Karen GoatKeeper's Blog, page 13
August 6, 2024
"Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII" and "My Garden"
Heroes come in many forms and places.
Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII
5 stars
Author: Shari Swanson
Illustrator: Renee Graef
After several years of war, everyone was in need of something different. That's about when a duck landed on a pier in the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee. She decides it will do just fine as a nest and lays her eggs.
Since the pier is near a bridge with a walkway and roads with sidewalks, this duck is quickly noticed. At first only local people knew. Then the news services spread the news to the world.
As WWII wound down, Gertie captures the attention of the world as she tries to hatch her eggs and raise her ducklings.
The heroes? The bridge tenders who spent a night out in a bad storm rescuing ducklings.
My Garden
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
A little girl helps tend the family garden. She daydreams about the garden she would grow. Her special crops include chocolate bunnies, color changing flowers and shells, but no weeds. Her garden is a special garden indeed.
Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII
5 stars
Author: Shari Swanson
Illustrator: Renee Graef
After several years of war, everyone was in need of something different. That's about when a duck landed on a pier in the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee. She decides it will do just fine as a nest and lays her eggs.
Since the pier is near a bridge with a walkway and roads with sidewalks, this duck is quickly noticed. At first only local people knew. Then the news services spread the news to the world.
As WWII wound down, Gertie captures the attention of the world as she tries to hatch her eggs and raise her ducklings.
The heroes? The bridge tenders who spent a night out in a bad storm rescuing ducklings.
My Garden
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
A little girl helps tend the family garden. She daydreams about the garden she would grow. Her special crops include chocolate bunnies, color changing flowers and shells, but no weeds. Her garden is a special garden indeed.
August 2, 2024
"Crickwing" and "Hosni the Dreamer"
Self confidence is so important. It is fragile and will crack under attack from others. But determination can hold it together.
Crickwing
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Crickwing is a cockroach. Before you cringe and flee, there are almost 4,000 species of cockroaches as an information page at the end will explain. This cockroach is a forest floor resident.
A toad attacks and leaves this cockroach with a dislocated wing giving it the name. Being bullied, it looks for someone smaller to bully and finds the leaf cutter ants.
These inoffensive farmer ants are not happy being bullied. They retaliate. But they are not mean and don't feed him to the army ants.
Now the army ants are planning total destruction of the leaf cutter ants.
Crickwing to the rescue.
The illustrations are bold, colorful, and bring the forest area to life. There are also small line drawings of actions leading to the large images.
Hosni the Dreamer
5 stars
Author: Ehud Ben-Ezer
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
This is an Arabian tale. The illustrations made me think of the "Arabian Nights", the desert. The camels are superb.
Hosni is a shepherd for a sheikh. He is allowed to go to the city with the sheikh and others to sell camels. He has long dreamed of going to the city.
While there, with the money he is paid, he buys a verse, some advice, for which the others laugh at him. On the return trip, this advice is ignored by all, but Hosni.
Crickwing
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Crickwing is a cockroach. Before you cringe and flee, there are almost 4,000 species of cockroaches as an information page at the end will explain. This cockroach is a forest floor resident.
A toad attacks and leaves this cockroach with a dislocated wing giving it the name. Being bullied, it looks for someone smaller to bully and finds the leaf cutter ants.
These inoffensive farmer ants are not happy being bullied. They retaliate. But they are not mean and don't feed him to the army ants.
Now the army ants are planning total destruction of the leaf cutter ants.
Crickwing to the rescue.
The illustrations are bold, colorful, and bring the forest area to life. There are also small line drawings of actions leading to the large images.
Hosni the Dreamer
5 stars
Author: Ehud Ben-Ezer
Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
This is an Arabian tale. The illustrations made me think of the "Arabian Nights", the desert. The camels are superb.
Hosni is a shepherd for a sheikh. He is allowed to go to the city with the sheikh and others to sell camels. He has long dreamed of going to the city.
While there, with the money he is paid, he buys a verse, some advice, for which the others laugh at him. On the return trip, this advice is ignored by all, but Hosni.
July 30, 2024
"A Day With No Words" and "Giraffes Can't Dance"
Discovering who you are in spite of what others tell you is interesting to read about.
A Day With No Words
5 stars
Author: Tiffany Hammond
Illustrator: Kate Cosgrove
The autism spectrum has many facets. This book explores one of them.
Although people normally depend on words to communicate, there are many other ways too. We usually try to ignore those even though we are constantly monitoring them.
The young man in this story does not speak. Yet he and his mother constantly communicate. He sees the world differently from other people, yet his way is as valid as theirs.
This story explores these topics.
The illustrations are done with an attempt to illustrate the world the autistic boy sees. They contain many colors, yet they are soft as though to envelope the mother and son in their love for each other.
Giraffes Can't Dance
5 stars
Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
The story is pure fantasy requiring the reader to abandon reality to truly enjoy it.
Gerald the giraffe is clumsy. He goes to the jungle dance where the various animals do special dances. They laugh at him as he is too clumsy to dance. Or is he?
The illustrations are bright and filled with color. The animals are recognizable, yet stylized to fit with being in a fantasy.
A Day With No Words
5 stars
Author: Tiffany Hammond
Illustrator: Kate Cosgrove
The autism spectrum has many facets. This book explores one of them.
Although people normally depend on words to communicate, there are many other ways too. We usually try to ignore those even though we are constantly monitoring them.
The young man in this story does not speak. Yet he and his mother constantly communicate. He sees the world differently from other people, yet his way is as valid as theirs.
This story explores these topics.
The illustrations are done with an attempt to illustrate the world the autistic boy sees. They contain many colors, yet they are soft as though to envelope the mother and son in their love for each other.
Giraffes Can't Dance
5 stars
Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
The story is pure fantasy requiring the reader to abandon reality to truly enjoy it.
Gerald the giraffe is clumsy. He goes to the jungle dance where the various animals do special dances. They laugh at him as he is too clumsy to dance. Or is he?
The illustrations are bright and filled with color. The animals are recognizable, yet stylized to fit with being in a fantasy.
"A Day With No Words" and "Giraffes Can't Dance"
Discovering who you are in spite of what others tell you is interesting to read about.
A Day With No Words
5 stars
Author: Tiffany Hammond
Illustrator: Kate Cosgrove
The autism spectrum has many facets. This book explores one of them.
Although people normally depend on words to communicate, there are many other ways too. We usually try to ignore those even though we are constantly monitoring them.
The young man in this story does not speak. Yet he and his mother constantly communicate. He sees the world differently from other people, yet his way is as valid as theirs.
This story explores these topics.
The illustrations are done with an attempt to illustrate the world the autistic boy sees. They contain many colors, yet they are soft as though to envelope the mother and son in their love for each other.
Giraffes Can't Dance
5 stars
Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
The story is pure fantasy requiring the reader to abandon reality to truly enjoy it.
Gerald the giraffe is clumsy. He goes to the jungle dance where the various animals do special dances. They laugh at him as he is too clumsy to dance. Or is he?
The illustrations are bright and filled with color. The animals are recognizable, yet stylized to fit with being in a fantasy.
A Day With No Words
5 stars
Author: Tiffany Hammond
Illustrator: Kate Cosgrove
The autism spectrum has many facets. This book explores one of them.
Although people normally depend on words to communicate, there are many other ways too. We usually try to ignore those even though we are constantly monitoring them.
The young man in this story does not speak. Yet he and his mother constantly communicate. He sees the world differently from other people, yet his way is as valid as theirs.
This story explores these topics.
The illustrations are done with an attempt to illustrate the world the autistic boy sees. They contain many colors, yet they are soft as though to envelope the mother and son in their love for each other.
Giraffes Can't Dance
5 stars
Author: Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
The story is pure fantasy requiring the reader to abandon reality to truly enjoy it.
Gerald the giraffe is clumsy. He goes to the jungle dance where the various animals do special dances. They laugh at him as he is too clumsy to dance. Or is he?
The illustrations are bright and filled with color. The animals are recognizable, yet stylized to fit with being in a fantasy.
July 26, 2024
Millions of Cats" and "Boo To a Goose"
Millions of Cats
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Wanda Ga'g
This is an old tale about an old couple who want to adopt a cat. So the old man goes in search of a pretty cat. What makes a cat pretty? The hundreds and millions and billions and trillions of cats the man finds each think they are the prettiest. He can't decide.
The illustrations are simple line drawings. The lines of cats do conjure up the impression of the hundreds, millions, billions and trillions of cats.
Boo To a Goose
5 stars
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: David Miller
This child will do many amazing things, but won't say Boo to a goose. Why not?
These illustrations are amazing. They are paper sculpture, pieces of paper cut and layered to create the images. it gives the images a three dimensional look.
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Wanda Ga'g
This is an old tale about an old couple who want to adopt a cat. So the old man goes in search of a pretty cat. What makes a cat pretty? The hundreds and millions and billions and trillions of cats the man finds each think they are the prettiest. He can't decide.
The illustrations are simple line drawings. The lines of cats do conjure up the impression of the hundreds, millions, billions and trillions of cats.
Boo To a Goose
5 stars
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: David Miller
This child will do many amazing things, but won't say Boo to a goose. Why not?
These illustrations are amazing. They are paper sculpture, pieces of paper cut and layered to create the images. it gives the images a three dimensional look.
July 23, 2024
"Pirate Pete" and "If I Crossed the Road"
Both books are about going places.
Pirate Pete
4 stars
Author: Kim Kennedy
Illustrator: Doug Kennedy
Pirate Pete has a bad case of gold fever. As he puts it: "Where there's gold, I'm a-goin'." Following a treasure map stolen from the Queen, Pirate Pete and his parrot embark on a sea voyage knowing the Queen is in hot pursuit. But gold fever causes detours.
The illustrations are bright and colorful. They are lots of fun to explore. It does bring shadows of "Treasure Island" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" to mind.
If I Crossed the Road
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Stephen Kroninger
This is for the very young people. The young boy is too young to cross the street on his own. If he could cross the road, where would he go? What adventures would he have?
The illustrations are collages. They are big and bold. Although good collages like these illustrations are difficult, the technique is one a young child would enjoy. These illustrations would make a good home base for an art excursion for a young child.
Pirate Pete
4 stars
Author: Kim Kennedy
Illustrator: Doug Kennedy
Pirate Pete has a bad case of gold fever. As he puts it: "Where there's gold, I'm a-goin'." Following a treasure map stolen from the Queen, Pirate Pete and his parrot embark on a sea voyage knowing the Queen is in hot pursuit. But gold fever causes detours.
The illustrations are bright and colorful. They are lots of fun to explore. It does bring shadows of "Treasure Island" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" to mind.
If I Crossed the Road
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Stephen Kroninger
This is for the very young people. The young boy is too young to cross the street on his own. If he could cross the road, where would he go? What adventures would he have?
The illustrations are collages. They are big and bold. Although good collages like these illustrations are difficult, the technique is one a young child would enjoy. These illustrations would make a good home base for an art excursion for a young child.
July 19, 2024
"The Big Storm" and "Many Moons"
Both of these have interesting stories. One stresses responsibility. The other finds that the moon is not the same for everyone.
Many Moons
4 stars
Author: James Thurber
Illustrator: Louis Slobodkin
The King is distraught. His young daughter is ill and wants him to give her the moon to make her well. Thinking as an adult, he consults other adults and is most depressed as obtaining the moon seems impossible.
The court jester may not know much about the moon, but he does know people. He decides to ask the princess about the moon. Her concept of the moon is different from the others none of which agree with each other.
The illustrations are very casual, barely more than outlines with color.
The Big Storm
5 stars
Author: Rhea Tregebov
Illustrator: Maryann Kovalski
Jeanette is the daughter of immigrants, probably Russian, probably in the thirties, and lives above the delicatessen owned by her parents. all members of the family work, even the cat Kitty Doyle.
Kitty Doyle always goes with Jeanette to school and meets her to come home. One day it snows. Jeanette plays and goes home with a friend only to realize she forgot about Kitty Doyle. Somewhere near the school her cat is still waiting for her as she goes in search.
The illustrations set the time and place of the story. They are slightly stylized. They reflect the clothing and what a New York City delicatessen was like then. They make the reader feel Jeanette's unhappiness as she searches for her beloved cat.
Many Moons
4 stars
Author: James Thurber
Illustrator: Louis Slobodkin
The King is distraught. His young daughter is ill and wants him to give her the moon to make her well. Thinking as an adult, he consults other adults and is most depressed as obtaining the moon seems impossible.
The court jester may not know much about the moon, but he does know people. He decides to ask the princess about the moon. Her concept of the moon is different from the others none of which agree with each other.
The illustrations are very casual, barely more than outlines with color.
The Big Storm
5 stars
Author: Rhea Tregebov
Illustrator: Maryann Kovalski
Jeanette is the daughter of immigrants, probably Russian, probably in the thirties, and lives above the delicatessen owned by her parents. all members of the family work, even the cat Kitty Doyle.
Kitty Doyle always goes with Jeanette to school and meets her to come home. One day it snows. Jeanette plays and goes home with a friend only to realize she forgot about Kitty Doyle. Somewhere near the school her cat is still waiting for her as she goes in search.
The illustrations set the time and place of the story. They are slightly stylized. They reflect the clothing and what a New York City delicatessen was like then. They make the reader feel Jeanette's unhappiness as she searches for her beloved cat.
July 16, 2024
"The Giant Pumpkin" and "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell"
Two whimsical books.
The Giant Pumpkin
4 stars
From: Peter Rabbit TV series
The story is good. It does read like a television script. Of course the rabbits led by Peter outsmart both Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Tod, the fox.
The illustrations are evidently stills from the television series.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell
5 stars.
Author: Lucille Colandro
Illustrator: Jared Lee
Pure hyperbolic fantasy. An additive, repetitive story.
First the lady swallows a shell, then a crab, then a fish and so on. Each is more fantastic than the one before. As each is added, the story goes back through the previous items swallowed. There is rhyming and rhythm to the text.
The Giant Pumpkin
4 stars
From: Peter Rabbit TV series
The story is good. It does read like a television script. Of course the rabbits led by Peter outsmart both Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Tod, the fox.
The illustrations are evidently stills from the television series.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell
5 stars.
Author: Lucille Colandro
Illustrator: Jared Lee
Pure hyperbolic fantasy. An additive, repetitive story.
First the lady swallows a shell, then a crab, then a fish and so on. Each is more fantastic than the one before. As each is added, the story goes back through the previous items swallowed. There is rhyming and rhythm to the text.
July 12, 2024
"Macca the Alpaca" and Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes"
Both of these are lots of fun. Macca is cute.
Macca the Alpaca
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Matt Cosgrove
Macca is a cute, fun loving, affectionate alpaca. One day he meets Harmer, a bully llama who considers Macca fair game. Macca is a surprise for him.
Macca is illustrated to be a lovable, cuddly guy. Harmer is so proud, confident. The illustrations are fun.
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
5 stars
Authors/Illustrators: Kimberly and James Dean
This is for the younger set, but still fun. Pete and Gus are baking cupcakes for a party. They begin to disappear. Who is taking them? When the culprit is caught, what do you do?
Macca the Alpaca
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Matt Cosgrove
Macca is a cute, fun loving, affectionate alpaca. One day he meets Harmer, a bully llama who considers Macca fair game. Macca is a surprise for him.
Macca is illustrated to be a lovable, cuddly guy. Harmer is so proud, confident. The illustrations are fun.
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
5 stars
Authors/Illustrators: Kimberly and James Dean
This is for the younger set, but still fun. Pete and Gus are baking cupcakes for a party. They begin to disappear. Who is taking them? When the culprit is caught, what do you do?
July 9, 2024
"From the Farm to You" and "White Tiger, Blue Serpent"
These are two fairy tale like books.
White Tiger, Blue Serpent
4 stars
Author: Grace Tseng
Illustrators: Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng
Like a fairy tale, there is a beautiful land ruled by Queen Qin. Everyone on the other side of the river is afraid of her and her temper. Their lands are poor.
When Queen Qin steals a special silk tapestry embroidered by a woman for her won, the son crosses the bridge to reclaim it. He must face the white tiger, the blue serpent and Queen Qin.
The illustrations are very Chinese and beautiful.
From the Farm to You
3 stars
Author: Annette Triplett
Illustrator: Dennis Murphy
A very naive look at farming. It is very much about a local grower morphed into a big time farmer. The emphasis is evidently to buy local produce.
It's cute. It does make the farmers and their families into rather silly people.
The illustrations are blocky characters. Everyone is smiling all the time.
White Tiger, Blue Serpent
4 stars
Author: Grace Tseng
Illustrators: Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng
Like a fairy tale, there is a beautiful land ruled by Queen Qin. Everyone on the other side of the river is afraid of her and her temper. Their lands are poor.
When Queen Qin steals a special silk tapestry embroidered by a woman for her won, the son crosses the bridge to reclaim it. He must face the white tiger, the blue serpent and Queen Qin.
The illustrations are very Chinese and beautiful.
From the Farm to You
3 stars
Author: Annette Triplett
Illustrator: Dennis Murphy
A very naive look at farming. It is very much about a local grower morphed into a big time farmer. The emphasis is evidently to buy local produce.
It's cute. It does make the farmers and their families into rather silly people.
The illustrations are blocky characters. Everyone is smiling all the time.
