A Dog, A Dinosaur and a Boy's Love

On the wall in my home is a signed print by the late artist and author, Stephen Huneck.  Huneck is best known in the children's literature community for his series of Sally, a black Labrador, books. My print is of the front paws, head, chest and winged back of a yellow Labrador, nose pointed upward toward a single shining star, the laces of a dangling shoe, in his/her mouth.  The print is captioned, Dogs Have A Soul.  

If you've ever loved and lost a dog, the need to believe this, for this to be true, is very strong.  When children grow up with a puppy, there is something extraordinary about the bond formed between them and their dog.  It's as if they are the other half of one another.  Author/ artist Doug TenNapel, whose graphic novels, Ghostopolis, Bad Island and Cardboard, are extremely popular with readers, has a recently released, newer version of the title, Tommysaurus Rex (Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic) filled with king-size heart about the remarkable connection between a boy and his canine....er....prehistoric companion.

Ely, an only child, living with his parents in suburbia has grown up with a golden retriever named Tommy.  We are introduced to the characters around the breakfast table as Ely is getting ready to take Tommy for a walk to the park.  On the way to meeting his friends with their dogs, tragedy strikes.  Another dog gets away from their human, chasing Tommy out into the street where he is struck and killed by a car.

Absolutely heartbroken, Ely is comforted by his Dad that evening with the suggestion he go stay with his grandpa, helping him on the farm.  Upon arrival at the farm, amid the greetings, Ely receives the gift of a toy Tyrannosaurus Rex from his grandpa. All goes grandly, as is often the case between grandparents and their grandchildren.

The next day after hours of hard work, Ely takes a break walking around the area with his new, smaller plastic companion.  A local boy, Randy and his two buddies Shem and Beckett approach Ely.  Their intentions, however, are not friendly.

Ely takes off with them in hot pursuit running through the woods trying to hide in a cave.  Caught off guard by strange sounds within the dark cavern, he is nabbed and bullied by the three, losing his grandpa's gift too.  That night neither Randy or Ely can sleep; Randy is filled with anxiety over the absence of his father and Ely hears those same noises, heard earlier, louder and closer, coming from the darkness outside.  Who or what is out there?

Making his way through the night back to the cave, Ely frees a trapped, full-grown Tyrannosaurus Rex.  The friendship between the duo is immediate.  Of course, there is the slight problem of his size, appetite, friendship with a local black cat and fear of fire.

It's up to Ely, Grandpa and Rex to prove to the mayor of the community that he's an asset rather than a liability.  While their determination to succeed seems to be working, Randy is equally driven to make life as miserable for Ely and Rex as possible.  When Randy's efforts roar out of control, Ely's decision alters everything...except for the love he shares with Tommysaurus Rex.


Told entirely in dialogue, visual and sound effects, Doug TenNapel creates a story poignant in its sadness and happiness alike; breaking your heart and fixing it more than once. His placement of humor (and dino poop) are spot-on.  His characters are fully human; flawed but rising to the occasion when they need to be better than they think they can be.  Here is an example:

The newly acquired Rex has just eaten a cow.

Ely: COOOOL!
Grandpa: A dinosaur is eating my cow.
Ely: They do that.
Grandpa: Mmm...so they do.
Ely: His name is Rex.
Grandpa: Ely, that's a Tyrannosaurus Rex! You can't keep him.
Ely: Oh, come on, Gramps! He's gonna be my best and only friend.
Ely: PUH--LEAAAASE!
Grandpa: And don't try to give me "Weepy Eyes"! I've got my Weepy-Eye Shields up!
Ely: Aw, come on, Grandpa! We get a T-Rex dropped in our lap and you wanna get rid of it!
What kind of man doesn't dream of owning a T-Rex?
Grandpa: You've got a point there.
Ely: Look at him go! He finished all of the bowels in thirty seconds!


In perfect sync with the dialogue the graphics accentuate the emotional heartbeart of the story.  Alternating between framed panels, single page and double page illustrations and shifting perspective they captivate the reader, pulling them into the center of the action.  Numerous times the humor is unspoken but obvious.  Some of my favorites are: the series of pages when Ely first encounters Rex foreshadowing events to come, the three panels when Ely throws a stick saying fetch and Rex brings back the local policeman dangling from his motorcycle, when Ely's dad comes to his room to comfort him, lying down on the floor next to him and the uplifting final two pages.


Having read Tommysaurus by Doug TenNapel twice cover to cover and other sections a third and fourth time, I can say, in complete honesty, this graphic novel is a great read.  It is first and foremost a story of the love a boy has for his dog and in turn of the dog's love for his boy.  But, many other life challenges are raised within this story, the why of bullying, remorse, forgiveness and death.  Plan on multiple copies.

Timeless Tune

You don't have to be a member of a band, orchestra or choir to have music be a part of your life.  Music surrounds us everyday; there are rhythms in our world whether we live in a city or the country.  Music marks moments in our lives; hearing a song can recall a time period or exact event.  Music can match or change a mood.

Some melodies are catchy enough, they may stick with us for days or even weeks.  During his time as musical director for Sesame Street, Joe Raposo wrote the words and music for a song which has and will continue to endure for decades and decades to come, Sing.  Sing is a tune known by people all around the world, sung in many languages thanks to Joe Raposo.  It has now been pictured with a story by author/illustrator, Tom Lichtenheld, Sing (Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt And Company).

As if the lyrics and melody are not cheerful enough, Tom Lichtenheld illuminates them with his sunny complimentary colors beginning with the captivating cover, a small purple bird on the golden background, head and beak raised in song.  Beneath the jacket the darker purple from the bird clothes the cover, the bird and notes embossed in a darker shade.  Opening and closing endpapers (with jacket flaps aligned) illustrate the closing notes in a wave with the words beneath.

The two pages showcasing the title feature a landscape with a line of trees, a close-up of a single leafy branch with three charming little birds, one a darker hue of the sky, another a rusty brown and the third, the purple bird.  With a turn of page the first sings a single note of blue and flies from the nest.  On the following two pages the second sings his own note and takes wing.  But on the third set of two pages, no note comes from the purple bird, not a single sound despite his trying.

With each attempt he gives it his all, to no avail.  He hangs his head in sadness, alone in the nest.  But wait...a boy with a guitar comes strolling along, sitting on a rock under the tree branch.  The words and notes of Sing float upward as he strums the strings and gives voice to the song.

The notes focus on a straight path, building beneath the nest.  With each line of the tune, there are more and more, elevating the bird in the nest.  As the lyrics of the song speak of goodness and happiness, the magic found in music happens.


Tom Lichtenheld using ink, watercolor, pastels and colored pencil has created a story which highlights the soul of the song.  His pictures are paced perfectly with the words.  In the characters of the three birds and boy with his guitar, the exhilaration, their complete zest for singing is evident in their features.  You can't help but feel laughter bubbling up and singing happily along with them.

Liberal use of white space directs the reader's eye to the soft washes around the tree branch first, then to the boy singing.  It also serves to shift emphasis to the notes.  When the purple bird flies into the sky dotted with soft clouds, the colors reflect those on the title page, until he joins his nest mates.  A colorful joy drifts into the white, then the soft blue; three birds on a wire, singing from their hearts.  Sing a song!


It is impossible to read Sing lyrics and music by Joe Raposo, story in pictures by Tom Lichtenheld without humming along or bursting into song.  You will feel your heart fill with joy as the little purple bird finds his voice.  The words in English and Spanish appear at the end.  In any language it's beautiful.  The final two pages contain a note from Nick Raposo, Joe's son, a picture of the original handwritten lyrics and chords by Joe Raposa, and dedications from Nick Raposo and Tom Lichtenheld which are uplifting themselves.

Here is a link to the publisher website for a peek at more illustrations.  Tom Lichtenheld provides an activity guide linked here.  This wonderful essay appeared at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast nearly a month ago with Tom Lichtenheld speaking about his process in creating the story for this song.  It's loaded with artwork.

And I've included several videos.  If there is any tune I want rolling around in my mind it is this one.

Multi-Media Moments

It's the middle of the year and Larry Ferlazzo, educator and blogger at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... has posted a list of his The Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education In 2013-So Far.  Of the thirty-two entries there are a variety, applications for a geography game and generating your own, using maps to document a trip, website creation, making presentations, writing, flashcards, video conferencing, royalty-free images, drawing, word processing, quiz making, designing quotations, adding speech bubbles to images and video annotation.  I selected a multi-media presentation tool called buncee to try.

Buncee was originally designed out of a desire by the Daniella Maria Arturi Foundation to have an online application to send a creative, interactive and personal message of thanks.  It's their goal to have buncee be the next generation of digital communication and content sharing.  Uploaded photographs and online images, text, drawings, video, and audio can be included in a buncee.

On the home page of buncee you can access (by clicking on tabs across the top) the About section (About, How To, buncee gallery, Mobile Apps, Follow buncee, In The News, Media Resources, buncee Team, Privacy, Terms and Contact Us), Categories (28 headings), Find Us (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, LinkedIn and their blog), a search box and a link to the Daniella Maria Arturi Foundation.  Many examples from assorted categories are shown; lots of ideas in which to use this service.  I decided to jump right in by clicking on the yellow Create your own button.

A new smaller screen appears allowing you to log in with a variety of social networks, your buncee account or sign up.  To sign up you need to give your first and last name, a user name, email address, password, birth date and gender.  You need to have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.  Users do need to be 13 years of age.  A welcome email appears in your inbox immediately.

Along the top of the home page on the right your picture and first name now appears.  You can edit your profile (change picture, password, keep profile information public or private) keep track of interactions and logout.  It's now time to create.








Your buncee digital canvas is an easy-to-use workspace.
You can design one or more slides.  For each add a title.  For your background you can choose from the buncee possibilities, upload your own or simply select a plain color.

Images can be uploaded with a link attached.  When adding text an animation gives you hints on the screen while on the right are your choices.  Being able to add a link to your text is a plus.  To add a link you must highlight the text for that option to appear.


At any time if you wish to edit any item simply click on it.  You can edit, delete or rotate.  I would recommend periodically clicking the Save Draft button.  More slides can also be added from your digital canvas.

Messages and quotes are buncee generated in different fonts.  If you so desire you can insert a drawing or add themed stickers.  This has definite appeal if you are designing a specific message. (Education stickers have been included.)

To add other multi-media elements type in your keywords.  Click on the available icons, YouTube, SoundCloud, Flickr, Google and Instagram.  Thumbnails will appear in the results.  You can select any of them or type in a URL link. Click insert.  For ease in searching be sure to add tags.







When your buncee is completed click on the Next Step button.  You are taken to a window where you can place your buncee in a category, change the setting to public or private, and whether you want to allow comments or not.  Once completed, click Post. (You might want to click the Preview button in the upper right-hand corner first.)


At this final window you have many options.  If your buncee is an invitation you have the potential for RSVP.  You can enter in a list of email addresses and write a message.  Your buncee can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and embedded using HTML code.  And you can still go back to Create!

Here is the buncee I created after hearing the Kate Greenaway Medal announcement this morning.  




Within seconds of my posting I had a viewer comment.  On the left of your buncee are still more choices.  The ability to save the buncee slide on your computer and convert as a PDF file is a huge bonus.

Without a doubt I am glad Larry Ferlazzo included buncee on his new list.  This application is perfect for the educational setting.  It could be used to do visual booktalking, reader responses, mini-research, sending announcements and assignments to students.  The possibilities are only limited by your creativity.  This is definitely going in my virtual toolbox. 

The Gift

Tomorrow evening one of the highlights of each month will begin promptly at 8:00 PM EST on Twitter.  Members of the Nerdy Book Club will gather.  It's an hour of book bliss known as the #SharpSchu Book Club, hosted by Colby Sharp, educator, co-founder of the Nerdy Book Club, co-host of the monthly #titletalk with Donalyn Miller and blogger at sharpread and John Schumacher, teacher librarian, member of the 2014 Newbery Committee, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read.  This month the spotlight will shine on three wordless picture books.

I've previously reviewed Molly Idle's Flora and the Flamingo (Chronicle Books) and Bluebird by Bob Staake (Schwartz & Wade Books).  The third book chosen, The Boy and the Airplane (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers) by Mark Pett is about losing and finding.  Sometimes we find more than we have lost.


As the first page is turned on the left we see the merest hint of an adult leg walking off the edge.  On the right a young boy, clad in overalls and short sleeve shirt, is holding a box tied with ribbon in a bow, on his face is a look of wondering.  When the present is opened, to his delight, he discovers a red toy airplane.

In a heartbeat, now wearing a jacket, he's out the door.  For the next several pages his joy is almost palpable.  He runs holding the plane, he is a plane circling it on the ground, then giving it a glance, he picks it up.  Arm back, plane in hand, he gives it a mighty throw.

He runs following as it climbs toward the sky until...it lands on the roof.  In an instant his joy vanishes. This boy is a very determined fellow though.  Grabbing a ladder he tries to reach it.  No, it's too short.  The next two pages show him attempting all possible means of retrieving his gift; he's a cowboy with a lasso, a baseball player throwing a ball, bouncing on his pogo stick and a fireman with his hose spraying out water.

Clearly having exhausted all his ideas, he sits under a tree.  When a maple seed flutters to the ground next to him, a new thought begins to grow.  Carrying a shovel twice as big as he is, he digs a hole and plants the seed.  Years pass, seasons change.  So does the boy.

Now he is a balding, elderly man with a full beard clad in overalls and a short sleeve shirt, standing next to a very large tree. He climbs, he reaches and rescues.  Time, miracle worker that it is, has fashioned another shift.  A gift.


One of the most striking things about this book, immediately noticeable, is the color scheme, the grays, greens, browns and rusty red used throughout. Rendered in pencil and watercolor this palette gives readers a sense of the timelessness of this story.  Mark Pett elects to alter the jacket and cover, each showing the boy with his airplane in similar scenes taken from the pages inside the title.  Opening and closing endpapers are a pattern of the airplane outline in rows.

Increasing the readers' feeling of participation are the plain backgrounds in varying shades.  All our attention is focused on the boy, the airplane, and the tree.  Pett chooses to include the faint outlines of a door, the interior of a tool shed, a few blades of grass and a small flower. A tiny bird (or two or a nest with babies) are the boy's only companion as time passes.  Illustration size, two pages, a single page, split pages (horizontal and vertical) create new moments with ease.

The texture of the paper, the fine lines of Pett's work, and the deft strokes of his paintbrush blend to invite.  I found myself touching the pages more than once.  When we readers are viewing the final pages, we have formed a connection to the boy/man and the airplane.  That's why, for me, my favorite illustration is the double page spread, zooming in on the old man, as his face and arms appear over a treetop branch.  He's looking at the airplane resting on an aged roof as a bird is looking at him from within the leaves.  I'm pretty sure I sighed out loud the first time I saw this.


Mark Pett's The Boy and the Airplane is a gentle tale of gifts received and given, of persistence and patience and of how wanting and wondering change over the course of our lives.  This book is a priceless gift from Mark Pett to his readers.  It is meant to be treasured.  It is meant to be shared.

Please follow the link embedded in Mark Pett's name above to his official website.  There is an interesting post there about his creation of this book.  For further images of pages from the book, here is a link to the publisher website.  If you want more information about the #SharpSchu Book Club tomorrow night there are links embedded in John's and Colby's blog titles.

Frantic Fixation

As dog owners know, the key to understanding when your pooch pal has developed an obsession is, first, they never want to be separated from said object.  If it should happen to be misplaced, the mere sight of it will send them into delirious three-sixty twirls.  Secondly, because they love you in their own unique way, they want to share said attachment with you;  you might be throwing a Frisbee endlessly, playing hide and seek with a squeaker toy or hearing a quiet thud first thing in the morning, opening your eye and seeing a Kong waiting to be filled with a favorite snack.

For those of you unfamiliar with canine companionship, get ready for a gleeful glimpse into this particular personality trait.  Ball (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2, 2013)) word and pictures by Mary Sullivan follows a typical day in the life of a dog with his red toy.  The use of word rather than words is not a typographical error; only one word is used in this title to great effect.

The story opens in the room of a girl fast asleep in her bed.  Curled up next to her is the dog, a red ball firmly lodged in his mouth as he, too, sleeps.  As he slowly wakens, then sits up, tail thumping, she opens one eye to his unheard but obvious request.  Yelling BALL! she gives it a mighty heave.

This exchange is repeated several times as she changes from her pajamas into her school clothes.  When he silently asks her to throw it a final time, she points to the clock, leaving out the door.  He is not happy about playtime being over.

Clearly shaken by this turn of events, he approaches mom doing her yoga, baby in bouncy chair, cat lying cozily and the laundry basket to see if they're up for a game of throw and fetch.  Unfortunately none of them responds to his requests.  Finding his way into the girl's bedroom, he hops up on the bed, tucks the ball under her pillow (even her stuffed monkey won't play) and promptly falls into a dog dream.

He goes from one doggy delight into another then into doggy dread; a swirl of red balls, a seven-layer cake decorated with...red balls, an outer space chase and the lost-ball-in-the toilet maze to name a few.  A shadow falls across the bed saving him from slumbers' trauma.  There's only one thing to do.  A dog's internal clock never fails.  BALL!



All the subtleties of a single word are portrayed in font size, the shape of a speech bubble, and in the punctuation used by Mary Sullivan.  The position of the text in relation to the other elements in the illustrations cleverly conveys the emotions of the characters.  In a dog's mind, this dog's mind, the total joy of one syllable is absolutely accurate.


Speaking of one word, hilarious comes to mind when looking at the front of the dust jacket.  This pooch is possessed with a passion for that red ball.  On the back of the dust jacket Sullivan features four different scenarios with the dog and the ball not shown in the book; each one loaded with grins.  The volume's cover is literally filled with brown tone sketches of artwork; some having been used in the title.  A red polka dot pattern on the opening and closing endpapers increases the overall sense of play.

Of the fifty illustrations nearly all are framed with a small white border; those without a border are strong emotional moments.  This framing plus the varying sizes of the pictures gives the book the feel of a graphic novel.  Outside of the dream sequences the color palette stays more limited, warm tones of those shades used.  The look in the dog's eyes and the various body stances will have readers holding their sides with laughter.  Every single visual, truthfully, is jam-packed with animation.


Mary Sullivan's debut as both an author and illustrator with Ball is an uproarious success.  One on one or with a group, this has winner written all over it.  It would be such fun to give the dog his own special voice reflecting all his emotional states throughout the day.

A link to Mary Sullivan's official website is embedded in her name above.  Here are two of a series of videos, an interview about her work and Ball.

Twitterville Talk #104

It's hard to believe that today's post marks two years of Twitterville Talk.  It's also hard to comprehend the professional and personal impact of Twitter.  The dedication of educators, authors, illustrators, and those connected to publishing is wonderful.  The support and care extended one to the other is heartwarming.  To celebrate this milestone, for the giveaways, I will be sending out two boxes of books instead of single copies.  I will also be giving away a copy of Bob Staake's poster The Open Book.
Box one contains: Art2-D2's Guide To Folding and Doodling by Tom Angleberger, Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants (UK version, very cool), Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (UK version with revised cover and guide pages in the back to use with a book club), Cardboard by Doug TenNapel and Toys in Space by Mini Grey.  Box two contains: Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole by Judy Schachner, Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld, Every Day After by Laura Golden, Loki's Wolves: The Blackwell Pages by K. L. Armstrong and M. A. Marr and a paperback copy of the UK version of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  Of course it's going to be a little bit harder to find the answers this week but that's the fun of it.  Enjoy your weekend and take time for reading.

There's been lots of buzz this week about Kate Messner's Teachers Write! Follow the link to get all the information. According to the website it begins June 24th but some tweets are saying it begins this Monday.  Here is the link for signing up and further information.

Thanks to author Kate Messner for this tweet.





NPR Books, All Things Considered, features Judy Blume Hits The Big Screen With 'Tiger Eyes' Adaptation.

The Chicago Tribune interview---Judy Blume, forever

Judy Blume at the Printers Row Lit Fest is a special blog post done by Mr. Schu.

Don't forget to check out the abundance of resources at Start With A Book: Read. Talk. Explore. All Summer Long!---Themed Books and Activities for Summer Reading and Learning
At this site one of the themes is weather.  To the first person who can name a book title from that category featuring my favorite tractor in the world and the phrase most associated with him, I will send Box One.  DM me your answer on Twitter or leave it in the comments below. (This has been won.)

Have a good time listening and viewing to the chatting Behind The Scenes of Judy Blume's "Tiger Eyes"




This is a fun and interesting time lapse of the artwork in Meghan McCarthy's new Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton



I really like this video where Dads at Scholastic talk about their favorite book.




We have a new United States Children's Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt  

The Book Trailer Bonanza begins!









 Random House Fall Kids|Preview Peek

There is so much to do using the Magic Tree House Soar With Reading program.  Check out Mr. Schu's post.

Ramona Live Tour with the Story Pirates---Drop Everything And Read




Check out this amazing program the Seattle Public Library folks are doing---Books on Bikes


If you missed the NPR interview with Katherine Applegate here is the link plus another announcement.

Thanks to teacher librarian, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, one half of the #SharpSchu Book Club, 2014 Newbery Committee member and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read., John Schumacher for his dedication to keeping us all informed with his weekly tweets.




Children's Books at BEA: Photos from the Show is just about the next best thing to being there.  It's great to see all those people who have made so many of us and our children happy enjoying themselves.

If you are ALA annual bound this is going to be invaluable---2013 ALA Guide To ARCs & Signings

Thanks to Travis Jonker, teacher librarian, 2014 Caldecott Committee member and blogger at 100 Scope Notes for these tweets.








NPR Books, Weekend Edition Sunday, interviews Hanan al-Shaykh about her retelling of On Thousand and One Nights---Scheherazade: From Storytelling 'Slave' To 'First Feminist'
To the first person who can tell me correctly who Scheherazade is and what she did to save her life, I will send you the Bob Staake poster.  DM your answer to me on Twitter or leave it in the comments below. (This poster has been won.)



Thanks to NPR Books for this tweet.







Are you ready for the June #SharpSchu Book Club?  Wordless picture books are the topic this month featuring Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle, Bluebird by Bob Staake and The Boy and the Airplane by Matt Pett.

Thanks to Colby Sharp, educator, one half of the #SharpSchu book club, co-founder of the Nerdy Book Club, co-host of the monthly #titletalk, and blogger at sharpread for this tweet.


Here is another of the beautiful, informative videos from Candlewick Press's We Believe In Picture Books!




This is an enjoyable read, a first look at Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Have you shared a reason to read using the hashtag #25ReasonstoRead yet?  Check out this post at Chronicle Books.  


Thanks to Teresa Rolfe Kravtin, SE Publisher Rep and blogger at A Rep Reading for these  tweets.





This collection of photographs showing people from all around the world reading is stunning. ----To Light A Fire

Outstanding video tribute to Neil Armstrong---Blue & Beautiful


Thanks to educator and blogger at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day..., Larry Ferlazzo for these tweets.





We can learn much from one another---David Wiesner on Visual Storytelling|Video


Thanks to School Library Journal for this tweet.








Elephants in the Classroom was posted by Richard Byrne at Free Technology for Teachers this week.  I'm thinking this would be good to use in conjunction with Lynne Kelly's Chained.


Thanks to Richard Byrne for this tweet and for gathering so many resources each week on his blog.







I needed a reminder to pick up a copy of World Rat Day by J. Patrick Lewis and Anna Raff.

WORLD RAT DAY - by J. Patrick Lewis and Anna Raff from Anna Raff on Vimeo.

Thanks to illustrator Anna Raff for this tweet.





Don't miss out on this free giveaway of Megan Frazer Blakemore's Water Castle book and library event kit.


Thanks for this tweet go to Cathy Potter, teacher librarian and blogger at The Nonfiction Detectives



This is one fun book trailer---The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher.




Thanks to Alyson Beecher, educator and blogger at Kid Lit Frenzy, for this tweet.







Wow!  Here's a chance to win a signed copy of Warning:  Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt!

Thanks to author Adam Lehrhaupt for this tweet.





For fans of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's new Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked this video shows him drawing his two main characters.




Here's the entire video of the Platypus Police Squad booktalk in case your missed it.



This is going to be wonderful, absolutely wonderful.  "Tomie's Movie Memories" Series trailer


 
Thanks to author Jarrett J. Krosoczka for these tweets.









There might be something for everyone in these infographics---8 Awesome Educational Infographics for Teachers

Thanks to teacher librarian currently in Hong Kong and blogger at The Styling Librarian, Debbie Alvarez for this tweet.





This video is priceless beyond measure: Video:  Maurice Sendak On Being A Kid (Blank On Blank's Animated Version


Thanks to author/illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi for this tweet and post.








For The False Prince fans--this is very good news.

Thanks to author Jennifer A. Nielsen for this tweet and this fantastic trilogy.









This is one title I can't wait to read.  Listen and learn. PW KidsCast: A Conversation with Samantha Berger and Dan Santat
To the first person who can tell me what Dan Santat and his wife call the time of day when children might be like a Crankenstein, I will send Box Two.  DM me your answer on Twitter or in the comments below. (This box has been won.)

Thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publishers Weekly for this tweet.






This is one time when book nerd's wish they had piles of cash lying around---Get Your Literary Thumbprint

Many thanks to educator and blogger at Read Write Reflect, Katherine Sokolowski, for this tweet.





Here are some of my favorite tweets and quotes from the week.

I can't wait.
— Colby Sharp (@colbysharp) June 8, 2013

"Philadelphia Orchestra Quartet Gets Stuck on a Plane in China, Plays Dvořák for Grateful Passengers" http://t.co/ZQx4Q8zixV
— Richard Byrne (@rmbyrne) June 9, 2013

Overheard just now... My little guy, hugging a newly checked out book to his chest, says "The li-berry is very special." #happiness :)
— Molly Idle (@MollyIdle) June 9, 2013

@daydreamreader The sign of a true book lover is one who gives away books they love in hopes it will inspire the same book love in others.
— Julee Murphy (@JuleeMurphy) June 10, 2013

Whoever said "a watched pot never boils" was probably doing something in children's books. Or cooking.
— Matthew Cordell (@cordellmatthew) June 10, 2013

I love teaching but after today I wish my job could be giving kids free books all day! #nerdybookclub #booklove
— Niki Ohs Barnes (@daydreamreader) June 11, 2013

Writers are the world’s soul. We hold the common culture from cradle onwards in our hands. Don't use this power lightly.
— jane Yolen (@JaneYolen) June 11, 2013

Some in-the-works illustrations for Duck & Goose Go To The Beach. #duckandgoose pic.twitter.com/ZR2qMgn0Mv
— Tad Hills (@tadhills) June 11, 2013

As a teen books saved my life, and as an adult they've utterly transformed it. Reading is at the heart of my existence. #25reasonstoread
— Mike Jung (@Mike_Jung) June 11, 2013

@Loveofxena @ProfessorNana So true! There are books I remember and those I REMEMBER simply because the emotion was so very present! #yalit
— Naomi Bates (@yabooksandmore) June 11, 2013

Me: Did you hug you teacher at the end of your last day? Son: Yes. She made me. #kindergartenreflections
— Colby Sharp (@colbysharp) June 12, 2013

@AmeDyckman But besides that, yes, my house is a living entity that inhales and exhales books. So sometimes they are hard to find.
— Julie Falatko (@JulieFalatko) June 12, 2013

Kinda magical, summer in the backyard, watching the kids play. Like a fairy tale.
— Shannon Hale (@haleshannon) June 13, 2013

I have learned so much by following teachers & librarians on Twitter. Thank you all for what you share.
— Linda Urban (@lindaurbanbooks) June 13, 2013

I feel like the kid from Sixth Sense. But instead of seeing dead people, I see cartoons. pic.twitter.com/eLVwb4PrfZ
— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) June 13, 2013

Tonights wisdom from my children- Part 2: "Dad, God made everything special. Even you." - Annie
— John Hendrix (@hendrixart) June 14, 2013

Is there anything better than the feathery whisper of a child quietly reading aloud a book under the covers with a flash light on
— Michele Norris (@michele_norris) June 14, 2013

This was our 1st year sending our kid to school w a lunch. Every day, she got a different cartoon on her napkin. pic.twitter.com/UVyUYCe143
— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) June 14, 2013

"Authors give us fabulous moments where characters do things we don't expect." - @KyleneBeers #NTCTELA #cisdlearns
— Cynthia Alaniz (@utalaniz) June 14, 2013

Bumperstkr "Guess what I'm reading" I chased them for blocks shouting out radom titles
— Julee Murphy (@JuleeMurphy) June 14, 2013

Trapdoor Shopping

Has the silent solitude of your life vanished?  Do your most prized possessions frequently get moved around or disappear?  Are your nighttime dreams constantly disturbed?  Are you usually blamed for happenings in which you had no part?  If you answered yes to these questions, it appears you are being haunted and taunted by a downright, annoying younger brother or sister.

As you will have duly noted by now, it does no good to point out the lack of fairness in any of these situations to your parents.  This state of affairs calls for drastic, clandestine action.  You need to read The Monstore (Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division) by debut author, Tara Lazar with illustrations by James Burks.

At the back of Frankensweet's Candy Shoppe, under the last box of sour gum balls, there's a trapdoor.

This is no normal trapdoor...oh no, sirree.  Entrance is only granted after the exchange of a secret code and certain sweet treats.  You are now in a shop like none other; a shop filled with fabulous, handy dandy monsters.

With little sister, Gracie, pushing Zack to his wit's end, it's time to make a purchase.  Manfred should scare her silly, ending her prying and spying.  Well, that backfires royally.  To Zack's dismay the manager of The Monstore informs him there are no returns, no exchanges.  

Maybe another monster will be the ticket to success.  Mookie is sent out into the sleeping household so Zack can get an uninterrupted good night's rest.  Two monsters plus one energetic little girl put a quick end to that plan.

Back at the monster market, Manfred and Mookie in tow, the manager utters his standard reply to Zack's total frustration.  When the manager again recommends another freakish fiend, Zack decides to give Mojo a whirl.  But that girl, that irresistible (to the monsters), irritating (to Zack) bundle of female impishness, wins herself another friend.

This scenario happens so often, Zack's bedroom is a tad overcrowded, leaving him no choice but to head down to the basement.  Prepare to be amazed by the night's further revelations.  And, of course, there is the problem with what to do with all those monsters.


There's something rich and rare about the cadence created by the words Tara Lazar has selected to tell this story.  She cleverly captures the interplay of an older brother and his younger sister plus all the marvelous monsters who seem to delight in doing the exact opposite of their intended purpose.  Increasing the playfulness for readers is the repetitious reply of the manager and his rhyming suggestions.  The mix of narrative and dialogue is polished, flawless.


With a single glance, opening the matching jacket and cover, readers know they're about to enter into fiendish frolic; those wide eyes, goofy grins, lighted (and bitten) marquees and still more eyes peering out from the dark, say "come on in".  The first page done in eerie glowing greens in a shadowy room, a single arm outstretched holding the secret treat as the trapdoor raises, sets the stage for the next two-page spread; the store filled with monsters galore in all shapes, sizes and bright colors, all googly eyed.  The small, wiry manager, with balding head, tufts of hair sticking out, bushy eyebrows, sly toothy grin, dressed in vest and bow tie, is the ultimate image of trickster shopkeeper.

By alternating the size of the illustrations, the perspective and extending the elements beyond the frame, James Burks compliments and amplifies the narrative.  For example, in interpreting the text The kind that glow in the dark, he pictures a little girl reading under her blanket at night, stuffed animals sharing her space as a hairy purple monster's single, large, shining eye arches above her head.   Details accentuate the fun factor; the clock in Zack's bedroom, when all the racket wakes him up, shows it's 3:37 AM, Gracie's pigtails standing straight up on her head,  Zack in a welder's helmet with tongs getting rid of the scariest thing, and the bulging house with the monsters' antics in abundance.


Be prepared for requests of repeated readings of The Monstore written by Tara Lazar with pictures by James Burks.  It's absolutely golden when read aloud.  You also might want to stock up on bags of a particular wiggly, jiggly kind of snack, just in case someone you know is thinking of visiting a shop specializing in monsters.

This is a link to an earlier sketch James Burks did for the cover.  John Schumacher at Watch. Connect. Read. interviews Tara Lazar.  At Design of the Picture Book, Carter Higgins interviews both the author and the illustrator about this title.  Inkygirl the blog of Debbie Ridpath Ohi interviews Tara Lazar and James Burks about the process for creating this book.  At the publisher website are three activity sheets to use with this title.  Links embedded in the author and illustrator names above are to their official websites.  Update:  There is now a teacher's guide to accompany this title.