Accomplished

For forty-seven years and counting, it has been a privilege to work within and enjoy a world centered in children's literature.  Book by book my already considerable respect for authors and illustrators has grown every year.  With each new title I hold in my hands and read, it still grows.

One of the greatest joys of being a teacher librarian, other than sharing books with all readers, is the honor of watching an author, illustrator, or author illustrator begin and master their art.  Underlying every word they write and every element in the images they make is a passion for bringing their absolute best to children, readers, of all ages.  In 2021 one of these creators has released two books within a week of each other.  To me, these titles demonstrate this individual's skill.  Bear Island (Feiwel And Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, January 26, 2021) written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell addresses the life-changing event of great loss. 

Goodbye, Charlie.

In a series of five wordless illustrations, with the exception of the words above on the final picture, prior to the title page, we learn of the value of Charlie, the family's canine member.  The family is Louise, Mom, Dad, and Charlie living in a home on a lake.  Near the home is an island.

One day, in a small rowboat, Louise goes to the island, thinking about Charlie.  Missing him, she wanders alone there.  She finally, after quite a while, decides to leave.  She grabs a stick and hits a nearby tree.  In a flash, butterflies surround Louise.  Several deer come from the woods near her.  Louise is starting to feel a shift in her soul, but suddenly that stops.

Large, loud noises send the butterflies and deer away.  A bear stands near Louise, roaring.  She is afraid and mad, mad about so many things.  She roars back, waving her stick.  The bear lies down.  As she goes to her boat to leave, Louise looks back at the bear.  In him, she senses herself.

Day after day, Louise returns to the island.  Some days for her, and for Bear, are better than others, but together they are making a difference.  Through the seasons, life on the island is shifting.  It is not the only place change is happening. Even though winter is coming, Louise continues to visit the island until one day, Bear is missing.  When she finally finds him, a hard truth envelopes her.  It is fortunately followed by other wonderful truths.

Each sentence by this author states succinctly what can be seen and thought.  Matthew Cordell leaves room in his narrative for readers to find connections to their own life experiences.  His word choices are sensory, welcoming us into this story.   He also employs repetition to reinforce and intensify a particular moment.  Here is a passage.

But then . . . came a noise.

A crunching of leaves noise . . .

A snapping of trees noise . . .

A chuffing of breath noise . . .

RROOAARR!!

When you stare at the bear spread across the front, right, of the open and matching dust jacket and book case, what do you see? Do you see the use of light and shadow?  Do you see the texture and color of the bear's fur?  Do you see how the top of his head and the shape of the island are one?  Why is Louise standing on his head?  There is so much in this initial image for readers to notice and understand.  The title text is varnished.  To the left, on the back, on a canvas of white, is a loosely framed circular picture.  This picture features the island, shades of turquoise water lapping against its shores.  Butterflies hover over the treetops.

A bright spring green covers the opening and closing endpapers.  On the first page is a baseball nearly life-size on white.  It is followed by Louise throwing the ball to a running Charlie.  In the next three pages we know Charlie is gone.  The color palette is sepia for the grief Louise, Mom, and Dad are feeling.  The two-page picture for the verso, dedication and title pages is a close-up of the water around the island.  Fish swim in the upper corners.  On the right, on a small stone above the water rests a gorgeous butterfly, its color in contrast to the water.

Rendered 

in pen and ink with watercolor and sometimes gouache

the images mirror and elevate the story.  At first, they continue in the sepia tones (and again at the end) altering in size from two-page visuals, single-page pictures, to a circular image on a single page and at times multiple images are placed together to depict the passage of time.  The shapes of these multiple images vary.  They are loose circles, vertical panels, squares, or rectangles.  A crisp white background heightens the impact of many of these illustrations.

Matthew has a gift for using powerful wordless visuals.  He does so with great effect in this book.  Their emotional force will leave you breathless.

One of my many, many favorite pictures is one of ten spread across two pages.  It is a small rectangle.  It is framed in a loose black line.  Inside are Louise and Bear. They are in the water, looking out across it with their backs to us.  Louise is standing with her stick, using is like a staff.  Bear is seated in the water next to her.

This book, Bear Island written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, is one to heal the hole left by loss.  It speaks directly to how grief wraps around us, but how we can replace it with something else.  A closed door can also open.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Matthew Cordell, you can visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  Matthew has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Matthew and this book are featured by Elizabeth Bird, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system, at her space at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production and by author, reviewer, and blogger, Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.

Oh, there is nothing like holding a book in your hands with the return of a fiery, determined protagonist within its pages.  We first met her in a montage of modes of transportation as she, with the most heartfelt of reasons, desired to make a gift of an elephant to her Great-Aunt Josephine.  This is Special Delivery.  In The Only Fish In The Sea, she sets off on a stormy sea accompanied by a friend and a unruly crew to rescue a tiny pet, a gift, tossed away.  Sadie is back!  

This time, Sadie's Aunt Josephine takes center stage, regaling readers and Sadie with a particularly crazy feat from her youth.  Follow That Frog! (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, February 2, 2021) written by Philip C. Stead with illustrations by Matthew Cordell is an adventure loaded with non-stop action and laugh-out-loud hilarity.  You'll begin to understand why Sadie exhibits certain characteristics as she faces life's challenges.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Grrr . . .

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

HEY, AUNT JOSEPHINE!

ARF!

ARF!

Sadie has started her day, carrying a tray with a pot of tea and cups to her Aunt Josephine's bedroom.  She opens the curtains in her aunt's bedroom.  There is a steady and very loud knocking at the door to Aunt Josephine's home.  Aunt Josephine does not want to answer the door and wishes to do nothing more than sleep to noon.  

After all her around-the-world escapades, she deserves her rest.  Then she launches into a tale of 

cataloging amphibians for the scientific team of Admiral Rodriguez

in the wilds of Peru at the tender age of nine.  Admiral Rodriquez, we discover, has died in a weird event involving bananas. His son has a serious crush on Josephine.

While gazing at Josephine's beauty, this son is devoured by an enormous frog. (Are you laughing yet?)  Momentarily stunned, Josephine springs into action.  She has to catalog that frog!  Josephine and her loyal canine companion, Orion Francis Nelson, are in persistent pursuit, finding themselves in the hot regions of southern Argentina. 

The frog, tiring of riding a rhea, leaps north toward the Panama Canal.  Josephine and her dog manage to catch up as it heads west. To their dismay, the vessel they secure to follow the ravenous leaper helps them get totally lost.  Nevertheless, Josephine stays upbeat until a band of pirates near the Canary Islands take away her vessel.  They are left stranded.

As fate would have it, a whale provides much-needed assistance. Josephine, now touring around the globe searching for the frog via alternative forms of travel, tries to never gives up.  To this day she has never located that frog. This is her one regret.  Sadie, ever the optimist, offers wise words.  

KNOCK! KNOCK!

With every reading, you will be laughing more and more as the sheer absurdity of this tale told in dialogue strikes every humorous chord in your body.  Philip C. Stead has taken his well-crafted characters and heightens their exploits to extraordinary.  Just when you believe it can't possibly get more outrageous, it does in the best possible manner.

Philip C. Stead's choice of verbs and adjectives has readers following every twist and turn.  Even though, we, like Sadie, are listening to this story, it is as if we are there in every single second.  This is this author's gift to us.  There is a part of us that knows this would never happen, but as we read this story, it is the truth.  Here is a passage.

I gave chase, northward, aboard a reluctant tortoise,

disembarking at the Panama Canal,

where the frog took a sharp left turn, heading west into the tempestuous waters. 

By opening the dust jacket, you get the full advantage of the design and artwork by Matthew Cordell.  To the left, on the back, Aunt Josephine is sitting up in bed under her colorful quilt.  Sadie is standing next to the bed, sipping a cup of tea.  Chickens are meandering in the room, some looking for food and others looking up with the dog toward the front of the dust jacket.  A rooster on one of the bedposts is crowing.  Speech clouds spread from Aunt Josephine, puffing toward the spine.  One of those clouds frames the ISBN.  On the right, front, a large cloud borders the scene of a young Aunt Josephine chasing the frog with her pal, Orion Francis Nelson.  Two methods of travel, the tortoise and rhea, are moving as fast as they can.  The giant frog and the title text are varnished.  

The book case cleverly presents JOSEPHINE'S FIELD GUIDE.  The canvas is lined pages.  The larger entries are taped to the pages.  On the front, right side, are drawings and a photograph of frogs.  Some are labeled.  There are smaller sketches and flora taped to the pages. On the back, the left, is a diagram of the inside of a frog, a drawing of the rhea and several other photographs.  Smaller elements hint at events to come.

The opening and closing endpapers are a bright green.  On the first single page and first double-page picture before the verso, dedication, and title pages, we see Sadie standing inside in front of the door, her back to us.  She then moves toward her Aunt Josephine's bedroom.  Oh, my goodness . . . the intricate numerous details will have you pausing.  On the walls you will see memorabilia from Josephine's travels and those of Sadie from the two previous books.  The expressions on the chickens' faces and the antics of the dog are fabulous and funny.

The chickens and dog continue to be aggravated by the knocking on the verso and dedication page.  On the title page, Sadie opens her aunt's bedroom curtains.  This is the placeholder for the title text.

White space is an important part in all these illustrations.  They highlight each line and supply a place for the present-day Josephine to tell her story to Sadie as larger images to the right and across several pages portray her past.  In fact, in the present day readers will delight in watching how the morning proceeds.  It is guaranteed you will see something new in the illustrations every time you read this book.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is for the text:

. . . run and run and run with no particular destination in mind.

It spreads across two pages.  The cloud's background signifies the desert.  On a path of her own making Josephine speeds across on her motorcycle, wearing proper attire and with her dog at her side.  A parrot flies along with the duo.  Weaving and looping around the sand is the rhea carrying this huge frog.  The facial looks on both the frog and rhea are humorous with a capital H.  For seven of the pictures of the frog and rhea, they are together.  In the eighth set, the frog jumps from the relieved and startled rhea's back. 

Whether you've read the first two books, you must have a copy of Follow That Frog! written by Philip C. Stead with illustrations by Matthew Cordell for your professional and personal collections.  Although to be honest, having all three books makes for richer reading.  In both words and images, this is storytelling at its finest.  

To learn more about Philip C. Stead and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  At Penguin Random House, you can view a few images.  The book release party was at The Book Stall.  You can watch it now.  At Books of Wonder, you can register for a future event. 

Loud Drew A Crowd

Parents are not perfect.  They are as flawed as the rest of us humans.  They, for the most part, try their level best to raise an individual or individuals who will reflect the best parts of each of them.  Their aim is to nudge their youngsters to realize their full potential, and, hopefully, make the world better for themselves and everyone in it. 

What is probably most startling and wondrous to parents is when their objective is reached.  Even more surprising is when it happens in an unexpected way.  Pokko And The Drum (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, October 1, 2019) written and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe follows the rise to forest fame of a young frog. 
 
The biggest mistake Pokko's parents
ever made was giving her a drum.

What readers quickly realize is, this was not their first mistake in gift giving to Pokko.  It should have dawned on them that the jumbo slingshot and large balloon would have less than stellar results. Immediately the quiet cuisine-creator father and literary-lover mother knew the drum was too loud for them to think or have a conversation.  Pokko played . . .constantly.

Pokko's father gently suggested one morning that she play it outside being as quiet as possible because they were quiet frogs who preferred to remain living unnoticed.  Pokko thought this was a good idea.  She left their home inside a mushroom.

The forest was beautiful and a bit too silent.  Pokko started to lightly beat her drum to dispel the hush around her.  Before she knew what was happening a banjo-playing raccoon joined her.  A rabbit was next, tooting out tunes on a trumpet.

A wolf joined the line of musicians without an instrument and guess what happened to the rabbit?  This made Pokko stop playing her drum.  She warned the wolf who seemed repentant.  Before long the number of animals playing instruments grew as did the number of animals who simply enjoyed the music.  Pokko kept playing her drum leading the crowd.

Back at the mushroom abode of Pokko and her parents, a carefully prepared dinner was about to go uneaten.  Two unassuming adult frogs were about to have their lives changed.  Pokko kept playing her drum.


With his opening sentence Matthew Forsythe has our undivided attention.  With his second sentence, we are not leaving this book until every single syllable is read.  Matthew's pacing in the narrative is pure perfection.  He leaves space for readers' reactions and the humor to bubble to the surface.

The inclusion of dialogue between the parents and Pokko and the wolf enhances the comedy but also leaves room for speculation.  What is there about Pokko that fosters respect?  Here are three sentences on three separate pages.  Do you see what those words are doing?  Do you feel something shifting?

It had just rained, and the forest
was sparkling like an emerald.

And it was quiet.

Too quiet.


The front, the right side of the opened dust jacket and book case are identical.  It is here that Matthew Forsythe introduces the color palette used throughout his book.  The hues are soft and subtle, but their power lies in the patterns and textures.  We want to know who this Pokko is.  We want to know about the drum.

To the left, on the back of the dust jacket, is a series of six smaller images, three to a row.  Three feature flora from the forest.  Another one shows the frogs' mushroom home.  The final two are of Pokko's father and mother doing what they love best.  The caption reads:

A story about art.  And persistence.
And a family of frogs that lives in a mushroom.

On the back of the book case is an image from the interior of Pokko's father helping her get on her coat.  The drum and drumsticks are next to them.  One other item of note is the ISBN.  The barcode in black is the design for the side of a drum in white with yellow drumsticks.

The opening and closing endpapers are a pattern of mushrooms, leaves and berries, lichen, stems, leaves and flowers and tiny homes in mushrooms and one large tree branch.  It's a glimpse into the realm of possibilities.  These elements are placed on a white-cream colored paper, heavier and used throughout the book.

Matthew Forsythe uses full-page pictures, and double-page pictures to extend his narrative and increase its emotional impact.  Some of his visuals cross the gutter, creating a column for text.  Or the area for text crosses the gutter and leaves a column for an image.  As he does in his text, he leaves room for speculation and interpretation in his art.  These illustrations are

rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil.


His perspectives are altered for maximum effect.  His close-ups have a huge impact.  Readers will want to reread this book repeatedly looking for portions of the book leaning more heavily on yellows and reds.  What, if any, is the importance of this change?

One of my many favorite illustrations spans two pages.  It is when Pokko is first walking through the woods.  A long horizontal column at the bottom provides a space for text on the right.  There are several plants using the same white-cream color to balance the design.  The world of the woods surrounds Pokko but we must remember we are seeing it at a different level than we do as humans.  There is a hint of events to come hidden on the left behind a tree.  The look on Pokko's face reflects her emotional state at being in this forest, this very quiet forest.  She carries her drum with both hands in front of her.  Her drumsticks are tucked in a pocket at her back.


This is one of those books you'll always remember reading for the first time.  Pokko And The Drum written and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe leaves an impression on your mind and your heart.  I am looking forward to sharing it with readers.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections. Today Publishers Weekly announced their Best Books 2019.  This title is on the list.

Please access Matthew Forsythe's website by following the link attached to his name to learn more about his other work.  Matthew Forsythe maintains accounts on Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter.  At author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's site, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, she highlights Matthew Forsythe and this book.  At the publisher's website you can view multiple interior images.

Countdown To 2019 #4 Humor

Laughter is frequently mentioned on this blog.  Its benefits are numerous; reducing stress, providing a physical and mental release, exercising specific areas of our bodies, and changing our mind set and perspective.  Perhaps the best benefit is the connections we make, some lasting, with shared laughter.  Humans and animals do respond favorably to humor.

Once you've read a book aloud to a group of children with laughter erupting again and again, the experience, the story and the title of the book remain.  The memory of how an individual felt in your presence is lasting.  With this in mind here are five books, previously not discussed here, guaranteed to generate laughter and requests of "read it again."

Mrs. Mole, I'm Home (Candlewick Press, June 7, 2018) written and illustrated by Jarivs is a journey in the absurd.  When a character cannot see what readers can, the results are rip-roaring guffaws. What is lost is found but was it ever lost?

It had been a very long day
at work for Morris Mole.
His feet were aching,
and his eyes were
so tired.

This mole could hardly wait to leave the restaurant and spend time with his wife and children.  There was one problem.  Morris Mole could not find his glasses anywhere.  He assumed because he had made the trip so many times, getting home without his glasses would be easy.

After burrowing a bit, he rose up from the tunnel announcing his presence with a happy greeting.  He was not at his abode but the home of Mrs. Bunny and a bunch of baby bunnies.  After an apology, he left burrowing.

Morris Mole popped up repeatedly with one joyous declaration after another.  He arrived at a tree loaded with owls, an iceberg in Antarctica (It was dreadfully chilly there.), and a crocodile swampy haven.  How was he ever going to get home without his glasses?  Suddenly his sniffer caught a whiff of something he knew well.   Morris Mole makes a promise, but a final page reveals the difficulty in keeping it.


With a hilarious blend of text and dialogue, Jarvis steers readers through a tunnel worth traveling.  Repetition of key phrases before and after each mistake provides a continued connection. There is an inviting rhythm supplied with his appearance, his greeting, the discovery of his error and his leaving.  Here is a passage.

Up he popped.

"I'm home,
my darlings.
And how marvelous!
You've run me a bath!"
said Morris.

"This is our swamp.
NOT a bath!" snapped
Crocodile.  "And you
better skedaddle
before we have you
for dinner!"


Surely by the look of the front of the matching dust jacket and book case, Mole has arrived exactly where he wants to be, but as readers discover it takes multiple attempts for success.  The two hat-wearing worms shown here are Morris's companions on every portion of his trip which is a bit funny when you consider the favorite food of Morris.  To the left, on the back, with a shift in canvas color from pink to teal the Mole family are shown in all their bespectacled wonder dancing at Morris's place of work.

The opening and closing endpapers are in deep shades of blue showing what Morris tunnels through to get home.  Rendered in pencil, chalk, and paint and colored digitally the illustrations by Jarvis are full of comedy.  Nearly all the pictures span two pages.  His attention to detail is certain to have readers pausing at every page turn; carrots are everywhere in the bunny burrow, nearly all the owls are reading books, and some of the penguins are wearing ice skates.

Careful readers will notice the different hats the worms wear from place to place.  When Jarvis shows Morris thinking, the additional dialogue in these scenes is funnier than funny.  These are framed like a gallery as his mind moves from incident to incident.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when Morris arrives at Antarctica.  As he pops through the ice penguins gather from their  cave, some attired in scarfs, hats and one is carrying an umbrella.  Another one is eating a popsicle.  One is walking and using a cane.  A full sun causes a bright light but it's still bitter cold.  A penguin is balanced on the top of sign reading SOUTH POLE.

For those readers needing glasses they will easily identify with Morris.  Who among us has not misplaced their eyeglasses?  Mrs. Mole, I'm Home! written and illustrated by Jarvis is a story time winner.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image.  The link attached to Jarvis's name takes you to his website.  Jarvis has an account on Twitter.




For those of you who love the roar of engines, this next title will get your heart racing.  The Princess And The Pit Stop (Abrams Books For Young Readers, July 10, 2018) written by Tom Angleberger with illustrations by Dan Santat is an unprecedented contest in an other-worldly realm.  Fasten your seat belts!

Once upon a time, there was a Princess who made a pit stop.  While the Birds and Beasts changed her tires, her Fairy Godmother told her she was in last place!

With only one lap left, most drivers would not have finished.  This was no ordinary princess.  She put the pedal to the metal.

The announcer could hardly keep up with all the cars and drivers she was passing.  Humpty Dumpty and his nursery crew were left in the dust.  The Three Bears were forced off the track.  A trio of Wicked Witches became specks in the distance.

Drivers, normally found in fairy tales and nursery rhymes, were no match for this determined female champion behind the wheel.  No curve was too tight.  No hill and dale could stop her speed.  No Jack or Jill or Big Bad Wolf or Three Little Pigs could best her.

The end of the race, the finish line, was getting closer and closer.

And the Gingerbread Man admitted.
She CAN catch me!

Soon it was the Ugly Stepsisters and The Princess streaming down the final stretch.  The crowd stands!  The announcer croaks!  Will this Princess and her Prince live happily ever after?


Every concise sentence builds tension page by page as author Tom Angleberger combines terms from automobile racing expertly with known names from fairy tales and nursery rhymes.  His word choices reflect the use of alliteration creating an upbeat cadence; roared, running and road.  We can hardly sit still.  We want to cheer out loud for this princess driving with purpose. Here are several passages.

SHE SPUN OUT RUMPELSTILTSKIN
AND BUTTED IN FRONT OF THE 
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF!

SHE LEAPT PAST FLOPSY,
MOPSY, and
PETER RABBIT! 


One look at the open dust jacket is all you need to know about this Princess and the pit stop she makes.  Her body stance and facial expression are truly worth more than words can say.  The faded background of the frog announcer, her fairy godmother (pit boss), the castle and black and white checkered flags foreshadow events to come.  To the left, on the back, a huge question is answered.  Readers in the know will understand the meaning of every detail as the Princess stands, arms on her hips, in front of her stopped car.  (I love the crown element on her helmet and the car's hood.)

On the book case readers get a real sense of this Princess's attitude.  On a nearly white canvas with a slight wash of blue, she strides toward her car.  The car is facing the spine and her back is to us.  To the left, the back of the case, she faces to the left.  It's a portrait of her head done in shades of red and purple.  Her facial features form a look of pure determination.  Above her head reads:

"I am not afraid of storms, for
I am learning how to sail my ship."
     ---Louisa May Alcott

On a background of white for the opening and closing endpapers illustrator Dan Santat displays all the race cars, forty-six in total.  With a page turn we see a rainbow streak across white on two pages.  It is the track of the Princess.  A series of six panels follows showing the Princess racing.  In the final one her gas gauge is nearly on empty.  With a third turn, she is slowing into the pit as the title is being introduced to readers.  As she zooms into her spot the text zooms with her on the title page.

In a blend of panels, full-page pictures, and double-page images Dan Santat introduces one humorous moment after the other.  Readers won't want to miss a single element included in any of his scenes.  The number on the Three Bears car is 3.  One of the wicked witches is driving a broom.  The dwarfs from Snow White are riding in mining cars.

One of my many favorite illustrations is on a single page.  An enormous green truck with humongous wheels is speeding toward readers.  There is enough room between the wheels for the Princess to race under and past the Giant.  Beneath her the tiny car of Tom Thumb is left behind.


This is a fantastic introduction to fairy tales and nursery rhymes!  The Princess And The Pit Stop written by Tom Angleberger with illustrations by Dan Santat will be enjoyed for its sheer entertainment but is sure to start a multitude of questions and a race for research.  Links are attached to Tom Angleberger's and Dan Santat's names to access their websites.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.  Both Tom and Dan are on Twitter and Instagram here and here.



Are you ready to leap into more laughter?  A frog who never fails to entertain (I Don't Want To Be A Frog, I Don't Want To Be Big and There's Nothing To Do!) is back.  In this book, I Don't Want To Go To Sleep (Doubleday Books For Young Readers, October 16, 2018) written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt, Frog refuses to do what frogs do in winter.

I can't wait
for WINTER!

Why?

The snow!
The fun!
Pig told me all about it!

Frog is beyond excited about all the wintry activities like skating, drinking warm drinks and of course, the snow.  When Owl points out that Frog can't do any of these things because he's a frog and frogs hibernate, he is indignant and confused.  What is hibernate?

When Owl further offers an explanation with the statement Frog's dad is already hibernating, Frog starts to understand but he is not giving up yet.  Can he get toasty by the fire like Cat?  Can he get comfy like Pig in a plaid blanket?  No and no, according to Owl.  After another question with a less than ideal answer, Owl instructs the reluctant amphibian.

Frog is aghast! How can he have fun when he's buried in mud?  He does not want to be like Bear who hibernates.  Frog is frustrated, totally and completely.  His friends try to help.  They want to help but Frog's suggestion is not what they are expecting.  Not. At. All. How many days is it until spring?


The happy-go-lucky, persistent-to-a-fault Frog and his quest to stay awake during winter is presented with wit by author Dev Petty.  With a story told entirely in dialogue, readers are intimately involved in every aspect.  Owl's dry but amusing and truthful replies give us a hint at his personality.  In fact, the voices of the other animals, Pig, Cat and Rabbit, give us clear insight into their characteristics.  All this input supplies us with comedy. Here is a passage between Frog and Owl.

I want to 
be like Pig.

Pig sleeps in a fluffy plaid
blanket.

You can't 
do that.

Why not?

First of all, you could
get lost in here.
Also, plaid isn't
your color.

Mostly, though, I'm taking his blanket. 


How can you look at the front of the matching dust jacket and book case without laughing?  The truth is, you can't.  How many times have you uttered those exact words or heard them?  I'll wager it's too many times to count.  Readers identify with Frog.  His owl toy is always with him for comfort.

To the left, on the back, Frog exclaims he will go to bed if we read him the three previous books.  (Clever with a capital C)  Mike Boldt begins and ends his visual interpretation on the opening and closing endpapers.  On the first Frog is shouting out

NO SLEEP FOR ME! 

as he strides toward the right edge.  In the second set we see Frog as he is meant to be in winter.

Mike Boldt's illustrations rendered in vibrant colors make a bold statement as they extend the narrative and heighten the comedic drama.  Speech bubbles in alternating colors hold the conversations.  One of the double-page pictures with a single word on it will have readers rolling on the floor, laughing.

One of my many favorite pictures shows Frog sitting inside an ice skate and wearing a striped scarf.  He is holding a red mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows floating in it.  This image nearly fills the entire page.  This is what Mike Boldt does very well; changing point of view to accentuate the story.


I Don't Want To Go To Sleep written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt is a charming and lively look at yet another aspect of this lovable frog and his animal companions.  This would make a marvelous addition to a story time on frogs, hibernation, winter and bedtime.  Links are attached to Dev Petty's and Mike Boldt's names to access their websites.  The book trailer premiered at Watch. Connect. Read., the website of Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher.  You will enjoy the chat.  At PictureBookBuilders Mike Boldt speaks about this book.  Dev Petty has an account on Twitter and Instagram.  Mike Boldt also has accounts on Twitter and Instagram.





Misconceptions play a large role in Horse Meets Dog (Balzer + Bray, October 30, 2018) written by Elliott Kalan with illustrations by Tim Miller.  This is a classic case of what you see is not always what you get.  As the argument escalates who do you think will win?

Wow!

You're very big.

In response to dog's statement Horse counters with his vision of the truth.  He's not big, he is a regular-sized horse. He also says he was going to tell Dog how small he is for a horse.  Believing dog is a baby, Horse cuddling him in his arms, tries to feed him a bottle of hay.

That does not go over well with Dog.  He points out the problem with Horse's feet.  Has he lost his paws? Horse wonders what is wrong with Dog's hair and his tail.  

Deciding to start their relationship over, they exchange presents but it goes from bad to worse when Horse gives Dog a miniature saddle and Dog gifts Horse with a ball for playing fetch.  When they expand on the reasons for these items, it gets funnier and funnier. 

The conversation escalates with each believing the other is a weird version of themselves.  Horse can't figure out what is wrong with Dog.  His whinny is off key.  Dog does not understand why Horse is such a huge dog.  They get louder and louder and more insistent until the arrival of a small bird.  Everything changes with the bird's first full sentence.

This meeting of "what-if" between a horse and a dog challenges how human (and animal) perception functions.  Elliott Kalan supplies us with hilarity as these two characters try to convince the other of their truth.  The story is told through dialogue apart from a few sound effects.  This technique involves readers on a more personal level.  Here is a passage.

It's a saddle.

In case a tiny person

wants to ride you.  Will

you try on your new 

saddle?  Or would you

rather be rude?

(The saddle is now on Dog.)

Now what happens?

Someone sits on you, and

you take them wherever 

they want to go.  Fun!

That doesn't sound 

like fun to me. 

Rendered using brush and ink and digital hocus-pocus the signature illustrations of Tim Miller greet readers on the open and matching dust jacket and book case.  By the smiles on the faces of Horse and Dog, readers have no idea what is about to follow.  To the left, on the back, Dog is holding a mirror and puzzling over his face.  Endorsements are written over this smaller picture.  Bright sunny yellow covers the opening and closing endpapers.  

On the title page the two characters' heads are positioned on either side looking at each other.  On the verso page Horse is blow drying his mane.  Dog is leaping with a ball in his mouth on the dedication page.  

Thick black lines outline the comical Horse and Dog.  Their wide-eyed looks heighten the laughter factor and increase the emphasis on what they are saying.  Sometimes Tim Miller brings us close to the duo and other times we see their entire bodies.  Some of the visuals extend page edge to page edge and others are framed in thick black lines.  

One of my many favorite illustrations is after Dog has been fed the hay in the bottle.  On a white canvas he is exclaiming 

BLECH!

His eyes are huge.  His mouth is wide open with his tongue hanging out.  He is 

spitting out the hay.  The baby bottle is in his right hand. 

Readers of all ages will greatly enjoy the exaggerated absurdity of this exchange between these two animals.  Horse Meets Dog written by Elliott Kalan with illustrations by Tim Miller is a fabulous addition to any humorous story collection.  It is certain to be a hit at story times.  The link attached to Tim Miller's name takes you to his website.  Both Elliott and Tim have Twitter accounts.  For the book trailer premiere Elliot Kalan is a guest writer at Watch. Connect. Read., the site of Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher.

HORSE MEETS DOG Cover Reveal Teaser from Tim Miller on Vimeo.

We first met a funny fowl in Duck In The Fridge.  He and his friends supply one little boy (now a father) with a nighttime memory he will never forget.  In a companion title, Duck On A Disco Ball (Two Lions, November 1, 2018) written and illustrated by Jeff Mack, readers again get to enjoy the crazy antics of not only Duck but his two best friends, a mom and a dad!

Every night, it's the same old story.

Why can't 
I stay up
late like
you?

Because 
we're
grown-
ups,
kiddo.

And 
little
guys need
their
sleep.

The little boy does not want to go to bed.  He's afraid he will miss something fun, something important.  All his complaints and excuses don't delay the inevitable.  It's good night and sleep tight time.  The problem for this child is every morning there are little things out of place.  He wants to know what happens.

He speculates.  Does his toy duck come alive?  Does he paint with his parents?  Do they have action adventures in the bath tub? One night he follows sounds and spies.  He can't believe what he is seeing.

His parents and his duck are using the sofa for a diving exhibition.  The living room is invaded by animals; a dog, cow, pony, elephant, sheep and other ducks.  They are consuming mass quantities of food.  It is a party beyond his most imaginative dreams.  A loud disruptive crash fills the air and then . . . his parents and his duck are defying gravity.

Suddenly silence descends.  In the morning the child wonders if it was all a dream.  A discovery and a hilarious comment will have readers exploding with laughter.


Oh, the word play and puns are wondrous.  You'll hardly be able to keep from continuously laughing (or groaning) once the shenanigans begin.  Jeff Mack clearly has a masterful knack for arranging language to tell a humorous story.  His combination of narrative by the child plus dialogue is excellent.  Here are several passages.

Milkshakes, 
anyone?

I just 
ordered
a pizza.

Great!
Will it
be long?

No.
It'll be
round.

Care for a cookie?
No 
thanks.
I'm 
stuffed. (says the boy's duck)


All readers will want to do is dance when they see Duck swinging on the disco ball on the front of the matching dust jacket and book case.  His sheer happiness and the glittering ball tell a tale all their own.  Similar vibrant colors are used to the left, on the back.  Amid pastel rays, a spotted cow is raising her hoof in the air and posing like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.  (When an author/illustrator makes these references, it expands the enjoyment to cover a larger age group.  I burst out in laughter.)

The opening and closing endpapers are filled with rays and dots as if a disco ball is casting light on walls.  Beneath the text on the title page the child, boy, is being swung between his mom and dad.  Each illustration rendered in digital media is brimming with details asking readers to pause.  They make reference to events to come and when the party starts each page is packed.

Varying in size the images are highly animated.  Some span double pages, single pages or look like panels on a single page.  The conversations appear in speech bubbles.

One of my many favorite pictures spans two pages.  The background is bright yellow.  Across the bottom the flower-patterned print sofa is placed with two red-feather pillows.  Jumping and somersaulting in the air are the boy's parents and Duck.  They are laughing and yelling

BACK-
FLIP!
BELLY FLOP!
CANNON-BALL!!! 

Peeking unseen over one of the arms is the boy, wide-eyed with amazement.


Every reader will be wishing for a duck like this duck.  Duck On A Disco Ball written and illustrated by Jeff Mack is loads of fun.  You might want to have some late seventies music on hand to play before or after reading this title.  It's a perfect companion to the first title.  To learn more about Jeff Mack and his other work, follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Jeff has accounts on Twitter and Instagram.  Jeff Mack wrote an article for The Children's Book Review about his writing and reading life.

 

Ho Hum, De Dum

In all honesty there are people who have never been bored.  Most moments of their lives are filled with doing something at all times.  They were probably raised by parents who rarely rested when working or playing.  Even if these parents were big readers, reading was to be enjoyed after everything else was completed.  (These people raised by these parents might have had to hide to continue or finish a completely captivating book.)

And it goes without saying, these people would never admit to having unfulfilled free time because those parents would produce a never ending to-do list.  There's Nothing To Do! (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, September 19, 2017) written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt is a new companion title to I Don't Want To Be A Frog and I Don't Want To Be Big.  The young frog who has brought laughter to readers repeatedly seems to be at a loss with how to spend his time.  Clearly his dad is not like some parents we might know.

I don't know what to do today.

You can't think of
anything?

It's not that our likeable amphibian can't think of a single thing, he just chooses not to do any of them.  After three suggestions of possibilities by his dad which Frog has no desire to follow, he decides to check with his friends.  Perhaps they will recommend something more appealing.

Rabbit wants to hop and then stop.  When he stops, his next activity is not at all what Frog wants to do.  Cat's proposal is downright yucky.  Frog and Owl are at complete odds.  When Frog approaches Pig he has several thoughts, one involving mud and the other a list.  Frog is not impressed.

Despairing of discovering anything to do, Frog rests flat on his back.  The day is nearly over.  Suddenly a new face appears, leaning over Frog. Her thoughts are in direct contrast to all the advice Frog has received.

She and Frog practice.  They wait.  As the sun sets Frog has a revelation.  When he and his dad chat at the day's end, Frog shares his grand plan for tomorrow.  There is one little problem, though.  What will Frog do?


By telling the entire story in dialogue Dev Petty personally involves readers in Frog's current dilemma.  With each proposed pastime and Frog's reply we realize his frustration is growing.  What is good for one individual is not always a good fit for another.  This builds toward the final idea; an idea not just for Frog but for all readers.  What makes this story even more memorable is the delightful twist Dev inserts at the end.  Here is a sample conversation.

Rabbit, what 
should we do today?

Hope around in
circles and then ...

...stare off into space.
Like this.

This is even less
fun than it looks.


There is something about the expression on Frog's face on the matching dust jacket and book case which sparks giggles and grins.  His words, the book's title, are in direct contrast to the toys surrounding him.  You can feel the comedic effect start to bubble inside you.  To the left, on the back, Frog maintains his commentary as the two previous books are shown.  When he points to the ISBN and asks

What's THIS?

you have to smile.  (When you are reading this aloud, this is a super opportunity to talk about the ISBN.)

The opening and closing endpapers in pale blue highlight Frog first in six boring poses and second in six alternate pursuits guaranteed to generate happiness.  The title page is nearly identical to the front of the jacket and case but Frog is walking away with his arms in the air in a sign of exasperation.  Throughout the book the background colors are varied; pale blue, white, darker blue, purple, pale yellow, pale green and golden shades of a blazing sunset.  The vibrant primary colors placed on those canvases by illustrator Mike Boldt add extra exuberance to the illustrations.

It's not just Frog's facial looks which will cause hilarity but on all the characters' faces.  The inclusion of extra details increase the humor and ask us to stop and enjoy the moments.  Notice the words on Dad's crossword puzzle, Dad's attire when he proposes a swim, Pig's latest project, and Rabbit's crinkled whiskers.  The size of the illustrations, single page and three double-page pictures elevate the pacing.

One of my favorite pictures of several is on a single page.  Frog and his dad are talking.  When his dad asks him what Pig is doing, Frog yawns and replies

Probably something boring.

Frog is leaning against a Popsicle stick replica of the Eiffel Tower being glued together by Pig.


In There's Nothing To Do! written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt is full of the fun we have come to love about Frog, his dad and the other animals in his world.  The mix of words and images is energetic and lasting.  Readers won't want to miss this third title.  You'll want to have a copy on your personal and professional bookshelves.

To learn more about Dev Petty and Mike Boldt and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Get a peek inside at the publisher's website.  Mike Boldt has a guest post on PictureBookBuilders about this title.  You're going to enjoy the artwork.

Who's There? Beware!

There's nothing quite as wonderful as walking through a nature park in Michigan on a beautiful spring morning until your dog stops dead in her tracks.  She sharply turns her head looking intently into the woods.  Then a deep rumbling growl begins in her throat before the angry warning barks start.  You listen to see if the bird song has changed.  You look for any color or movement out of the ordinary but you see nothing.  You are still afraid knowing your canine companion has detected something unfriendly.

Quickly you alter your course.  The unknown has spoken to a keen primal instinct for preservation.  The Giant Jumperee (Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Young Readers Group, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, April 18, 2017) written and illustrated by beloved names in children's literature, Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury, considers how beings approach what they cannot see and therefore might fear.

Rabbit was hopping home one day when he heard a loud voice coming from inside his burrow.

"I'm the GIANT JUMPEREE
and I'm scary 
as can be!"

After this frightening announcement Rabbit was not willing to enter the burrow.  Cries for assistance were answered by a nearby friend, Cat.  Cat was going to sneak inside and jump right on top of the boisterous intruder.

Cat was almost through the entrance when an ominous voice called out a warning.  She froze too spooked to move.  When she yelped for help Bear happened to reply.  Bear was more than ready to offer a "paw-sitive" outcome.

A bear is a pretty fearsome creature but when that voice bellowed out a dangerous promise, he paused.  Three animals do not want to enter the burrow but a fourth, Elephant, is willing to stick in his trunk and wrap it around the dastardly monster.  When the GIANT JUMPEREE speaks, you can with certainty guess the consequence.  These four friends have a serious problem.

Up in the top of a tree, Mama Frog hears Elephant's trumpets.  As casual as can be, Mama Frog volunteers to rid Rabbit's abode of this monstrosity.  Rabbit, Cat, Bear and Elephant all reiterate what might befall the courageous amphibian.  She bravely proceeds and issues her own challenge.  Will it be met?  Who or what can the GIANT JUMPEREE be?


Each time this title is read a smile will be forming and growing bigger as each animal approaches the burrow opening.  Julie Donaldson is a master at using repetition to build to a surprising conclusion; each animal replies to the challenge with the same response.  When a new animal asks a question, the answer is the same.  The warning issued by the GIANT JUMPEREE is different each time but the endings rhyme.  These repetitions and the rhyming create a marvelous cadence inviting reader participation.  There is not a reader in the world who has not heard Mama Frog's ultimate choice for the inhabitant of the burrow.  Here is a sample passage.

"Help! Help!" meowed Cat.
"What's the matter, Cat?" asked Bear.
"There's a Giant Jumperee in
Rabbit's burrow!" said Cat.
"Don't worry," said Bear.  "I'll put my
big furry paw inside and knock him down."


Rendered in watercolor the illustrations throughout and on the matching dust jacket and book case create a classic, comforting feel for the reader.  It's unlikely a rabbit, elephant, cat and bear would ever be seated in a field of flowers together but when Helen Oxenbury is the illustrator, it's as normal and extraordinary as can be.  Her play of light and shadow, delicate details, expressive facial features and soft, textured backgrounds and characters are a joy to see.  To the left, on the back, Rabbit is standing startled outside his burrow having just heard the declaration from the GIANT JUMPEREE.

The opening and closing endpapers are done in a soft, warm brown wash; almost like sepia tone.  On the first Rabbit is standing on a hill looking down at his burrow.  On the second all the characters are scampering with happiness down a hill.  On the first title page Rabbit is hopping along wearing a smile.  The formal title page and verso is a full color version of the opening endpapers.

With the exception of five smaller pictures, all of the images span two pages.  Careful readers will notice the passage of time in the shifting shades of color in the background skies.  For most of the visuals we are close to the characters.   Their body postures are endearing to the point you find yourself reaching out to hug them.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when Bear has been scared by the GIANT JUMPEREE.  He is pictured on the left side of the picture, leaning back on his front paws with his back paws close together in front of him.  Elephant is seated opposite him.  He is earnestly leaning forward reassuring Bear of his ability to rid them all of the GIANT JUMPEREE.  His back feet are in front with his two front feet resting between them.  They are sitting on a grassy meadow with hills and trees behind them.  Birds in the distance are flying.


You can be guaranteed of hearing listeners ask you to read The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Helen Oxenbury over and over again.  It's a delightful story of four faithful friends and a fifth companion willing to take a risk.  The results are surprising...and funny.  I highly recommend this as a read aloud, reader's theater or get out your puppets for some creative drama.  I would not be a bit surprised to see this title appear on the nominations for the 2018 Kate Greenaway Medal.

To learn more about Julia Donaldson and her other work, please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  Helen Oxenbury is interviewed at Reading Rockets.  Author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson talks about this title on her blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury are featured regarding this title at Publishers Weekly.  Enjoy this video where Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury talk about their collaboration on this book.

Breadlam In The Neighborhood

When attending college dorm life was highly regimented.  Compared to campus life now, it was downright laughable.  One thing which was never a laughing matter though was the schedule for meals on Sunday.  There were only two; the final one at noon.  When dinnertime arrived my suitemates and I sometimes pooled our financial resources and ordered a pizza but we usually went without food.  After studies and class prep for Monday, we went to bed early.

Inevitably as we were lying there waiting for sleep, someone would call out their favorite food.  Someone else would call out their favorite food.  Pretty soon, we were not only all talking about food but describing it so vividly you could swear the rooms were filled with the aromas of a banquet hall before a feast.  It was as if you could reach out and taste whatever your heart desired.

Cravings for a particular cuisine are a powerful thing.  Nanette's Baguette (Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Group, October 25, 2016) words and pictures by Mo Willems follows a frog during a food fiasco.  A first becomes the worst.

NANETTE!
Today is a day Nanette won't soon forget.

It's hard to forget the first day you get to get the baguette.  It's a huge undertaking for Nanette but she's ready for the task.  Along the path to the bakery she greets four friends, one even has his clarinet.  Another is walking his pet, Antoinette.

Leaving the foursome, Nanette walks into the bakery where Juliette is waiting.  She hands her the most beautiful baguette.  It's still warm from the oven.  It smells delicious.  It seems to be bigger than a normal baguette.  YIKES!

How did that happen? Yum! Yum!  Nanette took a bite of the baguette.  It tastes scrumptious.  YIKES!  She did it again!  The baguette is not quite as big as it was.  What will Nanette do next?

Well, that was probably not the best decision Nanette has ever made.  In fact, now she seems to be in a bit of a pickle.  Adding to her trouble, the weather turns dismal and wet; much like her mood.  Now what?  Mom knows best.  Bakery baguettes are still warm from the oven.  Bakery baguettes still smell delicious. YIKES!

This two word title, Nanette's Baguette, is the basis for an entire story in the masterful mind of Mo Willems.  The impeccable rhyming creates a catchy cadence.  Some of the phrases are barely shy of tongue twister status. The repetition of key words is a welcoming invitation for audience participation. Here is another sample passage.

Getting to get the baguette is Nanette's biggest responsibility yet.
Is Nanette set to get the baguette?


As soon as you look at the opened, matching dust jacket and book case, you know there is something extraordinary about the illustrations for this title.  Mo Willems fashioned these images by

comprising them of photographed handcrafted cardboard-and-paper constructions digitally integrated with photographed illustrations and additions.

 He made the entire village for this story by hand.  The front is a close up of the bakery window with Nanette and the baguette.  To the left, on the back, Nanette and her mom are sitting on the bench in the town circle, snacking on a baguette.  This smaller picture appears to be in 3-D, raised from the rustic, reddish orange canvas.

The opening and closing endpapers are a dusty green with baguettes placed on them in rows.  Those on the closing endpapers tell a tale, leaving space for the publication information.  The two-page picture for the title page is a panoramic view of the village featuring many of the characters.

Throughout the story the backgrounds shift from green to purple to blue, a golden brown and brown; a reflection of the emotional turns in the narrative.  Many of the illustrations appear raised from the background in square or rectangle shapes with elements moving outside the frame.  Other illustrations are created on the canvas itself, a collection of smaller (or huge) visuals.

The facial expressions on Nanette leave no doubt as to the state of her mind (and stomach) during the tale.  Her eyes and body posture speak volumes.  Her hat, shirt and skirt are the delightful finishing touches.

One of my favorite of many illustrated pages is when Nanette first has the baguette.  In one of the pictures with closed eyes she is hugging it close to feel the warmth.  In the next image, eyes still closed, mouth in a blissful grin, she is smelling it.  In the third visual she is slightly larger and we see only her body from the waist up.  She is holding the baguette in one hand, lengthwise and vertical.  Her eyes, now wide open, are assessing the large size of the baguette.  You can feel the tension mounting as a decision is going to be made.


Will you laugh out loud repeatedly reading Nanette's Baguette, words and pictures by Mo Willems? YOU BET!  Will you be craving a taste of a baguette before you're even started with the story?  YOU BET!  Will you imagine you can feel its warmth and smell the savory scent?  YOU BET!  I recommend you read this repeatedly to yourself and out loud so others can enjoy all the fun.  Get multiple copies for your professional shelves and one for your personal bookcases at home.

To learn more about Mo Willems and his other work please follow the links attached to his name to access his website and blogs.  Julie Danielson, author, reviewer and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast reviews this title at BookPage. (Be sure to visit Julie's blog too to view interior images.) Mo Willems was a recent guest at The Yarn: The Inside Story of Children's Books by Travis Jonker and Colby Sharp.  Enjoy the videos.

You can check out some of the original drawings & sketches for NANETTE'S BAGUETTE at the @RMGalleries site: https://t.co/72jYaXKPbv pic.twitter.com/rzKDJ2BqQY

— Mo Willems' Pigeon (@The_Pigeon) October 31, 2016

An Amphibian Objects

Oh, if only we could speak the language of animals.  The conversations would be lengthy and informative.  They probably have a separate set of rules for any number of situations.  We, of course, have no clue as to the dos and don'ts in their realm.

Apparently there are particular places where specific animals are supposed to sit as we learned in Frog On A Log? (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., August 25, 2015) written by Kes Gray with illustrations by Jim Field.  At the conclusion of that title the frog was in a less than comfortable position.  You could say he was in a difficult state of affairs.  In a sequel Oi DOG! (Hodder Children's Books, July 28, 2016, UK) authors Kes Gray and Claire Gray collaborate with Jim Field as the frog airs his dissatisfaction with the rules.

Oi DOG!
GET OFF THE FROG
said the frog.

"But I like sitting on frogs," said the dog.

As the dog explains why his posterior likes to be placed on frogs, the know-it-all cat, sitting on a mat, chants the litany of rules.  Well, frog is having nothing to do with those particular decrees.  He's changing them.  Dogs will sit on logs.

Dog is not too happy about sitting on a log.  Cat is not too happy about sitting on gnats rather than a mat. Getting in the groove of this switcheroo of guidelines, dog wants to know what bears will sit on.  Firmly in control now, frog happily replies

"Bears will sit on
stairs."

When dog asks about slugs, frog gleefully gives an answer for them, flies, crickets and moths. Each time dog asks, a reply, no matter how strange, is issued with the speed of lightning.  When dog points out whales might not like where they have to sit, frog authoritatively answers much like cat did in the past. (Oh, oh.)

Nine more animals are issued new directions for their state of sitting.  This leads us to one final question.  As the now king of commandments, frog's response and action break all the rules.  (Prepare to burst out laughing.)


With all the utterly ridiculous rhymes penned by Kes Gray for this title, it's hard not to imagine bouts of loud giggling coming from his writing room.  You will find yourself wondering if he thought of the animals first or the objects upon which they are assigned to sit.  And speaking of animals we have those from the forest, the jungle, the insect world, African grasslands, domestic and wild types from the same family, the largest and the smallest, and even one from fantasy.  Here's another passage.

"You're really getting the hang of this," said the dog.
"I know," said the frog.  "And that's not all...
Gnus will sit on canoes, pigs will sit on wigs, and boars will sit on oars.


When you contrast the frog pointing an accusing finger at the dog on the front of the opened book case (There is no dust jacket.) and the dog's startled look, you know this book is going to be as full of humor as its predecessor.  To the left, on the back, a decidedly disgruntled cat is grumpier than ever at where he is now sitting and probably because of losing his rule-setting status.  For the opening and closing endpapers, on a rusty orange background, the dog is posed in fifty-four small, captured actions certain to have readers howling at their hilarity.

On the verso the shocked dog is looking straight at the reader.  With a page turn we move in close to the dog sitting on the frog in a two-page picture.  Once dog removes himself from frog, frog now has the chalk and is educating the animals on his new rules on a blackboard.  For his guidelines, Jim Field has varied the canvas for each single page image; turquoise, orange, purple, and green.  Sometimes he will extend the illustration from left to right as frog continues to speak.

The comedy found in his details will have readers pausing repeatedly; bears eating bowls of porridge, a moth reading a book about light bulbs, the look on the sheep's face with a leopard sitting on the shepherd, the Adam's Apples painted on the side of a wagon and a skunk wearing a clothespin on its nose.  It's the expressions on the animals' faces which seal the deal.  Frog is featured somewhere on one of every two pages.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is the one on the right for the above-noted passage.  Frog is doing the back stroke alongside a canoe.  Sitting in the canoe is a big gnu, holding a double-paddled oar in his hands.  On each oar a boar is seated.  One is wearing a pink, pig-tailed wig looking like Pippi Longstocking.  The gnu is wearing a wig like those worn in the French court by women during the eighteenth century.  Sitting on top of the gnu's wig are three little pigs.


I can already hear the laughter of readers as Oi DOG! written by Kes Gray and Claire Gray with illustrations by Jim Field is silently read or read aloud.  The combination of text and images is loaded with humor at every page turn.  It is more than a fitting sequel to the first title.  You must have both books on your professional and personal bookshelves.

To learn more about Kes Gray and Jim Field please take a few moments to visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  Jim Field has a lot of process art on the page dedicated to this book.  It's interesting to compare what was initially drawn and what remains in the book.

Inching Upward On The Outside

As a teacher librarian you see all the students each and every year as they attend your particular school.  Regardless of the level, elementary, middle or high school, they take great delight in measuring their height to yours. When you've been a whopping five foot, one and a quarter inch tall your whole adult life, their joy at finally getting close to or exceeding your height usually results in laughter for everyone.

On February 10, 2015 readers were introduced to a young frog with very particular opinions on his state of being in the title I Don't Want To Be A Frog.  He's back in a companion book I Don't Want To Be Big (Doubleday Books For Young Readers, October 11, 2016) written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt.  He may have accepted being a frog but he is more than determined to stay small.

You need to eat your dinner.

I don't want to.

You don't want to GROW?

Frog and his dad are engaged in an interesting conversation.  His father wants to understand and Frog is more than ready with an explanation.  Frog is a tad bit worried about getting too tall.  Then he's concerned about being too small.  (Ants are a part of their food group.)

Being tall is not on Frog's wish list.  In his way of thinking his dad can carry him to anything worthy of seeing.  As far as reaching delectable delights, he makes a valid point. He has 

BIG friends.  

When his dad finally sits him down to probe further into his lack of desire to be big, Frog has a lengthy litany of reasons.  He is positively certain of not wanting to be big.  As he is making a visual comparison, Pig wanders into their discussion.

Frog says the problem is he simply does want to be big regardless of Pig's reasonable reply of things, by their very nature, growing.  Pig points out some of the advantages of being big like mud and garbage.  It's Pig's final observation that throws Frog into the middle of a free-for-all.  A long held secret of generations is shared.

Told entirely in dialogue the parent and child each speak perfectly in their roles providing a contrast brimming with humor.  Dev Petty has a creative knack for getting inside her character's minds and speaking for them with a knowing voice.  After Frog's initial declaration, his dad patiently asks questions.  Frog's answers lose their credibility because his logic seems a little off.  This technique by Petty leads to Pig's final revelation, getting to the heart of why Frog does not want to grow. Here is a portion of the continuation of the first three sentences.

I don't want to be BIG.

Why not?

Well...first you're one inch,

and then two inches, then three...

When does it stop?

You can't stay small forever.

An ant stays small forever.

The bright, bold colors on the matching dust jacket and book case are used throughout the title.  You can feel a laugh bubbling up inside you as soon as you see Frog sitting by the letter G with his arms crossed, declaring the title.  To the left, on the back, using the ISBN as his soapbox, Frog issues another announcement as one of his big friends (with a trunk) fills most of the space, looking cramped.  On both the opening and closing endpapers, this big friend is holding a pencil to mark Frog's position on a vertical ruler.  There is a difference between the two reflecting the conclusion of the narrative.  On the opening flap, Frog begins his case for not being BIG with a hilarious outburst.

What makes the illustrations in this book truly enjoyable and downright fun are the various backgrounds, element placements and perspectives illustrator Mike Boldt uses.  His canvases are pale green, white, lavender, light blue, a faint golden hue, dark purple, and bright yellow.  In the speech bubbles certain words are sized larger and colored differently to intensify their meaning. 

Many of the pictures are on single pages but when the double page images appear, they make you stop and notice the shift in the story.  The first one is wordless.  After seeing it you will tend to agree with Frog's answer to his dad.  It's the facial expressions and body postures of the characters which elevate the laughter factor to new heights.  

One of my favorite illustrations is on a single page.  It is in reply to one of Frog's questions.  Frog is sitting on the ground, mouth wide open and pointing. Next to him is a tree...a big tree. Regardless of the size an elephant fails to hide behind it.  The elephant is saying in a quiet voice...Nope.

I Don't Want To Be Big written by Dev Petty with illustrations by Mike Boldt will have readers laughing continuously.  The images extend the humor of the story at the perfect place, on point every time.  Be sure to read this aloud repeatedly using your best frog and pig voices.  

I know you'll want to learn more about Dev Petty and Mike Boldt and their other work.  You can find this by visiting their websites, following the links attached to their names.  They both maintain blogs here and here respectively.  Author Dev Petty is interviewed at KidLit 411.  John Schumacher, Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, showcased the cover reveal and book trailer on his blog Watch. Connect. Read.  Dev Petty takes over the blog for the cover reveal chatting about the book.  She comes back again for the book trailer release.  You can get a peek at some interior pictures at the publisher's website.