Wolves by Emily Gravett (2006, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is great fun! Would you like to teach your little reader about wolves in a fun and engaging way? This is the book for you. Here’s the gist of the story: A little rabbit goes to the library and checks out a book about wolves. As the story progresses, he learns more and more about wolves while being blissfully unaware that he is getting closer and closer to an actual wolf. This book is packed with interesting visuals from cover to cover and everywhere in between. I love the unique multimedia illustrations! There’s not a lot of color, but this book doesn’t need it. I think the lack of color, with the splashes of bright red, add to the drama of the story. Wolves is a terrific picture book. There’s even a surprise alternate ending! Check it out!

  Wow! This is a gorgeous Christmas/Wintertime book! It’s virtually wordless, but so well done that I didn’t even realize it until-well-right now. The title is Small, Medium & Large. It was created by Jane Monroe Donovan and published in 2010 by Sleeping Bear Press. This book is full of beautifully detailed illustrations that tell the story of a little girl and the three special gifts that she receives for Christmas. I don’t want to give anything away, but here’s a hint-animal lovers of all ages will like this book too. This one is a must see! I’m going to look for more by this author/illustrator.

Update: 3/5/2011

Below is a review of Small, Medium, & Large by Emma Cortese, Ph.D. She offers a different and more detailed perspective than my review above.

This is a truly wonderful illustrated book that conveys a story about a little girl and the gifts of animal friends from Santa.  

Double pages introduce the exterior setting with regard to place and season, followed by more double pages which establish the interior setting and plot line.  The main character writes a letter to Santa, “…”I don’t need any new toys this year, but…”  From this start Donovan sets the stage for children to use critical skills such as prediction and speculation in a narrative that unfolds in linked events. 

Realistic depictions draw the reader in with familiar detail.  For example, the vivid two page depiction of small, medium and large gifts by the tree provides multiple instances where objects and their arrangement are suggestive for guided inferences. 

A series of 13 scenes over 8 pages depicts Sammy and her animal friends at snow play. These action packed vignettes are especially engaging.  The story further unfolds with inside activities of baking, fireside relaxing, and finally there is closure with a thank you letter to Santa.  

Young children will be totally absorbed in the large, soft color illustrations which present ample opportunity for an imaginative reading experience.

Thank you, Emma, for offering your interesting and descriptive take on this truly remarkable picture book.

  Please Take Me for a Walk (Alfred A. Knopf, 2010) is a simple yet captivating picture book by Susan Gal. In easy words and interesting illustrations (charcoal and digital collage), she captures the true nature of our canine friends by creating a little dog who tells readers how eager he is to go for a walk. I know that my own little dog likes to do all the things that she mentions in this charming story-chasing squirrels, greeting neighbors, watching our neighbors shooting hoops, and more. This book would be a great choice in educating children (in a fun way) about the importance of walking the family dog (for reasons other than just letting him out to do his business).

  Featured today is a super clever picture book by author and illustrator Deb Lucke. It’s called Sneezenesia (2010, Clarion Books) and it’s about a boy who sneezes so hard that all his memories are sneezed out. He forgets his name, and where he is, and who his Mom is, and all the things he learned in school, and more. How will he ever get all those memories back in his brain? You’ll have to read the book to find out. The story is fun, the illustrations are unique (done in paint, collage, and Photoshop), and you and your children will like it, I guarantee it. Fun facts on the back jacket flap include this interesting (albeit gross) tidbit: “Our noses produce between one and two pints of mucus a day.” Where does all that mucus go? Something to think about, isn’t it?

  Art & Max (2010, Clarion Books) is a brand new picture book from well-known author and illustrator David Wiesner. This clever book is about a friendship between Art, a serious artist, and happy-go-lucky Max. Mr. Wiesner pulled out all the stops to create this masterful work that is sure to be a hit. The story starts as Art is painting and of course, Max wants to paint too. What happens next is just the beginning of a non-stop thrill ride that succeeds in loosening up the serious Art by the end of the book. The illustrations were done in acrylic, pastel, watercolor, and India ink, which seems like a lot, but if you read the book, you’ll understand why Mr. Wiesner chose several different media. This is an unusual, must-see picture book!

  A delightful (not scary) story about a monster family and wonderful, bright illustrations are what you’ll find in this picture book entitled Yuck! That’s Not a Monster! by author Angela McAllister and illustrator Alison Edgson (Good Books, 2010). This book is humorous and charming. It succeeded in making me laugh. My favorite paragraph is, ‘Then the third egg shook a bit. Frightful and Horrid gave it a poke. Out crept something very soft and pink. “UGH! HE’S SWEET!!” said the little monsters. “LET’S SQUASH HIM!”‘ It’s true, the little pink monster is unbelievably sweet and adorable. My favorite illustration is on the very next page. The looks on the faces of Mr. Monster and the other two little monsters is priceless. I think you’ll agree that the relationship between the little pink monster and his brother and sister is a lot like a real relationship between siblings. This book is definitely worth a look.

     Okay, I had trouble picking just one book this time and since I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks, I have chosen two terrific picture books. How Rocket Learned to Read (2010, Schwartz & Wade Books) by Tad Hills stars an adorable and engaging canine character named Rocket (who incidentally reminds me of my own little dog). Besides the beautiful oil paint and colored pencil illustrations, what I like about this book is that it helps a young child learn to spell and read in such a way that I am convinced the child would not even realize he/she was learning. Your child will enjoy reading right along with Rocket. Reading is so important. I truly believe that it should be a fun experience for children. Picture books like this one will make that happen.

The second book in today’s review is The Library Gingerbread Man (2010, Upstart Books) by Dotti Enderle and illustrated by Colleen Madden. This is another colorfully illustrated story that teaches children about that all-important, yet somewhat mysterious, library classification scheme-The Dewey Decimal System. Again, I have to give credit to the author who managed to create a fun learning experience. I can see this book being utilized in classrooms as an enjoyable teaching aid. Also, fans of folk tales will recognize the familiar antics of the incorrigible Gingerbread Man as he runs away chanting, “Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

  Okay, this book made me smile. Actually, it made me laugh. Now I don’t know if a child would understand what “big elephant in the room” means, though the copyright page gives a good definition: “…an expression that describes a big problem or situation that is being ignored-usually because it is really embarrassing.”  Whether a child can comprehend the meaning or not doesn’t matter much because they will still enjoy The Big Elephant in the Room  by Lane Smith with its humorous illustrations and embarrassing situations (that they probably can relate to). And they just might learn a subtle lesson about being a good friend. Published in 2009 by Disney Hyperion Books, The Big Elephant in the Room  is sure to induce chuckles in young and old alike (and those who fall somewhere in the middle-like me).

  City Dog, Country Frog is a beautifully illustrated story about an unusual friendship that lasts through the seasons. The realistic illustrations were rendered in watercolor by talented artist, Jon J. Muth. The sweet story was written by popular author, Mo Willems. The book was published in 2010 by Hyperion Books for Children. City Dog, Country Frog is destined to be a favorite among young readers for years to come. I certainly rate it high on my list. Two of my favorite pictures are dog and frog swimming together and the double-page spread with the gorgeous winter scene. Beautiful book!

  Because this year’s Summer Reading Program theme at the library is “Make a Splash-Read”, and because of the popularity of all things pirate amongst young readers, I have chosen Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies for this week’s review. It was written by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by John Manders. It was published in 2005 by Candlewick Press. I enjoyed the humorous and detailed watercolor illustrations that perfectly complement a story about a rowdy gang of rabbit pirates who do all the things that pirates do, like shouting ‘Shiver Me Timbers’, making prisoners walk the plank, and sailing the seven seas in a ship called the Salty Carrot. My favorite line in the book is: “They were bad, bad bunnies, all right. When pirates on other ships saw their long floppy ears and their fluffy white tails, they shook with fear.” You’ll have to read the book to find out who Henry is and what he did to change the pirates lives forever. I’ll give you one hint: He’d rather read a book than be a pirate. Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies is a fun book that kids will really like.

  A few years ago, I took a day-trip to New York City with my sister and a friend. It was just before Christmas and the streets were crowded. I was excited because it was my first visit to the “big apple”. We decided to visit the Museum of Modern Art aka MoMA. My interest was peaked because I love art. As we moved from room to room, and I couldn’t contain my laughter, I learned something about myself that day. I don’t get modern art. Is a canvas entirely painted blue, or green, or black art? Is a three-sided mirror sculpture with a pile of white feathers in the middle art? They must be or they wouldn’t be in an art museum, right? Needless to say, I was disappointed with MoMa. Don’t get me wrong, there were some paintings I was glad to see, for example works by Van Gogh and others, but I had to wade through all the “strange” and puzzling pieces to get to them because they seemed to be housed in the furthest possible gallery in the museum. Many would disagree with me, saying that art doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing or even make sense to be art. It just has to evoke feelings. That may be true, but most of the art I saw that day succeeded only in evoking a “Huh? You got to be kidding me, that’s art?” response from me. So, I guess my taste in art isn’t very sophisticated. But I know what I like and what I don’t. The point I’m trying to make here is that I always wished we had visited a different museum that day. I am positive I would have enjoyed the Metropolitan Museum of Art much more than MoMa. The picture book You Can’t Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser is an excellent first introduction to fine art for young children. It’s a wordless picture book with oodles of detail in the illustrations which cleverly imitate the examples of real art from the MET pictured throughout. There is more information about each work of art at the end of the book. You Can’t Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum (published in 1998 by Dial Books FYR) is a work of art itself. Look on the bottom of the copyright page to read a description of how the illustrations were created. A mix of color and black and white illustrations, humor, and real works of art from the MET, this book will intrigue young and old alike.