Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino (Viking, 2012) is a story of two friends, a rabbit and an owl, who share a hilltop lookout for their homes. But when Rabbit’s vegetables start blocking Owl’s view of the forest, the two friends become bitter as they try to out-smart the other. As their homes grow taller
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hill (Schwartz and Wade, 2012) is the sequel to the best-seller How Rocket Learned to Read (2010), a delightful story about a yellow bird helping a curious dog develop the ability to read. Rocket Writes a Story brings us the same adorable and talented dog, who now really wants help in creating a story,
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex (Disney Hyperion, 2012), is a unique book about artistic creation, not a book about a girl meeting a lion. It’s difficult to begin explaining. Let me start with a description of the artwork, as mentioned in the front matter: The art in this book was
Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story by Salina Yoon (Walker and Company, 2012) is a sweet story about a friendship between a penguin and a pinecone. In the story, Penguin befriends a pinecone (an anthropomorphic pinecone that returns feelings of affection). Although the two friends live far apart, Penguin knits scarves for his pinecone friend
The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber and illustrated by Kirstie Edmunds starts with an acrostic poem defining monsters: M for Mean, O for Observant, etc. However, one day, a monster loses his “M” for mean, and he struggles to find his place in the monster community. Now downgraded to an “Onster,”
The Unruly Queen by E.S. Redmond (Candlewick, 2012) is about a spoiled and unpleasant child, who will not listen to her nannies. When her 53rd nanny crowns her queen of Petulant Peak, Minerva is not quite so sure she wants to be queen there and goes about proving to her nanny that she does behave!
The Tooth Mouse by Susan Hood and Janice Nadeau (Kids Can Press, 2012) covers the fairy tale tradition of the tooth fairy. I had not known that in many parts of the world the tradition actually relates to a “tooth mouse,” instead of a fairy. In this story, the retiring tooth mouse must find a
The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool and illustrated by Alison Jay (Knopf, 2012) is a fantastic new fairy tale with Jay’s uniquely characteristic illustrations (alkyd paint on thick paper, with crackle varnish). I love her art style: her unique varnish makes the pictures look aged, and the illustrations themselves are attractive and whimsical, which delightful
Goldilocks and Just One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson (Candlewick Press, 2011) tells the story of Goldilocks from yet a different perspective. A bear who lives in the woods finds himself lost in the big city! The mixed media illustrations are just perfect for the mixed-up bear who just wants some peace and quiet. It’s lucky
The Goldilocks retelling I was most excited to read my son was Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems (Balzer + Bray, 2012), which I was eager to read long before I knew it was on the Cybils nomination list!1 Mo Willems has transformed a traditional story into an amusing new creation in Three
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Erin E. Stead (Roaring Brook Press, 2012) is picture book celebrating a child growing a garden. In this case, the emphasis is on the child waiting for the brown to go away, waiting for the green to appear. I love the stark contrast
The children’s picture book Grandpa’s Garden by Stella Fry and illustrated by Sheila Moxley (Barefoot Books, 2012) follows a child helping his grandpa in, as the title indicates, caring for his garden. They plant the vegetables and fertilize them with compost. The boy waters the growing plants and waits to see the sprouts. Together, grandpa and
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