Shelf-employed: babies

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Picture Book Roundup - post Sandy edition

I'm getting back in the groove of normal life after a devastating hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Here are some short and sweet reviews of books that I've had on my pile for weeks - no common theme - just great picture books!

These first two books are ones in which the illustrations steal the show and tell the story.

Johnston, Tony. 2012. Laugh-Out Loud Baby. New York: Simon & Schuster. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell.

If this book doesn't make you smile, make you laugh, make you happy - well, I don't know what will. The author's note regarding the Navajo celebration of a baby's first laugh is interesting. I can think of few things better to celebrate. Go ahead, laugh!

Fox, Mem. 2012. Tell Me About Your Day Today. New York: Beach Lane. Illustrated by Lauren Stringer.

A enjoyably repetitive, rhyming text that is filled in by cheerful step-by-step illustrations, detailing the busy day of a young boy and his favorite stuffed animals,

And Greedy Goose told him about her day - the who,
the what,
the why,
and the way ...
the whole wild thing ...

turned out okay.

Tarpley, Todd. 2012. Ten Tiny Toes. New York: Little Brown. Illustrated by Marc Brown.

Into the world came ten tiny toes, a hundred times sweeter than one could suppose

A book for everyone who has ever kissed, and later missed a baby's ten tiny toes. Rhyming and sweet, this one would steal my heart even without illustrations!

Watch the book trailer for Ten Tiny Toes here.

Kimmel, Eric A. 2012. Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale. New York: Feiwel and Friends. Illustrated by Andrew Glass.

Moby Dick in a picture book for kids? Yes! This is not likely a book that young parents will pick off the shelf for a bedtime story, but it deserves an audience. Eric Kimmel captures the essence of Melville's classic for a young audience, and he does it in rhyme, and he spares us the endless chapters on whales and whaling (sorry, it may be a classic, but those chapters are sheer drudgery).

Call me Ishmael ... When days start getting long again and time is moving slow, I set out for New Bedford town, a whaling for to go.

No important part of the story is missing, and while some of the rhymes are a bit forced, the overall effect of Kimmel's retelling, the book's generous size, and Andrew Glass' evocative paintings is striking. An Author's Note and Glossary are included. Hopefully, teachers will find a way to use this one. View the Flickr slideshow of Andrew Glass' paintings for Moby Dick.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Bathroom humor

Here's a little bathroom humor (board book style) from Leslie Patricelli. I don't usually review board books, but these are so funny that I had to share!

Patricelli, Leslie. 2010. Tubby. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

I'm naked! Wheeee!

That about sums it up. Tubby is just doggone funny! But wait, does that dog have muddy paws? It looks like this little guy may need another bath.

Patricelli, Leslie. 2010. Potty. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Baby has to go. He could go in his diaper. But then again, maybe he won't. Maybe dog or cat has a better idea. Nope. Maybe he'll just try out the potty. Well, whaddya know?