Cat Knit
Jacob Grant
ISBN: 9781250051509
Cat and Girl are good friends, and then Girl brings home Yarn, a rolly squishy bouncy fun playmate - until Girl plays with Yarn too long and Yarn ends up all constricted and scratchy and no-fun. Well.. it is awfully cold outside. Maybe Yarn's new shape can be a good friend too.
Stack the Cats
Susie Ghahremani
ISBN: 9781419723490
Adorable chibi-style cats in bright neo-mid-century-modern colors flop and roll and yes, stack, in the spreads and pages of this adorable little concept book with numbers and some basic addition.
Cat Nap
Toni Yuly
ISBN: 9781250054586
Cat is tired and wants to sleep, but Kitten wants to PLAY. Cat suggests a game of hide and seek, where Cat hides (and tries to nap) but Kitten is waaay too good at this game and finds Cat very quickly. Parents and caregivers will sympathize with the poor dead-eyed Cat, and kids think it's hysterical that the kitten finds and wakes Cat everywhere. The ending is obvious, but done well.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Tuesday Storytime: Elephants
I maaaaaaay have had these books waiting on storytime for a very long time, and I'm so happy that I finally got to use them. They're all super cute.
When Your Elephant Comes to Play
Ale Barba
ISBN: 9780399163128
On Wednesdays, an elephant comes to visit, and you'd think it would be loads of fun, but there are lots of logistical challenges to playing with an elephant. Swimming is problematic, bed-bouncing wakes the neighborhood, and tree-houses are right out. But still, there are some very nice things elephants are good for, like warm cozy hugs.
Little Elliot, Big City
Mike Curato
ISBN: 9780805098259
Elliot is an adorable miniature spotted elephant, and he lives alone in a big retro city full of regular people. Life is challenging when you're small, but Elliot is generally up for the challenge, but he gets a little blue when he can't manage to get a cupcake; he's too small to see over the counter. But when Elliot meets (and helps out) someone even smaller, he gains two important things: a boost of confidence, and a new friend. Life is always better with both of those things.
Strictly No Elephants
Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
ISBN: 9781481416474
A sweet boy and his "tiny elephant" are good friends, and they're excited to go to the Pet Club Day, but they're discouraged by the "strictly no elephants" sign on the door. The requisite sad-mood-rain spread happens, and then the boy finds a girl and her pet skunk, also turned away by the restrictive Pet Club. The two of them hit it off, and they start their new club with a growing parade of children and their unusual pets (I'm especially fond of the bat, and of a small narwhal in a goldfish bowl) and hang their own sign, proudly proclaiming "All Are Welcome."
When Your Elephant Comes to Play
Ale Barba
ISBN: 9780399163128
On Wednesdays, an elephant comes to visit, and you'd think it would be loads of fun, but there are lots of logistical challenges to playing with an elephant. Swimming is problematic, bed-bouncing wakes the neighborhood, and tree-houses are right out. But still, there are some very nice things elephants are good for, like warm cozy hugs.
Little Elliot, Big City
Mike Curato
ISBN: 9780805098259
Elliot is an adorable miniature spotted elephant, and he lives alone in a big retro city full of regular people. Life is challenging when you're small, but Elliot is generally up for the challenge, but he gets a little blue when he can't manage to get a cupcake; he's too small to see over the counter. But when Elliot meets (and helps out) someone even smaller, he gains two important things: a boost of confidence, and a new friend. Life is always better with both of those things.
Strictly No Elephants
Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
ISBN: 9781481416474
A sweet boy and his "tiny elephant" are good friends, and they're excited to go to the Pet Club Day, but they're discouraged by the "strictly no elephants" sign on the door. The requisite sad-mood-rain spread happens, and then the boy finds a girl and her pet skunk, also turned away by the restrictive Pet Club. The two of them hit it off, and they start their new club with a growing parade of children and their unusual pets (I'm especially fond of the bat, and of a small narwhal in a goldfish bowl) and hang their own sign, proudly proclaiming "All Are Welcome."
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Tuesday Storytime: For the Birds
These were selected by my coworker.
Crow Made a Friend
Margaret Peot
ISBN: 9780823432974
Rainbow-colored Crow makes a friend from sticks, then snow, but they don't last - true friendship comes from a mate and eventual nestlings.
That is NOT a Good Idea
Mo Willems
ISBN: 9780062203090
Willems' parody take on nursery rhyme stories has a Greek Chorus of baby chicks intoning all the bad plans along the way, with a "twist" ending.
A Book of Babies
Il Sung Na
ISBN: 9780385752909
All sorts of animal babies included, but ducklings are front and center.
Crow Made a Friend
Margaret Peot
ISBN: 9780823432974
Rainbow-colored Crow makes a friend from sticks, then snow, but they don't last - true friendship comes from a mate and eventual nestlings.
That is NOT a Good Idea
Mo Willems
ISBN: 9780062203090
Willems' parody take on nursery rhyme stories has a Greek Chorus of baby chicks intoning all the bad plans along the way, with a "twist" ending.
A Book of Babies
Il Sung Na
ISBN: 9780385752909
All sorts of animal babies included, but ducklings are front and center.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Tuesday Storytime: Friendly Fantasy Creatures
Julia's House for Lost Creatures
Ben Hatke
ISBN: 9781596438668
By the author of Zita the Spacegirl. Julia's house is built onto a giant tortoise, and it's moved in to a lovely spot by the sea - but things are too lonely! So Julia puts out a sign advertising space for Lost creatures, and boy do they show up in droves. The company is great, but the extra housework and messes not so much. How will Julia solve her problem and keep her new friends at her house?
Ribbit!
Rodrigo Folgueira, illustrated by Poly Bernatene
ISBN: 9780307981462
The frog family are distressed by a large pink visitor that only says "Ribbit!" and they work themselves (and a lot of rubbernecking forest creatures) up into a frenzy worrying about this strange pig and what terrible things it could possibly want with them. Finally the Wise Old Beetle offers some common sense, but it's too late for the frogs - or, maybe not? Are frogs afraid of heights? "Tweet tweet!"
If I Had a Gryphon
Vikki Vansickle, illustrated by Cale Atkinson
ISBN: 9781770498099
A dark brown girl laments in rhyming couplets about how ANY fantastical pet would be a better option than her current disappointing hamster. Until she gets a bit further into the scenarios, and realizes that perhaps a fantastical pet may have some significant downsides. Cute and quick, despite covering a lot of ground. Reads VERY fast.
Ben Hatke
ISBN: 9781596438668
By the author of Zita the Spacegirl. Julia's house is built onto a giant tortoise, and it's moved in to a lovely spot by the sea - but things are too lonely! So Julia puts out a sign advertising space for Lost creatures, and boy do they show up in droves. The company is great, but the extra housework and messes not so much. How will Julia solve her problem and keep her new friends at her house?
Ribbit!
Rodrigo Folgueira, illustrated by Poly Bernatene
ISBN: 9780307981462
The frog family are distressed by a large pink visitor that only says "Ribbit!" and they work themselves (and a lot of rubbernecking forest creatures) up into a frenzy worrying about this strange pig and what terrible things it could possibly want with them. Finally the Wise Old Beetle offers some common sense, but it's too late for the frogs - or, maybe not? Are frogs afraid of heights? "Tweet tweet!"
If I Had a Gryphon
Vikki Vansickle, illustrated by Cale Atkinson
ISBN: 9781770498099
A dark brown girl laments in rhyming couplets about how ANY fantastical pet would be a better option than her current disappointing hamster. Until she gets a bit further into the scenarios, and realizes that perhaps a fantastical pet may have some significant downsides. Cute and quick, despite covering a lot of ground. Reads VERY fast.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Tuesday Storytime: In Between
Stories of things or people who that aren't quite one category or the other. Books chosen by my co-worker, and this selection specifically chosen by our "pinch hitter" back-up.
Hoot and Peep
Lita Judge
ISBN: 9780525428374
Hoot is excited to show his little sister Peep around town at night, and to teach her all the owly things she needs to learn, but Peep can't seem to get the hang of hooting properly. Hoot tries and tries to get her to do it "right" but eventually learns that relationships and creativity are more important than rules. Very beautiful artwork, but the quality of the art and the tone of the storyline seem a bit mis-matched to me.
A Cub in the Tub
Marv Alinis, illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek
ISBN: 9781503823570
An "early reader" book, this features Bub the cub who is dirty and needs a bath and then his dinner. Very short and simple, with cute but simple, limited-palette artwork.
Neither
Airlie Anderson
ISBN: 9780316547697
In the Land of This and That, there are blue Thises (bunnies) and yellow Thats (birds) and one really confused green Something Else. No one wants to play with it, no one wants to claim it, and neither side really wants to associate with it. It's shamed as a Neither, and kicked out to find Somewhere Else to fit in. Instead it finds the Land of All, and is welcomed by a set of rainbow-hued imaginary and combinatory animals (I especially like the purple butterfly-kitten and a background bearbat) to have fun and play. After introductions and reminders that All here are different and ok, a pair of This and That (with decorated bodies) arrives, also looking for Somewhere Else, because they don't fit in at home either. The Neither chides them for a moment about sending it away, but then welcomes them both to the Land of All. The following spread shows a great plethora of wild, imaginary, combinatory, and "normal" animals and creatures all playing happily together.
Hoot and Peep
Lita Judge
ISBN: 9780525428374
Hoot is excited to show his little sister Peep around town at night, and to teach her all the owly things she needs to learn, but Peep can't seem to get the hang of hooting properly. Hoot tries and tries to get her to do it "right" but eventually learns that relationships and creativity are more important than rules. Very beautiful artwork, but the quality of the art and the tone of the storyline seem a bit mis-matched to me.
A Cub in the Tub
Marv Alinis, illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek
ISBN: 9781503823570
An "early reader" book, this features Bub the cub who is dirty and needs a bath and then his dinner. Very short and simple, with cute but simple, limited-palette artwork.
Neither
Airlie Anderson
ISBN: 9780316547697
In the Land of This and That, there are blue Thises (bunnies) and yellow Thats (birds) and one really confused green Something Else. No one wants to play with it, no one wants to claim it, and neither side really wants to associate with it. It's shamed as a Neither, and kicked out to find Somewhere Else to fit in. Instead it finds the Land of All, and is welcomed by a set of rainbow-hued imaginary and combinatory animals (I especially like the purple butterfly-kitten and a background bearbat) to have fun and play. After introductions and reminders that All here are different and ok, a pair of This and That (with decorated bodies) arrives, also looking for Somewhere Else, because they don't fit in at home either. The Neither chides them for a moment about sending it away, but then welcomes them both to the Land of All. The following spread shows a great plethora of wild, imaginary, combinatory, and "normal" animals and creatures all playing happily together.
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