I love the acrylic and ink illustrations in this book-such detail! No Babysitters Allowed is a story about separation anxiety. The star of the story is Hopscotch, a young boy (bunny) whose parents leave him with a babysitter while they go out for the evening. He is worried at first, but through the course of the story, his fears subside and he ends up having a good time with his babysitter, Mrs. Honeybunch. This is a great choice to ease the anxiety of your own little worried one at home, so that you can go out. I’m not endorsing going out a lot. If you have children, then you need to be there for them. But we could all use a night out once in a while. No Babysitters Allowed was written by Amber Stewart and illustrated in vibrant colors (I love lots of color!) by Laura Rankin. It was published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in 2008. Look for more by this author and illustrator.

 Cat Jumped In was written by Tess Weaver and illustrated in watercolor by Emily Arnold McCully. It was published in 2007 by Clarion Books. The illustrations are beautiful, capturing the many angles of an inquisitive cat perfectly. If you are a cat lover, like me, you will enjoy this book. And if you truly know the curious and playful nature of a cat, then you’ll laugh at the familiar antics of the cat in this story who moves from room to room getting himself into trouble. This is a cute story with a sweet ending.

On a more personal note: I guess my love for cats stems from growing up with them. I’ve been around cats for most of my life. They are truly amazing and beautiful creatures. If you’re thinking of getting a cat, please go to your local animal shelter. There are so many wonderful cats there that need homes. Anytime I’ve ever been to an animal shelter, it breaks my heart to see so many cats (and dogs) in cages, waiting to be adopted. Kittens are adorable, but they don’t have any trouble getting adopted. So please consider bringing an older cat into your family. Adoption fees are generally low. Often for just the cost of a spay or neuter, you can bring one of these terrific companions home. You will get so much joy from having a cat in your life. Oh, one more thing: For the health and safety of your new companion, I recommend keeping your cat indoors. Don’t worry, cats easily adapt to being kept inside. Give them lots of love, attention, and playtime and they will love you back.

  In honor of Saint Valentine’s Day, I decided to pull a book from my personal library which fits the occasion perfectly. Never Too Little To Love was written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated in watercolor by Jan Fearnley. It was published by Candlewick Press in 2005. This super sweet book is about Tiny Too-Little who happens to love Topsy Too-Tall. He tries every way he can think of to reach up and give her a kiss, but nothing works. Topsy Too-Tall loves him too, so she figures out what to do. I won’t give away the ending. There’s a delightful surprise that young readers will surely enjoy. The colors and the illustrations in this book are terrific and I really like the way flaps were used to advance the story. You’ll have to read it to understand what I’m talking about. Some might find a deeper, positive message here about love between two very different people. If you do, I think that’s great. Because afterall, love makes the world go ’round.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!! 

 

  Before You Were Mine is a sweet picture book written by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by David Walker. It was published in 2007 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. This is a wonderful story about a boy who wonders what his dog’s life was like before he adopted him. I really like this book, first because I’m an animal lover and second because I support the efforts of animal shelters and rescue groups. This book focuses on adopting a dog from a shelter. There is even a blurb at the end of the book in which the author talks about how she feels about adopting shelter dogs. You can tell she is a true shelter dog lover. On the back jacket flap it says that Maribeth Boelts will donate a portion of the profits from the sale of Before You Were Mine to the Humane Society of the United States. But whether you decide to buy a copy or not, you should look up this book. I think it would be a great choice to read with your children before bringing a dog home. And if you just lost a dog and are trying to decide whether or not to bring another into the family, this book would make a terrific transitional tool for a child who was hit hard by the loss of their beloved family pet.  The illustrations fit the story perfectly, as they are soft and sweet-done in true David Walker style. Any dog lover will enjoy this book.

 

I am thrilled to announce the addition of three more author/illustrator interviews here on Frog On A Blog! (Check the sidebar.) 

I’m a big fan of all three of these very talented people:  

Author and Illustrator Keith Baker-some of his numerous works include Who Is The Beast, Cat Tricks, Little Green, and Just How Long Can A Long String Be. 

Author Shirley Parenteau-she wrote Bears On Chairs, One Frog Sang, and more.  

Illustrator David Walker-he’s illustrated many picture books including Bears On Chairs, Before You Were Mine, Crocodaddy, and more. 

ENJOY!!!