Tuesday Storytime: Imaginary Selves

There's lots of focus placed on imaginary friends, but this time around I wanted to focus on how children imagine themselves as bigger, stronger, or more interesting people (or versions of themselves) to empower themselves through life and challenges. Here we have three different versions of "imaginary selves" helping kids face some pretty common kid struggles: baby siblings, bedtime, and new schools.

Rodeo Red
Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle
Rodeo Red does NOT like that new cowpoke Sideswiping Slim. That ornery thing snaps up toys, food, and even messes up her favorite hat! Not only that, but the "law" (mom and dad) are inexplicably and unfairly on that little snake's side! When he steals her sidekick Rusty the (stuffed) dog, Red just has to set things right. After a few botched attempts, an unwanted gift proves to be a welcome distraction. Maybe, just maybe, things can get set right with this rascal eventually.

Bedtime for Batman
Michael Dahl, illustrated by Ethen Beavers
A sweet side-by-side comparison story shows a small boy in Gotham readying for bed in the persona of his favorite caped crusader, Batman. While the boy faces challenges like the potty and managing to stuff all of his toys into the bin, Batman is cleaning up familiar evildoers from the sewers. The comparisons are funny and sweet, and the story is full of good rituals (with a checklist at the end for good measure). There's a companion story "Sweet Dreams, Supergirl" (and one with Superman and Wonder Woman) which is also adorable, but I liked the paired storytelling of this one best.

Ally-saurus and the First Day of School
Richard Torrey
Ally-saurus is a dinosaur for her first day of school, which helps her be brave and gives her something to focus on while she learns to navigate desks and class rituals. When lunchtime comes, despite being shunned by the "princess table," she finds a set of friends (all of whom have their own favorite animal (or item) to play happily, even with the princesses, during recess and afterwards into class again. A positive story about the impact of imagination and acceptance and being friendly.

Tuesday Storytime: Sibling Relations

Another one that I have missed this year - I think this is my worst year to date for missing storytimes.  I took care to give my replacement a good fun set of reads.

Mission: New Baby
Susan Hood, illustrated by Mary Lundquist
ISBN: 9780385376723
Vignettes and "snapshots" of life with a baby sibling, with a military/special ops flair.

Our main character is a tousle-haired white boy and his family, but we get vignettes from other diverse "recruits" as they also assist with their new siblings.  Everything from bathtime to storytime is presented as a military or espionage exercise, with the conceit that the established "operative" (the new big brother/sister) has been tasked with training the new "recruit" (the baby sibling) by teaching them the ropes.  There's not much to it, but it's super cute.

Rodeo Red
Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle
ISBN: 9781561458165
Previously reviewed here.

I still love this one, and it's the reason I went with this particular theme.  I'm happy to report that the storyteller and the audience loved it to pieces as well.

Peace, Baby!
Linda Ashman, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
ISBN: 9781452106137
Diverse characters, soft colors, and expressive poses and faces.

This one sits up with Llama Llama for the very clear, child-level message - choose kindness, choose to work together, choose to be gentle, choose to forgive.  This one isn't entirely about family and siblings, but the lesson certainly applies there, and several of the scenarios pictured could be of sibling sets.

New Arrivals: Picture Book: Rodeo Red, Maripat Perkins, Molly Idle

Rodeo Red
Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle
ISBN: 9781561458165
Crisp Pixar-esque drawings and scenes dramatize sibling rivalry into an Old West showdown.

Molly Idle is amazing.  New picture books show up just about every week here at the library, and I try to check through them all.  Most of them I flip through and then shelve - they don't speak to me personally, so there's no need to review something that left me cold.  On the other hand, sometimes we get books like Rodeo Red through the gate, and I literally clapped my hands with joy when I saw it.  The best part is that while the cover illustration and a quick flip drew me inexorably inwards, the story by the masterful Maripat Perkins kept me glued to the narrative, which is rare for a picture book.  Excellent pairing, and I hope it continues!

You guys, this book is so goshdurned cute.  Our red-headed cowgirl and her partner, the (stuffed) hound-dog Rusty, are none too pleased when a new resident takes over the ranch (er, nursery) next door.  The new neighbor is rude, crude, and awfully grabby - and the last straw is when he grabs Rusty!  When the law (aka the parental units) cravenly takes the side of the newcomer?  It's just all too much to bear.  Our heroine is nearly overcome with despair until a new fancy posh animal arrives on the scene, and Red arranges for a prisoner swap to bring Rusty safely home.

So fricking cute.  Words fail.  Go check it out and feel your heart swelling with the adorableness.