Here’s what Pat K wrote about the picture book I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff:        

I love the idea of writing letters back and forth to Mom. As a former English teacher, I know the importance of starting children early in expressing themselves in writing. Even drawing pictures and pretend writing is a wonderful exercise for children to become literate. I think this story would be a great vehicle to encourage children to write.

I hadn’t thought about that when I read the story, but I absolutely agree. I also think it would be a fun and challenging exercise for young readers and writers and their parents to try at home. Try writing short notes back and forth to each other. This would be a terrific way for children to practice their reading and writing skills. And like Pat K mentioned in her comment above, drawing pictures is a great idea too. Pictures would assist with word recognition and perhaps help children learn words more quickly.

 I really like this book. One World, One Day was written by Barbara Kerley and published in 2009 by National Geographic. It is illustrated with photographs taken by various photographers. The text is minimal, allowing the pictures to tell the story. The story is about one day in the lives of children all around the world-what they eat, what they learn in school, how they play, and how they spend time with their families. The young reader will see how children from other countries are different or surprisingly the same as they are. My favorite photograph is of a group of children in China walking to school along the dividing walls between rice terraces. This is a great choice for parents and children to read together. I also think this is a good choice for this time of year, holiday season, when people are hopefully thinking about peace on earth and good will toward men.

 I Wanna Iguana is a delightful picture book written by Karen Kaufman Orloff and illustrated by David Catrow. It was published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 2004. I remember when this book first came out, one of my nephews, who was about six at the time, absolutely loved it. I can understand why. It’s about a boy who writes notes back and forth to his mother trying to convince her to let him have an iguana for a pet. My description really doesn’t do the story justice. The text coupled with the colorful illustrations (David Catrow has a style all his own) are laugh-out-loud funny. You’ll have to read it for yourself to fully understand where I’m coming from. I especially like the colors. I never knew pencil and watercolor illustrations could be so vivid. I plan to look for more books by this author and by this illustrator.

  14 Cows For America is a picture book based on a true story. It was written by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, whom the story is about. It was illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez and published just this year (2009) by Peachtree Publishers. This story is about Wilson, a member of the Maasai tribe in Kenya. He was in New York City on September 11, 2001 when the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center occurred. He brought the news back to his people who blessed and offered 14 of their sacred cows to help heal the hearts of Americans.  There is a note written by Wilson at the end of the book that details more about him, his tribe, and the ceremony that took place in June of 2002.   14 Cows For America is a deeply touching story about a connection between two cultures that are a half a world away from each other. The illustrations, done in pastels, colored pencil and airbrush, are vivid and realistic and denote a feeling of movement. I felt like I could reach out and touch the soft noses of the cows.

   Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a short but sweet picture book written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas. It was originally published in 1984 by Omnibus Books, an Australian publishing company. The copy I own was published in 1985 by Kane/Miller Book Publishers here in the U.S.A. I highly recommend this book. It’s about a small boy who lives next door to an “old people’s home”. When he finds out that his favorite person living there has lost her memory, he tries to help her find it. So Wilfrid Gordon went home again to look for memories for Miss Nancy because she had lost her own. This is a terrific, feel-good kind of story about a little boy’s relationship with an elderly neighbor. The illustrations are colorful yet warm and subdued, a nice complement to the text.

  Inspired by the recent film adaptation, I decided to reread Where The Wild Things Are, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and originally published in 1963 by Harper & Row. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1964. I think most picture book fans have read it, or read it to their children, at least once in their lives. I think this book is great fun despite the rumors that some parents think it’s too frightening for young children. This may perhaps be true of the recent film version, but the book portrays the “wild things” as big, goofy, even somewhat cuddly looking creatures. Certainly mild by today’s standards. If you truly want to analyze the story, there is a message here and I think it’s a timeless one for every parent and child. All children get upset sometimes and may even throw tantrums, act out or “be wild”. And they may be punished for it. But in time, the fit passes and they know that they are still loved despite their behavior and despite their punishment. All children should feel this sense of love and security at home.