Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "gardens"
"Up, Down and Around" and "Bear in a Square"
These are concept books for the very young.
Up, Down and Around
4 stars
author: Katherine Ayres
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
This takes children out into the garden. Some crops grow up. Some crops grow down. Some grow around. And all are occupied by very happy bugs.
The illustrations are suitable for very young children. The bugs are make believe versions as all have happy, smiling faces. Vegetables are much more lifelike.
Bear in a Square
4 stars
author: Stella Blackstone
Illustrator: Debbie Harter
The book is designed to introduce shapes. Some are the usual, but others include moon, star, zigzag, heart and oval. The number varies in the illustrations so they can be found and counted.
The illustrations are simple and colorful. Their very basic approach works well for the book's concept.
Up, Down and Around
4 stars
author: Katherine Ayres
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
This takes children out into the garden. Some crops grow up. Some crops grow down. Some grow around. And all are occupied by very happy bugs.
The illustrations are suitable for very young children. The bugs are make believe versions as all have happy, smiling faces. Vegetables are much more lifelike.
Bear in a Square
4 stars
author: Stella Blackstone
Illustrator: Debbie Harter
The book is designed to introduce shapes. Some are the usual, but others include moon, star, zigzag, heart and oval. The number varies in the illustrations so they can be found and counted.
The illustrations are simple and colorful. Their very basic approach works well for the book's concept.
"Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight", "The Leaf Men" and "Do You Have a Hat?"
Lots of good reading on many topics occupied last week.
Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight
5 stars
Author: Natalie Engel
Illustrator: Robert Eberz
This is a beginning reading book about a backyard camping trip. Splat wants to sleep outside and has all his things ready. His mother invites two friends to join him.
Unfortunately, Spike is something of a bully. He does his best to ruin the night. It doesn't work as the tables turn on him.
The illustrations are fun. They tend to be in grayer shades as much of the action is at night.
The Leaf Men
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: William Joyce
This is a fantasy save-the-garden book. The garden belongs to an old woman who falls ill. The garden is dying from neglect. The ones to help might be only a myth, but the doodlebugs are willing to try to call them. The Spider Queen is opposed and tries to stop them.
The illustrations are very good. They reflect both the reality of the garden and the fantasy leaf men.
Do You Have a Hat?
5 stars
Author: Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Geraldo Valerio
How many kinds of hats can you think of? Who wears these hats? Each page tells of a kind of hat in verse with the final line asking: Do You have a hat?
The illustrations are fun as many creatures show up on the pages besides the people mentioned. All of them are wearing hats.
Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight
5 stars
Author: Natalie Engel
Illustrator: Robert Eberz
This is a beginning reading book about a backyard camping trip. Splat wants to sleep outside and has all his things ready. His mother invites two friends to join him.
Unfortunately, Spike is something of a bully. He does his best to ruin the night. It doesn't work as the tables turn on him.
The illustrations are fun. They tend to be in grayer shades as much of the action is at night.
The Leaf Men
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: William Joyce
This is a fantasy save-the-garden book. The garden belongs to an old woman who falls ill. The garden is dying from neglect. The ones to help might be only a myth, but the doodlebugs are willing to try to call them. The Spider Queen is opposed and tries to stop them.
The illustrations are very good. They reflect both the reality of the garden and the fantasy leaf men.
Do You Have a Hat?
5 stars
Author: Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator: Geraldo Valerio
How many kinds of hats can you think of? Who wears these hats? Each page tells of a kind of hat in verse with the final line asking: Do You have a hat?
The illustrations are fun as many creatures show up on the pages besides the people mentioned. All of them are wearing hats.
