Picture books

Some wild and crazy animals

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter by Elayne Crain, illustrated by John Ledda (Feiwel and Friends, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Freddie’s stressed about a new babysitter, and his parents are so rushed getting out the door that they don’t notice anything unusual. But there’s definitely something odd about the babysitter who wears a trench coat, a bowler hat, and has a furry face and a black mask. The dog seems jumpy, and the babysitter refuses to take off the trench coat, but at least things are not boring. Before long, three raccoons have emerged from the coat, and everyone has a fun evening of puzzles, books, and games. Dinner is garbage, and the babysitters’ manners are appalling, but those details aside, Freddie has a great time. By the time his parents come home, and the “babysitter” has gotten bundled back into a coat and hat, he’s decided that this sitter is pretty special.

This is one of those picture books where the illustrations tell more than the words, and readers will get a kick out of seeing the humans duped by what is obviously three raccoons in a trench coat. This could be a good book to share to help kids who are having a new babysitter. On a side note, this reminded me a lot of the chapter book series Two Dogs in a Trench Coat.

Into the Bewilderness by Gus Gordon (HarperAlley, 192 pages, grades 3-7). Luis is a friendly bear who wonders what’s in the world beyond his woodland home. Gus is a grumpy mole who has no interest in traveling but loves his friend Luis. When Luis gets two tickets to see a play in the big city, he decides to set off on an adventure, and Gus reluctantly joins him. The journey is long, filled with funny mishaps and philosophical musings, and when they finally get to the theater, Luis realizes he’s left the tickets at home. Accepting the inevitable, the two animals head back home, their friendship stronger than ever having survived the stresses of travel together.

Fans of graphic novels featuring animal characters with contrasting personalities (e.g. Peter and Ernesto, Narwhal and Jelly) will get a kick out of this story filled with both big questions and dad-joke level humor. I thought at first it was going to be over a lot of kids’ heads, but it quickly took some goofy turns that assured me younger readers will enjoy it. The art is beautiful, too. And on another side note, this made me think of one of my favorite picture books, Nobody Owns the Moon.

Creepy characters that won’t scare anyone

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Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe (Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 64 pages, ages 4-8). Aggie is happy to be living on her own for the first time, and then the ghost arrives. Not only is this ghost annoying, stealing socks and eating cheese, but he refuses to follow any of Aggie’s rules. Finally, they agree on a game of tic-tac-toe to determine if the ghost has to stay or go. Although ghosts are very good at tic-tac-toe, and all the other ghosts come out to watch, it ends up being a tie. Finally, Aggie posts a very long list of rules, and the ghost breaks every one before moving out. At first, Aggie is relieved, but it’s pretty quiet living by herself, so she makes one final rule, “Don’t ever visit me from time to time.” She knows the ghost will break the rule, which he does, and they’re both happy with this arrangement. The book concludes: “And though it would be nice to say they became best friends, they did not,” accompanied by an illustration of half-eaten cheese.

Along about the time the man-faced owl showed up to declare the tic-tac-toe competition a draw, I started to feel like I was in the midst of a long, strange dream. But it was a funny, interesting dream with lots of good visuals and even a little lesson at the end in the art of compromise. Kids will be intrigued by it, and everyone can agree on the merits of a ghost story.

Bob the Vampire Snail by Andrea Zuill (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Snails prefer a dull, uncomplicated life–they’re all named Bob, because it’s just easier. But one night, a snail named Bob has a mysterious, disturbing experience that turns him into a vampire. It takes him a while to get used to his new powers. Some are fun, like flying; some are difficult, like not being able to figure out what to eat (spoiler alert: tomatoes), and some are just weird, like sleeping upside down. The other snails stay away, but one day Bob discovers a worm who’s had a similar experience, and the two become fast friends and live happily ever after…literally, we can presume.

Sink your teeth into this satisfying–and hilarious–snail vampire story, perhaps the first in human history. Not only is Bob’s story fun, but a bug appears on many pages, offering humorous facts and commentary on vampires and snails. This would make a great read-aloud during the Halloween season: funny, creepy, but not at all scary.

Back to school

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I’m back to school this morning, so here are two more books to kick off the new year! If you’re looking for more ideas, check out my back-to-school book list.

Fall Is for Beginnings by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In this follow-up to Summer Is for Cousins, Ravi is excited to be going back to school with his best friend Joe. On the first day, new girl Ellie inserts herself into the friendship, declaring, “I just know we’re going to be best friends!” Ravi likes his new teacher and enjoys making an autumn leaf for the class tree to mark new experiences, but he doesn’t know how to deal with Ellie, who seems to be everywhere. She’s a lot of fun, but Ravi already has a best friend. Finally, on Halloween, when she wears her jar of sprinkles costume to go with Joe and Ravi’s ice cream and cone, he tells her, “You are NOT my best friend!” Ellie disappears, and Ravi feels bad. When he talks to his older sister about it, she tells him that she thought he was annoying when he first arrived, but over time she’s gotten used to him and even come to enjoy his company. Ravi starts to shift his perspective, and soon Ellie is back in the middle of his and Joe’s friendship, and Ravi has added another leaf to the tree.

I love how this book introduces the idea that things can be different in a new school year, a reassuring message for kids who may have a hard time dealing with change and who may long for last year. The illustrations perfectly capture the chaos of elementary school, and Ellie looks to be a friend worth keeping.

Recess by Lane Smith (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Everyone knows that there’s not enough recess in the school day. This book endeavors to give kids more, stopping in each class to describe what happens there. Turn the page, and it’s RECESS! where kids get to do activities related to each class like typing in the air, pretending to throw and bounce balls, and slapping your lap and stomping your feet like you’re in a band. The last stop is the calm-down corner, where, after one more burst of crazy fun, everyone takes a deep breath and gets ready to get back to work.

Kids are going to love listening to–and participating in–this book. It may be helpful to lay down a few ground rules ahead of time, but once you do so, this would make a great way to inject a little movement and fun into the school day. Lane Smith’s illustrations add just the right wild and crazy touches to all the action.

This magic moment

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Dawn by Marc Martin (Candlewick, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Each page has just one word, starting with “Dawn” and ending with “Sun”. In between, all sorts of animals and plants can be seen in gorgeous watercolor illustrations moving, eating, waking, or making noise, all illuminated by the changing light as the sun rises. Some of the words are alliterative (“sound, spring, still” to describe a series of pictures of a deer), others list the animals on the page (“dragonfly, cicada, bee, beetle”), while still others are a series of action words describing the movements in the panels (“jump, catch, dive, swallow” shows a fish leaping out of the water to catch an insect then diving back in). The final page, with the sun rising over the lake, looks peaceful and still, but readers will know all the activity the water and woods are hiding.

This book is visually stunning, and the different words would make a unique mentor text to show ways to succinctly describe what you see or hear. At 48 pages, it might not be engaging to read the way you would a story, so give the kids things to look for as you savor each of the stunning illustrations.

This Moment Is Special: A Día de Muertos Story by John Parra (Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). A boy narrates the moments of the day as he and his family celebrate Día de Muertos. Starting with breakfast with the family, he travels to school in a bus reading “Oaxaca”, spends a day at school, then comes home to play with his friends and eat dinner with his family. Each page of text has a few sentences in English and one summarizing sentence in Spanish. It’s an ordinary day in some ways, but also a special one marked with the white paint and decorations on people’s faces and hands, a performance at school, and a visit from abuela. The whole neighborhood is shown celebrating at the end, some wearing make-up and others not, carrying flowers and pictures of the dead. An author’s note asks a series of questions inviting readers to think about and celebrate special moments in their own lives.

There really aren’t enough Día de Muertos/Day of the Dead books for kids, and this one makes a nice addition, with John Parra’s distinctive artwork and the bilingual text that not only show readers different aspects of the holiday, but encourage discussion about appreciating people and events in the moment. I would have loved additional information about the holiday at either the beginning or the end of the book, as I know very little about it.

Picture books from well-loved series

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Kitty Camp by Drew Brockington (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In this follow-up to Puppy Bus, a girl accidentally gets on the wrong camp bus. She’s way more enthusiastic than the Puppy Bus protagonist, excited about camp in general and certain that camp with a bunch of kittens will be even better. But arts and crafts is a chaotic mess, the kitties would rather sleep than hike, it’s impossible to eat her tuna sandwich, and no one wants to join her in the pool. When she sees cats popping out of cardboard boxes, she gets the idea to build everyone a super-sized fort, and before long, she and the cats have found a bunch of ways to have fun together. “Kitty camp just took a little getting used to,” she decides as she boards the bus home. A cameo by the Puppy Bus boy and a surprise ending hints that there may be a third books in the works.

Based on the enthusiastic reactions I’ve had to Puppy Bus over the years (it’s my go-to book for kindergartners starting school), I can’t wait to share Kitty Camp. Those familiar with the ways of cats will get a kick out of seeing how they do camp. It’s a little late in the season now, but keep this in mind for kids going off to summer camp for the first time next summer.

This Book Is Dangerous! A Narwhal and Jelly Picture Book by Ben Clanton (Tundra Books, 44 pages, ages 4-8). The beloved graphic novel characters Narwhal and Jelly now have their own picture book, mostly featuring Jelly the jellyfish, who tells readers, “I don’t do dangerous,” after seeing the title of the book. As he swims through the sea, looking for an escape, he’s faced with all sorts of fearsome creatures, warning readers not to disturb them, then angrily reprimanding them when the animals come after him. His luck unexpectedly changes when he’s swallowed by a shark and discovers a jar of hot sauce in the shark’s stomach. Opening the jar results in a fiery shark explosion that sets Jelly free, only to lead him to the sounds of chewing from another sea creature. But–surprise!–it’s just his friend Narwhal eating a “dangerously delicious” waffle, and giving the book a sweet ending.

One can never have enough Narwhal and Jelly in the library, and this fun interactive picture book is a great way to introduce newly independent readers to the graphic novel series. Those who aren’t quite there yet will love this book on its own merits.

Mysterious creatures of the deep

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In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Jessica Lanan (Neal Porter Books, 52 pages, grades K-4). When a small boat with people in search of sperm whales spots a clan, a free diver (diving without an oxygen tank) goes into the water to investigate. He soon discovers a newborn calf surrounded by its mother and other whales. As he swims nearby, taking pictures, other whales arrive, as if they’ve been summoned to meet the new baby. The mother seems to be introducing them to her newborn, and finally she nudges the baby toward the man. A gatefold page shows him face to face with the baby, while other whales swim around them. Finally, the whales swim away, and the man resurfaces. “He rides home in silence, forever changed.” Includes a labeled diagram of a sperm whale, additional information about free diving and whales, resource lists, and notes from the author and illustrator that tell about Belgian free diver Fred Buyle, who is the inspiration for this story.

Readers will be in awe of the whales in this book, as well as free diving, which seems like a scary but exciting adventure into the ocean. Jessica Lanan’s artwork is breathtaking, and potentially worthy of a Caldecott or another Sibert award.

The Escape Artist: A True Story of Octopus Adventure by Thor Hanson, illustrated by Galia Bernstein (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Inky was a Maori octopus who lived in the National Aquarium of New Zealand. We’ll never know for sure what went on in Inky’s octopus brain, but this story speculates that he had all kinds of questions about the people and animals around him. The biggest question, though, was if there was a world beyond the tank. Inky got to find out out one night when he noticed the lid of his tank was ajar and managed to squeeze himself out (“An octopus body is boneless/like Jell-o wrapped up in a sack”). He couldn’t survive long outside of the water, but he managed to travel across the floor to a drain and slip into it. The next morning, zookeepers were baffled as to where Inky had gone until someone noticed a trail of water across the floor and deduced that he had traveled 164 feet through the pipe and into the sea. Includes additional information about Inky and other octopuses.

I wouldn’t have recommended writing the story of Inky in rhyme, but somehow, it works, thanks to an interesting story and some excellent rhyming that brings it to life. Kids will be cheering for Inky and undoubtedly inspired to learn more about octopuses.

Creating community

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No More Chairs by Dan Gill, illustrated by Susan Gal (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-3). On the first day of school, Mr. Gill’s students ask him why there’s an extra chair at the front of the room. He tells a story of when he was a kid, and he went to a birthday party with his best friend Archie. At the door, the host’s mother stared at Dan, who was white, and Archie, who was Black. “You can come in,” she told Dan, “but your friend cannot, because there are no more chairs.” At first Dan doesn’t understand, although Archie seems to, and he offers to bring a chair from home or sit on the floor. But when the mom is adamant, Dan finally realizes what’s going on. “Give these presents to Steve,” he says. “We’re going back to my house, where there are always enough chairs.” On the way home, Archie tells Dan he will speak up for him if Dan ever feels like he can’t speak for himself, and the two friends share a big bowl of ice cream. And that’s why, Mr. Gill explains, he always keeps an extra chair in the classroom, to make sure that everyone knows that there are always enough chairs, and everyone is welcome. Includes an author’s note of how he always told this true story from his childhood to his classes on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to help them understand the meaning of the day.

Use this short but powerful tale to either kick off the school year with a message of inclusion or to begin a conversation about the civil rights movement. It’s a story that will resonate with kids of all ages, as well as with adults, and points to the importance of people with privilege speaking up for those who are being marginalized.

Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book by Lindsay Ward (HarperCollins, 40 pages, grades K-3). Welcome to Sunnyside School! The first two pages show 39 different jobs that people have at the school. Then the story begins, with siblings Ali and Matty starting second grade and kindergarten, getting walked into the school by their mom. As the two go through their day, they meet all kinds of people: front office staff, classroom teachers, specialists, cafeteria staff, and more. Sidebars give additional information about their jobs, while questions are sprinkled throughout the text to keep kids engaged, and characters talk to each other via cartoon bubbles. Ali’s best friend has just moved away, and Matty’s going to school for the first time; each of them is successful and finding a new friend. At the end of the day, both kids meet their mom and report an excellent first day. Includes a search and find activity for kids to go back and find things like pencils and backpacks in the book, as well as a glossary.

This is an outstanding introduction to all the people who work in a school woven into a first day of school story that kids will relate to. I thought about reading this to kids at the beginning of school, but there’s so much information packed into it that it almost felt overwhelming to read it all in one sitting. it would be a great book to revisit a few times during the first week or two of school, as well as a good one to share with kids at home before their first day.

Two picture books made for sharing

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Everyday Bean (Tiny Bean’s Big Adventures) by Stephanie Graegin (Tundra Books, 56 pages, ages 3-7). “Bean wants to tell a story about tiny ghosts. And Grandma wants to tell a story about giant strawberries. They can’t decide which story to tell you. So they’ve asked me to tell some stories instead.” Ten stories follow about Bean and Grandma, each one only a few sentences long, with adorable illustrations of a young hedgehog and her grandmother. There are tales about everyday events, like swinging at the park, making different things from a cardboard box, and picking out a cactus at Mr. Green’s plant store (“This plant reminds Bean of Grandma. And it reminds Grandma of Bean.”). The last story, “Bean Burrito,” shows Grandma tucking Bean into bed, and both of them nodding off as she reads a bedtime story.

This feels like a book with great potential to become a well-loved favorite over time, with gentle humor, familiar situations, and adorable characters. Listeners who are paying attention will notice that they get to hear stories about both giant strawberries and tiny ghosts.

More or Less by Alison Hughes, illustrated by Oge Mora (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 3-7). The entire text of this book consists almost entirely of the words “more”, “less”, and “plenty”. Oge Mora’s colorful collage illustrations give readers a lot to consider about what those words mean. A family has plenty, but one of the kids has a room with more…and more (with two pictures side by side that kids can compare to see what’s been added). Less in the room can lead to more donations and community building. Less going into the trash results in more recycling and creative repurposing of unwanted items. The last page shows the family hugging one another with the word “Plenty.”

Take your time going through this deceptively simple book. There’s a lot to see, and many interesting ideas about what we want more or less of in our lives, as well as the meaning of the word plenty. I’m looking forward to projecting this on a screen and sharing it with kids, who I know will see all kinds of things in the illustrations that I missed.

Life lessons from animal friends

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Axolotl and Axolittle by Jess Hitchman, illustrated by Sarah Rebar (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 40 pages, ages 3-8). Siblings Axolotl and Axolittle are very different–big sis Axolotl lives life to the max while younger brother Axolittle is quieter and more studious–but they’re still the best of friends. When Axolotl’s boisterous play ends up destroying Axolittle’s painting, though, an axo-squabble ensues. Finally, Axo-dad-l comes in to calm things down, and after a bit of a break, family harmony is restored.

Axolotls seem to be having a moment, due to Minecraft, I guess? Whatever the reason, this book will definitely catch the eye of many a young reader, and they won’t be disappointed by the lively rhymes, clever axolotl (and axolittle) plays on words, and relatable family situations. This would make a great sibling gift for the older child in a family with a new baby.

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (Dial Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). After an introduction to mammals, reptiles, and birds, the narrator gets to fish: DON”T TRUST FISH! There are so many reasons, and those reasons grow more preposterous as the book goes on. Some have gills and some have lungs. Some live in salt water, some in fresh water. Very shifty. They live underwater where you can’t see them. They may be in your home, spying from that aquarium, and reporting back to the king fish! And they like to eat poor, innocent, kind crabs…which readers will learn on the last page is the animal responsible for all the information in this book.

I’ll admit I didn’t love this book the first time I tried reading it, and I only looked at the first few pages. But the four starred reviews and inclusion on possible Caldecott lists led me to take another look, and I’m happy to say that now I get it! It would be a fun story to read aloud and have kids try to guess who the narrator is. Dan Santat’s illustrations, of course, add immeasurably to the fun. It could also be a great introduction to a discussion with older kids about considering sources of information in the news and on social media.

You and Me, Anemone by Rachel Vail, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Using clever rhyming text, an anemone makes a plea to readers not to BOOP it, then goes on to encourage kids who prefer not to be booped to assertively make their wishes known. The anemone explains that it likes living harmoniously in community with other anemones, and that not being touched doesn’t mean that it doesn’t enjoy the company of others, “to live side by side in our own kind of unity! Resplendent, independently, extending as far as eye can see.” Includes an author’s note about how she learned recently not to touch anemones and giving kids tips for communicating their own preferences as well as noticing those of others.

This is an ingenious book, combining interesting information about anemones with ideas for kids on how to notice what they may or may not want and expressing that. The illustrations are made to look like applique on burlap, with lots of textures and colors.

Which witch?

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This Year, a Witch! by Zoey Abbott (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator has had enough of her cute costumes of years past. No more bunny or mouse…this year, she is going to be a witch! She’s been planning this for quite a while, growing her hair, practicing spells, and enlisting her dad to make her a witch costume. On Halloween night, she dresses up, only to scare herself when she looks in the mirror. Dad helps her to take a break, and before long they’re out trick-or-treating, the girl in her witch costume, and her dad dressed up like a cat.

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 232 pages, grades 3-7). Although Jazzy’s moms and grandmother run a successful broom business, Jazzy’s never had any interest in flying. She’s not too surprised when she’s the only kid at school not to get off the ground during her first flying lessons, trying not to feel jealous when her best friend Aggie is a soaring success. When Jazzy sees a cycling race on TV, she’s sure that she’s found her passion, and using parts from the junkyard and a little magic, she and Aggie create a bike for her. Jazzy discovers she loves biking, but she’s afraid to tell her family. With a supermoon in the forecast, the witches all get ready for a flying parade, and Jazzy is finally forced to confess her shortcomings. She learns that her moms both had their share of youthful struggles, and that everyone is proud of her just the way she is, leading her to come up with an innovative broom design with a comfortable bike saddle that not only allows her to finally learn to fly, but helps other witches as well. Includes an author’s note and a preview of Jazzy’s next adventure.

Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages, ages 4-8). When Evelyn Witch wakes up with a feeling that something is missing from her life, she can’t quite put her finger on it until she spies the pet shop. Bats, rats, and cats are all beyond her budget, and the only thing she can afford is a box marked “Mystery Pet.” Inside is an egg, which Evelyn is most impatient to have hatch. After a series of outlandish plans to make this happen, she finally realizes that all she can do is be patient, take good care of the egg, and focus on other areas of her life. Her patience is finally rewarded with an appropriate pet for a witch.

Kids will love these three witchy heroines who learn lessons in courage, patience, and being true to themselves in two picture books and a graphic novel. Each one has distinctive artwork that creates a magical world of witches and other fantastic creatures. Halloween may still be three months away, but there’s no reason to wait to read and share these magical books.