IT'S TIME FOR UNDERWEAR STORYTIME!

 

          

 

Something's Wrong: A Bear, A Hare, and Some Underwear 

by Jory John; illustrated by Erin Kraan. 

This is a delightfully funny and clever book that simply begs to be read out loud! When you present the cover, the most obvious questions is - What do you think is wrong? Jeff the bear has a checklist of things to be done and - he thinks he has done everything but... something just doesn't seem to be quite right.  What could it be? He meanders and strolls through the woods, interacting with a variety of animals trying to figure out what it is that is wrong - and there must be SOMETHING wrong based on the response he is receiving from the other animals.  What to do? Go ask a friend. So Jeff sets off to find Anders the hare - his best friend. Anders does realize something is amiss and even breaks the fourth wall to consult with the reader about telling Jeff what the problem is. Being a true friend - he does just that. And then goes on to prove what true friendship is really all about. 

I also loved the illustrations -- just look at Jeff's face!

Be sure to wear your fanciest underwear for this one. 

And pair it with Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds, Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera, and/or What Color is Your Underwear? by Sam Lloyd.

 MY PICKS FOR THIS WEEK

       

     

 

Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman; illustrated by Susan Gal (published January 28, 2020). 

This is the Sidney Taylor Book Award for Picture Book winner for this year. It is easy to see why - it has lovely illustrations and it presents a very accessible introduction to the Passover Seder celebration. I am not Jewish but I have attended Seders as an adult. I had forgotten about opening the door to welcome the prophet Elijah! Passover begins at sunset on March 27th this year. This is the perfect book to introduce your kids - or yourself - to this meaningful holiday.

 

Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid by Victoria Tentler-Krylov (published December 1, 2020).

As soon as I can start traveling again, I am going to Cincinnati to see the Contemporary Arts Center Zaha designed and built! And maybe to Glasgow for the Riverside Museum, too. Learn more about her by reading this picture book biography!

Itzhak: A Boy Who Loved the Violin by Tracy Newman; illustrated by Abigail Halpin (published May 12, 2020)

This book was an Honor title for the Schneider Family Book Award for this year. This award is presented to an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for children audiences. Did you know that Itzhak Perlman had polio when he was four years old? His whole body was weakened by the disease - especially his legs. He was unable to walk without braces and crutches. But that did not stop him from becoming the world's greatest violinist! Before you read the book, turn to the back and read Abigail Halpin's note.  Then find a few recordings of Itzhak's music and listen to them while you read! 

 

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Floyd Cooper (published February 2, 2021).

This is an important book. If your local library does not own this, please request that they purchase a copy. Or if you can, buy it and donate it. 

Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney; visual art by Brian Pinkney (published September 29, 2020). 

Another important book written in a unique storytelling style all about sharecropping, Jim Crow, the fight for voting rights and growing up African-American in Mississippi Delta cotton country. The three voices mentioned are Loretta Little; her adopted younger brother, Roly; and Roly's daughter - Aggie B. The setting is Ruleville, Mississippi from the 1920s through the 1960s. Each character tells about their life in their own unique voice. There is storytelling, folklore, poetry... this book was written to be read out loud; performed if possible. Trigger Warning - Aggie B. is violently beaten by the police for teaching her neighbors how to vote. 

What I am reading this week - 

   

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington - 

so far, nothing at all like what I thought it would be!  

There are ghosts - I mean, misplaced spirits -- and lost treasure!

NEW PICTURE BOOKS 

     

Three lovely new picture books - all written and illustrated by women! 

Ducks on the Road: A Counting Adventure by Anita Lobel. 

It's time for mama and papa duck to take their ten ducklings for a stroll! But baby ducks are easily distracted. One after the other, they stop to say Quack to a new friend until there is only one baby duck left. And who do they find to greet? Another baby duck! So now we have eleven baby ducks (because there is always room for one more!) and all the new animal friends they met while walking down the road. A delightful book about counting down from ten. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy counting the baby ducks, quacking, and making all the other animal noises. I thought for sure there would be a cow, but sadly no opportunities for moos in this book. But there is an owl and a cat and a dog and lots of other familiar animals. 

Margaret's Unicorn by Briony May Smith

What a delightful read! Margaret has just moved to a new home out in the country with her parents so they can be closer to her grandmother. It's a lovely spring day so Margaret's parents encourage her to go out for a walk while they finish unpacking. Margaret looks up into the sky where she sees some misty clouds... no, running horses!  Wait - no! It's unicorns!  A whole herd of unicorns flying overhead. She turns to run home to tell her folks when she hears a very quiet snuffle in the grass. And what does she find? A baby unicorn - accidentally left behind by the herd. Margaret gathers him up in her coat and races home. Her grandma is there and she is surprised by the unicorn because she thought they were all gone. She teaches Margaret how to take care of him and, with the help of her parents, she does just that. She discovers that taking care of the unicorn helps prevent loneliness from creeping in and by Christmas, the new house even smells like their old one. Soon it is spring again and Margaret takes her unicorn back out to the field to wait for his herd. 

This is a beautifully illustrated book and a magical read. No one makes a big fuss over the unicorns - they just accept that Margaret has found one and help her take care of him. If you've ever wanted a unicorn, this will make that desire even stronger. Keep watching the clouds! 

Daisy by Jessixa Bagley

This is a book about being bullied and teased and taunted. But it's also a gentle, hopeful book about finding treasure where you least expect it. The author dedicates the book to the amazing women in her life and proclaims them all to be her treasures. (Treasures will resonate a bit more by the end of the book!) But let's start at the beginning. "Daisy was named after her mama's favorite flower. 'They seem plain, but when you look closer you see their beauty,' her mama would say." But all the other animals at school made fun of Daisy and her name. Daisy was a young warthog and the other animals did not think she looked at all like a Daisy. They continued to tease and laugh at her. "So Daisy made her own fun." She did this by finding treasures that other people overlooked. She had a special hiding place where everything she found was displayed. "They were old and useless items to others, but to Daisy they were priceless, and she honored and loved each one for its special beauty." One day, someone leaves a surprise treasure for her! Who could it be? 

This is a book just waiting to be shared and read and discussed; a book to spark empathy among little ones and the adults that read to them. Highly recommended!

I think picture books should be read and enjoyed by everyone! 

Please check your library or your local bookstore for these titles.

 SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

 

Or at least -- it is trying to be spring.  

It is spring enough that I have started my gardening -- both indoors and out.  

I planted lettuce and spinach; peas, parsley, and basil.  

But today? Today I want to plant a pumpkin seed after reading 

Let it Grow by Mary Ann Fraser; illustrated by Riley Samels 

 

 

This is not your every day pumpkin book, friends. 

It takes twists and turns that I promise you will not anticipate!  

First, it gives sound advice on planting that pumpkin seed. 

And when it sprouts, do you eat the leaves in a salad? 

"Oh no! I'll let it grow!" and grow and grow. 

The book walks you through all the stages of pumpkin growth in a fun way. 

And you just know -- it's going to be carved into a pumpkin! 

Nope.  

Hmmm. So what will our young pumpkin grower do with his pumpkin?  

You simply must read the story to find out! 

And then I promise -- you will want to plant a pumpkin!  

Be sure to read the notes at the end of the book 

and also the amazing pumpkin facts!  

Did you know that a pumpkin can gain twenty to forty pounds a day?! 

I'm glad I'm not a pumpkin!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher Capstone for a preview copy of this book.

It will be published August 1, 2021.

#LetItGrow #NetGalley