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PictureBooksforChildrenFiction,Folktales,andPoetry

MaryNorthrup

AMERICANLIBRARYASSOCIATION

CHICAGO|2012

MARYNORTHRUPisthereferencelibrarianatMetropolitanCommunityCollege–MapleWoods, Kansas City, Missouri. She has written for children, teachers,librarians, and writers. Her publication credits include several chapters inWriting and Publishing: The Librarians’ Handbook (American LibraryAssociation,2010)andthebooksShortonTime,LongonLearning(Linworth,2000) andAmerican Computer Pioneers (Enslow, 1998). She has written forWriter’s Institute Publications, including four editions of Writer’s Guide toCurrentChildren’sBooks,andisafrequentcontributortoitsannualChildren’sWriter Guide. She reviews for LMC: Library Media Connection and EMRO:EducationalMediaReviewsOnline.Her articleshave appeared inBookLinks,Children’sWriter,andotherpublications.Northrupearnedhermaster’sdegreeinlibraryscienceattheUniversityofWisconsin–Milwaukee.Herundergraduatedegree is in elementary education. She serves on the board of the MissouriCenterfortheBook.

©2012bytheAmericanLibraryAssociation.Anyclaimofcopyrightissubjecttoapplicablelimitationsandexceptions,suchasrightsoffairuseandlibrarycopyingpursuanttoSections107and108oftheU.S.CopyrightAct.Nocopyrightisclaimedforcontentinthepublicdomain,suchasworksoftheU.S.government.

Extensiveefforthasgoneintoensuringthereliabilityoftheinformationinthisbook;however,thepublishermakesnowarranty,expressorimplied,withrespecttothematerialcontainedherein.

ISBNs:978-0-8389-1144-0(paper);978-0-8389-9439-9(PDF);978-0-8389-9460-3(ePub);978-0-8389-9461-0(Kindle).Formoreinformationondigitalformats,visittheALAStoreatalastore.ala.organdselecteEditions.

LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA

Northrup,Mary.Picturebooksforchildren:fiction,folktales,andpoetry/MaryNorthrup.

—Fifthedition.p.cmRevisededitionof:Picturebooksforchildren/PatriciaJ.Cianciolo.

Fourthedition.1997.Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.ISBN978-0-8389-1144-0(alk.paper)1.Picturebooksforchildren—Bibliography.2.Illustratedchildren’sbooks—Bibliography.3.Children—Booksandreading—

UnitedStates.I.Cianciolo,PatriciaJ.Picturebooksforchildren.II.Title.Z1037.C5652012011.62—dc23

2011044734

Coverimage©xgw1028/Shutterstock,Inc.

ToMomandDad,whoencouragedmyloveofreadingandlearning

ContentsPreface

1:ThePictureBook:WhereWordsandArtComeTogether

2:MyFamilyandMyself

3:InMyCommunity

4:OutintheWorld

5:TheWorldofImagination

6:FolktalesandFairyTales

SuggestedResources:ForFurtherResearchintoPictureBooks

Appendix1:PictureBooksaboutArt

Appendix2:Self-ReferentialPictureBooks

IllustrationCredits

Index

PrefaceThe purpose of this book is to present some of the best of children’s picturebooksforuseintheclassroom,library,orhome.Whatanenjoyableexperienceit was to select, reading or rereading many picture books, experiencing thebeautyofthewordsandtheart.The scope of the book includes fiction, poetry, and folktales/fairy tales.

Nonfiction or informational picture books are not included, althoughfictionalizedversionsofhistoricaleventsandlivesare.Iftherewasanydoubt,Ichecked theCataloging-in-Publication data and noted theLibrary ofCongresssubjectheadingstoensurethat“JuvenileFiction”wasthesubheading.Thebooksareintendedforfour-toeight-year-olds,althoughsomeindicatea

youngerorolderage.Agedesignations,likereadinglevels,areguidelinesonly.Yourchildorclassmayenjoycertainofthebooksatagethree,orten,orolder.The selected bookswere in print as of thewriting and span the years from

2000to2011,withthemajoritypublishedinthelastfiveyears.Thebooksarehardcover,unlessspecifiedasavailableonlyinpaperbackorlibrarybinding.The audience for this book includesK–3 teachers, librarians in schools and

public libraries, preservice teachers and librarians taking children’s literaturecourses, day care center teachers, parents and grandparents, homeschoolingparents,othercaregivers,andwritersandaspiringwriterswhoareinterestedinpicturebooks.Ihopethatthoseinthisaudiencewillfindtheannotationshelpfulinselectingqualitybooksforprogramming,classroomuse,one-on-onesharing,andinspirationforbooksofthefuture.IselectedbooksfromtheverymanyIreadtoshowthewidevarietyofstyles

inartandinstory,tofeatureabroadrangeofauthorsandillustrators,toportrayworldwidediversity, toprovideabalanceof femaleandmalemaincharacters,and to show themany subjects in picture bookswritten to engage children. Iincludedsomeof thebooks thathavewonawards that recognizeexcellence inpicture books, including the Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King BookAward,theSchneiderFamilyBookAward,thePuraBelpréAward,theBostonGlobe–Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, the Charlotte ZolotowAward, the Golden Kite Award, the Sydney Taylor Book Award, and theAméricas Book Award. Books published in Canada are included, as well asbookswritten for children in foreign countries—Japan, France,Germany, andothers—beforeappearingintheUnitedStates.

Severalalphabetbooksfallwithinthescopeofthisbook.Aclassicsubgenreofpicturebooks, thebestonesareclever,beautiful, surprising,orallof these.Some, such as Gennady Spirin’s A Apple Pie, are classic. Others, like YuyiMorales’sJustinCase,featureanalphabetwithinthestory.I includedpoetry,althoughit isnotstrictlydefinedasfiction.Severalof the

booksthatfeaturepoems,suchasOh,Brother!byNikkiGrimes,couldalsobeconsidered fiction because they tell a storywith a beginning,middle, and endand develop their characters. Quality picture books classified as poetry will,besides offering a pleasurable listening experience, aid in the appreciation oflanguagewhichhelpsthechilddevelopingreadingandwritingskills.Folktales, fairy tales, and other stories based on the oral traditions or

traditional literature of countries are a natural for picture books. This bookcontains one chapter devoted to these. I included a variety of types of tales,includingtalesfromothercountriesandcultures.It ismy hope that the readers of this bookwill findmany titles to read to

childrenandtoselectfor,orborrowfrom,thelibrary.Teachersandlibrarians,ofcourse, know the value of libraries and the importance of support for publiclibrariesandschoollibraries.Aspiringwritersmustreadtolearntheircraftandsoareusuallybiglibrarysupporters.Parentsandcaregiversintheknowrealizewhatatreasuretheirlibrariesare.MightIalsoincludeapleatosupportyourindependentbookstorewhenyou

purchasebooksforyourownpersonallibrary?Theselocalbusinessesmakeourcities unique and culturally vibrant. And if your city is home to a children’sbookstore,somuchthebetter!HereinKansasCity,Missouri,wearefortunatetohavetheReadingReptile,atreasurefortheregion.A hearty thank-you goes to the Mid-Continent Public Library, whose

employeesatmylocalbranchandthroughoutthesystemhelpedwithaconstantstreamofinterlibraryloanbooks.Icouldnothavewrittenthisbookwithoutyou.Thankyou,too,tothelibrariansandteacherswhotalkedtomeaboutbooks.It

is always a pleasure to discuss picture books with professionals and to tradesuggestionsoffavorites.Iwould like to thankmyeditoratALAEditions,StephanieZvirin.She isa

joytoworkwithandisunfailinglyupbeatandencouraging,nomatterhowmanyquestions I ask. I must also thank Patricia J. Cianciolo, the author of fourprevious editions of Picture Books for Children published by the AmericanLibrary Association, who paved the way for this book. Her books were aguidepost andan inspiration tome.And finally,mydeepappreciationgoes to

CrockettJohnson,authorofHaroldandthePurpleCrayon,andMajLindman,author of the Flicka, Ricka, Dicka books. These aremy earliest memories ofpicture books, and amongmy favorite books as a child. From these andotherbooksinthechildren’ssectionofthepubliclibraryIlearnedtolovebooksandreading,schoolandlearning,and,eventually,teachingandwriting.Likeallgoodpicturebooks,theirworkliveson.

1

ThePictureBookWhereWordsandArtComeTogether

Openabookandenteranewworld.Openapicturebookandenter thatworldmagnified,throughwordsandillustrations.Thetextandartinthepicturebookintertwine so completely that, in the best,we cannot imagine onewithout theother.Thinkofthebooksthatyourememberfromyourchildhood.Perhapsaclassic,

suchasMakeWayforDucklingsorTheLittleEnginethatCould,oracharacter,such as Frances,MikeMulligan,CuriousGeorge, orMadeline. Being read toandvisitingalibrary,thrilledbytheprospectoffindingshelvesfullofchoices,maybecherishedmemories.Itisthesemomentsthatwe,aslibrarians,teachers,andparents,wishfor thechildren towhomwereadandforwhomweprovidebooks.Picture books encompass all subjects, fiction or nonfiction.Not just for the

prereading crowd, they entertain and entrance the youngest children to adults.Theirreachisfar,andtheirpowertoinspireiswide.Inthischapterweexaminethepicturebook,itselementsandstructure,itsusesanditsfuture.

WhatIsaPictureBook?

Witha smallnumberofpages, andnot toomanywordsoneachpage,picturebooks appear to be the easiest children’s books—to read, towrite, to analyze.Butthisperceivedsimplicitybeliesacomplexartform.Asinapoem,agenretowhichthepicturebookhasbeencompared,eachwordmustcount.Thestructureis rigid.Most important, the words and illustrations must work together: onesupportsandbuildsontheother,andeventransformsit.Theauthorofapicturebookwritesthetextalwaysmindfulofhowthosewordswillbeillustrated.Theillustratorcreatesthearttointegratecompletelywiththetext.Apicturebookusuallycontainsthirty-twopagesbutcanbelongerorshorter,

always in increments of eight pages.This standard cameabout becauseof theway pages are printed and bound. Of these thirty-two pages, twenty-eight ortwenty-ninemakeupthestory.Theothersincludethetitlepage,copyrightpage,andsometimesadedicationpageoradoublepageforthetitle.Usually,then,the

book contains fourteendouble pages.Eachpage or two-page spreadholds thewordsandillustrationsthatcreateonesceneofthestory.Thepagebreakssupplyanatural pause at the endof thewordson that page.Page turns reveal a newsceneofpictureandtext,andthestorycontinues.The number of words in a picture book is fewer than 1,000, and often

considerablyunder that.Books thatcontainmuch longer text in relation to theillustrationsareconsideredillustratedbooksratherthanpicturebooks.Inthese,one scene is portrayed on a page spread, out of several described in theaccompanyingtext.Inthepicturebook,placementofthetextandillustrationsinrelationtoeach

other influences the pacing andmood of the story.Variations range from textand art separated, either on different pages or in a box or border on the samepage, to both integrated on the same page, either as blocks of textwithin theillustrationor innonstandard form such as swirls or lines. In some, thewordsevenbecomepartoftheillustrationbecauseoftheirformandshape.Howtheillustrationsandthetextworkwitheachother—thatistheessenceof

thepicturebook.Insomecases,theillustrationsportraywhatthetextindicates.In others, the illustrations provide more details that enrich the story. And insomeinstances,theillustrationsandtextcontradicteachother.MarlaFrazee’sACoupleofBoysHave theBestWeekEver takes thisdelightful contradiction tohumorousheights.Ononepage,thetextstatesthatacharacterarrived“withjustacoupleofhisbelongings,”whiletheillustrationshowsatleastfiveboxes,threebags,andabasket,alloverflowingwithitems.Therestofthebookoffersmoreofthesame,tohilariouseffect.Aside from the occasional picture book with purposeful contradiction, the

text-art interaction should pass scanning for accuracy. Zena Sutherland inChildren and Books states that children are strictly literal about the picturesagreeingwith thewords. They understand different styles and techniques, butwillnotbesounderstandingifthecolorstatedinthetextisnotreflectedintheillustration,oriftheactiondescribedinthewordsappearsonadifferentpageintheillustrations.1

Somepicturebooksdonotconsistofintactsquareorrectangularpages.LoisEhlert’s Leaf Man contains pages cut into short spikes or curves on the top,lendingapleasingfeelaspagesareliftedandturned.LittleMouse’sBigBookofFearsbyEmilyGravettfeaturesbitemarks,tornedges,andfoldouts.Because many picture book illustrations spread over two pages, how the

“gutter” (where the two pages come together in the boundmiddle) is handled

affectstheillustration.Theartworkshouldnotshowunevenmatchingalongthisline.In addition towhat is happening inside the book, the size and shape of the

physical volume is also important. Whether a book is large, small, square,rectangular,horizontal,orvertical,itsphysicalformatwasaconsidereddecisionmadebythedesignersinrelationtothesubjectofthebook.Whilepicturebooks relyon the integrationof text andart,wordlesspicture

booksconsistof intriguing illustrations thatencourage theyoung reader to tellthestoryinhisorherwords.BookssuchasJerryPinkney’sTheLion&theMouseandBarbaraLehman’s

Museum Trip contain no words. The stories are told entirely through theillustrations. Wordless books offer interesting opportunities for storytellinginteraction between the parent, teacher, or other adult reader and the child orchildrensharingthebook.Whetheraparentisreadingtoachildalone,orateacherorlibrarianisreading

toagroupofchildren,theadulthaspurchasedorselectedthebook.Evenifthechild has picked it out from others on the bookshelf, the adult is usually thereasonforthatbookbeingontheshelftobeselected.Teachersandlibrariansinschool librariesormediacenters read reviewsandselectbooks that they thinkthe childrenwill enjoy, but they also consider the curriculum andwhat bookscanbeusedtoteachorsupplementareasorconceptswithinit.By age four, when they would be ready for the titles in this book, most

childrenknowthebasicsofprintbooks:thattheyhaveafrontandaback,andthat a story is inside. Children who have not been read to will need moreintensiveinstructioninthepartsofabookinordertoensureliteracyandreadingsuccess.Agoodschoollibraryormediacenterprogramwillbuilduponthiswithallchildrentocovermoresophisticatedconceptsconcerningbooks.The child, then, is ready to hear the story—often many times—and to

recognizehowitisread.Afterseveralreadings,thechildwillbeableto,withorwithout prompting, finish a sentence or chant a repetitive phrase. Askingquestions,theadultreaderencouragesthechildtouseobservation,sequencing,andspeculation.Thesizeandenergylevelofthegroupdictatethetimingofthisdiscussion,eitherduringthestoryorattheend.In all cases where picture books are used in instructional activities, adults

mustnot losesightof the fact thatencouragingchildren toenjoy reading isofprime importance.Reading quality literature because it is an enjoyable leisureactivity—thatiswhatchildrenshouldtakeawayfrominstruction.

Manyresourcesexisttohelpintegratepicturebooksintothecurriculumoftheelementarygrades.Somearementionedinthesuggestedresourcessectionattheendof this book.Professional publications for teachers and librarians, such asBookLinks, alsocarryarticlesonmakingpicturebooksan integralpartof thecurriculum.Whilenotwithinthescopeofthisbook,picturebooksfortheolderchildexist

andflourish.Youngpeopledonotoutgrowpicturebooksevenastheymoveonto chapter books; in fact, some picture books are appropriate only for olderreaders.Those for theyoung, includingmany includedhere, canbeusedwitholderchildren,especiallyinartandlanguageartsclasses.

TrendsinPictureBooks

Ever-PopularSubjects

Penguins and pirates and pink, oh my! And don’t forget the chickens. Thesesubjectsabound in recentpicturebooks.Evenbefore thepopulardocumentaryMarchofthePenguins(2005),thesebirdshavegracedeverythingfrompajamasandplushanimalstoumbrellasandjewelry.Whynotchildren’sbooks?SergioSaves the Game! by Edel Rodriguez is just one of many, featuring a soccer-lovingpenguin.With thepopularityof thePiratesof theCaribbeanmovies and themepark,

andthenaturalattractiontobad-boybehavior,piratesaresailinghigh.Manyofthe current books feature comical pirates who take the scary edge off thesebuccaneers.BookssuchasColinMcNaughton’sCaptainAbdul’sLittleTreasurehighlightthebumblingpirate.Typepinkasakeywordinanonlinelibrarycatalogandseehowmanypicture

books show up. Pink is big in clothing, bedspreads, backpacks, barrettes, andanythingelsemarketedtolittlegirls.Whetherviewedasjustgivingthemwhatthey want or as a product of the corporate merchandising machine, pink hasmade itsway intopicturebooks.PinkMeUpbyChariseMericleHarper starsViolet,whoadores thecolor.Feeling theneed torebelagainstall thingspink?Not All Princesses Dress in Pink, by mother-daughter team Jane Yolen andHeidiE.Y. Stemple, acknowledges the longing to be a princesswithout all of“thatcolor.”Barnyardanimalscontinuetheirpopularity.Cows,chickens,andpigsappear

inmanybooks,oftenanthropomorphized.ClickClackMoo:CowsthatTypebyDoreen Cronin features cows that write letters and protest barn conditions.Pecking, laying eggs, and watching over chicks should be a full-time job formostchickens,butthoseinsomerecentpicturebookshavetakentomovingoutofthehenhouse(CoriandertheContraryHenbyDoriChaconas),travelingonaquest (Buffalo Wings by Aaron Reynolds), and passing along the latest news(MeganMcDonald’sHenHearsGossip).Avery realistic pig stars inHowardMansfield’s Hogwood Steps Out, where he stays true to his nature. As oursocietymovesfurtherawayfromitssourcesoffoodandmanychildrenhavenoidea what a working farm is like, it is good that barnyard animals remain soprevalentinchildren’sbooks.The environment and people making a difference inspire picture book

creators. Books about gardening, reflecting its popularity in the adult world,adorn children’s shelves. In PeterBrown’sTheCuriousGarden, a young boyquietly sparks a revolution in his citywith his concern for some plants in hisneighborhood.Andevengarbage,orthedisposalofit,makesanappearanceinbookssuchasJonahWinter’sHereComestheGarbageBarge!

PictureBooksaboutArtandBooks

Nodoubt reflecting theirownpassionate feelingsaboutart andbooks, authorsand illustrators have created numerous picture books about these subjects.Appropriatelyenough,sincethepicturebookrepresentsthemarriageoftextandillustration, these books encourage the development of aesthetics and anappreciationofartandliteratureintheyoungchild.CreativityviaartisticexpressioncomesthroughasthethemeinTheUmbrella

QueenbyShirinYimBridges.Othersbooksintroducetheyoungchildtoworksof art through plot twists, illustration, or magical enter-the-picture adventure.MélanieWatt’sAugustine includesartist-inspired illustrations,whichprovideabridgetoartappreciationandtherecognitionoffamousworksofart.Appendix1,“PictureBooksaboutArt,” listsbooks thatwillenhance thedevelopmentofartistic sensibilities in children.As art education faces budget cuts if not totaleradication in some school districts, books about art become more importantthanever.So, too, are the stories that encourage reading and the love of books. In

HeatherHenson’sThatBookWoman,Caldevelops fromregardingbooksasawaste of time to eagerly awaiting the next visit of the Pack Horse Librarian.

Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden ties the passion forreadingintoastoryofayoungboy’sdecisiontostandupforhisrighttocheckoutlibrarybooksinthe1950sSouth.Some books break through the book-reader divide by leaving the story and

addressing the reader. By having characters call attention to themselves ascharacters and to the book as that which contains them, this device creates apostmodern picture book. In Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, author DeborahHopkinson speaks directly to the listening audience in several places,figuratively stepping from behind the book to connect with her readers.IllustratorJohnHendrixincludesillustrationsofahandwithabrushandwithapencil,asifthestoryisbeingillustratedwhileread.Inthesetypesofbooks,astorymaybeinterruptedbyacharacterornarrator

giving instructions to the reader, as inDon’t Read this Book! by Jill Lewis,whereeventhetitlegivesaclueastothetone.Inothers,theentirebookconsistsofacharacterorcharacterstalkingtothereader;inJefCzekaj’sCatSecrets,thewall between reader and story does not exist, with the cat characters lookingdirectlyat,andspeakingto,thereader.MélanieWatt’sChesterandChester’sMasterpiecefeatureaplotinwhichthe

title character haswrested control of the story from the author/illustrator, andtheirstruggleisplayedoutinthepagesofthesehumorousbooks.In a classic example, the award-winningTheThreePigs byDavidWiesner

combines dialogue of the characters with surreal illustrations that take thecharacters out of the ongoing story to form a new story removed from thetraditionaltale.Withpagesfromtheoriginalstorythatflyacrossthebookintoanewsetting,thisbookisavehicleforapostmodernThreeLittlePigs.Because thesebookscover avarietyof topics anddonot easily fit intoany

particular chapters, an annotated list of some recent titles is presented inappendix2,“Self-ReferentialPictureBooks.”

CartoonArt

Asgraphicnovelsgaininpopularityamongbothadultsandteens,theirartisticstyles and conventions have filtered into picture books. Panels—one of thehallmarks of comics and the graphic novel—are used by the artist to portrayactions happening in a sequence. Picture and text integrate tightly in both thegraphicnovelandthepicturebook.Currently,thenumberofpicturebooksforyoungchildrenthatcanbecalled

graphicnovelsisrathersmall.AcompanytowatchisTOONBooksandLittleLitLibrary,underthedirectionofFrançoiseMoulyandArtSpiegelman(authorof Maus, the graphic novel for adults), which publishes graphic novels forvariousagelevels,includingtheveryyoung.IndependentpublisherBlueAppleBooks offers graphic novels in its Balloon Toons series. Some mainstreampublishers, too, have entered this genre, including Candlewick, which haspartneredwithTOONBooks.Someartistsuseelementsofthegraphicnovelintheirpicturebooks.InOtis

and Rae and the Grumbling Splunk, Leo Espinosa uses such graphic novelconventions as word and thought balloons, emotion lines, words as parts ofillustrations, andpanels.Takinga turnaway from thehumorouscartoonstyle,illustratorPatrickO’Briencreates richlyexpressiveworldsonaparwithadultgraphicnovelsinKevinO’Malley’sspacefantasyCaptainRaptorandtheMoonMystery.Whethercalledcartoons,comicbooks,orgraphicnovels,thisstyleinfluences

children’sbookillustrationandbearswatching.

EvaluatingPictureBooks

Text

Inevaluatingapicturebook,onehas toconsider the text, the illustrations,andtheinteractionbetweenthem.Whichismoreimportant:thetextortheart?Thisis not the question; bothmust work together seamlessly. Because of personalpreference, a reader may favor the language over the artwork in a particularbook, or vice versa. But critical analysis requires examination of all threefactors, whether the objective is to analyze a book for a children’s literaturecourse,toevaluateabookforclassroomuse,ortoconsiderabookforstorytimeinthelibrary.Reading the text first silentlyand thenaloudallowsone toevaluate the text

and to develop a feel for the sound of the book, including language, pacing,rhyme(ifitexists),rhythm,anddialogue(ifitispartofthestory).Animportantpoint toconsider:will thisbookholduptorepeatedreadingsaloud?Thestorymustbeengaging,appealingtoadultsaswellaschildren.Certain subjects will probably always pop up as good material for picture

books: a new baby in the house, begging for a pet, school stories, making a

friend,theseasonsoftheyear,barnyardanimals.Some books highlight a real person or event,written in a fictionalmanner,

with imagined scenes or characters. For instance, in The Little Piano Girl,authors Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald introduce the childhood ofcomposerMary LouWilliams as a fictionalized story and even give a lyricalswing to the text.AntoineÓFlatharta’sHurryand theMonarch,a lookat thelifecycleofabutterfly,suppliesanimalcharacterswithpersonalityanddialogueand,withinthatfiction,presentsbiologicalfacts.Other books feature common experiences, with an author’s interpretation.

GillianShieldsgivesatwisttothestandardsituationofachildwhodesperatelywantsadoginDogfish. Justas in the title, thestorycombines twoanimalsbyimagininghowalittleboy’sgoldfish(hismother’sideaofaperfectpet)canactmore likeadog.Anothercommonchildhoodproblem,amessy roomand toysthatspilloutintothehouse,becomesfreshthroughexaggerationandzaninessinDavidShannon’sTooManyToys.Still other books present total fantasy. No child owns a whale in the real

world, but a boy does in Mac Barnett’s Billy Twitters and His Blue WhaleProblem.EverypagebringsanewdilemmaasBillyattemptstofitinatschoolandatplaywhiledraggingalongthelargestanimalonearth.Inadreamyvein,TheWeaverbyThacherHurdtakesplaceaboveearth,wherethetitlecharacterweaves theclothwithwhichshedancesovermany lands toprotect thosewhoaregoingtosleep.Likechapterbooks,novels,andplays,thepicturebookmusthookthereader

withitsfirstsentence.Itcanbefunny,incongruous,magical,ormysterious,butitmust invite the reader and listener to go on.How the story continues—fastpaced,fullofaction,suspenseful,dreamy—shouldbeappropriatetotheplotandtheme.Thenitisontoimportantelementswithinthestory.Evaluatethembyasking

thequestionsandconsideringtheaspectsofthefollowingareas:

Characters

Who is themain character? Is theremore thanone?What are the rolesof thesecondary characters? What informs the characters’ actions and makes themunique? How are the characters portrayed? They may be human, animal, orinanimateobject.Ifanimal,theymayactashumans,asinNicoleRubel’sHamandPickles:FirstDayofSchool.Fromthetextalone,thisbookcouldbeabout

humanchildren,buttheillustrationsfeatureananimalgirl,boy,andclassmates.Or the animal characters may act true to their animal nature. InGrandfatherBuffalo, the animals behave as buffalo would, although author Jim Arnoskyallowsthereadertoexperiencetheoldbuffalo’spointofview.InKateMcMullan’sIStink!,atrucktakesonhumancharacteristics,suchas

speechandthought.Nonmovingobjectsmayalsobeanthropomorphized,as inVirginiaLeeBurton’s1942classicTheLittleHouse.Inthesamevein,thetextandillustrationsofTheHouseTakesaVacationbyJacquelineDaviesportrayahousewithhumancharacteristics.Do the characters in the book reflect a worldwide view? Differences in

ethnicity,socioeconomicstatus,age,andgendermakeforaricher,morerealisticstory.Somebooksnaturallyincludethesefactorsaspartofthestory.Examplesinclude Lenore Look’s Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, wheremarriage traditionsbecomean integralpartofapersonal story;EllenLevine’sHenry’s Freedom Box and its portrayal of an African American slave wholiterally sends himself to freedom; and Reeve Lindbergh’s My LittleGrandmother Often Forgets with its three generations of a family. Othersportrayethnicitythroughtheartwork,evenifitisnotintrinsictothestory.TwoofaKindbyJacquiRobbinsstarsAfricanAmericanandAsiangirlsasthemaincharacters, although this diversity is not the point of the plot. Even a simpleillustration of a classroom with African American, Hispanic, Asian, NativeAmerican,andotherchildrenhelpsavoidthewhitewashthatwasoncethenorminpicturebooks.In evaluating picture books, look for these diverse types of portrayals. In

addition, books in which characters are immigrants or those that featurecharacters in foreign countries can broaden children’s perspectives. Booksshould either mirror a child’s experience (and all children should find booksaboutthemselves)orwidenthechild’sview.Thelatterobjectivetakesonevenmoreimportanceifthechildlivesinahomogeneousneighborhoodandgoestoschoolwithchildrenwholooklikehimorher.

PointofView/Tone/Voice

Is the story told from a character’s point of view? Or is there an omniscientnarrator?What is themood of the story?What emotions are invoked? Is thestorytoldinfirst,second,orthirdperson,withfirstandthirdbeingthetwomostpopular?

Setting

Whatisthetime(contemporary,historical,orfuture)?Whatistheplace(farm,city, apartment, outdoors, foreign country, etc.)?Are they indispensable to thestory?

Plot

Whathappensinthestory?Whatistheproblemtobesolvedortheobstacletobeovercome?Whatistheoutcome?Theplotusuallyistracedasanarc,wheretheactionbuilds,reachesahighpoint,andthentapersofftoanending.

Theme

Is thereadeepermeaning to thestory (forexample, friendship, thesecurityofhome,love)?Thisdoesnotmeanthatthestoryshouldbedidacticorcontainanobviouslesson,butthatitreachesbeyondsimpleplot.

UseofLanguage

Are unfamiliarwords used that childrenwill be able to understandwithin thecontext of the story? Picture books often use vocabulary above the child’sreadinglevelbecausethebooksaremeanttobereadaloudtothechild.Evenifthe child is reading early readers or easy chapter books, the language in thepicture book encourages the development of a larger vocabulary. This growthcanbeenhancediftheparentorteachercallsattentiontoanunfamiliarwordanddiscussesitwiththechild.Isrhymingused?Severalcategoriesofpicturebooksincorporaterhymeorthe

meter of poetry. Some picture books for children consist of a collection ofpoems, usually about a single theme. For representative titles, see JackPrelutsky’sThere’sNoPlaceLikeSchoolorIntheWildbyDavidElliott.Somebooks that successfully use rhyming text include Little Black Crow by ChrisRaschka,AliceSchertle’sLittleBlueTruck, andCome to theFairies’Ball byJane Yolen. For books that do not use rhyming text but incorporate rhythm,pacing,orinternalrhyme,seeLaurenStringer’sWinterIstheWarmestSeason,JonahWinter’sSteelTown,andMargaretMahy’sBubbleTrouble.Lookcloselyat,andreadaloud,booksthatseemtobenonrhymingorstraightprose.Thebest

oftheseuselanguageandrhythmtocreatetextthatbegstobereadoutloud.Are thereelementsof repetition? InMichael IanBlack’sAPigParade Isa

TerribleIdea,thetitlelinerepeatsseveraltimesthroughoutthestory,aftereachexampleofwhyapigparadeisnotgood.DoreenCronin’sClick,Clack,Moo:CowsthatTypefeaturestherepetitivesoundsoftypingandmooingthatFarmerBrownhearsfromhisbarn,enoughtimesthatyoungreaderscouldbepromptedtochimeinonthewords.Sometimestheauthor’swordsemphasizetherepetitiveaction.Eachinstance

builds the tension until success is met. In David Ezra Stein’s InterruptingChicken,thelittlechickenstopsherdad’stellingofthreefairytalesassheenterseach story to inform the characters what to do. The bulk of the book NineAnimals and the Well by James Rumford portrays one animal after anothershowing his or her gift for the raja-king to the animal that came before. Therepetitioncombinesacomfortablesenseofknowingwhatcomesnextwith thedelicioussuspenseofwonderingwhatthenextanimal’sgiftwillbe.Even in stories that do not employ repetition, the sequencing of events

providesthedramatictensioninthestory,aseacheventorcomplicationmovesthe story along from the introduction of the situation on the first page. Inevaluatingthebook,notehowthissequencingworksasthestoryprogresses.

Illustrations

Evaluating a picture book’s artwork begins at the cover. After all, the coveroffersamajorsellingpointifdisplayedwiththatsideup,eitherinabookstoreorlibrary.Thecoverillustrationmayreproduceoneofthepagesinside,oritmayillustrateauniqueviewofacharacterorscene;eitherway,thecoverinvitesthereaderin.InAllenSay’sTheBoyintheGarden,afull-pageillustrationinsidethebook

appearsonthecovercropped,butwiththecentralcharactersthesamesizeastheinside illustration. Similarly, a cropped picture from inside becomes the backcoverillustration.Illustrated byG.BrianKaras, the front cover ofCandace Fleming’sClever

JackTakestheCakefeaturesJackcarryingacake,headingoutoftheframeofthe illustration followedbyblackbirds fromthestory.On thebackcover,onlyJack’slegisvisibleasheexitstheframe;blackbirdsfollowinghimliehalfoutof the frame, too.Thesepicturesdonot appear inside thebook, although theysuggestamajorplotpointofthestory.

ThecoverartofTheSilkPrincessbyCharlesSantoreprovidesanexampleofawraparoundillustration,withthemotheranddaughterofthestorylargeonthefrontcover.Othercharactersandobjects trailbehind thegirl, flowingover thespineandontothebackcover,wherestrandsofsilkthreadstretchallthewaytotheedge.Anevaluationof the interior illustrationsbeginswithasilentperusal,as the

reader views the artwork with each page turn. Going through the book againwithout reading the text, but just concentrating on the pictures, allows closerexamination.

Color

Inmanybooks, the first noticeablevisual impact is thatof color.Theartworkmay be multicolored, such as that of Wendy Anderson Halperin in Alice B.McGinty’sThankYou,WorldandthatofYuyiMoralesinTonyJohnston’sMyAbuelita.Oritmaybealimitedpalette,asinAnushkaRavishankar’sElephantsNeverForget!,whereChristianePieperusesblackandoff-whitewithblue,andSusan Marie Swanson’s The House in the Night, in which Beth Krommesillustrateswithblackandwhiteandgold.Warmcolors,suchasred,orange,andyellow,orcoolcolors,inthegreen-blue-violetrange,willevokedifferentmoodsandenergy.Bluecanmeancomfort.JimAverbeck’sInaBlueRoom,illustratedbyTricia

Tusa,starsAlice,whoinsiststhateverythingaroundhermustbebluebeforeshecanfallasleep.Thelastninepagesofthebook,inshadesofdeepblueafterhermother turns off the lamp, signal a change inmood and bring the story to itsinevitable end. Green and brown, predominant in illustrations of the naturalworld, signify life (green, growing things) and even coziness. In City Dog,CountryFrogbyMoWillems,illustratorJonJ.Muthfillsthepageswithgreenin the springandsummer sections, thengreenandbrownanddeeporange forfall. During this time, the two main characters share happy moments. Whenwinter comes and frog is gone, the artwork feels cold in its grays and blues.Thenspringarrivesoncemore,andtheartturnsbacktogreensandhappytimesagain.InOh,Brother!,acollectionofpoemsbyNikkiGrimes,aboyfindshimself

with an unwanted stepbrother when his mother remarries. Mike Benny’sillustrationforthepoem“Showdown”featuresaredbackground,perfectfortheconfrontationalnatureofthetextandoftheartwork:theolderboystaringdown

intotheeyesofhisstepbrotherandpointinghisfingerathim.Colorcanalsobeusedasaculturalindicator,asinKateAverAvraham’sWhatWillYouBe,SaraMee?InseveralofAnneSibleyO’Brien’sillustrations,littleSaraisdressedinatraditionalKoreantolbok,madewithrainbow-stripedsleevesandaredskirt.Colorsmay change fromone page to the nextwhen the scene or themood

changes.RobertIngpen’sillustrationsofacrowdedvesselfeatureblues,grays,andlightvioletsinLizLofthouse’sZibaCameonaBoat.Asifclearerthanherpresentexistence,memoriesofherlifeinawar-tornlandfeature,inmanycases,moredefinedandvariedcolors.OnlytowardtheendofthebookdoeslifeontheboattakeonbrighterhuesasZibaandhermotherlooktothefuture.

Line

The many variations of line and shape impact the mood, as well as thecharacterizationandportrayalofaction.In Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! by Sarah Weeks, illustrator Robert

Neubecker employs bold black lines to outline the characters and to highlightcertainwords,indicatingthemoodofstrongnegativitytowardthelittlebrother.ComparethedifferenceinthedelicatelinesofLostandFoundbyOliverJeffers,agentlestoryoffriendship.The horizontal line separating sky and ground inGrace Lin’sThanking the

Moon appears in almost every page spread, indicating stability and calm.Contrast this with several scenes in Anu Stohner’s Brave Charlotte and theWolves, where Henrike Wilson uses diagonal lines in a forest to representdanger.

Shape

JohnSegal’sTheLonelyMoose combinesgeometric shapeswithorganic.Thetriangularmountainsandpinetreescoexistwiththeirregularshapesofthepond,animals,anddeciduoustrees,justasthetaciturnmoosecoexistswiththebright,bubbly bird. Artists create interesting shapes in the technique of collage withfoundobjects.HanochPivenuseseverydayschoolobjectsas facial features inMyBest Friend Is as Sharp as a Pencil, such as crayons to represent the artteacher’smustache and an open book that becomes the smilingmouth of thelibrarian.Observescaleandproportioninevaluating,too.InMatthewCordell’sTroubleGum,almosteveryillustrationissmalloneachpage,eventinyonsome,

withplentyofwhitespacesurrounding.Thismakestheimpactofthefinalscenehuge.

Texture

Does theart lookas if itwould feel likegrass,orablanket,a rock,ora furryanimalhideifitweretouched?Thetextureoftheartwork,whichdependsonthemediumand the techniqueused,adds to thevisualstyleandemotionalappeal.EdYoung, inKimikoKajikawa’sTsunami!, uses variousmaterials in collageillustrationstocreatefields,water,andhouseswithtouchability.TheoilpaintofRobertJ.Blake’s illustrationsforSwiftappears indaubsand lines thatgiveanalmost3-Deffecttothelandscapes.

SpaceandPerspective

Whether the artwork appears flat and in the foreground or portrays distantobjectsinperspectivetoforegroundobjectswilllendadistinctfeeltothestory.A good example of realistic perspective can be seen in Jean Craighead

George’s The Last Polar Bear. In one illustration, illustrator Wendell Minorplacesa largepolarbearsoclose to the frontof the illustration thatherwholebody does not fit within the pages. Then, to one side of her, a snowy roadstretches to the horizon, framed by telephone poles drawn closer together thefartherbacktheygo.Manyof the scenes inDavidConway’sLila and the Secret ofRain feature

landscapes that includemountains. Illustrator JudeDaly uses the technique ofdiffering shades to showdistance: houses andgardens are dark brown, distantfieldsarelighttan,andthefarawaymountainsshimmerabluishwhite.

Motion

Can a static illustration portray movement? Perry Nodelman inWords aboutPicturesemphaticallystatesthatitcan,whetherinasingleimageoraseriesofpicturesinwhichonecharacterisportrayedindifferentpositionsorasettingisshown with varying circumstances, implying active movement or transitionthroughtime.2

Movementacrossapagespreadindicatestheforwardmotionofthestory,or

the journey of a character from the beginning, through any problems orobstacles,on to theend.Generally,acharactermovesfromleft to rightacrossthepagespreadtoindicatethisforwardmovement.SeethisinJohannesHucke’sPipintheGrandHotel,inwhichDanielMüller

illustratesthechildrenandthemousechasing,following,andsearchingfromlefttorightovereachtwo-pagespread.Motioncanbeshown in illustrationsby linesaround thecharacterorobject

suggestingmovement,orby theportrayalof thecharacterseveral timeson thepage,eachtimeinadifferentposition.InDeniseFleming’sBuster,afewpagespreadsfeaturefourviewsofthetitle

characterinaction.ReadersandlistenersreadilyunderstandfromtheprecedingscenesandfromthetextthattherearenotfourBusters,butthatBusterfrolickedandranalongtimethroughouttheday.MichaelEmberleydepictsthepassageoftheschoolyearinBarbaraBottner’s

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don’t). Several pages of illustrations showschool librarian Miss Brooks dressed in costume for various holidays. Theaccompanyingtext,withitsphrase“allyearlong,”reinforcesthefactthatallthishappensoveraspanofmonths.

Composition

Composition—theway the picture is put togetherwith color, line, shape, andtexture—offersamyriadofcreativepossibilities.BoR.Holmberg’sADaywithDad featuresartbyEvaErikssoninwhichshecomposeseachillustrationwiththeyoungboyandhis father typically in themiddleof thepiece.On thisdaytheyspendtogether,theyareeachother’scenter.Thetightlycontrolledframingof each illustration, the color pencil texture, and themuted colorswith just asplashofredallworktogether.ThecompositionofLookingLikeMebyWalterDeanMyersfeaturescollageslayeredwithshapesandphotographsbyillustratorChristopher Myers. Colors that pop, silhouette shapes, and the placement oftheseelementsincorporatingthetextgiveaveryactivesensibilitytoabookfullofenergyandpride.ThroughoutThoseShoesbyMaribethBoelts,illustratorNoahZ.Jonesdepicts

Jeremyassmallerthantheothercharacters.Insomeoftheillustrations,Jeremywearssubduedcolorsthatalsosymbolizehispowerlessnessoverthesituation—wanting the shoes that all the other boys have. But on one page, he is in thecenter, wearing a red shirt, and large: the page where he finds those shoes,

unbelievably, at the thrift store. Later in the story, he is also depicted largerwhenhemakesthedecisiontogivethetoo-smallshoestoanotherboy.

MediaandTechnique

Illustrators of artwork in children’s picture books work with most mediaavailable toartists, includingacrylic,oil,watercolor,gouache, tempera,pencil,ink,coloredpencil,crayon,chalk,pastel,markers,charcoal,clay,foundobjects,papercutor torn(incollage),andwoodandlinoleum(inprintmaking).Artistsuseavarietyoftechniqueswiththesemedia,includingpaintingwithbrushesorotherobjects,drawing,printing,collage,photography,oretching.Manyofthesetechniques can be done either hands-on or digitally. Illustrationsmay also bemixedmedia,inwhichtheartistusestwoormorematerials.

ArtisticStylesForthosewhowishtopursueamoredetailedanalysisof

illustrationsorlearnmoreaboutartistictechniques,thesuggestedresourcessectionattheendofthisbookcontainsseveralgood

titles,especiallythosebyShulevitz,Salisbury,andtheWithrows.Thefollowingstylesrefertorecognizedcharacteristicsinthework

ofanartist.Abstractart:Theartistuses formandcoloronlyasameansofportrayingmood inthisstyle.Simpleformsandgeometricshapesarecommon.Realitymaynotenterintowhat is perceived, although the figuresmay be recognizable. In his picturebook John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, Chris Raschka employs abstract shapes todepictabox,asnowflake,andraindrops.Thekittenthatappearsisidentifiable,butthis little animal, too, is all bold black line and shape.An improvisation that isperfectforabookaboutajazzclassic!

Cartoonart:Nonsensical,preposterous,orexaggerated,theseillustrationscanrunthegamutfrommildlyamusingtolaugh-out-loudfunny,fromsimpletofullofdetails.The popularity of the graphic novel for all ages has brought added prestige forcartoonart.StevenKellogg,amasterofthedetailedcartoon,usesthisstyletogreatadvantage in The Pied Piper’s Magic. The illustrations containing people, evencrowds, feature a great variety of comical facial expressions and poses.Nothingsinisterhere;even thepicturesof ratsoverrunning the townshowasillinessandexaggerationhelpedalongbysunnycolorsandkaleidoscopicswirls.

Expressionisticart:Tocommunicatetheemotionofwhatisdepicted,expressionisticillustrationsgobeyondreality.Feelingismoreimportantthandirectreproduction.Enjoy the carefree, almost wild lines employed by Marjorie Priceman in KittyGriffin’s The Ride: The Legend of Betsy Dowdy. There is no doubt as to theemotionsondisplayineachillustrationasBetsygoesfromworrytodetermination

tofeartoexhaustiontorelief.Thelinesandcolorsmirrorthisride.Folkart:Thisstylearisesfromthecultureportrayed.Theartmatchesthesensibilitiesand characteristics of a particular ethnic group or nationality. Ben Hodson, theillustrator of Janet Ruth Heller’s How the Moon Regained Her Shape, usestraditionalNativeAmericanmotifs to illustrate the story and as borders on eachpage.

Impressionisticart:Theseillustrationsfeatureasoftundefinedline,light,andcolorsthat mix into each other. Not crisp or realistic, the pictures convey just animpression of a scene. InGloriaWhelan’s Yatandou, the people, buildings, andtoolsbyillustratorPeterSylvadaappearindistinct,althoughtheeyecantellwhatthey are.The textureof the color and the contrast of light anddark enhance themoodofthiscourageousstory.

Naive art: The naive style may look as if the illustrator never learned artistictechnique,yet itsvery simplicity captures theemotionof each scene.Bright andunnatural colors are often used, with no sophisticated perspective aspect. LynnRowe Reed employs naive art in Oliver, the Spaceship, and Me. Her paintedcharactersexhibit achildlike innocenceandsenseof fun,withgooglyeyes,dotsforteeth,andcurvyhairstyles.

Realistic art: As the name suggests, this artwork represents people, places, andobjectsasclosetorealityaspossible.Foranexample,looktoLoisLowry’sCrowCall,whereinillustratorBagramIbatoullineportrayscharactersandsettingsofthe1940s.His people look lifelike in face and body.Details such aswisps of hair,curvedfingers, thesetofamouth,andthebendofakneeareultrarealistic.Howappropriateforthestoryofagirlandherfatherreconnectingafterhehasbeentowar.

Technology

As it has in almost every other field, technology has changed aspects ofchildren’sliterature.WiththeadventoftheWebintheearly1990s,authorsandillustrators embraced this newway of introducing themselves and their work,andpublishers took to this outlet formarketing their books.Most authors andillustratorsofpicturebooksmaintainpersonalwebsitesasawaytoreachouttotheiraudience. Insomecases,awebsite foran individual titlemaybecreated.Teachersand librarianscan findsomegreat information forauthorstudiesandclassroom activities on the sites. Cynthia Leitich Smith’s website(www.cynthialeitichsmith.com),wellorganizedandeasytouse,includesteacherguidesforherbooksaswellasinformation,interviews,and“blogbuzz.”Packedwithresources,JanBrett’ssite(www.janbrett.com)featuresactivities,includingbulletin boards and “how to draw”videos. In addition to entering individual’snames in a search engine to find their sites, lists of author and illustratorwebsiteswithlinkscanbefoundoncompiledwebsites,suchasonepageinthe

AmericanLibraryAssociation’sGreatWebsitesforKids(gws.ala.org).In order to connect personally with their readers and publicize their work,

picture book authors and illustratorsmay use social networking tools such asFacebook and Twitter. Some maintain blogs or post YouTube videos. Theseoutlets,unimaginedafewyearsago,provideinformationforlibrarians,teachers,andotherskeepingupwith favoriteauthorsandartistson their existingworksandupcomingtitles.Taking technology to a core audience for picture books, some websites

provide digital children’s books. One of the best known is the InternationalChildren’sDigitalLibrary(http://en.childrenslibrary.org),withmorethan4,000books from around the world in fifty-five languages. Children’s librariansseeking picture books in a child’s native language, teachers investigatingmulticulturalthemes,orparentslookingforadditionalsourcesofbookscanviewthesefulltextvolumes;thesitealsomakesavailableappstodownloadthebookstoaniPhoneoraniPad.

DigitalIllustration

Anareawhere technologyhaschanged theverymakingof thepicturebook isillustration. An artist can now create a picture book illustration entirely on acomputer. More common is the process in which the artist draws by hand,digitallyscansthatdrawing,thenusessoftwaretoselectandaddcolor,changethe size, add layers, create texture, andcomplete the illustrationdigitally.Thissoftwareenablesillustratorstocreateartthatlooksasifitwereproducedusingtheir favorite media or technique, painted with a specific kind of brush, forexample,oronacertaintypeoftexturedpaper.Someartistsdrawwithapenandgraphics tablet, which preserves the hands-on artistic technique but takesadvantageofthetechnologybyproducingthedrawingonacomputerratherthana piece of paper. Collage illustrations can be created using Photoshop. Foundobjects, photographs, and items from nature can be manipulated and layeredwiththeotherelementsofthecomposition.Working digitally allows the illustrator to edit, change, and try out ideas

withoutpermanentlycommittingthemtopaper.Thecopyrightpageofthebookoftenstateswhatmediawereused in the illustrationsofapicturebook.Checktheretoseeifdigitaltechniqueswerepartoftheprocess.

E-BooksandApps

Where do picture books fit into a world bursting with e-books? Dedicateddevices foradultbooksandchildren’sbookswithout illustrationsaregreat fortheir purpose, but when Apple introduced the iPad, followed by Barnes &Noble’sNookColor, picture books as e-books became possible.These devicesallow the view of a page spread instead of one page at a time, absolutelynecessary for picture books. They alsomake possible the ability to display incolor,anothermust.An adult can read picture books on e-readers or tablets to a child, or can

activatetheoptiontohaveitreadbyanarrator.Thebookscanbereadonane-reader, tablet, or smartphone. For large groups, the librarian or teacher canconnecttheiPadtoaprojector.Wordsthatpopupastheyareread,animationinthe illustrations, entertainingmusic, the ability to bookmark a page—all thesemakethee-bookfunandcanenhanceliteracyinstruction.E-booksaregenerallyavailableinaformatsuchasEPUBorPDF,twoofthe

mostpopular.Appsrefer to theapplications,orsoftware, thataredownloaded.Anapptoreade-booksmaybedownloadedtoane-reader.Orappsthataree-bookscanbedownloaded;thesebooksaremoreinteractive,allowingchildrentodomorewith the story, such as tapping or clicking on objectswithin scenes.Additionalactivities,includingcoloringandgames,orfeaturessuchaschangingtoadifferentlanguage,mayalsobepartofthepackage.Morethantwo-thirdsofpubliclibrariesnowmakee-booksaccessibletotheir

patrons,andjustoveraquarterofferaccesstoe-bookreaders.3

For libraries considering the purchase of e-readers, price is of course aconcern,butso ispossibleobsolescenceof thedevice ina fewyears.E-readertechnologyischangingrapidly.Asfore-booksthemselves,availabilityoftitlesis an issue. Will every new picture book also be available as an e-book?Licensingisstillbeinghammeredout,asaredigitalrightsmanagement(DRM)issues such as who owns electronic rights and questions of access, includingnumber of checkouts allowed, whether simultaneous checkouts are permitted,andinterlibraryloan.New developments in e-books, e-readers, and apps are emerging. Look for

newproductsandapplicationsinthemonthsandyearsahead.

UsingThisBook

Mirroring the child’s social development, this book begins with the child’s

personal concerns and family relationships and then moves out into thecommunity and on into the larger world. A chapter on imaginative books isincluded, followed by one containing folktales and fairy tales. Each chaptergathers a variety of outstanding books with wonderful stories and beautifulillustrations.Soopenthisbooktoreadaboutsomeofthebestinrecentchildren’spicture

books.Thenopenapicturebookwithachildandentertheworldwherewordsandartcometogether.

Notes1.ZenaSutherland,ChildrenandBooks(NewYork:Longman,1997),119.2.PerryNodelman,WordsAboutPictures(Athens:UniversityofGeorgia,1988),159.3.JudyHoffman,JohnCarloBertot,DeniseM.Davis,andLarraClark,LibrariesConnectCommunities:PublicLibraryFunding

&TechnologyAccessStudy2010–2011.DigitalsupplementofAmericanLibraries,June2011.Availableathttp://viewer.zmags.com/publication/857ea9fd.7,24.

2

MyFamilyandMyselfThe picture books in this section represent the child’s comfort zone. Primaryrelationships with parents, grandparents, or siblings make up the stories. Thebooks feature everyday concerns, such as going to sleep, wanting a pet,welcoming a new baby, or visiting Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Thecharacters are human, or can be animals if anthropomorphized. Some of thestoriesare set inothercountriesorculturesbutconcernuniversal feelingsandexperiences.

Ashman,Linda4–8yearsWHENIWASKINGIllustratedbyDavidMcPhailNewYork:HarperCollins,2008|978-0-06-029051-1

Alookattheexperienceofbeingabigbrother,thisstoryistoldfromthepointofviewofthedethroned“king.”Hereveledinhisroleasthecenterofattention,butnowhisparentsandgrandparentsdoteonhisbabybrother.Thebabyevenplays with his toys. But when the baby chews on his baseball glove and bigbrotherhasameltdown,hismomgiveshimsympathyandremindshimofhowmuchhecandothatlittlebrothercannot.Withrichcolorsandfacialexpressionsthat reveal a range of emotions, the illustrations complement the text and itsmoods of resentment and anger, then pride and love. The font showswhat isimportant:certainwordsarelarger,especiallyIandmine.Anyolderchildwhohashadtodealwithsiblingrivalrywillrelatetotheking.Forabigsister-littlesistervariant,seeRosieandButtercupbyChieriUegaki(KidsCan,2008).

Averbeck,Jim3–7yearsINABLUEROOMIllustratedbyTriciaTusaOrlando:Harcourt,2008|978-0-15-205992-7

Anyonewhohaseverresistedgoingtosleep,orwhohasdealtwithachilddoingthesame,will relate to thisbook.WhilehermotherenticesAlicewithflowersandteaandaquilt,thelittlegirlinsiststhateachitembeblue.Finally,whenher

motherturnsoffthelamp,themoonlightturnseverythinginherroomthatcolor,andshecanfinallysleep.Theink,watercolor,andgouacheillustrationsreflectAlice’srestlessness,butthen,asthebluenessofthemoonlightcomesin,createamoodofpeaceandrest.ThetextandillustrationscaptureperfectlytheillogicofAlice’sdemandsand themagicof thecolor-changingpropertiesofmoonlight.Pair thiswithJonathanBean’sAtNight (FarrarStrausGiroux,2007), thestoryofalittlegirlwithinsomniawhofinallyfindsrestonarooftop,andMijKelly’sWilliamandtheNightTrain(FarrarStrausGiroux,2000),whereawide-awakeboyfindssleeponthetraintoTomorrow.

Avraham,KateAver4–8yearsWHATWILLYOUBE,SARAMEE?IllustratedbyAnneSibleyO’BrienWatertown,MA:Charlesbridge,2010|978-1-58089-210-0

In firstperson,bigbrotherChongexplains theKoreancelebrationof tol, forababy’s first birthday, to his baby sister and to the readers. He looks forwardespeciallytotoljabee,agamewherethebirthdaychildselectsfromanumberofobjects; what she picks is an indication of her future. Ink-and-watercolorillustrations show Chong and Sara, their parents, grandparents, and otherrelativesandfriendsinacelebratorymood,enhancedbybrightcolorsandsometraditionalcostumes.Boldblacklinessurroundthecolorsandprovideapleasingcontrast. Throughout the story, the family speculates on little Sara’s futureoccupation by what she seems to enjoy. A glossary of Korean words and anauthor’snoteattheendoffermoreinformationaboutthiscelebration.

Banks,Kate6–9yearsMAX’SWORDSIllustratedbyBorisKulikovNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2006|978-0-374-39949-8

A little brother, outshone by his stamp-collecting and coin-collecting oldersiblings, discovers something that interests him. Max now collects words bycuttingthemoutofpublicationsandeventuallymakesthemintosentencesandthen stories. The marvelously quirky illustrations feature differing points ofview,dependentuponscene:abird’s-eyeviewoftheolderbrothers’collections,Maxinachairwiththewordsdisplayedinfrontofandlarger thanhim,andasmallMaxandhisbrothersenteringintoastoryofawormandalargecrocodile.

ThewordsMaxcollectsprogressfromsimpletypescripttocolorfulandshapely;the word pancakes features round and tan letters, hissed portrays two greensnakesasthess’s.ContinuewitnessingthepowerofwordswithMax’sDragon(Farrar StrausGiroux, 2008),whereMax and his brothers search for rhymingwords.

Billingsley,Franny4–8yearsBIGBADBUNNYIllustratedbyG.BrianKarasNewYork:RichardJackson/Atheneum,2008|978-1-4169-0601-8

This book provides a splendid example of the use of contrast in story andillustration. Entering this story from the title page, readers and listeners maybelievethatitisaboutameanrabbitthreateningasmallanimal’shouseinatreestump.Butthroughthecourseofthenarrativeandenhancedbytheillustrationsingouacheandacrylicwithpencil, therabbit isnotwhoheappearstobe.TheillustrationsoftheBigBadBunnyappearwildanddrawninanalmostchildlikeway(notethemeanblackeyebrows).Hissplashingandgnawingandstompingcome alive through the action and color of the drawings. In contrast, theillustrations of the housewhereMamaMouse takes care of her babies exudecalmandorderliness.Althoughgreenisthedominantcolor,becausemuchoftheactionhappensoutside,brightsplashesoforangeandredbringoutthefiercenessofthetitlecharacter.Atitsheart,thisisastoryofamother’sloveforherchildwhohasimaginedanalteregoandthenbecomefrightenedbyit.

Bradford,Wade5–9yearsWHYDOIHAVETOMAKEMYBED?OR,AHISTORYOFMESSYROOMSIllustratedbyJohannavanderSterreBerkeley,CA:Tricycle/RandomHouse,2011|978-1-58246-327-8

Theoldadage“Themorethingschange,themoretheystaythesame”ringstrueasthethemeofthisbook.Alittleboydoesnotwanttomakehisbedbecausehefeels he has already done too many chores. His mother tells him about hisgrandmother,whosaid thesame thing in1953,whensheheard thestory fromhermother about her grandfather,who said the same thing in 1911, and backthrough history. The playful illustrations, in watercolor and digitally finished,depict the rooms, beds, and toys of the children; the year is also part of the

illustration.Therepetitionofthetitlequestionisamusing,whiletheenumerationofparticularchores is instructive.Agoodbook fordiscussion (noticehow thenumber of toys decreases as history rolls back), this would also work as asupplement to social studies. At the end of the book, a two-page “ChoresthroughtheAges”providesinformationonchildren’slivesandplaythingsfromprehistorictimesthroughthepresentday.

Brown,Peter4–8yearsCHILDRENMAKETERRIBLEPETSIllustratedbyPeterBrownNewYork:Little,Brown,2010|978-0-316-01548-6

In a twist on the familiar child-wants-a-pet plot, this story features a little girlbearwhowants a child.As soon as Lucy sees the “critter” in her part of theforest, sheknows thathe is theperfectpet forher.True to form,MotherBearsays all the things that a human mother would say. The illustrations, acombination of pencil, construction paper, wood, and some digital, feature anappealingLucy andher adorable little boy enjoying typical activities together.Thetextofthenarrativeissetoffinrectangularboxes,whiledialogueappearsinword balloons of a different color, hand-lettered by Brown. Illustrations arebordered on each page with a thin frame of different-colored woods,correspondingtotheforestsetting.Allgoodthingsmustend,asLucydiscoverswhenherpetboygoesmissing,butatwistonthelastpageprovidesahumorousending and speculation forwhat comes next in her search for a pet.With thealmost universal theme of wanting a pet, the cross-species behaviors, andhumorous situations, thisbookwill appeal tomost readersand listeners.Foraread-alike,seeC’mere,Boy!bySharonJennings(KidsCan,2010).

Bruchac,Joseph3–7yearsMYFATHERISTALLERTHANATREEIllustratedbyWendyAndersonHalperinNewYork:Dial/Penguin,2010|978-0-8037-3173-8

Thirteendifferentpairsofdads and sons fill thepagesof this celebrationof afather’s love and support. Each two-page spread contains a large illustrationacrossthetop,withfoursmallerillustrationsinabandbelow,andthentextinanarrowbandatthebottom.Thebeautifullytexturedartfeaturesadiversegroupoffatherswhodifferethnicallyandinotherways.There isafatherwholooks

likeagrandfather.Oneofthefathersisblind,withaguidedogandcane.Ineachsetting,thefatherandsonenjoyactivitiesthatanychildcouldrelateto:walkingin the park, playing hide-and-seek,making faces. For those childrenwho calltheir father something other thanDad, the namesPop,mi papá, Pa, andPapaappear.Theverylastpageturnrevealstwenty-foursmallsquares,eachwiththefathers and sons from throughout the book participating in even more funactivities.Abeautifullookatthefather-sonbond,throughallseasons,inmanypartsofthecountry,andwithmanylovingfathers.

Cole,Henry3–8yearsTRUDYIllustratedbyHenryColeNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2009|978-0-06-154268-8

Esmeisoneluckylittlegirl.Herfarmergrandfathertellsherthattheywillfindapet for her at the auction.After searching, they finally findone they canbothagree on: Trudy the goat. Esme loves her new pet. Soon family, friends, andneighbors realize that Trudy is special, too, for she can forecast when it willsnow. But as winter deepens, Trudy gives up her weather-predicting ways inordertoconcentrateonsomethingevenmorespecial.Thisgentlebookportraystheloveofgrandparentsandgranddaughter,aswellastheloveofalittlegirlforher farm pet. Read-alouds will be fun as the dialogue lends itself to theinterpretation of grandfather’s gruff, yet gentle sentiments and neighbors’enthusiastic comments.The illustrations, rendered in acrylicpaints, seamlesslycombinepastoralquietnessand theactivityofchoreswithabitofhumor.Thebrownsandtansofautumngivewayto thewhitesandbluesofwinteras timepassesandreadersheadforthepayoff:Trudyandherbaby,whoseemstohaveaforecastingabilityofherown.

Cordell,Matthew4–8yearsTROUBLEGUMIllustratedbyMatthewCordellNewYork:FeiwelandFriends,2009|978-0-312-38774-7

Thecovergivesamightybigcluetothestorythisbookholds:asmallpighasblownahugepinkbubblethatencirclesthewordsofthetitle.Thentherearethefrontendpapers,fullofbigandsmallbubblesbeingblownbythesamepig.Inthestory, thebubble-blowingpig,Ruben, receivessomegumfromhisvisiting

grandmother. While his mother recites the gum rules to Ruben and his littlebrother, Julius (youcan just tell they’veheard thesebefore!),Rubengetsbusychewinghisinallsortsofpositionsandmotions.Allthisishilariouslypicturedin small black, gray, red, and pink drawings. Action words portraying theunwrapping, snapping, stretching, and smacking accompany, and become partof, the illustrations. Readers can anticipate the trouble of the title as Rubensystematicallyignoreshismother’sthreerulesandfinallymakesagiantbubblemess in the largest picture of the story.Be sure to notice the final endpapers,similartothefrontones,butfullofpoppedbobbles.Rubentakesnaughtinesstothemostentertaininglevel.

Crow,Kristyn5–9yearsTHEMIDDLE-CHILDBLUESIllustratedbyDavidCatrowNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons/Penguin,2009|978-0-399-24735-4

Oh,tobethemiddlechild,betweenanolderbrotherandababysisterwhocanseeminglydonowrongandwhogetalltheprivileges.Withatextthatimpartsthe rhythm and the pacing of a blues song, and the pencil-and-watercolorillustrations that wackily portray people and events, the story introduces theforgottenchild.Thehumorcarries throughwithgarishcolors thatculminateatanamusementpark,wheremiddlechildLeesingshissongandplayshisguitartohordesofothermiddles,includinghisparents.Checkhispompadourandshirtcollar, which go into full Elvis mode by the end of the story. A marvelousexample of illustrations that add an extra layer to the text, in this case withgoofinessandtheput-upondemeanorofLee.Contrast toElizabethWinthrop’sSquashedintheMiddle(Holt,2005),whichhasamorerealisticandgentletone.

Crowe,Carole4–8yearsTURTLEGIRLIllustratedbyJimPostierHonesdale,PA:BoydsMills,2008|978-1-59078-262-0

Magdalenawaitsfortheannualarrivaloftheseaturtleswithhergrandmother.Astheturtleslaytheireggsinthesand,thegirlprotectsthemfrompredatorsandgarbage on the beach.When her grandmother dies, a heartbrokenMagdalenabecomesangry.Butsadnessandhopemingleinthestory,aseventuallyshegoesouttothebeachtowitnessthenewlyhatchedturtlesmakingtheirjourneyback

tothesea.Therealisticillustrationsreflectthewonderofthispartoftheturtles’journey, the wisdom being passed from one generation to the next, andMagdalena’ssadnessathergrandmother’spassing.(Seefigure2.1.)Richblue-and-greenillustrationsmatchthesea,butalsothecharacters’clothing,providingcontinuity.Skillfullyrendered,theillustrationsoftheturtlesareaweinspiring.

Figure2.1.TurtleGirl

Crum,Shutta4–8yearsTHUNDER-BOOMER!IllustratedbyCarolThompsonBoston:Clarion/HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2009|978-0-618-61865-1

CrumandThompsontakereadersandlisteners throughasummerstormin thecountry.Afarmfamily,consistingofparentsandtwochildren,feelachangeintheweather,see thedarkeningsky,andrunforshelter justbefore the rainandhail hit. Humorous illustrations, in watercolor, gouache, pastel, crayon, andcollage, capture the excitement and fear of a potentially damaging storm.ThesidestoryofMaizeythehenandherstrangebehaviorisresolvedwheneveryonediscoversshewasprotectingakitten.Thetext,withstrongverbs,isjustrightforastormstory.Theauthor’spoetrybackgroundshowsinherphrasesthatarousethesenses.Readerswillalmostbeabletofeelthehumidairofalanguidsummerday,hear thefrenzyofwindandrainandhail,andfinallysmell theafter-rain.Soundsandbitsofdialoguebecomepartof the illustrations,whichmake itallseemveryimmediate.Agoodstorytosupplementadiscussionaboutstormsorfarms. A complement to this, Like a Hundred Drums by Annette Griessman(HoughtonMifflin,2006),alsoportraysathunderstorminaruralarea.

Denise,Anika3–8yearsBELLAANDSTELLACOMEHOMEIllustratedbyChristopherDeniseNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2010|978-0-399-24243-4

Awonderful example of illustrations completing a story, this book takes on acommonchildhoodexperience—movingtoanewhouse.Readingthetextonly,onewouldassumethattwochildrenleavetheoldhouse,ridetothenewhouse,explorerooms,unpack,andspendafirstnightthere.Buttheillustrations,pencilanddigital,telladifferentstory:alittlegirlandherstuffedelephantexperiencethese events. In some of the illustrations, especiallywhere emotions run high,Stellatheelephantisportrayedashuge.Inothers,sheappearsasanormal-sizedtoy.The ending introduces the neighbors, including a little boywith a stuffedgiraffe.Obviously,thesetwowillbefriends,asthelastpageshowsthemplayingcards with imaginary giant-sized animals. This story comforts as it tackles astandardchildhoodsituationwithgentlehumorandasteadfastfriend.

Falconer,Ian4–8yearsOLIVIAFORMSABANDIllustratedbyIanFalconerNewYork:AnneSchwartz/Atheneum,2006|978-1-4169-2454-8

Many“diva”bookshaveappeared recently,butFalconer’sOlivia titlesbelong

nearthetopoftheheap.Withratherspareillustrations—noticetheeffectiveuseof shading to adddepth and texture—thebooks feature an anthropomorphizedyoungpigwhoclearlyseesherselfasthecenterofattentionofherfamily.Thefacial expressions and reactions of her parents and two younger brothersreinforce thehumor thatemanatesfromOliviaandherwild ideas. In this title,shebecomesaone-womanband toaccompanyfireworks.Parentsand teacherswillrecognizefamiliarsituationsandconversations;youngreadersandlistenerswill identify with the irrepressible and ever-creative Olivia. Everyone willrespond to the humor, both broad and sly, as they enter into Olivia’s world.Colorfulillustrationsincharcoalandgouacheconsistofblack,white,andgray,withsplashesofredandblue;severalpages,especiallyinthefireworksscenes,containmuchmore color on a dark background. Look for Olivia’s “Supremedream”onthefinalpage,whichgivesanideaofherego.

Gravett,Emily4–8yearsLITTLEMOUSE’SBIGBOOKOFFEARSIllustratedbyEmilyGravettNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2008|978-1-4169-5930-4

A collection of fears could be scary, but this book makes them manageable.LittleMouseacknowledgesherfearsoneachpagespread,convenientlylabeledwith the particular phobia portrayed. A stunning array of these fears, somecommon (fear of spiders) and some not (fear of clocks), come to scary lifethrough the illustrations of Little Mouse and her pencil. A color scheme ofmuted shadesof tan,withblack andwhite andoccasional splashes of red andblue, lends an air of secrecy and fear. The illustrations, oil-based pencil andwatercolor, also contain found objects. Several pages feature foldouts: of anewspaper,amap,andapostcard.Pageswithchewedcornersandillustrationsof spills continue the theme of a littlemouse creating the book as the readerpagesthrough.Neverfear!Thetwistendingmakesitallworthwhile.

Grimes,Nikki5–10yearsOH,BROTHER!IllustratedbyMikeBennyNewYork:Amistad/Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2008|978-0-688-17294-7

Whenhismamiremarries,Xaviergainsastepfatherplusastepbrother,Chris.Inaseriesof twentyshortpoems,Xavier tells thereaderallabouthisresentment

andhisbattleswithChris.Butalongtheway,hefindsoutwhyChrisfeelshehastobetheperfectchildandwhathappenedtohismother.Eachpoemisaperfectjewel of a feeling, an event, or an emotion that Xavier works through. Thegouache illustrations reflect these feelings, some realistically and somesymbolically.Forexample,ononetwo-pagespread,Xavieronapizzainouterspacelooksonashismotherandthetwointerlopersplayonanotherpizzaonthefacingpage.Inanother,atinyXaviercowersonapagefilledwiththehugefeetofhisstepdadandstepbrother.Awonderfulbookforthestudyandappreciationofpoetry,fortheportrayalofablendedfamilythatmanystudentswillrelateto,forthedepictionofaninterracialfamily(HispanicandAfricanAmerican),andforastorywithatrulyhappyending.

Harper,ChariseMericle4–8yearsPINKMEUPIllustratedbyChariseMericleHarperNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-85607-5

Violet,alittlebunnywhoisgagaoverthecolorpink,isdisappointedwhenhermotheristoosicktogotothePinkGirlsPink-nic.Butthat’sputtingitmildly;withherexuberantbodylanguageandexcitablelanguage,Violetleavesnooneguessingwhatshethinks.Thecharacterthatgetsto“pinkup”isnoneotherthanher daddy. Bright cartoon illustrations—heavy on pink, of course—featureViolet andmembers of her family and friendswith hilarity. The text featuresmany exclamation points and differing font sizes and is integrated around theillustrations.This book is geared to thosewho cannot get enoughof the colorpink,butitalsooffersaspiritedstoryaboutadadwhoisagoodsport.ContrastthetonewithNanGregory’sPink(Groundwood,2007),whichdelvesintoclassdifferencesandenvy.

Harrington,JaniceN.4–8yearsTHECHICKEN-CHASINGQUEENOFLAMARCOUNTYIllustratedbyShelleyJacksonNewYork:MelanieKroupa/FarrarStrausGiroux,2007|978-0-374-31251-0

Told in first person by a little girl who loves to chase chickens, this storydelights in action, attitude, and surprise.Her prime target isMissHen, plumpandbeautiful—andagood runner.The livelycollage illustrationspresenteachchicken as an individual. Notice the fence as music staff and other collage

elements in theclothesandfood.Cutout letters,whichmakeupthe title in thecoverart,popupthroughoutthebooktorepresentthesquawksofthebirds.Lestadults think that the chicken chaser can indulge only in an activity that isforbidden by her grandmother, she does eventually become a responsiblecaregivertochickensandchicks.

Heo,Yumi4–8yearsTENDAYSANDNINENIGHTSIllustratedbyYumiHeoNewYork:Schwartz&Wade/RandomHouse,2009|978-0-375-84718-9

The titleprovidesa clue to the story,whichestablishes a countdown from thetimealittlegirlandherfatherseehermotheroffonaflighttoKorea.Therethemotherwill complete the adoptionprocess, and the littlegirlwill haveababysister. The illustrations portray both the mother in Korea and the little girlpreparing her home with the help of her father and grandparents. A calendarshowsthecountdown,aswellasthetext,whichprovidesthewrittennumberofdaysandnightsleft.Colorfulillustrationsinoil,pencil,andcollageshowhappyfaces anda lot ofbusyactivitiesonboth sidesof theocean.Anauthor’snoteabout Korean adoptions concludes the book. For a story about a baby girladopted from India, with the father flying over, see Uma Krishnaswami’sBringingAshaHome(Lee&Low,2006).MyMeiMeibyEdYoung(Philomel,2006)portraystheadoptionofababyfromChina.

Holmberg,BoR.4–8yearsADAYWITHDADIllustratedbyEvaErikssonCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2008|978-0-7636-3221-2

Ayoungboyofdivorcedparentsmakes the transferbetweenhismomandhisdadatthetrainstation.Whenhisfatherarrives,theyimmediatelyplantheirday.Astheygofromahotdogstandtoamovietoapizzaplacetothelibrary, themoodishappy.Awonderfulportrayalof the lovebetweenfatherandson, thisstoryevincesnosenseofabandonmentbutacknowledges that time together isshort.Theillustrations,incoloredpencil,alwaysshowthefatherandsonasthecenterofattentionineachdrawing.(Seefigure2.2.)Colorsaremuted,asifinamemory being savored, although Dad’s red scarf stands out in many of thedrawings.Acomforting,reassuringstoryforchildrenwhodonotlivewiththeir

father.

Figure2.2.ADaywithDad

Jenkins,Emily4–8yearsTHATNEWANIMALIllustratedbyPierrePrattNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2005|978-0-374-37443-3

Acoupleofdogsarenothappythatanewbabyhasjoinedtheirhumanfamily.Missing the special attention they once received from the grown-ups, one of

themcontemplateswhat theycoulddo to thenew littleone,but theotheronewisely deters her. Eventually they become protective of the baby, not lettingGrandpa,whom theyhavenevermet,nearhim.Fullofgentlehumor, the textshows fromadog’spointofviewwhat it is like todealwithan intruder.Thecolorful illustrations emphasize the baby as the center of attention, with theparentsalwayssurroundingandleaningoverhim.Attheend,thetwodogsandbabyareonthecouch,obviouslyathomewitheachother,butthenturnthepageandseethatMomispregnantagain,andreaderscanspeculateaboutwhowillbeunhappynext.

Johnston,Tony4–8yearsMYABUELITAIllustratedbyYuyiMoralesBoston:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2009|978-0-15-216330-3

Fullofloveforhisgrandma,ayoungboydescribesherandheractivitiesaroundthehouse.Withcolorfulillustrationsmadefromavarietyofmaterials,includingclay, fabric, wood, and metals, the book is a visual delight. Throughout thenarrative, Spanish words pop up as Abuelita cooks breakfast, dresses, andprepares for work. Although her work is alluded to throughout the story, notuntilthelastpagedoreadersfindoutwhatitis.Somanypositiveemotionsandattitudes combine here: love between a grandmother and grandson, pride inone’s appearance, keeping in shape for one’s work, and enthusiasm for life.FromlittleFridaKahlothecattoAbuelita’sfuzzyrobetoherbumblebeetowel,thereismuchtosmileatinthisstory.

Joosse,BarbaraM.3–8yearsGRANDMACALLSMEBEAUTIFULIllustratedbyBarbaraLavalleeSanFrancisco:Chronicle,2008|978-0-8118-5815-1

Theloveofagrandmotherforhergrandchildfillsthisbookwithanatmosphereoftendernessandcare.SetinHawai’i,withsomeHawaiianwordsandtraditionsemployed, the story features a grandmother who tells her granddaughter howbeautiful the child is and has been from the day she was born. Watercolorillustrations, bright with the color of sun-drenched islands, focus on the twomaincharacters,althoughothervillagers,animals,andvegetationappear.Theirgentlelyricismmatchesandexpandsthetext,whichfeaturespoeticelementsand

back-and-forth dialogue. Endmaterial includes a glossary of Hawaiian wordsandastringdesignthatchildrencanmake,similartoacat’scradle.Complementwith Denise Vega’s Grandmother, Have the Angels Come? (Little, Brown,2009),which also contains alternatingdialogue and charming illustrations, butwhichfocusesonthegrandmother’sappearance.

Juster,Norton3–7yearsTHEHELLO,GOODBYEWINDOWIllustratedbyChrisRaschkaMichaelDiCapua/Hyperion,2005|978-0-7868-0914-1

Theloveandsecurityofthegrandparents’homecomesthroughinthisstoryofachildvisitingtheirhouse,andwhathappensatthekitchenwindow.AsthechilddescribesthekitchenandwhatNannaandPoppydothere—playtheharmonica,countthestars,makebreakfast—theeverydayactivitiescreateanatmosphereoflove.Theenergeticandcolorfulillustrationsappearchildlikeintheirsimplicityyet project amasterful combinationof color, line, space, andmood.A specialstoryaboutaspecialwindow,whichrepresentsthefunandfeelingsharedbyachildandhergrandparents,thisbookwastheCaldecottMedalwinnerin2006.Nanna, Poppy, and their granddaughter return in Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie(MichaelDiCapua/Scholastic,2008).

Khan,Rukhsana4–8yearsBIGREDLOLLIPOPIllustratedbySophieBlackallNewYork:Viking/Penguin,2010|978-0-670-06287-4

When her mother insists that Rubina take her little sister along to a birthdaypartyofoneofherclassmates,Rubina justknows that this isnot theway it isdone in theirnewcountry.She feels embarrassedand, as she fears, littleSanamakesascene.Evenworse,Sanastealsher red lollipop,a treatwhichshehasbeensavingfromtheparty.Thetext,infirstperson,allowsthereaderorlistenerto feel Rubina’s conflicting emotions of excitement and chagrin. Someillustrationsputthecharactersatcenterstage,with(onmostpages)verylittleorno background. Several illustrations show movement with lines of motion ordirection;one,inwhichRubinarunsfromherschooltohome,showstheblocksandsidewalksbehindher, andanother,whereRubinachasesSana through thehouse, looksdownfromthetopat thepiecesoffurnitureandrugs.Whentime

passesandSanareceivesapartyinvitation,hermotherinsiststhatshetaketheyoungest sister, Maryam. Rubina remembers her experience and talks to hermother,asatisfyingendingtoaveryrealisticstoryaboutsiblingrivalry.

Lammle,Leslie4–8yearsONCEUPONASATURDAYIllustratedbyLeslieLammleNewYork:HarperCollins,2009|978-0-06-125190-0

How does an author get inside the head of a character, especially onewith agreat imagination? Lammle’s portrayal of young June is pitch-perfect. Beforeshecandoall the fun things shedreamsup, Junemust finish a list of chores.Withalittlehelpfromabird,adragon,andunder-bedmonsters,shefinisheshertasks. Illustrations in watercolor and pencil portray June and her fantasies incomicalfashion.Insomecases,thecreaturesbecomeaslargeassheis.Thisandthelistthattowersoverherheadcontributetothefeelingofbeingoverwhelmedbyherchores.DialogueballoonspopupinseveralscenesasJuneaddressesherimaginings and her mother brings her back to reality. This adventurous girl(checkoutthegogglesandflashlight)isacharactertoamuseandinspire.

Lewin,Betsy3–7yearsWHEREISTIPPYTOES?IllustratedbyBetsyLewinNewYork:Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-3808-8

With rhyming andminimal text on eachpage, this story follows a cat andhisdaytimeactivities.Hisnighttimeactivities,however,remainamysteryuntilthelastpage.Younglistenerswillenjoythecutoutsoncertainpages:amousehole,two circles to see the cat’s eyes, and diecut pages that become amoon and ablanket, among other items. The artwork illustrating Tippy’s daytimeperambulations features bright colors in sunnyyellow, orange, andgreen.Thenighttimescenes shimmerwithapaleyellowmoonand texturedblue sky thatspills over into blue fence posts and blue blankets. A fun bedtime story forfamilyread-alouds,thisbookwouldalsobeusefulforteachersplanninglessonsontimeornightandday.

Lindbergh,Reeve4–8yearsMYLITTLEGRANDMOTHEROFTENFORGETS

IllustratedbyKathrynBrownCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2007|978-0-7636-1989-3

Thisstoryofagrandparentwithmemoryloss,handledgentlyandrespectfully,focuses on her relationship with her grandson. The rhyming text recountsincidentsofhermisplacingobjects,losingherway,andcallingthegrandsonbyhis dad’s name, but it also describes how the grandson helps her. Theillustrations,inwatercolorandink,displayadelicatenessanddetailinamixtureofindoorandoutdoorscenes.Farfrombeingsad,thisstorytoldfromthepointof view of the young boy is rather matter-of-fact. For another take on thissubject, but still with grandson-grandmother characters, see A Young Man’sDance(BoydsMills,2006)byLaurieLazzaroKnowlton.Foragranddaughter’spoint of view, seeRobinCruise’sLittleMamáForgets (Farrar StrausGiroux,2006)andtheBelgianimportStillMyGrandmabyVéroniqueVandenAbeele(Eerdmans,2007).

Look,Lenore4–8yearsUNCLEPETER’SAMAZINGCHINESEWEDDINGIllustratedbyYumiHeoNewYork:Atheneum,2006|978-689-84458-4

Aweddinginthefamilyshouldbringgreatjoy,butonelittlegirlisnothappy.Infirst person, she takes the reader through the whole day and expresses herdispleasureatwhatshefeelsisheruncle’sabandonmentofher.Alongtheway,she explainsmanyChinesewedding traditions.Herwords,which express heremotionsanddescribethecustomsasayounggirlwould,areenhancedbytheoilpaint,pencil,andcollageillustrations.Thecartoon-styleartworkfillsupeachpage with all the objects she describes and all the people at the wedding,includinga largeextended family.Despiteherattitude, thestorydoesnot turnnegativebut insteadrevealsbothheropennesstoexpressherselfandthemanytraditions she explains. At the end, Uncle Peter’s new wife finds a way toconnectwithhisniece,anditallendsonahappynote.

Lowry,Lois5–9yearsCROWCALLIllustratedbyBagramIbatoullineNewYork:Scholastic,2009|978-0-545-03035-9

Withbeautifullanguage,Lowrytellsastorybasedonhergirlhoodinwhichsheventures out with her father, newly returned from the war. Tentatively, shereconnects with him, eventually confiding her fears and reveling in a sharedsense of humor. Realistic illustrations of watercolor and acryl-gouachecomplementthenarrativevisuallywithemotionandperioddetail.Althoughsetinthe1940s,thisstorywillresonatewithanylistenerwhoshares,orwishestoshare,quality timewithDad.Theoutdoorsettingwillappeal tomany,and thenotionofcallingthecrowswithawhistlemaybenewtoalmosteveryone.Readthis lovely father-daughter story and revel in the superb use of language by amasterstoryteller.

Myers,WalterDean5–10yearsLOOKINGLIKEMEIllustratedbyChristopherMyersNewYork:Egmont,2009|978-1-60684-001-6

With energy and poetry, with vibrant color and exuberant line, this bookcelebratesbeingproudofone’sself,one’splaceinthefamily,andone’splaceinthe world. The father-and-son teamwho wrote and illustrated this book havegivenagift toallyoungpeoplewhoreadit,especiallyboys.Jeremy, themaincharacter, receives affirmation from his sister, father, teacher, grandmother,friends,andmotheramidaswirlofsaturatedcolor,silhouettes,andphotographs.Therap-likerhythmofthewordsencouragesreadingoutloud;atthesametimethe words call for thoughtful contemplation. The collage illustrations inviteexploration. (See figure 2.3.) This would be an excellent source to use in artclassesofall ages.Thebookendswithapageabout theauthorand illustratorthatcontainssmallpicturesoftheyoungWalterandChristophersurroundedbywordsdescribingthem.

Pitzer,Susanna4–8yearsNOTAFRAIDOFDOGSIllustratedbyLarryDayNewYork:Walker,2006|978-0-8027-8067-6

Danielhasaproblem.Hisfamilymusttakecareofhisaunt’sdog,butDanielisafraidofdogs,eventhoughhewillnotadmitit.AlthoughhetriestohidefromBandit,heformsabondwiththepetwhenhediscoverstheyarebothafraidofthunderstorms. The illustrations, in pen and inkwithwatercolor and gouache,

captureDaniel’sfearofdogs,hisstubbornness,andhiseventualrealizationthatthedogismorefearfulthanheis.TherealistictextgetsDaniel’sdialoguejustright,asheinsiststhatheisnotafraid,hejustdoesnotlikedogs.Attheend,ofcourse,hecompletelyreverseshisopinion,andevenletsBanditsleepinhisbed.Abookofcomforttothosechildrenwhomaybeafraidofdogs,andafeel-goodbookaboutman’s—orboy’s—bestfriend.

Ransom,JeanieFranz4–8yearsWHATDOPARENTSDO?(WHENYOU’RENOTHOME)IllustratedbyCydMooreAtlanta:Peachtree,2007|978-1-56145-409-9

Ayoungboy imagineswhathisparents areup towhileheandhis little sistervisit their grandparents. Everything he envisions, hilariously illustrated inwatercolorandcoloredpencil,issomethingthatheobviouslyhasbeentoldnotto do, such as jumping on the bed with shoes on, sitting too close to thetelevision,andplayingbasketballinthehouse.Thetextevencontainshiswordsof disapproval,which sound exactly like something parentswould say.WhileMomandDadinhabitthemainillustrationoneachpage,smallscenesoftheboyandhissisteratthegrandparents’houseprovideacounterbalance,astheydotheright thing and still have fun. Parents who share this bookwith childrenwillchuckle in recognition, and childrenwill appreciate themisbehaving antics ofthegrown-ups.

Figure2.3.LookingLikeMe

Ritz,Karen4–8yearsWINDOWSWITHBIRDSIllustratedbyKarenRitzHonesdale,PA:BoydsMills,2010|978-1-59078-656-7

Ayoungboymovesfromahousetoanapartment,butthisstoryistoldfromthepoint of viewof his pet cat. In first person, the cat rememberswhatwas, andhowit isnowsodifferent.Nobackstoryisprovidedtoexplainwhythemovehasoccurred,butcertainwordsthatappearinthetext(misery,quiet,tossingandturning)andtheboy’ssomberlookinoneoftheearlyillustrationsmakeitseem

that it was not a happy one. But, as often happens, a new day brings a freshperspective.The cat discovers that birds still fly outside thewindow, that thisnewplace also has lovely hiding places, and that his boy still comes home tohim.Realisticwatercolorartworkfeatureslargeillustrationsofthecat,theboy,and other objects in the home,making readers or listeners feel as if they arethere.

Rosen,MichaelJ.4–8yearsADRIVEINTHECOUNTRYIllustratedbyMarcBurckhardtCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2007|978-0-7636-2140-7

Thetwistingroadsaroundcountrysitesthatfilltheendpapersprovideapreviewto what readers will find inside this story of a stock family experience: theSundaydrive.Afamily—Mom,Dad,threekids,andadog—takeatripwithnorealendpoint.Theystopatvariousplacesalongtheway,drivingdowncurvingroadsinabeautifulcountrysideportrayedinacrylicillustrations.Acombinationoffulltwo-pagepictures,borderedone-pageillustrations,andsmallerscenesincirclesprovidevariety.Toldinfirstperson,thetextreadsasifafriendistellingaboutallthefunthingshedid.Therichcolorsoftheillustrations,theleisurelypacing of the story, and the solid feeling of family combine in this congenialstory.

Rosenthal,AmyKrouse4–8yearsONEOFTHOSEDAYSIllustratedbyRebeccaDoughtyNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2006|978-0-399-24365-3

Everyone has had one of those days, and this book names them specifically.With thiscleverconcept,eachpage,orsometimesa two-pagespread,presentsthetypeofdayinwordandpicture.FavoritePantsTooShortDay,ItchySweaterDay,Can’tFindStuffDay—seethemallhere.Theillustrations,inpaintandink,show a young boy or girl undergoing the trial of that particular day.Comicaldrawings and bright colorsmake the artwork kid friendly.While some of thedays are laugh-out-loud humorous, others are poignant.This bookwould be agreat discussion starter on feelings and bouncing back from disappointments.OneofThoseDays isoneof thosebooks thatenters intoachild’ssensibilitiesandunderstands.

Rylant,Cynthia4–8yearsALLINADAYIllustratedbyNikkiMcClureNewYork:Abrams,2009|978-0-8109-8321-2

Howcantheconceptoftimebeexplainedtoachild?Thisseeminglyimpossibletaskmight be just a bit easier if this book is used to describe “a day.”Withrhyming text,Rylantmakesclearhowaday’snewnesssignifieshopeand thatanything can happen.McClure’s illustrations depict a young boy in a countrysetting,withchickensandagarden,withdandelionsandahammock,withwalksinthewoodsandasuddenrainstorm.(Seefigure2.4.)Anartist’snoteattheendexplains the process of making the cut-paper illustrations, including how thecolors—alternating gold and pale blue with each page turn—were added bycomputer.Theoverallschemeofblackandwhitewithjustonecolorcombinedwiththeuniqueillustrationsisbeautifullyspareonsomepagesandremarkablydetailed on others. Altogether, it evokesmoods of happiness and satisfaction,which work well with the poetic text. In the last scene, the little boy walkstowardtherisingsun,shoveloverhisshoulder,readytomeetthenewdayasthetextencourageslistenerstoseizethedayandmakeittheirown.

Sanders-Wells,Linda4–8yearsMAGGIE’SMONKEYSIllustratedbyAbbyCarterSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2009|978-0-7636-3326-4

Whatisreal,andaretheresituationswhereitjustdoesnotmatter?Abigbrotherfiguresthisoutwhenhislittlesistertellsthefamilythatpinkmonkeysnowliveintherefrigerator.Everyoneelseinthefamily—Dad,Mom,andoldersister—goalongwithMaggie’snotion.Butherbrotherkeepsremindingeveryonethatthemonkeysarenotreal.Toldinfirstpersonfromhispointofview,thestorybuildsonhisfrustrationwithhisfamilyandtheiracceptanceofthesemonkeys.Butoneday,whenhisfriendsvisitandstartteasingMaggie,hecomestoherdefenseandstands up to his friends. With every question they ask, he counters with theanswersthatothermembersofhisfamilyhavegivenhim.Illustrations,inblackcolored pencil and gouache, portray the family in cartoon style with brightcolors. The brother’s frustration and the other family members’ benignacceptance come through clearly and humorously in the artwork. An impishtwist: some of the illustrations feature a pink border; some of these include a

little pinkmonkey crawling along the side or perched on top. This is a livelystoryaboutfamilyloyaltyandthemagicofimagination.

Figure2.4.AllinaDay

Shannon,David4–8yearsTOOMANYTOYSIllustratedbyDavidShannonNewYork:BlueSky/Scholastic,2008|978-0-439-49029-0

Shannon’s signature humorous situations and giddily goofy illustrationsmake

this book a delightful experience for children and adults. When Spencer’smotherfinallyreachesherlimitwiththemessinhisroom,sheinsiststhathegetrid of some of his toys. Andwho can arguewith her? Just about every pageburstswithtoysofallkinds.GloriouscolorandrealistictextdetailwhattypesoftoysSpencerplayswithandwhere the toyscamefrom.Twoscenesofspecialnote:Spencergivinghismotherthebig-eyed,aw-momlookwhenshedarestotrytothrowoutadirtyoldstuffedbunny,andSpencerinanofficesettingasheargues his case to negotiate a deal with hismother for keeping the toy train.Genius!Adultswill laughwith recognition, and kidswill relate to Spencer inthisslice-of-lifeadventure.

Shea,Bob5–9yearsBIGPLANSIllustratedbyLaneSmithNewYork:Hyperion,2008|978-1-4231-1100-9

Consideringitsbigsize(9.5by13inches),itshugetypefonts,anditsover-the-topbraggadocio,thisbookhastheperfecttitle.Alookinsidetheheadofaboywho has been placed in the corner of his classroom, the story features hisimaginings:fromtakingoverabusinessmeeting,towinningafootballgame,allthewayuptobeingthepresidentandthenanastronaut.Themixed-mediaandcollageillustrationscomplementperfectlythewacky,no-holds-barrednatureofthestory.Anyonewhosecretlyhasdreamedofbeingthebossofeveryonewillenjoythisbook.

Sheth,Kashmira4–8yearsMONSOONAFTERNOONIllustratedbyYoshikoJaeggiAtlanta:Peachtree,2008|978-1-56145-455-6

AyoungboyinIndiafindsawillingplaymateinhisdadaji—hisgrandfather—onarainyafternoon.Theyraceboats,watchapeacock,visitthebanyantreesothe little boy can swing and pick mangoes. This sweet tale transcendsnationalitiesasitportraysthelovebetweenagrandsonandgrandfatherandthesimplejoysofplayingandobservingnature.(Seefigure2.5.)Thetwoalsotalkaboutwhat the grandfather did as a young boy and imaginewhat the presentlittleboywilldowhenheisagrandfather.Whenhisgrandmotherscoldsthemfortrackinginmud,theboyandhisgrandfathereventakeonthesamesheepish

expression. Thewatercolor illustrations, soft andmuted, reflect the rainy day.Their view of an Indian street, courtyard, and house will be interesting forchildrenwhoarejustlearningaboutculturaldifferences.

Figure2.5.MonsoonAfternoon

Shields,Gillian3–7yearsDOGFISHIllustratedbyDanTaylorNewYork:Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2008|978-1-4169-7127-6

Whatcanaboydowhenhismotherinsiststhathedoesnotneedadogandthathisgoldfishisjustasgoodapet?Thefirst-personnarrativelendsimmediacytohis story;healso throws incommentson the feelings thecharactersportray—sad, irritated,hopeless—whichare thenreflected in the illustrations.Overall,amoodofhumorcomesthroughassonandmothertradereasonsforandagainst,andas theboy tries to treathisgoldfish likeadog.The illustrations, rendereddigitally,arespareandmodernlooking.Theroundheadsofthecharactersmatchtheroundgoldfishbowl,roundgoldfish,androundheadoftheimaginarypet.Adelightful charmer of a story over a familiar battle. Supplement with Emma

Dodd’sWhatPettoGet?(Scholastic,2008),wherealittleboycomesupwithallkindsofwild ideas that hismother shootsdown;You? byVladimirRadunsky(Harcourt, 2009), where a girl finds a pet in the park; and Fiona Roberton’sWanted:ThePerfectPet(Putnam’s,2009),inwhichaduckconvincesaboythatheisideal.

Stein,DavidEzra4–8yearsINTERRUPTINGCHICKENIllustratedbyDavidEzraSteinSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2010|978-0-7636-4168-9

Justasthetitlepromises,thisstoryfeaturesachickenwhoinsistsoninterruptingthebedtimestoriesthatherpapatells.Oneaftertheother,favoritetalessuchasHanselandGretel,LittleRedRidingHood,andChickenLittledonotmake itpast the second page, as the chicken bursts in with words of warning to thestorybook characters. The illustrations—in watercolor, crayon, china marker,pen,opaquewhite ink,and tea—abound in reds,greens,andbluesand featurethecharacterswithexaggeratedheadsandtailfeathers.Thepagesthatopenupto the storybooks depict an immediate change; not only the fact that an openbook is pictured, but the illustrations change to muted colors and a limitedpalette. So when the little chicken literally enters the story, her bright colorscontrast.Therepetitionof the threestorieswith threeinterruptions leads to thelittlechickenwritingandillustratingherownstory,doneinchildlikedrawingsandletters.Asweetendingfinallybringsrestinthisstoryofafamiliarbedtimeritual.Anotheranimalthatlikestointerruptstories,thistimeadog,starsinPeterCatalanotto’sIvantheTerrier(Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2007).

Stevenson,RobertLouis4–8yearsTHEMOONIllustratedbyTraceyCampbellPearsonNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2006|978-0-374-35046-8

Apoem by the famous nineteenth-century author Stevenson forms the text ofthispicturebook.Thewatercolor-and-inkillustrationsdepictayoungboygoingoutforanighttimeboatridewithhisfather.Atfirstglance,thestorytoldinthepictureshaslittletodowiththepoem,buteachlinecontainselementsreflectedin the illustrations.Amoodofadventureand funpermeates the tripout to theboat,theboatride,andthetripbackhome.Themoonappearsoneverytwo-page

spread,exceptfortheverylast,whenmorninghascome.SharpeyeswillnoticethatinthatscenethelittleboyrunstohisparentswiththebookTheMoon.Anexcellent example of illustrations complementing text, with neither explainingthe other, this book could be used as a learning opportunity for poetry. Thismightevenbeonethatchildrenwillmemorizeontheirownwithenoughrepeatreadings.

Sullivan,Sarah4–8yearsONCEUPONABABYBROTHERIllustratedbyTriciaTusaNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2010|978-0-374-34635-5

More than just another pesky little brother story, this book combines thebothersome brother with the creativity of the writing process. Lizzie loves tomakeupstories,andwhenherlittlebrother,Marvin,comesalong,hebecomespartofherplots.Althoughheisapain,heunwittinglyhelpsherovercomeherwriter’sblock.Everydayscenesofschoolandhomelifetakeonacharmingcastwith humorous illustrations and stories within the story. Little extras likeLizzie’sspecialPrincessMerriweatherpencilandMarvin’smanymessesaddtothe giggles. The textmakes clear thewriting process, including its highs andlows,andbringshomethepointthatstoriesarebestwhenshared.

Swanson,SusanMarie3–7yearsTHEHOUSEINTHENIGHTIllustratedbyBethKrommesBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2008|978-0-618-86244-3

Acomforting reverie abouthomecombineswith fantasy, as agirl flieson theback of a bird over her town and up above themoon.The rhythmof the textmakes it a delight as a read-aloud. A wonderful example of precision oflanguage,thetextcombinesseamlesslywiththedetailedillustrations.Withthreecolors—black,white, andgold—Krommesprovides the readerwith thewholeworld from a single room to outer space. Each of the double-page spreadscontainsoneormoreobjectsofthebrightcolor,highlightedinthescratchboardillustrations.ThisbookwasaCaldecottMedalwinnerin2009.Readersmayfeelits kinship to Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon, as well as thecumulativestoryofTheHouseThatJackBuilt.

Viorst,Judith4–8yearsJUSTINCASEIllustratedbyDianaCainBluthenthalNewYork:GineeSeo/Atheneum,2006|978-0-689-87164-1

Charlie,whoalwaysimaginestheworst,believesinbeingprepared.Viorst’stexthumorously details his imagined fears and his sometimes over-the-toppreparations,suchasdiggingapitinhisyardforalionthatmaygetloose.Theillustrations inmixedmediamatch thegentlehumor inhis imaginedscenariosandhiscomplicatedpreparations.Intheend,asurprisebirthdaypartytrulytakeshim by surprise—it is one situation for which he has not prepared. Thesometimescrazy thingsCharliedoeswill appeal tochildren,whowill identifywithhisworryandwithhisimagination.Theillustrations,presentedsimplywithlotsofwhitespace,featurebrightcolorsandincorporatecollage.Agoodchoiceforread-aloudsorforone-on-onesharing.

Wardlaw,Lee4–8yearsWONTON:ACATTALETOLDINHAIKUIllustratedbyEugeneYelchinNewYork:HenryHolt,2011|978-0-8050-8995-0

Telling a story within a demanding form is difficult;Wardlawmakes it lookeffortlessassheusessenryu,aformofJapanesepoetry.Likehaiku,senryuisapoemofthreelines,withfivesyllablesinthefirst,seveninthesecond,andfiveinthethird.Clearlyexpressed,WonTon’sjourneyfromananimalshelter toanew home shows humor, attitude, and growing affection for his new family.Illustrations rendered in graphite and gouache onwatercolor paper offer sparevisuals—usually just Won Ton and an object or two on each page—whichcoordinatebeautifullywiththetext.TheendpapersfeatureagreatexpanseofcatfurthatmatchesWonTon’sgrayishbluefurthroughoutthebook.Besidesbeingaheartwarmingstoryofarescueanimal,thisbookisanexcellentsupplementalsourceforthestudyofhaikuandsenryuforanyagegroup.

Weeks,Sarah4–8yearsSOPHIEPETERMANTELLSTHETRUTH!IllustratedbyRobertNeubeckerNewYork:BeachLane,2009|978-1-4169-8686-7

The truth that Sophie feels compelled to tell concerns babies. This humorouslookatbeingabigsisteristoldinthefirstperson,accompaniedbyillustrationsthatgobeyondthewordsinexpressinghowperfectlyawfulherlittlebrotheris.The text includes lots of large, hand-drawn words and phrases that conveySophie’s disgust and exasperation. The cartoon-style illustrations, in India inkandcoloreddigitally,comeonstrong,justlikethetitlecharacter.Anarticulatebigsister,Sophierevealsherirritationbuteventuallyfindsthatshedoeslikethelittleguy.Thisbookwillappealtoallkidswhothinktheiryoungersiblingsaremonsters. Pair withHow to Be a Baby—by Me, the Big Sister (Schwartz &Wade,2007)bySallyLloyd-Jones.See thisplot turnedupsidedown inJamesSolheim’sBornYesterday:TheDiaryofaYoungJournalist(Philomel,2010),inwhichababyexplainshersister.

Wong,JanetS.4–8yearsHOMEGROWNHOUSEIllustratedbyE.B.LewisNewYork:MargaretK.McElderry/Simon&Schuster,2009|978-0-689-84718-9

Noplaceisquiteascomfortingasagrandmother’shouse,asthegirlinthisstorydiscoverswhensheisfacedwithmovingtoyetanothernewplace.Sherecallsher family’s previous three houses andwonders at her parents’ need tomoveagain.EnvelopedintheloveofGrandmom,sherelatesthethingsthattheyliketodo togetherrevolvingaroundthegrandmother’shouseandits importance toher.Thelovelywatercolorillustrationspickupthisthemewithscenesofthegirlandhergrandmothergardeningandcooking.Grandmom’scommentsrevealhertobefeisty,apositivethinker,andlovingtowardhergrandchild.Thisstoryandthe impressionistic illustrationswrap the reader inablanketofagrandparent’slove.

Woodson,Jacqueline4–8yearsPECANPIEBABYIllustratedbySophieBlackallNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons/Penguin,2010|978-0-399-23987-8

Sibling rivalry before the new baby actually arrives is not uncommon. In thisstoryGiaresentsthecomingbabywhomeveryone,itseems,cannotstoptalkingabout.Evenherfriends’jumproperhymesareaboutbabies.NoticeGia’ssizeinsomeoftheillustrationswheresheisfeelingespeciallycrowdedoutbytalkof,

and preparation for, the new baby. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations depict anAfrican American girl and her mother, with multiethnic school friends andrelatives. This story sweetly captures themixed emotions of a big sister whofeelsherrelationshipwithhermotherwillbechangedforever.

Yolen,Jane,andHeidiE.Y.Stemple3–8yearsNOTALLPRINCESSESDRESSINPINKIllustratedbyAnne-SophieLanquetinNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-8018-6

Forallthosegirlsgoingthroughtheprincessphase,thisbookreinforcestheideathat girls can play sports, get dirty, fix things, and enjoymany fun activities.Theymaystillweartheirprincesscrowns,buttheyalsodressinsportsjerseys,jeans, overalls, and bike helmets. The delightful digital illustrations feature adiversecollectionofactivegirls,allwiththeircrowns.Teachers,librarians,andparentsmaywanttousethisstory,aniceantidotetotheplethoraofpink,toletboth girls and boys know that many facets to one’s personality and manydifferentinterestscancoexist.Therhymingtextcomprisesbetweentwoandfourlinespertwo-pagespread,whichkeepsthestoryrollingalongtothefinalscene,aroyalballwithallmannerofclothes—butnopink!PairwithMaryHoffman’sPrincessGrace(Dial,2008),inwhichGraceandherclassmateslearnaboutrealprincessesthroughouthistoryandtheworld,shatteringseveralstereotypes.

3

InMyCommunityInthepicturebooksinthissection,themainrelationshipsportrayedexistoutsidethefamily,butstillwithinthecommunity.Thebooksrepresentamovingouttoother places, with a potential for fear, but also great fun. The realization thateveryfamilyisnotlikeone’sownfamily,anecessarystepinmaturity,maybeexploredindiscussion.Separatesectionsforfriendsandschoolareincluded.

Addy,SharonHart4–8yearsLUCKYJAKEIllustratedbyWadeZaharesBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2007|978-0-618-47286-4

Jakeandhispa,panningforgoldintheWest,findonenugget.ThistakesthemtoastorewhereJake findsapetpig,which inadvertentlyguides them to theirrealtreasure:establishingarestaurantandshop.Eventsleadingtoconsequencesthatbuildupononeanothercarrythestoryalong,asthefatherandsonbecomeplanters, cooks, and traders of goods. Although Pa always invokes luck, it ishard work and clever trading that bring them success. The large illustrations,rendered in pastels, capture the spirit of life during theGoldRush.Rich-huedcolorsofdeeppurple,orange,andgreenestablishamoodofwarmth.Thelovebetweenfatherandson,thoughneverovertlyexpressed,isevident,asareJake’sfeelingsforhispig,therealinitiatorofluck.ThoughnotromanticizingtheOldWest,LuckyJakemakesitrelatabletotoday’schildren.

Ashman,Linda4–8yearsCREAKYOLDHOUSE:ATOPSY-TURVYTALEOFAREALFIXER-UPPERIllustratedbyMichaelChesworthNewYork:Sterling,2009|978-1-4027-4461-7

Withapleasantlyrhymingtextandcomicallybusyillustrations, thisstorytellsthe tale of a large family in a dilapidated house and what happens when thedoorknobfallsoff.Variousmembersofthefamilycomeupwithideastofixit,with outside help, which build in a daffy succession until the family finally

decides they must design an entirely new home. First-person voice lends aninsider feel to the goings-on. Note the placement of the ink, watercolor, andpencil illustrationsoneachpage, and theuseofwhite space to surround themand to hold the text. Some illustrations feature cutaway views of the house,allowing readers to see the location of each family member. Others offer abird’s-eye view, looking down at a large scene of activity.And every page isbusy;witheightpeopleinamultigenerationalfamily,plusadog,anatmosphereoffunandcooperationburststhrough.Theillustrationsreflectthewordsofthetext andaddmoredetail. In theend, thebaby resolves thedoorknobproblem,simplyandsweetly,andthefamilydecidestheylovetheirhouseasis.

Blue,Rose,andCorinneJ.Naden4–8yearsRON’SBIGMISSIONIllustratedbyDonTateNewYork:Dutton/Penguin,2009|978-0-525-47849-2

Ron’smissiononthedayofthisstoryistobecomethefirstAfricanAmericantoobtainalibrarycardandcheckoutbooksatLakeCityPublicLibraryinSouthCarolinain1959.Thekindlyheadlibrarianknowshimastheboywholovestoreadandevenconsidershimherbestcustomer,althoughhehasbeenallowedtoreadthebooksonlyatthelibrary.Onthisday,heaskstocheckoutbooksandeven standson the counter inorder tomakehis case.After thepolice andhismotherarecalled,theheadlibrariandecidestoissuehimacard.ThetextbringsoutRon’sdeterminationandsenseofpurpose.IllustrationsinrichcolorsfeatureRon in the center of most scenes. Airplanes in the sky in several picturesforeshadow his future. In addition to celebrating the love of reading, thisfictionalizedstorywillintroduceyounglistenerstoatimeofsegregationandtoayoungboywhostoodupforhisrights.Anauthor’snoteattheendtellstherestofRonMcNair’sstory:hegrewuptobecomeanastronaut,oneofthecrewofthespaceshuttleChallengerin1986.

Bridges,ShirinYim4–8yearsTHEUMBRELLAQUEENIllustratedbyTaeeunYooNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2008|978-0-06-075040-4

The struggle of an artist between producing formoney and creating from theheartshinesthroughthisstory,setinThailand.Nooteagerlyjoinsthewomenin

thevillagebusinessofpaintingumbrellas.Whileshecanpaintcompetentlytheflowersandbutterfliesthathavelongbeenthelocaltradition,shereallylovestopaint elephants.Although her family expresses displeasurewith her choice ofsubject,sheisvindicatedwhenthekingcomesthroughthevillagetoinspecttheumbrellas and names Noot Umbrella Queen for the New Year holiday. Theillustrations,linoleumprintswithpencil,featurefinelinesinthescenesofbothindustriousworkandbusyvillagelife.Thesecomplementandexpandthetext,which also relates how umbrellas are made and how the villagers interact.Shadesoforange,gold,andturquoisepredominate,withpinkandblueelephantsmaking a delightful contrast. Take note of the endpapers: the front withtraditionallypaintedfloralumbrellas,thebackwithelephantsontheumbrellas.

Brown,TamekaFryer4–8yearsAROUNDOURWAYONNEIGHBORS’DAYIllustratedbyCharlotteRiley-WebbNewYork:Abrams,2010|978-0-8109-8971-9

Acrylic illustrations full of expressive energy and movement, coupled withpoetic text,willmake readerswant to live in this neighborhood.Ayounggirlmakesvariousstopsatlocalspots—foricecream,atheruncle’sbarbershop,pastchess-playing neighbors—in order to get home in time for the block party.Bringinginthefoods,music,andactivitiesoftheparty,theauthorandillustratortogethercelebrateacommunityofvariousethnicitiesandages.Noticethegreatrhythmofthetextandtheunconventionalrhyming.

Croza,Laurel4–9yearsIKNOWHEREIllustratedbyMattJamesToronto:Groundwood/HouseofAnansi,2010|978-0-88899-923-8

Althoughanumberof children’sbooks treat the situationofmoving to anewhome, this story concerns a little girl and her familywho are part of a smallgrouptemporarilylivingintrailerswhileworkingonadam-buildingprojectinSaskatchewan.ThefamiliesfindthattheywillnextmovetoToronto,andthereinlies the tension in thestory. Inexpressive language thatevokes thesenses, thegirlenumerateswhatsheknows—theroadwhereshelives,theforestwheresheplays,thecreekwherehersistercatchesfrogs.WhenherteacherhasthechildrendrawpicturesoftheirmemoriesofthisplacetotaketoToronto,thegirldraws

manyofthethingsshehasknownandseen.Richlycoloredillustrationsenhanceherfeelingsofexcitementtingedwithnostalgia.Severalofthemframethetextininterestingways—forexample,onthepull-downmapintheclassroom,inadrawingofaneye,andonthatpieceofpapershefoldsupwithhermemories.The endpapers offer an artist-drawn map of Canada, from the province ofSaskatchewanto thecityofToronto,withanimalsandplantsnativetoCanadaadding visual detail. The small size of the book makes it personal, too. Anevocativelook,toldinfirstperson,atthelivesofworkerswhomustfollowthejob.

Cunnane,Kelly4–8yearsFORYOUAREAKENYANCHILDIllustratedbyAnaJuanNewYork:AnneSchwartz/Atheneum,2006|978-0-689-86194-9

Followingtheleadofthetitle,thetextispresentedinsecondperson,addressedtoayoungboyasheproceedsthroughoneday.Heherdscows,visitsvillagers,plays with his friends, and even gets into trouble. Acrylic-and-crayon artportraysthevillagersandanimalsexpressively,especiallytheireyes.Inadditionto mirroring the action of the text, the illustrations also provide details of aKenyan village. The text includes several Swahili words; a glossary at thebeginning of the book provides definitions and pronunciations. Listeners willrelatetothechildwho,likechildreneverywhere,forgetstodohischoresinthefaceofother,moreinterestingactivities.

Daly,Niki4–8yearsRUBYSINGSTHEBLUESIllustratedbyNikiDalyNewYork:Bloomsbury,2005|978-1-59990-029-2|paper

A little girl’s booming voice torments the people in her neighborhood and atschooluntilshetakessinginglessonsandlearnstochannelhersound.Cartoon-style illustrations, rendered inpencil andballpointpenanddigitally enhanced,makeRuby’s storyappealing.Musicalmotifsonhervoice teacher’sdressandherschoolconcertcostume,aswellasthedesignsonherpainter-mother’sdress,add an artistic flair.Her loudness is illustratedwith hand-letteredwords, verylargeinthepictures.Touchesofhumorappear,suchasherteacherattemptingtoteachRuby to useher shirt buttons as on, off, andvolume control.Endpapers

exudeajazzystyle,withbrightcolorsandlinedrawingsofmusicalinstrumentsandsymbols.

Henson,Heather4–8yearsTHATBOOKWOMANIllustratedbyDavidSmallNewYork:Atheneum,2008|978-1-4169-0812-8

Aboywhohasnouseforreadingorbooks,andwholooksdownonhissisterwho loves them, finds a slow-growing admiration for a woman on horsebackwho brings free books to hismountain home. A beautiful tribute to the PackHorse Librarians who delivered books in the Appalachians during the GreatDepression,thisbookshowsgreatrespectforanilliterateboyasittellsthestoryfrom his point of view. Illustrations, rendered in ink, watercolor, and pastelchalk,usepalecolorstoshowtheisolationandhardscrabblelifeofthemountainpeople. The text employs Appalachian dialect and believably shows thetransition fromsuspicion toappreciation toadesire to read thatoccurs inCal.Andwhatfacialexpressionsheisgiven!They,too,showthischangethroughoutthecourseof thestory.Thebookconcludeswithanauthor’snoteon thePackHorse Librarians and a list of websites and books about them. For anotherfictionalized story based upon a real librarian, read Gloria Houston’s MissDorothyandHerBookmobile(HarperCollins,2011).

Ingalls,Ann,andMaryannMacdonald4–8yearsTHELITTLEPIANOGIRLIllustratedbyGisellePotterBoston:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2010|978-0-618-95974-7|librarybinding

This fictionalized version of the early life of Mary Lou Williams introducesyoung readers and listeners to this important jazz pianist and composer. Therhythm and words of the text fit the musical theme, enhanced by charmingillustrationsofMaryLou,herfamily,andneighbors.Eventhelayoutofthetextin someareas recalls amusical scale, as each line is indented in from theonebefore.Byconcentratingonher childhood, the story shouldappeal to childrenwhocanrelatetoMaryLou’smovetoanewtown,encounterswithbullies,andembarrassmentoverhershoes.ThegouacheillustrationsfeaturemanyscenesofMary Lou playing the piano, which was her passion and her talent from anincrediblyyoungage.

Johnson,Dinah4–9yearsHAIRDANCE!IllustratedbyKellyJohnsonNewYork:HenryHolt,2007|978-0-8050-6523-7

Braids, puffs, dreadlocks, straightened: this book is a celebration of thehairstyles of African American girls. In a variety of color photographs, thesegirlsembodybeautyandpride,joy,andreflection.Thepacingandthediversityof styles andmoods are designed to appeal to young girls. The author’s noteabout culture and the photographer’s introduction about her grandparents’beautysalonaddcontextandbackground.Alistoffurtherreadingforkidsandgrown-ups appears on the last page. A wonderful example of photographicillustration,thisbookalsofeaturespoetictextsetoncolorfulstripesandblocksofarainbowofcolors.

Lin,Grace3–7yearsTHANKINGTHEMOON:CELEBRATINGTHEMID-AUTUMNMOONFESTIVALIllustratedbyGraceLinNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2010|978-0-375-86101-7

AniceintroductiontotheChineseMoonFestival,thisstoryfollowsafamily—Ma-Ma,Ba-Ba,andthreedaughters—outintothecountryforapicnicandparty.Withspecialfoodsandlanterns,thefamilybecomespartofalargegrouponthehillside, picnicblankets spreadwith treats and lanterns lit tomimic themoon.Gouacheillustrations,colorfulyetreflectingadarkbluenighttimesky,showthemooncakes, smiling steamed cakes, pomelos, and Asian pears, as well as theequipmentneededfor the lanterns.Autumnleaves insomeillustrationsremindreadersthatthisisaharvestfestival,celebratedinthefall.Theendpapersfeaturesimpleillustrationsoftheobjectsusedinthefamily’spicnic,whichreadersandlisteners can then look forwithin the pages of the story.A two-page author’snote at the end explains the Mid-Autumn Festival and how Asian familiescelebratethisholiday.

Martin,JacquelineBriggs5–8yearsTHEWATERGIFTANDTHEPIGOFTHEPIGIllustratedbyLindaS.WingerterBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2003|978-0-618-07436-5

Boston:HoughtonMifflin,2003|978-0-618-07436-5

Gorgeousacrylicillustrationsandmovingtextcombinewonderfullyinthisstoryaboutagrandfathertoldfromhisgranddaughter’spointofview.Likethestoriesofhisdaysasaseacaptain, thestyleisoneoflongago.Grandfatherseemstohave losthisgift for findingwaterwithadiviningrod.Whenhispetpig—thelast offspring of the pig he kept onboard his ship—goesmissing, he gives upcompletely.Withthehelpofhisgranddaughter,helocatesthepigandwitnessesthe return of his gift for finding water. The illustrations, beautifully textured,conveybroadswathsofsea,fields,androadscontrastingwithdetailedfaces.Amixtureofwarmandcoolcolorsaccentuatesthetuggingoftheseaandthelandfor both grandfather and the little girl. Readers and listeners may want toinvestigate further the phenomenon of divining rods and findingwaterwith aforkedstick.

McGhee,Alison6–9yearsSONGOFMIDDLECIllustratedbyScottMenchinSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2009|978-0-7636-3013-3

Aperkylittlepianostudentpracticesconstantlyinordertoprepareforarecital.Simpleyetappealingillustrations,doneinpenandinkandcoloreddigitally,willappealtothosefollowingthestoryofherpreparationandthenherproblemwhensheforgetswhatshehasmemorized.Told in firstperson, thestory reveals thegirl’s formula for success: imagination, lots of practice, and lucky underwear.Who knows which one helps as she overcomes her trial of forgetfulness?Studentswhohaveexperiencedrecitalsofanykindandthosewholiketoreadorlistentostoriesaboutpluckyheroineswillenjoythisone.

Newman,Lesléa4–8yearsMISSTUTU’SSTARIllustratedbyCareyArmstrong-EllisNewYork:Abrams,2010|978-0-8109-8396-0

Inthisbook,balletisforeveryone,nomatterwhatsizeorshape.Selenalovestodance even though she is not themost graceful when she begins her lessons.ComicalillustrationsingouacheandcoloredpencilpresentSelenaasenergeticandfullofmistakesbutwillingtoworktoimprove.Lookfor thefacingpages

thatshowtheprogressoftheclassfromoneyeartothenext.PageswhereSelenaappears largeandat thecenterofattentioninterspersewithpageswhereshe isjustoneofmanyintheballetclass,orwhereshefeelssmallandscaredbeforethe recital.A feeling of joy flows throughout the story, even through dancingdifficulties,andculminatesat the recital.Notice the longscarf in theaudiencethatbindstogetherSelena’sfamilyandfriends;sharp-eyedreaderswillseehermomknittingthisscarfinearlierillustrations.Oneofthebestthingsaboutthisbookisitsdepictionoftheheroineasnotultrathinorespeciallycoordinated.Sheisreal.Sheisbrave.Shefollowsherpassion.

Pelley,KathleenT.4–8yearsRAJTHEBOOKSTORETIGERIllustratedbyPaigeKeiserWatertown,MA:Charlesbridge,2011|978-1-58089-230-8

Somanypositivesinthisstory:itsdepictionofanindependentbookstore,prideinoneself,andhandlingabully.Acatbelieveshimselftobeatigerbecausehisowner,abookstoreowner,tellshimsoandthecustomersatthestoretreathimthatway.Whenaninterlopercatjoinshiminthestoreandsetshimstraight,ittakes the poetry of William Blake and a guest author to restore his pride.Watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations feature fine lines and varied colorsthat capture Raj’s moods and the activity in the bookstore, as well as theaffectionthateveryonehasforthebookstoretiger.

Robert,Na’imaB.4–8yearsRAMADANMOONIllustratedbyShirinAdlLondon:FrancesLincoln,2009|978-1-84507-922-2

A young girl explains the Muslim month of Ramadan, with its activities offasting, prayer, and charity. In the prose poem text, she relates how herimmediatefamilyspendsthemonth,butshealsoconnectsit toMuslimsinhercommunityandaroundtheworld.Illustrationsofwatercolor,collage,andcolorpencilsfeaturefinelines,amultitudeofcolors,andinterestingtextures.Noticethebackgroundsoneachpageandthevarietyofmaterialsused:crushedtissuepaper toportray the skyandwater, a collageofpostage stamps,paperprintedwith Arabic symbols, and more. Fabrics, photographs, and detailed drawingsprovide visual appeal. The first and last pages frame the story and reflect the

title,withreferencestothemoon.Lyricallanguageandchild-friendlyartmakethis book an effective introduction to this Islamic religious observance for theyoung. Pair this with Maha Addasi’s The White Nights of Ramadan (BoydsMills,2008).

Schwartz,Joanne4–8yearsOURCORNERGROCERYSTOREIllustratedbyLauraBeingessnerToronto:Tundra,2009|978-0-88776-868-2

Ayounggirlhelpsoutinhergrandparents’grocerystore,asmallmom-and-popbusiness that provides fresh produce, breads, sandwiches, and candy toneighborhoodcustomers.AnnaMariagoesthroughtheday,explainingwhatshedoes in the store to help her Nonna Rosa and Nonno Domenico. Sweetillustrations—colorful in the array of products for sale, the store environment,andtheneighborhood—makethestoreonethatanyonewouldwanttovisit.Forthosewholiveinasmalltownorneighborhoodwheresuchstoresstillexist,thestorymayseemfamiliar.Foradultsforwhomthistypeofstoreresidesonlyinthepast,thiswillbeatripdownmemorylanethattheycansharewithstudentsandchildren.

Smith,CynthiaLeitich4–8yearsHOLLERLOUDLYIllustratedbyBarryGottNewYork:Dutton/Penguin,2010|978-0-525-42256-3

Thetitlebecomesthenameofthemaincharacter,aboywhojustcannotspeakquietly.Fromthetimeofhisbirth,HollerisLOUD.Asuccessionofhumorousscenes illustrates his loudness and its effects on a classroom, at the movietheater,andoutfishingwithhisgrandfather.Eventhetextofhiswordsappearsmuch bigger—and in color—than the rest of the text on the page. The entiretownfinallytellshimtohush,butthenabigstormapproachesandhisvolumesaveseveryone.Thecartoondrawingsperfectlymatchthehumorous,over-the-top mood of the text, with plenty of details in the diverse crowd scenes toprovidenewsightsineachreading.Lookforthesurprisetwistattheend,asthetowndiscoversawaytohonorHoller’sloudness.

Spalding,Andrea,andAlfredScow6–9yearsSECRETOFTHEDANCE

SECRETOFTHEDANCEIllustratedbyDarleneGaitVictoria,BC:Orca,2006|978-1-55143-396-7

WhentheIndianagent tells theeldersofaCanadian tribe that theirdancing isforbidden,theytraveltoaremotevillageforapotlatchceremony.Thereayoungboywatches thedance thatportrays the storiesofhispeople.The illustrationscombine black and white with color to reflect the mood of each scene. Forexample,at thepotlatch, thecolorsof themasksandcostumesshowasboldlycolorfulredsandgreens.Inaddition,almosteveryillustrationincludespaintingsoftribalsymbolsoranimalsthattheyoungboyseesashelooksoutthewindoworpullsasideacurtain.BaseduponauthorScow’schildhoodwitnessingofthedance, this story provides a wonderful opportunity for discussions aboutdiscrimination and traditions ofFirstNations.The cover illustration features ayoungboy’seyes;thebackcover,anoldman’seyes.Includesahistoricalnoteandglossary.

Underwood,Deborah3–7yearsTHEQUIETBOOKIllustratedbyRenataLiwskaBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2010|978-0-547-21567-9

Hush!Celebratingthemanytypesofquietinachild’slife,thisbookprojectsagentle mood. Small animals acting as children star on each page, as the textpresentsthekindofquietillustrated.Solitaryactivitiessuchascoloringappear,asdoactivitieswithfriends,family,andschoolmates.Happytypesofquietareshown,inadditiontoonesthatresultfromnaughtinessandnervousness.Pencildrawingscoloreddigitallyshowwonderfultextureandgreatfacialexpressions.Teachers, librarians, andparentsmay imaginean immediateuse for thisbook,anditshouldwork;thecalmingrhythmofthewordsandsoftcolorsaresoothingenoughtosettlemosteveryone.

Wayland,AprilHalprin5–9yearsNEWYEARATTHEPIER:AROSHHASHANAHSTORYIllustratedbyStéphaneJorischNewYork:Dial,2009|978-0-8037-3279-7

Izzypreparesforamodern-dayJewishNewYearbymakingalistofwhatheissorryfor.Onthatday,hewalksdowntothepierwithhisfamily,therabbi,thecantor,andotherfamilies.Withhislistinmind,Izzysays“I’msorry”tothosehehaswronged.Izzyisa likablecharacterwhohasdonesomethingsthatanychild could relate to. With ink, watercolor, and gouache artwork featuringJorisch’sdistinctivefigures,thestoryprovidesagoodexplanationofthisJewishholiday and some of the traditions surrounding it—especially tashlich, thecasting away of wrongdoing. Izzy, his sister, his mother, classmates, andmembers of the congregation participate in the rituals of RoshHashanah in abookthatmelds lightheartednesswith thoughtfulreckoning.Agoodsourceforthestudyofotherculturesandreligions,thiswouldalsobeanexcellentchoiceforadiscussionoffriendship.

Whelan,Gloria6–10yearsYATANDOUIllustratedbyPeterSylvadaChelsea,MI:SleepingBear,2007|978-1-58536-211-0

Ayounggirl inMalirelates, infirstperson,howshehelpedthewomenofhervillageaffordamillet-grindingmachine.Whilehermothersellsfoodproductsatthemarket,Yatandousellsthegoatshehasnursedfromthetimehewasarunt.Thenewmachineeliminateshoursofpoundinggraineachday;italsobringstheopportunitytolearnfromateacherhowtoreadandwrite.Thishighlyaffectingstoryismatchedbyexpressiveillustrationsthatcapturetheheatandhardworkof the village people, especially Yatandou’s family. (See figure 3.1.) Anexcellentportrayalofaverydifferentlifeforchildren.

Figure3.1.Yatandou

Yang,Belle5–9yearsHANNAHISMYNAMEIllustratedbyBelleYangCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2004|978-0-7636-2223-7

Hannah’s story is an excellent explanation of green cards for young children.ComingtoAmericafromTaiwanwithhermotherandfather,Hannahmustlearnanewlanguageandwaitforwhatseemslikeforeverforthecovetedgreencardsto arrive. Gouache illustrations in bold colors portray Hannah in her newapartment,atschool,andatthedinerwhereherfatherworks.Shewearsredin

everyscene,symbolicofgoodfortuneinChineseculture.EndpapersinthefrontshowthefamilyinTaiwanwithanox-drivencartand,intheback,inataxiinSanFrancisco,theirnewhome.Setinthelate1960s,thisstorytranscendstimewithitsperfectcaptureofayoungchild’sinterpretationofevents.

Friends

Bailey,Linda4–8yearsSTANLEY’SWILDRIDEIllustratedbyBillSlavinToronto:KidsCan,2006|978-1-55337-960-7

DreamsofescapefromhisboringbackyardcometrueforStanleythedog,wholeadshiscaninefriendsonanoisynightoffun.Busted!Deliveredhomebythepolice, Stanley goes meekly back to his yard—sort of. The acrylic artworkhumorouslyportraysStanleyandthevariousbreedsofhisfriends,themannerinwhich thedogsescape, and their rides in rolling formsof transportation.Withdramaticpage turns,asentencebeginsononepageandcontinueson thenext,while the tension ratchets up. The text does amarvelous job of capturing theexcitedsenseoffreedomandofdescribinganitembyitslookorsmell,justasdogs would. For example, the skateboard is never named, just described as a“thing,”buttheillustrationsshowitveryclearly.ThisisoneofStanley’smanyadventureswithhisfriends,allofthemcomicalandfullofmischief.

Blumenthal,Deborah4–8yearsBLACKDIAMOND&BLAKEIllustratedbyMilesHymanNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2009|978-0-375-84003-6

Becausehecannolongerwin,aracehorseretirestoaprison,wherehebecomespartofahorsecareprogram.TherehemeetsBlake,whoisinprisonforstealingto support his siblings and sick father.Although told in third person, the textmakes clear Black Diamond’s feelings of pride, pain, sadness, and, finally,affection for Blake. Color choices in the dry pastel illustrations—soft gold,brown, and orange—enhance this tender look at the human-animal bond. Thesetting appears to be the 1930s, lending a nostalgic feel. Each illustration,whetherononepageoracross two, is framed inablack lineandkeptentirely

within that space,which fitswellwith the prison setting.Budding equestriansmay also enjoyOut of the Deeps (Orca, 2008), another story of a horse in auniquesetting—inthiscase,acoalmine.

Clark,EmmaChichester4–8yearsWILLANDSQUILLIllustratedbyEmmaChichesterClarkMinneapolis:Carolrhoda,2006|978-1-57505-936-5

Originallypublished inEngland, this storydelights in theuseof languageandpictureasitfollowsthedevelopingfriendshipofayoungboyandasquirrel.Therhyme-loving Will and Squill even develop their own language. Colorfulillustrations—withgreendominatingbecausemostscenestakeplaceoutdoors—featureavarietyof sizes:one fullpagealternatingwith twoscenesonapage,withtextinterspersedamongall.Thisplacementmakesthestoryfastmovingasit packs in all the activities thatWill and Squill share. Conflict occurs whenWill’sparentsgivehimakitten.HeenjoysitforawhilebutthenfindsthatheprefersSquill’s company.Parallel situations, echodialogue, andmatching textmaketheproselyrical.

Czekaj,Jef4–8yearsHIP&HOP,DON’TSTOP!IllustratedbyJefCzekajNewYork:Hyperion/Disney,2010|978-1-4231-1664-6

Hip,a turtlewholives inSlowjamzSwamp,andHop,arabbitwhomakesherhomeinBreakbeatMeadow, love tocreate rhymingraps.ButHip’sextremelyslowrapsputhisaudiencetosleep,andHop’sfastonescannotbeunderstood.They meet while preparing for a rap concert and decide to work together.Instructionsatthebeginningofthisstorytellthereaderatwhatspeedtoreadthecolor-coded rhymes, either fast or slow, which should prove amusing tolisteners. The comic-style art, featuring dialogue balloons, funny animals, andreferencestopopularculture,complementthesubjectnicely.HipandHoplearntoblendtheirstylesandalsoencouragetheotheranimalstojoininthedancing,whichprovidesapositiveendingtothisstory.

Egan,Tim4–8yearsROASTEDPEANUTS

IllustratedbyTimEganBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2006|978-0-618-33718-7

Thetitlegivesaclueastowhatisgoingtobeimportantinthisbaseballstory.AlthoughSamandJacksonliketothinkthattheywillsomedayplaytogetherinthebigleagues,theybothknowthatSamisanaturalathlete,goodatallaspectsofbaseball,whereasJacksoncanonlythrow.Lookingoutforandencouragingeachother,Sammakes the teamandJacksonbecomesapeanutvendorknownforhismany-rows-over tosses.Withacastofanimalcharacters,andSamasahorseandJacksonasacat, this storynevertheless is a studyofhumannature,withitsjoysanditsdisappointments,sweetenedbyloyaltyandtruefriendship.Ink-and-watercolor illustrations feature tall Sam and squat Jackson, plus anassortment of pigs, cows, dogs, and others at the baseball field and in theneighborhood. Subdued humor and likable characters make this story achampionshipread.

Espinosa,Laura4–8yearsOTISANDRAEANDTHEGRUMBLINGSPLUNKIllustratedbyLeoEspinosaBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2008|978-0-618-98206-6

Boldbrightcolorsinblue,pink,andorangewillcatchtheeyeinitially,andthestoryoftwofriendsonacampoutwhomeetafriendlymonsterwillcontinuetheattraction.Uncomplicated comical illustrations in a graphic novel style—somepanels, dialogue balloons, lines around heads indicating strong emotions—arerendered in a mix of pencil, coffee, gouache, and Photoshop. Brave Rae andscaredOtismakeagoodpairastheygetintoandoutofseveralsituations,nonetooscaryfortheyoungercrowd.Thesplunkisnottoofrightening,either,buthedoesemit agreatgrumble,whichholdsexcellentpossibilities fora read-aloudsession.

Fleming,Denise3–7yearsBUSTERIllustratedbyDeniseFlemingNewYork:HenryHolt,2003|978-0-8050-6279-3

Isn’titcommonknowledgethatdogsandcatsdon’tcareforeachother?Buster,thetitledog,leadsaprettygoodlifeuntilhisowner,BrownShoes,bringshome

Betty,acat.Busterdisplayshisemotionsinbothillustrationsandtexthere:hisfear,whichcauseshimtostiffen;hisstudiednonchalanceasBettytakesoverhisfavorite things;hisangerwhenshegoes toofarandchangeshis favorite radiostation. Fleming showsBuster’s exuberance as he escapes to a beautiful park,thenhis increasingpanicashetries tofindhiswaybackhome.Isn’t itperfectthatBetty, up in a tree, leadshimback?Thedeep-hued illustrations,madeby“pouring colored cotton fiber through hand-cut stencils,” according to theillustrationinformation,appealintheircolorandtexturedlook.(Seefigure3.2.)Amapthat illustratesBuster’spathfromtheparkbackhomewilldelightmapreaderswholiketofollowalong.Inafurtheradventure,BusterGoestoCowboyCamp(Holt,2008).

Figure3.2.Buster

Frazee,Marla4–8yearsACOUPLEOFBOYSHAVETHEBESTWEEKEVERIllustratedbyMarlaFrazeeOrlando:Harcourt,2008|978-0-15-206020-6

Frazee provides a perfect example of a picture book where the illustrationsconveytheoppositeofthetext,providingloadsoflaughs.JamesandEamonarethe boys of the title, and their best week involves nature camp. Eamon’sgrandparents, Pam and Bill, babysit the boys when they are not at camp andsupply lots of food (Pam) and information on penguins (Bill). The blackPrismacolor-and-gouache illustrations takeupmostofeachpage,with the texthand-lettered.Thisbookisjustplainfun,andmanylistenerswillthinkitisthebestbookever.

Gorbachev,Valeri3–8yearsWHAT’STHEBIGIDEA,MOLLY?IllustratedbyValeriGorbachevNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2010|978-0-399-25428-4

The“bigidea”ofthetitleisonethatfriendseachtrytogenerateastheythinkofa present for another friend’s birthday. Molly the mouse, along with Rabbit,Goose, Frog, andPig, all devise ideas that are too similar, untilMolly has aninspiration.Even though some lines of text andpictures feature the secondarycharacters, Molly is the center of the story. The only named character, sheunifiesandleadsthegroup.Lovelyillustrationsinwatercolor,gouache,andinkprovideanidealisticatmosphereoffriendswhocooperateandworktogethertosurprisetheirfriendTurtle.Thisbookwouldbeusefulinexplainingthecreativeprocess,forunitsonfriendshiporcooperation,orjustasagentleread-aloud.

Hopkinson,Deborah4–8yearsABELINCOLNCROSSESACREEK:ATALL,THINTALEIllustratedbyJohnHendrixNewYork:Schwartz&Wade,2008|978-0-375-83768-5

A story of friendship and daring starring Lincoln as a seven-year-old is an

imaginative takeoff on two real characters—Abe and Austin—in 1816Kentucky.AustinsaveshisfriendfromdrowningwhenAbefallsoffalogintoacreek.Toldinanaw-shucksmanner,asifrelatingthetalearoundacampfire,thestorycrackleswithdangerandsuspense.Theauthorsometimesspeaksdirectlytotheaudience,askingthemtoclapandcallencouragement.Attimes,sherefersto theartist,whosehandshows itselfon severalpages sketchingandpainting.Thisremovalofthewallbetweenauthorandreadercontributesevenmoretotheparticipatorystorytellingfeel.Withtheirsizeandimmediacy,theillustrations,inwatercolorandpenand ink, invite readersand listeners tobecome involved inthestory.Theendpapersagainshowtheillustrator’shand,sketchesinblackandwhite, broken pencils, and a sharpener, plus wadded-up paper. Making acharacter in history relatable to twenty-first century children is tough, but thisbookexcelsatit.

Howe,James4–8yearsHORACEANDMORRISSAYCHEESE(WHICHMAKESDOLORESSNEEZE!)IllustratedbyAmyWalrodNewYork:GineeSeo/Atheneum,2009|978-0-689-83940-5

Whencheese-lovingDoloresrunsupagainstanallergythatmakesherbreakoutin itchy spots, the unthinkable happens. Under doctor’s orders to stop eatingcheese,Doloresfindsherselfobsessedwith thefood,andshe is tempted to trysome cheese again, which promptly makes her break out. The upcomingEverythingCheeseFestivalbringsouthercreativeside,however,andshefindsawaytoindulgeherloveoffoodandcooking,albeitwithoutcheese.Thistaleofthreefriendscombineshumor,dialogue,andsituations.Theloveofcheeserunsthrough the trio’sadventures inotherbooks,but thisbookputs itcenterstage.The acrylic illustrations enhance the text’s humor and add their own—forexample,Dolores’sX-raywithperfectlyformedcheeseswimminginsideher,orthemoviepostersfullof“cheesy”humor.Thisstorycouldbeusedforchildrenwhohaveaparticularfoodallergy,butitwouldmakeafunread-aloudforanygroup,withitskid-friendlystoryandartanditsheroineovercominganobstacle.

Jeffers,Oliver3–8yearsLOSTANDFOUNDIllustratedbyOliverJeffersNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2005|978-0-399-24503-9

Disarminglysimple,thissagaofaboyandapenguincelebratesfriendship.Withgoodintentions,theboydecidestoreturnthelostpenguintotheSouthPole,buthefinds that thebird isnothappy there, just lonely.Eventually theyrowbackhome.Theillustrations,asunderstatedasthenarrative,reflectwhatisgoingonin the textbut addmoreattitude andhumor. Jeffersdepicts the journey to theSouth Pole impressively, with full-page spreads of water and sky and,eventually,icefloes.Illustrationsofthetwomaincharactersshowthattheboyisonly slightly bigger than the penguin, emphasizing their equality and theirfriendship.Thisbeautiful story is perfect for read-alouds, parent-child sharing,orindependentreading.

Keller,Holly4–8yearsHELP!ASTORYOFFRIENDSHIPIllustratedbyHollyKellerNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2007|978-0-06-123913-7

Eye-catchingillustrationscombinewithastoryofmistakeninterpretation.WhenMouse expresses fear that Snake is out to hurt him, his friends Hedgehog,Squirrel, and Rabbit help him to see that it is not true. The unique art—collographsandwatercolors—portrayswhatcouldbedescribedassimplyleavesandanimalsoneachpage,buttheamazingdetailoflineandcolormakesitsomuchmore.Kellerexplainsherprocessofcollographs(printedcollages)ontheinside back cover of the book jacket. The size and clarity of the illustrationsmakethisaperfectread-aloudforgroups.Oneofthepagespreadswillhavetoberotatedasitdepictsatallscene,makingforvariety.Thestoryisperfectinitssimplicityandclarityoftheme.

McCarty,Peter3–7yearsHONDOANDFABIANIllustratedbyPeterMcCartyNewYork:HenryHolt,2002|978-0-8050-6352-3

HondothedogandFabianthecat,wholiveinthesamehouse,gotheirseparatewaysonedayforadventures.WhileHondoenjoysacarrideandafroliconthebeach, Fabian stays home and plays with the baby and the toilet tissue. Fineillustrations, pencil onwatercolor paper, enhance the story and its gentleness.Each two-page spread features an illustration on one page and text on theopposite.Soft,mutedhuescontributetotheunruffledfeeling,asdotherounded

bodiesof the twomaincharacters.Animal loverswilldelight incertainof thepictures,andeven thosewhoarenotwillbeentrancedby thebabypickingupthe cat or Hondo sprawled out on the floor asleep. The two continue theiradventuresinFabianEscapes.

Noyes,Deborah4–8yearsPRUDENCE&MOXIE:ATALEOFMISMATCHEDFRIENDSIllustratedbyAnnaLauraCantoneBoston:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2009|978-0-618-41607-3

Truetotheirnames,PrudenceiscarefulwhileMoxieneverheardadareshedidnot try. Despite their differences, the two enjoy a good friendship, althoughPrudenceissometimesexasperatedbyMoxie.InonlyonecasedoesthefearlessMoxie quaver: she will not get anywhere close to Prudence’s horse. Theillustrations, rendered inmixedmedia,acrylic,andcollage,projectagoofinessthat all ages will enjoy. Bright colors, patterned borders, and the wonderfulantlersonPrudenceandtailonMoxieattracttheeyeandsatisfythefunnybone.Thetext,veryrealisticinitsportrayaloffriendsandkidsituations,hasitsowntouches of humor, especially in the levels of “dare you” and in some of theharebrainedactivitiesMoxieattempts.Agoodmatchofwordandpicture, thisstoryshowshoweveryoneneedsbothalittleprudenceandalittlemoxieintheirlives.

Numeroff,Laura4–8yearsWOULDITRADEMYPARENTS?IllustratedbyJamesBernardinNewYork:Abrams,2009|978-0-8109-0637-2

Ayoungboyenjoysthetimehespendsatfriends’houses,wherehenoticeshowthe parents differ from his own. Even though his parents don’t let him drinkchocolatemilkor have a pet, heknowshewouldnotwant to be in anyotherfamily. The boy appears with unruly hair and big glasses, adding a touch ofgoofiness to the illustrations rendered in acrylics and a digital paint program.The text does a good job of putting him in the shoes of his friends, great foryounglistenerswhoarejustbeginningtolearntolookattheworldfromapointofviewotherthantheirown.

Perkins,LynneRae4–8yearsTHECARDBOARDPIANO

THECARDBOARDPIANOIllustratedbyLynneRaePerkinsNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2008|978-0-06-154265-7

BestfriendsDebbieandTinalovetodoamazingthings.ButwhenDebbietriestofindawaythatTinacanpracticethepiano,itdoesnotquiteworkoutthewayshe wishes. Illustrations in watercolor and ink support the narrative and adddetailstoit.Dialogueballoonsshowingalternatingconversationsappearinsomescenes.Perkinscapturesperfectlythedynamicbetweentwofriendswhereoneismore aggressive than theother, butwhere theyworkout their differences andpreserve the friendship. The contrast between the two girls in looks andtemperamentshines through in theboldlycolored illustrations.Smaller scenes,with twotofouronapage,are interspersedwithfull-page illustrations,almostallroughlyborderedwithlotsofwhitespace.Thesefriendsstrivetobeamazing,and while their activities may seem normal, their imaginations make themremarkable.Readerswilllovethemforthat.

Robbins,Jacqui4–7yearsTWOOFAKINDIllustratedbyMattPhelanNewYork:Atheneum,2009|978-1-4169-2437-1

Unfortunately,meangirlsdonotexistonlyintheuppergrades;theystartearly.Inthisrealisticschoolstory,KaylaandMelanietormentJulisaandAnna.ToldfromAnna’spointofview, thisstoryshowshowbestfriendscanbeseparatedbythemanipulationofothers.Watercolorillustrationsprovidethemutedscenesofschoollife,withsplashesofcolorinclothing.Thefacialexpressionsofboththemeangirlsandthegoodgirlscomethroughasrealisticandmoving.Thefunandsharingofbestfriends,aswellasthejoytheytakeinlearning,ispalpable.Theethnicdiversityofeachpairofgirls reflects the largerclassroom.Readersand listeners will root for Anna and Julisa as they finally reunite and Annarealizes that Kayla and Melanie’s attention is insincere. A great discussionstarteronbullies,friendship,andbeingtruetoone’sself.

Ryan,Candace3–8yearsRIBBITRABBITIllustratedbyMikeLoweryNewYork:Walker/Bloomsbury,2011|978-0-8027-2180-8

Withasenseoffunandaplayfulattitudetowardlanguage,thisstoryofafrogandabunnyoffersarealisticportrayaloffriendship.Thegoodtimeswhentheyshare and the bad times when they fight come through in text that includesrhymesand inventedwordsand in illustrations thatmirror thissensibility.Thecartoon-styleartworkemployspencil,traditionalscreenprinting,andprintgoccoandisfinisheddigitally.Althoughthefriendsfightoverarobot,whichprovidestheconflictoftheplot,theyreconcileintheendandreturntobeingbestfriends.Adeceptivelysimplestoryoffriendship,thisbookexploresconflict,loneliness,reconciliation,andthepleasuresofsharing.

Sarcone-Roach,Julia4–8yearsTHESECRETPLANIllustratedbyJuliaSarcone-RoachNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2009|978-0-375-95858-8|librarybinding

Because they feel their mothers’ interruptions undermine their playtime, anelephant and three cats (in side-by-side houses) conspire to make a plan tothwartbedtime.Acrylicpaintillustrationsinrichhuesdetailthelivingquartersand games of the friends: building a house of cards, constructing a tin cantelephone,andmakingafortoutofcushions.Theanimalsactjustlikechildrendo,andreflectthechildhooddesiretoprolongplaytime.Thefactthattheylivenexttoeachotherprovidesopportunitiesforillustrationshowingbothhousesatonce. In fact, the endpapers at the beginning of the book show an architect’sdrawing of the houses, while those at the end show the house at night,surroundedbyMorsecode,whichplaysapartintheendingofthebook.Clever,sweet, and funny, this story sneaks up on little cat feet, then makes a bigimpression.

Segal,John3–8yearsTHELONELYMOOSEIllustratedbyJohnSegalNewYork:Hyperion,2007|978-1-4231-0173-4

Twomisfitscometogethertoformafriendship:ahermitmooseandabirdwhocannot fly. The rather cranky moose comes to appreciate the singing, worm-eating bird. After a forest fire, the bird disappears. But never fear; a happyendingisinstorewhenthebirdreturnsinthespringandbringsbackmanymorebirds. The spare illustrations depict the openness and enormity of amountain

setting. The scenes of night and of the fire are scary, but not overly so. Thedrawingsprojectagentlyhumorousambienceandendwithadashofwhimsy.

Sís,Peter4–8yearsMADLENKASOCCERSTARIllustratedbyPeterSísNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2010|978-0-374-34702-4

Asinhisotherbooks,Madlenka(2000)andMadlenka’sDog(2002),SísshowsMadlenka and her block in the city containing her apartment building. In thisouting, she loves toplaysoccerandfindsaway to imaginatively interactwithinanimateobjects,animals,and, finally, friends.Madlenka isconstantlyon themoveintheillustrations,usuallyfacingtotherighttoshowforwardactionandenergy with each turn of the page. A sense of a child’s place in her worldpermeatestheMadlenkatitles.Someoftheillustrationsfeatureabird’s-eyeviewfromthetopofherblock,withasoccerfieldinthecenter,placingherandherneighbors in theirenvirons.Theendpapers, too, reflect thisEarth-country-city-neighborhood-home connection. Illustrations with tiny flags of differentcountriesandwithchildrenofvariedbackgroundsshowtheuniversalappealofthissport.Thefinalpagespreadprovidesashorthistoryofsoccer,plusthewordsoccerinforty-threedifferentlanguages.Forchildrenwholovesoccerorsportsorforafunneighborhoodstory,MadlenkaSoccerStarscores.

Soto,Gary5–9yearsCHATOGOESCRUISIN’IllustratedbySusanGuevaraNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2005|978-0-1424-0810-0

Chato, that low-ridingcatofChato’sKitchen (1995)andChatoand thePartyAnimals(2000),winsacruisefortwointhisouting.Heandhiscatfriend,NovioBoy,arriveattheshipandfinditfullofdogs.Disgustedbythefood,games,andeventhebooksintheship’slibrary(allaboutdogs),thetwoneverthelesstrytohave fununtil all thedogsbecomesickand theymustgo forhelp.Acryliconscratchboardillustrationsdepictwildandcolorfulscenes;therowboatrideinthestormisparticularlyimpressive.Black-and-whitecomicstripssupplementwithadditionalstory,dialogue,andhumor.ChatoandNovioBoyarequiteapairoffun-loving cats, but they also illustrate the importance of keeping a promisewhentheygivetheirword.AglossaryattheenddefinestheSpanishwordsthat

appearthroughoutthetext.

Willems,Mo3–8yearsCITYDOG,COUNTRYFROGIllustratedbyJonJ.MuthNewYork:Hyperion/Disney,2010|978-1-4231-0300-4

Beautiful in its simplicity and message, this story of friendship and changeblendstextandillustrationperfectly.Thedogmeetsthefroginthespring,theyteach each other their country and city games throughout spring and summer,andeventuallythedogfindshimselfaloneinthewinter.Eachtwo-pagespreadfeaturesthetextononesideandafull-pagewatercolorillustrationontheother.Combiningrealismandhumor,energyandpassivity, joyandsorrow, thestoryrepresents the cycle of life. A verymoving yet unsentimental way to explaindeath, the book also celebrates life and the glories of having a friend whounderstands. Each season’s illustrations fill the pages with the colors andvegetationof that timeofyear.Comparewithanother fictional lookat the lifecycleofananimal,OldMotherBear(Chronicle,2007)byVictoriaMiles.

School

Anderson,LaurieHalse5–9yearsTHEHAIROFZOEFLEEFENBACHERGOESTOSCHOOLIllustratedbyArdHoyt.NewYork:Simon&Schuster,2009|978-0-689-85809-3

Zoehasbighair—reallybighair.Itstendrilsactasarmsanditsendsasfingers.Itcanevenbeablanketorasail.TroublebrewswhenZoe’sfirst-gradeteacher,Ms.Trisk,statesthatshedoesnotbelieveinwildhair.HumorousillustrationsinwatercolorandinkfeatureZoe’sorangehair,whichtakescenterstageonalmosteverypage.Notethecontrastbetweenthekindergartenteacher—incaprisandaT-shirt—wholovedZoe’shair,withMs.Triskinherdarksuitandtie.Readersand listeners will giggle overMs. Trisk’s attempts to control the hair, whichreally does function as a character in the story.All endswell asZoe andMs.Triskandthehairfindawaytocoexist.Andtheteacherevenlosesherbuttoned-uplook;bythelastpage,she’sinapolka-dotdressandsandals,withalockofhairwavingintheair.

Boelts,Maribeth4–8yearsTHOSESHOESIllustratedbyNoahZ.JonesCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2007|978-0-7636-2499-6

Tobeakidwanting theshoesseen inadvertisements, theshoesall thekidsatschoolarewearing,theshoesthatcosttoomuch—thisstorymakesthatyearningpalpable. Jeremy, a young African American boy who lives with hisgrandmother,cannotbelievehisluckwhenhefindsthoseshoesatathriftstore.Heiswillingtoputupwiththeirwrongsizeratherthanwearthebabyishshoestheguidance counselorgiveshim.But throughhishurt andhisobservationofanotherclassmate—theonewhodidnotlaughathisVelcroshoes—hefindsthecouragetobegenerous.Theillustrationsarerenderedinwatercolor,pencils,andinkandassembleddigitally.Theaffectingtextexpandswithavarietyoffacialexpressions and body language illustrating envy, anger, resignation, andexcitement.Jeremyandhisclassmatespresentasliceofmodernlife.

Bottner,Barbara4–8yearsMISSBROOKSLOVESBOOKS!(ANDIDON’T)IllustratedbyMichaelEmberleyNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2010|978-0-375-84682-3

Fromthefirstpage,wheretheschoollibrariansitssurroundedbypilesofbooks,to the last,whereshehelpsastudentpickoutabookfromthe libraryshelves,this story celebrates the joy of reading and the truth of “for every reader, abook.”Ayounggirl,unenthusiasticaboutreading,witnessesthelovethatMissBrookshas for books and themanyways she tries to pass that loveon to thestudents—through costumes, literature-sharing events, and book selection.Illustrated inpencil, ink, andwatercolor,MissBrooksandher exciting libraryactivitiesshowthroughincomicstyle.So,too,doestheattitudeofthegirlwhoisirritatedbyallthisemphasisonbooks…untilthedayshefindsthebookthatappeals to her. A great read for any book celebration, this story stars quirkycharacters whose personalities shine through in text and artwork. For anothertake on the love of books, seeDog Loves Books (AlfredA.Knopf, 2010) byLouiseYates.

Brennan,Eileen4–8yearsDIRTBALLPETE

DIRTBALLPETEIllustratedbyEileenBrennanNewYork:RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-83425-7

Cleaningup thenormallydirtyPete presents quite a challenge for hismother,butitmustbedone.Hehasaspeechtogiveattheschoolprogramhonoringthefifty states. Representing Pennsylvania, Pete turns out quite well after ascrubbingand stays thatway…for a littlewhile.FilthyPete, cleanPete, andcostumedPeteappear inhumorouscartoon-style illustrationsalongwithMom,armed for (scrubbing) battle, Pete’s partner-in-grime dog, and his classmates.Although he reverts back to his dirt-smudged appearance, Pete makes theprogramspecial,andnotjustbecauseofthewayhelooks.Bothchildrenandtheadults who read to them will appreciate the humor in word and picturethroughoutthisstory.AndtheywillapplaudforPete,evenwithgarbagecaughtinhishair,justastheaudiencedoesattheschoolprogram.

Cocca-Leffler,Maryann4–8yearsJACK’STALENTIllustratedbyMaryannCocca-LefflerNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2007|978-0-374-33681-3

Forallthosewhodonotthinktheyarespecial,thisbookcelebratesthefactthateveryonepossesses a talent.As the children in the class state their names andwhat they are good at, brightly colored artwork shows them enjoying theseactivities. But Jack cannot think of anything that he performs well, until theteacherhearshimrattleoffall thestudents’namesandtalents.Andthere it is:remembering is a talent, too. With bright colors, appealing characters, and avarietyofactivitiesfromspellingtobugcatchingtosinging,thisbookwillactasreassuranceandperhapsinspiretolerance.PairthiswithDavidConway’sErroland His Extraordinary Nose (Holiday House, 2010), where a small elephantdiscovershistalentamongtheotheranimalsinhisschool.

Cotten,Cynthia4–9yearsABBIEINSTITCHESIllustratedbyBethPeckNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2006|978-0-374-30004-3

Althoughshewouldratherreadthanstitch,Abbiemusttakeneedleworklessons

to become an accomplished seamstress in 1822 New York State. As shestruggles to learn themany stitches and tokeep them straight andneat, she isovershadowedbyheroldersister,Sarah,whodoes itall sowellandenjoys it.Abbie struggles to find apicture to stitchonher sampler and eventually findsone that will show her independent spirit. Impressionistic illustrations showAbbieandothergirlsstudyingstitchingwithMrs.Brown,Abbieandherfamily,andAbbiereading.Agoodsupplementalsourceforsocialstudies,thisbookwilleducatechildrenaboutatimeinhistorywhenlifewasdifferentfromtheirown.An afterword provides a full page of information on samplers, needleworkschools,andthelifeofgirlsinthe1800s.

Henkes,Kevin4–8yearsLILLY’SBIGDAYIllustratedbyKevinHenkesNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2006|978-0-06-074236-2

Lilly, who first appeared in Henkes’ Chester’s Way (HarperCollins, 1988),appearshereasherteacherpreparesforhiswedding.Neveroneforself-doubt,Lillyispositivethatshewillbetheflowergirlforthewedding.Findingoutthatshewillnothavethathonor,butthatitisgoingtohisnieceGinger,dampensherenthusiasmonlyslightly.Asitturnsout,allofherpracticecomesinhandywhenGinger freezes. The characters, all mice, appeal with their charm andexpressiveness.Manyscenesarelaugh-out-loudfunny,suchasLillymakingherbear dressed as her teacher spend time in the Uncooperative Chair. Thewatercolor illustrations invite the eye with their candy colors enhanced withblackpen.Lillymaybestubbornandstrong-willed,sometimesskatingrightontheedgeofobnoxiousness,butherheartisintherightplace.

Jenkins,Emily4–8yearsDAFFODIL,CROCODILEIllustratedbyTomekBogackiNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2007|978-0-374-39944-3

Triplets named after flowers: Daffodil, Violet, and Rose. Sounds cute, right?Apparently only to outsiders. Daffodil becomes fed up with teachers andclassmates not able to tell her from her sisters. When her mother makes acrocodileheadinanartclass,Daffodilclaimsitasherownandwearsitathomeand at school. As a crocodile, she doeswhatever shewants and actsmeanly.

Daffodil’sfrustrationcomesthroughclearlyinthetext,matchedbythecartoon-likeillustrations.Sharp-eyedreaderswillfindthatthetripletsarealwaysdressedinshadesofyellow,purple,andred,althoughnotalwaysmatchingtheirnamesof Daffodil, Violet, and Rose. Their home also contains vases of daffodils,providing a contrast to Daffodil’s feelings of being overlooked. Childrenwillrelate to the way Daffodil’s personality changes while she is wearing thecrocodile head and reveling in the power it gives her, but they will alsoappreciate the safety of the ending, when the head has to be abandoned. Thetriplets’firstadventureappearsinDaffodil(FarrarStrausGiroux,2004).

Noble,TrinkaHakes4–8yearsTHEORANGESHOESIllustratedbyDorisEttlingerChelsea,MI:SleepingBear,2007|978-1-58536-277-6

Povertyandartcometogetherinthisstoryofayounggirlwhogoesbarefoottoschool andwho longs for pretty shoes like those of her classmates.WhenherteacherannouncesthattheclasswillhaveaShoeboxSocial,Dellydecoratestheboxthathernewshoescomein,onesthatshethoughtherparentswouldneverbeabletoafford.Whentheshoesarescuffedandsteppedonbyherclassmates,shedecorateshershoestomatchthebox.Theillustrationsbringoutarangeofemotions, including Delly’s shame and hurt feelings, her happiness in havingnew shoes, her sadness when they are ruined, and her pride in her artistictriumph. Though not explicitly stated, the clothing styles and desks indicate aDepression-erasetting.

Perl,EricaS.3–7yearsDOTTYIllustratedbyJuliaDenosNewYork:Abrams,2010|978-0-8109-8962-7

Acelebrationof imaginary friends, this story featuresavery largeandspottedcreaturethatisIda’sconstantcompanion.Atschoolshemeetsotherchildrenandtheir imaginary friends. With sensitivity and realism, the author handles thematter-of-factacknowledgmentofIda’sclassmates’imaginaryfriends,thepointatwhichmanyaregiving themup,andtheembarrassmentofhavingto ignoreone’simaginaryfriendwhenotherstease.IllustrationsrenderedinbrushinkandPhotoshop feature children with an almost manga look, plus some fantastic

imaginary creatures. Ida’s way of managing her feelings will resonate withchildren,andtheencounterwithherteacherattheendofthestorywillbringasenseofcomfortandacceptance,aswellassurprise.PairwithPatriciaPolacco’sEmmaKate(Philomel,2005),whoseimaginaryfriendisanelephant.

Piven,Hanoch4–8yearsMYBESTFRIENDISASSHARPASAPENCIL:ANDOTHERFUNNYCLASSROOMPORTRAITSIllustratedbyHanochPivenNewYork:Schwartz&Wade/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-85338-8

The endpapers give a first clue that the illustrations in this book may bedifferent:ajumbleofcolorfulmagneticletters,pencils,blocks,andmuchmorescatteroverthespread.Thestoryconsistsofayounggirldescribingherteachersandfriendsatschoolwithsimiles;thentheturnofthepagefeaturesthatperson’sillustration created with some of the objects that are in the endpaperphotographs.The result iscolorfulandcreative (whowouldhave thoughtofamicroscope for a nose?). Gouache is also used in the illustrations. A funinspirationfora lessoninportraits inartclass, thisbookcouldalsobeusedinlanguageartsandwriting.

Prelutsky,Jack,compiler5–10yearsTHERE’SNOPLACELIKESCHOOLIllustratedbyJaneManningNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2010|978-0-06-082338-2

A collection of eighteen poems, this book covers everything: taking off forschool in themorning, riding the bus, recess, lunch, hallway antics, and evenhomework.Manyofthepoemsarehumorous,eventheonesthatinvolvesomemildly alarming topics, such as not being ready for a test or not knowing theanswerwhencalledupon.PoetPrelutskygathersanentertainingselectionhere,with two by himself and verses by twelve other poets. The watercolorillustrations feature children and teachers in a comical bent, tomatch the text.Poemtitlesstandoutinbrightlycoloredletters,matchingthecolorpaletteoftheillustrations.Perfect forpoetry lovers, foruse in languageartsclasses, and forteacherswhowanttoexperiencethesheerjoyofpresentingpoetryasitshouldbe—readaloud.

Primavera,Elise4–8yearsLOUISETHEBIGCHEESEIllustratedbyDianeGoodeNewYork:PaulaWiseman/Simon&Schuster,2009|978-1-4169-7180-1

Louise yearns to be a diva with every fiber of her being, but she remains alikablecharacterdespiteherrun-inswithherparents,sister,andbestfriend.ThepossibilityofplayingCinderellaintheschoolplaybringsoutherextra-wattagestar ambitions. The text, supplemented by balloon dialogue, expresses herwishesandheractions.Watercolorillustrationsmatchthetextandaddattitudein delightful cartoon-style art, heavy on the pink.Notice the contrast betweenLouise’sratherplainparentsandthelook-alikehousesonherblockcomparedtoLouise’sroomandherdreamsofBroadwaystardom.Thebookconcludeswithaquiz to test the reader’spotential forbecominga star.Endpaperspresent “BigCheeses throughoutHistory” and “LittleCheeses throughoutHistory,” anotherhumorous contrast piece. Louise carries on her diva ways in Louise the BigCheeseandtheLa-Di-DaShoes(Simon&Schuster,2010).

Recorvits,Helen4–8yearsYOONANDTHEJADEBRACELETIllustratedbyGabiSwiatkowskaNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2008|978-0-374-38689-4

The author captures perfectly the feelings of childhood, especially the longingforfriendship,theshameofdoingsomethingwrong,andthejoyofovercomingobstacles.Anoldergirlat school tricksYoon,a recent immigrant fromKorea,intogivingupherfamilyheirloombracelet.Impressionisticillustrationscapturethe various moods: wanting to be invited to play jump rope, gratitude atreceivingthebracelet,frustrationinattemptingtogetitback,andreliefatbeingaided by a kind teacher. Backgrounds, richly textured, sometimes containwallpaper-likedesignsthatmirror thecolorsanddesignsof thedresses.AfinetaleoftheimmigrantexperienceinAmericaforyoungchildren,thisstoryistoldin first person,which lends an intimate feel.MeetYoon inMyName isYoon(FarrarStrausGiroux,2003)andYoonandtheChristmasMitten(FarrarStrausGiroux,2006).

Rodman,MaryAnn4–7yearsFIRSTGRADESTINKS!

FIRSTGRADESTINKS!IllustratedbyBethSpiegelAtlanta:Peachtree,2006|978-1-56145-377-1

Haleybeginsthenewschoolyearinfirstgradebutfindsoutquicklyandtoherdisappointment that everything about it is different from kindergarten. Theteacherismoresubdued,theclassroomisnotdecorated,thereisonlyonerecess,and on and on. Even with the help of her friend Ryan, Haley has difficultyaccepting this and finally has a meltdown. When she finds that her teacherunderstandsher,shebeginstoappreciateallthethingsaboutfirstgradethatarebetter than kindergarten. The text expertly captures a first grader’s mind-set,whilewatercolor-and-ink illustrations show kindergartners and first graders inalltheirsilliness,joyousness,frustration,andhappiness.ThesmallsizeofHaleyassheentershernewclassroomrevealshowoverwhelmedshefeelsinthisnewenvironment. The picture of her outburst, when she yells out the title of thebook, shows her as very big indeed. First graders will delight in this storywhether they recognize themselves or not, and younger oneswill seewhat iscoming.

Rubel,Nicole3–7yearsHAMANDPICKLES:FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOLIllustratedbyNicoleRubelOrlando:Harcourt,2006|978-0-15-205039-9

Childrenwhoexperiencejittersonthefirstdayofschoolmaybecomfortedbythishumorouslookattheproblem.LittlePickleshasathousandandoneworriesabout school, manifested in continuous questions aimed at her older brother,Ham. From getting up on time to wearing the right clothes to finding herclassroom, Pickles frets about everything, and Ham tries to allay her fears.Several of his suggestions inspire humorously illustrated scenes, although hiswords are matter-of-fact; in other cases, both are funny. The illustrations,renderedinink,markers,coloredpencils,crayons,andcollageitems,packeachpage with details. Listeners may want to search for items and identifyphotographedpieces.Readers familiarwithRubel’s illustrations for theRottenRalphserieswillrecognizethesimilargoofyhumor.

Rumford,James4–8yearsRAINSCHOOLIllustratedbyJamesRumford

Boston:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2010|978-0-547-24307-8

The first dayof school in avillage in the countryofChadbrings a lesson forThomas,whoisattendingforthefirsttime.Thechildrenmustbuildtheschool,andso theydo, learning tomakebricks,walls,anddesksfromthemud,andarooffromgrassandsticks.Schoolfinallystarts,andtheylearntoreadandwrite.Astheschoolyearends,rainscomeandthecycleoftheyearbeginsagain.Vividandtexturedillustrationsshowthejoyoflearning,alwayswithabackgroundinshadesofbrownandtanthatportraytheearthfromwhichtheschoolisliterallymade. A look at school life in another country for young listeners firstencountering cultural andgeographic differences,Rumford’s story is basedonhisexperiencesinChadasaPeaceCorpsvolunteer.

Russo,Marisabina4–8yearsAVERYBIGBUNNYIllustratedbyMarisabinaRussoNewYork:Schwartz&Wade/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-84463-8

Forthosewhofeeltheydon’tfitin,thisbookpresentsanencouragingstoryofacceptance. Amelia, the big bunny of the title, towers over most of herclassmates,whowillnotplaywithher.Shespendsmuchofhertimeentertainingherself,untilSusannah, thenewbunnyinclassandthesmallest,befriendsher.Atfirstresistant,Amelia iswonoverbySusannah’spersistenceandcreativity.Colorfulgouacheartshowsbunniesofallsizesandcolorsintheclassroomandon the playground. A gentle story about being different, this book portraysmeannessandkindnessrealistically.

Watt,Mélanie4–7yearsAUGUSTINEIllustratedbyMélanieWattToronto:KidsCan,2006|978-1-55337-885-3

Although the main character is a penguin, this story readily transfers to allhuman children who have ever had to move or to start a new school in themiddleoftheyear.AsAugustineandhisparentsrelocatefromtheSouthPoletotheNorthPole,hegoes throughall thestepsofpacking,sayinggood-bye,andmovingintoanewhome.Athisnewschool,Augustineenduressomeawkwardtimesbutthenbecomesfriendswithclassmatesthroughhisart.Thebookpays

tribute to famous painters, some of whose masterpieces inspire Watt’sillustrations.Eachtwo-pagespreadfeaturesonepagedividedintoninesquares,eachcontainingoneof thesepaintingsandthenotherobjects thatadddetail tothetextonthefacingpage.Thetextincludessomecleverwordplayandin-jokesthatprobablyonlytheadultswillcatch.Inanycase,allwillbeenchantedbytheappealingcharacters,thecrispcolorsrenderedinacrylicandpencilcrayon,andtheuniversalexperienceoftryingtofitin.

Williams,KarenLynn,andKhadraMohammed5–10yearsMYNAMEISSANGOELIllustratedbyCatherineStockGrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans,2009|978-0-8028-5307-3

A look at the immigrant experience, this story follows a young boy from arefugeecampinAfrica toanewhomeinAmerica.Besidesadjustments to theweather and a new school, he finds that no one in this new country canpronounce his name. Finally he comes upwith an idea inspired by his soccerteamshirt.Theexpressiveartillustratesthecrowdedconfusionofanairport,thefamily’sapartmentsodifferentfromtheiroldhome,andthecolorfulclassroomfilled with new faces. A young boy’s problem and his solution will inspirestudents.

Winters,Kay4–8yearsTHISSCHOOLYEARWILLBETHEBEST!IllustratedbyRenéeAndrianiNewYork:Dutton/Penguin,2010|978-0-525-42275-4

Withtheenthusiasmofthetitle,thechildrenofthisstoryexpresstheirhopesforthecomingschoolyear.Theysharebothpracticalandfancifulwishesthatmostchildrencouldrelateto.Theillustrationsfeatureadiversegroup,inbothgenderand ethnicity, inhabiting the classroom, playing field, and their ownhomes asthey imagine soccer goals, out-of-this-world field trips, and snow days. Thecartoon-styleartworkburstswithfunandactivityandendswiththewholegroupholding up drawings of their hopes. This is an ideal book for the first day orweekofschool.

4

OutintheWorldThe picture books in this sectionmove the story outside the circle of family,friends, and school into thewiderworld. Readerswill encounter new culturalexperiences, recognizing that everyone is a global citizen. They will alsodevelopanawarenessofhistoryandasenseofcontinuitybylearningthatotherscamebefore.

Alalou,Elizabeth,andAliAlalou4–8yearsTHEBUTTERMANIllustratedbyJulieKlearEssakalliWatertown,MA:Charlesbridge,2008|978-1-58089-127-1

Theauthorsevokethekeennessofhungerandthesatisfactionofsatiety,whichbecometheunderlyingconflictinthisstory.Ayounggirl’sbaba—herfather—tellsabouthischildhoodwhilehepreparesaneveningmealofcouscous.TraveltoMoroccointhisstorywithinastory,wherehismotherfindsawaytotakeheryoungson’smindofftheirlackoffoodbytellinghimtowaitforthebutterman.Full-pagegouache illustrations faceeachpageof text, thecolors reflecting thelandscape of a drought-stricken country. (See figure 4.1.)The font size of thefirstlineoftextinthebookislarger,asitisinthefirstlineofthestorythatBabatells and in the return to the present day, signaling these changes in time andperspective. An author’s note and glossary assist with understanding thegeographyandcultureoftheHighAtlasMountainsofMorocco.

Figure4.1.TheButterMan

Alexander,Cecil3–7yearsALLTHINGSBRIGHTANDBEAUTIFULIllustratedbyAshleyBryanNewYork:Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-8939-4

The century-old hymn of the title provides the majestic words illustrated bystunningcollageart.Bryanusedhismother’ssewingandembroideryscissorstocut the brightly colored papers that take the shape of people, animals, andobjects in this book. Layering the pieces creates the depth; delicate cuts givetexturetothecompositions.Eachpageprovidesanabundancetolookat,either

byonereaderorinagroup.Artteachersmaywanttousethisasapreliminaryreadbeforeembarkingonolderstudents’constructionpapercollages;inventiveideasforportrayingwater,wind,people,andvegetationaboundinthisbeautifulbook.

Applegate,Katherine4–8yearsTHEBUFFALOSTORMIllustratedbyJanOrmerodNewYork:Clarion,2007|978-0-618-53597-2|librarybinding

The stormof the title refers to both thunderstorms,which scare youngHallie,and the storm of buffalo hooves as they thunder across the prairie. She dealswith each as she travelswestwithherparents toOregon in a coveredwagon.The text, in firstperson, stays true toayounggirl’s feelingsas she leavesherbeloved grandmother and faces the challenges of a long journey.Watercolor-and-pastel illustrations also capture the emotions of the characters and offersomeexcitingscenes,especiallywhenHalliefallsoutofthecoveredwagonandwhenshe rescuesabuffalocalf.Thedouble-pagespreadof the runningof thebuffaloherdpulseswithpowerandstrength;thedustthatsurelyobscuredtheminreallifeshadowsoverthegreatbrownshapes.Astrongfemalecharacterwhoovercomes fears andworries shines through in this pioneer story. Partner thiswithJeanvanLeeuwen’sPapaandthePioneerQuilt(Dial,2007).

Arnosky,Jim4–8yearsGRANDFATHERBUFFALOIllustratedbyJimArnoskyNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2006|978-0-399-24169-7

Followalongon themigrationofabuffaloherdas it traverses theprairie,andseetheroletheoldbuffalotakesonasprotectorofanewborncalf.Combiningfiction and nonfiction allows the story to present facts about thismagnificentanimal and the cycle of lifewhile concentrating on the engaging story of onecharacter.Largewatercolorillustrationscapturethecolorsofthelandscapeandthetimesofdayaswellas thegreatbrownanimals.Especiallydramatic is thetransitionfromalongviewononepagetoaclose-upofthebuffalo’sfacethatcompletelyfillsthenextpage.Listenersshouldlookcarefullyoneachpageforother,smalleranimalsthatappear.Idealforgroupread-alouds,thisbookwouldbeaperfectsupplementtoscienceorsocialstudiescurricula.Thetext,forthright

yet moving, combines with realistic illustrations to provide a wonderfulintroductiontoapieceoftheAmericanpast.

Avi5–10yearsSILENTMOVIEIllustratedbyC.B.MordanNewYork:AnneSchwartz/Atheneum,2003|978-0-689-84145-3

Reflectinganimportantpartofitsplot,thisbookisstructuredasasilentmovie:in black and white, with frames of action and with limited phrases to giveneededinformation.Incrediblydetailedinkonclayboardillustrationsplayupthemelodramatic mood of the story, which concerns an immigrant family fromSwedenandtheirtrialsandtriumphsinNewYorkCity.PartnerthiswithsomeCharlieChaplin,BusterKeaton,orHaroldLloydmovies,especiallywitholderchildren. The author’s and illustrator’s notes present a personal look at thecreativeprocessbehindthisuniquebook.

Barasch,Lynne4–9yearsFIRSTCOMETHEZEBRAIllustratedbyLynneBaraschNewYork:Lee&Low,2009|978-1-60060-365-5

Parallel stories take place in this book about cooperation and friendship. Onestoryinvolvesthezebra,wildebeest,andgazellethatsharethegrazinglandsinKenya.Thefirstfewpagesillustratehoweachanimaleatsonlythetop,middle,orlowestsectionsofthegrass.Theother,morepersonalstoryfeaturestwoboys.Abaani,ofthenomadicMaasaipeople,caresforhisfamily’scattle,whileHaki,aKikuyuboy,helpshisfamilysellthevegetablesgrownontheirfarm.Atfirsttheboysyellhatefulphrasesateachother,wordstheyhaveheardfromothersintheir tribes. But one day, they come together to rescue a baby from angrywarthogs and so begin a tentative walk toward friendship. By the end of thebook, they talk, play games, and trade vegetables for milk. Recalling thebeginning,theendingcomparestheboys’sharingtotheanimals’sharingofthegrass; thus there is hope for the future. The ink-and-watercolor illustrationsdepictthegrasslands,cattlepens,androadsoftheKenyancountryside,aswellas the people and animals. An author’s note concludes the book with moreinformation about the Maasai, the Kikuyu, their rivalry, and the game ofmancala that the boys play. A glossary with pronunciations is included for

unfamiliarwordsandphrases.

Bauer,MarionDane4–8yearsTHELONGESTNIGHTIllustratedbyTedLewinNewYork:HolidayHouse,2009|978-0-8234-2054-4

Withaquietsenseofanticipation,thisbookportraysthecolddarknessdeepinthe forest, where the animals await the coming of morning. Watercolorillustrations,whichreveal thelargenessandwildnessof theanimals,consistofdarkblue,green-blue,andbrownuntilthelastfivepages.Asthesuncomesup,pale pink and yellow filter through the branches as the transition to daylightbecomescomplete.Thetextpresentsasaprosepoem,withthecrow,moose,andfox offering to find the hiding sun and wake it up. But finally it is the tinychickadee that brings the sun back. Young readers and listeners will love thelarge,up-closeillustrationsoftheforestanimals.

Bildner,Phil4–8yearsTHEHALLELUJAHFLIGHTIllustratedbyJohnHolyfieldNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons/Penguin,2010|978-0-399-24789-7

When aviator James Banning and mechanic Thomas Allen flew across theUnitedStatesfromLosAngelestoNewYorkin1932,theyencounteredridicule,mechanical difficulties, bad weather, and prejudice. For they were the firstAfrican Americans tomake a transcontinental flight. Illustrations that capturetheemotionsof themaincharactersgive this story itspersonal feelwithin thecontextofhistory.Thetextbringsforththeirdeterminationinthefaceofmanyobstacles,aswellastheadventurousspiritthatkeptthemgoing.Thebookputsreadersintheseatofthatearlyaircrafttomakethemfeeltheheatandthewind,toseethesceneryofAmerica,tofeelhungerwhentheywerenotallowedtoeatin restaurants, and to hear each other call “Hallelujah”whenever theymade agoodlanding.Thisfictionalizedversionaboutrealpeopleandarealeventwillintroduce Banning and Allen to children for whom this story will be aninspirationandahigh-flyingadventure.

Blake,RobertJ.6–9yearsSWIFT

IllustratedbyRobertJ.BlakeNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2007|978-0-399-23383-8

Lookingforheart-poundingaction?Thisstory,setinthewildernessofAlaska,brings it on—with intensity. A bear attacks a boy and his father. Pa, with abrokenleg,sendsJohnnieandhisdog,Swift,offforhelp.Asnowstorm,afallinariver,andthatnow-woundedbeararejustafewoftheterrorstheymustface.Realisticoilpaintillustrationscapturetheforestandtundra,aswellasthepain,cold, and fear. Endpapers showing the routes taken by Pa and Johnnie willappealtolistenerswhoenjoymaps.Thosewhoopposehuntingmaynotbeabletogetpastthescenesofboththeboyandhisfatherwithguns,butthosewhoarewilling to accept this reality of the setting will find a story of faithfulness,growingup,andthehuman-animalbond.Theauthor’snoteattheendrecountshisexperiencewith,andinformationabout,homesteadingfamiliesinAlaska.

Brown,Peter4–8yearsTHECURIOUSGARDENIllustratedbyPeterBrownNewYork:Little,Brown,2009|978-0-316-01547-9

Imagine going from a smoky and drab cityscape to a green and flowery one.Thatprogressionhappens from the firstpagespread to the last in this storyofLiam,whodecides to take care of a fewplants.He starts small,watering andpruningthesadspecimensonanabandonedrailroadtrack.Butsoonthegardenspreads, and eventually other people join in and transform the city. Theillustrations,acrylicandgouache,rangefromsmall,quarter-page,andunframed,to multiple framed illustrations on a page, to full two-page spreads. Severalpages show the expansion of the gardenwith illustration only.The text, quietandmatter-of-fact,reflectsLiam’spersonality.Theillustrationsaddinformation,suchasLiamsingingtohisplants,whichisnotexplicitlystatedinthetext.Thechangeofseasonsoccurs,andevenwinterkeepstheheroofthestorybusywithplans for planting in the spring. Brown adds a touch of whimsy with theillustrations of topiary animal shapes. A must-read for gardeners andconservationistswhohopetopassontheirloveofgrowingthingstoayoungergeneration.

Bunting,Eve5–8yearsPOP’SBRIDGEIllustratedbyC.F.Payne

IllustratedbyC.F.PayneOrlando:Harcourt,2006|978-0-15-204773-3

This book takes a fictional look at historical fact—the building of theGoldenGateBridge—witnessedthroughtheeyesofayoungboywhosefatherworksonitsconstruction.Heandhisfriend,CharlieShu,whosefatherisapainteronthebridge, observe its construction, a terrible accident, and its completion whilewatchingovertheirfatherswithbinoculars.Theillustrations,fullone-andtwo-page spreads, show both the scenes of the huge project and the up-closeemotionsoftheboys.Thefacesofthesecharacters,plusothersincrowdscenes,offer fascinating detail, capturing the feel of the 1930s. The first-person textperfectly blends the personal—a son’s pride,worry, and elation—with the bigpicture. Fascinating perspectives, such as the reflection of the bridge in thebinocularsinonesuchscene,maketheillustrationsnoteworthy.Anotefromtheauthorwith further information about the constructionof thebridge concludesthebook.

Chen,JiangHong5–10yearsLITTLEEAGLETranslatedbyClaudiaZoeBedrickIllustratedbyChenJiangHongNewYork:EnchantedLion,2007978-1-59270-071-4

First published in France, this captivating book takes readers toChina,whereMasterYang rescuesanabandonedorphan.Lyrical storytellingcombineswithmagnificentillustrationastheyoungboydiscoversthathisguardianisamasterofeagleboxing,aformofkungfu.TheboybecomesLittleEagle,trainingwiththemaster for years.Gorgeous art depicts all phases of his life; an especiallyevocativeseriesovertwopagesdisplaystheexercisesheperformsduringeachofthefourseasons,eachinadifferenthue.Asthemasteragesandthetwoenterintobattlewiththeirenemy,theactionpeaks.Itendsasonegenerationpassesonto the next. The large size of the book makes it a natural for reading aloud,althoughchildrenwhoareintoanyofthemartialartswillenjoypagingthroughitontheirown.Followtherealeaglethroughoutthebook,hispresenceasymbolofcourageanddiscipline.

Connor,Leslie4–9yearsMISSBRIDIECHOSEASHOVELIllustratedbyMaryAzarian

IllustratedbyMaryAzarianBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2004|978-0-618-30564-3

Beautifulwoodcut illustrationslendanold-fashionedfeel to thisfictionalstoryofayoungwomanwholeavesherhomein1856,travelstoanewlandbyboat,andbuildsalifeforherself,allwiththehelpofashovel.Thecoverillustrationportraysthetitlecharactersettingoffwithshovelinhand,andeveryillustrationthroughout thebookincludestheshovel.Eachillustrationisborderedinblack,with the text outside of the border or, in some cases, in a black-bordered boxwithin the illustration containing and picking up the black outlines of thewoodcuts.Thisbookcouldbeusedassupplementarymaterialinsocialstudies,withitsscenesoflifefromthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury.Emigration,awoman’slifespanfromteenagertograndmother,ruralliving,loveandloss—allthesethemescombineinthisrichstory.

Conway,David4–8yearsLILAANDTHESECRETOFRAINIllustratedbyJudeDalyLondon:FrancesLincoln,2008|978-1-84507-407-4

Readersandlistenerswillalmostfeeltheheatoftheatmosphereinthisstory,inwhichaKenyanvillageteetersonthevergeofdrought.Lilaworries,especiallyafterhearinghermothertalkaboutconsequencesofnorain,sosheconsultswithhergrandfather.Actingonastoryherelates,sheclimbstothetopofamountainandbegins to tell thesaddest thingssheknows.Withawelcomeonsetofrain,thepeopleofhervillagecelebrate.Dry-dustbrownsdominate the illustrations,withalargegoldensuninthedaytimepictures.Thereaderviewsthescenesasiffromfaroff,enhancingthefeelthatthistakesplacefaraway.StoriestoldbythegrandfatherandLilaappearingraywithsplashesofred,providingacontrasttothe warm colors of the majority of the illustrations. The text, beautiful inlanguage,gathersthereaderinandmakestheendingbelievable.Incombinationwiththeart,itbecomesatotalpackagethatwilltransportlistenerstotheAfricandesert.

Cooper,Elisha4–9yearsBEACHIllustratedbyElishaCooperNewYork:Orchard/Scholastic,2006|978-0-439-68785-0

Interesting perspectives make this illustrated story of a day at the beachmemorable.Taking the long view, the artist shows the beach gradually fillingwith people at the beginning and emptying out at the end. In between, smallwatercolor-and-pencil illustrations, sometimesmore than twodozen to a page,illustrate sunbathers, swimmers, animals, clouds, boats, and more in what isalmostasketchbookofall thatanartistcanobserve. It isas if thatartistweresitting on a hill looking at the beach and painting, giving a plein air feeling.Whilethedrawingsexhibitanundetailed,almostunfinishedlook,theygowellwith the text,which isdetailed in itsobservations,except fora fewpages thatarewordless.Thelarge-sizeformatofthebookaffordsplentyofroomforalltheillustrations,lotstolookat,andagoodsizeforsharingwithagroup.

Cooper,Ilene6–9yearsTHEGOLDENRULEIllustratedbyGabiSwiatkowskaNewYork:Abrams,2007|978-0-8109-0960-1

AllthemajorfaithtraditionsfollowsomeversionoftheGoldenRule,andinthisstory, a youngboy, in talkingwith his grandfather, discoverswhat this is andhow to put it into practice. Impressionistic illustrations incorporating thesymbols of various faiths provide a thoughtful and rich visual experience.Drawings of angels, animals,Hindu gods,Madonna and child, and decorativeelements surround the boy and his grandfather. Especially moving is theirdialogue aboutwar,when soldiers and knights and airplanes inmoody black-and-white sketches fill the two-page spread. A wonderfully evocativeintroduction to this concept for the young. Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu,Buddhist,andNativeAmericanformsoftheGoldenRuleareincluded.

DaCosta,Deborah6–10yearsSNOWINJERUSALEMIllustratedbyCorneliusVanWrightandYing-HwaHuMortonGrove,IL:AlbertWhitman,2001|978-0-8075-7525-3|paper

Avi,ayoungboywholivesintheJewishquarter,andHamudi,ayoungboyoftheMuslimquarter,bothbelievethatawhitecatwhooccasionallyvisitsbelongstohimalone.WhenAvifollowsthecatoneday,hediscoversHamudi,andthetwoboysargueaboutownershipof theanimal.Araresnowin theircity leadsthemtofollowthesuddenlymissingcat,andtheytrackdownherkittens.Muted

colorswithrichtexturescapturethestreetsofJerusalemandtwoofitsquarters.Notetherealisticfacialexpressionsoftheboys.Anauthor’snoteprovidesmoreinformation about the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. A glossary listspronunciationsanddefinitionsfortheHebrewandArabicwordsinthetext.Thisbeautifullytoldandillustratedstoryservesasanintroductiontothispartoftheworldandasastoryaboutproblemsolving.

Ehlert,Lois4–8yearsLEAFMANIllustratedbyLoisEhlertOrlando:Harcourt,2005|978-0-15-205304-8

From the formsof the leaves to the colors and shapes of the pages, this bookpresentsacompletepackageof thewondersof fall leaves. InEhlert’sauthor’snote,shedescribesherpassionforcollectingleavesfromallover;colorcopiesofthembecametheillustrations.Hercleverpositioningturnsthemintochickensandpumpkins,cowsandcarrots,aswellastheLeafMan.Exquisitetexturesandsumptuouscolorsoforange,gold,brown,andgreen take the reader intoa falldaynomatterwhat theweatheroutside.Theupperedgesof thepages,die-cutinto scallops and scoops and zigzags, create themountains,meadows, forests,andriversofthestorysetting.Thetextflows,matchingtheever-movingcourseofthebookandthefloatingLeafMan.Auniqueandlovelybooktofallinto.

Elliott,David4–8yearsINTHEWILDIllustratedbyHollyMeadeSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2010|978-0-7636-4497-0

A collection of poems, each focused on one animal,make up this gorgeouslyillustrated picture book. The animals represent many habitats and continents,fromthelionthatbeginsthebooktothepolarbearthatendsit.Eachtwo-pagespread features one animal and its poem, which ranges from four lines tothirteen. The illustrations—woodblock prints and watercolor—depict theanimals large and inmotion for themost part. The physical size of the bookmakes it ideal for sharing in a group setting. A wonderful cross-curricularsource,thisbookcouldbeusedinscience,languageartsclassesstudyingpoetry,andnaturestudies.Itisalsosuretobeafavoriteforstudentswhowanttolookatitontheirownandenjoythebeautyoftheartandtheanimals.

Evans,FreddiWilliams5–9yearsHUSHHARBOR:PRAYINGINSECRETIllustratedbyErinBennettBanksMinneapolis:Carolrhoda,2008|978-0-8225-7965-6|librarybinding

Secret meeting locations where African American slaves can worship as theyplease,freefromtheeyesoftheiroverseers,becomeplacesofrefugeandhopein this story. A young boy is deemed old enough to be entrusted as lookoutduring worship. Through his eyes and ears, readers and listeners see thefieldwork,listentotheoldstories,discoverarunaway,andhearthesingingandprayers for freedom. Expressionistic illustrations in rich browns, greens, andreds convey the experiences of young Simmy and the other slaves. The textfocuses on characters, such as Uncle Sol, Simmy’s mother, and Mama Aku,givingapersonal touchtohistory.With itscompellingstoryandinformationalauthor’snote, thisbookwouldbeanexcellentsupplementarysourceforsocialstudies.Hush Harbor offers an affecting look at the religious life of slaves,whichisnotusuallycoveredinpicturebooksasthoroughlyasotheraspectsoftheirlives.

Fern,TraceyE.4–9yearsBUFFALOMUSICIllustratedbyLaurenCastilloNewYork:Clarion,2008|978-0-618-72341-6

Fromlatenineteenth-centuryTexascomesthishistoricalfictionbasedonarealpioneerwomanwhotookinorphanedbabybuffalo,nursed themtohealthandmaturity, and eventually sent them off to national parks and wildlife refuges.Told in first person, the story reveals Molly’s motivation for saving buffaloclearlyandwithabitofhumor.Theillustrationsdepictthehardworkoffarmingand ranching, the devastation of the buffalo kills, and the heartwarmingappearanceofthebuffalocalves.Anauthor’snoteprovidesinformationonMaryAnn Goodnight, the real woman behind the story, plus sources for furtherinformation.

Fleming,Candace5–9yearsBOXESFORKATJEIllustratedbyStaceyDressen-McQueenNewYork:MelanieKroupa/FarrarStrausGiroux,2003|978-0-374-30922-0

NewYork:MelanieKroupa/FarrarStrausGiroux,2003|978-0-374-30922-0

Basedoneventsinpost–WorldWarIIEurope,thisstorycapturestheexcitementand gratitude of a Dutch girl receiving a box containing soap, socks, andchocolate from young Rosie in Indiana. A correspondence between the twoensues,andmoreboxesarriveforKatjeandthecoldandhungrypeopleofhertown. Exuberant illustrations depict the emotions of the characters; insets ofsquare illustrations, often with handwritten letters, look like photographs thatconveywhatishappeningonbothsidesoftheAtlantic.Thepagesbecomefulleras the story proceeds, reflecting the bigger, more numerous boxes and theexplosionofRosie’sprojecttoincludemanyotherpeopleinhertownwhowantto help. The ending, in which the Dutch people send tulip bulbs to theirAmericanfriends,isjustperfect.

Fletcher,Susan6–10yearsDADBLAMEDUNIONARMYCOWIllustratedbyKimberlyBulckenRootCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2007|978-0-7636-2263-3

Acombinationoftheseriousandthelighthearted,thisstoryputsafictionalspinonthehistoricalcowthattraveledwiththeUnionArmy.DuringtheCivilWar,ayoungman enlists and his cow follows him throughmarches and battles andeven his hospital stay. Although a lot of trouble, she also provides milk andwinter warmth to the soldiers. Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations do this cowjustice: she and the men show a wide range of emotions in the variety ofsituationspictured.Anauthor’snoteconcludesthebookwithinformationabouttherealcow.Andjusttoremindreaderswhothemostimportantcharacteris,apaintedexpanseoftexturedcowhidemakesuptheendpapers.

Franco,Betsy3–7yearsBIRDSONGSIllustratedbySteveJenkinsNewYork:MargaretK.McElderry/Simon&Schuster,2007|978-0-689-87777-3

A book about birds. A counting book. A wonderful example of collageillustration.AllthesedescriptionssuitBirdsongs,whichisframedbytherisingofthesunatthebeginningtoitssettingattheend.Inbetween,readersmeettendifferent species of birds, each of which fills the page—either singly or in a

flock—and which voices (in written words) its distinctive sound. The text ofthesecoosandcawsandquackssurroundandinsomecasescoverthebirds,inadifferent font size and usually in a different color from the main text. Indescendingorderfromtentoone,thesesoundwordsandthebirdsspreadovereachsetoftwopagesaccompaniedbyatree,anest,afeeder,orotherhabitat.Attheend,afterthesunsets,themockingbirdappearstomimictheotherbirdcalls,all of which appear on the page around her. A concluding section called“FeatheryFacts”presentsinformationaboutthebirdsshown.Largeillustrations,fullofcolorand texture—aswell as thepossibilityof somecreative sounds—makethisidealforaread-aloud.

Frank,John6+yearsHOWTOCATCHAFISHIllustratedbyPeterSylvadaNewMilford,CT:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2007|978-1-59643-163-8

FromTobagotoFlorida,fromIrelandtoJapan,fishingtakesavarietyofformsinthiscollectionofpoems,whichvisitsthirteenplacesinall.Thewordsexpressbeautifullythetechniquesforcatchingfish,usuallyacertaintypeoffish,andinaveryup-closemanner; the readeror listenerwill feel as if heor she is rightthere.Theillustrationsinimpressionisticstylematchthebeautyofthetext.Thecolorsincludemorethantheexpectedblueorgreenofthesea;colorsofsunriseand sunset, plus reds in clothes and lighthouse also appear. Each picture islabeledwiththetypeoffishingdepicted(icefishing,surfcasting,spearfishing,dip-netting,etc.)andtheplacewhereitoccurs.Thebookconcludeswithachildandfatherfishing,anicepersonaltouch.

George,JeanCraighead4–8yearsTHELASTPOLARBEARIllustratedbyWendellMinorNewYork:LauraGeringer/HarperCollins,2009|978-0-06-124067-6

WriterGeorgeandillustratorMinor,bothprolificintheirfields,takereaderstotheArcticinthisstorythatcombinesadreamlikeencounterandthestarkrealismofclimatechange.YoungTiglukmeetsapolarbearthatseemstowanthimtofollowher.Withhisgrandmother’shelp,TiglukjourneystoaremoteareaoftheArctic Ocean, where he discovers what the mother bear wanted him to find.Beautifullytexturedartworkdepictstheblue-whiteofsnowyskies,theyellow-

gray of the polar bear, and different colors of the ocean. The double-pagespreadsoftheoceanjourneypresentmovingscenes:Tiglukandhisgrandmotherpaddlingtheirkayakinasunset-orangeocean,ahugewalruswithababyontheshore of a blue sea with pink and yellow sky, and a large polar bear headpeekingoutofthegreenwater.Beautifullyrenderedvisualscombinewithatextthatblendsanexcitingstoryandtimelymessage.

Graber,Janet4–8yearsMUKTARANDTHECAMELSIllustratedbyScottMackNewYork:ChristyOttaviano/HenryHolt,2009|978-0-8050-7834-3

This book will transport most children to a completely foreign place, bothgeographically and in life experience. A young boy, a refugee from Somalia,lives inanorphanageinKenya.Heandtheotherchildrengotoschool,yetheoften dreams of his former life with his parents and the camels that are soimportant to their lives as nomads. When a small caravan arrives at theorphanagewithbooksfortheschool,Muktarfindsthathisskillworkingwithaninjured camel may fulfill his dream of tending camels. A moving story of ayoungboy,thetextperfectlycomplementstheillustrations,oilsoncanvas,thatfeaturetheboysoftheorphanage,theteacher,andthecamels.Shadesofbrownandyellowdominate,reflectingthecolorschemeofthedesert,withsplashesofredandblueinclothing.Muktar’sdreams,doneinshadesofgray,lendaneerieatmosphere.Added features includeamapofAfrica,withKenyaandSomaliahighlighted, and a brief author’s note about these two countries, war, and thecamelsthatdeliverbooks.

Hegamin,TonyaCherie5–9yearsMOSTLOVEDINALLTHEWORLDIllustratedbyCozbiA.CabreraBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2009|978-0-618-41903-6

In this story about the use of quilts in theUnderground Railroad, a little girlwitnesses her mother sewing pieces together. Her mother explains what thesquaresmean and eventually sends her daughter off to freedomwith the quiltaround her. Rich illustrations, rendered in acrylic paint and textile collages,wonderfully express a little girl’s curiosity and her mother’s pain and hope.Manyofthescenesaresetagainstadarkbackground,reflectingthesubjectand

thefactthatmuchoftheactiontakesplaceatnight.Theimportantquiltsquares—theNorth Star, the log cabin, the treewithmoss on the north side, and thelittle girl surrounded by a heart—depict easy symbols for young readers tounderstand,justastheywereforthegirlinthestory.Don’tmisstheendpapers,whichconsistofpiecedquilts.Anextensiveauthor’snoteandalistofbooksandwebsites for further readingclose thebook. Includewithotherbooksonquiltsand slavery, such as JacquelineWoodson’s Show Way (Putnam’s, 2005) andDeborah Hopkinson’s Under the Quilt of Night (Anne Schwartz/Atheneum,2001).

Hucke,Johannes4–8yearsPIPINTHEGRANDHOTELIllustratedbyDanielMüllerNewYork:NorthSouth,2009|978-0-7358-2225-2

Anexcellentexampleoftheactionmovingfromlefttorightasthepageturns,thisstorybeginswithagirl’spetmouseescapingfromitsboxandintoafancyhotel.Brightlycoloredillustrationsfeaturecomicalpeopleanddetailedsettings.As the little mouse runs through the lobby, kitchen, pantry, and more, thesecrowded rooms supply numerous places for him to hide, and for readers andlistenerstosearchforhim.Thelargesizeofthebookenablestheillustrationstotake up the bulk of the page,with the text appearing in a narrow strip at thebottom.Every page spread contains a sentence that needs to be completed byturning the page.This device keeps suspensehigh and the storymoving.Thisseek-and-findbookisnottoocomplicatedforayoungeraudience,andthestoryprovidesabehind-the-scenes lookat ahotelwith someagreeable companions.OriginallypublishedinSwitzerland.

Levine,Ellen4–9yearsHENRY’SFREEDOMBOXIllustratedbyKadirNelsonNewYork:Scholastic,2007|978-0-439-77733-9

BasedonthetruestoryofHenry“Box”Brown,thisfictionalizedversionofhislifeexamineshischildhoodandyoungadulthoodandthefactorsthatledtohisremarkableplantoescapeslavery.Withthehelpofcollaboratorsonbothends,hedecided tomailhimself inaboxfromRichmond,Virginia, toPhiladelphia.Hisisasadstory,fullofseparationandloss,anditistoldinawaythatdoesnot

diminishthispainevenasitismadeunderstandabletochildren.Nelsoncreateshaunting artwork, rendered in pencil, watercolor, and oil, expressive in detailand mood-defining use of color and texture. The series of drawings showingHenryintheboxbeingshovedeverywhichwaybymenontheboatjoltsreaderswith its cross-section view. The contrast of lightness and darkness and use ofcolorisstunning;comparethepageswhereheseeshisfamilybeingsoldversusthepageswherehearrivesintheboxinPhiladelphia.Supplementwithanotherstoryofamaleslave,whorunsawayaidedbytheUndergroundRailroadandhisfaithfuldog,inElisaCarbone’sNightRunning(Knopf,2008).

Lofthouse,Liz4–10yearsZIBACAMEONABOATIllustratedbyRobertIngpenLaJolla,CA:Kane/Miller,2007|978-1-933605-52-4

AyoungAfghangirl,enroutetoanewcountryandfreedom,enduresacrowdedandat timesfrighteningvoyageover thesea.Cuttingbetween thatpresent-dayexperienceandthoughtsofthepast,readersandlistenerslearnofZiba’slifeinthemountains:playingandhelping,observinghermother,listeningtoherfather,andfinallybeingdrivenawaybyviolence.Thissparetextdoesnotgointodetailon the war, as it does with other experiences Ziba remembers, respecting thesensibilitiesandunderstandingofachild.EvocativeillustrationsdepicttheboatrideandZiba’smemoriesinrichlycoloredandtexturedart.(Seefigure4.2.)Thepeople, especially faces, are particularly well portrayed. Because of the shortlength and the child-centered nature of the text, this book could be used toexplainimmigrantexperiencestoyoungchildren,yetitisdeepenoughevenforadults.

Mansfield,Howard4–8yearsHOGWOODSTEPSOUT:AGOOD,GOODPIGSTORYIllustratedbyBarryMoserNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2008|978-1-59643-269-7

Can a six-hundred-pound behemoth of a pig be considered adorable? In thisbook, appealing illustrations, first-person (orwould that be first-pig?) point ofview,andastylethatextolstheelementalpleasuresofdirtbathsandvegetablegardenscouldconvinceanyone.Thewatercolorartisremarkablyrealisticinitsdepictionofanimals,humans,andlandscapes.AsHogwoodescapeshispenand

takes a trip through neighboring yards and gardens, he comments onwhat hefeels,andhereacts to theneighborsandthepoliceman,whomostcertainlydonot think he is a good pig. Hogwood’s adventure is an excellent choice forclassesstudyingfarmanimals,orjustasafunread-aloud.Grown-upscanreadhis story in The Good Good Pig (Ballantine, 2006) by Sy Montgomery,Mansfield’swife.

McClintock,Barbara4–8yearsADÈLE&SIMONIllustratedbyBarbaraMcClintockNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2006|978-0-374-38044-1

TakeatripthroughParisattheturnofthelastcenturyinthisbookfeaturingthedelightful illustrations for which McClintock is known. Simon leaves schoolwithhissuppliesandarticlesofclothing,whichhelosesonebyoneasheandhis sisterwalkhome.Eachpage turn revealsanewscene, includingamarket,garden,museum,Métrostation,andmore,whichprovidecrowdsofpeopleandlotsofplacesforSimontolosethings.Youngreaderswillhavefunfindingthemissingitemsineachpicture.Adultsmaybemoreinterestedintheexplanationsat the end of the book about each scene and trying to identify some of thefamouspeoplewhoarepartof theillustrations.Althoughnotmentionedin thetext,MissClavellandthelittlegirlsofMadelineappearinoneofthepictures.Besuretolookattheendpapers,takenfroma1907map.ContinuethefunwithAdèleandSimoninAmerica(FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2008).

Figure4.2.ZibaCameonaBoat

McCully,EmilyArnold4–9yearsWONDERHORSEIllustratedbyEmilyArnoldMcCullyNewYork:HenryHolt,2010|978-0-8050-8793-2

Although the title character, named JimKey, takes center stage in this story,equallyimportantisBillKey,themanwhotakescareofJimandteacheshim.Aformerslave,DocBilluseshisskillsasaveterinariantocareforanimals,alwaysstressingthattheymustbetreatedwithkindness.JimKey,foalofDoc’sfavoritehorse,seemstoshowanuncannyabilitytounlockgatesandfindhiddenobjects.Over the years, Doc teaches Jim letters, numbers, and colors. Appealingillustrations take listeners through a range of emotions during the events ofDoc’sandJim’slives.Basedonatruestory,thisfictionalizedversionportraysDoc’saffectionforhishorseandhisstruggletohavebothacademicexpertsandtheSociety for thePreventionofCruelty toAnimals recognize Jim’s abilities.Illustrationsportraythehistoricalsetting(JimKeylivedfrom1889to1912),butaretimelessintheirportrayalofthehuman-animalbond.

McGinty,AliceB.4–8yearsTHANKYOU,WORLDIllustratedbyWendyAndersonHalperinNewYork:Dial,2007|978-0-8037-2705-2

Although children of different countries experience diverse living styles, theyalso encounter similar feelings and activities. The cover introduces the eightchildren who appear inside the book. Each two-page spread contains eightsquares.EachsquareillustratesascenefromtheUnitedStates,Mexico,Bolivia,France,Mali,SaudiArabia,India,andChina.Thetext,aunifyingsentencethatbeginswith“Thankyou,”addresseselementsofnature,aswing,awindow,andamother that each squaredepicts.Childrenmaywant togo through thisbookpagebypage,lookingatallthepicturesatonce,orlookingatjustonecountry’sillustrations at a time.With eight on each spread, the pictures are small andintimate, reflecting thechildandhisorher everydayexperiences therein. (Seefigure 4.3.) The illustrations, in crayon and pencil, can lead to discussions ofdifferences and cultural traditions of each country, aswell as similarities.Theendpapers again consist of eight squares, each with a globe highlighting thecountryanditscontinentorhemisphere.Abeautifulbookandaspringboardtoculturalunderstanding.

Figure4.3.ThankYou,World

McMullan,Kate3–8yearsISTINK!IllustratedbyJimMcMullanNewYork:JoannaCotler/HarperCollins,2002|978-0-06-029849-4

Withthevigorandloudnessthatonlyalargevehiclecanmuster,agarbagetrucktells all. Since this garbage truck works at night, the illustrations emerge inshades of brown, gray, blue, and purple,with yellow illumination popping upoccasionally. The text is in your face,withwords—and sometimes individualletters within a word—appearing in differing font sizes. In the middle of the

truck’s trip, anA-to-Z listing of all types of nasty garbage turns up. Some ofthese will be sure to elicit laughs from young listeners. The truck isanthropomorphized in the illustrations,a technique that fitswellwith the first-persontext.Bothwordsandpicturesportraytheroaringpowerofthisnecessarymachinery.Fromthefrontcover,IStink!comesonstrong,allthewaythroughtothebackcover,whichdisplaysasmallertruck,eyesclosed,smilingsweetly.FansmaywanttocheckouttheMcMullans’I’mDirty!(2006),aboutabackhoe,or I’mMighty! (2003), featuring a tugboat, or, for dinosaur lovers, I’m Bad!(2008).

ÓFlatharta,Antoine4–8yearsHURRYANDTHEMONARCHIllustratedbyMeiloSoNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2005|978-0-375-83003-7

Afineexampleofcombiningnonfictionfactswithinafictionalstory,thisbookportraysthemigrationofmonarchbutterfliesthroughthestoryofonebutterfly’sjourneyandherfleetingacquaintancewitha tortoise.ThisstoryspansOctobertothenextspring,asitcontraststheshortlifeofthetravelingmonarchandtheseemingly unchanging life of the old tortoise. The beautiful watercolor artfeaturesclose-upsofthetwoanimals,aswellasimpressivegroupsofmonarchsandthelifecycleofeggtocaterpillar tobutterfly.Ontheendpapers,amapofNorthAmericaindicatesthemigrationofthemonarchsfromCanadatoMexico.An afterword provides more information and statistics about this amazingjourney. Compare this with Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar (Candlewick,2008) by Clare Jarrett, and Anne Rockwell’s Becoming Butterflies (Walker,2002),withitsschoolsetting.

Pendziwol,JeanE.4–8yearsDAWNWATCHIllustratedbyNicolasDebonToronto:Groundwood/Douglas&McIntyre,2004|978-0-88899-512-4

Theshimmeringhazinessoftheillustrationsreflectsthesettingofthestoryasayoung girl helps her father keep watch during the night in a boat on LakeSuperior.Languagerichwithimageryimpartsinformationaboutsailingandthesea;thefirst-personnarrativedescribestheemotionsofthegirlonwatch.Huesofdeepblueandblackdominate the illustrations throughoutmostof thebook,

with several pages in green as the northern lights come into view, and thenorangeandyellowasdaybeginstodawn.Thetexturedpaintingstakeavarietyofviews:theboattinyinahugesea,theboatlargewithviewsoftheequipmentandpeopleonboard,sceneswherethereaderwillfeelpresentontheboat,andothers as if looking down on it from above. The overall impression is ofmovementandcoldandwatchfulwaiting.Teachersmaywanttousethisbookasanexampleofdescriptivewritingbeforestudentsundertakesuchanassignment,orforanywater-orboat-themedstorytime.

Pinkney,AndreaDavis4–8yearsPEGGONY-PO:AWHALEOFATALEIllustratedbyBrianPinkneyNewYork:JumpattheSun/Hyperion,2006|978-0-7868-1958-4

MobyDickhasnothingonCetus,thesixty-tonwhalewhotriestoescapepursuitbyGalleonKeene and thewooden boy he carves, Peggony-Po. The PinkneyshavecreatedaseafaringtalewithelementsofPinocchio,exuberantinactionontheshipandinthewater.Theyoungboy’sfictionalbattlewiththewhaleissetin the1840s,aprime time for thewhaling industry. Illustrations in richcolorsportray the whale, the waves, the ship, and the people constantly moving,mimicking a ship-based journey. A rhyming sea chantey offers even moreauthenticity. The text highlights Peggony-Po’s daring, a great adventure foryounglisteners.Endmaterialincludesanoteonwhalesandblackwhalers,plusaglossaryofnauticalterms.

Raschka,Chris4–8yearsLITTLEBLACKCROWIllustratedbyChrisRaschkaNewYork:RichardJackson/Atheneum,2010|978-0-689-84601-4

Withbeautifuluseoflineandcolor, thewatercolor-and-inkillustrationsinthisstory feature the crowof the title,who is indeed little inmost of the art. Theimpressionistillustrationsandthepoetictextdisplaytheessenceofthecrowandhis story. One could hand this book to an aspiring children’s writer and say,“Here,thisishowrhymingtextisdonesuperbly.”Thesoft,liltingfeelingofthebookanditsessenceofnature,family,andlovecombinetocreateadeceptivelysimplelookthathidesdeepertruths.

Ravishankar,Anushka4–8yearsELEPHANTSNEVERFORGET!IllustratedbyChristianePieperBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2008|978-0-618-99784-8

Befitting its titlecharacter, thisbookcontainssomelargeand loudwords.Thenoisesofalightningstorm,tiger,buffalo,andelephantspreadacrossthepageinextra-big type to maximize the effect. The illustrations themselves, digitallycreated,consistofjustthreecolors:black,blue,andlightcream.Constantaction—runningand rolling, swimmingand throwing—will appeal to short attentionspans.Thesmallsizeoftheelephantonmostpagesemphasizeshisfeelingsofbeing alone and not fitting in. The basic story, in which a little elephantseparated from his herd finds a group of animals to live with, is simple butaffecting.OriginallypublishedinIndia.

Roth,SusanL.4–8yearsGREATBIGGUINEAPIGSIllustratedbySusanL.RothNewYork:Bloomsbury,2006|978-1-58234-724-0

Thebigguineapigsofthetitleexistinastorythatamotherguineapigtellsherlittleone.Assherelatesit,huge,sharp-toothedguineapigslivedinswampsinVenezuelaeightmillionyearsago.Avarietyofpapersfromaroundtheworld,includingbasketweave,cellophane,andhand-marbled,makeup the incrediblecollage illustrations.Anextensivenoteabout theart, foundon the insidebackflap,statestheorigins(countriesandcities)ofthesematerials.Themodern-dayguineapigsembodycutenessandfluffiness,whilethelong-agoonesloomlargeand scary-looking. The scenes of the modern guinea pigs always contain thebasketweavepaper,emphasizingtheirhomeinacage.Thetextprovidesfacts,enhanced by the illustrations, but also contains humorous and innocentcommentsby the littleguineapig.Abibliography is includedat the end.Thisbookblendsfictionandnonfictionexceedinglywellfortheveryyoung.

Say,Allen4–8yearsTHEBOYINTHEGARDENIllustratedbyAllenSayBoston:HoughtonMifflin/HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2010|978-0-547-21410-8

The book opens with a one-page story of the Grateful Crane, necessarybackgroundfortheplot,sinceitisastorythattheyoungboyknowswellfromhismother’stelling.Jiroandhisfatherpayavisittoafamilyfriendwholivesinahousewithalargegarden.Whilewalkingthroughthegarden,Jirodiscoversastatue of a crane that he at first believes is real. Hearing the adults gentlylaughing at him, hewalks away, and from there this story takes on a dreamyquality.AsinthestoryoftheGratefulCrane,hisexperienceincludesahouse,awomancominginfromasnowstorm,andthesoundofa loom.Oneverypagespread, the text appears on the left side and thewatercolor illustration on theright.Therealscenesareframedwithawhiteborder,whilethefantasyscenestake up thewhole pagewith no border. The transition from reality to fantasyoccursseamlesslyandnaturally,soitisasurprisetothereaderwhenthefather,lookingforJiro,wakeshimfromhisdream.Hiswordsattheendassurehissonthathewasnotfoolishforthinkingthatthecranelookedreal.Agentlymagicalstorymasterfully told,TheBoy in theGarden exudes a senseof curiosity andwonder.

Scanlon,LizGarton3–7yearsALLTHEWORLDIllustratedbyMarlaFrazeeNewYork:BeachLane/Simon&Schuster,2009|978-1-4169-8580-8

Throughrhythmandrhyme,thetextgivesthereaderapictureofasummerdayat the seashore, a farmers’ market, a storm, a restaurant meal, and a familygathering.Itscomfortablefeelingofhappinessandbeinginjusttherightplacewith loving family members permeates the story. Pencil-and-watercolorillustrations portray modern people, but a comfortable old-fashioned qualitymakesthepicturestimeless.Thisisawonderfulbooktosharewithalovedchildortoreadaloudtoagroupandrevelintherhythmictext.Childrenwholiketopore over pictures for details will enjoy several double-page spreads. A goodbookforanyone,childoradult,whowantstofeelpartofsomethingbigger.

Schertle,Alice3–8yearsLITTLEBLUETRUCKIllustratedbyJillMcElmurryOrlando:Harcourt,2008|978-0-15-205661-2

Witharollickingrhythmandsomemightyfinerhymes,thisstoryofatruckin

the country celebrates the animate (farm animals) and the inanimate (trucks).Whenadump truckgets stuck in themud, and the little blue truckgets stucktryingtohelp,theanimalscometotherescue.Gouacheillustrationsfeaturethenatural colors of farmland: brown, gold, yellow, and green. Thismakes LittleBlue Truck stand out even more. The animals sport a comical look, and thetrucks,witheyeballheadlights,zipalonghumorously.Nohumanbeingsare inevidence,evenasdrivers.Almosteverypagecontainsfourlinesoftextwithanababrhymescheme,aneasyfeeltoreadoutloud,andanabundanceofanimalandtrucknoises.These“conversation”words—beep,honk,oink,moo—appearincolorwithinthetext.Thesamewonderfulrhymeandrhythm,buttransportedto the city, take place inLittle Blue Truck Leads theWay (HoughtonMifflin,2009).

Schwartz,Howard4–8yearsGATHERINGSPARKSIllustratedbyKristinaSwarnerNewYork:RoaringBrook/Holtzbrinck,2010|978-1-59643-280-2

Lovely prose and illustrations combine in a story that gently encouragesgoodness in order to repair theworld.Based on the Jewish tradition of tikkunolam, the explanation that the grandfather gives his granddaughter about theoriginofstarsand thepurposeofhumans is inspiring.Because thebook issetfor themost part at twilight and night, the colors, rich in shades of blue andpurple,deepenas thestoryprogresses.Thecolor schemealso includesgreens,whichfitinwiththeenvironmentalmessage,animportantpartofthestory.Thisgentlebookisfullofaffectionandhope.

Stringer,Lauren3–8yearsWINTERISTHEWARMESTSEASONIllustratedbyLaurenStringerOrlando:Harcourt,2006|978-0-15-204967-6

Althoughthetitleseemscountertotheobviouscoldofwinter,thispicturebookexplainswhywinteriswarm,fromachild’spointofview.Withwarmclothing,animalshibernatingindens,andhotfoodasexamples,thebookmakesthepointeasily. The illustrations, in acrylics, exude richness and warmth and followthroughontheimageryofthetext.Someillustrationsshowacontrastbetweensummerandwinter, suchas theswimmingpooland thebubblebath,butmost

show winter scenes filled with fun or cozy images of snowmen and hotchocolateandquilts.Recurringshapesofsnowdrifts,roundedandwhite,framemany of the illustrations. These round shapesmatch pictures of puffy jackets,melting cheese on a sandwich, and a curled-up cat. The text includes someinternal rhymes andmany image-ladenwords to provide its rhythm and flow.Teachersmaywant to use thiswhen studying the seasons,while parentsmaywanttodosoforawarmandsnugread-aloud.

Stryer,AndreaStenn4–8yearsKAMIANDTHEYAKSIllustratedbyBertDodsonPaloAlto,CA:BayOtter,2007|978-0-9778961-0-3

Oneofthedelightsofliteratureisitsabilitytotakeapersontoaplaceheorshemay never physically visit. This book transports readers to the HimalayanMountains,whereyoungKamitracksdownhisfamily’smissingyaks.Whenhediscovers an injury among one of the flock, he must go for help just as ahailstorm begins. Because he is deaf and cannot talk, he must use sign tocommunicatewhathashappenedtohisfatherandolderbrother.Determinedandresourceful,Kamiservesasarolemodelforyoungchildrenwhofeelasiftheymaybetooyoungtomakeadifference.Theillustrations,paintingswithalmostpalpabletexture, takethereadertothis landof theSherpas,withitsmountainsandsnow.Anauthor’snoteattheendofthestoryprovidesinformationonthelifeof theSherpas, theirwork, families,andhomes.Alsoset in theHimalayasand peopled with children in a Nepali guide family is Olga Cossi’s PembaSherpa(Odyssey,2009).

Wellington,Monica3–7yearsTRUCKDRIVERTOMIllustratedbyMonicaWellingtonNewYork:Dutton,2007|978-0-525-47831-7

With bright primary colors and simple illustrations of vehicles, people, andanimals, this story follows a truck driver who carries a load of fruits andvegetablesfromafarmintoabigcity.Colorcopiesofphotographspastedontogouacheartmakeanengagingcombinationof the realisticandpainted.Curvyroads,traintracks,constructionvehicles,bridges,andstorescombinetofillthepageswithdetailsforyounglistenerstoexamine.Attheend,anillustratedlistof

allforty-sevenvehiclesappearssothattheycanbefoundelsewhereinthebook.Almost all the vehicles are very small; thus, many fit onto a page, and theirprogressalongtheroadscanbeshown.Thesimplelanguageofthetext,whichmay encourage early readers, is upbeat and active, reminiscent of classicLoisLenskibookssuchasTheLittleAuto,TheLittleFireEngine,andPapaSmall.

Winter,Jeanette4–8yearsANGELINA’SISLANDIllustratedbyJeanetteWinterNewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2007|978-0-374-30349-5

AnewcomertoNewYorkCity,AngelinamisseshernativeJamaica.Shelongsforthefood,theweather,herschool,thebirds,andtheoldgames;everythinginher new home fades by comparison. Her mother discovers that Carnival iscelebrated in Brooklyn and arranges to have a beautiful costume made forAngelina so that she candance in theparade.Winter’s illustrationsburstwithcolor throughout, even in her depictions of New York City, but the Carnivaldancescenesreallyexplode.Genuineandpoignantfeelingscomethroughinthefirst-persontext,supplementedbytheillustrationsthataddadepthofemotiontowhat is expressedoneachpage.Teachers andparentsmaywant toplay someJamaicanmusicwhilereadingthisbook.

Winter,Jonah4–9yearsHERECOMESTHEGARBAGEBARGE!IllustratedbyRedNoseStudioNewYork:Schwartz&Wade/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-85218-3

BasedonthetruestoryofthebargethathauledgarbagefromLongIslanddownthe coast and failed to find a dumping ground, this fictionalized versioncombines fantastic illustrationswith text that begs to be read aloud. Even forthose listeners unfamiliar with the states and countries that were part of thisevent(agreatopportunityforlearningmapskills),thestorydoesagoodjobofdepicting the geographic areas. The illustrations—photographs of hand-built,three-dimensional sets—invite close examination: strange characters, realisticmachines, and lots and lots of garbage make them perfect for the almostsubversivetoneofthetext.Regionaldialectsandphraseswillbefuntoreadoutloud.Auniquestoryaboutauniqueevent,thisbookconveysanenvironmentalmessagewithsavvyhumor.

Winter,Jonah4–9yearsSTEELTOWNIllustratedbyTerryWidenerNewYork:Atheneum,2008|978-1-4169-4081-4

From the title page spread, with its factories and billowing smoke, andthroughout much of the book, a feeling of dark and damp permeates. Black,gray,anddarkbrownpredominate,withflaresofyellowandorangethatcapturethefireinthefurnace.Thisacrylicartmeshesbeautifullywithrhythmictextthatdescribeswhat happens in a steelmill.A fine example ofmixing fictionwithnonfiction, this story oozes heat and fire, clanking machinery, and hugebuildings.Setinatimeoffive-centhotdogsand“PenniesfromHeaven”ontheradio,thistributetoethnicfamiliesandtheirhardworkersinasteeltownshinesthrough.

Would,Nick5–9yearsTHESCARAB’SSECRETIllustratedbyChristinaBalitNewYork:Walker,2006|978-0-8027-9561-8

The sumptuous illustrationswill draw readers in, and then the story takes off!Andwhatastory it is—fullofsuspense,danger,andhelp fromanunexpectedsource.Toldfromthepointofviewofascarabbeetle, thestorytakesplaceinancientEgypt.Hiddeninabasketoffigs,thisscarabiscarriedtoanewlybuilttomb.Therehediscoversastoneslabsetasatrapfortheprincewhocomestoinspecttheplace.Theactioninthetextmovesquickly,andtheillustrations,richinEgyptiansymbolanddesign,addavisualdimensionthathelpsputeverythinginperspective.Thebeetleappearssmallinmostofthepictures,soreadersandlisteners will have fun looking for it. Balit has beautifully depicted the tombitself,withitsdoorsandpassagewaysandstonefloors,aswellasthecostumesofthecharacters.Anauthor’snoteattheendprovidesfurtherinformationontheEgyptians and their tombs.Gorgeousvisuals and aheart-pounding storymakethisanexcitingadventure.

Yerxa,Leo4–9yearsANCIENTTHUNDERIllustratedbyLeoYerxaToronto:Groundwood/HouseofAnansi,2006|978-0-88899-746-3

Toronto:Groundwood/HouseofAnansi,2006|978-0-88899-746-3

Stunningillustrationsfeaturinghandmadepaperthatlookslikeleathermakethisbookvisuallyappealing throughout.Eachpaintingofhorses inwatercolor andgouache is set upon a shirt or dress, inspired by traditional clothing ofNativeAmericansofthePlains.Withnomorethanninewordsperpagespread,thetextcapturesthepowerofthehorseswhosehoovesprovidethethunderofthetitle.As these animals and others race across the pages and appear on the clothingdepicted,theylendafeelingofpower,majesty,swiftness,andcolor,tothestory.Auniquebook,AncientThunder isanexcellentsourcefor thestudyofNativeAmericans, for art classes, for language arts and poetry, and for childrenwhoenjoystoriesabouthorses.

Young,Ed4–9yearsHOOKIllustratedbyEdYoungNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2009|978-1-59643-363-2

Withjustafewwordsoneachpageandlargeillustrations,thisbookisanaturalfor group read-alouds.A youngNativeAmerican boy discovers an egg in theforestandbringsithomeforhischickentohatch.Whenthebirdcomesoutwithadistinctivebeak, theboynameshimHook—andall seem toknow thathe ismeant for flight. After watching several of Hook’s failed attempts to fly, theyoungboy takes him to a canyon,where the bird finally takes offwithwingsspreadwide.Brownandtandominatethefull-pageillustrations,withshadesofblues, greens, and reds for contrast. An almost solemn mood permeates thebook; this isnot a funny“MotherHenhatches a strangeegg” story.From thebeginning,eventhehenknowsthatthisbirdismeantforahigherpurpose.Themagnificent picture of Hook’s flight at the end features his wingspan, whichreaches from one corner diagonally across two pages to the other. This is anawe-inspiringstory foranimal lovers,buddingconservationists,and thosewhowanttohearstoriesofsuccess.

5

TheWorldofImaginationInthepicturebooksinthissection,anythingcanhappen.Althoughimpossibleinreal life, the stories take place in the fertile ground of the imaginative mind.Childrencanlearnaboutreallifethroughthestories,too,ascharactersorthemesmay be real even if situations are not. Silly or sweet, magical or mysterious,thesebooksencouragethereadertothinkcreatively.

Ahlberg,Allan4–8yearsTHEPENCILIllustratedbyBruceIngmanCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2008|978-0-7636-3894-8

Thisdelightfulstory focuseson the illustrations,whicharebeingdrawnas thestory progresses. The pencil of the title—themain character—draws a boy, adog, a cat, and from there much, much more. The story begins in black andwhite (it’s a pencil, remember?), then picks up color after the pencil draws apaintbrush.Conflict comes in the shapeofaneraser!Thehumor isgentleandunderstated; for example,most of the characters insist on being namedby thepencil.Seetheendpapers,whereobjectsandtheirnamesareondisplay,suchasa bridge named Ramona and a rug named Marcus. The acrylic illustrationsunderlinethehumorwiththeirsimplicityandchildappeal.ReadersandlistenersfamiliarwithHaroldandthePurpleCrayonbyCrockettJohnsonwillnotethesame self-referential theme, althoughThePencil containsmore characters andcolor.Anexcellentchoiceforartistsyoungandoldwhobelieveinthepowerofthepencilandthepen—andtheeraser.Inasimilarvein,readJeremyDrawsaMonsterbyPeterMcCarty(Holt,2009).

Baker,Keith3–7yearsLMNOPEASIllustratedbyKeithBakerNewYork:BeachLane/Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-9141-0

Here isanalphabetbookstarring,as the titlepromises,peas.More than justagreen vegetable, these peas sport facial features, arms, and legs, as they ride

bikes,playmusicalinstruments,andperformscienceexperiments,amongmanyotheractivities.Eachletterofthealphabetrepresents,andissurroundedby,peasof a certain occupation or peas engaged in activity; for example, hikers climbovertheHandminerstunnelthroughtheM.Onetothreeofthesejobspartnerwitheachletter.Digitalillustrationsfeaturealargeletteroneachpage,althoughsomepagescontaintwolettersandsomeletterstaketwopages.Thelittlepeasand their equipment go over, under, around, or through the letter. Touches ofhumorgivealightmoodtothebook,asdoestheoveralldemeanorofthepeas.The rhyming text flows along, with just a few words on each page; after areading or two, young listeners will probably be able to identify what wordcomes next with a little prompting. Even for thosewho turn up their nose ateatingpeas,thisABCbookisadeliciousexperience.

Barnett,Mac4–8yearsBILLYTWITTERSANDHISBLUEWHALEPROBLEMIllustratedbyAdamRexNewYork:Disney/Hyperion,2009|978-0-7868-4958-1

Inthishugelyentertainingfantasy,ayoungboyacquiresaweightytask:totakecareofabluewhale.Toldinthefirstperson,thetextcontainsstatementsthattheillustrationshumorouslycontradict.Adultsreadingthisbookwillappreciatetheslyhumor;forexample,thebluewhaleowner’smanualmimicsafoldoutairlinesafety card, with its diagrams and arrows. In every scene in which Billy’sparentsappear,dialogueballoonscoverthemfromtheneckup,underscoringthepronouncementscomingfromfacelessauthority.Theauthorcleverlysneaks infacts about the blue whale and dinosaurs, which take nothing away from thelaugh-out-loudmoodof thestory.Endpapers featureold-fashionedadsforoddproductshavingtodowiththesea,keepingthesillymoodgoing.

Barton,Chris4–8yearsSHARKVS.TRAINIllustratedbyTomLichtenheldNewYork:Little,Brown,2010|978-0-316-00762-7

All hail the creative brains behind this book! One vigorous situation afteranother spurs a battle between a shark and a train. Who would win if theseanthropomorphized toys were pitted against each other in, say, a pie-eatingcontest or bowling?All these settings are framed by two pages preceding the

titlepagethatdepict twoboysdiggingthrougha toyboxtofindthesharkandthetrain,andtwopagesattheendthatshowtheboystossingtheirfavoritesbackin the toyboxbefore they run to lunch.This storypresents aperfectblendofword and picture, where the text presents the situation and action-packedillustrations bring out the humor in over-the-top fashion. Dialogue balloonsprovideevenmoreslyhumor,whichwillappeal toadults reading thestoryaswellastothechildrenlistening.Lookforthepagethatgivesnewmeaningtothephrase “jump the shark” and an homage to its origins. For lovers of action,comedy,ridiculoussituations,and,ofcourse,sharksandtrains.

Black,MichaelIan4–8yearsAPIGPARADEISATERRIBLEIDEAIllustratedbyKevinHawkesNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-7922-7

Withdrollhumorinthetextandlaugh-inducingillustrations,thisstoryasksthatthereaderorlisteneruseimaginationandyetfacecoldreality.Theimaginedpigparade, gloriously illustrated in acrylics featuring snappy uniforms, brilliantcolor,andevenfireworks,marchesoutcartoon-stylepigs.Comparethosetotherealisticporcinesfeaturedinthepagesthatexplainwhypigswillnevermarch,dress inuniform,orplayband instruments.Theclose-upof thepigsnoutaftersnufflingalongthestreetispriceless!Childrenandtheadultswhoreadtothemcanenjoythisbookondifferentlevelsofhumorandlaughtogether.

Broach,Elise4–9yearsWHENDINOSAURSCAMEWITHEVERYTHINGIllustratedbyDavidSmallNewYork:Atheneum,2007|978-0-689-86922-8

Forreadersandlistenersinsearchofpurefantasyofthe“wouldn’titbegreatif…” variety, this book is a real find. For every purchase, doctor’s visit, andhaircut, a child receives a free dinosaur.Not the little plastic ones, but a realdinosaur.Inthecomicalillustrationsofwatercolorandink,thelittleboyappearsthrilled and store clerks and nurses unruffled; the only one who seems to beupsetistheboy’smother.Thedinos,ofcourse,appearhugeoneachpagewheretheyare featured;onothers,only theirbigheadsarevisible throughwindows.Forthosekidswhoarebeggingforapet,thisstoryoffersalotofparallels.(Didthe hadrosaur really follow him home?Or did he tempt it with a doughnut?)

EvenMomcomes to termswith the dinosaurs in the end, and all live happilyever after. For more giant fun, see Laura Joy Rennert’s Buying, Training &CaringforYourDinosaur,ahumorouslist-typestory.

Brown,Monica4–8yearsCHAVELAANDTHEMAGICBUBBLEIllustratedbyMagalyMoralesBoston:Clarion/HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2010|978-0-547-24197-5

Bountifulcolorburstsfromthepagesofthisstory,whichcombinesfactsaboutchicle with a fantastical journey through time. Chavela blows bubbles of allshapesandsizes,andwhenshefindssomemagicchicleat thestore,shemusthaveit.Herabuelita—hergrandmother—tellsheraboutherownfatherwhowasachiclerointherainforests.SoonChavelablowsabubblewiththemagicchiclethattakeshertoMexico,whereshemeetsalittlegirlandotherchildrenplayingnearthechicletrees.TherealmagicisrevealedwhenChavelareturnshomeandfindsoutthatherabuelitawasthatlittlegirl.Candycolorsmakeupthefull-pageillustrations, rendered in acrylics. Certain words—bubbles, chicle, abuelita,magic,bigger,andmanymore—appearincolorandinexpressivefontsthataredifferent from the text. Sentences swirl and swoop on many pages, just asChavelafliesthroughtheairwithhermagicchicle.Anappealingmaincharacterplusmagicequalsabeautifulstory.Anauthor’snoteexpandsonthefactsaboutthesapodillatreesandthechicleharvestedfromthem.

Burningham,John4–8yearsIT’SASECRET!IllustratedbyJohnBurninghamSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2009|978-0-7636-4275-4

AnighttimeadventurewithherpetanswersMarieElaine’squestionaboutwherecatsgoafterdark.ThemagicofwordandpicturemakesMarieElainesmallassheandhercatescapeoutthecatdoorandnavigatethroughthecitytoaparty.Simpleyet charmingmixed-media illustrationsbecomemuchmore colorful inthepartyscenes.Whereasthebackgroundinthefirsthalfofthebookiscream-coloredorgray,thepartypicturesfeatureatexturedblackbackgroundandverycolorfulcats in fancyclothes.Acoupleof two-pagespreadscontainno textatall,with the preceding pages’words explained visually.Marie Elaine and herfriendNorman,whohasaccompaniedthem,meettheQueenoftheCats,enjoya

goodmeal,dance,andfinallygohome.Thelast illustration,withanormalcatandnormal-sizedgirl,mayhave readerswondering if itwas all adream.Andthatmaybethebeginningofaveryinterestingdiscussion.

Chaconas,Dori4–8yearsCORIANDERTHECONTRARYHENIllustratedbyMarshaGrayCarringtonMinneapolis:Carolrhoda,2007|978-1-57505-749-1|librarybinding

An incorrigible chicken does the opposite of what she is supposed to do,frustratingFarmerandMrs.Bucketandtheirdaughter,Fanny.EverythingcomestoaheadwhenCoriander setsuphernest in themiddleof the road,blockingtrafficandcausingtheBucketstodespair.Finally,Fanny,withabitofreversepsychology, convinces her to move back to the henhouse. The illustrations,delightfully silly, show Coriander as a magazine-reading, skateboard-riding,popcorn-eatingdiva(checkoutherpinkglasses);theotheranimalsandhumanscome across just as funny. Coriander’s replies to the Buckets’ chiding arespelledoutinlargeletters,asarethenoisesofthevehiclesthatarebackedupontheroad.Afunbookforalivelyread-aloudsession.

Chen,Chih-Yuan4–8yearsGUJIGUJIIllustratedbyChih-YuanChenLaJolla,CA:Kane/Miller,2004|978-1-929132-67-6

Thefamiliaruglyducklingthemeappearshere,butitisremarkablyfreshinthisbook first published in Taiwan. In this case, the odd egg that Mother Duckhatches produces a crocodile that blends right in with his siblings until threemeancrocodilesaccosthim.Forcedtodecidewherehebelongs,GujiGujistayswith those who treat him as family, and the bad crocodiles meet a justifiedpunishment. Charming artwork adds to the text, supplying a great dose ofhumor.Thebackgroundcolor inmanyscenes reflects themood:severalpagesfeaturingthecrocodiletrioaresetinblackorgray.Librariansandteacherswillappreciatethenodtobooks;MotherDuckisoblivioustothenewegginhernestbecausesheisreading,andlateronsheisshownreadingtoherfourbabies.Thisstorywouldmakeagoodsourcefordiscussionsonadoptionandwhatmakesafamily. For another take on crocodiles, fowl, and hatching unrelated eggs, seeMrs. Chicken and theHungryCrocodile (Holt, 2003), byWon-Ldy Paye and

MargaretH.Lippert.

Cronin,Doreen3–7yearsCLICK,CLACK,MOO:COWSTHATTYPEIllustratedbyBetsyLewinNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2000|978-0-689-83213-0

Whoknewthatcows,armedwithamanualtypewriter,couldtypetheirdemandsfor electricblankets?FarmerBrown finds thatout, andwhenhebalks at theirrequest, he learns that these bossy bovines can also go on strike. When thechickens join the strike, Farmer Brown is forced to negotiate. Just when hethinkseveryoneishappy,theducksgetintotheact.Theincongruousimagesofcowsusingtheirhoovestotypeandanimalsdemandingwarmblanketsprovidethe silly humor of this book.The comical illustrations, inwatercolor, enhancethe laugh-out-loud mood of the story. The sounds of the clicking, clackingtyping, plus the typed notes, take shape in typewriter-type script. This bookwouldmakeanexcellent choice for readingaloud,with repetitionof themaintitlethroughoutthebook,thedepictionoftheangryfarmer,andtheanticsofthedisgruntled animals. Labor disputes and cows have never been so funny.Appealing absurdity, bovine-style, is also available in Margie Palatini’s Boo-HooMoo(HarperCollins,2009)andAndyCutbill’sTheCowThatLaidanEgg(HarperCollins,2008).

Cronin,Doreen4–8yearsRESCUEBUNNIESIllustratedbyScottMenchinNewYork:Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins,2010|978-0-06-112871-4

A group of veteran rescue bunnies (think first responders) is saddled with atraineecalledNewbie.Ratherclumsybuteagertohelp,Newbieaccompaniestheteam on a mission to rescue a giraffe from a mudhole. Comical illustrationsshow the bunnies in their uniforms, doing their jobs and avoiding the nastyhyenas that threaten the giraffe. Adults reading this story to children willappreciate the additional comments and dialogue balloons, part of theillustrations,whichincorporatelinesfrommovies.Theseaddabitofirreverencetothissweetstorywithjustenoughofahumorousedge.Thiscouldbetheonlychildren’sbooktocombineaspicerack,theBunnyHop,andanervousgiraffe.

Curtis,Carolyn3–8yearsITOOKTHEMOONFORAWALKIllustratedbyAlisonJayCambridge,MA:Barefoot,2004|978-1-84148-611-6

Withpoetic languageandstylized illustrations, thisbeautiful lullabyofabookinvitesthereaderalongonawalkthroughayoungboy’stown.Anaaabrhymeschemewhere the last linerepeats thebook’s titlecreatesa lullingrhythmandsense of cohesiveness. Jay’s trademark paintings, rounded characters withskinnyextremities,werecreatedwithalkydoilpaintonpaperwithacracklingvarnish; close examination will reveal fine lines throughout, for a pleasantlyclassic effect.White space (off-white in this case) frames the illustrations, notwithadefinedline,butwithafuzzyborderaroundeachrectangleorhalf-circle,which enhances the duskiness of the time of day. Facts about the moon andnighttimeconcludethebook,makingitanexcellentsourcetocombineliteratureandscience.

Davies,Jacqueline4–8yearsTHEHOUSETAKESAVACATIONIllustratedbyLeeWhiteTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2007|978-0-7614-5331-4

An anthropomorphized house, determined to take a vacation when its familyleaves,setsoffonatrip.Thetravel,pluseventsattheseashore,takesatoll.Thehumorinthisstorycomesfromthecleverwordplayofthetextandthecartoonillustrationsofoilandcoloredpencil.Theexpressionsofeyesandmouthsonthedoors, windows, roof, and chimney help the reader or listener enter into thebanterbetweentheseelements.Partyinghouseflies,littlelegsonthehouse,andanimated inanimateobjectsmake this a delightful romp.There’s noplace likehomeforahousetorestupfromaholiday…andthenthefamilyreturns.

Derby,Sally4–8yearsWHOOSHWENTTHEWIND!IllustratedbyVincentNguyenTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2006|978-0-7614-5309-3

Being late to school can inspire some pretty good stories, but this one is a

whopper.Alittleboytellshis teacherwhythewindmadehimlate,andshe isnotbuying it.His imaginativestories,enhancedbycolor-saturated illustrationsinacrylicpaintandcharcoalpencil,portraythesituationsinalltheirdandelion-,puppy-, andhat-blowingglory. (See figure5.1.)Almost everypage turn leadsintotheteacher’swordsinred,shortandunbelieving,whichinturnleadtomorefancifulstoriesfromtheboy.Atwistendingprovidesevenmorehumortothislivelystory.Anotherblusterybook,Flora’sVeryWindyDay(Clarion,2010)byJeanne Birdsall, features a girl who rescues her little brother when they areblownaway.

Figure5.1.WhooshWenttheWind!

Ellery,Amanda3–7yearsIFIHADADRAGONIllustratedbyTomElleryNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2006|978-1-4169-0924-8

WhenMomordersMortontoplaywithhislittlebrother,heimaginesthetoddlerassomethingmoreinteresting,includingadragon.Illustrationsincharcoal,ink,and watercolor complement the text with bold imagination. The text itself isquite spare, with the illustrations telling the whole story, especially thelimitations of a dragon playing basketball, swimming, or seeing amovie. The

details such as the tiny shoes on the dragon’s toes and the sunbathing dragonreadingDQmagazineinspirehilarity.Inthelastscene,Morton,fedupwiththedragon,playswithhislittlebrotherasarealboyandbothhaveagreattime.Foran imaginative takeonsibling issues, thisbook ishugelyentertaining.Mortonlets his imagination run wild again in If I Were a Jungle Animal (Simon &Schuster,2009).

Fleming,Candace4–8yearsCLEVERJACKTAKESTHECAKEIllustratedbyG.BrianKarasNewYork:Schwartz&Wade/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-84979-4

Poor Jack trades for or searches for the ingredients in his quest to make abeautifulcake,completewithwalnutsandastrawberry.He intends to take thecake to the princess, celebrating her tenth birthdaywith a big party.But aftermeeting some hungry blackbirds, a wild troll, a dancing bear, and otherobstacles,Jackarriveswithnothingtopresenttotheprincessexceptthisstoryofhisjourneyfromhometopalace.Gouache-and-pencil illustrationspresentJackas hardworking and determined, and the characters who thwart him assometimes scary, sometimes comical. The endpapers frame the storywith thedeliveryoftheinvitationtothepartyatthefrontandJackregalingtheprincesswiththestoryattheback.Noticetheuseofmultipleillustrationsononepagetosuggestactivityandthepassageoftime.Jackturnslemonsintolemonadeinthissatisfyingandclevertale.

Fletcher,Ralph3–8yearsTHESANDMANIllustratedbyRichardCowdreyNewYork:HenryHolt,2008|978-0-8050-7726-1

For those who have heard of the Sandman and his ability to help people fallasleep,butwhohavealwayswonderedwhathelookslike,hereheisrevealedinallhis tinyglory.Howdoesheproduce the sand,whichcomes fromdragons’scales?How does he travel around theworld to sprinkle the sand in people’seyes?Readandfindout!Thedrollillustrationscombinelargefull-colorartwithsomesmallerbrown-and-whitedrawingstomovetheactionalong.Childrenwillwant to linger at the illustrations of the Sandman’s bedroom and workshop,wheretheywillbeabletoidentifyalltypesoftinyitemsthatheuses.Contrast

the illustrations of the dragon, which are appropriately impressive and large,withthetinySandmanandhismouse-drawncart.

Foley,Greg4–8yearsWILLOUGHBY&THEMOONIllustratedbyGregFoleyNewYork:Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins,2010|978-0-06-154753-9

Withunique illustrations inblack,white,andsilverygray, thisbookenters theimaginationofWilloughbySmith,whofindsthemoonontheothersideofhiscloset door.A large snail accompanies himonhis travels around themoon tohelpthesnailfindaball.Adventuresinamoonbuggyandaspacepodfollow.Willoughby’s room is black andwhite, butwhenhe leaves it to step onto themoon, shiny silver becomes the dominant color. The contrast continues asWilloughbyandthesnail’sbody(butnotitsshell)appearassimplydrawnblackline figures, while all around them the art conveys depth and texture. Oneespeciallyimpressivespreadisamapofthemoonononepage,withacutawayoftheinnerworkingsofthemoononthefacingpage.Thetextreadsinamatter-of-fact manner, withWilloughby continually calming the rather fearful snail.Thismirrors thetextonthefirstpage,whereWilloughby’smotheraskshimifhe is afraid. A reassuring yet adventuresome book, perfect for bedtime.Willoughby first shows up inWilloughby & the Lion (Bowen/HarperCollins,2009),whichcombinesblackandwhitewithgold.

Fox,Mem5–8yearsTHEGOBLINANDTHEEMPTYCHAIRIllustratedbyLeoandDianeDillonNewYork:BeachLane,2009|978-1-4169-8585-3

Theillustrationsandtextworktogetherperfectlyinthistale.Agoblin,believingheistoouglytobeseen,becomessomewhatofahermit.Interestingly,hisentireface is never seen in the illustrations. But after many years he observesindividualmembersofafarmer’sfamily,allovercomewithsorrow.Atnightandunseen,thegoblinhelpsoutwiththefieldwork,gardening,andevencomforting.Thefamilymembersrealizetheaidthisstrangerhasgivenandinvitehimintoeat.Astrongsenseoflosspermeatesthestory.Thedeceptivelyspareandsimpletext and the illustrations of ink and watercolor express a gamut of emotions.Each page contains one square illustration with a border above, rendered in

coloredpencilandportrayingtheactionthatoccursimmediatelybeforethemainillustration.ThecombinationofFox’sstorytellingandtheDillons’artmakethistaleofanuglygoblinbeautiful.

Gay,Marie-Louise4–8yearsCARAMBAIllustratedbyMarie-LouiseGayToronto:Groundwood/HouseofAnansi,2005|978-0-88899-667-1

Thissweetandbravestorybeginswiththeassumptionthatcatscanfly.Butthetitlecharactercannot,andhefeelsbadlyaboutit.Softillustrationsoffeatsofcatderring-doandCaramba’sattemptstomasterflyingwillbringasmile.Withthehelpofhisbestfriend,Portia thePig,plushiscousins,Carambafindswhereinhis talents lie—the water. The seascapes and landscapes, lovely in shades ofgreen, provide details for the listener to explore and complement this gentlyhumoroustale.

Graham,Bob4–8yearsAPRILANDESME,TOOTHFAIRIESIllustratedbyBobGrahamSomerville,MA:Candlewick,2010|978-0-7636-4683-7

Inthisfancifultakeonwhathappenstobabyteeththatfallout,twosmallfairiesconvince their parents that they areold enough to collect a youngboy’s toothandleaveacoin.Thistoothfairyfamily,portrayedascloseandloving,invitesyounglistenersbehindthescenesastheparentsgivetheirapprovalandgooverallthedetailsofhowtoaccomplishtheirmission.Ink-and-watercolorartshowstwoappealinglittlegirlswithwings,Dadwithwingsandaponytail,Momwithwings and a tattoo, and their tiny cottage decorated with teeth, among otherobjects.ThetriptoDaniel’shouseandtheirworkoncetheygettherecontainsafewscenesofmilddanger.(Whataboutthatowl?Thetoothisinacupofwater!What if Daniel wakes up?) Ending scenes, on facing pages, present the toothfairyparentsputtingtheirtiredlittleonestobedandtheboyshowinghiscointohisgrandma,providingclosureonbothendsofthestory.Withquietenergy,thetextandillustrationsprovideatalethatisatonceold-fashioned,butwithtouchesofmodern,aswhenthefairiesreceivecallsoncellphones.

Heide,FlorenceParry4–8yearsPRINCESSHYACINTH:THESURPRISINGTALEOFAGIRLWHO

PRINCESSHYACINTH:THESURPRISINGTALEOFAGIRLWHOFLOATEDIllustratedbyLaneSmithNewYork:Schwartz&Wade,2009|978-0-375-84501-7

As the title promises, unless she is strapped downor under a heavy crown ordressed inagownwithweights, theprincess floats.She longs togetout fromunderherburdenand,whentheBalloonManintheparkletsherfloatwithhisballoons, she loves it. The illustrations will amuse young listeners. Whowouldn’t like topiary animals, complicated systems to keep the princessgrounded, and—always popular—underwear? The brush-and-ink characters,withoil-paintedbackgrounds,appearappropriatelyairyandweightywheretheyshould.Thewords in the texteven floatup in the rightplaces.Thebookendswithteaandpopcorn;whatcouldbebetter?Notethesmallnessoftheprincessinrelationtothecastle.Thisfantasyimbuedwithhumorcinchesthatfeelingofnotalwaysbeingincontrolofwhathappens.

Holt,KimberlyWillis4–8yearsSKINNYBROWNDOGIllustratedbyDonaldSaafNewYork:HenryHolt,2007|978-0-8050-7587-8

With itsappealinganimal illustrationsand its feel-goodstoryline, this talewilldelightjustaboutanyone,especiallythosewithasoftspotforlostdogs.BennytheBakerfindsadogonhisdoorstep.WhileBennyinitiallyresists,thelittledogwinshimoverbyhispopularitywithcustomersand,ultimately,his life-savingdeed.Avarietyof animals that act likehumanspopulates this story.Even thedog,whichusuallyactslikeacanine,wearsasuitcoatandbowlerhatandreadsbooks. He does not talk, but the other characters do. With acrylic, gouache,watercolors, andcoloredpencils,Saafhas createdaworldwherebears canbebakersandelephantscanberegularcustomers.Thevarietyof illustrationsizesand placement provide visual interest and draw attention to the mostheartwarmingscenes.Endpapers featureavarietyofbakery favorites that lookgoodenoughtoeat!

Hurd,Thacher3–8yearsTHEWEAVERIllustratedbyElisaKlevenNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2010|978-0-374-38254-4

NewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2010|978-0-374-38254-4

A dreamy dance of a story, this book takes the view of the world from highabove,wheretheweaverspinsanddyesandworksherthreadsintoabeautifultapestrythatillustrateslifeonearth.Thedelicateanddetailedillustrationsfillthepageswithhappyscenesoffamilies,animals,cityscapes,andelementsofnature.The beginning features the rising sun and light-filled pages. As the storyprogressesandthedaywearson,theillustrationsbegintofillwithaduskyblue.The weaver completes her work throughout the story, finally pulling herhandiwork across the earth as people settle down to sleep and she rejoins herfamily for her own bedtime. These gorgeous illustrations present a soothingcalm,matched by the poetic language of the text, which is filled with gentlerhythm and words of color and love. A note at the beginning explains abackstraploom,thetypeportrayedintheillustrations.

Ichikawa,Satomi3–7yearsMYLITTLETRAINIllustratedbySatomiIchikawaNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2010|978-0-399-25453-6

Beautifulwatercolorartworkspreadsovereachpageasatoytrainmakesitswaywithcarscarryingstuffedanimals.Astheyboard,theanimalsannouncewherethey want to go—the pond, the field, the forest, the mountains—and makeanimal noises. This provides opportunities for participation as listeners canchimeinonthequack-quacksandthebaa-baas,nottomentionthewhoo-whoosofthetrain.Asthestoryrollson,thetraindropsoffeachanimalandcontinuesonitswaytoCentralStation.Awonderfulblendoffantasyandreality,thisstoryalso shows how text and illustrations can contradict yet integrate. The pondwheretheduckstopsisafishbowl,theforestwherethemonkeydisembarksisalargeplant,andmountainsarelargepillowsonthesofa;theillustrationsprovidethe realitywhile the textnames themas theanimalsdo.Acomforting journeystory for young train lovers, this little train will take listeners to a satisfyingconclusionandahappyreunionbetweentwooftheanimals.

Johnson,Angela5–9yearsTHEDAYRAYGOTAWAYIllustratedbyLukeLaMarcaNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2010|978-0-689-87375-1

For thosewhowonderwhere those big parade balloons gowhen they are notfloating tethered along the street, this story offers an imaginative tale of oneballoonwhomadehisplantofinallygetaway.Acrylicillustrationsportraytheballoonwarehouseandtheparadescenesallneatlyenclosedinborderedsquaresand rectangles.As the storyprogresses, the ropes andballoons extendbeyondthesebordersuntil,at theend,anunframed two-pagespreadshowsRay inhisfinalescape.Interestingly,unliketheotherballoonfigures,Rayisnevershowncompletely; bits of him are seen through windows or in the corner of anillustration.Even in that lastpicture,wherehe iswhole,heappearsasablackshadowinthetwilitnight.Youngreadersandlistenerswillenjoythehumorousillustrations and the balloon escape, while older readers may consider this ameditationonfreedom.

Kneen,Maggie3–8yearsCHOCOLATEMOOSEIllustratedbyMaggieKneenNewYork:Dutton/Penguin,2011|978-0-525-42202-0

Kneenhas created abook for chocolate lovers. In this fanciful story, amoosetakesajobatabakeryownedbyMrs.Mouse.EvenasMoosedoeseverythingwrong and makes many messes in the kitchen, Mrs. Mouse, with her manychildren, findssomething thathecandowell.Beautifully textured illustrationsgive readers a moose and mice that look pettable. Cakes, sandwiches, andpancakes also have this touchable quality. Soundwords such as squish, slurp,andsplatarepartof the text in justabouteveryotherpagespread,where theyappear in color and in a different font from the rest of the text. Readers andlistenerswilldelightintheactionsofthelargebutfriendlyMooseandthetinymice.Thewordchocolateandillustrationsofchocolateappearonmanypages,eventheendpapers.Yum!

Lehman,Barbara5–8yearsMUSEUMTRIPIllustratedbyBarbaraLehmanBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2006|978-0-618-58125-2|librarybinding

Thiswordlessbookfollowsaclassonafieldtriptoanartmuseum,whereoneboybecomesseparatedfromthegroup.Ashewanders,hediscoversaroomwithadisplayofsmallmazesinaglasscase.Throughthemagicoffiction,heenters

themazesandsolvesthem,runningfromonetothenext.Whenhefinallyexitsthemazesandroom,hereuniteswithhisclass,andanyquestionaboutwhetherhisadventureactuallyhappenedisansweredonthelastpage.Withillustrationsrenderedinwatercolor,gouache,andink,Lehmandeliverssparedrawingsofthehumancharactersascolorful,withaboldblackoutline.Themaincharacterinared sweatshirt stands out in each scene.Notice the perspective of space used:deepinsomescenes,shallowinothers.Adultswhosharethisbookwithchildrenmayidentifyfamousworksofartthatappear.Bothadultsandchildrenwillwanttotracetheirwaythroughthesixmazesthattheyoungboysolves.Foranotherwordless adventure that involves a bit of magic, see Lehman’s Rainstorm(HoughtonMifflin,2007).

Litwin,Eric3–8yearsPETETHECAT:ILOVEMYWHITESHOESIllustratedbyJamesDeanNewYork:HarperCollins,2010,c2008978-0-06-190622-0

Ideal for read-aloud, this story joins the title character as he walks down thestreetandgetsintosomemesses.Theshoesofwhichheissoproudturncolors,butthatdoesn’tbotherPete,whokeepsonwalkingandsinging.Therepetitionin his song and the question asked after he steps into various things—not tomentionidentifyingwhathestepsinto—willmakethisaveryparticipatorybookforgroups.Theartworkbeamswithgloriouscolor,especiallyinblue,red,andbrown.Andthosewhiteshoes, thoseever-changingshoes, takecenterstageonthefeetofPete.

Lord,Cynthia3–7yearsHOTRODHAMSTERIllustratedbyDerekAndersonNewYork:Scholastic,2010|978-0-545-03530-9

YoungNASCARfanswillwanttotakethisoneoutforaspin.Combiningfastcars, charming animals, and humorous images, this story is a winner. Everyothertwo-pagespreadfeaturesthehamster’sfriend,a largedog,askinghimtomakechoices about size, color, andparts forhis car.WhenHamster is finallyhelmetedandreadytogo,hefaceslargercompetitorsandbiggercars,butguesswhowins?Theacrylicillustrations,brightandcolorful,featuremicemechanicsand the inherent humor in animals putting together a race car. The front

endpapers feature a race poster,while the back ones show thewinner and histrophies. The questions about choice throughout will have young readers andlistenersvolunteeringtheirownchoices.Fullofaction,justlikearace,thisstorydoesn’t stop until it reaches the finish line. For more driving fun, see KristyDempsey’sMini Racer (Bloomsbury, 2011), which features animals racing avarietyofwheeledvehicles.

Mahy,Margaret3–7yearsBUBBLETROUBLEIllustratedbyPollyDunbarNewYork:Clarion,2008|978-0-547-07421-4|librarybinding

Therhymingtitlegivesjustasneakpeekatwhatreadersandlistenerswillfindwithin:anexuberantstorytoldinliltingrhymeandrhythm.Alittlegirlblowsabubble,whichsomehowcapturesherbabybrother.Ashefloatsthroughtheair,outofthewindow,andthroughthetown,moreandmorepeoplefollowbehind.These adults and children,who have first or last names that rhymewith eachotheror thatcontainsimilar internalsounds,makeforquiteanaudienceas thelittleguyfloatshigherandhigher.Withawell-aimedpebbleinaslingshotandacatching quilt, several people save the baby. The watercolor-and-cut paperillustrations, full of jocularity and bright colors, mingle wonderfully with thehumorousverse.Theillustrationstakeupbothpagesineachpageturn,withthebabyusuallyinthefarrightcorner,adottedlineshowinghisprogressacrosstheskyandpage.FirstpublishedintheUnitedKingdom,thisstoryrollsalonginajollyblendoffantasyandfun.

Manushkin,Fran5–9yearsTHESHIVERSINTHEFRIDGEIllustratedbyPaulO.ZelinskyNewYork:Dutton,2006|978-0-525-46943-8

A family, living in a cold place, tries to keep warm and be brave, especiallywhenamonster—agianthand—comesinandremovesitems.Thefamilyfindsitselfsurroundedbywhippedcreamtowers,hillsoforanges,andbroccoli treesastheyhuddleintheirlittlebox.Onebyone,theygoouttosearchforawarmerplace to live.This bookprovides awonderful exampleof the text relating thestoryonone leveland the illustrations,comicalandsly,completing thatstory.Eachpage abounds in humor, but some standout for laugh-out-loud zaniness,

includingthescenewhereMamajumpsintowhatshethinksisawarmlake,butthateventuallygelsandhasher stuck.Allendswell as the familyescapes thecoldplace,findsitsrightfulspot,andbecomesoncemorewarmanduseful.Theendpapersofthebook,aswellasthetitle,shouldgivereadersandlistenerscluestowhatwillhappen,butthestrengthofthestoryandtheillustrationscanmakethosehearingitforthefirsttimewonderwhatisreallygoingon.Fantasyatitscrazy,warmheartedbest!

McDonald,Megan4–7yearsHENHEARSGOSSIPIllustratedbyJoungUnKimNewYork:Greenwillow/HarperCollins,2008|978-0-06-113876-8

Although young children may not have heard the word gossip, they willunderstanditafterhearingthisstory.Thebarnyardanimalspassalongasecretfromonetoanother,untilitbecomesclearthateachonehearsandtellsitalittlebitdifferently.Thenitgoesallthewaybackagainuntiltheyfindoutthetruth.Themixed-mediaillustrations,simpleyeteffective,includeelementsofcollageandrepetitivedesignalmostlikewallpaperonsomepages.Ofcourse,ineveryillustration, the animals’ mouths are open, adding to the imagery of constantyakking. Teachersmaywant to play the telephone game,where children in acirclewhisper aphrase fromone toanother, then seehowmuchof it changesfromthefirstpersontothelast.McDonald’sstoryisahumorousintroductiontoa problem that can lead to hurt feelings. Pair withMarjorie DennisMurray’sHippoGoesBananas!(MarshallCavendish,2008)andTheJungleGrapevinebyAlexBeard(Abrams,2009).

McNaughton,Colin5–8yearsCAPTAINABDUL’SLITTLETREASUREIllustratedbyColinMcNaughtonCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2006|978-0-7636-3045-4

Avast,mateys!Thispiratebookstartsoutwithabang.SomeonefiresonCaptainAbdul’spirateshipandleavesatreasurechest.Whencaptainandcrewdiscoverababyinside, leftbyAbdul’swife,Doris, theytake tobabysittingwithall thevervethattheyputintopirating.Therowdybunchdresses,feeds,entertains,andteaches themini-pirate inaseriesofhumorousscenes.The ink-and-watercolorillustrations, featuring humorously nasty-looking pirates, combine with a text

fullofpiratespeakandpiratesongs.Eachpagefeaturesaverylargewordortwoat the beginning of the sentence,with numerouswords and sentences in boldthroughout.Adultreaderscanlettheirinnerpirateoutasthey“Arrgh!”and“Yo-ho-ho!” their way through this hilarious yarn. Other humorous pirate storiesinclude Laura Leuck’s I LoveMy Pirate Papa (Harcourt, 2007) andMelindaLong’sPiratesDon’tChangeDiapers(Harcourt,2007).

McPhail,David4–8yearsWATERBOYIllustratedbyDavidMcPhailNewYork:Abrams,2007|978-0-8109-1784-2

When a young boy learns that humans are composed mostly of water, hisimagination veers to extremes. Soon he refuses even to take a bath.With hismother’s help, he overcomes his fear and from there, the story becomes afantasy,withwater from a faucet spelling his name and the force of his handstoppingwaves. Eventually he learns to distill water and sunlight and finds away to clean up rivers and oceans. This gentle book captures a child’s fears,imaginings,andloveofnature.Themessagethatriversneedtobecleanedupisnever overbearing, but integrates into the story of the boy’s coming tounderstand the wider world.McPhail’s soft illustrations appear in squares onmostpages,but threescenes take thefull twopageseach,and thesedepict theboyinbiggersettings:onbeachcliffs,ontheshore,andonabridgeoverlookingthe river.The endpapers, too, depict shore scenes that go off the edges of thepageand feature thewildlifeof thearea.Thisbook is smaller in size than thetypicalpicturebook,makingitidealforone-on-onereadingandsharing.

Meschenmoser,Sebastian4–8yearsWAITINGFORWINTERIllustratedbySebastianMeschenmoserTulsa,OK:KaneMiller/EDC,2009|978-1-935279-04-4

Animaginativelookatthebeginningofthecoldseasoninaforest,thisGermanimport features animalswho think, talk, and imagine.A squirrel, a hedgehog,andabear findways to takeup timewhilewaiting for snow to fall, includingexercise and singing. Eventually, they search for this white, wet, cold, softsubstancetheyhaveheardofandfindsomeunusualsubstitutes.Theillustrationsofa fallof toothbrushes, socks,and tincanscomeashumoroussurprises.The

text itself is not overly long, and many pages feature no words at all. Linedrawings inmutedblackandwhite,withsomebrownandorangebrushing theanimals,reflectthebarewinterseason.Theillustrationsexpandthetext,whichnever mentions the odd items the animals find, and depict them realistically.When the real snow finally arrives, it is beautiful, and spreadwordlessly overfivefullpages.

Monroe,Chris4–9yearsMONKEYWITHATOOLBELTANDTHENOISYPROBLEMIllustratedbyChrisMonroeMinneapolis:Carolrhoda,2009|978-0-8225-9247-1|librarybinding

Forthosewholiketheirhumorsilly,yetdetailed,thismaybetheperfectbook.The titlemonkey,ChicoBonBon,does indeedusea toolbelt filledwithbothrealandnot-so-realtools.Thisbusylittlemonkeyfixesthingsaroundhishouse.Ashesearchesforthesourceofaloudnoise,heispicturedinvariousroomsinadetailed two-page spread.Whenhe finallydiscovers the cause, it takes twelvepanelsof rectangulardrawings to illustratehisplan toeliminate thenoise.Thebrightlycolored,humorousillustrationsrangefromtheselargespreadstopagesthathavefourorfivesmalldrawings.Chicotakesprecautionswhenheuseshistools,includingdonningahardhatandearplugs,andhecertainlydemonstratesknowledge of all of the tools. The humor arises from the situations, whichshould provide lots of laughs. Chicomakes his debut inMonkey with a ToolBelt.PairwithMarcRosenthal’sArchieandthePirates(HarperCollins,2009),whichalsooffersgoofyfunanddetaileddrawings.

Morales,Yuyi3–7yearsLITTLENIGHTIllustratedbyYuyiMoralesNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2007|978-1-59643-088-4

Luxuriant illustrations that cover each two-page spread draw the reader andlistener in, embracing them as Mother Sky does with her Little Night. Eventhoughafantasy,thecharactersandtheiractionsresemblethoseofanymotherandchildwhoarepreparingforbedtime,withalittleonewhohides.LittleNightinsists that hermother find her, andMother Sky obliges. In keepingwith thethemeofapproachingnighttime, thecolorsgleam indeep roses,blues,greens,andpurples, finally studdedwith stars.Thecrocheted-cloudnightgown,Milky

Waymustache, and planet hairpins provide beautiful touches. Reminiscent ofTheRunawayBunnybyMargaretWiseBrown,thisstorycelebratestheloveofmotherandchild,withamotherwhowillalwayscareforherlittleone.

Muth,JonJ.5–8yearsZENSHORTSIllustratedbyJonJ.MuthNewYork:Scholastic,2005|978-0-439-33911-7

CanyoungchildrenunderstandZen?Theycan, inanelementaryway, throughthismeditativebook.ThreechildrenfindalargebearnamedStillwaterintheirbackyard.Eachof themspends timewith thebear,whotellseachchildanoldstoryfromBuddhistandTaoroots,whichisjustwhattheyneedatthetime.Thewatercolor-and-ink illustrations contain color in themain part of the story butbecome black andwhite on a light blue, green, or yellow background for theindividual stories Stillwater tells. This device, the simple language, and theeveryday situations (except for a large talkingbear in thebackyard!)go far tomakeEasternphilosophyunderstandable to youngones.From the illustrationsonly,onemightbetemptedtopronouncethisbookwhimsicalbecauseitfeaturesabearwitharedparasol;thatwouldcheapenit.Stillwaterhasaquietelegancethat fitsperfectlywithwhathe is trying toconvey to thechildren.Heappearsagain inZen Ties (Scholastic, 2008),which introduces haiku, andZenGhosts(Scholastic,2010),whichfeaturesaHalloweensetting.

Nakagawa,Chihiro3–7yearsWHOMADETHISCAKE?IllustratedbyJunjiKoyoseHonesdale,PA:FrontStreet,2008|978-1-59078-595-9

Combine heavymachinery and birthday cake and out pops this delightful anddetailed look at the construction of a dessert with construction equipment.OriginallypublishedinJapan,thisbookfeaturesabevyofheavytrucksthatmixtheingredients,pourthebatterintothepan,andthenbakeit.Aftertheyfrostanddecoratethecake,itispresentedtoalittleboywho,judgingfromhistoys,lovesconstructionmachinery.Fromtheillustrationonthetitlepage,itappearsthatthemotherordersacakefromtheconstructionworkers.Thetextisspare—onelineper page, just enough to tell what themachines are doing. Bright andmostlyprimarycolorsandtherealistic-lookingtruckswillappealtothosewhocan’tget

enoughof front loaders,backhoes,anddumptrucks.Littlepeoplescrambleallover the place, helping and signaling, and even taking a break, just like realconstructionworkers.Lookforonewhohasfallen ineachscene.Awonderfulblendoffantasyandreality.

O’Callahan,Jay4–9yearsRASPBERRIES!IllustratedbyWillMosesNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2009|978-0-399-25181-8

WhenSimonworkedasabaker,beforehewasrobbedandhadtosellhisshop,hewould help a poor girl namedSally by providing bread for a penny.AftermoresetbacksforSimon,Sallyappearstohimandgiveshimapouchofdriedraspberries.MuchlikeJackofbeanstalkfame,Simonplantstheseedsandwakesuptofindraspberriesgrowingonmultiplebushes.Whenhecannotsellthefruit,hejoinsabakerintowninmakingraspberrytarts,whichsoongrowtobequitefamous. Throughout the story, the taste of raspberries or of the tarts makespeople exclaim or sing the word raspberries, which appears in red print andspreadsacross thepagewithextra letters.The livelinessof the textmakes itagoodread-aloud,whilethefolkartillustrationsportraythepeopleandsettinginanold-timeway.ReminiscentoftheartofGrandmaMoses,theillustrationsaretheworkofhergreat-grandson.Forastoryofsmall-townlife,witha touchofmagic,Raspberries!issweetindeed.

O’Malley,Kevin5–10yearsCAPTAINRAPTORANDTHEMOONMYSTERYIllustrationsbyPatrickO’BrienNewYork:Walker,2005|978-0-8027-8935-8

WithelementsofBuckRogers,StarTrek,andDinotopia,plusaction,suspense,and a little humor, this rip-roaring adventure practically bursts from its pages.Illustrated in panels, but with some large illustrations, the story containselements of the graphic novel and the picture book. Some of the page turnsfeatureaquestionthatbuildssuspensebeforethereaderdiscoverswhathappensonthenextpage.Thetwistinthisfast-movingspaceopera:themaincharactersare dinosaurs, intelligent andoutfitted in armor for their explorations.As theybounce from one seemingly inescapable situation to the next, they confrontbeastswiththehelpoftheirtoolsandtheirwits.Listenersandreaderswhoenjoy

sciencefiction,dinosaurs,andnonstopadventurewillthrill tothisstory,whicholder teachers and parentswill find reminiscent of books andmovies of theirchildhood.AvidfanswillalsowanttocheckoutCaptainRaptorandtheSpacePirates(Walker,2007).

Pelletier,AndrewT.4–8yearsTHETOYFARMERIllustratedbyScottNashNewYork:Dutton,2007|978-1-4287-4785-2

A little toy tractor with a farmer on board passes from father to son in thisdelightful story of unbounded imagination. Jed wakes up to find that the toyfarmer has plowed his bedroom rug into a field inwhich a complicated plantquickly grows and bears a pumpkin. The plant and pumpkin exhibit amechanical look in thebrightlycoloredcartoon-style illustrations.As theplantgrows,thefarmer,tractor,andothertoysallseemtobeasbigasJed…orhashe shrunk to their size?At thispoint,he convincinglyenters into the farmer’sworld,aswillthereaders.Theendingturnspoignantasfatherandsonshareanunderstanding of this special experience. In the last few pages, the pumpkinmorphsintothemoon,stillwithitsmechanicalwind-upkey.

Pinfold,Levi4–9yearsTHEDJANGOIllustratedbyLeviPinfoldSomerville,MA:Templar/Candlewick,2010|978-0-7636-4788-9

AfascinatinglookatthelifeofayoungRomany(Gypsy)boy,thisbookfeaturesan imaginarymischiefmaker.Whenabanjobreaksorwhenahorse isscared,Jean knows that the Django did it, even though he gets blamed. Watercolorillustrations combine full-page scenes and small scenes framed like oldphotographs.Thedetail,especiallyoffaces,isrenderedbeautifully;thesettingsof thegypsywagons,a town,andagypsycampprovide theminutiae tomakethisculturalgroupcomealive.BasedlooselyonJean“Django”Reinhardt,ajazzmusician,thestoryendswithinformationabouthimandhisextraordinarytalent.Astoryoffamilyandthepowerofmusictoheal.

Polacco,Patricia4–8yearsGINGERANDPETUNIA

IllustratedbyPatriciaPolaccoNewYork:Philomel/Penguin,2007|978-0-399-24539-8

Can a lady’s pampered pig take her place when shemust suddenly leave thecountry? With a little imagination enhanced by the outrageous illustrations,anythingcanhappen!Ginger’spig,Petunia,inadvertentlyleftalone,takesovereverythingshehasseenGingerdo,includingcooking,dressinginfancyclothes,teaching piano lessons, and attending parties. She still misses her long mudbaths,though,whicheventuallylandsherinamessysituation.ButbythattimeGinger arrives home and all is well. Brightly colored illustrations fill wholepages,exceptwherethetextresides,allowingthelarger-than-lifecharactersthespacetheyneed.Withpencilsandmarkers,Polaccorendersaverybelievable,iffantastic, world. Ginger and Petunia come across as two grand and eccentricladies.Thatoneisapigjustdoesn’tmatter.Itaddstothefun.

Raschka,Chris5+yearsJOHNCOLTRANE’SGIANTSTEPSIllustratedbyChrisRaschkaNewYork:RichardJackson/Atheneum,2002|978-0-689-84598-7

This unique book fairly begs to be readwith Coltrane’smusic playing in thebackground. Its story is about listening to the tempo, the instruments, theharmony,and themelody in thecompositionof the title.Withwatercolor-and-inkillustrations,abstractshapesofabox,snowflake,raindrops,andasketchofakittencometogetherandeventuallygotoofastandmustbestopped.Theauthorthen explains what went wrong and begins again. The pages are numbered,unusualforapicturebook,becausetheauthorreferstopagesinhisexplanation.Raschka’sjazzstyledemonstrateshowmusiccanbetranslatedintopictureandcolor andmovement.Teachers and parents using this bookwith childrenmaywanttotryotherjazzcompositionsandhavethechildrendrawwhattheyhear.For Raschka’s take on a classical piece, see Peter and the Wolf (RichardJackson/Atheneum, 2008). Complement this with Jazz on a Saturday Night(BlueSky/Scholastic,2007)byLeoandDianeDillonorwithKarenEhrhardt’sThisJazzMan(Harcourt,2006).

Reed,LynnRowe5–8yearsOLIVER,THESPACESHIP,ANDMEIllustratedbyLynnRoweReedNewYork:HolidayHouse,2009|978-0-8234-2193-0

NewYork:HolidayHouse,2009|978-0-8234-2193-0

WhenCarterdiscoversthathisbestfriend,Oliver,invitedanotherfriendtogototheplanetariumwithhim,hedecidesthathewillbuildaspaceshipandflyawaywithout him.He comes upwith a step-by-step plan to design and construct aspaceship with the help of an engineer, metalworker, welder, plumber, andelectrician.Eachadulthelper’snameisrelatedtohisorherwork;forexample,the plumber’s name is Mr.Waters. The illustrations feature Reed’s signaturecomic style, using acrylic paint, scanned and photographed objects, andPhotoshop.Thefigures,childlike instyle,contrastwithsomedetailedplansoftheactualspaceshipandCarter’sneatlyprintedto-dolists.Boldcolorscombinewithphotosoftools,pipes,andwireforavisuallystimulatingexperience.Withthetextinfirstperson,thestoryfeelspersonalandimmediate,asitexplorestheemotionsoffeelingleftoutand,attheend,doingtherightthing.

Reynolds,Aaron4–8yearsBUFFALOWINGSIllustratedbyPauletteBoganNewYork:Bloomsbury,2007|978-1-59990-062-9

Playing up the joke that recipes for buffalo wings contain no buffalo, thisrollickingstoryfollowsaroosterwhowantstopreparesomefoodfortheotheranimalswhile theywatcha footballgame. Insearchofbuffalo,he travels toarodeo,nationalpark,andwaterpark,allofwhichhavethewordbuffalointheirname,butwithnoluck.Whenhefinallymeetssomebuffalo,hediscoversthatthe recipe calls for chicken wings. Bright watercolor illustrations cover eachtwo-page spread and feature farm animals—and buffalo—in hilarious andhuman poses.With the popularity of cooking shows that attract all ages, thisbookwilladdsomespicetostorytimeswithfoodorbarnyardthemes.Itincludestwo recipes on the back endpapers. Formore food fun, check out the author-illustratorteam’sfirstouting,ChicksandSalsa(Bloomsbury,2005).

Rodriguez,Edel4–9yearsSERGIOSAVESTHEGAME!IllustratedbyEdelRodriguezNewYork:Little,Brown,2009|978-0-316-06617-4

Apenguinwhoplayssoccerwinsthebiggameforhisteam.Withafairlysimple

color scheme of black andwhite, red and gold, and sometimes turquoise, theillustrationsshowSergio’smoveswithgusto,bothinhisdreams(superbly!)andinreality(ratherclumsily).Oil-basedwoodblockinkanddigitalmediacombinein these illustrations with fun touches; for example, check out Sergio’s sleepmask.AlthoughSergioisselectedlastinanygames,andhisfriendswillchooseevenafishbeforehim,heknowsthatpracticemakesperfectandworkshardinhis roleasgoalie. In theend,he findsauniqueway towin thechampionship.Forsports lovers, thosewhoarealwayschosenlast,andthosewholikeafast-moving story, this book is awinner on all counts. Formore penguin fun, seeSergioMakesaSplash!(2008).

Rumford,James5–10yearsNINEANIMALSANDTHEWELLIllustratedbyJamesRumfordBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2003|978-0-618-30915-3

Adelightfulcombinationofanimalsandnumbers,thisstorytakesplaceinIndia.On their way to a raja-king’s party, nine animals reveal their gifts, each onebringingonemoreitemthantheanimalbefore.Eachsuccessiveanimalthrowsout his or her gift, thinking it inferior after discoveringwhat the next animalcarries. The illustrations, described as “a collage of various Japanese papersdecorated by the author and refined with brush, pen, and pencil,” combine adelicacyofbackgroundwithboldcolors.Rumfordcreatesappealingillustrationsof the animals—both the partygoers and the animals that benefit from thediscarded presents. The dimensions of the book, approximately eleven incheshorizontalbyeightinchesvertical,workperfectlyastheanimalsmaketheirwayfromlefttorighttothepalace.Neartheend,theanimalsbalanceontopofeachother,forwhichthebookmustbeturnedsideways.Atthebeginningandagainattheend,notesaboutnumbersandtheiroriginselevatethisalready-impressivetaleintoateachablemomentaboutnumerals.

Schachner,Judy4–8yearsSKIPPYJONJONESLOSTINSPICEIllustratedbyJudySchachnerNewYork:Dutton,2009|978-0-525-47965-9

Theeveron-the-goSiamesekittenwhothinksheisaChihuahuahashadseveraladventuressincefirstappearing in2003. In thisone, familiarelementssuchas

bouncingonhisbedand traveling throughhiscloset takeSkippyjon intoouterspace, where he once again teams up with his Los Chimichangos, a pack ofChihuahuas who encourage him in his rhymes, Spanish words, and wackyadventures.Withhiscan-doattitude,thislittlekittyisreadyforanything,sloweddownonlybyhisever-patientMamaCatandteasedbyhisthreeyoungersisters.Alloftheillustrations,doneinacrylicsandpenandink,featurealotofrojoasbefitsatriptotheRedPlanet,andgreenfortheMartians.Manyofthewordsofthetextappearindifferentstylesandsizes,especiallytherhymingsongsandtheexclamationsthatSkippyjonlovestouse.Greatfunasaread-aloud,withampleopportunitiesforthereadertoenterintothewonderfulsillinessthatisSkippyjonJones.

Schwarz,Viviane4–8yearsSHARKANDLOBSTER’SAMAZINGUNDERSEAADVENTUREIllustratedbyVivianeSchwarzandJoelStewartCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2006|978-1-4156-8140-4

Thefirst thingreadersand listenerswillnoticeabout thisbook is that itopensvertically rather than horizontally, enabling some illustrations to be quite tall.The premise that two friends, a lobster and a shark, discuss their fear ofunderwater tigers starts the story off with absurd humor. As they go to greatlengthstobuildafortress,theyinvolveotherseacreatures,includingafantasticdeep-sea monster complete with human legs and butterfly wings. Dialogueballoons and some pageswith panels give this book a graphic novel style. Agoodchoiceforread-aloudsbecauseofitssizeanduniqueperspective,thisstorywilldelightthosewhoappreciateitsweirdhumor.Checkouttheendpapersformoremonstrouscreaturesofthedeep.

Scotton,Rob3–8yearsRUSSELLTHESHEEPIllustratedbyRobScottonNewYork:HarperCollins,2005|978-0-06-059849-5

With his expressive face and humorous ideas, Russell the sheep makessleeplessness fun.As theothermembers of his herdbrush their teeth andhugtheir teddy bears, Russell faces a night of insomnia, trying all manner ofremediesforcatchingsomeshut-eye.Thisbookoffersanexcellentexampleoftheillustrationstellingmorethanthetext,andusuallyinanextremelyhumorous

way. Sheep sleeping with their legs straight up, Russell crammed into a cartrunk,Russell’s stockingcapborderingan illustration:guffawsareguaranteed.Noonewillnodoffduringthisone.Thiswoollyruminanttakeshisuniqueideaseven further in Russell and the Lost Treasure (HarperCollins, 2006) andRussell’sChristmasMagic(HarperCollins,2007).

Selick,Henry4–8yearsMOONGIRLIllustratedbyPeterChanandCourtneyBookerCambridge,MA:Candlewick,2006|978-0-7636-3068-3

Inanout-of-this-worldfantasy,ayoungboyattemptingsomemoonlightfishinghooks a giant fish and is transported to the moon. There Leon meets theMoongirl,andtogethertheystopthestrangeandsinistergargaloonfromstealingthelightningbugsthatareneededtorelightthemoon.Thebeautifullydetailedillustrations,executedinpencilanddigitallycolored,shimmerwithdarkcolorsand shadowy backgrounds, just perfect for a moonlit night. Large faces withhuge eyes (children’s and pets’) provide a pleasing up-close immediacy. (Seefigure 5.2.) If the whole look is reminiscent of recent animated movies, thisreflectstheauthor’sandillustrators’backgrounds.Actionsequencesdescribedinthetextprojectthisfilmfeel, too.Theimaginativestoryofhowthemoongetsits light and the appealing children and animal side charactersmake this storyshine.

Figure5.2.Moongirl

Shaw,Hannah4–8yearsSNEAKYWEASELIllustratedbyHannahShawNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2009|978-0-375-85625-9

Thetitlecharactercomesacrossasoneguythatnoonewouldwantasafriend.SneakyWeaselismean,andfullofhimselfontopofthat.Whennoonecomestohisparty,hediscoversthatalltheinviteesloathehim,andhefindsoutwhathemustdotoregaintheirtrustandfriendship.FirstpublishedinGreatBritain,this story assembles a collection of deliciouslywacky illustrations both of the

present-dayMr.Sneakyhimself,inbrightcolors,andtherememberedincidentsofmeannessinpalerhues.Shawusespenandink,printmakingtechniques,andPhotoshop to portray her animal characters which illustrate the oh-so-humancharacteristics,bothgoodandbad,thatmakeupthisstoryoftheimportanceofapologizing.EndpapersatthefrontfeatureSneakyWeasel’sadsforsubstandardorjustplainmeanproducts,andattheback,goodandhelpfulproducts.Shaw’sstory isawonderful selection for lessons inetiquetteor for thosewhoenjoyastoryinwhicheventhemeanestcanchangetothenicest—almost!

Sierra,Judy4–8yearsTELLTHETRUTH,B.B.WOLFIllustratedbyJ.OttoSeiboldNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2010|978-0-375-85620-4

TheBigBadWolf,invitedtothelibrarytotellthestoryoftheThreeLittlePigs,twists the truth so thathedoesnotcomeoffas thebadguy.But the listeners,other storybook and fairy tale characters, donot believehis explanation.Withfunwordplayandfunnydigital illustrations, thisstorydelightsonanumberoflevels. Both children and adults will want to identify the various fictionalcharacters, will enjoy B.B. Wolf’s take on the traditional tale, and will besurprisedathissolutiontomakeamendsforhislie.Acoupleofopportunitiestosing in the story shouldmake read-alouds evenmore fun.BigBadWolf alsoappearedinMindYourManners,B.B.Wolf(Knopf,2007).

Spinner,Stephanie,reteller4–9yearsTHENUTCRACKERIllustratedbyPeterMaloneNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2008|978-0-375-84464-5

The familiar story of The Nutcracker, known to many because of the balletperformed at Christmastime, appears in itsmagical glory here,with charmingtextand illustrations.TheChristmasEvescenes that takeplace in thehomeofMarie’sfamily,includingherdreamoftheMouseKing,showinthewatercolorillustrations as burnished color appropriate to the night. Scenes depicting theLandofSweetsprojectbrightercolorsasthevariousdancersleapandtwirl.PlaytheCDofTchaikovsky’sTheNutcrackerthataccompaniesthebookforthefullvisual-auditory experience. Another beautifully illustrated version is TheNutcracker by Susan Jeffers (HarperCollins, 2007). A humorous takeoff

involvingavideogame is themusical-turned-picturebookANuttyNutcrackerChristmas(Chronicle,2009)byRalphCovertandG.RileyMills.

Stead,PhilipC.4–8yearsASICKDAYFORAMOSMCGEEIllustratedbyErinE.SteadNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2010|978-1-59643-402-8

Whoknewthatasickdaycouldbethismuchfun?AmosMcGee,whoworksatthe city zoo, always knows justwhat to dowhenhe visits five of his favoriteanimals.Butonadaywhenhestayshomewithacold,theanimalscometovisithim. The woodblock print-and-pencil illustrations depict the world of AmosMcGee in a limited palette, which draws attention to the main characters orobjectsoneachpage.Soft tans,blues, andgreenspredominateonmostof thepages, with several spreads inAmosMcGee’s house seemingly burstingwithcolorasyellow-stripedwallsfillthebackground.Brightredinaballoon,scarf,and socks provides a pleasing perkiness in some of the artwork. The textcapturesAmos’sroutine,hispunctualways,andhisgreatlovefortheelephant,tortoise, penguin, rhinoceros, and owl. Pleasing repetition occurs when theanimalsathishousedothesamethingsforhimashehasalwaysdoneforthem.Despite some large animals, this is a calm and gentle story that won theCaldecottMedalin2010.

Stevens,Janet,andSusanStevensCrummel6+yearsHELPME,MR.MUTT!EXPERTANSWERSFORDOGSWITHPEOPLEPROBLEMSIllustratedbyJanetStevensOrlando:Harcourt,2008|978-0-15-204628-6

Dogloverswillhowlwithlaughterandcatloverswillmewwithdelightatthishumorous book, a collection of letters to canine counselor Mr. Mutt,supplementedbynotes fromTheQueen,acatwho lives in the samehouseasMr.Mutt.Thequestionsrevolvearoundtypicaldogproblems: theywantmorefood,theywanttheirpeopletoplaywiththem,theydonotwanttobedressedincostumes, and they like to bark. Even the addresses on the letters reflect thecanine theme. The hilarious text contains Mr. Mutt’s replies, complete withcharts, graphs, and illustrations of what the advice seeker should do. Mixed-mediaartworkillustratesthekindlyandwiseMr.MuttandtheimperiousQueen,

plusotherdogs.Towardtheendofthestory,Mr.MuttandTheQueenhaveanaltercation, which ladles onmore visual humor, including ads in newspapers.Theendpapers, too,containnewspaperads thatenhancethenarrative.Amust-readforanimalloversofallages,thisbookcouldbeusedasahumorousread-aloud or even for teaching students how to write letters. Read EileenChristelow’sLetters fromaDesperateDog (Clarion,2006)andTheDesperateDogWritesAgain(Clarion,2010)andMarkTeague’sDearMrs.LaRue:LettersfromObedienceSchool(Scholastic,2002)formorefunwithdogsandletters.

Stohner,Anu4–8yearsBRAVECHARLOTTEANDTHEWOLVESIllustratedbyHenrikeWilsonNewYork:Bloomsbury,2009|978-1-59990-424-5

Charlottethesheepsavesherherdfromtormentbyagangofyoungsheepwholiketopretendtobewolves.Hersmartsandwillingnesstobedifferentleadherto trick the gang. First published in Germany, this book combines a mildlysuspenseful story with appealing illustrations, created with acrylics oncardboard.Thetextureofthesheeppracticallybegstobetouched.Forteachersorparentswhowanttoreinforcetheimportanceofnotfollowingthecrowd,thisstorywillalsoattractreadersandlistenerswhoenjoyastoryaboutaclevermaincharacter.ThetitleheroinefirstappearsinBraveCharlotte(2005).

Wojciechowski,Susan4–9yearsAFINEST.PATRICK’SDAYIllustratedbyTomCurryNewYork:RandomHouse,2004|978-0-385-73640-4|paper

SetinIreland,thismagicalandsatisfyingstoryconcernstwotownsthatcompeteannuallyforthebest-decoratedplaceforSt.Patrick’sDay.Whenthepeopleofonetownhelpaleprechaunwhosecowsareintrouble,theyknowtheywillnotbeabletofinishtheirdecoration,buttheyfindtheyhavebeenrewardedanyway.Folkart illustrationsofwondroustexturecapturethevillages,theirinhabitants,andtheworktheyareabout.Richcolorssaturatethepageswithamixoftwo-pagespreads,one-and-a-half-pagespreadsandonepage,withmostofthetextinwhitespace.Afinebookforread-alouds,andnotjustforSt.Patrick’sDay.

Wojtowicz,Jen4–8yearsTHEBOYWHOGREWFLOWERS

THEBOYWHOGREWFLOWERSIllustratedbySteveAdamsCambridge,MA:BarefootBooks,2005|978-1-84148-686-4

Strange, yet familiar. Odd, yet not disturbing. Somehow the fact that flowersgrow out of the body of Rink Bowagon at the time of the full moon seemsnormal because his whole family skews exotic. While the children at schoolshunhim,heformsaconnectionwiththenewgirl,Angelina,whohasonelegshorterthantheother.Withthehelpofashoethathedesignsandmakesforher,they attend a dance, and he finds out a secret about that flower that alwaysappearsbehindherear.A fantasy, this tale isalsoa school story,withnormalpetty jealousies and teasing. Look for the unusual names of the students. Theacrylic illustrations, especially the flowers, bring loveliness to each page. Thetwomaincharacters, expressedas sereneandhappy in text andart,project anappealingsweetness in theirdifferentness.Small illustrationsofscissors,aboyatadesk,aneedleandthread,andmuchmoredecoratethepagesoftextfacingone-pageillustrations.AstheconnectionbetweenRinkandAngelinablossoms,theendingisnotsurprising,butisinsteadasatisfyinganswerto“Andthenwhathappened?”

Yaccarino,Dan4–8yearsLAWNTOLAWNIllustratedbyDanYaccarinoNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf/RandomHouse,2010|978-0-375-85574-0

Lawnornaments—somepeoplelovethem,whileotherswoulddescribethemastacky or creepy. But in this story, lovable (and almost human) wins out. Agnome, deer, flamingo, and jockey, named Norm, Betty, Flo, and Jack,respectively,facedisposalinthetrashtruckiftheycannotfollowtheirbelovedfriendPearlwhenshemovestoanewhouse.Astheymaketheirjourney,theymeet other lawn ornaments, gargoyles, and statues, all thewhile avoiding thegarbagetrucks.JustwhentheyarrivewithinsightofPearl’shouse,lionstatuesthwart their plan to enter through the gate. But what was once an enemybecomesa friend,and theyaredeliveredby truck to their joyous reunionwithPearl. Humorous gouache illustrations take the ornaments on the road, wherestatues come alive in bold color. The highly colorful endpapers, too, featureweathervanes, amailbox, a totem pole, a carousel horse, fountains, and otherstatues as appealing figures that the characters may have met on their way.

Snappydialogueensuresthateachornamentdemonstratesadistinctpersonalityinthisfunstory.

Yolen,Jane5–9yearsCOMETOTHEFAIRIES’BALLIllustratedbyGaryLippincottHonesdale,PA:Wordsong/BoydsMills,2009|978-1-59078-464-8

TheprolificYolenoffersanotherbookintherealmoffantasy,thisoneadelightto ear and eye. The rhyming text tells of the ball being planned and thepreparationsofthefairiesthatwanttoattend.Forextradrama,aCinderella-typecharacteremergeswhoownsonlyatorndress.Eventuallytheyallarriveattheball, including thefairywhocomes in latebutwithabeautifuldress,andwhoattracts the attention of the prince.The exquisitewatercolor illustrations showfairiesatallstagesofpreparation,withsuchfundetailsasa“Mom”tattoo,thickglasses, and striped stockings. Their transportation to the ball includeswonderfully imaginative uses of rabbits, turtles, and frogs, as well as otherwoodlandanimals.Dominant colorsofgreen,gold,orange, and tan reflect thenaturalhabitatofthefairyfolk.Therhymedtextconveysthehurryandhooplaofgettingready,themusicanddancingoftheball,andalovestoryattheend.Thefirstandlastpagesfeaturescrollswithstylizedletteringthatannouncetheball and the wedding, respectively. For those who love fantastic worlds,especiallythoseoffairiesandprincesses,thisbookwillenchant.

Ziefert,Harriet4–8yearsBYTHELIGHTOFTHEHARVESTMOONIllustratedbyMarkJonesMaplewood,NJ:BlueApple,2009|978-1-934706-69-5

Theorange,gold,andredofautumnpermeatethisbook,ablendofrealityandfantasy.Whatbeginsasday’sendismagicallytransformed,withagustofwind,intoapartyofleafpeople.Pastelillustrationsbringtextureandcolortopicturesthat spread to the edge of pages, with text surrounded by the artwork. Leafchildrenand leafadults sportpumpkinheadsand leafy trunksandextremities,with clothes, hats, and footwear just like humans. Their activities, too,mimicthoseofhumans:bobbing for apples, stackingpumpkins, andeatingpie. Idealfor a lessononautumn, thisvisually stunningbookwill appeal at any timeofyear to thosewho love the colors, smells, and sounds of fall. Celebrate other

seasonswithZiefert’sSnowParty(2008)andButterflyBirthday(2010).PairthiswithNancyRainesDay’sHalloween-themedOnaWindyNight(Abrams,2010)andcomparemood.

6

FolktalesandFairyTalesThepicturebooksinthissectionrepresentstoriesthathavearisenfromtheoraland literary traditionsofmanyculturesandcountries, includingfolktales, fairytales,talltales,traditionaltales,legends,myths,fables,andtrickstertales.Fromclassicfavoritestonewdiscoveries,thesebooksteachandentertainastheyhavethroughtheages.

Aesop4–9yearsTHECONTESTBETWEENTHESUNANDTHEWINDRetoldbyHeatherForestIllustratedbySusanGaberAtlanta:AugustHouseLittleFolk,2008978-0-87483-832-9

Whenthewindbragsofhisstrength,thesunchallengeshimtoseewhocantakeoff thecoatofaman.Thewind trieswithhismightiestblowingandhowling,butthemanjustclutcheshiscoatmoretightly.Thenthesun,withheatandlight,causesthemantoremovethecoatonhisown.Darkcolors,especiallygrayforthe wind, and bright yellow for the sun, aptly illustrate this struggle betweenforceandgentleness.Thefacialexpressionsofthewindandthesunindicatethismean-friendlydichotomy,too.Theillustrationsincludescalloped-edgedborders,fullspreads,quarter-pages,andseveralpagestobeturnedsideways.Thisvarietymovesthestoryalong,justlikethemanwhowalksontheroadtowardrainbowsoflight.

Alley,ZoëB.4–8yearsTHERE’SAWOLFATTHEDOOR:FIVECLASSICTALESIllustratedbyR.W.AlleyNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2008|978-1-59643-275-8

Withitslargesizeandgraphicnovelstyle,thisbookprovidesaperfectvehiclefor the title character, whose inflated sense of his power stands out in theseepisodicadventures.Althoughmostofthestoriesincludedherewillbefamiliar—TheThreeLittlePigs,TheBoyWhoCriedWolf,LittleRedRidingHood,andTheWolfinSheep’sClothing—thecontinuationfromonetothenextpullsthewholenarrative together,endingwithTheWolfandtheSevenLittleGoslings,

whereintheembattledwolffinallygivesup.Aslysenseofhumorpermeatesthetextandillustrations,withthefashion-obsessedLittleRedRidingHoodandthecommentsofthesheepinTheBoyWhoCriedWolfjustafewofthehighlights.Adults as well as children will appreciate the mix of the familiar and new,deliveredinafuncomicstyle.

Arnold,Caroline4–8yearsTHETERRIBLEHODAGANDTHEANIMALCATCHERSIllustratedbyJohnSandfordHonesdale,PA:BoydsMills,2006|978-1-59078-166-1

SetinthenorthwoodsofWisconsin,thisstoryoflumberjacksandthecreaturetheybefriend isenhancedbywoodcut illustrations thatcapture the larger-than-lifecharacters.Thetypefaceandillustrationslendanold-timestyletothisstorywhich,thoughoriginal,isbasedonthecentury-oldstoriesofthehodagandthelumberjackOleeSwensen.Inthisversion,threeanimalcatcherswanttocapturethe hodag for a zoo.Although a fearsomebeast in appearance, the hodag is afriendofthelumberjacks,whooutwittheanimalcatcherstoprotecthim.Manyof the black-and-white illustrations are enclosed in borders and take up thewhole page opposite that of the text. In some of these bordered boxes, theillustrationescapesoutsideoftheborder,especiallyinthosedepictingthehodag—he is just toobig!Several two-pagespreads featureunbordered illustrations,including a marvelous confrontation scene between burly lumberjacks andmousyanimalcatchers.Adultsandchildrenalikewillcheerforthelumberjacksandthefriendlyhodagastheyoutsmartthebadguys.

Aylesworth,Jim,reteller4–8yearsTHEMITTENIllustratedbyBarbaraMcClintockNewYork:Scholastic,2009|978-0-439-92544-0

Inthisretellingofaclassictale,themittenbelongstoalittleboy.Whenhelosesoneofthemittensmadebyhislovinggrandmother,itsinvitingwarmthattractsasquirrel,arabbit,afox,andabear.Improbably,theyallsqueezeinandachievethe warm coziness they seek. But when a mouse tries to wedge in, disasterresults.McClintock’slovelyillustrationsdisplayanantiquecharm,especiallyoftheboyandhisgrandmother. Immersingoneself in the textand illustrations islikewrappingoneselfinawarmfuzzyblanket.Interestingexamplesofframing

aboundin these illustrations,with literal framesaroundthepictures in thefirstfewpagesandthenacombinationofopenandframedillustrationsasthestoryprogresses.Thesizeoftheillustrationsalsovaries,withlargerpicturesasmoreanimals push their way into the mitten. A gentle tale, especially for youngerlisteners,whowillbeattractedby therepetitionaseachanimal tries to talk itswayintothemitten,andtheanticipationforwhatwillsurelyhappenwhentoomanysqueezein.Extrabonus:arecipeforhotcocoaonthebackcover.Similar,but using a different setting and set of animals, isMaryCasanova’sOne-DogCanoe,setinthenorthwoods.

Brett,Jan4–8yearsTHETHREESNOWBEARSIllustratedbyJanBrettNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2007|978-0-399-24792-7

Brrr! Brett’s realistic illustrations, rendered in watercolor and gouache, willmake readers and listeners practically feel the cold in this Arctic rendition ofGoldilocksand theThreeBears.Aloo-ki, searchingforhersleddogs,wandersintothebears’igloo.Insteadofporridge,chairs,andbeds,thelittlegirlsamplessoup,boots,andfurbedcovers.Inthemeantime,thebearfamilyfindsherdogs,asidestorytold insmaller illustrations thatserveasbordersoneachtwo-pagespread.Inacleverpresentation,Arcticanimalsholdthesecircularillustrations.(See figure 6.1.) With realistic costumes, Aloo-ki and the bears bring atraditional Inuit look to the familiar tale.Look for special touches, suchas thepenguin totem outside the bears’ igloo, the storage of clothes in a hangingbasket,andtheanimal-shapedsoupbowl.Agreatselectionforteachersseekingmulticulturalretellingsoffamiliarstories.Foratraditionaltakeonthistale,seeGoldilocks and the Three Bears (Scholastic, 2003) by Jim Aylesworth. ARenaissance-themed Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Marshall Cavendish,2009) is retold and illustrated byGennadySpirin.AnthonyBrowne’sMeandYou(FarrarStrausGiroux,2010)offersamodernurbanversion.

Figure6.1.TheThreeSnowBears

Bruchac,Joseph,andJamesBruchac,retellers4–8yearsRACCOON’SLASTRACEIllustratedbyJoseAruegoandArianeDeweyNewYork:Dial/Penguin,2004|978-0-8037-2977-3

Becauseofhislonglegsandleanbody,AzbantheRaccoonbeatseveryanimalin races. But wait! Don’t raccoons have short legs and plump bodies? Thispourquoi tale, which seeks to answer a why question, explains how raccoonscametobetheirpresentshape.FromtheoraltraditionoftheAbenaki,versionsoftheAzbantalescanbefoundinotherAmericanIndiannations,accordingtotheauthor’snoteatthebeginningofthisbook.Thetext,perfectforstorytelling,is enhancedby illustrations rendered inpen and ink, gouache, andpastel.Thecolorsofnatureinthefirstpartofthebook—green,brown,andautumnorange—contrastwith thegrays,deepblues,andblackof themountainwhereAzbanmeetshisfate.Besuretoreadotherbooksbythefather-sonBruchacteam,also

illustrated by Aruego and Dewey, such as Turtle’s Race with Beaver (Dial,2003)andHowChipmunkGotHisStripes(Dial,2001).

Deedy,CarmenAgra,reteller4–8yearsMARTINATHEBEAUTIFULCOCKROACH:ACUBANFOLKTALEIllustratedbyMichaelAustinAtlanta:Peachtree,2007|978-1-56145-399-3

Forget all preconceived notions of cockroaches; Martina Josefina CatalinaCucaracha is beautiful.As she receives suitors in her family home in a streetlamp,shefollowshergrandmother’sadviceabouthowtosortoutthegoodfromthebad.Intheend,asinallgoodtales,shefindstruelove—withthelittlemousewhoseweakeyescannot seeherbeauty.Theacrylic illustrations,bold in theircolorandsize,displayaslyhumor,asdoesthetext.Readersandlistenerswillcheer asMartina rejects avain rooster, a smelly and selfishpig, anda sneakylizard.Onsubsequentreadings,theymaywanttoseeiftheycanspottheclevermouseinearlyscenes.Asweetendingtopsoffthistale.

DeFelice,Cynthia4–8yearsONEPOTATO,TWOPOTATOIllustratedbyAndreaU’RenNewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2006|978-0-374-35640-8

Mr. andMrs. O’Grady, though very poor, are satisfied with what they have.WhenMr.O’Gradyfindsamagicpotthatdoubleswhateverisplacedinit,theyuseitwisely.Afteranunfortunatefall,inwhichtwoMrs.O’Gradyscomeout,Mr.O’Gradyhops in, too,andsoon thereare twocouples.Butsinceeachonewanted a best friend, this works perfectly for them. The pen-and-gouacheillustrationsperfectlycapturethepoorcharactersandthesparselivingconditions—the O’Gradys are both drawn unbelievably thin—and then the duplicatedpotatoes and coins and candles. A timeless quality imbues this tale, whichdelightswithitshumorandmagic.

Demi6+yearsTHEHUNGRYCOAT:ATALEFROMTURKEYIllustratedbyDemiNewYork:MargaretK.McElderry/Simon&Schuster,2004|978-0-689-84680-9

With her distinctive paint-and-ink artwork and excellent storytelling, DemipresentsthestoryofwisemanNasrettinHoca.Becausehelikestohelppeople,hefindshimselfdirtyandsmellingofgoatjustbeforeafriend’sbanquet.Whenheisrejectedbecauseofhisappearance,hefindsacleverwaytomakeapointaboutfriendshipandhospitality.BasedonstoriesabouttherealNasrettinHoca,aTurkish philosopher, teacher, and humorist, this tale brings out his commonsenseandsenseofhumor.Theillustrations,borderedinaMiddleEasterndesignand filledwithpeople, delight the eyewithbold colors, cultural integrity, andthathumorwithwhichNasrettintaughthislessons.ThissumptuousbookwouldbeagoodintroductiontoMiddleEasternfolktalesordiscussionsofjudgingbyappearances. For another Nasrettin tale, see Eric A. Kimmel’s JohaMakes aWish(MarshallCavendish,2010).

Fleischman,Paul4–10yearsGLASSSLIPPER,GOLDSANDAL:AWORLDWIDECINDERELLAIllustratedbyJuliePaschkisNewYork:HenryHolt,2007|978-0-8050-7953-1

AbeautifulrenderingofCinderellastoriesfromavarietyofcountries,thisbookdeliversapleasingstoryandanappreciationofculturaldifferences.Justasthetitle refers to the different styles of footwear for Cinderella, other differencespopupinhowshecametowearabeautifuldressandhowshewashelpedwhenshewashungry.Thefolkartstyle, renderedingouache, isaperfectmatchforthisversionof thetale.Eachpageorsectionincludesa labelwiththenameofthecountryfromwhichthatelementofthestorycomes.Traditionalsymbolsofthecountryintwo-tonecolorsurroundborderedsquaresorrectanglesofartandbordered text; thesecomplementbutdonotdistract from themain illustration.Endpapersconsistofaworldmapwithlabeledcountriesthatinspiredthestory.This collection of Cinderella tales testifies to their far-reaching appeal andorigins.

Griffin,Kitty4–8yearsTHERIDE:THELEGENDOFBETSYDOWDYIllustratedbyMarjoriePricemanNewYork:Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2010|978-1-4169-2816-4

SetinAmericancolonialtimes,thisstoryintroducesyoungBetsy,whowantstohelp the colonists fight King George. Although she knows she cannot be a

soldier,herskillsasahorsewomancomeinhandyassheridestowarnGeneralSkinner about the approaching British Army. The emotionally and physicallydifficult journey receives fine treatment in the exciting text and activeillustrations. Rendered in gouache and ink, the artwork features bold line andcolor,withmuchofitindarkpurples,blues,andblackduringhernighttimeride.Was there a real Betsy Dowdy? No one knows, but her story is legend, asexplainedinanauthor’snoteattheend.Don’tmisstheendpapers,whichdepicta map delineating the route Betsy took from her home to General Skinner’scamp.

Grimm,JacobandWilhelm6–9yearsHANSELANDGRETELRetoldbyRachelIsadoraIllustratedbyRachelIsadoraNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2009978-0-399-25028-6

In this version of the familiar tale, Africa becomes the setting, reflectingIsadora’sten-yearresidencythere.Theoilpaint,printedpaper,andpalettepaperillustrations burstwith color and texture in their portrayal of clothing, houses,andnaturalelements.ReaderswillenjoysearchingforAfricananimalsinmanyofthescenes.Asbefitsthetale,thestepmotherissufficientlymean,thewitchisvery wicked, and the children are beautiful and resourceful. The illustrationscovereachtwo-pagespreadandevenappeartogobeyondtheedgesofthepage,affirmingthevastnessofeachsceneofthejungleorthenight.Notethedetailsinthis visual feast, such as the witch’s torn-paper hair, the edges of which arerenderedamatted, sickly-white color, or theblue andwhite clouds floating inthe sky of pure white. See Isadora’s other fairy tales with African influence,includingTheUglyDuckling(2009),Rapunzel(2008),TheFishermanandHisWife(2008),TheTwelveDancingPrincesses(2007),andThePrincessandthePea (2007).Foranothervariantof this tale, readCynthiaRylant’sHanselandGretel(Hyperion/Disney,2008).

Hamilton,Martha,andMitchWeiss4–9yearsTHEGHOSTCATCHER:ABENGALIFOLKTALEIllustratedbyKristenBalouchAtlanta:AugustHouseLittleFolk,2008|978-0-87483-835-0

Althoughghostsdoinhabitthisstory,readersshouldnotexpectscaryspecters;

rather, theghosts reveal themselvesas sillycreatureseasily fooledbyayoungman.Heisabarber,asofttouchforahard-luckstory,but,underordersfromhiswife to increase their income, he finds away tomakemoney by fooling twoghosts with a mirror. Soon he has tricked them into bringing him money,building sheds, and filling themwith rice.Thebright,uncluttered illustrations,colorfulandsmoothonatexturedbackground,depicttheclothesandbuildingsof India. (See figure 6.2.)Although uncomplicated, the illustrations reveal thecharacters inall theiremotionsandreactions.Theendpaperscontainminiatureportraits of the main characters and others who appear in minor roles. Anauthor’s note at the end provides information about barbers in India, tales inBengal,andtheoriginaltextsofthisfolktale.

Figure6.2.TheGhostCatcher

Hawes,Louise4–10yearsMUTI’SNECKLACE:THEOLDESTSTORYINTHEWORLDIllustratedbyRebeccaGuayBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2006|978-0-618-53583-5

With the gift of a necklace from her father, a young girl grows up in ancientEgyptsecureintheloveoffamily.ShegoestoworkforthePharaohandlosesthe necklace in the river, then defies Pharaoh until the court magician canretrievethenecklace.Basedonanoldtalethatconcentratedmuchmoreonthemagician’s role, this retelling bestows a name and backstory on the girl.Sumptuous full-page illustrations inwatercolorandacrylagouachecapture thebeautyofMuti,thegrandeurofthePharaoh,andthemajestyoftheriverscenes.Facingpages containing text are set on a lightly colored, texturedbackgroundthat resemblespapyrus.The familyscenesmake this story relatable to twenty-first century children; the setting and elements of magic give it a sense ofothernessessentialtothetale.

Heller,JanetRuth4–8yearsHOWTHEMOONREGAINEDHERSHAPEIllustratedbyBenHodsonMt.Pleasant,SC:SylvanDell,2006|978-0-9764943-4-8

The moon, personified by a Native American woman, changes from large tosmallwhenconfrontedby thesun.Guidedbyacometembodiedbyawarrior,Moontravelstothehomeofawomanwhoshowsherhowpeopleandanimalsrely on the moon. Rendered in acrylic paints, handmade papers, wallpaper,pencil crayons, gesso, ink, and glue, the stunning illustrations feature stylizedlandscapesandskyscapes.Eachpagecontainsaborderdesignwiththemoonintheupperandlowercornerinadifferentphase,sothatflippingthroughthebookquicklyshowsthemoongofromfulltowaningtowaxingtofulloncemore.Endmaterial includes facts and projects related to the moon, including NativeAmericannamesforthefullmoonbymonth.Heller’sbookisidealforteacherscoveringNativeAmerican themes or even science. It is a good example of apourquoitale.

Hodges,Margaret,reteller4–8years

DICKWHITTINGTONANDHISCATIllustratedbyMélisandePotterNewYork:HolidayHouse,2006|978-0-8234-1987-6

The old story of Dick, who goes from poor boy to lord mayor of London,receives a vigorous retelling. The text is replete with folktale conventions,includingstylizedlanguage,goodandevilcharacters,arecurringmotif(bells),andahappyending,makingitperfectforstorytelling.Theillustrationsof inksand gouache combine fine lines and muted colors to portray old London, amedievalhouse,andthesea,withseveralscenesoftheBarbaryCoastandroyalpalaceinricherreds,blues,andgreens.(Seefigure6.3.)AllwillcheerforDickas he overcomes his past, becomes a rich man, and uses his wealth to helpothers. The book concludes with an author’s note about Dick Whittington,chapbooks,andthebellsofLondon.

Figure6.3.DickWhittingtonandHisCat

Hopkins,JackieMims4–8yearsTHEGOLDMINER’SDAUGHTER:AMELODRAMATICFAIRYTALEIllustratedbyJonGoodellAtlanta:Peachtree,2006|978-1-56145-362-7

Fromthecoverandfirstfewpages,thereaderentersthestoryasifwalkingintoa theaterand joininganimalcharacterswhositwatching thescreen.Theshowbeginsinmutedblackandwhitebutthenquicklyturnstocolor.Oilillustrationsdepict thedaughter,her father, thevillain,andvariousfairy talecharacters,all

aftergold.Gracieplaysthestrongtitlecharacterwhodefendsherfatherandherhonor and who eventually comes across a bigger treasure appropriate to thewesternsetting—oil.Specificallydesignedforreadingaloud,thebookincludessymbolsthroughoutthestoryforaudienceparticipation.Theframingdeviceofsetting themoviewithin a theater allows listeners to feel as if they are in thestory.The inclusionof familiar characters such asGoldilocks, theThreePigs,andRapunzeladdsaclevertouch.

Isaacs,Anne4–9yearsDUSTDEVILIllustratedbyPaulO.ZelinskyNewYork:Schwartz&Wade,2010|978-0-375-86722-4

ForatalltalewithenoughvibrantenergytofillthewholestateofMontana,thisstory about Angelica Longrider, a.k.a. Swamp Angel, takes readers to thatwestern state in the 1830s. Combining the outsized deeds of a giant woman,muchlikethePaulBunyantales,withthewesternadventureofBackwardBartandhis bandof desperadoes, this tale swaggerswith exaggeration andhumor.Theillustrations—oilspaintedonwoodveneers—areborderedasrectanglesorovals,lettingmuchofthewoodshowinthemarginsandlendingarusticlooktothis story, much of which takes place in the wide-open spaces of the West.BackwardBart and his gangprovide lots of comic action,whileAngel shinesthrough as theheroine, alongwithher horse.Andhow she foundher horse—that’s a rip-roaring episode in this exuberant tale! Isaacs and ZelinskycollaboratedontheoriginalSwampAngel(Dutton,1994).

Javaherbin,Mina4–10yearsTHESECRETMESSAGEIllustratedbyBruceWhatleyNewYork:Hyperion/Disney,2010|978-1-4231-1044-6

Inspired by a poem by Rumi (Persian, thirteenth century), Javaherbin andWhatleycreate theworldofaPersianmerchantandhis family. InhisshophekeepsaparrotfromIndia.Brightcolors infusethelargeillustrations,whichonmostpagespreadstakeuponeandahalfpages.Textontheside,framedbyathinblackline,focusesattentiononthelargeillustrationandthefabrics,foods,containers,andbirdstherein.WhenthemerchantpreparesforatriptoIndia,heaskseveryoneinhishousehold,includinghisparrot,whattheywouldlike.The

parrotasksonlythatthestoryofhislifeinacagebetoldtohisfamilyinIndia.The merchant is shocked by the birds’ reactions; he receives a second shockwhen he comes back to Persia and tells his parrot what happened. Theillustrationsreinforcetheatmosphereofsumptuousluxuryofthemerchantandhisfamily,whilebringinghomethemessageoffreedom.

Kajikawa,Kimiko4–10yearsTSUNAMI!IllustratedbyEdYoungNewYork:Philomel,2009|978-0-399-25006-4

AnoldtaletakesonnewlifeinthisstoryofOjiisan,awiseoldmanwhosensesachangeandsoonknows that somethingbeyondanearthquake iscoming.Hemakesasupremesacrifice—burninghisextensive rice fields—inorder tosavethevillagerswhoareonthebeach.Bythe timethetsunamistrikes, thepeoplehavecomerunningtohelpsavethefieldsandsoarespared.Theillustrationsofgouache,pastel,andcollagetakecenterstage,astheyoccupynearlyteninchesofeachverticalpagespread,withthetextinlessthantwoinchesatthebottom.Identifying thematerialsused invariousscenes,suchaswovenbaskets,straw,and tissuepaper, couldbeusedasan introduction toanart lesson forall agesandgradelevels.Contrastsandtextures—theflatblueseaversustheroughgraymountains—enhancethevisualexperience.Takingonhugeconceptssuchasthepowerofnatureandthedestructionoffireandwater,artistandauthortogetherhavecreatedalargeandawesomestory.

Karas,G.Brian4–8yearsYOUNGZEUSIllustratedbyG.BrianKarasNewYork:Scholastic,2010|978-0-439-72806-5

HowcanancientGreekmythsbetoldinawaythatappealstoyoungchildren?Young Zeus accomplishes this, with an energetic story that imagines thechildhoodoftheGreekgod.AstoldbyAmaltheia,anenchantedgoat,thestorybeginswithZeusasababyandfollowshimthroughhisboyhoodonCrete.Assoon as his plan to rescue his brothers and sisters succeeds, arguments ensueover who will be the boss. All this is faithful to the original story, told withsuspense and emotion, helped greatly by the gouache-and-pencil illustrations,which contain touches of humor. Note the size of Zeus inmany illustrations,

especially those that show him with his father and mother and with thenetherworld creatures, where he appears as very small. Young listeners willrevel in theenergyandactionof the illustrations, fullofbattles andmonsters,impossible deeds and fantastic characters. Karas vividly portrays the supremeGreekgodplusasupremecaseofsiblingrivalry.

Kellogg,Steven4–8yearsTHEPIEDPIPER’SMAGICIllustratedbyStevenKelloggNewYork:Dial,2009|978-0-8037-2818-9

With Steven Kellogg’s wonderfully detailed illustrations, this story offers aretellingofthePiedPipertaleandhowheridsacityofrats.Thetwists:parentswho are forced by the evil grand duke towork in a factory and themagic ofbackwardswords,whichbringloveandpeacetothecity.Thegorgeousartworkwill encourage young listeners to study the pictures, rendered in ink, pencil,watercolor, and acrylic. Even scenes depicting crowds of children and parentsfeaturedistinctivefacesandbodies.Magicmusic issuingfromthepiper’spipecomesoutcolorfully,fullofflowersandbutterfliesandwords.Thebookhasahappyending for everyone, including thegrandduke,who falls in love.For averydifferentslanttothePiedPiperstory,seeColinBootman’sTheSteelPanManofHarlem.

Kimmel,EricA.5–9yearsCACTUSSOUPIllustratedbyPhilHulingTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2004|978-0-7614-5155-6

TakingtheoldtaleofStoneSouptoMexicoandthetimeoftherevolution,thisstory follows the familiar plot, but substitutes a cactus thorn for the stone.Watercolor-and-inkillustrations,richintans,oranges,andpalegreens,arelargeand filling (much like the soup), takingoverwholepagesandsometimes two-page spreads. In keeping with the setting, Spanish words, especially for fooditems,appearinitalicsthroughoutthetext.Aglossaryofthesewordsconcludesthe book. An author’s note provides a short explanation of the MexicanRevolutionanddrawingsofPanchoVilla andEmilianoZapata.Comparewithother variations, such asStone Soup by Jon J.Muth (Scholastic, 2003), set inChina, and Kallaloo! A Caribbean Tale by David and Phillis Gershator

(MarshallCavendish,2005).

Kimmelman,Leslie4–8yearsTHELITTLEREDHENANDTHEPASSOVERMATZAHIllustratedbyPaulMeiselNewYork:HolidayHouse,2010|978-0-8234-1952-4

This fractured fairy tale takes the story of the Little RedHenwhowanted tomakesomebreadandtransposesittoaLittleRedHenwhoneedssomematzahfortheJewishPassoverholiday.Assheplantsthegrain,cutsthewheat,carriesthewheattothemill,andpreparesthematzah,sheasksforhelpfromherfriendsSheep,Horse, andDog,whoall refuse.The lively text contains someYiddishwords, explained in a glossary at the back of the book. The barnyard andcountryside scenes, illustrated in ink, watercolor, and pastel, tend toward thecomical.Andthelittleredhen?Weshouldallhavesuchafriend!Shefollowsthewordsof thePassoverHaggadahand invites theotheranimals tosharehermeal. Information about Passover and a recipe formatzah conclude the story.ForamoretraditionaltellingofthestoryseeJerryPinkney’sTheLittleRedHen(Dial/Penguin,2006).

Knutson,Barbara4–8yearsLOVEANDROASTCHICKEN:ATRICKSTERTALEFROMTHEANDESMOUNTAINSIllustratedbyBarbaraKnutsonMinneapolis:Carolrhoda,2004|978-1-57505-657-9|librarybinding

Appealing illustrations and a delightful story combine in this SouthAmericantale.Aguineapigtricksafoxseveraltimeswithhiscunningandquickthinking,always finding a way to turn bad situations to his favor. The artwork ofmountainsandalfalfafields,andthecostumeswornbythemaincharacter,Cuy,and the humans in the story, reflect the Andean setting. Note how theillustrations make use of distance and closeness to provide contrast andperspective.Thetexttakesonastorytellingmode,whichmakesitanaturalforread-alouds. A glossary of Spanish words with pronunciations appears at theback of the book. An author’s note provides further information on SouthAmerica,trickstertales,andguineapigs.ComplementwithVirginiaHamilton’sBruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl (Scholastic, 2003), a similar story in theAfricanAmericantradition.

Langton,Jane4–9yearsSAINTFRANCISANDTHEWOLFIllustratedbyIlsePlumeBoston:DavidR.Godine,2007|978-1-56792-320-9

Thelegendof thewolfofGubbioarosefromthegentlewaysof therealSaintFrancisofAssisi,whowasknownforhiskindnessandgenerosity toall livingthings. In this story, a wolf terrorizes the people of Gubbio until they areprisoners in theirhomes.Francispromises tospeak to thewolf,who listens tohimand thenchangeshisways.Thedetailed illustrations, each seton itsownpage across from the text, feature fine lines and jewel colors. Each piece isframed, most as rectangles, but with diamond, circular, oval, and other morecomplicatedshapes,too.Theeffectisoneofviewingafinepaintingonawall,withtheaccompanyingtexttotheside.Thesamelegendtoldinaverydifferentstyle is Richard Egielski’s Saint Francis and the Wolf (LauraGeringer/HarperCollins,2005).

Lunge-Larsen,Lise4–8yearsNOAH’SMITTENS:THESTORYOFFELTIllustratedbyMatthewTruemanBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2006|978-0-618-32950-2

Who knew that Noah discovered how to make felt while aboard the ark?Concentratingon the sheep andwhat happens to theirmatted fleecewith heatand friction, this lively rendering of the familiar Bible story entertains as itteaches a few facts about this fabric. The comical illustrations of pencil,gouache, acrylics, and collage portray Noah, the animals, and his familymembers as appealing characters. Scenes in the ark feature wood-borderedillustrationssetagainstgreenishbluewater,playingup theenclosed feelingoflife cooped up with creatures. Notice the beautiful texture of the animals,especiallythesheep,boththeirfleeceandtheirfelt.Anoteontheoriginsoffeltconcludesthebook.

MacDonald,MargaretRead,retellerMABELATHECLEVERIllustratedbyTimCoffeyMortonGrove,IL:AlbertWhitman,2001|978-0-8075-4903-2|paper

AtalefromtheLimbapeopleofAfrica,thisstoryfeaturesamousewholistenstoherfather’sadvice.WhenacatpromisesmembershipinasecretCatClubifthemicewalk insinglefileanddonot lookback,Mabelasoondiscoverswhythecatwantstobeattheendoftheline.Soonsheistheonlymouseleft,asshesuspected.Whenthecatpounces,sheescapesandliberatestherestofthemice.Theacrylicillustrationsonpapertexturedwithgessocreateanimals,vegetation,andthatchedhousesthatlookasiftheywouldbesoft,orsmooth,orscratchyiffelt. The illustrations, and sometimes the text, are bordered with a geometricpattern showing African influences. This book would make a wonderfulintroduction to folklore, especially the folklore of Africa. A classic story inwhichthesmallestcreatureisthesmartest.

MacDonald,MargaretRead,reteller4–9yearsTUNJUR!TUNJUR!TUNJUR!APALESTINIANFOLKTALEIllustratedbyAlikArzoumanianTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2006|978-0-7614-5225-6

Alivelylittlecookingpotbecomesthechildofawoman,whoallowsherlittleone to roll around their town. The title reflects the sound that the pot makesrollingonthecobbledstreet.Afterthepotconvincesthoseshemeetstofillherwithhoneyandthenagainwithjewelry,sherefusestoletherlidbeopenedandgetsintotroublewithsomeinfluentialtownspeople.Sheeventuallylearnsnottosteal,whichisthemoralofthestory.Therichlycoloredillustrations,renderedinacrylics, depict stylized people and a pot with facial features. Illustrationscoveringtwofullpagespresentbroadviewsofthewoman’shouseandthelittlepot’s travels; a narrow border of geometric or floral design in a coordinatingcolorframeothersingle-pageillustrations.MiddleEasternclothes,architecture,anddesignelementssuffusethestorywithanauthenticair.

McDermott,Gerald4–8yearsPIG-BOY:ATRICKSTERTALEFROMHAWAI’IIllustratedbyGeraldMcDermottNewYork:Harcourt/HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2009|978-0-15-216590-1

Richly colored illustrations in textured gouache, colored pencil, and pasteldelight theeye.Exciting text readswith thecadencesof storytelling.Togetherthey tell the tale of this trickster-hero of Hawaiian myth. The use of sizeprovidesinterestingcontrasts:asPig-Boyeatsandgrows,hebecomeslargeon

thepage;whenhenestlesinthearmsofGrandmotherorapproachesthegoddessPele,heissmall.Althoughthislittlepigbristleswithhairanddirtandmischief,he comes across as lovable. The comical illustrations go a long way towardpresenting him as cute, rather than ugly. The gorgeously colored artworkcapturesthebeautyoftheislands,whilethestoryincludessuchcrowdpleasersasmagic,outsmartingtheking,andapigsailingaboat.Anauthor’snoteatthebeginningprovidesthebackgroundonthePig-Boytales.

McGill,Alice6–10yearsWAYUPANDOVEREVERYTHINGIllustratedbyJudeDalyBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2008|978-0-618-38796-0

Can the desire for freedom be so strong that a person can fly away from ahorriblesituation?InthisfolktalethatcomesfromtheoraltraditionsofAfricanAmericans, slaves can step into the sky and fly away. The watercolorillustrations,infolkartstyle,arespareyetcolorful,withshadesofbrowninskinandland,blueinwater,andgreenintrees,andwithsplashesofbrightcolorinclothing.Thetext,toldbyagirlwhohearditpasseddownbyfemalerelatives,relatesthestoryofhowfiveslaves,newlybroughtfromAfrica,whirledandflewaway from the overseer and master. Hope triumphs over sorrow in this fineAfricanAmerican folktale.Anote at the endprovides informationonAfricanslavesandtheirflyingstories.

Mora,Pat4–8yearsDOÑAFLOR:ATALLTALEABOUTAGIANTWOMANWITHAGREATBIGHEARTIllustratedbyRaulColónNewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2005|978-0-375-82337-4

DoñaFlorcomesfromthePaulBunyantalltaletradition:agiantwhoisstrongand uses her power for good. When she finds that her neighbors have beenterrifiedbyamountain lion that theyhearroaring,shesetsout tofind it.Howsurprisedsheiswhenallshediscoversisasmallcatgrowlingthroughabiglog.Shebefriends the cat and soonall ispeaceful again.Thebook itself is tall, asbefits its subjectmatter. The large illustrationsmake themost of the contrastbetweenDoñaFlorandthetinyvillagersandanimals.Mutedillustrationshaveapointillist feeland lend themselveswell to thecontrasting forcesofgentleness

and power that occur in each picture. With some Spanish words scatteredthroughout, Doña Flor is a good introduction to the tales of this culture.Discover PaulBunyan’s sister’s story inPaulaBunyan (Farrar StrausGiroux,2009)byPhyllisRoot.

Morales,Yuyi4–8yearsJUSTINCASE:ATRICKSTERTALEANDSPANISHALPHABETBOOKIllustratedbyYuyiMoralesNewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2008|978-1-59643-329-8

Señor Calavera, the Grim Reaper of Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale andCountingBook(Chronicle,2003)byMorales,rattlesbackagain,readytogotoGrandmaBeetle’sbirthdayparty.Foraskeleton,SeñorCalaveraisrathercute:hehasflowersonhiseyeballs,apertupside-downheartforanosesurroundedbyredjewels,andpurpleeyebrows.Buthishandsomeselfcannotbeenough;hemusttakeagift.AidedbyZelmirotheGhost,hecollectsoneitemforeachletterofthealphabet.Theillustrations,richandcolorful,provideplentytolookatoneachpage.TheSpanishnameappearsnexttoeachitemintheA-to-Zarray—forexample,unacordeón for anaccordion.Amoodofhurry-hurrypermeates thepictures, as Señor Calavera rushes to get to the party,whereGrandmaBeetlereceivesthebestpresentofall.

Nishizuka,Koko4–8yearsTHEBECKONINGCATIllustratedbyRosanneLitzingerNewYork:HolidayHouse,2009|978-0-8234-2051-3

WhenYohei,apooryoungboylivinginaJapanesefishingvillage,feedsastraycat,hehasnoideawhattheconsequenceswillbe.Afewdayslater,hefindsthatvillagersarecomingtohimtobuyfish,persuadedbythecatbeckoningwithherlittlepaw.EventuallyYoheiisabletoopenashop.Theillustrations,delicatelydone in watercolor, colored pencil, ink, and gouache, portray Yohei and theother characters in traditional costumes, which set the story long ago. Brightcolorsandlargecharacterclose-upsmakeiteasytosharethisbookwithagroup.Andthecat?Justadorable!The lastpagerelateshowshebecameasymbolofgood luck and, as a porcelain statue, ubiquitous in stores inAsia.A beautifulfolktale,idealforsharingwithyoungchildren.

Nolen,Jerdine5–8yearsTHUNDERROSEIllustratedbyKadirNelsonOrlando:SilverWhistle/Harcourt,2003|978-0-15-216472-0

With a crash of thunder and a flash of lightning, baby Rose is born, andimmediately her parents know that she is special. She speaks formally anddisplays uncanny strength, even as a baby. Set in the OldWest, this folktalefeatures anAfricanAmerican cowgirlwho can accomplish amazing feats. Forthosewhoalwayswonderedwherebarbedwirecamefrom,it’saninventionofThunder Rose, named after her little sister Barbara! From tracking downdesperadoes to controlling a tornado, this Rose is one tough cowgirl. Theillustrations—oil,watercolor, andpencil—evokeamazement in some instancesandaw-shuckseverydaylifeinothers.YounggirlswilladmireRose’sstrengthandcourage.

Osborne,Will,andMaryPopeOsborne4–8yearsSLEEPINGBOBBYIllustratedbyGisellePotterNewYork:AnneSchwartz/Atheneum,2005|978-0-689-87668-4

An alternative version of the SleepingBeauty fairy tale, this story does somegender-bendingandfeaturesaBobbyinsteadofaBeauty.Therestofthestoryfollowsthetraditionalplot,exceptthatabeautifulprincesscomestoawakenthehandsomeprincefromhishundred-yearspell.Simpleyetdelightfulillustrationsusepencil,ink,gouache,gesso,andwatercolor.ParentsandteachersoftheveryyoungmayappreciatethefactthatthewickedoldwomanwhoputsthespellonBobbydoesnotlookparticularlyscary.Endpapersfeatureyoungwomentryingtogetthroughthethornyhedgeduringthehundred-yearsleep,followinguponthatparticular illustration in the story.Thosewho lovehappilyeverafter taleswith a twist will appreciate this story. Readers may also enjoy the Osborne-Potter collaboration on The Brave Little Seamstress (2002) andKate and theBeanstalk (2000). Another take on the story is Bruce Hale’s Snoring Beauty(Harcourt,2008).

Palatini,Margie4–8yearsLOUSYROTTENSTINKIN’GRAPESIllustratedbyBarryMoser

IllustratedbyBarryMoserNewYork:Simon&Schuster,2009|978-0-689-80246-1

ThisversionoftheAesop’sfablebegstobereadoutloudwithsassandcomictiming.Fox,quitefullofhimself,thinkshehasdevisedtheperfectplantoreachthe beautiful purple grapes. As he enlists one animal after another to do hisbidding,hestillcannotgettothefruit.Therealisticwatercolorillustrationslendhumor to the quest, as does the text. Fox continually refers to his cleverness,evenastheotheranimalscomeupwithgoodideaswhichhedismisses.ThisFoxhas personality, and adult readers who like to ham it up will find a perfectvehicle here for their talents. Young listeners who love animal stories orhumorousstoriesareinforatreat.

Pinkney,Jerry4–8yearsTHELION&THEMOUSEIllustratedbyJerryPinkneyNewYork:Little,Brown,2009|978-0-316-01356-7

ThisnearlywordlessbookretellsAesop’sfableofthemousewho,becauseofalion’searlierkindness,nowrescueshimbygnawingofftheropesthatholdtheking of the beasts ensnared. The animals, realistically rendered in gorgeouspencil,watercolor,andcoloredpencilillustrations,inhabittheAfricanSerengeti,accordingtoanoteat theendof thebook.Vegetation,additionalanimals,andsafarihunterscontributetothefullyroundedscenesthatlargelyfeaturethelionandthemouse.Theonlywordsthatappeararetheanimalsoundsoftheowl,themice,andthelion,andthemotorsoundsofthehunters’jeep.Whatamarvelousbookforastorytellertouse,orforachildwhoenjoystellingthestoryfromthepictures. The winner of the 2010 Caldecott Medal, The Lion & the MousedisplaysPinkney’sstorytellingskillsandartisticexcellence.

Poole,AmyLowry,reteller4–9yearsTHEPEABLOSSOMIllustratedbyAmyLowryPooleNewYork:HolidayHouse,2005|978-0-8234-2018-6|paper

BasedonaHansChristianAndersen story, this tale is set inChina,where theauthor livedfora time.Thespareyetevocative illustrations,delicatepaintingson rice paper, express just a touch of whimsy. Note the animal shapes to

illustrate trees and ground.The five peas in the shell exhibit interesting facialexpressionsastheytalkabouttheirfuturelives.Thefourwhohavebigplansendupbeingeaten,whilethefifth,withaZenoutlook,iscontenttobehappywithwhateverhappens.Hefulfillshisdestinyinhelpingayounggirlgetwell.Thisbookcouldbeusedinthestudyoftraditionaltales,asasciencelessoninseedsandplantgrowth,forartinstruction,orasaquietbooktoenjoybyoneself.

SanSouci,RobertD.,reteller4–9yearsROBINHOODANDTHEGOLDENARROWIllustratedbyE.B.LewisNewYork:Orchard/Scholastic,2010|978-0-439-62538-8|librarybinding

The traditional tale of Robin Hood and the Merry Men of Sherwood Forestspringstolifeinthisretelling.WhocanresistthestoryofRobinandhisband,which culminates in an archery contest where a disguised Robin bests thesheriff’s favorite andwins the golden prize? Beautiful watercolor illustrationsfeature dominant colors of green and brown, with splashes of red, especiallyRobin’shoodandshirt thathewearstothecontest.Facescomeacrossasveryrealistic, especially in the close-ups. The large size of the book matches thelarger-than-life character ofRobinHood.Anauthor’s note at the end explainsthe origins of the story from a traditional British ballad.After reading this, itcould be time to introduce the next generation to the classic 1938 film TheAdventuresofRobinHood,starringErrolFlynn.

Santore,Charles5–10yearsTHESILKPRINCESSIllustratedbyCharlesSantoreNewYork:RandomHouse,2007|978-0-375-83664-0

Basedonalegendthatstretchesbackto2700BC,thestoryoftheprincesswhodiscovers a secret thread combines fantasy and reality. PrincessHsi-LingChi,confinedlikehermothertotheRoyalPalaceandgardens,noticesacocoonthatunravelswhenitfallsinhottea.Withhermother’sconsent,sheventuresawaywiththestringtoseehowfaritwillgo.Afteranap,shemeetsatalkingspider,adragon, and an old man weaving thread. Or was that a dream? Either way,exciting events told in the text and sumptuously illustrated unfold until shejourneys back to her mother with the secret of silk. The illustrations offer awealthofvarietyincolor,scene,andsizeofthemaincharacter.Oneespecially

effectivepage spread frames theoldweaver and theprincesswith aborderofleavesandpalesilkworms,theirtrailingthreadcaughtupbytheoldman’shandin the central illustration. A wonderful read-aloud for the study of ancientChineseculture,legends,orsimplyagrippingtale.

Smith,Chris4–10yearsONECITY,TWOBROTHERSIllustratedbyAuréliaFrontyCambridge,MA:Barefoot,2007|978-1-84686-042-3

FromtheMiddleEastcomesthistaleofbrotherswhosharefarmfieldsandthework of harvesting. Each brother secretly gives his sibling a larger portion ofgrain,untiltheydiscoverwhateachisdoing.Theloveandrespectbetweenthetwo consecrates the ground,where it is believed the city of Jerusalem began.Illustrations in acrylics bring a sense of the sacred to the story, with stylizeddrawingsofpeople,buildings,andanimalsinrichhuesofgreens,yellows,andblues.Thestoryitselfispartoftheoraltraditionofmanypeoples,bothJewsandPalestinianArabs.Thisbookcanbeusedinmanyways:aspartofsocialstudies,inthestudyoffolktales,asanillustrationofsharingandfamilylove,orsimplyas a wonderful visual and aural treat to enjoy. Endpapers feature doves andhearts,whichcanalsobefoundonsomeofthepageswithin.

Souhami,Jessica4–8yearsKINGPOMANDTHEFOXIllustratedbyJessicaSouhamiLondon:FrancesLincoln,2007|978-1-84507-365-7|paper

KnownasPussinBootsintheWest,thisChineseversionintroducesKingPom,shortforpomegranatetree,whichistheonlyitemthatLiMingowns.Withthehelpofaclever foxwho isanexpertat theartofconvincingpeople,LiMingacquiresapalaceandmarriestheemperor’sdaughter.Theillustrations,inboldcolors, are a collage of papers hand-paintedwithwatercolor inks andgraphitepencil.Theirformandcolorallowthemtostandoutstarklyoneachpage,withlittledetail,butapleasingshape.Facialexpressionsandbodypositionsconveyemotion, while the depiction of movement, especially of animals, is thrilling.Noticeespeciallythetwo-pagespreadsofthetigerleapingandthefoxattackinganogre-turned-bug.ListenerswillcheerattheendasbothLiMingandthefoxcomeoutontop.

Spirin,Gennady4–8yearsAAPPLEPIEIllustratedbyGennadySpirinNewYork:Philomel,2005|978-0-399-23981-6

Based on an alphabet rhyme from the 1600s, this book features Spirin’smarvelouswatercolorillustrations.TheVictoriansettingandcostumescreateanold-fashioned feel to the active rhyme; the detail will give listeners much toperuse.Each page or two-page spread features a letter of the alphabet in bothprintandcursive,plusa two-or three-wordphraseabout thepie:“bit it,”“cutit,” and so on. A large letter centers the illustration on the page and thecharacters sit on it, jump from it, or are surrounded by it as a frame.The pieitself appears large in all the illustrations, and huge in some. Each page alsocontainsanappleinthecorner,introducinganothercommonthreadthroughoutthebook.Abeautifulrenditionofanoldnurseryrhyme,thisversioncouldserveasanintroductoryABCforyoungones.

Squires,Janet3–8yearsTHEGINGERBREADCOWBOYIllustratedbyHollyBerryNewYork:LauraGeringer/HarperCollins,2006|978-0-06-077863-7

Breakouttheten-gallonhatsandgetreadyforaWildWestversionoftheLittleGingerbread Man. In this retelling, a rancher’s wife makes a gingerbreadcowboycookie,completewithhat,boots,andvest.Truetoform,heescapestheoven and runs as fast as he can out of the kitchen. Eventually a lizard, aroadrunner, javelinas, cattle, and cowboys chase after him until he meets thecoyotethatpromisesrescue.Eventhoughtherancher’swifetries tolassohim,the gingerbread cowboy crosses the river on the coyote’s nose, and everyoneknowshow thatwill end.The last page shows the rancher andhiswife andasurpriseguestbackinthekitchenmakingmoregingerbreadcowboys.Onmostpages, illustrations with a Southwest feel cover the entire two-page spread,perfect for group read-alouds. For other gingerbread people, see MargiePalatini’s Bad Boys Get Cookie! (HarperCollins, 2006) and Jan Brett’sGingerbreadFriends(Putnam,2008).AJewishversionbyLisaShulmanisTheMatzoBallBoy(Dutton,2005).Thegingerbreadboy’ssisterisfeaturedinTheGingerbreadGirlbyLisaCampbellErnst(Dutton,2006).

Sweet,Melissa4–8yearsCARMINE:ALITTLEMOREREDIllustratedbyMelissaSweetBoston:HoughtonMifflin,2005|978-0-618-38794-6

Anexcellentexampleofanalphabetbookbuiltintoastory,thistakeoffonLittleRedRidingHoodcontainssomewordsthatmightnotreadilycometomindforthistale.Haiku?Nincompoop?Yodel?Yes,theyareallinhere,andtheywork.Themixed-media illustrations feature the color red, of course, but it does notoverpower the greens, browns, blues, and yellows. The endpapers at the frontfeature labeled and unlabeled objects in shades of red—alphabet pasta (whichfiguresintothestory)spellsoutnamesonthelabels—andtheendpapersattheback feature additional colors,more alphabet pasta, and a recipe forGranny’salphabetsoup.UnlikeotherLittleReds,thisstoryendshappilyforall,eventhewolf.AninterestingcontrastisAnnWhitfordPaul’sversion,TortugainTrouble(Holiday House, 2009). See, too, Gail Carson Levine’s Betsy Red Hoodie(HarperCollins,2010),inwhichthewolfisashepherdtoaflockofwisecrackingsheep. An African version of the tale appears in Niki Daly’s Pretty Salma(Clarion, 2007). Jerry Pinkney’s take stays true in title and telling:Little RedRidingHood(Little,Brown,2007).

Taback,Simms3–8yearsTHISISTHEHOUSETHATJACKBUILTIllustratedbySimmsTabackNewYork:G.P.Putnam’sSons,2002|978-0-399-23488-0

The traditional tale of Jack’s House appears here, exploding in color andhumorous detail. The page about the cheese features nine different types,completewithdescriptivecommentsontheirsmell.Thepagewiththedogusescollage to show several types of dog food, a dish, and biscuits. Agreements,summonses, and other legal documents litter the page introducing the judge.This theme carries throughout the book, including the endpapers, which arepackedwithsmallpaintingsofhousesovernewspaperrealestateads.Thewordsin bright colors, as the cumulative story progresses, become more and morepackedonthepage.Thecollageillustrationsaddtothemanicmood.Acomicaltakeonafamiliarrhyme,thisversionaddsafinalsectionthatfeaturestheartist.

VanHecke,Susan,reteller4–8years

ANAPPLEPIEFORDINNERIllustratedbyCarolBaicker-McKeeTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2009|978-0-7614-5452-6

Basedon anEnglish folktale, this story follows an oldwomanwhowishes tomakeanapplepiebuthasnoapples.Shetakesawalkandtradeswhatshehaswithvariouscharactersalongthewayuntilshefindssomeonewhocantradeforapples. In the end, all the characters enjoy apple pie seated at her table. Bas-reliefs of baked clay andmixedmedia project a three-dimensional look to theillustrations. The folksy charm of the illustrations suits the tale. Check thedetails,suchascutsingreenmaterialtorepresentgrassandtheclasponGrannySmith’s shawl of a Granny Smith apple. A recipe for apple pie appropriatelyendsthebook.BobbiMiller’sOneFineTrade(HolidayHouse,2009)presentsabackwoodsversion.

Ward,Jennifer4–8yearsTHEREWASANOLDMONKEYWHOSWALLOWEDAFROGIllustratedbySteveGrayTarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2010|978-0-7614-5580-6

Agoogly-eyed,big-earedmonkeytakesonthetitleroleinthisversionof“Therewasanoldladywhoswallowedafly.”Here,themonkeyswallowsallsortsofrain forest animals, not tomention some cocoa.As the rhyme progresses, themanicillustrationsindigitalmediakeeppilingon,untilthefinalpageisstuffedfullofcreatures.Listenerswillenjoyfinishingthesentencesastheyrepeat,andseeingwhatanimalisnexttobeswallowed.Thejunglescenesaboundingreen,while the creatures represent a rainbow of colors, crisp lines, and goofyexpressions.Great good fun to read and hear. Compare toThereWas anOldMonster!(Orchard/Scholastic,2009)byRebecca,Adrian,andEdEmberley,alsofullofanimalsandrichcolors.

Willey,Margaret4–8yearsCLEVERBEATRICEIllustratedbyHeatherSolomonNewYork:Atheneum/Simon&Schuster,2001|978-0-689-83254-3

Michigan’sUpperPeninsulabecomesthesettingforthisCanadianconte,astory

toldwithhumorandexaggeration.Beatrice,knownbyhervillageneighborstobeaquickthinker,visitsarichgiantinordertohelpherpoormother.Throughaseriesofbets,andwithouthavingtoproveherstrength,sheoutsmartsthegiant,who is so sure of his own. In the end, she wins a bag full of coins and theadmirationofhermother.Readersandlistenerswilldelightinthisfearlesslittlegirl’suseofbrainsoverbrawn.Theillustrations,renderedinwatercolor,collage,acrylic, and oils, bring out the rich browns, reds, oranges, and greens of theforests. The endpapers contain colorful maps of Northern Wisconsin andMichigan,someof theGreatLakes,andabitofCanada,withcharacters fromthebook scattered throughout.For another clever character, readJackOutwitstheGiantsbyPaulBrettJohnson(Simon&Schuster,2002).

SuggestedResourcesForFurtherResearchintoPictureBooks

Thesebooksandorganizationswillaidteachers,librarians,writers,andparentswhowanttoknowmoreaboutpicturebooksandtheiruses.Thetitlesare,forthemostpart,publishedwithinthelasttenyears,althoughthelist includesseveralclassicsaswell.Incaseswheretheentiretextisnotdevotedtopicturebooks,Ihaveindicatedwhichchaptersorsectionscoverthem.

Amoss,Berthe,andEricSuben.WritingandIllustratingChildren’sBooksforPublication:TwoPerspectives.Reved.Cincinnati:Writer’sDigest,2005.Authorswithbackgroundsinwriting,illustrating,teaching,andeditingofferashortcourseonallaspectsofchildren’s

literature,withmanyexamplesfrompicturebooks.

Asher,Sandy.WritingItRight!HowSuccessfulChildren’sAuthorsReviseandSellTheirStories.WestRedding,CT:Writer’sInstitute,2009.Thesectiononpicturebooksexaminesthedraftsthatwentintothemakingoffourofthesebooks,plusinterviewswiththe

authors.

AssociationforLibraryServicetoChildren,adivisionoftheAmericanLibraryAssociation.www.ala.org/alsc.ALSCbestowstheCaldecott,CorettaScottKing,Belpré,SchneiderFamily,andotherbookawardsandadvocatesonbehalf

ofreadingandbooks.

Bader,Barbara.AmericanPicturebooksfromNoah’sArktotheBeastWithin.NewYork:Macmillan,1976.Anexcellentsourceforthestudyofthehistoryofthisform.Coversthefamousauthorsandartists,styles,publishers,and

socialchange.

Bang,Molly.PictureThis:HowPicturesWork.SanFrancisco:SeaStar,2000.Howdoshape,color,size,andlayout“make”apicture?Bangexplains,withampleillustrationsofhersimpleyet

emotionallycomplexshapes.

Bomhold,Catharine,andTerriE.Elder.TwiceUponaTime:AGuidetoFractured,Altered,andRetoldFolkandFairyTales.Westport,CT:LibrariesUnlimited,2008.Anannotatedlistofversionsoftwenty-sevencommontales,withnotesastothecountryorcultureoforigin.Includestitle,

author,illustrator,country/culture,andmotifindexes.

Broman,Jennifer.StorytimeAction!2,000+IdeasforMaking500PictureBooksInteractive.NewYork:Neal-Schuman,2003.

———.MoreStorytimeAction.NewYork:Neal-Schuman,2009.Bringsoundandmotiontostorytimesinpublicandschoollibrarieswiththeseideas.

CooperativeChildren’sBookCenter.www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc.Awealthofinformationforlibrarians,teachers,daycareproviders,andstudentsofchildren’sliterature.TheCCBCalso

presentstheannualCharlotteZolotowAward.

Edwards,Gail,andJudithSaltman.PicturingCanada:AHistoryofCanadianChildren’sIllustratedBooksandPublishing.UniversityofToronto,2010.Acomprehensiveexaminationofchildren’sliteratureinCanada,especiallyillustratedbooks,1800stothepresent.With

informationonmajorpublishers,authors,illustrators,awards,andculturalidentity.

EricCarleMuseumofPictureBookArt.Amherst,MA.www.carlemuseum.org.

Evans,Dilys.Show&Tell:ExploringtheFineArtofChildren’sBookIllustration.SanFrancisco:Chronicle,2008.Learnhowtwelveillustratorsfoundtheircallingandhowtheywork;includeslotsofillustrations.

Evans,Janet,ed.TalkingBeyondthePage:ReadingandRespondingtoPicturebooks.London:Routledge,2009.Acollectionofscholarlyessaysonchildren’sunderstandingandresponsetobooks,withchaptersonendpapers,frames,

narrative,andimmigrantchildren’sresponses.

Giblin,JamesCross.TheGiblinGuidetoWritingChildren’sBooks.4thed.WestRedding,CT:Writer’sInstitute,2005.Practicaladvicefromachildren’sauthorandeditor.Threechaptersspecificallyconcernpicturebooks.

Hearn,MichaelPatrick,TrinkettClark,andH.NicholsB.Clark.Myth,Magic,andMystery:OneHundredYearsofAmericanChildren’sBookIllustration.Boulder,CO:RobertsRinehart,incooperationwiththeChryslerMuseumofArt,1996.Revelinthevarietyofstylesandsubjectsinthishistory,beginningwiththeBritishforebearsofchildren’sbookillustration.

Kirk,ConnieAnn.CompaniontoAmericanChildren’sPictureBooks.Westport,CT:Greenwood,2005.Morethanfourhundredentriesonimportantbooks,authors,illustrators,andrelatedtopics.

Knowles,Liz,andMarthaSmith.UnderstandingDiversitythroughNovelsandPictureBooks.Westport,CT:LibrariesUnlimited,2007.Aguidetoliteratureandresourcesforteachersandlibrarians,withchaptersonavarietyofethnicgroups,aswellasageism,

gender,sexualorientation,religion,andotherissues.

Lima,CarolynW.,andRebeccaL.Thomas.AtoZoo:SubjectAccesstoChildren’sPictureBooks.8thed.Providence,NJ:R.R.Bowker,2010.Astandardreferencetoolinlibraries,thisextensivesubjectguideprovidesbibliographicinformation,titleindex,and

illustratorindex.

Marantz,Sylvia,andKenMarantz.MulticulturalPicturebooks:ArtforIlluminatingOurWorld.2ded.Lanham,MD:Scarecrow,2005.FindannotatedlistingsofpicturebookscoveringAsia,theMiddleEast,Africa,theAmericas,andcross-cultural.Includes

originaltales,folktales,andimmigrantexperiences.

Marcus,LeonardS.WaysofTelling:ConversationsontheArtofthePictureBook.NewYork:Dutton,2002.Children’sliteraturescholarMarcusinterviewsfourteenwritersandillustrators,includingsomeofthebiggestnamesin

picturebooks,suchasZolotow,Sendak,andPinkney.

Matulka,DeniseI.APictureBookPrimer:UnderstandingandUsingPictureBooks.Westport,CT:LibrariesUnlimited,2008.Discovertheanatomy,genres,development,issues,andusesofpicturebooksinthiscomprehensiveguide.Companion

website:www.picturingbooks.com.

MazzaMuseum.UniversityofFindlay,OH.www.findlay.edu/offices/resources/mazza.

McCannon,Desdemona,SueThornton,andYadziaWilliams.TheEncyclopediaofWritingandIllustratingChildren’sBooks.Philadelphia:RunningPress,2008.Howisachildren’sbookcreated?Thisheavilyillustratedvolumecoverswordandpicture,fictionandnonfiction.Muchof

thecontentisapplicabletopicturebooks,especiallythemanysectionsonillustration.

NationalCenterforChildren’sIllustratedLiterature.Abilene,TX.www.nccil.org.

Nikolajeva,Maria,andCaroleScott.HowPicturebooksWork.NewYork:Routledge,2006.In-depthlookathowpicturesandwordscometogetherbyanalyzingsetting,characters,narrative,language,andmore.Uses

AmericanandSwedishpicturebooksasexamples.

Nodelman,Perry.WordsaboutPictures:TheNarrativeArtofChildren’sPictureBooks.Athens:UniversityofGeorgia,1988.Thisscholarly,oft-citedbookcoverssuchconceptsasstyleasmeaning,codesandsymbols,thedepictionofactionand

time,andtherelationshipofpicturesandwords.

Pantaleo,Sylvia.ExploringStudentResponsetoContemporaryPicturebooks.UniversityofToronto,2008.Ascholarlyanalysisofchildren’sinterpretationsofbooks,basedonafour-yearstudyoffirstandfifthgraders.

Paul,AnnWhitford.WritingPictureBooks:AHands-OnGuidefromStoryCreationtoPublication.Cincinnati,OH:Writer’sDigest,2009.Althoughgearedtochildren’swriters,anyoneinterestedinthestructureofpicturebooks,importanceofwords,and

characteristicsofthereaderwillfindmuchtolearn.

Polette,NancyJ.ReadingtheWorldwithPictureBooks.SantaBarbara,CA:LibrariesUnlimited/ABC-CLIO,2010.Foroveronehundredcountries,anannotatedlistofpicturebooks,plusactivitiestofulfillnationalstandardsinlanguage

Foroveronehundredcountries,anannotatedlistofpicturebooks,plusactivitiestofulfillnationalstandardsinlanguageartsandsocialstudies.

———.TeachingThinkingSkillswithPictureBooks,K–3.Westport,CT:TeacherIdeas/LibrariesUnlimited,2007.Reproducibleclassroomactivitiesforteachersandschoollibrarianstousewithclassicandrecentpicturebooks.

Salisbury,Martin.IllustratingChildren’sBooks:CreatingPicturesforPublication.Hauppauge,NY:Barron’s,2004.Coverstheartofdrawing;materials;makingcharacterscomealive;andtheillustrationofpicturebooks,chapterbooks,and

nonfiction.

Shulevitz,Uri.WritingwithPictures:HowtoWriteandIllustrateChildren’sBooks.NewYork:Watson-Guptill,1985.Wellillustratedwithnumerouslinedrawingsandreproductions,thisbookcouldbeusedasatextforaspiring

writer/illustrators.

Sipe,LawrenceR.,andSylviaPantaleo,eds.PostmodernPicturebooks:Play,Parody,andSelf-Referentiality.NewYork:Routledge/Taylor&Francis,2008.Acollectionofscholarlyarticlesbyprofessorsofchildren’sliterature.Agoodoverviewofpostmodernisminthepicture

book.

Spitz,EllenHandler.InsidePictureBooks.NewHaven:YaleUniversity,1999.Ascholarinart,psychology,andculture,Spitzlooksatclassicchildren’sbooksandhowtheyaffectchildren.

Stanton,Joseph.TheImportantBooks:Children’sPictureBooksasArtandLiterature.Lanham,MD:Scarecrow,2005.SeparatechaptersexplorethewordsandartofbooksbyMargaretWiseBrown,ArnoldLobel,DonaldHallandBarbara

Cooney,MauriceSendak,WilliamJoyce,andChrisVanAllsburg.

Stephens,ClaireGatrell.PictureThis!UsingPictureStoryBooksforCharacterEducationintheClassroom.Westport,CT:LibrariesUnlimited,2004.ComprehensivelessonplansforteachersingradesK–8toteachcharacterandintegratethelessonsofthebooksintotheir

curriculum.

Sutherland,Zena.Children&Books.9thed.NewYork:Longman,1997.Theclassictextonchildren’sliterature,coveringhistory,types,authorsandillustrators,andtheuseofchildren’sliterature

intheclassroom.

Vardell,SylviaM.Children’sLiteratureinAction:ALibrarian’sGuide.Westport,CT:LibrariesUnlimited,2008.Seeespeciallychapterson“PictureBooks”and“TraditionalTales”forintroductionstothesetypes.

Withrow,Steven,andLesleyBreenWithrow.IllustratingChildren’sPictureBooks.Cincinnati:Writer’sDigest,2009.Solidinstructionsupplementedwithcasestudiesandinterviewswithexperts,wellillustratedthroughoutincolor.Asection

ondigitalillustrationsprovidesup-to-dateadvice.

Zipes,Jack,ed.TheNortonAnthologyofChildren’sLiterature:TheTraditionsinEnglish.NewYork:W.W.Norton,2005.Aheftyvolume(2,471pages)thatgoesbacktothe1600sandComenius’sOrbisPictus.Dividedintoheadingssuchasfairy

tales,animalfables,sciencefiction,comics,andverse.Seeespeciallysectiononpicturebooks,whichincludesrepresentativeillustrations.

Appendix1

PictureBooksaboutArtThesebooksrevelinthewonderofmuseums,repletewithwell-knownworksofart,andinthemagicofcreatingart—itsinspirationsanditsprocess.

Anholt,Laurence.CézanneandtheAppleBoy.Hauppauge,NY:Barron’s,2009.Ayoungboyhelpshisfather,thereclusiveartistPaulCézanne,whostrugglestohavehisarttakenseriously.

Baker,SharonReiss.ANickel,aTrolley,aTreasureHouse.IllustratedbyBethPeck.NewYork:Viking,2007.Inspiredbyanunderstandingteacher,aboyinearly1900sNewYorkvisitsamuseumandrecognizeshisownartistictalent.

Beard,Alex.MonkeySee,MonkeyDraw.NewYork:Abrams,2011.Agroupofenergeticmonkeysdiscoverthefunandpossibilitiesofcreatingpaintingsfromhandprintsandfootprints.

Browne,Anthony.TheShapeGame.NewYork:FarrarStrausGiroux,2003.Ayoungboytoursamuseum,andtheworksofartbecomeaspringboardforfamilydiscussioninthishumorousstory.

Haseley,Dennis.TwentyHeartbeats.IllustratedbyEdYoung.NewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2008.DepictedasanoldChineselegend,thisstoryportraysafamouspaintercommissionedbyarichmantocreateapaintingof

hisfavoritehorse.

Hogrogian,Nonny.CoolCat.NewYork:NealPorter/RoaringBrook,2009.Helpedbyvariousanimals,acatchangestheirlandscapefromdulltocolorfulinthiswordlesspicturebook.

Johnson,Angela.LilyBrown’sPaintings.IllustratedbyE.B.Lewis.NewYork:Orchard/Scholastic,2007.AyoungAfricanAmericangirlcreatesartbasedontheworldsheseesandthemagicsheimagines.

Larsen,Andrew.TheImaginaryGarden.IllustratedbyIreneLuxbacher.Toronto:KidsCan,2009.Alittlegirlandhergrandfatherpaintacolorfulgardenthatenlivenstheirblack-and-whiteapartments.

Lichtenheld,Tom.Bridget’sBeret.NewYork:ChristyOttaviano/HenryHolt,2010.Ayounggirllosesherinspirationwhenshelosesherartist’sberet.

Magoon,Scott.Hugo&MilesinI’vePaintedEverything!Boston:HoughtonMifflin,2007.TwofriendstakeatriptoParis,wherethemuseumsandtheatmosphereinspireoneofthemtoreturntohispainting.

Maltbie,P.I.PicassoandMinou.IllustratedbyPauEstrada.Watertown,MA:Charlesbridge,2005.Picasso’spetcathelpshimmovefromhisBluePeriodtohisRosePeriod,whichenableshimtosupporthimselfandkeep

onpainting.

Mayhew,James.Katie’sSundayAfternoon.NewYork:Orchard/Scholastic,2004.Atagallery,ayounggirlclimbsintoonepaintingafteranother,whereshemeetsthecharactersportrayed.SeealsoKatie

andtheSunflowers(2000),KatieandtheSpanishPrincess(2006),andKatieandtheWaterLilyPond(2010).

McDonnell,Patrick.Art.NewYork:Little,Brown,2006.AyoungboynamedArtcreatesartinthiscelebrationofthetechniques,subjects,andappreciationofartisticendeavor.

Montanari,Eva.ChasingDegas.NewYork:Abrams,2009.Ayoungballerinatriesdesperatelytofindthepainterwhosebagwasmixedupwithhers,andshemeetsfamousartistsin

1870sParisalongtheway.

———.TheCrocodile’sTrueColors.NewYork:Watson-Guptill,2002.Asvariousanimalsattempttoportrayacrocodileintheirart,readerslearnaboutExpressionism,Cubism,Dadaism,and

otherartisticstyles.

Pericoli,Matteo.TommasoandtheMissingLine.NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,2008.Brightorangelinesstandoutinblack-and-whiteillustrationsasaboysearchesthroughouthistownforthelinemissing

Brightorangelinesstandoutinblack-and-whiteillustrationsasaboysearchesthroughouthistownforthelinemissingfromhisdrawing.

Pfister,Marcus.Henri,EggArtiste.TranslatedbyJ.AlisonJames.NewYork:North-South,2005.AnEasteregg-paintingrabbitdecidestotrysomethingdifferent,whichresultsinartinspiredbyfamousartists.

Reynolds,PeterH.TheDot.Cambridge,MA:Candlewick,2003.Convincedthatshecannotdraw,ayounggirlbeginswithadotandthenisinspiredtopaintwiththattheme.

———.Ish.Cambridge,MA:Candlewick,2004.AnegativeremarkbyhisbrothermakesRamongiveupdrawing,untilhissisterrestoreshisconfidence.

Scieszka,Jon.SeenArt?IllustratedbyLaneSmith.NewYork:VikingandtheMuseumofModernArt,2005.Withwordplayandreproductionsoffamousartisticworks,thisstoryofayoungboylookingforhisfriendArtalsotakes

himintotheMuseumofModernArttodiscoverart.

Spiro,Ruth.LesterFizz,Bubble-GumArtist.IllustratedbyThorWickstrom.NewYork:Dutton,2008.AlthoughLesterdoesn’tseemtofitinwithhisfamilyofartists,hefindshistalentinthisstoryfilledwithfamousworksof

art.

Thomson,Bill.Chalk.Tarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2010.Inthiswordlesspicturebook,agroupofchildrenmakechalkdrawingsthatmysteriouslybecomereal.

Tougas,Chris.Art’sSupplies.Victoria,BC:Orca,2008.Pencils,markers,scissors,andothersuppliescometocolorfulandhumorouslife.

Wallace,NancyElizabeth.Look!Look!Look!Tarrytown,NY:MarshallCavendish,2006.Asamousefamilydiscussesafamouspaintingonapostcard,readerslearnaboutpattern,color,line,andotherartistic

elements.

Wiesner,David.Art&Max.Boston:Clarion/HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2010.Maxwantstopaint,andthingsgetquicklyoutofcontrolinthiscolorfuladventure.

Appendix2

Self-ReferentialPictureBooksAs a type of postmodern picture book, the following titles break through thetraditional dimensionsof thebook.Bothwords andpicturesmaybe involved:the author speaks directly to the reader, or the illustrations feature characterswhoescapetheconfinesoftheirspace,asiftheyknowtheyareinabook.

Burleigh,Robert.ILoveGoingThroughthisBook.IllustratedbyDanYaccarino.NewYork:JoannaCotler/HarperCollins,2001.Aboywalksthroughabookfrombeginningtoendwithsomeanimalfriendsthatburstthroughpages,hangfromarip,and

evennibbleonatornpage.

Child,Lauren.BewareoftheStorybookWolves.NewYork:ArthurA.Levine/Scholastic,2000.FierceanimalsfromhisbedtimestoryinvolveyoungHerbinanadventurewithothercharacterswhohaveescapedtheir

books.

———.Who’sAfraidoftheBigBadBook?NewYork:Hyperion,2002.Herbisbackagain,thistimehavingfallenintoabookthathehadcutandcoloredin,tothefrustrationofitscharacters.

Czekaj,Jef.CatSecrets.NewYork:Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins,2011.Thecatsinthisbookaddressthereaderpersonally,astheyinsistthatonlycatscanreadthebook.

Gerstein,Mordicai.ABook.NewYork:RoaringBrook,2009.Ayounggirlinafamilythatlivesinabooktriestofigureoutherstoryassheencountersvariousgenres.

Gravett,Emily.Wolves.NewYork:Simon&Schuster,2005.Arabbitchecksoutalibrarybookaboutwolvesthatbecomeverymuchapartofthestory.

Jeffers,Oliver.TheIncredibleBookEatingBoy.NewYork:Philomel,2006.Henryeatsbooksandbecomesextremelysmart,butacrisisforceshimtofindadifferentwaytoappreciatethem(never

mindthebitemarksattheend!).

Kanninen,Barbara.AStorywithPictures.IllustratedbyLynnRoweReed.NewYork:HolidayHouse,2007.Readerswilllearnwhatmakesupastoryastheyencountercharacters,problems,settings,andaplotwithlotsofaction.

Lehman,Barbara.TheRedBook.Boston:HoughtonMifflin,2004.Inthiswordlessstory,agirlfindsabookthat,whenopened,transportsherfromasnowycitytoasunnyisland.

Lendler,Ian.AnUndoneFairyTale.IllustratedbyWhitneyMartin.NewYork:Simon&Schuster,2005.Asafairytaleistold,theauthorinterruptstointroducetheillustrator,commentonreadingability,andaskthereadernotto

turnthepage.

Lewis,Jill.Don’tReadthisBook!IllustratedbyDeborahAllwright.Wilton,CT:TigerTales/MEMedia,2009.Akingandastorywritercollaboratetocreateastory,whichthekinginsiststhatthereadernotread.

Muntean,Michaela.DoNotOpenthisBook!IllustratedbyPascalLemaitre.NewYork:Scholastic,2006.Whilethestoryisbeingwritten,asmallpigbegsthereadernottoopenthebookorturnthepages.

Perry,John.TheBookthatEatsPeople.IllustratedbyMarkFearing.Berkeley:Tricycle,2009.Humorousandscaryinequalmeasure,thisstorytellsthetaleofthepeopleeatenbythisparticularbook.

Schwarz,Viviane.ThereAreNoCatsinthisBook.Somerville,MA:Candlewick,2010.Threecats,speakingtothereader,announcetheirintentiontoleavethebook,whichtheydo,althoughtheyreturnwith

friendsattheend.

Stevenson,James.NoLaughing,NoSmiling,NoGiggling.NewYork:FrancesFoster/FarrarStrausGiroux,2004.Apigandacrocodilepresenttherulesforreading,whichtheythenenforceonthereaderthroughthecourseofseveralshort

stories.

Watt,Mélanie.Chester.Toronto:KidsCan,2007.Afatcattakesoverthetellingandillustratingofastory,whichturnsintoabattlewiththeauthor.

———.Chester’sMasterpiece.Toronto:KidsCan,2010.Chesterisbackagaintofrustratetheauthorastheygobackandforthabouthowthestoryshouldlookandhowitshouldbe

told.

———.HaveIGotaBookforYou!Toronto:KidsCan,2009.SalesmanAlFoxwordtalksdirectlytothereaderasheattemptstosellbooksinthisstory.

Whatley,Bruce.Wait!NoPaint!NewYork:HarperCollins,2001.Thetaleofthethreepigsveersintohumorousterritoryastheillustratorandhistoolsbecomepartofthestory.

Wiesner,David.TheThreePigs.NewYork:Clarion,2001.ThepigsandthewolfescapethepagesandfindtheirwayintoanotherstoryinthisCaldecottMedalwinner.

IllustrationCreditsFigure2.1:FromTurtleGirlbyCaroleCrowe.IllustratedbyJimPostier.

Illustrationcopyright©2008byJimPostier.PublishedbyBoydsMillsPress,Inc.Usedwithpermission.

Figure2.2:FromADaywithDadbyBoR.Holmberg.IllustratedbyEvaEriksson.

Illustrationcopyright©2008byEvaEriksson.Reproducedbypermissionofthepublisher,CandlewickPress,Somerville,MA.

Figure2.3:FromLookingLikeMebyWalterDeanMyers.IllustratedbyChristopherMyers.

Textcopyright©WalterDeanMyers,2009.Artcopyright©ChristopherMyers,2009.FirstpublishedbyEgmont,USA,2009.Usedwithpermission.

Figure2.4:FromAllinaDaybyCynthiaRylant.IllustratedbyNikkiMcClure.

Illustration©2009byNikkiMcClure.PublishedbyAbramsBooksforYoungReaders,animprintofHarryN.Abrams,Inc.,NewYork.Allrightsreserved.

Figure2.5:FromMonsoonAfternoonbyKashmiraSheth.IllustratedbyYoshikoJaeggi.Art©2008byYoshikoJaeggi.PermissiontoreprintgrantedbyPeachtreePublishers.

Figure3.1:FromYatandoubyGloriaWhelan.IllustratedbyPeterSylvada.

UsedwithpermissionfromSleepingBearPress,aCengageLearningcompany.

Figure3.2:FromBusterbyDeniseFleming.IllustratedbyDeniseFleming.

Illustrationcopyright©2003byDeniseFleming.ReprintedbypermissionofHenryHoltandCompany,LLC.

Figure4.1:FromTheButterManbyElizabethAlalouandAliAlalou.IllustratedbyJulieKlearEssakalli.

Illustrationcopyright©2008byJulieKlearEssakalli.Allrightsreserved,includingtherightofreproductioninwholeorinpartinanyform.UsedwithpermissionbyCharlesbridgePublishing,Inc.

Figure4.2:FromZibaCameonaBoatbyLizLofthouse.IlustratedbyRobertIngpen.

Illustration©2007.ReprintedbypermissionofKaneMiller,aDivisionofEDCPublishing,Tulsa,OK.

Figure4.3:FromThankYouWorldbyAliceMcGinty.IllustratedbyWendyAndersonHalperin.

Text©2007byAliceB.McGinty.Illustration©2007byWendyAndersonHalperin.UsedbypermissionofDialBooksforYoungReaders,adivisionofPenguinYoungReadersGroup,amemberofPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,345HudsonStreet,NewYork,NY10014.Allrightsreserved.

Figure5.1:FromWhooshWenttheWindbySallyDerby.IllustratedbyVincentNguyen.

Illustrationcopyright©2006byVincentNguyen.Reproducedbypermissionofthepublisher,MarshallCavendish,99WhitePlainsRoad,Tarrytown,NY10591.

Figure5.2:FromMoongirlbyHenrySelick.IllustratedbyPeterChanandCourtneyBooker.

Copyright©2006byLaikaEntertainment.Reproducedbypermissionofthepublisher,CandlewickPress,Somerville,MA.

Figure6.1:FromTheThreeSnowBearsbyJanBrett.IllustratedbyJanBrett.

Illustrationcopyright©2007byJanBrett.UsedbypermissionofG.P.Putnam’sSons,adivisionofPenguinYoungReadersGroup,amemberofPenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,345HudsonStreet,NewYork,NY10014.Allrightsreserved.

Figure6.2:FromTheGhostCatcher:ABengaliFolktalebyMarthaHamiltonandMitchWeiss.IllustratedbyKristenBalouch.

Illustrationcopyright©2008byKristenBalouch.PublishedbyAugustHouse,Inc.,Atlanta,GA.

Figure6.3:FromDickWhittingtonandHisCatretoldbyMargaretHodges.IllustratedbyMélisandePotter.

Illustrationcopyright©2006byMélisandePotter.Allrightsreserved.ReprintedbypermissionofHolidayHouse,Inc.

IndexPage numbers in bold indicate annotations. Page numbers in italic indicateillustrations.

AAApplePie,159–160AbbieinStitches,70–71AbeLincolnCrossesaCreek,5,62–63Abeele,VéroniqueVanden,33abstractartstyle,14Adams,Steve,137Addasi,Maha,54Addy,SharonHart,47Adèle&Simon,93Adèle&SimoninAmerica,93Adl,Shirin,54Aesop,139–140Ahlberg,Allan,107–108Alalou,Ali,79,80Alalou,Elizabeth,79,80Alexander,Cecil,80AllinaDay,37,38AlltheWorld,100–101AllThingsBrightandBeautiful,80Alley,R.W.,140Alley,ZoëB.,140Allwright,Deborah,174AncientThunder,104–105Anderson,Derek,122Anderson,LaurieHalse,68–69Andriani,Renée,76–77Angelina’sIsland,103Anholt,Laurence,169AnApplePieforDinner,161Applegate,Katherine,81AprilandEsme,ToothFairies,118ArabellaMiller’sTinyCaterpillar,98ArchieandthePirates,125Armstrong-Ellis,Carey,53Arnold,Caroline,140Arnosky,Jim,8,81AroundOurWayonNeighbors’Day,49Art,170art,picturebooksabout,5,168–171Art&Max,171Art’sSupplies,171

Aruego,Jose,142Arzoumanian,Alik,153–154Ashman,Linda,19,48AtNight,20Augustine,5,76Austin,Michael,143Averbeck,Jim,10,20Avi,81–82Avraham,KateAver,11,20Aylesworth,Jim,141,141Azarian,Mary,85

BBadBoysGetCookie!,160Baicker-McKee,Carol,161Bailey,Linda,58Baker,Keith,108Baker,SharonReiss,169Balit,Christina,104Balouch,Kristen,145,146Banks,ErinBennett,88Banks,Kate,20–21,175Barasch,Lynne,82Barnett,Mac,7,108Barton,Chris,109Bauer,MarionDane,82Beach,86Bean,Jonathan,20Beard,Alex,124,169TheBeckoningCat,155–156BecomingButterflies,98Beingessner,Laura,54BellaandStellaComeHome,26Benny,Mike,11,27Bernardin,James,65Berry,Holly,160BetsyRedHoodie,161BewareoftheStorybookWolves,173BigBadBunny,21BigPlans,39BigRedLollipop,31Bildner,Phil,83Billingsley,Franny,21BillyTwittersandHisBlueWhaleProblem,7,108Birdsall,Jeanne,113Birdsongs,89Black,MichaelIan,9,109BlackDiamond&Blake,58–59Blackall,Sophie,31,44Blake,RobertJ.,12,83

Blue,Rose,5,48Blumenthal,Deborah,58–59Bluthenthal,DianaCain,42–43Boelts,Maribeth,13,69Bogacki,Tomek,71–72Bogan,Paulette,130Boo-HooMoo,112ABook,173TheBookthatEatsPeople,174Booker,Courtney,132,133booksandreading,picturebooksabout,5–6Bootman,Colin,151BornYesterday,43Bottner,Barbara,13,69–70BoxesforKatje,88–89TheBoyintheGarden,10,100TheBoyWhoGrewFlowers,137Bradford,Wade,21–22BraveCharlotte,136BraveCharlotteandtheWolves,11,136TheBraveLittleSeamstress,156Brennan,Eileen,70Brett,Jan,141,142,160Bridges,ShirinYim,5,49Bridget’sBeret,170BringingAshaHome,28Broach,Elise,109–110Brown,Kathryn,8,32–33Brown,MargaretWise,42,126Brown,Monica,110Brown,Peter,5,22,83–84Brown,TamekaFryer,49Browne,Anthony,141,169Bruchac,James,142Bruchac,Joseph,22–23,142BruhRabbitandtheTarBabyGirl,152Bryan,Ashley,80BubbleTrouble,9,122–123BuffaloMusic,88TheBuffaloStorm,81BuffaloWings,4,130Bunting,Eve,84Burckhardt,Marc,36Burleigh,Robert,173Burningham,John,110–111Burton,VirginiaLee,8Buster,12,60–61,61BusterGoestoCowboyCamp,61TheButterMan,79,80ButterflyBirthday,138Buying,Training&CaringforYourDinosaur,110

BytheLightoftheHarvestMoon,138

CCabrera,CozbiA.,91CactusSoup,151Cantone,AnnaLaura,64–65CaptainAbdul’sLittleTreasure,4,124CaptainRaptorandtheMoonMystery,6,127CaptainRaptorandtheSpacePirates,127Caramba,118Carbone,Elisa,91TheCardboardPiano,65Carmine:ALittleMoreRed,160–161Carrington,MarshaGray,111Carter,Abby,37cartoonartandgraphicnovels,6,14Casanova,Mary,141Castillo,Lauren,88CatSecrets,5,173Catalanotto,Peter,41Catrow,David,24CézanneandtheAppleBoy,169Chaconas,Dori,4,111Chalk,171Chan,Peter,132,133characterization,7–8ChasingDegas,170ChatoGoesCruisin’,68ChavelaandtheMagicBubble,110Chen,Chih-Yuan,111Chen,JiangHong,84–85Chester,5,174Chester’sMasterpiece,5,175Chesworth,Michael,48TheChicken-ChasingQueenofLamarCounty,28ChicksandSalsa,130Child,Lauren,173ChildrenMakeTerriblePets,22ChocolateMoose,121Christelow,Eileen,136CityDog,CountryFrog,10,68Clark,EmmaChichester,59CleverBeatrice,162CleverJackTakestheCake,10,116Click,Clack,Moo:CowsThatType,4,9,112C’mere,Boy,22Cocca-Leffler,Maryann,70Coffey,Tim,153Cole,Henry,23Colón,Raul,155

color,useof,10–11CometotheFairies’Ball,9,138communitythemes,47–58composition,13Connor,Leslie,85TheContestBetweentheSunandtheWind,139–140Conway,David,12,70,85CoolCat,170Cooper,Elisha,86Cooper,Ilene,86Cordell,Matthew,11,23CoriandertheContraryHen,4,111Cossi,Olga,102Cotten,Cynthia,70–71ACoupleofBoysHavetheBestWeekEver,2,62Covert,Ralph,135TheCowThatLaidanEgg,112Cowdrey,Richard,116–117CreakyOldHouse:ATopsy-TurvyTaleofaRealFixer-Upper,48TheCrocodile’sTrueColors,170Cronin,Doreen,4,9,112Crow,Kristyn,24CrowCall,15,33Crowe,Carole,24,25Croza,Laurel,49–50Cruise,Robin,33Crum,Shutta,24Crummel,SusanStevens,135–136Cunnane,Kelly,50TheCuriousGarden,5,83–84Curry,Tom,136Curtis,Carolyn,112–113Cutbill,Andy,112Czekaj,Jef,5,59,173

DDaCosta,Deborah,86–87DadblamedUnionArmyCow,89Daffodil,72Daffodil,Crocodile,71–72Daly,Jude,12,85,154Daly,Niki,50,161Davies,Jacqueline,8,113DawnWatch,98Day,Larry,34Day,NancyRaines,138TheDayRayGotAway,120–121ADaywithDad,13,29,29Dean,James,122DearMrs.LaRue,136

Debon,Nicolas,98Deedy,CarmenAgra,143DeFelice,Cynthia,143Demi,143–144Dempsey,Kristy,122Denise,Anika,26Denise,Christopher,26Denos,Julia,72Derby,Sally,113,114–115TheDesperateDogWritesAgain,136Dewey,Ariane,142DickWhittingtonandHisCat,147–148,148digitalillustration,15–16Dillon,LeoandDiane,117–118,129DirtballPete,70TheDjango,128DoNotOpenthisBook!,174Dodd,Emma,40Dodson,Bert,102DogLovesBooks,70Dogfish,7,40–41DoñaFlor,155Don’tReadthisBook!,5,174TheDot,171Dotty,72Doughty,Rebecca,36Dressen-McQueen,Stacey,88–89ADriveintheCountry,36Dunbar,Polly,9,122–123DustDevil,149

Ee-books,16–17Egan,Tim,60Egielski,Richard,152Ehlert,Lois,2,87Ehrhardt,Karen,129ElephantsNeverForget!,10,99Ellery,Amanda,116,116Ellery,Tom,116Elliott,David,9,87Emberley,Michael,13,69–70Emberley,Rebecca,Adrian,andEd,162EmmaKate,72Eriksson,Eva,13,29,29Ernst,LisaCampbell,160ErrolandHisExtraordinaryNose,70Espinosa,Laura,6,60Espinosa,Leo,6,60Essakalli,JulieKlear,79,80

Estrada,Pau,170Ettlinger,Doris,72evaluationofpicturebooks,6–13characterization,7–8color,10–11composition,13illustrations,10language,9line,11mediaandtechnique,13motion,12–13plot,8pointofview,8setting,8shape,11spaceandperspective,12text,6–7texture,12theme,9

Evans,FreddiWilliams,88expressionisticartstyle,14

FFabianEscapes,64Falconer,Ian,26familythemes,19–45Fearing,Mark,174Fern,TraceyE.,88AFineSt.Patrick’sDay,136FirstCometheZebra,82FirstGradeStinks!,74TheFishermanandHisWife,145Fleischman,Paul,144Fleming,Candace,10,88–89,116Fleming,Denise,12,60–61,61,61Fletcher,Ralph,116–117Fletcher,Susan,89Flora’sVeryWindyDay,113Foley,Greg,117folkartstyle,14folktalesandfairytales,139–162ForYouAreaKenyanChild,50Fox,Mem,117–118Franco,Betsy,89Frank,John,90Frazee,Marla,2,62,100–101friendshipastheme,58–69Fronty,Aurélia,159

GGaber,Susan,139–140Gait,Darlene,55GatheringSparks,101Gay,Marie-Louise,118George,JeanCraighead,12,90Gershator,DavidandPhillis,151Gerstein,Mordicai,173TheGhostCatcher:ABengaliFolktale,145,146GingerandPetunia,128–129TheGingerbreadCowboy,160GingerbreadFriends,160TheGingerbreadGirl,160GlassSlipper,GoldSandal,144globalcommunityastheme,79–105TheGoblinandtheEmptyChair,117–118TheGoldMiner’sDaughter,148–149TheGoldenRule,86GoldilocksandtheThreeBears(Aylesworth),141GoldilocksandtheThreeBears(Spirin),141Goode,Diane,73–74Goodell,Jon,148–149GoodnightMoon,42Gorbachev,Valeri,62Gott,Barry,55Graber,Janet,90–91Graham,Bob,118GrandfatherBuffalo,8,81GrandmaCallsMeBeautiful,30–31Grandmother,HavetheAngelsCome?,31graphicnovelsandcartoons,6,14Gravett,Emily,2,26–27,174Gray,Steve,162GreatBigGuineaPigs,99–100Gregory,Nan,28Griessman,Annette,25Griffin,Kitty,14,144Grimes,Nikki,11,27Grimm,JacobandWilhelm,145Guay,Rebecca,147Guevara,Susan,68GujiGuji,111

HHairDance!,51–52TheHairofZoeFleefenbacherGoestoSchool,68–69Hale,Bruce,156TheHallelujahFlight,83Halperin,WendyAnderson,10,22–23,96,97

HamandPickles:FirstDayofSchool,7,75Hamilton,Martha,145,146Hamilton,Virginia,152HannahIsMyName,58HanselandGretel,145,145HaroldandthePurpleCrayon,107Harper,ChariseMericle,4,27–28Harrington,JaniceN.,28Haseley,Dennis,169HaveIGotaBookforYou!,175Hawes,Louise,147Hawkes,Kevin,9,109Hegamin,TonyaCherie,91Heide,FlorenceParry,119Heller,JanetRuth,14,147TheHello,GoodbyeWindow,31Help!AStoryofFriendship,64HelpMe,Mr.Mutt!,135–136HenHearsGossip,4,123–124Hendrix,John,5,62–63Henkes,Kevin,71Henri,EggArtiste,171Henry’sFreedomBox,8,92Henson,Heather,5,51Heo,Yumi,8,28,33HereComestheGarbageBarge!,5,103Hip&Hop,Don’tStop!,59HippoGoesBananas!,124Hodges,Margaret,147–148,148Hodson,Ben,14,147Hoffman,Mary,45Hogrogian,Nonny,170HogwoodStepsOut,4,93HollerLoudly,55Holmberg,BoR.,13,29,29Holt,KimberlyWillis,119Holyfield,John,83HomegrownHouse,44HondoandFabian,64Hook,105Hopkins,JackieMims,148–149Hopkinson,Deborah,5,62–63,91HoraceandMorrisSayCheese(WhichMakesDoloresSneeze!),63HotRodHamster,122TheHouseintheNight,10,42TheHouseTakesaVacation,8,113Houston,Gloria,51HowChipmunkGotHisStripes,142HowtheMoonRegainedHerShape,14,147HowtoBeaBaby,43HowtoCatchaFish,90

Howe,James,63Hoyt,Ard,68–69Hu,Ying-Hwa,86–87Hucke,Johannes,12,91–92Hugo&MilesinI’vePaintedEverything!,170Huling,Phil,151TheHungryCoat:ATalefromTurkey,143–144Hurd,Thacher,7,119–120HurryandtheMonarch,7,98HushHarbor:PrayinginSecret,88Hyman,Miles,58–59

IIKnowHere,49–50ILoveGoingThroughthisBook,173ILoveMyPiratePapa,124IStink,8,96–97ITooktheMoonforaWalk,112–113Ibatoulline,Bagram,15,33Ichikawa,Satomi,120IfIHadaDragon,116IfIWereaJungleAnimal,116illustrations,functionsof,2,10,15–16I’mBad!,97I’mDirty!,97I’mMighty!,97TheImaginaryGarden,170imaginationastheme,107–138impressionisticartstyle,14InaBlueRoom,10,20IntheWild,9,87TheIncredibleBookEatingBoy,174Ingalls,Ann,7,51Ingman,Bruce,107–108Ingpen,Robert,11,92,94–95instructionalusesofpicturebooks,3InterruptingChicken,9,41Isaacs,Anne,149,149Isadora,Rachel,145,145Ish,171It’saSecret!,110–111IvantheTerrier,41

JJackOutwitstheGiants,162Jack’sTalent,70Jackson,Shelley,28Jaeggi,Yoshiko,39–40,40James,Matt,49–50

Jarrett,Clare,98Javaherbin,Mina,149–150Jay,Alison,112–113JazzonaSaturdayNight,129Jeffers,Oliver,11,63,174Jeffers,Susan,135Jenkins,Emily,30,71–72,72Jenkins,Steve,89Jennings,Sharon,22JeremyDrawsaMonster,108JohaMakesaWish,144JohnColtrane’sGiantSteps,14,129Johnson,Angela,120–121,170Johnson,Crockett,107Johnson,Dinah,51–52Johnson,Kelly,51–52Johnson,PaulBrett,162Johnston,Tony,10,30Jones,Mark,138Jones,NoahZ.,13,69Joosse,BarbaraM.,30–31Jorisch,Stéphane,56Juan,Ana,50TheJungleGrapevine,124JustinCase(Viorst),42–43JustinCase:ATricksterTaleandSpanishAlphabetBook(Morales),155Juster,Norton,31

KKajikawa,Kimiko,12,150Kallaloo!,151KamiandtheYaks,102Kanninen,Barbara,174Karas,G.Brian,10,21,116,150KateandtheBeanstalk,156Katie’sSundayAfternoon,170Keiser,Paige,53–54Keller,Holly,64Kellogg,Steven,14,151Kelly,Mij,20Khan,Rukhsana,31Kim,JoungUn,123–124Kimmel,EricA.,144,151Kimmelman,Leslie,151–152KingPomandtheFox,159Kleven,Elisa,7,119–120Kneen,Maggie,121Knowlton,LaurieLazzaro,33Knutson,Barbara,152Koyose,Junji,126–127

Krishnaswami,Uma,28Krommes,Beth,10,42Kulikov,Boris,20–21

LLaMarca,Luke,120–121Lammle,Leslie,32Langton,Jane,152language,useof,9Lanquetin,Anne-Sophie,4,44–45Larsen,Andrew,170TheLastPolarBear,12,90Lavallee,Barbara,30–31LawntoLawn,137LeafMan,2,87Lehman,Barbara,3,121,121,174Lemaitre,Pascal,174Lendler,Ian,174Lenski,Lois,103LesterFizz,Bubble-GumArtist,171LettersfromaDesperateDog,136Leuck,Laura,124Levine,Ellen,8,92Levine,GailCarson,161Lewin,Betsy,4,9,32,112Lewin,Ted,82Lewis,E.B.,44,158,170Lewis,Jill,5,174Lichtenheld,Tom,109,170LikeaHundredDrums,25LilaandtheSecretofRain,12,85Lilly’sBigDay,71LilyBrown’sPaintings,170Lin,Grace,11,52Lindbergh,Reeve,8,32–33lineinart,11TheLion&theMouse,3,157Lippert,MargaretH.,111Lippincott,Gary,8,138TheLittleAuto,103LittleBlackCrow,9,99LittleBlueTruck,9,101LittleEagle,84–85TheLittleFireEngine,103TheLittleHouse,8LittleMamáForgets,33LittleMouse’sBigBookofFears,2,26–27LittleNight,125–126TheLittlePianoGirl,7,51LittleRedHen,152

TheLittleRedHenandthePassoverMatzah,151–152LittleRedRidingHood(Pinkney),161Litwin,Eric,122Litzinger,Rosanne,155–156Liwska,Renata,55–56Lloyd-Jones,Sally,43LMNOPeas,108Lofthouse,Liz,11,92,94–95TheLonelyMoose,11,67Long,Melinda,124TheLongestNight,82Look,Lenore,8,33Look!Look!Look!,171LookingLikeMe,13,34,35Lord,Cynthia,122LostandFound,11,63LouisetheBigCheese,73–74LouisetheBigCheeseandtheLa-Di-DaShoes,74LousyRottenStinkin’Grapes,157LoveandRoastChicken,152Lowery,Mike,66Lowry,Lois,15,33LuckyJake,47Lunge-Larsen,Lise,153Luxbacher,Irene,170

MMabelatheClever,153MacDonald,MargaretRead,153,153–154Macdonald,Maryann,7,51Mack,Scott,90–91MadlenkaSoccerStar,67Maggie’sMonkeys,37Magoon,Scott,170Mahy,Margaret,9,122–123Malone,Peter,134–135Maltbie,P.I.,170Manning,Jane,9,73Mansfield,Howard,4,93Manushkin,Fran,123Martin,JacquelineBriggs,52Martin,Whitney,174MartinatheBeautifulCockroach,143TheMatzoBallBoy,160Max’sDragon,20,175Max’sWords,20–21Mayhew,James,170McCarty,Peter,64,64,108McClintock,Barbara,93,93,141McClure,Nikki,37,38

McCully,EmilyArnold,93,96McDermott,Gerald,154McDonald,Megan,4,123–124McDonnell,Patrick,170McElmurry,Jill,8,101McGhee,Alison,53McGill,Alice,154McGinty,AliceB.,10,96,97McMullan,Jim,96–97McMullan,Kate,8,96–97,97McNaughton,Colin,4,124McPhail,David,19,124MeandYou,141Meade,Holly,87mediaandtechnique,13Meisel,Paul,151–152Menchin,Scott,53,112Meschenmoser,Sebastian,125TheMiddle-ChildBlues,24Miles,Victoria,68Miller,Bobbi,161Mills,G.Riley,135MindYourManners,B.B.Wolf,134MiniRacer,122Minor,Wendell,12,90MissBridieChoseaShovel,85MissBrooksLovesBooks!(andIDon’t),13,69–70MissDorothyandHerBookmobile,51MissTutu’sStar,53TheMitten,141Mohammed,Khadra,76MonkeySee,MonkeyDraw,169MonkeywithaToolBelt,124MonkeywithaToolBeltandtheNoisyProblem,125Monroe,Chris,125MonsoonAfternoon,39–40,40Montanari,Eva,170TheMoon,41Moongirl,132,133Moore,Cyd,34–35Mora,Pat,155Morales,Magaly,110Morales,Yuyi,10,30,125–126,155Mordan,C.B.,81–82Moser,Barry,93,157Moses,Will,127MostLovedinAlltheWorld,91motion,depictionof,12–13Mrs.ChickenandtheHungryCrocodile,111MuktarandtheCamels,90–91Müller,Daniel,12,91–92

Muntean,Michaela,174Murray,MarjorieDennis,124MuseumTrip,3,121Muth,JonJ.,10,68,126,126,151Muti’sNecklace:TheOldestStoryintheWorld,147MyAbuelita,10,30MyBestFriendIsasSharpasaPencil,11,73MyFatherIsTallerThanaTree,22–23MyLittleGrandmotherOftenForgets,8,32–33MyLittleTrain,120MyMeiMei,28MyNameIsSangoel,76MyNameIsYoon,74Myers,Christopher,13,34,35Myers,WalterDean,13,34,35

NNaden,CorinneJ.,5,48naiveartstyle,15Nakagawa,Chihiro,126–127Nash,Scott,128Nelson,Kadir,8,92,156Neubecker,Robert,11,43NewYearatthePier,56Newman,Lesléa,53Nguyen,Vincent,113,114–115ANickel,aTrolley,aTreasureHouse,169NightRunning,91NineAnimalsandtheWell,9,130–131Nishizuka,Koko,155–156NoLaughing,NoSmiling,NoGiggling,174Noah’sMittens,153Noble,TrinkaHakes,72Nolen,Jerdine,156NotAfraidofDogs,34NotAllPrincessesDressinPink,4,44–45Noyes,Deborah,64–65Numeroff,Laura,65TheNutcracker,134–135ANuttyNutcrackerChristmas,135

OÓFlatharta,Antoine,7,98O’Brien,AnneSibley,11,20O’Brien,Patrick,6,127,127O’Callahan,Jay,127Oh,Brother!,11,27OldMotherBear,68Oliver,theSpaceship,andMe,15,129

OliviaFormsaBand,26O’Malley,Kevin,6,127,127OnaWindyNight,138OnceUponaBabyBrother,42OnceUponaSaturday,32OneCity,TwoBrothers,159OneFineTrade,161OneofThoseDays,36OnePotato,TwoPotato,143One-DogCanoe,141TheOrangeShoes,72Ormerod,Jan,81Osborne,MaryPope,156,156Osborne,Will,156,156OtisandRaeandtheGrumblingSplunk,6,60OurCornerGroceryStore,54OutoftheDeeps,59

PPalatini,Margie,112,157,160PapaandthePioneerQuilt,81PapaSmall,103Paschkis,Julie,144Paul,AnnWhitford,161PaulaBunyan,155Paye,Won-Ldy,111Payne,C.F.,84ThePeaBlossom,157–158Pearson,TraceyCampbell,41PecanPieBaby,44Peck,Beth,70–71,169Peggony-Po:AWhaleofaTale,98–99Pelletier,AndrewT.,128Pelley,KathleenT.,53–54PembaSherpa,102ThePencil,107–108Pendziwol,JeanE.,98Pericoli,Matteo,170Perkins,LynneRae,65Perl,EricaS.,72Perry,John,174PetetheCat:ILoveMyWhiteShoes,122PeterandtheWolf,129Pfister,Marcus,171Phelan,Matt,8,66PicassoandMinou,170picturebooks,definition,1–4ThePiedPiper’sMagic,14,151Pieper,Christiane,10,99APigParadeIsaTerribleIdea,9,109

Pig-Boy:ATricksterTalefromHawai’i,154Pinfold,Levi,128Pink,28PinkMeUp,4,27–28Pinkney,AndreaDavis,98–99Pinkney,Brian,98–99Pinkney,Jerry,3,152,157,161PipintheGrandHotel,12,91–92PiratesDon’tChangeDiapers,124Pitzer,Susanna,34Piven,Hanoch,11,73plot,8Plume,Ilse,152pointofview,8Polacco,Patricia,72,128–129Poole,AmyLowry,157–158Pop’sBridge,84Postier,Jim,24,25Potter,Giselle,7,51,156,156Potter,Mélisande,147–148,148Pratt,Pierre,30Prelutsky,Jack,9,73PrettySalma,161Priceman,Marjorie,14,144Primavera,Elise,73–74,74ThePrincessandthePea,145PrincessGrace,45PrincessHyacinth,119Prudence&Moxie:ATaleofMismatchedFriends,64–65

QTheQuietBook,55–56

RRaccoon’sLastRace,142Radunsky,Vladimir,41RainSchool,75Rainstorm,121RajtheBookstoreTiger,53–54RamadanMoon,54Ransom,JeanieFranz,34–35Rapunzel,145Raschka,Chris,9,14,31,99,129,129Raspberries!,127Ravishankar,Anushka,10,99realisticartstyle,15Recorvits,Helen,74,74TheRedBook,174RedNoseStudio,103

Reed,LynnRowe,15,129,174Rennert,LauraJoy,110RescueBunnies,112Rex,Adam,7,108Reynolds,Aaron,4,130,130Reynolds,PeterH.,171RibbitRabbit,66TheRide:TheLegendofBetsyDowdy,14,144Riley-Webb,Charlotte,49Ritz,Karen,35–36RoastedPeanuts,60Robbins,Jacqui,8,66Robert,Na’imaB.,54Roberton,Fiona,41RobinHoodandtheGoldenArrow,158Rockwell,Anne,98Rodman,MaryAnn,74Rodriguez,Edel,130,130Ron’sBigMission,5,48Root,KimberlyBulcken,89Root,Phyllis,155Rosen,MichaelJ.,36Rosenthal,AmyKrouse,36Rosenthal,Marc,125RosieandButtercup,19Roth,SusanL.,99–100Rubel,Nicole,7,75RubySingstheBlues,50Rumford,James,9,75,130–131TheRunawayBunny,126RussellandtheLostTreasure,132RusselltheSheep,132Russell’sChristmasMagic,132Russo,Marisabina,75–76Ryan,Candace,66Rylant,Cynthia,37,38,145

SSaaf,Donald,119SaintFrancisandtheWolf(Egielski),152SaintFrancisandtheWolf(Langton),152SanSouci,RobertD.,158Sanders-Wells,Linda,37Sandford,John,140TheSandman,116–117Santore,Charles,10,158Sarcone-Roach,Julia,66–67Say,Allen,10,100Scanlon,LizGarton,100–101TheScarab’sSecret,104

Schachner,Judy,131Schertle,Alice,9,101schoolastheme,69–77Schwartz,Howard,101Schwartz,Joanne,54Schwarz,Viviane,131–132,174Scieszka,Jon,171Scotton,Rob,132,132Scow,Alfred,55TheSecretMessage,149–150SecretoftheDance,55TheSecretPlan,66–67SeenArt?,171Segal,John,11,67Seibold,J.Otto,134self-referentialpicturebooks,173–175Selick,Henry,132,133SergioMakesaSplash!,130SergioSavestheGame!,4,130setting,8Shannon,David,7,39TheShapeGame,169shapeinart,11SharkandLobster’sAmazingUnderseaAdventure,131–132Sharkvs.Train,109Shaw,Hannah,134Shea,Bob,39Sheth,Kashmira,39–40,40Shields,Gillian,7,40–41TheShiversintheFridge,123ShowWay,91Shulman,Lisa,160ASickDayforAmosMcGee,135Sierra,Judy,134,134SilentMovie,81–82TheSilkPrincess,10,158Sís,Peter,67SkinnyBrownDog,119SkippyjonJonesLostinSpice,131Slavin,Bill,58SleepingBobby,156Small,David,51,109–110Smith,Chris,159Smith,CynthiaLeitich,55Smith,Lane,39,119,171SneakyWeasel,134SnoringBeauty,156SnowinJerusalem,86–87SnowParty,138So,Meilo,7,98Solheim,James,43

Solomon,Heather,162SongofMiddleC,53SophiePetermanTellstheTruth!,11,43Soto,Gary,68Souhami,Jessica,159SourpussandSweetiePie,31spaceandperspective,12Spalding,Andrea,55Spiegel,Beth,74Spinner,Stephanie,134–135Spirin,Gennady,141,159–160Spiro,Ruth,171SquashedintheMiddle,24Squires,Janet,160Stanley’sWildRide,58Stead,ErinE.,135Stead,PhilipC.,135TheSteelPanManofHarlem,151SteelTown,9,104Stein,DavidEzra,9,41Stemple,HeidiE.Y.,4,44–45Stevens,Janet,135–136Stevenson,James,174Stevenson,RobertLouis,41Stewart,Joel,131–132StillMyGrandma,33Stock,Catherine,76Stohner,Anu,11,136,136StoneSoup,151AStorywithPictures,174Stringer,Lauren,9,101–102Stryer,AndreaStenn,102stylesofart,14–15Sullivan,Sarah,42SwampAngel,149Swanson,SusanMarie,10,42Swarner,Kristina,101Sweet,Melissa,160–161Swiatkowska,Gabi,74,86Swift,12,83Sylvada,Peter,14,56,57,90

TTaback,Simms,161Tate,Don,48Taylor,Dan,7,40–41Teague,Mark,136TelltheTruth,B.B.Wolf,134TenDaysandNineNights,28TheTerribleHodagandtheAnimalCatchers,140

text,functionsof,6–7textureinart,12ThankYou,World,10,96,97ThankingtheMoon,11,52ThatBookWoman,5,51ThatNewAnimal,30theme,9ThereAreNoCatsinthisBook,174ThereWasanOldMonkeyWhoSwallowedaFrog,162ThereWasanOldMonster!,162There’saWolfattheDoor,140There’sNoPlaceLikeSchool,9,73ThisIstheHouseThatJackBuilt,161ThisJazzMan,129ThisSchoolYearWillBetheBest!,76–77Thompson,Carol,24Thomson,Bill,171ThoseShoes,13,69TheThreePigs,5,175TheThreeSnowBears,141,142ThunderRose,156Thunder-Boomer,24TommasoandtheMissingLine,170TooManyToys,7,39TortugainTrouble,161Tougas,Chris,171TheToyFarmer,128trendsintopics,4–5TroubleGum,11,23TruckDriverTom,102–103Trudy,23Trueman,Matthew,153Tsunami!,12,150Tunjur!Tunjur!Tunjur!,153–154TurtleGirl,24,25Turtle’sRacewithBeaver,142Tusa,Tricia,10,20,42TheTwelveDancingPrincesses,145TwentyHeartbeats,169TwoofaKind,8,66

UUegaki,Chieri,19TheUglyDuckling,145TheUmbrellaQueen,5,49UnclePeter’sAmazingChineseWedding,8,33UndertheQuiltofNight,91Underwood,Deborah,55–56AnUndoneFairyTale,174U’Ren,Andrea,143

VvanderSterre,Johanna,21–22vanLeeuwen,Jean,81VanWright,Cornelius,86–87VanHecke,Susan,161Vega,Denise,31AVeryBigBunny,75–76Viorst,Judith,42–43

WWait!NoPaint!,175WaitingforWinter,125Wallace,NancyElizabeth,171Walrod,Amy,63Wanted:ThePerfectPet,41Ward,Jennifer,162Wardlaw,Lee,43WaterBoy,124TheWaterGiftandthePigofthePig,52Watt,Mélanie,5,76,174,175WayUpandOverEverything,154Wayland,AprilHalprin,56TheWeaver,7,119–120websitesforauthors,14–15Weeks,Sarah,11,43Weiss,Mitch,145,146Wellington,Monica,102–103WhatDoParentsDo?(WhenYou’reNotHome),34–35WhatPettoGet?,40WhatWillYouBe,SaraMee?,11,20Whatley,Bruce,149–150,175What’stheBigIdea,Molly?,62Whelan,Gloria,14,56,57WhenDinosaursCamewithEverything,109–110WhenIWasKing,19WhereIsTippyToes?,32White,Lee,8,113TheWhiteNightsofRamadan,54WhoMadeThisCake?,126–127WhooshWenttheWind!,113,114–115Who’sAfraidoftheBigBadBook?,173WhyDoIHavetoMakeMyBed?,21–22Wickstrom,Thor,171Widener,Terry,9,104Wiesner,David,5,171,175WillandSquill,59Willems,Mo,10,68Willey,Margaret,162WilliamandtheNightTrain,20

Williams,KarenLynn,76Willoughby&theLion,117Willoughby&theMoon,117Wilson,Henrike,11,136,136WindowswithBirds,35–36Wingerter,LindaS.,52Winter,Jeanette,103Winter,Jonah,5,9,103,104WinterIstheWarmestSeason,9,101–102Winters,Kay,76–77Winthrop,Elizabeth,24Wojciechowski,Susan,136Wojtowicz,Jen,137Wolves,174WonTon:ACatTaleToldinHaiku,43WonderHorse,93,96Wong,JanetS.,44Woodson,Jacqueline,44,91wordlesspicturebooks,3Would,Nick,104WouldITradeMyParents?,65

YYaccarino,Dan,137,173Yang,Belle,58Yatandou,14,56,57Yates,Louise,70Yelchin,Eugene,43Yerxa,Leo,104–105Yolen,Jane,4,9,44–45,138Yoo,Taeeun,49YoonandtheChristmasMitten,74YoonandtheJadeBracelet,74You?,41Young,Ed,12,28,105,150,169AYoungMan’sDance,33YoungZeus,150

ZZahares,Wade,47Zelinsky,PaulO.,123,149,149ZenGhosts,126ZenShorts,126ZenTies,126ZibaCameonaBoat,11,92,94–95Ziefert,Harriet,138,138