Picture Book Review

Something Old: The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown; illustrated by Clement Hurd- From a runaway bunny, to a bunny who knows just where he belongs--at home, being a bunny-- Margaret Wise Brown's story continues to build and build until it comes full circle. This is a technique that continues to be seen in other picture books as well, such as It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler, as well as Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Although the technique has been replicated, there is no match to the classics that Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd created.

 Something New: Someone's Sleepy by Deborah Lee Rose; illustrated by Dan Andreasen- A bedtime story in rhyme is far from original, but the illustrations in this sweet tale transform what could easily be dubbed an ordinary story into something more extraordinary. The artwork is refreshing and very appropriately portrays a sleepy bedtime scene.  

Something Borrowed: Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld- Few have had the chance to learn a cloud's point-of-view; but, thanks to Cloudette, now we all can! It is definitely an imaginitive story in which readers get to enjoy learning about one little cloud who sure has some "big and important things to do!"

Something Blue: Grandpa's Tractor by Michael Garland- In Grandpa's Tractor, Michael Garland successfully uses contemporary methods to re-create old-fashioned scenes. Because, although the artwork is crafted digitally, the story still imparts moments of days gone by and reminds us all of our own favorite childhood memories.      


Picture Book Review

Something Old: Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh- Mouse Paint is a wonderfully simple story that accomplishes so much in so few words. It is educational, entertaining, and nothing short of picture book brilliance.

Something New:  The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers- Daywalt and Jeffers are a perfect team in creating a perfectly unique story that inspires the imagination in its readers. It is amusing, amazing, and most definitely earns "an A+ for creativity!"

Something Borrowed:  Pet the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly and James Dean- Pete certainly is one cool cat, especially in his COOL, BLUE, MAGIC sunglasses. In this tale, Pete is his usual entertaining self, and encouraging as well, as he opens readers' eyes to seeing the day in a whole new way.

 

Something Blue: If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond- In her words and art, Marianne Richmond has captured the thoughts of parents and loved ones everywhere on what it feels like to experience their little ones "growing into who they're meant to be." It is a charming read-aloud for you and your little one.  

Picture Book Review

Something Old: The Napping House by Audrey Wood; illustrated by Don Wood- The Napping House is a trademark book by way of using repetition as a tool to aid emerging readers. The sentences may be simple in form, but the story is far from ordinary, as is the artwork. The Napping House has everything you look for in a picture book--the perfect illustrations that help tell the perfect story.



 Something New: Rock-A-Bye-Room by Susan Meyers; illustrated by Amy Bates- Together, Meyers and Bates use a more subtle approach at incorporating classic nursery rhymes into a beautiful new tale. It is a sweet story that has everything you are looking for at bedtime.

 

 

 

 Something Borrowed: Dream Away by Julia Durango & Katie Belle Trupiano; illustrated by Robert Goldstrom- Dream away, dream away, sleepyhead, love. Set sail for the ocean of stars up above. 
After reading the rhythmical verses, and exploring the enchanted illustrations, you cannot help but let your thoughts drift off to the perfect dream.  
 

Something Blue: The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Renata Liwska- The idea for The Quiet Book is a novel one, but the drawings are what truly tell this unique story. The charm and innocence to Liwska's characters is what helps make this story one-of-a-kind.

Picture Book Review

 Something Old: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost; illustrated by Susan Jeffers- There is much wonder in a quiet wintry woods, as this story is sure to show.  The words of a renowned poet, plus the artwork of an accomplished illustrator, certainly does make for a wonderful picture book; one which is a great introduction to American poetry.

 Something New: Dig, Dogs, Dig: A Construction Tail by James Horvath- With rhyming text and bright illustrations, children will enjoy reading on as this group of busy dogs puts in a full-day’s work pushing and plowing, hoisting and hauling, and of course…digging! And at the end of the day all that hard work pays off, as they’ve finally built a place all their own—a new dog park!

Something Borrowed: Toy Boat by Randall de Seve; illustrated by Loren Long- A little boat alone on a big lake is not what the Toy Boat expected as it wondered what it would be like to sail free. The ending to the little boat's journey is a happy one, though, as it sails back to the boy who made it, and to the place where it is meant to be.

Something Blue: The Hat by Jan Brett- The setting in a Jan Brett book is always perfect for the tale being told. This is especially true of  The Hat, a great companion book to The Mitten. And the characters she creates are loveable and adorable; ones which readers cannot help but root for, as is the case with little Hedgie, whom we follow in his silly misadventure in The Hat.

Picture Book Review

 Something Old: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg- The Polar Express continues to be adored by young and old alike, due in large part to the story's reminder of the dreams and imagination that fill childhood--qualities that shouldn't be forgotten even after you've grown. It is a magical story throughout, and one which concludes with a message that will stick with you long after you've finished reading.

Something New: How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton; illustrated by John Rocco- Bringing home a new pet is an incredible experience, and the originality of How to Train a Train shows that there is no limit to what that pet may be! But, how do you know if you've found the right one? "Don't worry. You'll know." How to Train a Train is a fun new read for your train enthusiast!

 Something Borrowed: Animal Masquerade by Marianne Dubuc- With simple sentence structure and fun illustrations, Animal Masquerade is a great book for beginning readers. It is a story that will leave children amused and intrigued and envisioning their own masquerade!

Something Blue: Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld- The artwork in Steam Train, Dream Train is a wonderful portrayal of the magic and excitement that exists in our dreams. It is a perfect bedtime story for your young child before he or she journeys into dreamland.



Picture Book Review

 

Something Old: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; illustrated by Ray Cruz- Few books rival this classic tale in the ability to truly capture the voice of the target audience, and to further portray that voice in a story that is hailed as both amusing and as a literary classic for children. It is a

charming and timeless tale that continues to delight.

Something New: Betty Bunny Didn't Do It by Michael Kaplan; illustrated by Stephane Jorisch- In this humorous tale, readers are shown the value of the honest truth over an "honest lie," as Betty Bunny learns that blaming someone else for something she's done really isn’t the best idea. And in true Betty Bunny fashion, this lesson is full of amusement, thanks to playful dialogue, humorous illustrations, and plenty of Betty Bunny wit!

Something Borrowed: I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by David Catrow- One little child, plus a whole lot of paint, equals one creative story! From top to bottom, from cover to cover, I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! illustrates the beauty of creative expression (even if that creativity sometimes covers the ceiling and the floor!).

 

 Something Blue: Mama, Why? by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Simon Mendez- Mama Why? is full of magical scenes. From arctic wildlife, to twinkling stars and stardust, this sweet bedtime story will lull little ones to sleep with visions of an arctic wonderland that is so wondrous and peaceful.  

Picture Book Review

Something Old: Jamberry by Bruce Degen- The young and young-at-heart will be eager to go berry-picking after reading this delightful tale. With playful verses and vibrant illustrations, it is easy to see why readers have been savoring this story for many years.

Something New: How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad? by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Mark Teague- Never have dinosaurs been as relatable as in Jane Yolen and Mark Teague’s How Do Dinosaurs…? books, and their latest collaboration does not disappoint. How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad? continues the tradition of speaking, not preaching, to children in an entertaining story that readers will want to enjoy again and again.  

 

Something Borrowed: Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner; illustrated by Mark Buehner- With the excitement and fulfillment that goes into building a snowman, why wouldn’t we want our snowmen to stick around long after the snows have melted?! The creators of Snowmen at Night continue the tale of the always captivating snowmen, and in doing so have created a story that can be enjoyed all year long.

Something Blue: Blue Sky by Audrey Wood- Few words are needed in this book, as Audrey Wood’s illustrations tell the story perfectly. From Blue Sky to Storm Sky, and Wish Sky to Dream Sky, this is a perfect book for a beginning reader, and one in which children can use their own imagination to add to the story.