I had originally hoped to do all three about pets, but I wasn't quite able to manage it. Still, these three worked very well together, and it was a nice chance to incorporate some poetry into the storytime routine.
Won-Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku
Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 9780805089950
Linear, edgy, almost comic-book art, with minimalist backgrounds.
Won-Ton is a shelter cat who's been adopted, and he's ready to tell us all about the process in a series of truly delightful haiku. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this is my favorite book from this storytime, and probably one of my favorites in general. Wardlaw just does such a perfect job capturing the sly and superior tone of a cat, even in undignified moments, and Yelchin's lanky bony angular artwork is just perfect. I especially love the expressive eyes.
Hi, Koo! a year of seasons
Jon J. Muth
ISBN: 9780545166683
Koo is a panda bear (perhaps related to the panda Stillwater from the Zen books) and this is his year in unmetered haiku.
Unlike Won-Ton and Dogku, the haiku here are more free-form, with the understanding that syllable breaks in the original don't quite match up to what syllables represent in english. So some of these are quite short, and others are much more wordy than expected. Still, it's a beautiful and interesting way to represent time flowing in little snippets of verse. We start in autumn, which is a good fit for this time of year, and flow smoothly through to end at the height of summer. Quick, sweet and touching, but the illustrations don't quite manage to carry as much interest.
Dogku
Andrew Clements, illustrated by Tim Bowers
ISBN: 9780689858239
A dog sits on a doorstep, hoping for a home. Sweet painterly illustrations. Lots of color.
Like Won-Ton, we have a dog hoping for a forever home in this story. Unlike Won-Ton, this puppy has invited himself in, and it's a gamble as to whether he'll be allowed to stay. (Happy endings are not optional in my storytimes, so no worries there.) Great framing, a good progression through the day, and a nice "cliffhanger" for the little ones. I'm highly tempted to save this one for another storytime and match it up with Taxi Dog.
Showing posts with label Eugene Yelchin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eugene Yelchin. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Tuesday Storytime: Cats and Dogs
(I know, I know - but I'm caught up now!)
So hard to pick, so I included a bonus title today. I couldn't choose until the day of, so I'm reviewing my "first runner-up" as well, because it's so cute and fun.
Dog In Charge
K. L. Going, illustrated by Dan Santat
ISBN: 9780803734791
"Good dog" has been left in charge of the 5 cats for the afternoon - will they be good? Nope.
Our dog is very happy to be a Good Dog. He sits, stays, and does dances for treats. When the people leave him in charge (of the 1,2,3,4- 5!) cats, he expects them to sit and stay also. They don't. Dog bosses them around, gets a little frantic, attempts bribery (and fails miserably at his own willpower) and finally sags into a nap of despair. But no worries - the kitties aren't bad, only active. They love that dog, and they'll make sure he's still considered a Good Dog when the people get back home.
Un Gato y un Perro / A Cat and a Dog
Claire Masurel, illustrated by Bob Kolar
ISBN: 0735818355
Bilingual, with Spanish as the primary text, about two mortal enemies who learn to help each other.
A very short story, and one that made me wish I was brave enough to try Spanish, but I don't speak it, and I'm afraid that some of my families DO, and I don't wish to cause offense or embarrass myself. Our cat and dog don't like each other one single bit, and they growl and hiss at each other, and always play alone, in their own ways, with their own toys - until the day comes when each toy is lost in just the perfect way that they need the other's help. I like that one of them thinks to help first without having to be asked, and the other one enthusiastically returns the favor. A bit too simplistic and over very quickly, but it all works for that short middle read,
Widget
Lyn Rossiter McFarland, illustrated by Jim McFarland
ISBN: 0374384282
Widget is a stray, so he's willing to do just about anything for a nice warm home - even become a cat.
I love Widget. It's the perfect story of fitting in and working with people. Widget is sick of being a stray, so when he finds Mrs Diggs and her six cats, he's pretty sure he's got it made - one small problem; "the girls" don't like dogs. No big deal - Widget can be just as catly as any of them! In fact, as he settles into his posh new life, Widget even occasionally forgets he IS a dog - until Mrs Diggs falls down one day and doesn't get back up. When meowing, hissing, and caterwauling for help does nothing, Widget risks it all by barking again, and inspires the girls. A beautiful story, and one I will always be happy to read.
Bonus Book:
Won Ton and Chopstick
Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 9780805099874
Won Ton's haiku book gets a sequel here, with a new puppy added to the family.
The conceit here is lovely, but the reading is a little odd with my age-group - haiku are notorious for being indirect and glancing and not-quite-exactly-to-the-point, which is lovely for reading to yourself, or with older children who are a bit experienced with metaphor and simile and conceptual thinking. It's less fitting for toddlers, unfortunately, despite the bright colors and really adorable pictures. Won Ton is less than pleased to have a new puppy in the house, especially when spats leave Won Ton (not the newcomer) exiled to the yard. Still, familiarity does the trick, and harmony regains peaceful sway by the end.
So hard to pick, so I included a bonus title today. I couldn't choose until the day of, so I'm reviewing my "first runner-up" as well, because it's so cute and fun.
Dog In Charge
K. L. Going, illustrated by Dan Santat
ISBN: 9780803734791
"Good dog" has been left in charge of the 5 cats for the afternoon - will they be good? Nope.
Our dog is very happy to be a Good Dog. He sits, stays, and does dances for treats. When the people leave him in charge (of the 1,2,3,4- 5!) cats, he expects them to sit and stay also. They don't. Dog bosses them around, gets a little frantic, attempts bribery (and fails miserably at his own willpower) and finally sags into a nap of despair. But no worries - the kitties aren't bad, only active. They love that dog, and they'll make sure he's still considered a Good Dog when the people get back home.
Un Gato y un Perro / A Cat and a Dog
Claire Masurel, illustrated by Bob Kolar
ISBN: 0735818355
Bilingual, with Spanish as the primary text, about two mortal enemies who learn to help each other.
A very short story, and one that made me wish I was brave enough to try Spanish, but I don't speak it, and I'm afraid that some of my families DO, and I don't wish to cause offense or embarrass myself. Our cat and dog don't like each other one single bit, and they growl and hiss at each other, and always play alone, in their own ways, with their own toys - until the day comes when each toy is lost in just the perfect way that they need the other's help. I like that one of them thinks to help first without having to be asked, and the other one enthusiastically returns the favor. A bit too simplistic and over very quickly, but it all works for that short middle read,
Widget
Lyn Rossiter McFarland, illustrated by Jim McFarland
ISBN: 0374384282
Widget is a stray, so he's willing to do just about anything for a nice warm home - even become a cat.
I love Widget. It's the perfect story of fitting in and working with people. Widget is sick of being a stray, so when he finds Mrs Diggs and her six cats, he's pretty sure he's got it made - one small problem; "the girls" don't like dogs. No big deal - Widget can be just as catly as any of them! In fact, as he settles into his posh new life, Widget even occasionally forgets he IS a dog - until Mrs Diggs falls down one day and doesn't get back up. When meowing, hissing, and caterwauling for help does nothing, Widget risks it all by barking again, and inspires the girls. A beautiful story, and one I will always be happy to read.
Bonus Book:
Won Ton and Chopstick
Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 9780805099874
Won Ton's haiku book gets a sequel here, with a new puppy added to the family.
The conceit here is lovely, but the reading is a little odd with my age-group - haiku are notorious for being indirect and glancing and not-quite-exactly-to-the-point, which is lovely for reading to yourself, or with older children who are a bit experienced with metaphor and simile and conceptual thinking. It's less fitting for toddlers, unfortunately, despite the bright colors and really adorable pictures. Won Ton is less than pleased to have a new puppy in the house, especially when spats leave Won Ton (not the newcomer) exiled to the yard. Still, familiarity does the trick, and harmony regains peaceful sway by the end.
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