Meeting Jon Klassen (again) was awesome!
I know, I have to post about it!
How about when I feature,
“This is not my hat” ?
and that may be tomorrow.
I would have it be today, but I couldn’t take pictures last night!
Too dark when I got home.
Yes, I know, flash.
But my sister is a professional photographer.
I feel like she’d be more proud of me if I used natural light.
But today’s book is so fun I want to hug it.
Seriously.
Here it is:
Title: Where’s Walrus?
Published by: Scholastic Press, 2011
Written by: Stephen Savage
Illustrated by: Steven Savage
In one word: clever-but-goofy
In one sentence: The walrus escapes and hides around town, but I bet you will be able to find him…the question is, will the zookeeper find him?
Favorite pages:
Likes:
- this is a wordless book that you can “read” easily from the pictures…and can prompt kids. Take for example the picture of the walrus painting in the park. You could say to the children, “Where’s Walrus?” and they could spot him, and ask what he’s doing, and why they think the Zookeeper doesn’t spot Walrus.
- the art. It’s so simple and effective…almost has a block print feel to it, though it’s done digitally.
- the old-timey feel of the city in the story.
- the ending.
- the page where he’s diving and dots show his path through the air!
Learns:
- Wordless can be super funny! I was laughing at each spread, looking for and finding Walrus.
- Anything can be expressive…I mean, a Walrus? But he carries the story!
- I love that it’s a kind of “hide and seek” book where you get to participate along.
- Very interesting that this book is told all in spreads…no single page illustrations except the first and the last page.
What did you all read today?
Bookshelf time:
Keep up the good work, everyone!
Enthusiastically yours,
KE and SS
Where’s Walrus looks very cute for young kids! I just read The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett, one of my favorite author/illustrators. I love reading fairy tale variations, and this one was fun being in an Arctic setting. I’m interested in how much deviation the author does from the original story in retold fairy tales.
It is super cute! I love Jan Brett; I’ll have to check this book out. I love books that are “based” on traditional stories or tales. Thanks, Tina!
I have seen WHERE’S WALRUS before and it is super adorable! I am thinking that I need to get that for the little two year old boy I nanny. He would love it; Think we will check the local library. 🙂
Today I read TWEAK TWEAK by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier.
I bought this book for the little girl I nanny (now 8 months old) the day she was born and gave it to her in the hospital. I even got it inscribed and autographed by Sergio, who went above and beyond and decorated the whole front end page. Beautiful!
I was immediately drawn to Sergio’s adorable illustrations and use of soft nursery-like colors.
The story is about Little Elephant and Mama Elephant who are going for a walk. “Hold on to my tail,” says Mama. “If you want to ask me a question, tweak twice.” Tweak, tweak! “Mama, what is that?” Little Elephant is curious about the frog, the monkey, the songbird, the butterfly, and the crocodile—and especially about what a little elephant can do. Mama knows just how to answer, to help her cherished Little Elephant grow.
Super sweet. A wonderful bedtime read.
Oh, and Sergio was one of the super most gracious people I have ever met.
This sounds AWESOME Marcie!
I am impressed that he signed/illustrated the entire front end page.
I love elephants. I’m going to have to check this one out.
And Eve Bunting is just Classic (yes, with a capital C!)
Your choice looks like lots of fun, Kathy! And that’s really a major ingredient in what makes a picture book a success. 🙂 Today I read “Swirl by Swirl”, written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes. If you want to take an amazing walk through nature, examining various swirl patterns you will find there, this is the book for you! Magnificient bold illustrations will help kids explore nature while the minimal text moves the story along perfectly.
I’ve seen Swirl by Swirl…it looks great. I remember being VERY impressed with the nature photography. I love how so many books are being brought up!
This was an awesome idea, Kathy! Thanks so much for organizing it and providing the inspiration. 🙂
It has been a long time since we have checked out WHERE’S WALRUS? I will have to find that the next time we are at the library!
Tonight we read APT. 3 by Ezra Jack Keats. I had my daughter get her harmonica so she could play it while the man in APT.3 played his. I have never met a book by Ezra Jack Keats that I have not enjoyed.
I love Ezra Jack Keats, but I haven’t read this one.
And a harmonica part? That’s awesome! I just learned how to play a few years back…i”ll have to check this one out now!
Hi Kathy!
Today I read A Crazy Day At The Critter Cafe by author Barbara Odanaka and illustrated by Lee White. I like how the story starts out with a couple of people sitting in an empty restaurant when a broken down buss full of crazy critters stop by for a bite to eat. The illustrations are artfully done and the dining disaster ends up with the kitchen crew running away and a new manager taking their place. Children will enjoy the bright illustrations and silliness of this story. I may just have to add it to my wish list…;~)
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
A recipe for disaster! A mess, a skateboarding cow, and a runaway kitchen crew changes the Critter Café to the Cow Café after they have had enough!
Oh, I loved WHERE’S WALRUS? when I read it!
My book tonight was THE STORY GOES ON by Aileen Fisher with pictures by Mique Moriuchi. It’s a well-told story in rhyme about the cycle of life, as seed grows to leaf, bug starts to eat leaf, bug gets eaten by frog… etc until the ground is enriched and another seed sprouts. The illustration method is fascinating, as at least some of the animals are obviously painted on cut-out pieces of newsprint or magazines (you can see some of the type through the paint) and some of the illustrations are simply paper collage. The style is primitive but detailed.
My only concern is that some children might find the story upsetting (I was okay until after the hawk caught the snake that had eaten the frog, a hunter shot the hawk.) There would have to be discussion with the book, I think.
The text is very cleverly crafted, and the illustrations give lots for kids to examine and talk about, with the caveat that some kids might not deal as well with the full story as others would.
This sounds interesting, Beth.
I agree; sounds like come children may have a hard time with the whole story.
I LOVE paper collage; so the illustrations already appeal to me!
I haven’t head of Where’s Walrus before. Will keep an eye out for it. Today I read The Fly – http://melissawrites.com.au/2012/10/31-picture-books-the-fly/
The Fly…sounds fun!
On this day in 31 in 31 history, I re-read BIG PLANS by Bob Shea (illustrated by Lane Smith) which continues to be one of my favorite read alouds. It is so amazing. I like to read the narrator’s part in a big, booming voice and Mynah Bird’s part in a really small, high pitched voice.