Picture Books Read To/By the Kids in May 2011

Don't Touch My Hat

Written and Illustrated by James Rumford

Gotten from the library on the recommendation of Amy and her girls of Hope Is the Word, this fun picture book is about a sheriff in the old, wild west whose ten-gallon hat is his prized possession. He thinks his hat helps him do his job better, but finds out the hard, but hilarious way that he's wrong.

To make the story more fun, it is written in the Old West style of speech. Although the humour seemed directed more at the adult reader sometimes, both my girls and I thought this was one funny book.

Who Were They Really?

Written by Susan Beth Pfeffer

A very kid-friendly (and adult-friendly) introduction to the inspirations behind 12 classic children's books. Interesting and well-written, with lots of phot
os to go along with it. My 7-year-old even picked this book up and read several entries, enthusiastically sharing her findings.

For ages 7 and up.

Rain School

Written and Illustrated by James Rumford

A gentle story about a boy in Chad, central Africa, who is excited to go to school and finds out when he gets there that first they must re-build the school. My girls liked this look at the school experience for children in one part of Africa and so did I.
(When I saw this book at the library, I was excited to read it because Chad was the first African country I lived in when my parents brought me there as a newborn, and we visited monthly over the next three years when we moved over the border to Cameroon. I am somewhat hesitant to say that while the annual re-building of the school was something the author may have experienced, it was not exactly consistent with my own experiences in Africa. The reality my family and I saw in central and west Africa was that the rain doesn't wash the mud brick buildings away each year, but did make it necessary for the mud brick homes and schools to be repaired, re-mudded, and re-thatched in places every year. His version makes for a stronger, more easily explained story however, especially if one is trying to illustrate the importance of education.) 

Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat

Written by Jennifer Armstrong
Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

Chin Yu Min is newly widowed, but doesn't appreciate the kindnesses of her neighbours, and alienates herself. When a wise, talking ginger cat comes into her life and saves her from loneliness and starvation, she feels her life is complete and her independence justified. When the cat disappears one day, this haughty, snobby woman has to learn how to unbend and seek help.
The illustrations were a beautiful pairing with this folktale. My girls and I really liked this story.of a woman who learns she needs people.

Hansel and Gretel

Retold by Rika Lesser from the Brothers Grimm folktale

Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Need I say more than this is one of the best retellings paired with the best illustrations of this folktale?

Elsie's Bird

Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by David Small

Elsie is a girl who loves the city she lives in, and knows it intimately. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the lonesome prairie, Elsie feels so out of her element that she can't and won't give this new place a chance. She stays inside the house all day and only interacts with her pet bird. When her bird accidentally flies free of its cage and into the outdoors, Elsie goes after it, losing her way in the tall prairie grasses, something her father had warned her was dangerous. But in butting up against danger, Elsie becomes fully aware of her surroundings for the first time. And it changes her.
Beautiful story, beautifully told, with amazing illustrations by David Small. My girls and I really liked this one.

The Perfect Wizard

Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Dennis Nolan

A fascinating biography about the man who gave us The Little Mermaid, The Steadfast Tin Soldier,
Thumbelina, etc. My older girls really liked this story, which kind of surprised me. Not that the story wasn't well done; it was excellently told and illustrated. I'm just vaguely surprised that they stayed interested.
(There was a lot going on each page: the regular text, which told the story of his life, plus a quotation from one of his tales that illustrates how his real life experience worked into his stories. While that was interesting for me to go back and read, it was too confusing for my little girls, so I just skipped that part and read the straight biography.)

Art & Max

Written and illustrated by David Wiesner

I can't really describe this book, you just have to read it. Fun book, interesting concept of de-constructing art.

Weekend Reading

We're heading into the weekend, and I know I'm going to be too busy to post, what with our yard sale tomorrow morning, a charity fundraiser I'm working tomorrow afternoon which will lead to being too wiped out on Sunday to do more than grunt a little.
Here's a look at what we'll be reading this weekend. (All except Karina's book are from the library.)

For me:

Aurelie: A Faerie Tale 

By Heather Tomlinson

From Goodreads:

"Once upon a time, three children and a little river dragon were the best of friends—until a promise was broken. Now they are almost grown up and barely speaking to one another.
Of the four, it is Princess Aurelie who feels the loss the most. How can she prevent a war when she can’t even make her friends get along? Heartsick at losing her dearest companions, Aurelie finds comfort in the beauty of fairyland. But a princess can’t hide from her duties forever. Her country needs her, and so do her friends, whether they know it or not."

Heather Tomlinson is a new author for me, and I'm about 3 chapters in. It's an interesting read so far. A bit choppy; but I'm optimistic.

Blood Maidens

By Barbara Hambly

From Goodreads:
"The new ‘James Asher’ vampire novel from the best-selling author - It’s 1911. War is coming, and according to one of the vampires of St. Petersburg, the Kaiser is trying to recruit vampires. James Asher, Oxford don and formerly on His Majesty’s Secret Service, is forced to team up again with his vampire partner Don Simon Ysidro for a journey to the subarctic Russian capital. Are they on the trail of a rogue vampire with a plan to achieve the power to walk in daylight? Asher wonders. Or is Ysidro’s real agenda to seek the woman he once loved?"

Isn't the cover just awful? It just screams campy horror book. But I promise it's not like that. If you haven't read the previous two books of this series, you really should. The series starts with Those Who Hunt the Night, continues with Traveling With the Dead and this book is the third. I am not into vampire books as a rule (I'm certainly not into the horror genre), but I love the Victorian era mystery in these books, and her characters are so well done. I guess you could read them out of order, but I wouldn't recommend it. In order to understand all the characters' relationship nuances, you really need to read them from the beginning. And they are good YA crossover books, especially the first one. 'Though technically listed as adult fiction, I'd far rather my teen read these than some other vampire themed books I can think of.

For Olivia:

The Random House Book of Humor for Children

Selected by Pamela Pollack; Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

From Goodreads:

"With illustrations by Caldecott award winner Paul O. Zelinsky, the anthology will have readers rolling in the aisles over 34 laugh-out stories by Judy Blume, Richard Peck, Beverly Cleary, E. Nesbit, Natalie Babbitt, Mark Twain, Roald Dahl, and many more!"

This book contains snippets of humourous stories from other books by the authors listed in the synopsis. Olivia has already begun this book, and has gigglingly shared many of the stories it contains. It has also made her want to read the books from which the stories come, which is the whole point of creating anthologies like this.

For Karina:

The Boxcar Children

By Gertrude Chandler Warner; Illustrated by L. Kate Deal

From Goodreads:

"Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, four orphaned brothers and sisters, suddenly appear in a small town.  No one knows who these young wanderers are or where they have come from.  Frightened to live with a grandfather they have never met, the children make a home for themselves in an abandoned red boxcar they discover in the woods.  Henry, the oldest, goes to town to earn money and buy food and supplies.

Ambitious and resourceful, the plucky children make a happy life themselves--until Violet gets too sick for her brothers and sister to care for her.

This story will delight any child who has fantasized about being on his or her own and overcoming every obstacle."

Karina just started this and is already eagerly sharing the story with me. "Mom, guess what's happening now!?!" I like how the writing is geared for young readers: intriguing story but not too hard a vocabulary.

Three Favorite Picture Books About Family History

They Were Strong and Good

Written and illustrated by Robert Lawson
Winner of the Caldecott Medal
Ages 4 and up
(First published in 1940 by Viking Press)

"When the Civil War began, my father's father quit fighting Satan and went off to fight the Yankees instead. My father was twelve years old and wanted to go too, but they said he was too young. So he went to work in a store to help out."
This book is a simplified account of Lawson's paternal and maternal grandparents and his mother and father with some truly wonderful illustrations that speak a world of words with just an image. I can see why the book won the Caldecott, because the black and white drawings are "strong and good" and sometimes gently humorous (like the picture of his young grandmother as a new bride, hanging over the side of a ship being sick.)
I love this book for the way it captures little slices of history in the personal stories of his ancestors. 
Please be aware that there are some depictions of Native Americans and slaves that are stereotypical, but try to leave off judging, considering that these were the attitudes of the times in which the people lived.

Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair

Written by Deborah Blumethal
Illustrated by Mary GrandPre
Ages 4 and up
(Published in 2001 by Dial Books for Young Readers)

"Grandma Marilyn says
our book is like the Kaddish,
a prayer of love
to keep the past alive
so that it will never be forgotten."

Annie learns snippets of family history while listening to the grown-ups talk at large extended family dinners. Inspired to learn more about those family members who came before, Annie embarks on a family history project. She and her Grandma Marilyn gather every scrap of family memorabilia they can find in the house and bring them to the kitchen table, to create a family story album. As they assemble it, we learn -along with Annie- stories of various family members.
The pictures in this book are just so much fun. I love how GrandPre gives life to these family characters. My favorite is the spread below. (I hope the publishers don't mind if I share this with you.)

Can you see the sheepish shrug in Great-Grandpa Louis' eyes as he looks across the page at his wife? And the answering sardonic glint in hers as she gazes back, holding up her needle in an almost threatening manner? I love it! It's priceless!

The Name Quilt

Written by Phyllis Root

Illustrated by Margot Apple

Ages 4 and up

(Published in 2003 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

"The name quilt was made of little patches, like Grandma's other quilts. But the name quilt had names on it, too, sewn on some of the patches in tiny stitches with different-colored thread. And every name had a story."

Sadie loves working on the name quilt with Grandma, listening to the stories of those people sewn into the quilt.When a terrible storm blows through with heartbreaking consequences, Sadie learns the importance of memories.
This is a wonderful, heartwarming story of family relationships, and how family stories knit us together.




The first book I own, and the last two were borrowed from the library.

Picture Book Read-Alouds, Inspired by Folk Tales

Lucia and the Light
Written by Phyllis Root
Illustrated by Mary GrandPre
Picture Book, Ages 4 and up
Published by Candlewick Press in 2006


Inspired by a Norse folk tale, this is the compelling story of a little girl who bravely journeys up the mountain to rescue the sun, in order to bring light and warmth back to the land.
My girls loved this story, so much so that they asked if we can check it out of the library again. (It's due back today, and we're on our second renewal, so we can't keep it longer.) Even Susanna sat completely enthralled by the story. (She was the first one to spot the shadow of a troll, a portent of things to come, made by the shadows cast from hanging baskets in the family's cabin.)
The pictures are luminously beautiful. The medium looks like pastel, but I'm not sure. However they're done, they have an ethereal softness to them that is very dreamy. The way GrandPre captures light is amazing. The book is a beautiful marriage of art and text.
This is our first encounter with both Phyllis Root's and Mary GrandPre's work, and we will definitely check out other books by these talented women.

The Greatest Treasure

Written and illustrated by Demi

Picture Book, Ages 4 and up
Published by Scholastic Press in 1998


Inspired by a Chinese folk tale, this is the story of two fathers, a poor one who enjoys life, and a rich one obsessed with his money. Baffled, annoyed and perhaps a tad bit envious of the seemingly care-free life of the poor family, the rich man decides to give the poor man some money to worry about. This is a wonderful allegory about finding balance.
My girls were familiar with the so talented Demi from her book The Empty Pot, which they love and frequently request to be read.
They liked this story too, maybe not quite as much as The Empty Pot, but they have asked it to be read several times since we checked it out from the library.
(I want to get her books about Gandhi, Muhammad, Buddha, and Mother Teresa next.)


Both these books were checked out of the library.