BOO!

Thank you, Dad, for snapping this photo of The Norris Public Library on Main Street in Rutherfordton, NC!

Pat Hutchins

Pat Hutchins is another fantastic British author / illustrator that you must read.  Today, I'm just featuring two of her books.

From the moment you open up The Wind Blew, Hutchins' illustrations transport you to a "blustery windy day" as my eldest describes.  Even as you gloss past the title and copyright pages, trees bend as the wind carries leaves and seed pods.  Discover what else the wind snatches from people along its windswept path set against the backdrop of an English countryside with a few recognizable British landmarks.  Through her rhyming verse, Hutchins delightfully personifies wind as a mischievous, good-natured prankster, making this quite a captivating story.

In Good-Night, Owl!, nocturnal Owl tries to sleep but is thwarted.  Count along as the narrator names the hindrances to that rest.  This book onomatopoeically articulates the wonderful sounds of woodland tree dwellers through repetition, employing wonderful learning tools for the younger set.  But best of all your children will enjoy the humorous unexpected ending so much that they'll insist you immediately read it again.  Mine belly-laughed out loud!  Note: the title is a bit of a misnomer . . . tongue-in-cheek I'm sure.  The kids might not pick up on that, though.

Readers, what is your favorite Pat Hutchins story?

"Whisky Frisky"

Whisky Frisky

author unknown

Whisky Frisky,

Hippity-hop

Up he goes

To the treetop!

Whirly, twirly,

Round and round,

Down he scampers

To the ground.

Furly, curly,

What a tail!

Tall as a feather,

Broad as a sail!

Where's his supper?

In the shell,

Snap, cracky,

Out it fell.

Ask your child what this poem describes . . . a squirrel.

Umbrella

Thank goodness we've had two rainy, fall days!  You know the kind: where you wish you could snuggle in bed all morning long, especially after you look into the misty, rainy, leaf dropping day.

Have you read Umbrella by Taro Yashima?  It's wonderful!  It's about a Japanese girl named Momo ("the peach") living in New York City who receives rubber boots and an umbrella for her third birthday.  Momo longs for a rainy day . . . a rainy day where she can wear her rubber boots and use her umbrella.  Yashima's rhythmic use of language echos the "bon polo" (pitter-patter) of raindrops falling on an umbrella, making the textual imagery a bit musical to read aloud.  The illustrations also evoke the look of falling rain in its composition.  In addition, Japanese characters and their definitions are sprinkled throughout the text.  So read this one aloud, and then help your children unveil the riddle at the end!

 

Also of noteworthy mention, Yashima's Umbrella was a 1959 Caldecott Honor Winner.

James Mayhew

Rarely do we get to hear an artists' process of how he composes a work.  So I know you'll be pleased along with me when you read the story behind the composition of the Katie series straight from the author, James Mayhew, himself.  Check out his blog (http://jamesmayhew-katiespictureshow.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-it-all-began-part-six.html), and you'll find a talented illustrator whose personal story gives even more depth and meaning to the Katie series.  Now, I know you're going to want to check out Mayhew's Katie books!  And do let me know if you can get your hands on any that I haven't featured!

Art History

I was looking for some books in which to introduce famous works of art to my children.  Then one day as I eavesdropped -- accidentally, I might add . . . okay, maybe I was snooping a little after the cover caught my eye -- in another person's hold que at the library, I ran across the book Katie Meets the Impressionists.  Quickly, I scribbled the title down on a scrap of paper and came home to further research it.  This is what I discovered:

James Mayhew cleverly introduces specific periods, artists, and works of art to children through his  adventurous stories where the beguiling character, Katie, runs into "close calls" while jumping in and out of the art museum's paintings.  Note that Mayhew has published many more "Katie" books; these were the only ones I could get my hands on.

Katie Meets the Impressionists ~ focuses on the Impressionists painters and features: The Luncheon and Field of Poppies by Claude Monet; Girl with a Watering Can and Her First Evening Out by Pierre Auguste Renoir; The Blue Dancers by Edgar Degas.  I find the story and illustrations of this particular book the most charming in the series.

Katie and the Sunflowers ~ focuses on the Postimpressionists, specifically: Sunflowers and Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh; Breton Girls Dancing and Tahitian Pastorals by Paul Gauguin; and Still Life with Apples and Oranges by Paul Cezanne.  This is my second favorite story of the series.

Katie and the Mona Lisa ~ focuses on masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, specifically: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, An Angel with a Lute by one of Leonardo's students, St. George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, and The Lion of St. Mark by Vittore Carpaccio.

Katie's Sunday Afternoon ~ focuses on the Pointillists, specifically: Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Bathers at Asnieres, and Entree du port de Honfleur by Georges-Pierre Seurat; Woman Hanging up the Washing by Camille Pissarro; and Portrait of Felix Feneon by Paul Signac.

On another note, Dogs' Night by Meredith Hooper and illustrated by Allan Curless and Mark Burgess gives a fanciful introduction to paintings (4 specific) in the National Gallery in London.  As the story goes, each year the dogs jump out of their paintings for a frolic.  But this year, mayhem ensues when several return to the wrong paintings.

 

Note: These books are recommended for ages 4-8.

So readers, please weigh in with any other child friendly art history suggestions?  I'm just an eavesdropping novice in this genre.

Patricia Polacco

Are you ready for another phenomenal author / illustrator?   Once you discover Patricia Polacco for yourself, you'll be asking, "So do I like her captivating storytelling OR her stylized illustrations better?"  Well, it's certainly a toss up!  Polacco draws from her personal experiences when writing and illustrating.  She also incorporates diversity and universal themes in her stories.  After you become acquainted with her charming books, you'll be stunned to find out that Polacco didn't learn to read until almost 14 years of age when she discovered she had dyslexia.  Read her biography at http://www.patriciapolacco.com/author/bio/bio.html.  Her story is similar to her colleague Jerry Pinkney in that they both triumphantly overcome their era's odds against learning disabilities.

Of course, Emma Kate is our family's personal favorite.  Emma Kate narrates the endearing friendship between a young girl and a young elephant.  Both do everything together; they go to school together, ride their bikes together, they even have their tonsils out together. The colorful marker illustrations juxtaposed against the pencil drawings help to differentiate the twist at the end of the story.  Note that you'll probably have to explain the story's twist to your child.

Thunder Cake originates from Polacco's experience with her Babushka (Russian grandmother) who helps her conquer her fear of the intimidating sound of thunder.  Grandma coaxes her granddaughter out from underneath the bed by persuading her to help make a Thunder Cake.  Count the thunderclaps as granddaughter gathers the cake ingredients, and discover what happens in the end.  Polacco includes the Thunder Cake recipe!  Check out this great story, and help a child of any age overcome his/her fear of thunderstorms.

Here are two more Polacco books we just checked out as we get ready for our trip to a goat farm tomorrow.  G is for Goat catalogs the alphabet with letter by letter discriptions of goats and their activities.  Oh Look! gives Polacco's darling retelling of "going on a bear hunt" when three children chase three runaway goats.  See how far the children have to pursue the goats before they're frightened into returning home.  We love the fetching images of goats in these two books that are best suited for kindergarten ages and younger.

We enjoy so many of Polacco's books that it's too difficult to spotlight them all in one post.  Instead, I'll have to spread out our top Polacco recommendations over the course of the next year or so.  Do note that I have not read all of Polacco's books like I have for most of the authors I highlight.  So please comment on Polacco's books that work best for your family!

Bear Feels Sick

I picked up a head cold from my dear children last week, and it's slowly made it's way to my chest.  So, with the exception of the Mister, we've all been sneezing and coughing.  I'm telling you, the Puffs, Ricola, Honey Chestal, humidifier, and Vicks Vapor Rub are all taking up some prime real estate around here!  Anyone want to come over?  :)

Our go to book in times of illness is Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman.  Wilson writes her story in rhyming verse, so it's especially catchy with the preschool and kindergarten ages.  We soon learn that bear has caught an "autumn" cold.  The kids love saying the repetitive refrain throughout the book; all I have to do is pause, and they quickly jump in with "And the bear feels sick!"  Bear's friends Mouse, Hare, Badger, Gopher, Mole, Raven, Owl, and Wren all come together to take care of him with such tenderness.  Taking Wilson's text a bit further, Chapman's sweet, cozy illustrations compliment Wilson's story with specific ways the friends care for bear.  Then the story concludes with a twist that you  mothers will not be surprised by.

Don Freeman

We all know author and illustrator Don Freeman best by his iconic, beloved, green-overalled, button-less bear, Corduroy.  How many times have you read this favorite to your children?  It's a classic!  Now, let me recommend a few more Freeman titles to give you a break from reading Corduroy.

Since it's fall, start out with Earl the Squirrel. Earl's mother tells him that it's "high time you went out and learned how to find acorns on your own."  Find out how Earl acquires his bright red scarf, the only color that vibrates through Freeman's black-and-white scratchboard illustrations.  Then join Earl on his adventurous quest to forage acorns for the winter. 

My friend Tarin recommended our very favorite Freeman book Dandelion.  The charming, lovable lion receives an invitation to a birthday party and decides to spiffy himself up before arrival.  This delightful story uses humor to teach the timeless lesson "just be yourself."  We had to go out and purchase this one!

And then there's Mop Top.  Oh where to begin with Mop Top . . . first I'd have to stop howling with laughter.  We've all known a mop top, and I for one think that I'd like to save this for the tween / teen years when I can start handing it out.  Laughter aside, this is a witty story about a little boy who never wants to have his hair cut.



So readers, please, please share your comments on your favorite Don Freeman book!

Seasons

Okay, how many of you out there enjoy reading about the changing seasons as much as we do?  It's so much fun to identify spring, summer, fall, and winter by the different clothing we wear, alterations in nature, traditions we take part in, specific songs or poetry we sing, the food we eat, and the seasonable rhythms we fall into.  The first three books pictured below are our most loved "reads" on the seasons.  The kids select them several times each month.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

A Book of Seasons by Alice and Martin Provensen ~ This is our very favorite book about the changing of the seasons!

The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen ~ Not only does this book guide you through the seasons, it guides you through each month through the perspective of a farmer evaluating his family's annual duties.  I recommend this for the older young children.

Mama Loves by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Kathryn Brown ~ a nostalgic book that subtly chronicles different seasons of the year through a child's point-of-view, written in blank verse, of what his/her mother loves to do with him/her.  Another one of the kids' very favorites. Note: makes a wonderful Mother's Day gift to mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.  My own mother gave this to me for my very first Mother's Day.

Out and About by Shirley Hughes ~ contains several individual poems to identify each season of the year with delightful illustrations from the English born Shirley Hughes.  Ask: what season does this poem remind you of?

Colors by Shirley Hughes ~ poetic word lists for each color, with Hughes' lovely illustrations.  I recommend this for the tots.

Around the Year by Tasha Tudor ~ With her noted illustrations from yesteryear, Tudor chronicles each month with nineteenth century tasks.

A Child's Year by Joan Walsh Anglund ~ Anglund's Hallmalk card like illustrations feature each month.  I suggest this for the youngest children.

My Favorite Time of Year by Susan Pearson ~ one family's story of experiencing the changing seasons.  It's a little wordy for the young ones to sit through.