REVIEW (Teresa): This contemporary board book combines simple and advanced words with artistic visual and tactile cues to demonstrate how hippos of the same shape are about as opposite as they can be.

Not your typical opposites book! This well-designed book demonstrates the meanings of common antonyms such as “small/large” and “soft/rough,” but also includes advanced words like “visible/invisible” and “opaque/transparent.” The renditions are simple, clear, and sometimes humorous, utilizing tactile features when needed. ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Watchung Booksellers

DINOSAURING
by Deb Lund, illustrated by Howard Fine
published June 19, 2012
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 13: 9780152060169
Hardcover
Ages 4-8

Review:  (Julie)  A pack of dinosaurs
squeeze into a plane.
They take off into the sky
and quickly entertain.
As the screaming crowds below
watch their dinostunts,
they start to plummet to the earth
with dizziness and grunts.
Thank goodness for their dinochutes
that get them safely to the ground.
But how will find their thrills
next time their ready for a round?

This oversized book is big enough for dinosaur laps.  Playful, soft-edged illustrations in a combination of gouache and watercolors on two-page spreads show off dizzying perspectives.  Considering the possible overuse of the word Dino and the confusion presented by the shifty smiles of the dinosaurs on the last page, this book remains a rhyming pleasure ride.  (Deb, do tell.  What’s up with the cows?)  Available June 19, 2012.  ♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble.

SURFER CHICK
Written by Kristy Dempsey, Illustrated by Henry Cole
Published May 1, 2012
By Abrams
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0188-7
Hardcover with jacket, 10.2″ x 10.1″
32 pages
Ages 3+

REVIEW (Teresa): A young chick wants to surf like her dad, but wipes out on her first try. Determined, she tries again and soon learns a cool move even her dad doesn’t know.

Rad! A rhyming father/daughter story about surfing and not giving up. A young chick doesn’t get discouraged after her first wipeout. Instead, she takes a breather and watches her dad while he surfs. After soaking it all in, she grabs her board and returns to the water with renewed confidence. Both she and her dad are beaming with pride after she successfully rides a wave for the first time. Full page illustrations pop with color and action, providing the perfect backdrop for this encouraging story. ♥♥♥♥

Available at Amazon

THE RUMOR
By Anushka Ravishankar, Illustrated by Kanyika Kini
Published May 8, 2012
by Tundra
ISBN 13: 9781770492806
32 Pages
Ages 4-7

Review:  (Julie)  Far away in the Sahyadri mountains of India, no one can keep a secret.  Not even the spouse of a sour man.  Pandurang asked his wife not to tell anyone that he coughed up a white feather, but she ran off to tell her best friend, who told her mother-in-law, who told her brother, and so on.  In no time, the story snowballed until a single white feather became a full scale jungle.  Whatever will happen to Pandurang’s peevish temperament when the rumor goes full circle?

With each page, this onward story swells into an orbit of gossip that ends right where it started.  Jewell tone illustrations on two page spreads are divided between the mounting fantasy and back-fence talk.  Bonus poster inside the jacket.  Available May 8, 2012.  ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble.

HOUSE HELD UP BY TREES
By Ted Kooser, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Published March 27, 2012
by Candlewick Press
ISBN 13: 9780763651077
Hardcover
32 Pages
Ages 4-8

Review:  (Julie) A house on a level lot is neighbor to the trees.  The trees are forever sending seeds to settle on the cleared land.  The homeowner, father of two, works tirelessly year after year to maintain an immaculate landscape, but when the kids grow up and move away, the father becomes to weak to fend for the lawn.  In time, the seeds of the neighboring trees win.  The seeds become saplings and grow into trees that flaunt mighty branches.  With their support, the house rises upward and becomes a House Held Up By Trees.

This clever story delivers an old fashioned telling of a young family whose house is nestled between two patches of hardworking woods.  The trees are relentless in their silent enterprise to encroach on the trim lot and eventually they prevail.  Couldn’t really happen.  Or could it?  Either way, it’s fun to imagine with the help of Klassen’s digitally enhanced dappled guoache illustrations in earthy tones.  A story of of turn and transformation.  A new, true favorite!  Oops, did I give that six hearts on a scale of one to five?  (An accurate blunder.)  ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble.

HUFF AND PUFF
Written and Illustrated by Claudia Rueda
Publsihed April 1, 2012
By Abrams Appleseed
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0170-2
Hardcover, 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″
36 pages
Ages 2-4

REVIEW (Teresa): A contemporary twist on the fairy tale classic, The Three Little Pigs, starring you as the wolf.

Fun! Pretend to be the wolf and try to blow the pig’s houses down by huffing and puffing through the die-cut holes on four of the book’s pages. Turn the page after you blow down the straw and twig houses to see the first two pigs standing amidst the ruins of their toppled homes, still holding their unfinished cake batters. And don’t worry if your final huff and puff doesn’t blow the brick house down. Maybe you’ll blow out the candles on the third pig’s finished cake instead. Light text, crisp pen and ink drawings, and interactive pages are sure to please young readers. Plus a new, happy, surprise ending.

Available at Abrams Books

HERE COMES HORTENSE!
Written by Heather Hartt-Sussman, Illustrated by Georgia Graham
Published April 12, 1012
by Tundra Books
Harcover 8 (w) x 10 (h) x .40 (d)
32 Pages
Ages 4-7

Review:  (Julie)  A young boy is going to an amusement park with with his vivacious Nana and her new husband, Bob. They have a big surprise for him. Sounds amazing! At least until he is introduced to Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. She seems to steal all the attention and even gets to share a room at the hotel with HIS grandmother.

Jealousy steeps among two young kids when they have to divvy up the attention of their grandparents. The story touches lightly on divorce, second marriages, and a sibling type of rivalry. Zany cartoon illustrations in chalk pastels offset the slanted feelings of a pouty boy who wants his Nana all to himself. The jacket reverses to a bonus poster.  ♥♥♥/12

Available at Barnes and Noble.

JUST BEHAVE PABLO PICASSO!
Written by Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Published 2012
By Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-13291-6
Hardcover with jacket,
48 pages
Ages 6+

REVIEW (Teresa): Pablo Picasso, a young artist in Paris, shakes up the world and turns it upside down by following his passion and artistic vision instead of the will of others.

Inspiring! Pablo Picasso began his artistic careerpainting realistic landscapes and portraits and immediately demonstrated talent by creating masterpieces quickly, while others marveled at his speed. His artistic style changed to suit his mood. When his rode colored painting becomes popular, he is asked to paint two hundred more, and he soon becomes rich and is the talk of the town.

DON’T WAKE THE BEAR
Written by Steve Smallman, Illustgrated by Carolina Pedler
Published February 1, 2012
by Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-33299-6
Hardcover
28 pages
Ages 3-6

REVIEW (Teresa): Forest animals prepare for Spring Party Day, while a bear is soundly sleeping nearby. But when Hare’s balloon pops, waking the bear from his slumber, will Bear spoil the party?

A festive spring story, cheerfully told in rhyme! Forest animals prepare for a tea party picnic with ribbons, balloons, plates, tea, pies, cookies, cupcakes, and other delightful treats, in celebration of spring. They try their best not to disturb a sleeping bear, but when a balloon pops and wakes him, what will happen next? This delightful story is accompanied by cheerful illustrations bursting with happy spring colors and adorable critters. When the bear first stands after waking up, a double page illustration runs vertically across the width of the book, (the book must be turned for proper viewing), emphasizing his intimidating size. A die cut opening on the front cover allows you to see outside the bear’s hollow tree while he sleeps. Don’t wake him up! ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Tower Books

THE BEST BIKE RIDE EVER
Written by James Proimos, Illustrated by Johanna Wright
Published June 14, 2012
by Penguin Group USA Inc.
ISBN 13: 9780803738508
Hardcover 10.75 (h) x 8.75 (w) x .40 (d)
32 Pages
Ages 4-7

Review:  (Julie)  Bonnie O’Boy is hankering for a new bike.  It was all she could talk about for a whole week.  When she finally got it, she was so appreciative that she thanked everyone, even her little brother Charley who had nothing at all to do with it.  She took off without an official lesson from Dad and, without knowing how to stop so she kept going and going and she accidentally embarked on the best bike ride ever!

Nothing could stop Bonnie O’Boy as she and her imagination pedaled over the top of the Statue of Liberty and through the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  After her amazing ride, she relishes the moment for a solid week until she figures out what to want next!  Illustrations are acrylic on canvas with India ink outlines.  Variegated streaks of paint clearly indicate the speed of an unstoppable biker.  Blossoming cherry trees and hulking roses add vibrancy to the landscape and a pink polkadot bike spins through the book and doesn’t stop before tearing up the yard.  Exhilarating!  ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble.

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
Written and Illustrated by Paul Galdone
Published April 3, 2012
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 13: 9780547668543
Hardcover   (h) x (8) x .40 (d)
28 Pages
Ages 4-7

Review:  (Julie)  A country mouse invites his old friend from town to join him for a modest dinner of bacon and cheese.  The town mouse finds the leisurely life of his country friend to be quite bland and invites him to the palace for a bit of adventure.  He country mouse is hesitant, but in the morning, he decides to give court life a whirl.  He found that while the menu never lacks variety, court life means sacrificing tranquility and safety for fanfare and danger.  The outcome?  Pretentiousness and hubbub are no match for the peaceful life of a country mouse.

Oddly, the summary on the back cover is not an accurate portrayal of the content and was perhaps extracted from a previous version of the same story. Paul Galdone, author and illustrator  of almost three hundred children’s books, adorns the pages with classic picture book style well-suited to this retold fable.  Gold lettering and glossy cover art are offset by an otherwise matte cover.  ♥♥♥3/4

Available at Barnes and Noble.

 MONKEY’S FRIENDS
Written and Illustrated by Ruth Brown
Published January 1, 2012
by Kane Miller/EDC Publishing
ISNB 13: 9781610670456
28 Pages
Ages 2-6

Review:  (Julie)  Frolic through the jungle with a friendly monkey that has lots of animal friends.  Who will he see?  Guess who’s next for a meet and greet.

A pleasantly silly interactive introduction to animals told in couplets and slant rhyme.  In this engaging read-aloud, Ruth Brown presents young readers with an animal guessing game.  To predict what animal is next, collect clues by matching the rhyme in the first half of each couplet and look for art details.  Half page flaps allow for speculation.  Confirm a hunch by turning the page.  Artwork appears as a guoache and/or watercolor stamping technique which produces a result that is at once lush, veiny and splattered in texture.  ♥♥♥♥♥

Rocco (10)  I liked the rhyme and nice art in this book.  I also liked guessing the next animal.  ♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble.

CHLOE, INSTEAD
Written and Illustrated by Micah Player
Published April 18, 2012
by Chronicle Books
ISBN 13: 9780811878654
32 Pages
Ages 3-6

Review:  (Julie)  Molly wanted a little sister that was just like her.  But she got Chloe instead; a real nuisance of a sister.  Will Molly learn to embrace their differences and share their house in harmony?

Sisterly love and acceptance prevail in this stylized book with digitally rendered illustrations and finishing touches in watercolors and India Ink. Micah Player lends his Frank Paul design experience to his debut children’s book.  Radiating with bold, luminous coloration.  ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Indie Bound and Barnes and Noble.

STAY: THE TRUE STORY OF TEN DOGS
Written by Michaela Muntean, Photographed by K.C. Bailey and Stephen Kazmierski
Introduction by Kate DiCamillo
Published April 1, 2012
by Scholastic Press, an Imprint of Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-23497-9
Hardcover with jacket, 8.5″ x 11″
40 pages
Ages 4+

REVIEW (Teresa): An acrobatic accident unexpectedly results in a new circus act that offers friendship and renewal to a former acrobat and ten homeless dogs. A true story that will warm your heart.

Stupendous! This true story about second chances details the life of seventh generation circus performer, Luciano Anastasini, and the personal fulfilment he enjoys adopting and working with formerly rejected and misunderstood dogs. After falling fifty feet during an acrobatic stunt, Luciano was no longer able to continue his career as an acrobat but still dreamed of performing. He thought about including dogs in a new circus act. Since the act would give him a second chance at performing, he was determined to give some homeless dogs a second chance too. He adopted dogs no one else wanted, then studied and considered their individual behaviors and followed their cues, developing an act around their preferences. The act was an instant hit and Luciano and his dogs became the stars of the circus, performing acorss the country. Luciano’s good will, kind heart, and dedication transformed his life and the lives of many dogs who had been given up and forgotten. Throughout the book, eye-popping colors surround the text and vivid, full color photographs feature portaits of the dogs, some of the stunts they perform together, their circus life, and behind the scenes images. This is a remarkable, well told story with a positive message about life, patience, perserverence, human/animal relationships, and discovering the hidden attributes of others. At the end of the book is a letter to the reader from Luciano. From beginning to end, this is just the sort of feel good story everyone needs. Circus, anyone? ♥♥♥♥♥

Available at Scholastic

HOW GEORGIE RADBOURN SAVED BASEBALL
Written and Illustrated by David Shannon
Published March 1, 2012
By The Blue Sky Press, an Imprint of Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-38178-9
Hardcover with jacket, 10.2″ x 10″
32 pages
Ages 6-9

REVIEW (Teresa): When baseball was outlawed, spring never came and winter was a year round season, that is, until Georgie Radbourn stepped up to the plate.

Scorned, ex-baseball player, Boss Swaggert, becomes a rich man and invests his time and money into banning baseball. Once baseball is outlawed, anything having to do with it is deemed illegal, including baseball phrases and the shape of the baseball diamond. Baseball fields are replaced by factories kept under watch by the factory police, and America is overwhelmed with enough gloom to keep spring from coming. With the extended winter, and the absence of baseball, throwing snowballs is the only fun left. But when nine year old Georgie Radbourn’s unusual affliction sparks a baseball game between him and Boss, the result is baseball’s revival and the onset of spring. Boss is featured on the last page sporting a smile and selling peanuts. The rich, intriguing illustrations explode with drama and depth but possess a dark ambience. There is an overall dismal quality to the book, despite the happy ending. The story’s theme, which suggests that there would be no spring without baseball, appeals to a limited audience. Originally published in 1994, this original story by well known, award-winning author and illustrator, David Shannon, has been updated with new cover art. ♥♥♥

Available at Amazon.com

LAUNDRY DAY
Written and Illustrated by Maurie J. Manning
Published April 17, 2012
by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 13: 9780547241968
Hardcover
32 Pages
Ages 4-8

Review:  (Julie)  Business is slow for a shoe shine boy in the early 1900′s but a beautiful, lost red scarf keeps him busy as he climbs boxes, clambers up railings and tight ropes on clothes lines in pursuit of the scarf’s owner. The boy encounters many of neighbors in the crowded, multi-cultural New York City streets. At last, he finds the rightful owner on the rooftop patio of her top floor apartment. 

In Feng Shui, red is a powerful color that attracts good fortune. The theory holds true in this book as the boy is rewarded with the red scarf and his shoe shine business immediately improves.  The dialogue is infused with the diversity of Ellis Island emigrants and the era is characterized in art by pedal pushers, long skirts, street merchant carts, line-hung laundry and a .05 cent shoe shine box. Each scene is full of slick maneuvers and thoughtful action.  A red scarf is in impressive contrast with the muted browns and grays of the times.  Refined comic style graphic layouts and dialog call-outs allow for more story telling in a standard thirty-two page picture book.  A glossary at the book’s end translates the foreign terms usedwithin.  ♥♥♥♥

Available at Barnes and Noble and Indie Bound.

BEST PICTURE BOOKS
of 2011

  
   
   
    
  0 Comments on Best Picture Books of 2011 as of 1/1/1900