A fun trio of books featuring alligators, dragons, and dinosaurs, selected by my coworker.
Gator Dad
Brian Lies
Celebrates an anthropomorphic gator dad and his kids having a delightful summery "do nothing" sort of day, where somehow an awful lot of things get done, and memories get made. Really suprisingly sweet and innocent and wholesome-hearted.
Me and My Dragon
David Biedrzycki
A boy and his dragon go to the beach, where lots of things get all messed up, and of course it is always the dragon's fault. The shame-faced dragon reforms when things go a little bit too far, and peace is restored... or is it?
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
This is a very helpful how-to book on what you can do to keep your particular type of dragon happy and employed, or at least occupied, in a manner that suits both the dragon and you. There are dragons that like to blow leaves around, and ones who love to vaccuum, and ones who will scare away the neighborhood bullies, or conveniently eat your homework for you! Cute and tongue firmly in cheek.
Showing posts with label Brian Lies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian Lies. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2019
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Tuesday Storytime: Scaly Friends
This is the second set of picks from our trainee, and these are all very cute. They acknowledged that they'd possibly do better to split them up into different themes for each type of scaly friend (we have alligators, dragons, and dinosaurs represented) but that they liked them and liked the thought of doing two of their own sets of picks in a row. These DID end up a little on the long side all matched together, but not insurmountably so, and they noticed that as well, so a good training experience all around.
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
ISBN: 9781770495685
Very bright dinosaurs in otherwise mundane environments, getting used for all sorts of chores or tasks. The idea is very Flintstones, but the execution is closer to Family Guy. EXCELLENT facial expressions all around, and funny page-spreads of visual jokes.
Gator Dad
Brian Lies
ISBN: 9780544534339
Gator Dad is taking his kids out for a day of adventures. Slightly smaltzy but saved by the protagonists being alligators, and by a series of misadventures along the way. Beautiful artwork, but a little bit on the dark side (visually speaking).
Me and My Dragon
David Biedrzycki
ISBN: 9781580892780
I've done this one recently, but it was far enough back that I felt ok with it being used again. Love the ambiguity of the protagonist kid (brownish and with floppy hair) and the mundane chores of pet-ownership filtered through the prism of a baby dragon. Useful lessons in a cute package.
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
ISBN: 9781770495685
Very bright dinosaurs in otherwise mundane environments, getting used for all sorts of chores or tasks. The idea is very Flintstones, but the execution is closer to Family Guy. EXCELLENT facial expressions all around, and funny page-spreads of visual jokes.
Gator Dad
Brian Lies
ISBN: 9780544534339
Gator Dad is taking his kids out for a day of adventures. Slightly smaltzy but saved by the protagonists being alligators, and by a series of misadventures along the way. Beautiful artwork, but a little bit on the dark side (visually speaking).
Me and My Dragon
David Biedrzycki
ISBN: 9781580892780
I've done this one recently, but it was far enough back that I felt ok with it being used again. Love the ambiguity of the protagonist kid (brownish and with floppy hair) and the mundane chores of pet-ownership filtered through the prism of a baby dragon. Useful lessons in a cute package.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Tuesday Storytime: More!
This was a gamble, but I think it worked out nicely.
We started with the absolutely stunning More! by I.C. Springman & Brian Lies, hit Vera B. Williams' "More, More, More," Said the Baby in the middle, and ended with Again! by John Prater, which is quite possibly one of my favorite picture books on this earth.
More!
I.C. Springman, illustrated by Brian Lies (Bats at the Library)
ISBN: 9780547610832
Beautifully detailed magpie illustrates various words about quantity by hoarding shiny objects.
I just adore the concept behind this book, and if anyone out there is teaching ESL, this is perfect. In very little text, and very detailed illustrations, our magpie friend continues to collect various stuff, until the hoarding proves too much for the nest, and mouse friends come in to help shrink the collection. Truly brilliant, and just a joy to look through at the amazingly detailed illustrations.
"More, More More" Said the Baby
Vera B. Williams
ISBN: 9780688091736
Blotchy scritchy messy colorful and blocky painting style enlivens three short stories about babies.
We have three babies (white boy, black girl, asian girl), with three caretakers (a father, a grandmother, and a mother) and each gets a short story about how their caretaker looks out for them and interacts lovingly with them, with the babies ending each segment wanting "More, More, More" - it's sweet and short and lovely. A Caldecott Honor book.
Again!
John Prater
ISBN: 0764152793
Reviewed here.
Grandbear's patient attention and dedication to Baby Bear's messy games is a joy to read, and I love how the soft-edged fuzzy illustrations contrast so well with both Williams' vibrant loose intensity and Lies' precise and engrossing details.
The only real difficulty with this storytime was finding a coloring sheet to match the off-the-wall theme!
We started with the absolutely stunning More! by I.C. Springman & Brian Lies, hit Vera B. Williams' "More, More, More," Said the Baby in the middle, and ended with Again! by John Prater, which is quite possibly one of my favorite picture books on this earth.
More!
I.C. Springman, illustrated by Brian Lies (Bats at the Library)
ISBN: 9780547610832
Beautifully detailed magpie illustrates various words about quantity by hoarding shiny objects.
I just adore the concept behind this book, and if anyone out there is teaching ESL, this is perfect. In very little text, and very detailed illustrations, our magpie friend continues to collect various stuff, until the hoarding proves too much for the nest, and mouse friends come in to help shrink the collection. Truly brilliant, and just a joy to look through at the amazingly detailed illustrations.
"More, More More" Said the Baby
Vera B. Williams
ISBN: 9780688091736
Blotchy scritchy messy colorful and blocky painting style enlivens three short stories about babies.
We have three babies (white boy, black girl, asian girl), with three caretakers (a father, a grandmother, and a mother) and each gets a short story about how their caretaker looks out for them and interacts lovingly with them, with the babies ending each segment wanting "More, More, More" - it's sweet and short and lovely. A Caldecott Honor book.
Again!
John Prater
ISBN: 0764152793
Reviewed here.
Grandbear's patient attention and dedication to Baby Bear's messy games is a joy to read, and I love how the soft-edged fuzzy illustrations contrast so well with both Williams' vibrant loose intensity and Lies' precise and engrossing details.
The only real difficulty with this storytime was finding a coloring sheet to match the off-the-wall theme!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesday Storytime: "Love My Library" Month, Week 4
Last week of our "Love My Library" promotion, and I feel like it's just flown by!
Saved the best (in my opinion) for last, of course.
The Library
Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
ISBN: 0374343888
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
Words cannot express how much I LOVE this book. When I read it the first time, it was like a religious experience for me - like this was the magical rhymed and illustrated re-telling of my life and pre-telling of my future. It's just perfect. Absolutely perfect. Go read it.
Bats at the Library
Brian Lies
ISBN: 9780618999231
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
These bats do get around - they've been to the beach, the ballgame, and now they're at the library. This is lovely, short, and sweet, with the kiddie bats being irrepressible, and the elder bats happily returning to old favorites. Bats using the copy machine and projector are always good sidetracks.
Library Lion
Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
ISBN: 9780763622626
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
This book is so sweet and perfect. Every library needs a tame lion. The pictures are delightful and just smudgy and washed out enough to look fuzzy and velvety, and the expressions on people's faces and bodies are delightful from beginning to end. Subtle sense of humor a definite plus.
And that's all she wrote for the Love My Library Storytimes - we'll be back with another batch (probably with many of these same delightful books) for National Library Card Sign Up Month in September, and then again next February.
Until then, next on the agenda is Mighty Ladies! Larger-than-life women from legend, tall-tales, history, and maybe even your own household.
See you next week!
Saved the best (in my opinion) for last, of course.
The Library
Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
ISBN: 0374343888
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
Words cannot express how much I LOVE this book. When I read it the first time, it was like a religious experience for me - like this was the magical rhymed and illustrated re-telling of my life and pre-telling of my future. It's just perfect. Absolutely perfect. Go read it.
Bats at the Library
Brian Lies
ISBN: 9780618999231
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
These bats do get around - they've been to the beach, the ballgame, and now they're at the library. This is lovely, short, and sweet, with the kiddie bats being irrepressible, and the elder bats happily returning to old favorites. Bats using the copy machine and projector are always good sidetracks.
Library Lion
Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
ISBN: 9780763622626
Read Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014
This book is so sweet and perfect. Every library needs a tame lion. The pictures are delightful and just smudgy and washed out enough to look fuzzy and velvety, and the expressions on people's faces and bodies are delightful from beginning to end. Subtle sense of humor a definite plus.
And that's all she wrote for the Love My Library Storytimes - we'll be back with another batch (probably with many of these same delightful books) for National Library Card Sign Up Month in September, and then again next February.
Until then, next on the agenda is Mighty Ladies! Larger-than-life women from legend, tall-tales, history, and maybe even your own household.
See you next week!
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