Hey everyone, thanks for reading along!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
The drawing for who wins “This is not my hat” by Jon Klassen
will be tonight at 10 p.m. Pacific Time, and the winner will be announced
TOMORROW on the daily post.
Why?
I’m meeting him Wednesday
straight from work
and I need to know who you want the book signed to!
Remember,
every time you comment with a book you read
is one entry, so you could have up to 8!
I’ll also do the drawing for the little notebooks…
with sketches for designs coming tomorrow.
I hope I’ll get to carve some of the stamps for the designs today,
then you can choose what you want on your little notebook!
There’s two winners there.
And, I’ve decided EVERYONE who has commented on EVERYDAY
is a ROCKSTAR!
(You’ll see what that means tomorrow!)
But, on to today:
I heard about this one somewhere.
Can’t remember where now.
But I’m reading it, so what does it matter, right?
Title: Mine!
Published by: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011
Written by: Shutta Crum
Illustrated by: Patricia Barton
Favorite Pages:
Likes:
- the lively illustrations
- the facial expressions
- the low word count (just two words!)
- the dynamic of the story
- shows sharing in a fun way
Learns:
- SO much can be conveyed in illustrations! Leave room for them!
- Love that this is about a sibling dynamic! I have a story about that and want to work on more.
- Wordless (or nearly wordless!) stories leave room for interpretation by the reader; you can choose how you present it and what you want to talk about if you like, or let the children decide. I like that.
I have to admit I’m not in LOVE with this book, but I like it a lot.
I think the thing that bothers me is
the child doesn’t get upset when all the toys are taken by the little sibling.
(unless I’m missing something in reading it…)
One goes splashing into the water, and there’s a look of shock…
I won’t give away what happens next, but I expected at least a little bit of pouting.
But hey, if this character is beyond that, then that’s ok.
It ‘s interesting though.
What did everyone read today?
Let’s look at the bookshelf!
What did everyone read today?
Don’t forget to report in and check back tomorrow for some winning!
Enthusiastically yours,
KE and Singe Singe
Oh to write a nearly wordless book! But how to do that when you are not the illustrator. Therein lies the problem.
Today I read 10,000 DRESSES by a new kidlit friend of mine, Marcus Ewert. Illustrations by Rex Ray.
I first heard of this book last week during Banned Book Week. Marcus commented on a message board that his picture book was banned in Texas. I was immediately intrigued.
10,000 DRESSES is about Bailey, who dreams of dresses and longs to wear one. Countless times Bailey is “shot down” by family because “You are a boy and boys don’t wear dresses!” But when Bailey meets a girl who treats Bailey as Bailey truly is, an instant friendship is formed.
What a beautiful tale.
Regardless of how a reader feels about transgender issues, I think everyone can relate to the idea that sometimes finding your own “family” out in the world is important. I know i have adopted many family members throughout the years who were able to see me and accept me in all the ugly. And when you do not feel accepted by your own family, this is ultra important.
Anyway, 10,000 DRESSES is definitely worth a read.
Marcie, this book sounds great.
Thanks for explaining it and I will look for it….it sounds like a good story and an important message.
Yes, wordless picture books..
I talked with an agent this summer and told him I am a
“recreational” illustrator.
He asked if I would ever illustrate my own books, and
with a straight face, I answered:
“Only the wordless ones.”
He laughed but I told him I try to “write” a wordless story every once in a while and sketch it out.
The one I did most recently involved a boy, a balloon, and the fun times they have and an important decision at the very end.
Maybe I’ll post some of the “illustrations” of it on here…
Just two words…wow…that is amazing! And also amazing are the prizes you are awarding for…us having fun reading picture books…it’s you who rock, Kathy!
Today I read, “The Little Red Pen” by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. The book got RAVE reviews from all of the major reveiwers…but perhaps I just don’t get it. 🙂 The story is a take-off on ‘The Little Red Hen’…creatively using school supplies like pens, staplers and scissors as the characters. Perhaps I am locked in the younger child mode…but some of the ‘characters’ are pretty scary…I would definitely NOT use that stapler and the illustration of the hamster when he wakes up would stop any child from every wanting to have one as a pet. 🙂 I do love the message of the story…everyone works together in the end to finish the job…and each character’s contribution is valued. It is definitely a unique redo of the theme.
I got to see Janet and Susan present this book over the summer. Those to are a hoot! What a team!
This sounds fun, Vivian…I personally love the Little Red Hen and use it all the time in conversation, “Don’t little red hen me…” when cooking or cleaning or something and my friends try to get out of the work!
I’m having fun with the prizes and I’m glad you are having fun with the reading!
The Little Red Hen was definitely one of my favorite picture books as a young child…I had a “Golden Books” copy that I read to death. 🙂
Oh Kathy, I meant to ask…is there any way I can use some word program to write the names of the books I’ve read on the blank bookshelf…or is it something to print out and write by hand?
Tonight my son asked me to read THE FROG PRINCE CONTINUED by Jon Scieszka. Honestly, it is one of my least favorites books by him, but still is somewhat entertaining. I think “they” call these books fractured fairy tale books. It was pretty neat how he worked in Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty into a story about The Frog Prince.
I haven’t read that one, Eric.
Good for him…three fairy tales in one!
Today I read the sweet, gentle book “In the Meadow” by Ukiko Kato, illustrated by Komako Sakai. It has been translated into English from Japanese, and whoever did the translation did well. I loved the watercolor illustrations, the expressions on the little girl’s face as she discovered things in the meadow. I also loved the onomatopoeia throughout the book, as the author uses familiar words or invented ones (or maybe they’re transliterations of Japanese, I’m not sure) to mimic the sounds of nature. I don’t want to say too much about it, because I’ll be highlighting this book on Perfect Picture Book Friday this week.
You are absolutely fabulous, offering prizes to us for the simple joy of reading picture books! I am so enjoying this challenge, prizes or no prizes. Thank you, Kathy Ellen and Singe Singe!
P.S. The author’s name is Yukiko, not Ukiko. I should proofread *before* I submit!
Glad you are enjoying the challenge, Beth!
This book sounds PERFECT, so no wonder you’re saving it for Friday 🙂
I’ll have to get it on that, I think…
Thanks for the thanks…Singe Singe will be happy to hear he is included too 🙂
I read PENGUIN DREAMS by Otto Seibold & VL Walsh. It’s the story of a penguin who dreams (literally) s/he can fly. The dream takes us through unexpected encounters while flying (a bat that turns into a vampire, for example). Then the penguin wakes up. There are lots of pages with little or no text (aside from perhaps sounds) and then pages with rhyming text. The illos are very cartoonish and computer generated. Very graphic with a variety of fonts used in the illos (some might be hard for a little kid to read.) It’s a very simple book that left me a touch indifferent– just not my type of book!
Thanks for the honest review, Dana.
I’ll have to check this one out.
I get what you’re saying about the art and sometimes it being too “graphicy”
Sometimes I feel indifferent too.
Every once in a while.
Wow, you get to “meet” Jon K! Thanks for your upcoming prizes.
I read “Little Dog Lost” by Monica Carnesi. I liked how she wrote this pb based on a true story, which she shares in the author notes at the back. It’s simply told for young children. They’ll love this great rescue story from the ice floes!
Yeah, I’ve met him three times.
He remembered me too…more on that in my post about meeting him again.
Little dog Lost sounds great, and I LOVE author notes!
Thanks for sharing!
Today I read a fun story called “The Richest Crocodile in the World” http://melissawrites.com.au/2012/10/31-picture-books-the-richest-crocodile-in-the-world/
Sounds intriguing just from the title!
Hi Kathy,
Once again I’m falling behind on my posting the books I’ve read. Busy time at my full time job and having issues with my laptop…*sigh*…anyway, here’s what I read on Monday:
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything by Author LInda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Its finally Fall in Tennessee and I’m in the mood to read Halloween stories and this one fits the bill perfectly. I like how the different pieces of clothing follow the little old lady as she walks through the woods at night on her way home. The illustrations are delightful and really puts me in the Halloween mood!
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
And Vivian, I can see how some small children might be upset by some of the facial expressions in the illustrations for The Little Red Pen but I LOVED this book (would enjoy adding it to my collection) and all of my kids in the summer adventure camp (ages 4 to 12) at my school really enjoyed my reading it to them during our story time. ;~)
Donna L Martin
I love little old ladies in picture books!
Donna, sorry about computer problems, and I understand about full time jobs, so DO NOT WORRY, ok? I hope the laptop gets worked out soon though!
I read BOOT & SHOE by Marla Frazee. What a marvelous book. I really liked the handwritten text paired with the delicate illustrations. And there is this one page where Boot & Shoe run all around the house chasing a squirrel and wow, there is so much detail and movement.