Anything Is Possible

It's not that it hasn't arrived earlier than expected previously.  It has but disappeared within hours.  It will begin this morning and will most likely continue for the next four days.  It's not every year snowfall carpets the landscape on Halloween.  Trick or treaters will be trudging through the cold, gusty winds and white this year in northern Michigan.

Will anyone or anything else be brave enough to venture out in this storm?  We're never certain who or what roams around on Halloween night after we are tucked inside our homes.  Snowmen At Halloween (Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, August 20, 2019) written by Caralyn Buehner with pictures by Mark Buehner is the fifth book by this wife and husband team to follow the adventures of special snowmen.  The previous titles Snowmen At Night, Snowmen At Christmas, Snowmen All Year and Snowmen At Work are full of action, fun and hidden pictures.  This newest book continues with the beloved elements found in the first four and is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

One autumn day the air turned
cold and it began to snow.
We went outside and made some
snowmen standing in a row.

As the narrator, a brother tells us his sister had a box of dress-up items for Halloween.  They pulled out some of them and placed them on the newly formed snowmen.  Standing before them were now a ghost, a pirate, a witch, a vampire and a cowboy.  After trick-or-treating, when the siblings walked past the snowmen, the brother was sure one of the snowmen winked.  Winked?  Perhaps, the boy wondered snowmen do enjoy Halloween.  Perhaps . . .

Beneath a full moon all the snowmen dressed in costumes from all the homes in the village formed a parade.  They gathered in the center of town where the glow of Halloween lights and lanterns glimmered a welcome to one and all.  Like the best kind of party, this occasion began with pumpkin carving.

Carnival games challenged them to fish or toss a ring.  They relished the sweet stickiness of caramel treats and apples bobbed as they tried to grab one.  A crowd formed around a fortune teller.  Stacks of hay bales walled in a wondrous maze and spooky tales thrilled a crowd. (None of whom were too close to the crackling fire.)

After the joyful celebration, each snowman wandered home trick-or-treating along the way.  Of those, five, one a ghost, another a pirate, a witch, a vampire and a cowboy, could hardly contain their laughter.  In the morning, the day after Halloween, these speculations of the brother, were hard to confirm because a warming during the night had melted all the snow except for a few small patches.  And yet, the five had their say.


As the fourth line of the first two sentences is completed, you're aware of something a bit unusual.  Enough snow to make five snowmen in autumn is a departure from the status quo.  Caralyn Buehner maintains this atmosphere of the unexpected with her rhythm supplied by rhyming words at the end of each two sentences or lines.  Sometimes they are divided and grouped as four lines and other times simply as two sentences together or a single sentence with punctuation indicating a pause.  Activities associated with this celebratory holiday and its parties are described with words recreating the fun and appropriate mood.  Here is a single sentence.

It's a dark and spooky night, but the snowmen aren't afraid---
They'll follow one another in a Halloween parade,
Gliding down the moonlit streets into the village square,
Beckoned by the twinkling lights and lanterns hanging there.


I don't know about you but when I look at those snowmen on the front of the matching dust jacket and book case, I want to join them in their laughter and Halloween fun.  All the details beneath the title text ask readers to pause.  This is the first of many times when you'll carefully look at a scene, noticing all the extra things Mark Buehner includes in his painting.  Above the title text is a more panoramic scene of the neighborhood.  The use of light and shadow here and throughout the book is wonderful.

To the left, on the back, small images of the four preceding titles are shown with their awards and quotes from professional journals.  A deep, rich royal blue covers the opening and closing endpapers.  On the first flap readers are challenged to locate a rabbit, a cat and a T.rex cleverly hidden in each picture.

With a page turn we are greeted by a grinning snow-topped jack-o-lantern sitting on a porch railing.  Flakes and autumn leaves are falling around it.  The background is a pale blue, purple and pink blend.  On the title page the pictorial interpretation of the story starts with a bird's eye view of the brother and sister pushing snowballs through the snow, already making their snowmen.  Their snowballs are fashioning paths of green from the grass underneath.  Their footprints in the snow make other trails.

Each two-page image is painted with meticulous attention to the time of day and the movements of the characters in each setting.  The glow of the full moon casts an eerie light.  Is that a cloud or a ghost?  Why are there more bats than normal?

Readers will be enchanted by the array of costumes on all the snowmen.  (It might be fun to make a list.)  The expressions on the jack-o-lanterns are intriguing as well.  The use of color in each illustration heightens the excitement of the holiday, the season and the fascinating festivities.  Artist Mark Buehner shifts his perspectives to take us deeper into the story; close-up to the snowmen at the party playing games, even closer when they're gathered around looking into a snow globe for predicting their futures and a bird's eye view of participants in the maze.

One of my many, many favorite images is a double-page picture. (They're all double-page pictures.)  On a patch of grass beneath the roof of an orange tent is a kiddie pool etched with fish on the outside.  Gathered around it are three snowmen trying to catch fish with magnets. The fourth snowman dressed as Robin Hood is attempting to shoot one with his suction cup arrow.  Tiny ghosts hang from the metal supports underneath the tent roof. Throughout this setting are jack-o-lanterns glowing with grins. Orange lights are strung from booth to booth.  A ring toss game is off to the right.  Behind and next to it is the fortune teller's tent.  Moving to the left is face painting and then a BINGO booth.  The costumes are amazing!  You can almost hear the excitement and laughter.


Whether you are a fan of or familiar with the other Snowmen books, you'll rejoice at this new addition, Snowmen At Halloween written by Caralyn Buehner with pictures by Mark Buehner.  The words create a Halloween happening possibility and the illustrations bring it to life with marvelous merriment.  You'll want to add this to your professional and personal collections.  Good luck with finding all the extra goodies in the visuals.  If you have trouble, on the inside of the dust jacket is a key.

To discover more about Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner and their other work, please follow the link attached to Caralyn Buehner's name to access their shared websites.  They maintain accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The book trailer for this new title on their Facebook page is delightfully spooky.  At the publisher's website you can view the first illustration in the book.  Here is a link to an interesting biographical account of Mark Buehner's artwork.  Enjoy the video with Mark Buehner speaking about his painting.

Annual Anniversary

There is absolutely no way to stop it. It arrives every year on the same day at the same time and it leaves not a second earlier or later than it should.  A lot of individuals can hardly wait for the date.  A few choose to ignore it

In some households it is a cause for a special event.  It's a time to honor the celebrant. There might be a party.  There might be games.  There might be special food. And there might be gifts.  Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish (G. P. Putnam's Sons, February 12, 2019) written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld focuses on one of the most significant elements of observing a birthday.

There are,
there most definitely are,
10
very specific, tried and true,
and absolutely essential
Rules For The Making of
a Birthday Wish.

You may think rule number one is stating the obvious but there are some beings who think as long as they blow out birthday candles, they can make a wish.  If it's not actually the date of your birthday or close to it, this is a fruitless endeavor.  To ensure the validity of your wish a party is essential; a party with hats.

A form of light to extinguish is imperative.  Did you know you have to close your eyes when you wish?  Do you know why?  Before eliminating the light, usually candles, most will inhale deeply.  If you don't rule number nine will certainly be impossible.  There is an exception to this rule . . . for camels.  The justification makes perfect sense for sanitary reasons.

There are those who don't follow rule number ten.  Sometimes it's in error.  If this happens, you'll have to hold your wish in your heart until next year.


This is no ordinary list of regulations for those commemorating their special day.  Beth Ferry adds commentary for most of the wishes guaranteeing readers will be grinning from ear to ear in mere minutes.  She gives us an opportunity to ponder exceptions to these birthday wish rules.  What if your life span is less than a year?  Are balloons always a good party accessory? (What if you are a swordfish?)  What kind of wish is acceptable?  Here is a portion from rule number four.

If you are a frog, consider using
fireflies as your candles AND
your dessert.  Combining rules is
completely acceptable.


Rendered in pencil, watercolor, colored pencil, and pastel by Tom Lichtenheld, the illustrations beginning on the matching dust jacket and book case certainly put loads of happiness in this book about birthday wishes.  All the characters are highly animated and smiling or laughing.  The white canvas is ideal for showcasing the brightly colored animals and party items.

To the left, on the back, those creatures shown on the front are now seated around a circular table with the towering cake waiting for someone to make a wish.  On the opening and closing endpapers a royal blue and a light blue create a pattern comprised of streamers, confetti, balloons, party whistles, crowns, food and desserts, especially a piece of cake.  An enthusiastic group is featured on the verso and title pages.  A large purple elephant is joined by three rabbits, a duck and a little bear.  Everyone is wearing party hats.  Tiny print along the elephant's back reads:

Balloons are highly recommended.  Inflation by pachyderm is optional.

Background colors shift according to the subjects shown.  Some of the images span two pages and others are on single pages.  The expressions on the animals are delightful!  Certain animals travel from one portion of the book to another portion.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for rule number five.  This rules begins with
There must be singing.  On a grassy hill arching from the left side to the right side are six dogs of varying species.  Five have their eyes closed and heads lifted to howl a song for their friend.  The friend sits just right of the gutter, holding the string attached to a red balloon in its mouth.  In front of this pooch is a cake with three candles glowing.  A bone with a ribbon around it rests in the grass.



This noted illustration leads splendidly into the next title to be highlighted.  If you recall, not every single soul enjoys a certain kind of birthday bash.  Let's Have a Dog Party! (Viking, March 19, 2019) written and illustrated by Mikela Prevost gives readers a look at how a human learns to listen to her canine companion.

This is Frank's spot.

It's his favorite spot
in Kate's house.
More than his bed, 
more than his bowl.  
Frank's spot is warm
and soft and perfect
for napping.

Before Frank can settle into his perfect napping spot (next to a comfy armchair), Kate and four of her friends, shouting and laughing, run into the room.  They are ready to wish Frank a Happy Birthday.  To get Frank ready for his party, they decorate him with bows, balloons and a party hat.

Everything Frank likes, his bed and his bowl and his spot, are buried under colored wrapping paper, ribbon and tape.  Where is his spot?  It must be here.  One of the children thinks his snooping means he wants to open his presents.  Another uproar ensues.

They sing the Happy Birthday song so loud Frank cringes.  They join hands and dance around Frank.  Frank is frantic.  He leaves as fast as he can.  They think he wants to play hide-and-seek.  He simply wants to hide.

When Kate finally finds Frank, her joyful discovery turns to belated understanding.  Fortunately, the love of a girl for her dog leads to one final birthday surprise which Frank is more than willing to enjoy.  Even though Frank makes no wish, his day ends as if he has.


Throughout this story Mikela Prevost blends the voice of an unseen narrator with the conversations of Kate, his human, and her friends.  This makes the contrast between what Frank desires for his day and what Kate and company are doing even stronger.  It leads beautifully to the big moment of comprehension.  Here is a passage.

Frank watched his bed disappear.

And then his bowl.

Frank really wanted 
his spot now.

It had to be under
these things.

"Hey!
Frank wants to
open his presents!"


Spread across the open and matching dust jacket and book case are signs of a party in progress; the golden balloons on the left, coral and yellow and teal streamers and cascading confetti. You would think the birthday being would be happy but clearly the dog wearing the striped hat is anything but happy.  He's looking decidedly woebegone.  The title and his expression do not match.  Already readers will start to question what will be explored and explained in the body of the book.

On a rich golden background on the opening and closing endpapers are seven party hats in various designs with their strings gently looped near them.  The hats at the close clearly show the efforts of the children.  On the title page a barefoot Kate, carrying three balloons in her right hand, reaches out her left hand to affectionately tap Frank on his nose.  You can tell they adore each other.

Each illustration rendered in watercolor, acrylic gouache, and colored pencils with a bit of collage brings readers into the story through a blend of double-page pictures, single-page images and smaller visuals.  Mikela Prevost alters her perspective to enhance an emotion.  For two of the illustrations the background shifts because of the scene but also because of Frank's distress.  The other technique Mikela employs is to show the mouths of the children wide-open.  They are using outdoor voices inside.  This is crushing to Frank as shown by his body posture.  (For careful readers, Mikela Prevost has inserted a bit of humor made visible on the closing endpapers.  It's very clever.)

One of my many favorite illustrations is a small one, grouped with two other small images.  It's after Kate coaxes Frank from his hiding place.  She is kneeling at his level on her hands and knees.  He comes to her and gives her a doggy kiss on her cheek after she says she is sorry.  It is a time of understanding, forgiveness and love.


Both of these books, Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld and the debut title, Let's Have a Dog Party!, as both author and illustrator for Mikela Prevost, center on annual anniversaries but each one asks us to ponder completely different points.  For the first one, amid humor, we wonder if there are other rules for making wishes.  In the second one, we are asked to be sensitive to the wishes of someone other than ourselves.  I highly recommend both titles for your professional and personal book collections.

To learn more about Beth Ferry, Tom Lichtenheld and Mikela Prevost and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Beth Ferry has an account on Instagram and Twitter.  Tom Lichtenheld has an account on Instagram and Twitter.  Beth and Tom are featured at Publishers Weekly, Four Questions for Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld.  They are also guests on a broadcast, Marginalia.  Mikela Prevost has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view the opening endpapers of Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish and Let's Have a Dog Party!

A Double Dose Of Cheer And Chuckles

Laughter, most importantly the laughter of children, especially when everyone is celebrating something funny together is seriously one of the best things in the world.  Guys and gals are quick to see the humor in a given situation, even those tucked in the corners of picture book images.  Once they get started, sometimes they can't stop.  And you don't want them to either.  You want to bottle it up to save for those days when laughter is elusive.

A measurement of mirth every single day is a necessity even on the good ones.  It's even more important on those days with good things in them but everything else seems to be out of control.  There is nothing like picture books as a salve to sooth your harried soul.  Author Kes Gray and illustrator Jim Field have collaborated on two titles certain to supply more than enough grins, giggles and guffaws.  The first Oi, Frog! was originally published in February, 2014 by Hodder Children's Books in the United Kingdom.  This year it came to the United States August 25, 2015 as Frog On A Log? published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. 

HEY, FROG!
"Sit on a log!"
said the cat.

A sassy, I'm-in-charge-here, cat issues a command frog is inclined to not obey pointing out the hardness and abundance of splinters one encounters when using a log as a seat.  The fussy feline continues to insist.  When the frog enquires about sitting on the mat, the cat replies the mat is strictly for cats.  And the chair is only to be used by hares.

Moving toward a stool cat firmly mentions mules and no one else is to sit on stools.  A pattern is forming with each request from frog and each answer by cat.  Sitting on a sofa is, of course, forbidden.  Curious now, frog shifts the line of questioning.

Where might lions or parrots sit?  Neither of those places sounds appealing to frog whatsoever.  Cat is quick to mention comfort is of no importance; being proper is.  Foxes, fleas, goats, cows and storks are looking a tad bit odd when seated.

Fifteen more animals are named. With the speed of a ping-pong champion and a growing disbelief at frog's lack of knowledge, Cat assigns places for posteriors.  One final query leaves frog in a bit of a quandary.  Woof! Woof!


The second title, How Many Legs? (Hodder Children's Books, February 5, 2015), poses the question seen in the title repeatedly. You become so captivated by the guests and their companions appearing, counting, while important, is secondary to the splendid array of arrivals.  It's a participatory party and all are invited.  You simply open the book.

How many legs would there be if in this room there was only me?
How many legs would there be
If a polar bear came for tea?

A cake-carrying duck wearing hair rollers waddles into view followed by a leaping hippopotamus in a pink tutu.  A trail of colorful cookies lures in a superhero hound shadowed by a cymbal-playing chimpanzee.  Is that zooming seagull wearing a pirate hat?

As the company of companions grows, the food on the table multiples in amounts and variety.  The crunching and munching crew welcomes two more happy hoppers.  A surf and turf animal combo romp into the room.

In all shapes and sizes, tiny, medium and large, the numbers swell.  They fly, climb, creep, crawl and saunter to join the jamboree.  With the treats nearly consumed, a record spins on the turntable.  It's time to jump and jiggle, swing and sway.

WHOA!  How did he get here?  The party pauses, everyone frozen in place.  With the final fellow filling out the list (and every ounce of space), it's time to tally.  How Many Legs?


In both books Kes Gray must have been guided by a heart full of hilarity.  His combinations of rhyming couplet words are absolutely absurd never missing a beat in his cadence of comedy.  Animals and their derrieres and festive friends celebrate with every page turn.  Here are two more passages from each title.

"What do goats sit on?" asked frog.
"Goats
sit on coats,"
said the cat.
"Goats
sit on coats,
cows
sit on plows,
and storks
sit on forks."

Why would the 
number stay the same
if a slug, a snail and a 
maggot came?


Bold, bright, cheerful colors greet readers on the dust jackets and book cases of each title illustrated by Jim Field.  Turquoise, pink, shades of green, yellow, blue, brown, gray, purple, red and black illuminate the cast of characters.  In the first varying background hues highlight the animals.  In the second usually white but sometimes blue, green or yellow showcase the animal antics and their legs.

The opening and closing endpapers for Frog On A Log? in blue, green, and a little white and black set the stage for nonstop hoots and hollers.  This frog is show in numerous positions, all filled with fun.  He touches his elongated toes doing sit-ups, struts, stretches, dozes and drifts in water and gobbles up a fly. You get to supply the sounds and narrative which is easy to do with Jim Field's images.

The body postures and facial expression on each of the animals will have you hardly able to contain merriment.  The clothing and extra items worn by each of them increases the silliness.  The attention to detail will have you relishing every pause.  Hare is reading a newspaper titled HARE TODAY.  One of the headlines refers to winning.  At one point cat is informing frog chalk in hand with drawings on a page of black.  A fox holds a magnifying glass so readers can see a flea on a pea.

One of my favorite illustrations is of a bicycle being ridden by a wizard with lizards on his hat.  His entire attire is purple with tiny stars as a pattern.  He is playing a flute on which sits a newt.  His glove is the resting place of a pair of .......... and there is a seal on the .............  Frog is hanging from his long flowing beard.

The opening and closing endpapers for How Many Legs? are done in two shades of golden yellow.  It's a design in rows of the bottom portion of legs.  A page turn shows a single party hat on white.  Jim Field begins the story on the title page and verso with a double-page picture showing the boy opening the door into the room decorated for the event.

As the narrative starts he takes us close to the shoes and bottom of the boy's legs.  In the following illustrations, most two-page pictures with a few single page images, our perspective is wider.  As the guests arrive the expressions on each of the others' faces are downright hilarious.  When the hippo springs into view, the scarf-wearing polar bear spits out his tea, the curler-wearing duck gasps and drops her plate of cake and the boy shouts with arms flung open. You should see the group gathered and giggling behind the door watching the sniffing dog wearing a superhero cape and underwear arrive.

One of my favorite visuals is when the seagull comes diving into the room.  The polar bear, duck, boy, hippo and chimpanzee are all watching him.  The dog, on the other hand, is totally focused on the food.  His big nose is resting on the table top looking for his next bite of sweet treat.


Frog On A Log? and How Many Legs? written by Kes Gray with illustrations by Jim Field are filled with loads of fun.  You clearly can't read them once and you truly can't read them alone.  You have to read them aloud.  Your dog and the children in your world will be glad you did.

To discover more about Kes Gray and Jim Field please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Jim Field gives readers a great overview of his process for both books.  More illustrations are on his Tumblr page for How Many Legs?  This links to a single activity sheet for How Many Legs?

Attitude Adaptation

Some days are harder than others; they are out-and-out challenging.  You are so down; it's hard to see up.  It's been purposed repeatedly developing an attitude of gratitude makes all the difference even if the silver lining you find is the tiniest of slivers.

Anticipation and expectations can also figure into our perceptions of any given moment.  It's tough when you go into a situation believing it will be one way and everything is seemingly contrary to your assumptions.  Birthday parties are supposed to be fun for everyone.  A kitty in Bernice Gets Carried Away (Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, July 14, 2015) written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison (Extraordinary Jane, February 6, 2014) is struggling with her current state of affairs.

It was a horrible, dreary day, and it suited Bernice's mood just fine.

Bernice and a group of friends are attending a birthday party.  Adorned in party hats the animals are chatting and waiting for the pieces of cake to be passed to them.  Bernice is the only one to get a piece without a frosted decoration. Humph!

The other six partygoers manage to snag a frosty drink but not Bernice.  She gets an odd flavor and it's definitely not cold.  When pinata time rolls around our increasingly frustrated cat is on the outside looking at the all the goodies gained by the others.  Double humph!

In a determined move, Bernice races toward as a bunch of balloons on strings being carried toward the celebrating creatures.  In a shocking turn of events, after she grabs them all, she is lifted higher, higher and higher.  Before she even has time to think, the balloons are stuck on the grumpy cloud threatening to rain.

As she looks down at everyone looking up and then looks up, her point of view, now a bird's eye view, transforms her thinking and heart.  Slowly but surely Bernice makes one choice after another choice.  Her actions cause a reaction in the bear, rabbit, fox, pig, goose and turtle.  Enlightening!


Using the storytelling technique of three, Hannah E. Harrison creates a rhythm in her narrative.  Bernice dislikes three incidents during the party before she takes action.  She completes three acts of kindness before another major turn toward the conclusion.  As readers we know something is coming but we're not quite sure what will happen.

Readers can see themselves on their worst days in the character of Bernice.  Each disappointment deepens her grouchy mood.  I find it interesting that rather than continuing to pout or stomping off in a snit, Bernice makes a daring decision.


Although Bernice, paws on hips and scowling, is looking rather cranky on the matching dust jacket and book case, readers might feel compelled to smile or laugh because they are well aware of feeling the same way.  Her expression coupled with the title also raises at least one question.  What is Bernice going to do?  The choice of words opens up more than one possibility.  To the left, on the back, we are given a sneak peek at the resolution with a new illustration. The opening and closing endpapers are in the same shade as the title text on the front.

On the title page Hannah E. Harrison begins her story with a row of animals carrying gifts to the party.  Bernice, happy at the moment, brings up the rear.  Their bright colorful clothing and cheerfully wrapped packages herald a joyful beginning.  Everything changes with a page turn.

The verso and first page showcase a gloomy day.  Bernice, arms crossed, is pouting beneath a tree.  The others are chatting near the table.  Careful readers will see the hint as to the reason for the bluebird's sadness.  All the illustrations, rendered in acrylic paint on Bristol board, are rich in detail; the cranky squirrel living in the tree, the signs around his hole, his artificial turf and lawn ornament, are sure to supply laughter.

The facial looks on all the animals' faces along with their body movements but especially those of Bernice convey every mood.  The background scenes also mirror the emotional temperament of the cat.  They are glorious.  Harrison alters her image sizes from two pages, to single pages edge to edge or framed in white and singular illustrations on a background of pure white.

One of my favorite pictures is a single page image, edge to edge.  All of the guests and the birthday bear are seated around the table.  Everyone has received a piece of cake with an icing rose.  Bernice's eyes are alight with anticipation.  Each rose is a different color coordinating with the hues on the party hats and clothing worn by the animals.   You can almost hear the eager chatter.  It's a sharp contrast to the weather and the next picture.


Written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison Bernice Gets Carried Away will have readers laughing at the disparity between her experiences and those of the other birthday party participants.  Through words and pictures we come to understand how lessening one's load can bring joy to others.  Unexpected glee is highly contagious.

To discover more about Hannah E. Harrison and her other work please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  At the publisher's website they share the title page illustration.  Hannah E. Harrison is interviewed at Picture Book Builders by children's book author, Tammi Sauer. Update:  Penguin posted this brand new video on Twitter today (July 30, 2015).  Enjoy.

Constructing Memorable Moments

We remember specific days for particular reasons.  Some come every year, others are once in a lifetime treasures.  Time is kind to us, softening the edges of those hurtful days and enhancing those days filled with joy.

Usually those visiting us annually are anticipated with barely contained glee.  Past experiences heighten our eagerness for their arrival.  In the most recent collaboration between Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, Bulldozer's Big Day (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, May 5, 2015), the little guy is wondering why his co-workers aren't sharing his excitement.

It was Bulldozer's big day.
And he couldn't wait to invite all his friends to his party.

With impressive speed for a bulldozer, he hurried toward his pals at the construction site.  He first met Digger Truck who acknowledged his query about what day it was with a work-related reply.  Digger was busy doing what digger trucks do.

A tad crestfallen Bulldozer next turned to Dump Truck.  Dump Truck's answer made him feel a little bit smaller.  Like a balloon slowly deflating he traveled to Cement Mixer.  Cement Mixer told him today was like every other day.

Bulldozer's pre-party happiness was almost gone especially when Scraper and Grader nonchalantly announced their plans to him. Hoping Roller Truck would certainly know what day it was, he moved over to chat with him.  This time his question was very different; a reflection of his mood change.  The response he received was not what he wanted to hear.

At this point Bulldozer was so dejected his blade was nearly scraping the ground.  Surely Crane Truck would remember.  His first answer lifted Bulldozer's spirits but the surge of expectancy was momentary.

Wooot!

There was the day-end whistle.  Bulldozer slowly left the construction site not believing how this day had ended. Wait a minute!  What were all those different whistle sounds?  When Bulldozer investigated, he understood what his buddies had been doing all day.  Make a wish Bulldozer!


With simple sentences filled with distinctive degrees of emotion Candace Fleming invites readers to share a very important day with Bulldozer.  Verbs used are a reflection of sounds heard at a construction site;

 ...zoomed---bump-vroom, ...rumbled and ...belched.

Each time Bulldozer asks his question the others reply with the repetition of the type of day it is.  This technique coupled with Bulldozer's elation met with their business-as-usual answers makes the conclusion a delightful surprise for Bulldozer and readers.  Here is a sample passage.

"Guess what today is!" whooped Bulldozer when he got
to where Digger Truck was working.
"Guess?" Digger boomed.  "I don't need to guess, kid.
Today is a scooping day. Scooping...scooping...scooping. 


As soon as you seen the matching dust jacket and book case it's like getting to spend the day with your best friend.  The signature artwork of Eric Rohmann exudes rich warmth in its heavy black lines and animated characters.  Truthfully, I can't look at Bulldozer without smiling.  He's the kind of character you want to hug as he chugs along the construction site.  On the back, to the left, Rohmann pictures Scraper and Grader with Bulldozer peeking over the mound.  The opening and closing endpapers are black.

The matte-finished paper is perfect for the illustrations created by

using relief (black) prints.  Three plates were used for each image.  The first two plates were printed in multiple colors, using a relief printmaking process called "reduction printing."  The last plate was the "key" image, which was printed in black over the color. (from the publication page)

The picture seen on the front of the jacket and case is continued on the title page as Bulldozer races to the construction site.  We only see the back portion of him beneath the title text spread across two pages.

Fifteen double-page visuals depict a day from dawn to dusk shown in the background canvas.  A nearby city is shown in a faded skyline in more all-encompassing views.  When Bulldozer's moods change so does our position to his encounters with his friends.  We sense his emotional state through his eyes and "body" language.  The use of speech bubbles for the whistles adds an air of hope as the conclusion gets closer.  This causes the one wordless image to be spectacular.  (I can hear the gasps of readers and listeners already.)

One of my favorite illustrations is the second one in the book.  Bulldozer is so happy he is pictured traveling above the ground; appearing to float.  The rolling hills of the site are like a gentle roller coaster.  As the sunlight glows on the horizon, the city is seen in the background.  Small puffs of smoke come from his stack.  His blade is raised and his eyes are smiling.


Bulldozer's Big Day written by Candace Fleming with artwork by Eric Rohmann is charming from beginning to end.  Every single one of these characters will find a ready audience.  Story time, bedtime or any time, this title is going to be requested over and over.  Friends, true friends, don't forget birthdays or big days.

To learn more about Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann and their other wonderful work, please follow the links embedded in their names to access their websites.  At the publisher's website you can see more images from the book.  Here is a post at Publisher's Weekly, BEA 2015: Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann:  Creative Collaboration about this title.  For the pronunciation of each of their names, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, follow the links to TeachingBooks.net  Here is a link to an activity kit.

Polite Protocol

Certainly since the dawn of time, elders have served as guides for those younger than they are.  As parents or siblings it's almost an instinctive sense of duty. While most recognize the educational importance of making one's own mistakes, there are some things which must be done with the utmost care given to a prescribed sense of order, a code of conduct.

For whatever reason older sisters take this task to heart especially when it comes to younger brothers. It's a pleasure to present How to Behave at a Tea Party (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 9, 2014) written by Madelyn Rosenberg with illustrations by Heather Ross. Julia's little brother Charles has got a lot to learn; she's just the sister to show the way.

First, you open the invitation.

Overall grubbiness will not be tolerated; attention needs to be given to those places most likely to attract extra dirt.  Proper attire with emphasis on formal and fancy is required.  It would be unthinkable to attend without the quintessential hat.

Certain guests are not welcome at the suitably set table.  Oh...my...it seems those previously uninvited friends have arrived.  Er...it might be a good idea not to eat the flowers or for that matter the tablecloth.  At this point the demeanor of the hostess is deteriorating slightly.

Teacups must be held delicately.  Only certain food will be served with the exception of the dog being allowed his bone. The cornerstone magic words of manners are to be used at all times. Oh...oh...Julia is looking a tad bit more frazzled; her quiet mode of instruction has been replaced with frenzied pleas of can't, don't and no...no...no. YIKES!

Now that all the rascals, Charles, Rexie the dog, the frog and the irritable McKagan brothers, have retreated Julia can begin anew.  There are several teeny, tiny problems when following decreed tea party decorum.  It's too quiet.  It's too orderly.  It's up to the banished troublemakers to put a new spin on the best way to celebrate this time honored tradition.  Bring on the moat maker, the castle creator and daring, darling dragon!


Oh, how I love the way Madelyn Rosenberg uses words to convey the best part of any given situation. She paints pictures of personalities, transports us into best laid plans gone awry and supplies ample opportunities for us to grin, giggle and guffaw.  You can feel the tide turning and the tension building as prim and proper shifts back and forth between hilarious havoc.  Here is a single passage.

You must say "please"
and "thank you".
You must NOT slurp like a moose.
Or burp like Uncle Victor. 


The title is telling readers one thing but the dust jacket/book case front illustration depicts an entirely different scenario.  Clearly this tea party is going to be anything but ordinary.  I can hardly contain my laughter when I look at it.  On the back is featured an interior picture on the pouring and drinking of tea.  Rendered digitally the visuals begin their interpretation of the story on the title page, verso and first page as Julia writes the invitation and delivers it to her brother Charles, innocently playing with his toys on the floor.

As Julia narrates Heather Ross shows readers exactly what is happening.  Charles is not cleaning his ears but Rexie's with a toothbrush and Rexie is cleaning Charles's nose with doggy kisses.  Initially Julia is blissfully unaware which sets the stage for one comedic situation after another.

The wide-eyed looks on all the characters (except the teddy bear who stares like a deer caught in the headlights), small upturned noses and mouths shaped in an array of emotions will have readers in stitches.  Younger readers, who notice the smallest details, will be totally captivated by the expressions and antics of the frog.

One of my favorite set of illustrations is for the text

Next you put on fancy clothes.  Wear a fancy hat.  Underwear does not count as a hat.

As Julia dons a hat and ruffled cape, Charlie and the frog head for the hills.  Rexie is smitten with wearing a pink tutu.  Julia does manage to snare Charlie placing a sailor cap on his head; prompting an outburst of laughter from the frog.  Purple, lace-edged underwear labeled Tuesday ends up draped over the frog's left side.


From the first time I read this book and each subsequent reading, I have had a smile on my face every single minute.  How to Behave at a Tea Party written by Madelyn Rosenberg with illustrations by Heather Ross is an adorable accounting of the misinterpretation of manners.  Sometimes a girl just has to go with the flow...or in this case...the frog. Be ready to hear a chorus of read it again.

For more information about Madelyn Rosenberg and Heather Ross follow the links embedded in their names to find their official websites. Here is a very special link to a blog post titled To Catch a Frog by Madelyn Rosenberg.  Today on Twitter people have been posting the cutest photographs of tea party attire and settings.  Here are only a few.  Follow the hashtag #howtobehaveatateaparty .

Our indy strikes again! Thanks @tnebeker RT: Sandy and I bond over a cup of tea: #howtobehaveatateaparty pic.twitter.com/kpcbNVsZtx
— Madelyn Rosenberg (@madrosenberg) September 9, 2014

Are YOU ready for the Tea Party? Celebrate .@madrosenberg's latest! http://t.co/5LhUrwV39D #howtobehaveatateaparty pic.twitter.com/2zIoxgPonl
— Cece Bell (@CeceBellBooks) September 9, 2014

Out today is a smart, hilarious how-to picture book for your kid: #HowToBehaveAtATeaParty http://t.co/bb1PDIx5lW pic.twitter.com/AK82EyIXn1
— HarperChildrens (@HarperChildrens) September 9, 2014

It's release day for #howtobehaveatateaparty. How YOU would get ready? Hat? Monocle? Other? Show us! Details: http://t.co/rjkDtBhMF6
— Madelyn Rosenberg (@madrosenberg) September 9, 2014

Enjoy the book trailer.  I am about to savor my final cup of tea for the day.

Craving Cookies and A Super Surprise

You wait patiently as the butter softens on the counter along with the eggs warming to room temperature.  You watch as the flour, salt, and baking soda are combined together and set aside.  Your excitement increases as the butter is creamed together with two sugars and a teaspoon (plus a little more) of vanilla.  When the eggs are finally added, you know it's almost done.

Shifting from one foot to the other, you wonder why it takes so long to add the dry ingredients.  Then you hear the package being opened.  Quickly two cups, okay, maybe two and half cups of those delicious morsels are poured and stirred into the batter.  Teaspoon by teaspoon, shapes are placed on the cookie sheet, which is then slid into the warm oven.

The longest ten minutes ever in the history of time is finally completed.  As the door opens, the most intoxicating smell in the world wafts through the kitchen.  You gaze longingly from your mom to the cookies. A nod is given. You never forget the first time you taste one, as all the flavors melt in your mouth.  There is nothing quite so good as a home-baked chocolate chip cookie.

If you think the need for these delectable delights is relegated to only humans, think again.  Once any living being gets a whiff of their aroma, the need to eat them is irresistible.  Tea Party Rules (Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.) written by Ame Dyckman (Boy + Bot) with illustrations by K. G. Campbell (Lester's Dreadful Sweaters) tells the tale of a cub who has caught cookie fever.


Cub was playing in the woods
when he smelled something delicious.
He followed his nose through the
bushes and found...

Wily woodland creature that he is, Cub has found a plate covered with cookies.  It seems he is not alone in this discovery either.  There is another bear sitting in a chair right next to those tempting treats.

Unlike Cub, this bear is of the stuffed variety.  So when Cub tries to engage the bear in conversation, he is met with silence.  In fact he falls off his seat when Cub touches him.

Cub now knows the cookies are all his.  As he is about to savor the first bite of one, he hears someone coming.  Uh, oh...

Cub does the only thing he can think to do.  He masquerades as the teddy.  Let's stop here a moment.  There's a lively, young bear taking the place of an inanimate toy?

A young girl is ready for her tea party to begin.  The table is set.  The cookies are on the plate.  She has brought the tea and a bouquet of fresh flowers.  When she carefully peers at her bear, he seems to be a tad dirty.  This will not do.  Readers are introduced to Tea Party Rule number one, cleanliness.

Cub has no choice as he is carried inside by the girl.  He tolerates a bath because he wants those cookies in the worst way.  He endures rules two and three because all he can think about is consuming those cookies.

Oblivious to the discomfort Cub is enduring, the prim and proper girl goes about  HER preparations according to HER rules.  Again outside the girl pipes up, voicing her fourth and final rule.  This is the proverbial straw that breaks this little guy's back.   Cub is, after all, a bear.  Girl responds as only she can, playing by the rules. GAME ON!


Ame Dyckman's passion for play in her storytelling makes its presence known by the time the first page is turned.  Techniques such as blending the narrative with Cub and the girl speaking their thoughts aloud, repetition of key phrases, pausing to complete sentences and word emphasis, all promote the feeling we readers are there watching this friendship, however improbable, form.  The atmosphere hums with anticipation.  Giggling and guffaws are a given.


With Cub and the girl eyeing one another, ready to grab the single cookie, framed in tiny birch branches, on the front jacket and cover and the question asked and answered on the back, readers can sense fun just around the corner.  Opening and closing endpapers have readers gazing through a birch forest, looking for nature's residents hidden among the trees.  On the title page, edge to edge, across both pages, we are still in the woods but now we see a mother bear sleeping with a cub, as another wakes up.

Rendered in sepia marker and colored pencils, K. G. Campbell's illustrations are spirited, brimming with humor and an enchanted extension of the story.  Each is set amid liberal amounts of white space; his artwork is so detailed, so delicate, it's like the white is gently holding each picture. The visuals in turn flow around and become one with the text.  The looks on the faces of Cub, the little girl and her cat will have readers roaring with laughter.  I adore both the two page spreads in the little girl's bedroom as she implements her rules.  When she's carrying Cub and her cat back outside to the tea party setting, I'm grinning, grinning big and wide.

Tea Party Rules written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by K. G. Campbell, is one of the best tea parties you will ever have the pleasure of attending.  It's impossible not to fall in love with the characters.  Wouldn't it be fun to plan a tea party with your students having them bring in their stuffed animal friends, dressing up to fit the occasion?  You could make up your own tea party rules.

To learn more about the author and illustrator follow the links to their websites embedded in their names above.  Ame has been interviewed at The Little Crooked Cottage, The Styling Librarian, and by Nicole Y. Walters.  The most exciting thing is happening below!

Today...yes today....Ame is sharing with the world her brand new book trailer for Tea Party Rules.  It's short, sweet and full of laughter and love, just like she is.






I am thrilled and thankful she agreed to answer some questions below.  Enjoy.

AME:  Thanks so much for having me on Librarian’s Quest, Margie!  I’m very excited to be here!  And—(YES, Cub!)  Cub is visiting today, and he’s very excited, too.

MARGIE:  I would like to know more about how you felt about the illustrations the first time you saw them.  What did you like best about them?  Did you and K.G. talk at all before you saw them?

AME:  Seeing K.G.’s illustrations for the first time was a RIOT!  K.G.’s a GENIUS with facial expressions—there’s so much humor in them!  I love all the little jokes he added, too—the bubble bath bottle, the artwork in the girl’s room, etc.—and I still crack up EVERY time I see Cub in that frilly pink dress.  (Sorry, Cub!  But I’m sure you can laugh about it by now, no?  Oh.  Moving right along…)  Sadly, K.G.’s far, far away on the other side of the country, so we didn’t really talk before first sketches except for an e-mailed “Hey, K.G.!  I bet you’re gonna ROCK it!”  And he did!  But I hope the two of us can hang out sometime soon.  OW!  (Why did you poke me, Cub?  Oh.)  Make that the THREE of us!

MARGIE:  I think the forest of birch trees adds to the lightness and fun of your narrative.

ME:  AFFIRMA—I mean, AGREED, Margie!  Kids enjoy looking for the hidden animals in the end pages.  I THINK I’ve found all of them!

MARGIE:  Did you and Husband Guy make the trailer?  It's the perfect amount of text and pictures to get people to read the book.

ME:  We did!  We cleared a few extra nights in our schedule by having cookies and tea for dinner, and—uh-oh.  (I was just kidding, Cub!  OF COURSE we didn’t eat cookies without you!)

AME:  Thanks again, Margie!  Cub can’t wait to try your chocolate chip cookie recipe!  (NO, Cub!  Those are MY car keys!)  Looks like I gotta go!  Happy reading, everybody!

This is my favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies.  I clipped it from the Traverse City Record Eagle more than fifteen, probably twenty, years ago.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup sugar (I use raw with a little of the white)
2 eggs at room temperature (brown, cage-free, organic)
1 package (3 oz.) cook and serve vanilla pudding (not instant)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I use two)
Zest of one orange, reserving the juice
1 cup dried cherries
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (unbleached)(I add 1/4 cup more to make the cookies less flat.)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 package (12 oz.) chocolate chip morsels (Ghirardelli)

Grate orange and chop zest finely. Squeeze orange and pour juice over dried cherries. Simmer until cherries are soft, or you can microwave them for 1 minute.  (I never do this.)  Drain cherries; set aside.  Combine flour and baking soda.  Mix butter, orange zest, sugars, eggs, pudding mix and vanilla together until creamy.  Gradually add flour/soda mixture.  Combine fully then fold in cherries and chocolate morsels.  Let dough rest in the refrigerator for one full hour. (This is important.) Place large teaspoons full of dough on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 minutes.  (Watch the time though depending on the humidity and your oven. It might take fewer minutes.)

Shhhhh...Can You Keep A Secret?

Truthfully, I can't remember a time when I did not like pizza.  Growing up I can still remember the thrill of knowing a pizza night was close at hand when the Chef Boyardee box showed up in the pantry after Mom went grocery shopping.  As I got older my homemade pizza dough from scratch was a household favorite.

Say the word pizza party to a group of students and watch what happens; eyes will light up and a quiet buzz will spread around the room.  The team that brought readers Those Darn Squirrels (Clarion Books, 2008), Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door (Clarion Books, 2011), Those Darn Squirrels Fly South (Clarion Books, 2012) and Dragons Love Tacos (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012) have a new title guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.  Secret Pizza Party (Dial Books for Young Readers) is a ring-tailed rascal's quest for this mouth-watering, gourmet, doughy delight.

Poor Raccoon.
All he wants in life is some pizza.

Peering into pizzeria windows and invading trash cans, does not seem to be working in his favor.  As the narrator extols the virtues of all things pizza with apologies to the forlorn, frustrated Raccoon, a plan is suggested, a plan which must not be revealed to anyone.

Lest Raccoon needs a refresher on the true meaning of secret, the conspiratorial voice explains to him and the reader the advantages of keeping mum.  There is one problem though; how to get the pizza delivered to Raccoon.  I mean...after all...he is wanted for pizza theft.  But what's a party without the main course?!

Who's that in the trench coat, boots, wide-brimmed hat and glasses?  Shhhh...it's Raccoon.  He's going in to pick up a pizza.  Money?  Wallet?  He's got to run now on what promises to be a challenging, rather than a perfect, route back to his home inside the tree trunk.

Now it's time for the secret pizza party.  Wait a minute...there's the sound of voices, many voices, bright lights and a distinctive odor coming from outside Raccoon's home.  And he's off...


Adam Rubin reels readers right into the story with his snappy narration; a voice acting in partnership with Raccoon while providing readers with the inside scoop.  Lead by contemporary word choices loaded with humor we willingly follow the path, collaborators in the plan.  His descriptions of the pizza, his comparisons between regular and secret, the rambling escape route and the surprising conclusion combine to make the best kind of story; feeding our desire for a fun-filled adventure.  Here is a single example.  

Hot diggity dog, our pizza party is going to be so much fun!
Call the pizza man and tell him to bring over his absolute finest pizza pie.

Hang on a minute, you don't want the delivery guy to know where you live.

One of my favorite things about the artwork of Dan Salmieri is how his details convey and encompass the theme of a story.  The front jacket and cover done in shades of black featuring Raccoon in his disguise, eyes looking straight at the reader, finger to his mouth asking for quiet, the title done in shapes of pizza in front of the darkened pizza parlor, match the mood of secrecy.  The back jacket and cover feature a wanted poster of Raccoon, REWARD: 1 FREE PIE (NO TOPPINGS), nails holding it in place.  The opening and closing endpapers are patterned in slices of cheese pizza on a white background.

Using watercolor, gouache, and color pencil Salmieri alternates between black and white backgrounds, a variety of picture sizes, double page, single page and smaller vignettes, with his signature characters.  It's in looking at the eyes, the long thin arms, body motions and facial emotions, readers will be hard pressed not to burst into laughter.  Raccoon face pressed against the glass of the pizza restaurant watching people eat,  the decor in his abode, pizza graphics on the walls, a bedspread covered in whole pizzas, a lampshade in the shape of a pizza slice, and the page without text showing him full figure in his undercover garb, are top-notch hilarity.


I love the minds that pair raccoons, those notorious nocturnal raiders, with a favorite food.  Secret Pizza Party written by Adam Rubin with illustrations by Daniel Salmieri is a passion, no... an obsession, gone wild.  I know readers will enjoy hearing this story read to them with the same frequency they enjoy eating pizza, every meal, every day.

Please visit the author and illustrator websites linked to their names above.

A Tea-rrific Time

It would seem that our lives are composed of rituals; certain practices done at specific times of the year, month, or even every day.  During the month of August it might be staying up into the early hours of the morning to watch the Perseid meteor shower, growing up it was new shoes before school started in September, or each night not being able to go to sleep until you've told members of your family good night, I love you.  These routines give comfort, a sense, whether true or not, that all is right with the world.

I'll wager that most people can barely begin their day without a first cup of coffee, or in my case, a cup of tea. In Asian cultures there are beautiful ceremonies for the preparation and serving of tea.  Low tea and high tea are British terms used to distinguish between the times tea might be served.  When you host or attend a tea party there is an etiquette to be observed.  In Tea Rex (Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.) written and illustrated by Molly Idle adjustments to tradition prevail in a rather BIG way.

When hosting an afternoon tea for a special friend---
greet your guest at the door.

If a grinning Tyrannosaurs rex, invitation in hand wearing a teeny, tiny purple bowler hat and purple and yellow polk-a-dot bow tie, happens to be filling the open door frame, this could present the first of many...er...challenges during the event.  Having him follow you to the parlor is not going to be easy when he can hardly squeeze through the door.  With meeting the other guests and finding one's spot at the table complete, the polite conversation begins.

In response to shenanigans involving cutlery on the part of the younger brother, Mr. Rex lets out a mighty loud roar of approval.  Offering food, despite its variety, and the pouring of tea proves to be rather problematic.  The guest's enthusiasm for both is a tad over the top.

Mayhem quickly follows on the heels of one mishap after the other. Appropriate music and dance (more like riding  on a roller coaster at the amusement park) concludes the tea party. Whew!  With the special guest barely, in every sense of the word, out the door, a surprise is delivered to the hosts, actually, a bunch of BIG surprises.


Sentence by sentence in a most prim and proper form, Molly Idle provides a narrative which reads like pages from Miss Manners.  With little stretch of the imagination you can almost hear the voice enunciating each and every word chosen with care.  The pauses between page turns elevate the disparity between what is read and what is seen in the illustrations.


On the front jacket and cover we are treated to a snapshot of a very special occasion but a picture on the back, a circular inset, tells a different story, the real story.  The palette of colors displayed on the jacket and cover are used throughout on illustrations rendered with Prismacolor pencils. Opening and closing endpapers provide charming close-ups of an invitation and thank you note sent by Cordelia to Mr. Rex, the opened envelopes against his bowler hat, the notes held by his versatile tail.

The details in the decor, the characters' attire, the table setting and facial expressions (oh, those eyes) only increase the hilarity.  The "before the roar" and "after the roar" differences are the first of many.  For example in a series of three visuals for When everyone is settled, you may serve refreshments.  Be sure to offer several choices---and cater to the individual tastes of your guests, we see all the characters seated at the table hands and feet reaching toward delectable delights followed by the disappearance of all including a portion of the plate and then "whoosh", the teddy bear in attendance is about to be consumed too. My favorite of them all is the double page spread of what's left of the parlor after the party as Cordelia and her brother push (it's a tight fit) Mr. Rex out the door.  All sense of decorum has vanished.


With delicate, dramatic illustrations drawn to illuminate and accentuate Tea Rex by Molly Idle is most memorable.  The very idea of dinosaurs and tea parties is so foreign to our way of thinking, the humor begins immediately and grows page after page.  You'll be looking for a free date to have your very own afternoon tea.  Who will you invite?

Please stop by Molly Idle's website.  A link is embedded in her name above.  This is a link to Molly Idle Picks Kid-Friendly Dinosaur Books at BOOKish. (Thanks to John Schumacher for tweeting this link.) This book trailer is only the start of a wonderful reading experience.