Hi everyone!
Thanks for reading along with us!
I’m excited to see what everyone read today!
Let’s get this show on the road!
Oh, I guess that could be seen as punny considering today’s choice:
Title: Big Mean Mike
Published by: Candlewick Press, 2012
Written by: Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated by: Scott Magoon
Word Count: 1178
Pages: 40
In one word: Rollicking
In one sentence: You’ll love the illustrations and the repetition in the story as Big Mean Mike is confronted with tiny, fuzzy bunnies!
Favorite pages:
It’s from the inside of a glove box!
Likes:
- Love the repetition of big, mean, and tiny, fuzzy.
- Playing with the fonts makes the story very dynamic. Some words are larger, some smaller. Placement helps too!
- the contrast between Mike (hard edges) and the bunnies (soft edges) in the illustrations mirrors their personalities!
- monster trucks and crashes in picture books? AWESOME!
- the ending 🙂
Learns:
- Sometimes a story needs every one of those 1,000 plus words! So stand by your words!
- You can have characters that don’t talk (the bunnies don’t)
- there’s more than one way for a book with a mean character to end!
Anyone read this one before?
What did everyone read today?
Let us know in the comments below!
Until next time,
KE and SS
I first read this at a church fundraiser and created a bit of a scene by laughing so much. Love Big Mean Mike!
Yeah Hayley I love Big Mean Mike too! It is really funny; especially if you do a nice tough voice for Mike 🙂
I read “The Yellow Butterfly”. The illustrations are adorable… There’s a typo on the first page, site instead of sight, which is buggin’ me, but the story is cute.
Thanks for the reading challenge Kathy! Love it. 🙂
You’re welcome for the challenge, Meg!
I love reading picture books and hearing about ones I haven’t read,
so it was a natural next step.
Haven’t heard of “The Yellow Butterfly”
but I could see how a typo could get in the way of enjoyment.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I’ve read BIG MEAN MIKE and liked it very much. I think the fact that the bunnies don’t speak makes them stronger characters.
I read BUILDING OUR HOUSE by Jonathan Bean, which is the 2013 Horn Book Fiction Picture Book Award winner. Not sure of word count, but the book is 48 pages. It’s long, and at one point I wondered how many kids would still be sitting still. However, the story is well done (based on the author’s parents’ experience and written from his sister’s pov), and the book design and illustrations are reminiscent of the time period when the author’s parents built their own house.
The thing I loved best is how the narrator includes herself and her siblings in the titular WE, but the illustrations show them mostly at play.
The thing I found most interesting is how the industry is pushing for shorter and shorter word counts, and here is a 48-page picture book receiving an award from Horn Book. Hmmm. Gives one pause.
Carol:
I agree. The bunnies are stronger characters because they don’t speak.
Also, I’ve read Building Our House.
I agree that the story is well done.
I know shorter is the new black in publishing, but I’m excited that a 48 pager could receive such a great award!
I loved the illustrations and book design as well.
I think he has a great marketing and book hook in that it’s based on his own experience! I’m also a carpenter’s daughter, so I could have loved it a lot for that reason too.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I dated a carpenter. We often talked about building our house together. I guess that’s why I enjoyed the book. hahaha
Today I read EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett. This is a 566-words picure book. In summary a little girl found a box of yarn and knits sweater for the whole town – human, animals, objects – until an archduke decided he wants it for himself. But after he gets it, he realizes that he can not use it because it does not work for him, so he threw it away and it found its way back to the little girl and made her happy.
MORAL: not because something works for someone else, it doesn’t mean it will work for you. At least, that was my interpretation of the book.
Hi Jackie!
I love Extra Yarn!
I think I read it last year for the challenge,
and I’ve met Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen a few times each.
the illustrations are darling and the story is pretty funny but also sweet.
It doesn’t feel like it’s that long, but 566 words sounds long, doesn’t it?
Thanks for reading and sharing!
No problem. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for having this challenge. It helps me with my goal – READ MORE PICTURE BOOKS!
Hi KE,
We read “Froggy Learns to Swim,” “Purplicious,” and “Froggy Bakes a Cake.”
Hey Casi!
I love Froggy.
He’s the best. So funny and always getting into and out of trouble.
I’ve never read any of the “licious” books.
I’ll have to give them a try.
Thanks for reading and sharing and being a fan 🙂
“Chowder” written and illustrated by Peter Brown. I have heard Peter speak. He is hilarious! And his books are good too!
Hi Debbie,
I love Peter Brown!
I’ve heard him speak too; he’s so funny.
I don’t know if I’ve read Chowder, which is weird because I’ve read all his other books.
I’ll get right on it 🙂
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Big Mean Mike is indeed “rollicking” – perfect word!
Today I read “A Weed is a Flower” by Aliki. Thank goodness for interlibrary loan systems!
That’s for sure, Cathy! I love ILL! We could pass secret notes in picture books we borrow from each other’s libraries. lol
I adore ILL too! I get most of my books that way.
I love Aliki’s books; but I haven’t heard of this one.
Thanks for putting it on my radar!
And thanks for reading and sharing!
I will play along this year! How fun!
Today we read “The Best Pet of All” by David LaRochelle and illustrated by H. Wakiyama.
It’s a cute story about a boy who wants a pet dog but ends up with a dragon- temporarily! The best part of the story is a fun twist at the end that relies on the illustrations instead of words.
Hi Stacey,
Thanks for playing along this year 🙂
I feel like I’ve heard of this book, but not read it.
I’m a sucker for a fun twist,
and bits that rely on illustrations.
I’ll have to check it out!
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Today I read “Green Eggs and Ham.” What more can I say? It’s the simple but sweet classic story that just about everybody knows and loves. Most of the book is energetic and lively, but the ending is warm and meaningful, harboring a very important lesson: you never know until you try.
Full of repetition, this book is easy and fun to read, especially when you have little ones to read it to. I don’t, but I am currently practicing to volunteer in a library program that involves reading to kids at daycare centers; something I can hopefully be part of after I move.
This book would be a good one for me to read to these kids, as would most of Dr. Seuss’ books for similar reasons. Most of what I would have to say about Dr. Seuss books would be similar from book to book (whimsical illustrations, imaginative rhymes, etc), which is why the only other Dr. Seuss book I read for “31 in 31” will most likely be “The Lorax,” my personal favorite which has very special meanings for me. If I find after October (and probably PiBoIdMo, too) that I have unique things to say about different Dr. Seuss books, then maybe I will include them next year. For now, though, I think I’ll look for more variety.
Volunteering at a library sounds so fun, Lily!
I ADORE Dr. Seuss and actually have done a play with this one.
My friend read the book and played the main character,
while I played Sam I am and posed all his questions to her.
The kids loved it!
I LOVE the Lorax too.
We have similar tastes!
Also, I found beginning readers REALLY love Green Eggs and Ham because they can quickly read the whole book! Lots of repetition!
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Hi Kathy Ellen!
Wow, you did a play of “Green Eggs and Ham?” That must have been so much fun!
I wanted to let you know I will posting my “31 in 31” responses to my blog, whose address is in this post. So that my blog followers will have a better idea of what “31 in 31” is, I have posted a link to your blog.
Just wanted to let you know! Looking forward to more “31 in 31” posts!
I read “A Pig is Big” by Douglas Florian. This book compares sizes starting with what is bigger than a pig and ends up with the biggest thing of all, the universe.
Hi Pia,
I’ve read that one!
Douglas Florian has a great illustration style,
as well as a unique view on the world.
I always enjoy his books.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
We read Moustache Baby by Bridget Heos today. It is hilarious and I love the illustrations!
Moustache Baby is SO HILARIOUS!
“Will it be a good mustache, or a bad mustache?”
The illustrations are to die for, and it’s hilarious, I agree!
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Read Peter Brown’s Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. Loved the language, the layout, and the illustrations! Not exactly a bedtime story, but great fun!
Ellen: Jealous!
I’ve been hearing TONS about this book,
but haven’t had the chance to read it.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I read “Ben Rides On” by Matt Davies (the Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist). Davies both write and illustrated the book. It’s about bullying and addresses the subject in an awesome way.
Carol,
I’ve heard a lot about this book as well.
I may have even seen it at the library?
I’ve been wanting to check it out.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I read “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Our local library is giving away free adult versions of this book for a “1book 1 community” discussion and today they had a PB version of the NF story, so of course I grabbed it. It’s the story of a boy in Africa whose family is starving during the drought and he can no longer go to school. He goes to a library and teaches himself how to build a windmill to pump water for his mother’s garden. In the end, his story gets out and people donate $ to build a solar power windmill to water his father’s fields. It’s a well-written and inspiring story!
Thanks for sharing, Debra!
I think I’ve seen the adult version; no idea that there was a picture book version!
(runs to library website and searches, then puts it on hold)
I LOVE great NF picture book stories!
What a great way to inspire kids!
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I definitely want to read this. It sounds amazing and right up my alley. Thanks for sharing.
It is amazing. I’ve kind of casually laid it out on our coffee table (some of my sons think they’re too old for PBs now) but it’s such a great message and a reminder to me, and them, that there are people who have it SO much harder than we can ever imagine! Saw my middle boy reading it after school today. . . . 🙂
I read BABY PENGUINS EVERYWHERE, by Melissa Guion, 2012, Philomel. Precious illustrations and sparse words with a great theme for young kids!
Tina,
This sounds adorable.
you had me at baby penguins.
Everywhere 🙂
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I reread the 1979 APPLE PIE by Anne Wellington. Repetition, cumulation and the alliterative refrain, “However will we pick it to put it in a pie?”, and a mouse who saves the day = very tellable tale.
Lois,
I don’t know that one.
Sounds great!
Who doesn’t love mice and pie?
Answer: No one.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
I read SCAREDY SQUIRREL by Melanie Watt. My class loved
Scaredy’s paranoid personality and felt so proud of Scaredy’s
“progress” by the end of the book.
I read “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane!” I LOVE this book! As you will see from some of my future choices this month, I am a sucker for stories about come to life toys. (Can you guess which bunny book makes me cry now)? Anyway, it would be AWESOME to win this signed copy!
Today I read “Hopalong Jack and the Blue Bunnies.” It’s a wonderful story of being special and unique, but what really makes it take the carrot cake is its beautiful illustrations. These illustrations are among the most detailed I’ve ever seen in a children’s book. They depict a very elaborate bunny community both in the forest and underground.
This particular copy I got signed from the author (who’s also the illustrator) at a crafts fair. She wrote: “Writers are always welcome in our hollow as long as they eat their peas.”
Read “Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party” by Melanie Watt. Not my favorite in this series, but got a kick out of the pony bit.
I will put Big Mean Mike on my ‘must-read-soon’ list.
Today I read ‘Outside Over There’ by Maurice Sendak for the first time. I was on my ‘dying-to-read-this-where-can-I-find-it’ list and found it today!
A great start to a great month of PB reading because I am now in LOVE with this book, the surrealist story and the beautiful illustrations. I can see how it inspired Labyrinth (it must have surely).
I read Hiding Hoover today and LOVED it! As a somewhat
wordy writer, I so admire a book that can say so much in just a few
words. Now I will go and get Big Mean Mike for today!