Book Review: A Dog is a Dog

Book #34

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:
A  Dog is a Dog.
By Stephen Shaskan. Illus. by author.
2011. Chronicle books, $14.99. (9780811878968) 

Age Group:
Toddler to Preschool

Genre:
Fiction

Awards:
None listed.

Topics/Issues:
Animals, Individuality

ELS promoted:
Print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary

Format:
Hardcover.

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://www.stephenshaskan.com/

Categorization Tags:
E Shaskan

Annotation:
In rhyming text, this picture book uses different animals as examples to discuss what makes them the same and what makes them different.

Reactions/Observations:
The characters are outlined with thick matching lines, but the scenery is left without a defined outline. The illustrations are fun and playful. The author describes each animal and the many things that it can do, but still remain that animal. As soon as the reader is comfortable that he understands what makes up a dog, Shaskan throws us a curve ball and introduces a new animal to reintroduce and further emphasize the concept of  individuality.  The simplicity and clarity of the text make this a great choice for the very young. The choice of animals is somewhat random, but the lineup will surely surprise and delight readers.

I've tried this book out in storytime. It's a fun read to talk about with the kids. Children enjoy the rhyming text and being able to identify each of the new animals.  They laugh when they see each animal removing the last one as a costume. 

Book Review: Shoe Baby

Book #33

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

Shoe Baby.

By Joyce Dunbar. Illus. by Polly Dunbar.

2005. 32p. CAndlewick Press, $15.99. (9780763627799)

Age Group:

Baby to Preschool

Genre:

Fiction

Awards:

None listed.

Topics/Issues:

Babies, Shoes, Travels

ELS promoted:

Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness

Format:

Hardcover

Author/Illustrator sites:

http://www.joycedunbar.com/  / http://www.pollydunbar.com

Categorization Tags:

E Dunbar

Annotation:

A baby takes a journey in a shoe and after visiting the zoo, flying, and inviting the Queen to tea, he falls asleep and awakens to two very big surprises.

Reactions/Observations:

In rhyming text, baby greets us and share his travels through the ocean, around town, at the zoo, through the air, at high tea, and cozily sleeping all in the shoe. As he sleeps in his shoe, a giant wearing one shoe searches for its lost partner and a crying mother searches for her baby.  Baby reveals his hiding spot to greet his family.

I think babies and toddlers would be the best audience for this simple but sweet story. The illustrations are colorful and interesting, easy to attract the eyes of very young readers. The use of mixed media gives the pictures a texture that is unique to this book. The text is used as part of the illustrations, depicting movement with the composition of the images alongside the text. Parents will enjoy reading this book with their children while children will enjoy imagining themselves in this baby's "shoe". This is a baby story time favorite for me. The sing song rhythm of the text make for a soothing and enjoyable read.

Book Review: Little Chicken's Big Day

Book #32

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

Little Chicken's Big Day.

By Katie Davis and Jerry Davis. Illus. by authors.

2011. 30p. Margaret K. McElderry Books, $14.99. (9781442414013)

Age Group:

Baby to Preschool

Genre:

Fiction

Awards:

2012 Trailee Award

Topics/Issues:

Mother and child, chickens

ELS promoted:

Print motivation, print awareness, narrative skills

Format:

Hardcover

Author/Illustrator sites:

http://www.katiedavis.com

Categorization Tags:

E Davis

Annotation:

Little Chicken is tired of being told what to do by Big Chicken but when they become separated he misses all of the clucking.

Reactions/Observations:

Big Chicken is rushing Little Chicken to get ready for his big day out, but on the way...he gets lost! Throughout the day, Little Chicken says "I hear you cluckin', Big Chicken" in reply to mama's requests. At one point, Little Chicken gets distracted and loses track of Mama.  His little facial expressions go through every emotion until he hears Mama calling him back. This is book is sweet! Babies and toddlers will enjoy this book most.  The language is simple yet expressive, making it easy to communicate the wide range of emotions that Little Chicken feels. The illustrations are bold and easy to interpret. Children will enjoy retelling this story, about that one time the baby chicken lost its mama. 

I have read this book for Baby storytime and in Toddler storytime.  Although it would also be appropriate for preschool, I think they may not find the story as exciting or relatable. 

Book Review: How are you Peeling? Foods with Moods

Book #31

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods.

By Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. Illus. by authors.

1999. 38p. Arthur A. Levine Books, $15.95. (9780439104319) 

Age Group:
Toddler - Grade1

Genre:
Fiction

Awards:

• The New York Times Best Illustrated Childrens Books 1999
• CCBC Book of the Week
• National Association of Parenting Publications Gold Award 1999
• Oppenheim Portfolio Platinum Medal
• Northern California Independent Bookseller Association Bestseller List
• Parent Paper National Parenting Publication Award 1999
• National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis Gradiva Award for Best Childrens Book 2000
• Publishers Weekly Bestseller List
• Not Just for Children Anymore! 2001 list

Topics/Issues:
Emotions, Vegetables

ELS promoted:
Print motivation, print awareness, 

Format:

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/saxton-freymann

Categorization Tags:
E Freymann

Annotation:
Brief text and photographs of carvings made from vegetables introduce the world of emotions by presenting leading questions such as "Are you feeling angry?"

Reactions/Observations:
Freymann discusses the difficult subject of emotions. For a child, it' difficult to discuss how they are feeling. Feelings are abstract concepts, but this book uses rhyming text to explain how kids can identify what they're "peeling".  Using artfully cut vegetables and fruit, a variety of emotions are portrayed from happy to sad, to less concrete emotions like jealousy and pride. The story and illustrations are enjoyable for both children and  adults. Children will easily become drawn in by the playful and colorful images of expressive food. The book is silly, but I think that's part of its charm. Freymann is a genius to use the imperfections of produce to create such a unique picture book. This book would be fantastic to introduce talking about feelings for a young audience. The ideal audience would be ages 3 to 6. 

Book Review: The Big Bigger Biggest Book

Book #30

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

The Big Bigger Biggest Book.

By SAMi. Illus. by author.

2008. 18p. Blue Apple Books, $14.95. (9781934706398) 

Age Group:

Toddler to Preschool

Genre:

Fiction

Awards:

Topics/Issues:

Size, Concept

ELS promoted:

Vocabulary, print motivation, narrative skills

Format:

Lift Flap Book

Author/Illustrator sites:

None listed.

Categorization Tags:

E Sami

Annotation:

Readers can lift flaps on every page and see what is the shortest, the fastest, the deepest, the tallest, the highest and the biggest.

Reactions/Observations:

Using minimal text, this book successfully discusses the concept of size and comparison as well as introducing adjectives, adverbs, and superlatives. Each spread of pages reveals a single word then builds upon it with imagery to illustrate the change from big, bigger, to biggest. Typical of SAMi, the illustrations are bold and easily attract the eyes of toddlers and preschoolers. The lift flaps are used well, depicting the change in an innovative way as well as holding the audience's attention with its surprising twists and turns.  

I found this book because one of the storytime attendees wanted to make a suggestion for my book selection for next week.  She took the time to "read" it to me. From first glance, I would have only tagged this book with vocabulary and print motivation but it was obvious from her storytelling that narrative skills should be included to. The illustrations are simple enough to tell her own story, but clear enough to show that a comparison is taking place.  My storyteller made sure to include what was the least and the most of every set of words. 

Book Review: LMNO Peas

Book #29

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

LMNO Peas.

By Keith Baker. Illus. by  author.

2010. 32p. Beach Lane Books, $16.99. (9781416991410 )

Age Group:

PreSchool to Grade 2

Ages 3 - 7 

Genre:

Fiction

Awards:

• ALA Notable Book,
• CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List

Topics/Issues:

Concept, Alphabet, Occupations

ELS promoted:

Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, vocabulary, letter knowledge

Format:

Hardcover

Author/Illustrator sites:

http://www.keithbakerbooks.com

Categorization Tags:

E Baker

Annotation:

Busy little peas introduce their favorite occupations, from astronaut to zoologist, in this unique alphabet book. 

Reactions/Observations:

The illustrations make this book a joy to read! Every page reveals new occupations and new letters. Although I have not read this book in storytime yet, I expect children to enjoy the unpredictable antics of the peas across each spread of pages. The rhyming text is great practice for phonological awareness.  Pre readers will enjoy being able to guess the different occupations by the different images. The occupation vocabulary is also a valuable feature of this text. Most children will not be exposed to this vocabulary in everyday interactions. Baker introduces complicated vocabulary effortlessly. I look forward to sharing this book in my preschool and family storytime. The book would be most appreciated by ages 3 to 7 years old. 

Book Review: Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant

Book #28

Book Image:

)

Bibliographic Citation:

Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant. 

By April Pulley Sayre. Illus. by author. 

2011. 30p. Beach Lane Books, $14.99. (9781442421417)

Age Group:

PreSchool - Grade 2

Genre:

Nonfiction

Awards:

None listed.

Topics/Issues:

Vegetables

ELS promoted:

Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.

Format:

Hardcover.

Author/Illustrator sites:

http://www.aprilsayre.com

Categorization Tags:

j SB351.R3 S39 2011

Annotation:

Photographs of vegetables and rhyming text celebrate vegetables in all their colorful and tasty variety.

Reactions/Observations:

This book is an upbeat song/story cheering on new veggie eaters.  The cheer is accompanied by a series of vivid photographs of vegetables and rhyming text. The photographs are colorful and depict an wide variety of tasty vegetables. The names of the vegetables are paired with matching photos which serve as great vocabulary building practice. The text rhymes, but for younger readers it may be more difficult to notice that it does. Most children have little experience with a majority of these vegetables.  Words like "kohlrabi", "fennel", and "shallot" are not typically part of a preschooler's vocabulary, but this book is definitely a great way to introduce them.  The best part (which my preschool storytime concurs) is the end when they get to yell "Veggies rock!" (which they do. ).