Karen GoatKeeper's Blog, page 16

"The Mysterious Tadpole" and "The Stray Dog"

One book was for fun. The other addresses a serious problem.

The Mysterious Tadpole
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Steven Kellogg

Uncle McAllister lives in Scotland and always sends Louis an interesting birthday present. This one is a tadpole he names Alphonse. Except this tadpole does not become a frog.
The illustrations are simple and interesting in themselves. The tadpole is pure fantasy, but lots of fun.

The Stray Dog
5 stars
Author (told to by Reiko Sassa)/Illustrator: Marc Simont

A family goes on a picnic at a dog park and enjoys the company of a little dog they call Willie. Surely willie belongs to someone? Or does he?
The illustrations bring out the fun of a small dog for children.
This story hinges on a problem: people abandoning pets in public places.

"Itty Bitty Kitty Corn" and "Creepy Carrots"

When I pulled Kitty Corn from the shelf, I almost put it back, That bright pink kitten looked ridiculous to me. I'm glad I kept it.
This year I'm growing carrots. Just what makes a carrot creepy?

Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn
5 stars
Author: Shannon Hale
Illustrator: Leuyen Pham

A kitten really wants to be a unicorn and goes to great lengths to pretend to be one. Each attempt is mocked by Parakeet and Gecko. Then Kitty meets a real unicorn.
This is a story of persistence and reaching for a dream even when discouraged.
The illustrations are fun even though the kitten is fantasy. Parakeet and Gecko are fun.
Don't overlook the picture stories on the insides of the front and back covers.

Creepy Carrots
5 stars
Author: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrator: Peter Brown

What do you do if you are a carrot in a rabbit's favorite carrot patch? What do you do if you are a rabbit and think you are being followed by carrots?
The ending made me laugh.
The illustrations really make the rabbit's belief he is being followed by carrots seem crazy.

"The Littlest Lighthouse Keeper to the Rescue" and "The Book With No Pictures"

How can a picture book have no pictures? Surprisingly, it works. The lighthouse keeper is fantasy.

The Littlest Lighthouse Keeper to the Rescue
3 stars
Authors/Illustrators: Heidi and Daniel Howarth

There is a terrible storm which is one reason lighthouses were erected. Afterwards, there is a cry for help from a baby seal. A mouse and an auk seek to find the seal's mother.

The Book With No Pictures
5 stars
Author: B.J. Novak

This book starts off challenging the idea that a picture book must have pictures. It capitalizes on having the book read aloud and the reader ends up becoming a victim of the shenanigans.
Done right, this book is very funny.

"Daddy Is a Doodlebug" and "Cat Secrets"

These are fun read aloud books. Fair warning: Be sure you read through them before reading them with that young person. One is full of nonsense words you won't want to stumble over. The other has many places asking for reader participation as meowing.

Daddy Is a Doodlebug
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Bruce Degen

Welcome to the world of bugs, insects really. All the characters have the requisite six arms and legs. And those insects are having a very good time doing lots of things.
The writing is fun, full of nonsense words that will be fun to say. The illustrations are colorful and really bring the story to life.
This is a fun read aloud book begging for the reader to say the fun words aloud with the reader.

Cat Secrets
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jef Czekaj

Do cats really have secrets? According to this fun book, they do and they only want to share them with cats. Therefore, you, the reader, must do several things to prove you qualify to read these cat secrets.
The illustrations are bold cats looking out at the reader, asking the reader questions, challenging the reader. Do keep an eye out for the mouse.
This book will be lots of fun for a young child as they get to meow, purr and do other things like a cat.

"The Yellow House" and "Not Quite Narwhal"

These two books are pure fantasy, although different approaches.

Not Quite Narwhal
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jessie Sima

Kelp was born and lives in the deep ocean with the narwhals. However, he is not a narwhal. One day he sees a creature that looks like him and goes to investigate.
The illustrations are aimed for the very young both in the characters and the pastel coloring. Some of the story is quite humorous as when Kelp learns to walk on land.
The story is cute as are the illustrations.

The Yellow House
4 stars
Author: Blake Morrison
Illustrator: Helen Craig

Every day a girl, her mother and little sister walk to the park passing an old, yellow house. No one ever seems to be at this house. The little girl wonders who lives there.
Then, one day, the girl has a chance to go up the walk to the house. A little boy calls to her asking her to come and see a series of fantastic creatures.
The illustrations are line drawings with color added. They are well done and make the various creatures fun.

"Come On, Rain", "Fancy Nancy Oodles of Kittens", "Beneath a Blue Umbrella"

I do love to read picture books and wish I could read many more of them than I have time for. I have written and illustrated three myself and truly admire those who create these books.

Beneath a Blue Umbrella
3 stars
Author: Jack Prelutsky
Illustrator: Garth Williams
The poems are fun and humorous. They are definitely aimed for those who like silly poems which I'm not a fan of. If I were, the rating would be higher.
Each poem concerns an animal doing something incredible.
The illustrations are colorful and definitely fit the book. Often they are as humorous as the poems.

Fancy Nancy Oodles of Kittens
5 stars
Author: Jane O'Connor
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
One rainy day Nancy and friends discover a mother cat and five kittens. Kittens are fun, but they grow up. This introduces giving up the kittens. And her dog Frenchy is jealous.
The illustrations are great showing Nancy as fancy along with her surroundings fit into a casual household.

Come On, Rain
5 stars
Author: Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Jon J. Muth
The weather is hot and dry. Everything is wilting. Tessie is hoping for rain and pinning those hopes on some approaching clouds.
The illustrations are casual watercolors that capture the city scenes. Later they evoke the joy of dancing in the rain.

"Llama Llama Misses Mama" and "Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy"

I'd heard of these two series and somehow overlooked checking them out. I'm glad I finally took a look at them.

Llama Llama Misses Mama
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Anna Dewdney
Little Llama is starting school. Mama Llama takes him to the class, then leaves. Llama is shy, afraid, missing Mama.
I get the impression this is more for preschool than kindergarten. It is written in rhyme and fun to read.
The illustrations have a crayon look to them, are colorful and cute. The characters are all animals and identifying them could make the book more fun for a child. Although the characters are animals, they are really people in both dress and actions.

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
5 stars
Author: Jane O'Connor
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
Nancy loves to dress up, be fancy in her clothes and behavior. Her family is ordinary and happy being that way.
The family will get a puppy. Nancy wants a papillon like the one a very upscale lady next door has. The question is whether this is the best dog for her and her family.
The illustrations are delightful. Nancy tries to be so fancy. Her outfits and hair styles are wonderful.
Nancy's family is so ordinary. They dress and look like any middle class family.
Every page has so much to look at. It is a book that will take Several readings to really see all that is there.

"Sulwe" and "Dog Donovan"

These two books dealt with good topics, one was acceptance of who you are and the other with fears.

Sulwe
5 stars
Author: Lupita Nyong'o
Illustrator: Vashti Harrison
Sulwe is born very dark color into a world that values much lighter skin tones. She tries to change the color of her skin. Nothing works. Instead she learns to value who she is.
Although this book is about skin color, it can be about other traits as well. Too many times we let others define how we see ourselves and try to meet their expectations. We should learn to value who we are.
The illustrations reflect the theme and the story which often speaks of the night so the background colors are shades of a luscious purple.

Dog Donovan
5 stars
Author: Diana Hendry
Illustrator: Margaret Chamberlain
Everyone in the Donovan family is afraid of something. They decide to get a dog. The dog turns out to be afraid of everything.
The illustrations are simple drawings. Dog Donovan looks somewhat like a Russian wolfhound. The positions and expressions for the dog are delightful. They lend a humorous touch to the entire story.

"Trouble with Trolls" and "Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!"

One book for winter and another for spring was on the agenda this time mirroring the weather.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
4 stars
Author: Candace Fleming
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Spring is time for gardening. Mr. McGreely plans to grow one this year. He dreams of fresh produce. Then three bunnies decide to help eat the garden produce. The war is on!
This book is full of fun words to say out loud. The ending is a surprise and fun too.
The illustrations look like simple pencil and colored pencil drawings, very appropriate to the story. They have a childlike quality to them. And they are not simple drawings at all.

Trouble with Trolls
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett
A family of trolls living underground on Mount Baldy have decided they want a dog.
Treva and her dog Tuffi are going over Mount Baldy to visit her cousin. She must outwit the trolls or lose her dog.
The illustrations are superb. As with other books by this author, watch the extra drawings this time below the main ones. Especially watch for the hedgehog.

"Aunt Flossie's Hats" and "Mossy"

Both of these picture books look toward the past.

Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)
5 stars
Author: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Illustrator: James Ransome

My grandparents had stories of their lives. Perhaps yours did too. How many of them did someone write down? Or are they lost now?
This picture book is about stories Aunt Flossie told about some of her collection of hats. Each hat had a place in history.
The illustrations are paintings of the story. They bring the story and the hats to life.
After the story, the author urges people to ask, listen to and record their family stories. These stories tell us who we are and where we came from. Too often they vanish along with the people.

Mossy
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett

For many years amateur naturalists collected interesting geologic and biologic specimens. At the time many new things were being found from places around the world and finally looked at around home. Some of these collections were later shown to the public.
Two such collectors find Mossy, a turtle with a garden of mosses and wild flowers growing on her shell. They create an indoor place for Mossy where the turtle is a popular attraction. But, is it right to keep the turtle caged?
The illustrations are exquisite. These are not only the main one on a page, but the sidebars and the margins. Each page has a different type of objects in the margins: rocks, shells, plants, insects and more as would be in such a collection of the time. The amount of detail in each illustration rivals a photograph and is reminiscent of the illustrations found in scientific papers of that time.