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Welcome author and illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur! Courtney’s first picture book Maya Was Grumpy has been available for several weeks now and it’s just gorgeous! I love her wonderful color palette and lively, playful style. I think all people can relate to Maya, the adorable star of the story, who was feeling grumpy for no apparent reason. My favorite part has to be her wild hair and especially how it gets less and less wild as she becomes less and less grumpy. Maya Was Grumpy is a delightful picture book that you and your kids will absolutely love. And I know you will enjoy Courtney’s delightful interview as well. Read on for more information about Courtney Pippin-Mathur and Maya.

Q. How did you get your start as a children’s picture book author and illustrator?

CPM. I majored in Studio Art in college but I knew the fine art path wasn’t right for me. When a teacher brought in Stephen Gammell’s “Monster Mama” a giant gong went off in my head. I have always loved books and the art of picture books so it made perfect sense.

Q. What’s your favorite part of creating picture books for children?

CPM. Two parts- the spark of the original idea or sketch and the joy of the finished, bound book in your hands.

Q. What authors and illustrators have been inspirations to you?

CPM. Roald Dahl, Polly Dunbar, Lauren Child, Stephen Gammell, Shel Silverstein to name a few

Q. Please tell us about your book Maya Was Grumpy. How did you come up with your idea and what was your creative process like from idea to finished book?

CPM. I was sitting on the couch with my laptop and sketchbook in front of me when my 3-year-old stomped into the room, stomped her foot, and declared “I’m Grumpy!” I wrote down the first line and sketched a grumpy little girl with crazy hair.

Q. What materials do you like to work with when creating your illustrations?

CPM. Mechanical pencil, paper, pen , watercolor paint & paper and Photoshop

Q. Where can fans go to learn more about you and your work?

CPM. http://www.pippinmathur.com

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with Frog on a Blog fans?

CPM. I’m a long time fan of frogs. I created a frog character in high school that I used as my signature. His name was Moran and I drew him constantly. And for my daughter’s baby shower, I drew a flying frog for the shower announcements. 

I’d like to extend a big Frog on a Blog welcome to up-and-coming picture book author and illustrator Emily Kate Moon. Her first picture book (and certainly not her last) Joone was published this year. Joone stars a precocious and sweet little girl and features bright colors and a whole lot of fun. I think fun may be the perfect word to describe Emily Kate who, as you can tell by her wonderfully detailed interview responses, has a lot of fun doing what she does. You will no doubt enjoy this interview as much as I did.

Q. You are both an author and an illustrator; which do you prefer and how did you get your start in the children’s picture book arena?

EKM. Oooh… I don’t know if I could say that I prefer one over the other.  I really love them both.  And they are so interconnected, I find it that one gets the other going!  When I sit down to start a new idea, I do it with a pad and pencil.  If the words don’t come, the drawings do.  And with each pencil stroke, the story comes to life, whether my pencil is making a picture or a word.  It’s a really fun process.  And when I’m really in the flow, it feels like I am channeling from some other place.  That’s the most glorious moment of all: when I have no struggle to create what comes out — I’m just the one holding the pencil!

I got started in the children’s picture book arena when I was 17.  I illustrated someone else’s book, but it didn’t go anywhere.  It was an important step, though.  It definitely started my career.  (It’s a long story, actually.  If people want to know more, send them to my website blog!)

Q. What is your workspace like and do you have a favorite medium you like to work with when creating your illustrations?

EKM. My workspace consists of two desks: a drafting table that tilts, and a flat desk on which rests my computer and art supplies.  I also have lots of cubbies and drawers and a big bookshelf full of children’s books!  Looking around right now, my studio is kind of a mess.  I guess I like it that way.  It feels like something is always in progress!

My default medium is pencil on paper.  It’s the easiest for me.  I also love fat felt tip markers.  But I really enjoyed learning how to use gouache when making the illustrations for Joone.  Gouache is a magical medium!  It’s somewhere between watercolor and acrylic.  And I also love doing large paintings: abstracts of acrylic on canvas.  I’ve just moved to Florida and right now I’m inspired by the ocean so I’m working on a series of wave paintings.  I love standing outside at an easel, with the music on, lots of colors to choose from, a cup of brushes and a bucket of water — just going with the flow to see what happens!

Q. What inspired you to create your picture book Joone? 

EKM. Joone wandered into my head one day, fully formed, and bugged me until I knew I had to write about her.  I had always wanted to write and illustrate children’s books, so it didn’t really surprise me that this little girl popped in one day and wouldn’t go away!  She came with all the details: orange dress, purple hat, brown shoes and turtle atop her head!  She even came with a grandfather.  (The yurt came soon thereafter.)  I grew up in California, so the setting is inspired by the country hills and vineyards that surrounded me there.

Q. Who are your favorite authors and illustrators? Any favorite picture books?

EKM. I have all sorts of favorites!  And I love so many of the new authors these days that my list just keeps growing!  I think storytelling, in general, is getting better.  Which makes sense, I guess, as we learn from each other and expand on our collective work.  But some of my classic favorites are Eloise by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight, Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne and Ernest Shepard, and the many tales by Beatrix Potter.  As a little kid, I memorized Eloise from beginning to end (which is quite a feat, considering the length of that story!) and I later filled drawing pads with watercolor reproductions of Ernest Shepard’s and Beatrix Potter’s beautiful illustrations.  I also love Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, and Joone’s proportions were greatly influenced by Calvin!  And, of course, who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss… I’m pretty sure he has influenced us all!  But my all-time favorite children’s book is Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann.  That one just really hits me!  It makes me emotional all the way through because it is so well done.  By page 4, my children are like, “Mom why are you crying?” and I say, “Oh! Because it’s just so good!”

Q. Can you tell us about any picture book projects you are working on right now?

EKM. Joone 2!  Joone’s sequel is in the works!  And then I have several other characters, one in particular, Benny the Singing Dog, who definitely needs a book of his own.  Maybe that’ll be next.

Q. Where can fans go to learn more about you and your work?

EKM. My website: emilykatemoon.com or Joone’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/joonebook

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with picture book fans?

EKM. When I tell people what I do, they often say, “I’ve got an idea for a children’s book!” or “My cousin wants to do that!”  It seems everyone has an unmade picture book in their lives somewhere.  But it’s something that remains faraway… mostly because they don’t know how to move it forward.  My answer to them is, “Just start it.”  (Or tell your cousin to start!)  Start by writing it down.  Make it as good as you can.  Read it to people, including children, and see what responses you get.  Be willing to change it.  If it’s great, submit it to an agent!  (Agents are everywhere, but it will require some work to find the right one.) And some of the best advice I ever got is this: do not team up with an illustrator.  It reduces your chances of being published.  Either do it all yourself or submit the manuscript alone.  These agents and editors who will read your manuscript are pros; they can envision illustrations and will match your story with the right illustrator.  Most of the people who say they have a children’s book idea but haven’t moved forward with it is because, as they put it, they can’t draw.  Don’t let that stop you!  There is a whole world of illustrators out there who can draw and would love to illustrate your book!  And the world might just love your story….

Title: Crankee Doodle

Author: Tom Angleberger

Illustrator: Cece Bell

Publisher/Year: Clarion Books/2013

Happy Independence Day everyone! I’ve got the perfect patriotic (or perhaps it’s the perfect un-patriotic) picture book for you today. Oh my gosh, this book is hilarious. You will love it just as much as your kids. It’s called Crankee Doodle and it’s about Mr. Doodle and his pony. Mr. Doodle has no intentions of going to town no matter how much his pony tries to convince him. And he doesn’t hesitate to express his opinions on the subject. You absolutely must read this story out loud to appreciate the dialogue that goes on between Doodle and his pony. Here’s a sampling: (Pony) “You could call it macaroni.” (Doodle) “Call what macaroni?” (Pony) “Your hat with the feather in it.” (Doodle) “First of all, why would I want to call my hat macaroni? I don’t want to call my hat anything! It’s just a hat! Second of all, why would putting a feather in my hat turn it into macaroni? It would still be a hat, not macaroni!” I just love the interaction between these two characters. The pony remains calm while Doodle becomes increasingly agitated. Essentially, the whole story is told through quick-paced, witty dialogue and, of course, Cece Bell’s colorful and humorous, full-page illustrations. Author Tom Angleberger did a fantastic job creating a story based on the well-known tune “Yankee Doodle”. And like all terrific picture books, this one has a surprise at the end. This is a must read!

Monstore is available now. Check out Tara Lazar’s site for more information:
http://taralazar.com/
.

I have two very special picture books to share today, both by master storyteller Mike Lockett. The books are bilingual, having both English and Chinese text. Reviewing bilingual picture books is a Frog on a Blog first. Both of these gorgeously illustrated books include an audio CD which tells the story in English and also in Chinese. The CD adds an important element to the reading process and will help new readers and new language learners follow along with the story. It’s also an enjoyable experience. I know, I tried it! Both books are slated to be released in Spanish in the very near future.

First up is Teddy Bear, which was released in the US in 2010. It’s based on the well-known children’s song “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around”, and stars an adorable stuffed bear who only has one wish, to be loved by a child. Will his wish come true? The beautiful cover art caught my eye right away. And of course, the book is filled with illustrator Lulu Yang’s wonderful, whimsical illustrations, which were created by scanning fabric and layering images in Photoshop. They are quite unique. Young kids will have a lot of fun looking at the book, listening to the story on CD, and then singing the teddy bear song.

Next, we have Sky Food, which was released in the US just this year (2013). It’s adapted from a Native American folktale called Why Clouds Are In The Sky. Sky Food is a story about when the world was new, and people did not have to work in order to get food. The Creator placed all the food in the clouds, which were very close to the earth, and the people only had to reach up and take what they needed. Over time, however, people began to waste their food, and this made the Creator angry. He moved the clouds far out of their reach. What will the people do now to get food? Will they learn not to waste? This book offers bright, colorful illustrations by artist Chung Yi-Ru, done in acrylic and colored pencil. I like the sweet, childlike cast of characters, from various ethnic backgrounds, that are featured throughout the book. Young children will love “creating” sky food using only their imaginations, with a little help from this fun book and CD. One warning though, looking at this book might make you hungry.   

I am super excited to share my newest interview with Frog on a Blog readers. Say “hello” to awesome author/illustrator Carin Bramsen. The first time I saw her  beautiful picture book Hey, Duck!, I became an instant fan. Her style is playful, colorful, and so detailed, three qualities I love in a picture book. Just look at this gorgeous cover. Of course, to really get what I’m talking about, you have to check out the book in person. I immediately noticed the amazing realistic detail of the little duck’s feathers and the cat’s fur. And of course, the story is wonderful too. Enjoy the interview!

I have fallen madly in love with your soft, little duckling and his gorgeous feline friend from your book Hey, Duck! I’m excited to have this chance to get to know more about you and your work through this interview, and to share your answers with my blog fans.

1. How did you get your start in children’s books? And which do you prefer, writing or illustrating?

CB. Thank you so much for inviting me! I’m honored and delighted to appear on this wonderful blog devoted to picture books.

My path to children’s books was roundabout. I’ve always loved both drawing and writing, and some of my best childhood memories are of illustrating my own stories. But as a misguided young adult, I thought I had to choose between writing and the visual arts. I made many false starts in either direction. At some point, my sister, Kirsten, and I spoke casually of collaborating on a book about one of her childhood experiences. We eventually revisited the idea, she wrote a terrific story called THE YELLOW TUTU, and I set about trying to illustrate it. I had much to learn, so I started poring over heaps of picture books to see what worked. I read Martin Salisbury’s Illustrating Children’s Books, which taught me how to put together a picture book dummy. The more I worked at it, the more I fell in love with the challenge of telling a story through pictures as well as words. We published THE YELLOW TUTU with Random House in 2009. By then, I was hooked on the picture book genre, and my own stories flowed naturally from learning about narrative art. One of the many things I love about this field: it turns out I don’t have to choose between writing and illustrating!

2. Your characters are so full of life. I feel as if they could jump right off the page. What medium did you use to create your illustrations for Hey, Duck?

CB. Thank you! I’m so happy to hear you find my characters full of life. I drew the illustrations for HEY, DUCK on my computer, with a digital tablet. The tablet comes with a mouse shaped like a pen, which I use to draw (paint) colors, shapes, textures and tones as I would with a traditional brush or pen. But Photoshop allows me more flexibility than paint and paper would for moving parts around, layering and reworking if need be.

3. What is your workspace like?

CB. My workspace is an unprepossessing corner of my living/dining room. (And by “corner” I mean a third of the space; this is a Brooklyn apartment, after all!) I have my computer desk next to a folding table with a drawing board on top, and lots of jars filled with brushes and pencils. Lately, I’ve dragged my old easel into the living room, where I’ve been playing around with bigger drawings. I still love all kinds of traditional media, and the visceral feel of working big.

4. What picture book authors and illustrators do you most admire? Do you have any favorite picture books?

CB. Oh, dear. I have so many favorite authors, illustrators and picture books, I can’t keep track. A few of the books that make me sit back and say, “perfect”: THE SNOWY DAY, by Ezra Jack Keats; SNOW, by Uri Shulevitz; TEN LITTLE FINGERS AND TEN LITTLE TOES, by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. I adore the Mole Sisters books by Roslyn Schwartz. I often find a special beauty in books that skew very young, and I love anything that makes me laugh. But my tastes range anywhere from James Marshall to Dr. Seuss to Kadir Nelson to Gennady Spirin. There’s an endless variety of riches in picture books, all indispensable.

5. What other books have you written or illustrated, and are you working on any new projects?

CB. I’m pleased to say there are new books with Duck and Cat on the horizon.

6. Where can people go to learn more about you and your books?

CB. I have a website: http://carinbramsen.com/home.html

I also have a blog: http://carindraw.blogspot.com/

And I’m on Twitter: @carinbramsen

7. Is there anything else you’d like to share with Frog on a Blog fans?

CB. Often, a good picture book experience owes much to a talented art director. I’m indebted to Tracy Tyler, the Random House art director who has brought so much knowledge, dedication and inspired insight to both of my book projects to date. Picture books are always a team effort.

Title: The Princess and the Peas

Author: Caryl Hart

Illustrator: Sarah Warburton

Publisher/Date: Nosy Crow/2013

I absolutely love this clever, rhyming story about a little girl named Lily-Rose May who won’t eat peas. Maybe she’s allergic to peas. Maybe she’s a princess. Everyone knows princesses don’t eat peas. This book is beautifully illustrated with lots of detail and bright colors, including an eye-catching cover. The verse is flawless and flows along nicely. The story made me smile for a couple of reasons. First, it’s just so fun. And second, it reminds me just a little bit of myself when I was a child. I hated peas (still do) and refused to eat them. In fact, I disliked them so much that I used to put them down the heating vent in the dining room after everyone else had left the table. My mother didn’t find out until years later. I was a very picky eater. The picky eater in your household will enjoy this story and so will you.

For my first interview of 2013, I am extremely pleased to showcase super-talented author and illustrator Melissa Guion. Baby Penguins Everywhere may be her first picture book, but it certainly won’t be her last. It is interesting to note that I can interview several people and get responses as diverse as the picture books they’ve written. In other words, I could interview ten authors or ten illustrators and ask them the same or similar questions and each would have totally unique answers. But all of them are fascinating. I know you will find Melissa Guion’s interview fascinating as well. Enjoy!

First of all, congratulations on the publication of your first picture book Baby Penguins Everywhere! It’s a wonderful book and I hope we see more from you in the near future. 

1. Have you always enjoyed writing and drawing? And when did you decide that you’d like to be published?

MG. Yes, making books is probably my oldest dream. I wanted to be a gymnast for a while, after watching Nadia Comaneci at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. One out of two isn’t bad.

2. What’s the first thing you did when you got the news that your manuscript was accepted for publication? How did you get the news?

MG. I was actually hired without a manuscript! My future editor saw my artwork and emailed (via my agent) to say he wanted to give me a multi-book deal. I went into our first meeting fairly dubious, but it turned out he meant it. When I got home, there was an email in my inbox from the editor about how we might go about developing a story, and we were off.

When I got that email, I think I did all the obvious things like jumping around. I called my mom. I had champagne with friends that night to celebrate. The next day I told different friends and we also had champagne. I dragged it out.

3. How long did it take from acceptance to finished, shelf-ready book?

MG. People keep asking this and I keep guessing. I’m going to actually look it up right now… Start to finish, it took 2 1/2 years. That’s slightly misleading because, again, there was no manuscript. We made a handshake deal to do a penguin book in late 2009. I had a contract by the summer of 2010, and that’s about when I had my first dummy done. I turned in the final art in January 2012 and saw a finished copy in August 2012.

That’s a really long time. My second and third books will get done much faster, at least according to my contract.

4. How excited were you when you saw your finished book for the first time?

MG. I’m excited every single time I see it. I don’t know if that ever wears off.

5. How did you come up with the idea for Baby Penguins Everywhere?

MG. When I met my editor, I was a new mom and a first-time illustrator. My life was full of chaos. My editor suggested the premise of the lone penguin who finds a magic hat overflowing with babies. It felt applicable to every area of my life.

6. You also illustrated your book. What materials did you use to create the illustrations? Are they your favorite media to work with when creating art?

MG. I used pencil and watercolor. I thought about doing something experimental, but I already had plenty of challenges to deal with. Anyway, I really like watercolor. I love that it has a mind of its own.

7. Where can your fans go to learn more about you?

MG. I have a website, www.melissaguion.com. Readers can subscribe to my blog there. I try to update it a few times a month. I’m also on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BabyPenguinsEverywhere) and Twitter (@MelissaGuion).

8. Is there anything else you’d like to share with Frog on a Blog readers?

MG. If they’re ever in NYC, they need to go to Russ and Daughter, on Houston Street, for smoked salmon and horseradish cream cheese on a bagel. It’s the best! Penguins like it, too.

 With a name like The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever, you know it has to be good.

Title: The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever

Author: Brenda Ferber

Illustrator: Tedd Arnold

Publisher/Date: Dial Books for Young Readers/2012

Valentine’s Day is next week and I have the perfect book for the occasion. Kids will fall in love with The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Best Valentine Ever by Brenda Ferber. When Leon makes a Valentine to tell Zoey he likes her, the little heart-shaped card decides to make a break for it. He thinks love is yucky. He likes candy much better than love. So, the chase is on, down the street, past the boys, and the girls, and the teenagers until… Well, I won’t tell you the ending, but maybe, just maybe the Valentine will change his mind about love. This lively and hilarious picture book (with illustrations to match) reminds me of the story of the runaway gingerbread man who would chant as he ran, “Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” Well, we all know what happened to him. Thankfully, the Valentine got “caught” by something much less dangerous. Read the book to find out what.

Title: Oh! What a Surprise!

Author/Illustrator: Suzanne Bloom

Publisher/Date: Boyds Mills Press/2012

Suzanne Bloom does it again with another beautiful picture book. Perfect for this festive time of year, Oh! What a Surprise! features familiar friends in the gift-giving spirit. I absolutely love everything about this book. From the glowing illustrations to the fun characters (especially the sweet, little fox) to the picture-perfect text and satisfying ending, Suzanne Bloom proves she is a master storyteller. A copy of this one is going in my personal collection. I encourage everyone to check out this book and while you’re at it, look for more of Ms. Bloom’s wonderful children’s books.          

Title: It’s a Tiger

Author: David LaRochelle

Illustrator: Jeremy Tankard

Publisher/Year: Chronicle/2012

There’s no doubt that kids will love It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle. It’s a fast-paced adventure story. It reminds me of something out of an Indiana Jones movie where you have to keep moving or you’re going to get caught. And there’s danger around every corner. You and the kids will get to the end of this book quickly, but you will have had so much fun, that you will want to read it again and again. The full-page ink and digital illustrations are lively and bright. And the cover is a perfect attention grabber. It’s a Tiger is a great pick.

Title: Bedtime for Boo

Author: Mickie Matheis

Illustrator: Bonnie Leick

Publisher/Year: Golden Books/2012

Here’s a fun Halloween (or anytime) story about an endearing, wee ghost named Boo who experiences his first haunting trip with his family. But when his fun-filled night is over, how will he ever fall asleep. Can the sounds of the night lull him to dreamland? This book combines prose and rhyme in a clever, fun-to-read way, that changes as the story changes. The wonderful illustrations depict Boo, his family, and their home in the muted colors of night. Bedtime for Boo is a good bedtime story choice for your little ghost or goblin.

  Blue Apple Books has a lot of terrific titles, but I especially like Scribbles and Ink (2012) by Ethan Long. Ink is a mouse and Scribbles is a cat and the only thing they have in common is that they are both artists. They have very different opinions on what makes good art and so a battle of pencils and brushes takes place until finally, they decide to work together to create something extra special. This book is a clever introduction to art for young readers. I like the use of primary colors for the majority of the illustrations. And the showcase of different art styles and artists at the end adds a superb finishing touch to the story. Look for more books by this talented author/illustrator. Also, look for more titles published by Blue Apple. Another one that I really like is called My Dog Thinks I’m a Genius by Harriet Ziefert. Look for it and Scribbles and Ink today!

  Here’s a perfect pick for dog lovers. Dog Gone! (2012, G.P. Putnam’s Sons) by Leeza Hernandez has just 25 short lines, but manages to convey all sorts of emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, worry, and love. Dog Gone! is about a small dog who runs away from home after being scolded by his beloved boy. While out roaming the streets, he realizes he belongs at home, and he and his boy are joyfully reunited at the end. The illustrations are lively and fun, combining a variety of media. The rhyming text is simple, playful, and a good complement to the illustrations. And once again, the dog in the story reminds me of my own dog. Overall, it’s a great book for kids and animal lovers.

  Raise your hand if you’re looking for a brightly illustrated picture book that is fun to read aloud, stars a charming piggy character, and teaches you your colors, all to the tune of I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Okay, so maybe you weren’t looking for a book like that, but I found one for you anyway. It’s I Know a Wee Piggy (2012, Dial Books) by Kim Norman. It’s gorgeous multi-hued art was done by Henry Cole in acrylics and colored-pencils. Kim Norman does a wonderful job engaging the reader with deceptively simple lines like: “I know a wee piggy who wallowed in red. Hoof to head, he wallowed in red.” Follow the precocious little pig as he makes his way through the county fair and see what color he wins in the end. Kids will enjoy this book from eye-catching cover to satisfying ending.  

  Wow, if there was ever a picture book that I  thoroughly enjoyed reading aloud, this is it. That Book Woman (2008, Atheneum Books) by Heather Henson and illustrated by David Small is based on a true part of American history. It’s about a Pack Horse Librarian who delivers books to the remote Appalachian mountain region of Kentucky back in the 1930′s. But actually, the book is about more than that. The story is told by a boy named Cal who learns to read and whose life is forever changed thanks to that book woman. All picture books are meant to be read aloud, but some just roll off the tongue better or are more fun to read. This is one of those books. The ink, watercolor, and pastel pictures perfectly complement the rural setting. There’s more information about the Pack Horse Librarians in an author’s note at the end of the book. This is a great read!   

  The best words to describe A World of Food (2012, Abrams Books) by Carl Warner would be fanciful and delicious. Mr. Warner created the beautiful pictures for this book by photographing miniature landscapes made entirely of food. The gorgeous cover is what caught my eye, of course, with its scrumptious pink candy land and lavender sky. Inside, more delectable visions harmonize with whimsical, rhyming text that tells the reader what the world would be like if it was completely red, purple, yellow, orange, etc. and of course, made of food. Kids will love picking out the different foods on each page. Who knows, maybe this book will even encourage a picky eater to try something new.     

My amphibious co-host, Finley, has decided to do this installment of Frog on a Blog book reviews. Because he loves picture books so much, he had a hard time deciding on just one. So, he picked two. One is brand new and the other is a bit older, but they both star adorable amphibians, one a toad, the other a frog.

  Ooh, I’m so excited about this new picture book by Holly Hobbie that really lives up to its name! It’s called Gem (2012, Little, Brown, and Co.). It has lots of beautiful illustrations and very few words. It starts with a letter from a grandma to her granddaughter and ends with a letter from the granddaughter to her grandma. The story follows a toad as he emerges from the ground and embarks on a perilous journey. It was scary at times, a real nail-biter (if I had nails), but has a happy ending. If you want to learn about toads, this book will help.

  Another great book that I stumbled across is called A Frog Thing (2005, Kidwick Books). This book by Eric Drachman introduces a frog named Frank who, incidentally, is almost as cute as I am, thanks to illustrator James Muscarello’s awesome drawings. And Frank and I have something else in common, besides being frogs, we want to try new things. Frank wants to learn how to fly. Read his terrific story and see if his wish comes true. Or does he discover something even better? You be the judge.

  I really enjoyed Vote for Me! (2012, Kids Can Press). I’m sure it wasn’t an accident that this clever book by Ben Clanton was published during a presidential election year. It’s about two candidates who do everything they can to win your vote. They sweet-talk you, tell you what you want to hear, make you promises, and put down their opponent. Sounds like real life, huh? 

I’ve never seen a picture book tackle this subject before. As soon as I read it, I wondered why it hadn’t been done before. It’s a great idea. Maybe it’s because no one else has been able to do it like Ben Clanton. He managed to create a humorous, fact-paced story that kids will love, even if they don’t get the not-so-subtle tidbits that we adults will recognize-for example, the red and blue color scheme, the donkey and elephant main characters, and the “mud-slinging”.

The difference between this story and a real election is the fact that donkey and elephant apologize to each other and by the end, become friends. Or do they? Read the book to find out. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. This is a good first introduction to politics for young readers. Be prepared to explain a couple of things to your kids though.

    Here it is, week seven of my Week of Reviews and if you don’t mind me saying so, I’m proud of myself. I set a goal to post a book review every day for a week and I reached it! This is the most posting I’ve done since I started my blog nearly three years ago. Well, enough about that, let’s talk picture books. I’m ending my Week of Reviews with two humorous stories. I think funny picture books are some of the best kind. You know kids will agree because they love to laugh.

Okay, let’s start with a title that grabbed my attention right away-Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All (2012, Atheneum Books for Young Readers). With a title like that, how could you not open the book, right? First off, I really like how average people like the garbage man, the mail man, and the paperboy are portrayed as superheros. And there is so much color throughout the book. (You know how much I love color.) The author/illustrator, Peter Catalanotto, created his awesome illustrations with watercolor paints. It never ceases to amaze me what can be done with watercolors. And of course, the story is funny. Has Question Boy finally met his match? Read the book to find out. This book has it all, a great title, interesting characters, gorgeous illustrations, and humor, and it manages to teach kids a few things too (a lot of things, actually).     

Beep and Bah (2012, Carolrhoda Books) by James Burks is also a very funny book, but in a completely different way. This vibrantly illustrated picture book, done in comic book style, will have kids laughing out loud. Two friends, Beep the robot and Bah the goat, set off on an adventure to find the match to a sock. The delightful duo get themselves into all sorts of humorous trouble along the way. And you’ll never guess where the missing sock is. This dynamically designed picture book offers charming characters and laughs on every page. Check both books out today!     

    For day number six of my Week of Reviews, I offer up two gorgeous picture books that the youngest picture book fans will absolutely love. Both are sweet, simple, and colorful, with minimal text and full-page illustrations.

Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff (2012, Beach Lane Books) introduces readers to a bear cub who is discovering the world through all the beautiful colors that he sees around him. Mama Bear guides him as he encounters blue jays, green oak trees, orange butterflies, and more. The unique illustrations were done using linoleum block prints which were then painted with watercolors. The story includes one of my most favorite things, a rainbow. Children will enjoy this book while learning about colors.

Moonlight, written by Helen Griffith and illustrated by Laura Dronzek (2012, Greenwillow Books), is a rhyming bedtime story. The wonderful, dreamy illustrations were done using acrylic paints. The star is a precious rabbit who likes to dance in the moonlight. Here’s an excerpt: “Moonlight slides like butter, skims through outer space, skids past stars and comets, leaves a butter trace…” Just beautiful! I highly recommend both books.

  Author and illustrator, Chris Van Dusen, has hit a home run with his brand new picture book entitled Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit (2012, Candlewick Press). Starring in this fast-paced, baseball-themed story, is young Randy, a bright boy with a love for robots. Randy becomes the hero of his hometown when he saves everyone from impending doom. (I won’t give all of the details away. You should go out and pick up a copy for yourself.) With bright gouache illustrations and awesome rhyming text, this book is sure to be a hit with you and your little super hero. Here’s a sample: “Randy’s eye was on the ball. No room for error now. Three-two-one and flip the switch! A swoosh and then…Ka-pow!!”    

  Do you have a child who just won’t go to sleep when it’s bedtime or nap time? If so, this is the book for you. The World Champion of Staying Awake (2011, Candlewick Press) by Sean Taylor stars a delightful, young girl named Stella who must help her little friends fall asleep before she can go to bed. It’s a good thing she has such a vivid imagination because that’s just what her friends need to help them feel tired. The author uses a mix of prose and verse, which is hard to pull off in one picture book, but it works perfectly here. The illustrator, Jimmy Liao, gives life to the characters with his vibrant watercolor artwork. I love his clever use of design elements-smaller pictures for the main storyline and full-page illustrations for the dreamy landscapes. Both fun and lyrical, this book is sure to please the wide-awake “world champion” in your life.

  Gerald the dancing giraffe has a new fan, me. I am very much enchanted with this rhyming tale entitled Giraffes Can’t Dance. This charming read-aloud written by Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees was first published in 1999 and again in 2001 by Orchard Books. Gerald is a giraffe who can’t dance, or least he thinks he can’t. But when he finds the right music, he shows a style and grace unmatched by any of the other jungle animals. Sporting fun, poetic text, accompanied by full-page, full-color illustrations, Giraffes Can’t Dance will no doubt captivate your child just as it captivated the child within me. Personally, I love to dance and sing even though I’m lousy at both. Maybe one day, I will find style and grace just like Gerald. Until then, may we all have music in our hearts, a song on our lips, and a beat to our steps.

   The 2012 Caldecott Medal winner is A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (2011, Schwartz & Wade Books). It’s a wordless picture book featuring a lovable little dog named Daisy. Daisy loves her ball. Daisy loves to play with her ball. Daisy is sad when her ball  bursts. Daisy gets a new ball and a new friend. Daisy loves her new ball. The ink and watercolor illustrations clearly, beautifully, and colorfully convey the deceptively simple story of the little dog and her prized ball.

   Three Honor books have been chosen this year. Blackout by John Rocco (2011, Disney Hyperion Books) showcases large, dynamic illustrations that depict one urban dwelling family’s unusual summer night. The story starts with a family together in their apartment, but separated by their busy lives. Then, they are brought together by a power outage and discover that spending time as a family is the best kind of time of all. This is a great modern-day tale.

   Grandpa Green by Lane Smith (2011, Roaring Brook Press) features multimedia illustrations that sport very few colors. But because this book is so cleverly illustrated, it doesn’t need a lot of color. The story is told by the great-grandson of Grandpa Green. He tells his great grandfather’s life story in words while Grandpa Green “illustrates” his life via the shapes of the topiary trees in his garden. The text is understandably quite simple, allowing the appealing pictures to sing out  loud and clear.

   Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (2011, Little, Brown and Company) is my personal favorite out of the picks this year. It tells the story of environmentalist and humanitarian, Jane Goodall, when she was just a little girl who dreamed of helping animals one day. The ink and watercolor illustrations are cheery and sweet. But what I like most about this book are the photographs of Jane and the drawings she did herself as a girl. This is a must see for kids and adults alike.

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