain stories about a dog who is a friend. 

Hello, Goodbye, Dog by Maria Gianferrari, Pictures by Patrice Barton

Zara is a little girl in a wheelchair and Moose is her dog. Moose likes hello, but does not like good-bye. He wants to be in school and likes to listen to someone read a story. In the end, Zara gets Moose certified as a therapy dog and he goes to school to try to encourage children to read. While the main character, Zara, is in a wheelchair, this is not dwelled upon in the text and she is treated like any other child who spends her day at school. The therapy dog is not for her but for those who do not or cannot read.

Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

Astrid, a girl, and Eli, a dog, are best friends and do everything together, except one thing. Eli grows old, and Astrid just grows up. As Astrid becomes seven, she notices that Eli is getting slower and she makes up a bucket list of things they can do together before it is too late and they do all the things. But, the only thing on Eli’s list is being with Astrid. A quirky story about a girl and her dog and the fierce loyalty that ensues.

Dogosaurus Rex by Anna Staniszewski, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

What happens if you go to the pound to get a pet dog and come home with a dinosaur instead? The result is not pretty, a pet who is too big to fit in the front door, who eats all the food in the house and sits on a neighbor’s car when taken for a walk. But, Ben helps Sadie find her place in the world and all is right in the end.