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I’ve been stockpiling books to review, apparently the pile has gotten so far ahead of me that I can’t get all the great books into one post. (Or the post would be a novel.) So, for now, I’ve picked my favorites of my favorite picture books to share and will get to the others soon.
A Few Blocks by Cybele Young
Older sister, Viola, knows how to get little brother, Ferdie, to school. Even though he doesn’t want to go. Viola says, “Ferdie, look! I found your superfast cape! Quick– put on your rocket-blaster boots and we’ll take off.” And so she continues to imagine ships and islands, and kings and knights, all the way to . . . almost to school. Now it’s Ferdie’s turn to use some imagination to get Viola to school.
You’ll love the beautiful urban images cut into scenery, collaged on the white background – they’re gorgeous! Of course, you’ll mostly love the imagination that carries these two siblings to school.
My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Elizabeth loves her name — “I like that it’s nine letters long. . . And I like all the neat things my mouth does when I say it.” But she doesn’t like when people call her Lizzy or Beth or Betsy. She’s had enough and announces for the world that her name is Elizabeth, “but you may call me Elizabeth.”
Blue and white backgrounds with white and orange characters give this book a unique retro feel. It’s a book for anyone who loves their given name — and doesn’t want to be called anything else.
When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward
Blue is an adorable turquoise bird who on a snowy morning finds something flying through the air — an egg. Or, is it? Blue, being the nurturing sort, nestles Egg in a yellow bucket and the pair take off in search of Egg’s mother. Together, they search all over New York City which is beautifully depicted in paper-cut illustrations. Blue and Egg have many months of fun together but in April, Blue notices Egg is getting smaller. Is she sick?
I love the ending- Egg does melt, since she is a snowball, but Blue never realizes it — because in Egg’s place, Blue finds a flower. “I think you’re going to love this time of year,” Blue tells her friend.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Book Plate
I don’t need your napkin.
I’m not your soup bowl’s mate.
I don’t want your peas or bread.
I’m not that kind of plate!
Write your name upon me.
I’m a paper love tattoo.
Paste me in your book to show
that I belong to you.
–Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved
You Might Also Like . . .
Picture Book Round-Up, November 2011
Best Picture Books, Sept. 2011
Creativity 101 – What Parents Need to Know
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