At the risk of sounding like an annoying television commercial, I must inform you that it is time to think about going back to school. Or, at least that is what the latest stack of picture books to cross my desk has to say. Kitchener Public Library has received a nice shipment of school focused picture books. So, it must be time to get ready for back-to-school. No? Well, it is definitely time for sharing some good, new picture books! My favourite of this bunch is definitely My Teacher is a Monster! (no, I am not) by Peter Brown. It is in Brown's retro style, using subdued colours, and it showcases his very wry sense of humour. It is the tale of Robert and his monster of a teacher. She stomps and roars at Robert’s class room antics. Then, one Saturday Robert meets Miss Kirby at the park, out in the real world, and slowly he realizes she might not be the monster after all. I love that it is dedicated to “misunderstood teachers and their misunderstood students.” A great story to share with your little monsters. Ages 4 and up.
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc Canadian author and illustrator Marianne Dubuc has a gift for creating beautiful and deceptively simple picture books. In Front of My House (2010) and Animal Masquerade (2012) each masterfully engaged young listeners as they tried to figure out what was going to happen next. The Lion and the Bird is another lovely addition to the picture book collection. It is gentle and quiet and moving and beautiful. Lion finds an injured bird just as autumn ends and winter begins. He takes bird in, cares for her, and together they enjoy a peaceful season. Of course, with spring comes the return of the other birds, and Lion’s friend departs. Lion wonders if she will return again with the autumn chill. Through sparse text and subtle illustrations, the emotions are strong, clear and relatable. Ages 4 and up. Sparky! by Jenny Offill & Chris Appelhans The spunky girl in this story wanted a pet, she really wanted a pet, but her mother said no to all of the usual pets. Her mother’s criteria for an acceptable pet: “it doesn’t need to be walked or bathed or fed.” These restrictions did not deter the girl, and with the help of her school librarian she found the perfect pet. A sloth. She ordered one, and a lovely, lazy, self-sufficient sloth arrived in the mail. It didn’t need to be walked or bathed or fed, but was really a great pet? This is as charming a picture book as you will find. The illustrations are bursting with life and humour. The girl, with her reddish nose, is adorable, and the sloth is downright huggable. A great book to share, especially with those little ones who are nagging you for a pet. Ages 4 and up. Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko illustrated by Melissa Sweet April is poetry month, and this new collection by the prolific anthologist Paul B. Janeczko is a great way to celebrate. He has organized the poems by season. The poems are by a wide range of poets, including Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes, Alice Schertle, Robert Frost, and Eve Merriam. All of the poems are small gems that beautifully reflect the experience of a season, and they are accompanied by Sweet’s charming illustrations. Here is one of my favourites… Spring Rain beats down, roots stretch up. They’ll meet in a flower. ~ Raymond Souster Chris Raschka's brilliant Thingy Thing series is back! First published in 2000, these wee picture books have been out of print for over a decade. Four volumes have just been released, with more to follow later this year. Two of the titles, Whaley Whale and Lamby Lamb, are reprints, with fresh new covers. The other two, Crabby Crab and Cowy Cow are brand new additions to the series. I must admit to some bias here, I love these books, and l love Raschka’s work. There is a beautiful simplicity to his illustrations, yet they hold so much emotion, intellect and humour. The Thingy Things are perfect stories to share with toddlers (recommended for 2 - 3 year olds). Raschka speaks toddler. The stories are short, the experiences are relatable, and the humour is right on. I hope you enjoy these little gems, place a hold on one today. |
Children's & Teen Services StaffSharing information for parents, caregivers and educators. Archives
September 2017
Categories
All
|