My Favorite Thing

by Emily Jenkins, AnnaLaura Cantone (Illustrator)

In words and pictures, Alberta shares what she likes and does not like about dogs, cats, baths, and many other things as she leads up to what she likes best of all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2004

About the author

Emily Jenkins is the author of many books for children, including the recent picture books Tiger and Badger, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and Princessland, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Her chapter books include the Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; she is co-author of the Upside-down Magic series. Emily Jenkins lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Now I'm binging Emily Jenkins. Because I can. Again.

Oh, and those endpaper questions? Monsters.

***

11 January 2011

It would be more fun to read with a young child; the endpapers ask lots of questions that would make for a fun conversation. I like that Alberta is so very decided in her opinions. I love that Alberta's cat has a tail that is insanely long. I love Alberta's favorite thing

Yeah, I cleaned out the Emily Jenkins shelf in the picture books. As one does.

Library copy.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brilliant concept of this book can help children of any age... to strengthen their sense of self.

Every picture book hero is a potential influencer. As adults we may forget how very impressionable children are up until age five... and beyond.

So welcome Alberta, "a girl of particular tastes." She revels in stating them with great enthusiasm.

EVEN THOUGH OUR TASTES WILL CHANGE THROUGHOUT LIFE

Alberta's example can help us to know more about ourselves, how each of us has faves right now: Definite likes and dislikes and why's.

FIVE STARS for this delightful book, lighthearted and quirky and potentially soooo helpful for readers.

Superb work here, author Emily Jenkins and illustrator AnnaLaura Cantone. I consider this book a treasure.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was cute, both in words and illustrations. I kept wondering what was her favorite thing, when in the end I shouldn't have been surprised. :-) I enjoyed how this book wasn't traditionally read, left-to-right horizontally, but had pages that caused you to turn the book on its side and read top-to-bottom. It seems to fit Alberta's personality. I think a lot of students/children could relate to this book, and the extra reasons why add additional fun and conversation.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alberta lists things she like and things she doesn’t like. But what is her favorite thing? She likes baths, doesn’t like anchovies, likes her brother sometimes… But her absolute favorite thing is herself. It is good to love yourself.
(warning: there’s a scary doll page)

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay alberta we get it now shut

[Carrie Rolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alberta is a very opinionated little girl who explains why dogs are not her favorite thing thusly: I do not like large ones that drool, but small ones that keep their tongues in their mouths are okay. She also considers the color orange to be terrifically exciting, and really, that's the reason I liked the book. I'm going to start describing things as terrifically exciting. (Oh, and just so you're not in suspense, Alberta's favorite thing is herself.)

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightful colours ... it starts of as "Alberta is a girl of particular tastes ...."

my favorite page ... the page about loving orange

book that flips between horizontal and vertical - the way the words are put on the page

love this dedication "In memory of Rob Moss, who liked jazz, classical literature, beautiful women, and telling stories. I don't know what his favorite thing was - but I hope he's got a lot of it, now."

am going to read to Riverside kindy tomorrow.

[VAle · Rating 2 out of 5]

preso in biblioteca

Storia carina, belle illustrazioni, anche se ho rilevato non essere così immediato, come invece pensavo, per i bambini. Infatti, utilizzato per un'attività con bimbi di prima e seconda elementare, mi sono ritrovata a dover spiegare loro quale fosse il senso della storia e cosa mi aspettassi da loro (si trattava di un'attività in cui dovevano disegnare ciò che preferivano, appunto!). E questo fa perdere le molte stellette che inizialmente gli avrei assegnato!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 4.5/5

This is a really funny book, that especially resonated with Gracie : ) I mostly love AnnaLaura Cantone's illustrations, except for her depictions of grown women. C r e e p y

[Yulidy Decena]

Great book to discuss the likes and dislikes. It also helps them think of why they should like themselves.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like this better, I think, with different art. I love the actual text and story, but the art is off-putting and too busy to make this a good read aloud.