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Award-winning author Jerdine Nolen‘s picture books often tell stories that blend fantasy and realism in an unsettling way that delights young readers and fires their imaginations, from her first book Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm, which was made into a … Continue reading ... →

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I Wanna Go Home

By Karen Kaufman Orloff and David Catrow

 

I recently blogged on a book called “Baking Day at Grandma’s.” It is the quintessential feeling evoked when a child is aware of an upcoming trip to a grandparent’s house. It’s all enthusiasm mixed with a driving anticipation for the coming event.

Not so, with the picture book, “I Wanna Go Home”, at least not at the outset. Yet EACH of these books, in its own way, ends on the same note, and that is an eager longing for a return trip!

In “I Wanna Go Home”, mom and dad are headed to the islands; Bora Bora to be exact. And guess where the kiddies named Alex, Ethan, Annie and Iggy the iguana are going to be while mom and dad take a vacation? Not to a Club Med for the younger set or a Disney cruise on the Big Red Boat. No, they will be joining Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Ralph at Happy Hills retirement community. Whining and whimpering best describes the reaction to this turn of events from the children. They anticipate boredom and bridge games – and no fun.

But, do they REALLY know their grandparents? True, these kids have never seen teeth in a glass before, the Grands don’t have video games and square dancing does sound pretty square – until you try it, that is.

In a series of back and forth emails, Alex and his siblings gradually warm to the snow bird rituals of bingo, especially when the winnings of $13.52 are spent on ICE CREAM. SHHHHH, says grandma to the kids. No need to tell mom and dad, signs off “Moneybags Alex” in his latest missive to the folks in Bora Bora.

Charmingly revealed is the well known give and take between grandparents and their grandchildren; the agreement being, we get to spoil you a bit and you keep us young while introducing us to things like soccer balls blasted through the living room. You weren’t REALLY attached to that lamp anyway, were you, hon?

The illustrations of the trio finger painting EVERYTHING in the kitchen, including their grandpa, eating corn dogs at the infamous “early bird specials” at Moe’s Diner, sharing a Peter Rabbit read aloud or watching old reruns of Rin Tin Tin on TV, depict a shared give-and-take between the younger and not-so-young set.

More importantly, the shared time lets the kids have a window into their grandparents world, and from that emerges a renewed respect AND affection on the part of the kids. Wonderful. We need more picture books like this one to show what a rare and valuable resource grandparents are. Their shared wisdom and playfulness that is not worn thin with the day in day out of parenting gives a fresh look into the world of childhood.

By the time the “new” game of stickball is introduced to Alex, his opinions on time spent with grandparents has changed. And when the young man is presented with the option of an EXTRA week with them, his PLEASE to mom and dad is genuine.

I love this book. Ms Orloff and Mr. Catrow have let generation gaps fall gently and with plenty of humor. The illustrations are colorfully vibrant and eye-catching. Kids will be captured by them. And more than that, after this read both YOU and the kids might want to give the folks a call! They’re just waiting! The “snow birds” are just beginning to head south from what I can see here at home, and let’s face it, winter break in February is not that far off!

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

If anyone is wondering, it is monsoon season on Blueberry Hill!  What wild, wet, windy weather we are having!  Thank goodness for my trusty canoe :)  If anyone wants to mount a rescue mission to bring in supplies of chocolate and friendly company, wear appropriate foul weather gear and do not attempt an umbrella - it will end in disaster :)

With rain on the brain, here's my pick for this week which also starts out in the rain :)

Apparently I am a one-person advertising agency for G.P. Putnam's Sons.  This is the second week in a row I've posted one of their books!  But I promise, it just worked out that way.   I love both books and they're being offered as prizes in the Halloweensie Contest, so I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to see how fantastic they are :)

Today's choice is the 3rd book in Karen Orloff and David Catrow's super-fun I Wanna series that began with I Wanna Iguana.  I hope you like it :)

Title: I Wanna Go Home
Written By: Karen Kaufman Orloff
Illustrated By: David Catrow
G.P. Putnam's Sons, September 2014, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: family (grandparents), appreciation, visiting relatives, persuasion, humor

Opening: "Dear Alex, Ethan and Annie,
We're so glad you're coming to visit us.  You'll love it here!  Do you know how to play bridge?  It's a card game all our friends enjoy.  When you come, we can play for hours and hours!  Can't wait to see you.
Love,
Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Ralph
P.S. Hope you like broccoli lasagna!"

Brief Synopsis: From the Amazon review: "Alex is not happy about being sent to his grandparents’ retirement community while his parents go on a fabulous vacation. What could be worse than tagging along to Grandma’s boring bridge game or enduring the sight of Grandpa’s dentures?

But as the week goes on, Alex’s desperate emails to his parents turn into stories about ice cream before dinner and stickball with Grandpa. Before he knows it, Alex has made a surprising discovery: grandparents are way cooler than he thought!"

Links To Resources: Classroom Activities for persuasive writing (this is actually for Karen's 2nd book, I Wanna New Room, but much of it applies as is and the rest can be easily modified to match this book); talk about what kids do with their grandparents - what activities do grandparents like to do?  Are they old-fashioned?  What activities do kids like to do?  Can you learn fun things from your grandparents?  Can they learn fun things from you?  What are some things you've learned how to do from your grandparents? What are some things you've taught them?



Why I Like This Book: Alex's letter-writing is always amusing.  He's a master of showing his side of the argument and getting his way, (although in this case he changes his mind and learns that maybe visiting grandparents isn't all that bad.)  Things begin badly at the Happy Hills Retirement Community.  It's raining.  Alex is bored.  Grandma Shirley is dressing baby Annie up in girly outfits, and Grandpa's false teeth are disgusting!  But as the days go by, Alex discovers square dancing, bingo, and stick ball, and realizes that his grandparents are pretty fun to hang out with.  By the end, he doesn't want to go home.  I love the way Alex's attitude turns around, because that happens so often in life - especially with kids.  They think they're going to hate something and don't even want to give it a chance, and it turns out to be pretty amazing :)  This book, like Karen's others, is filled with humor and believability and is just tons of fun from start to finish!

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you and see your wonderful picks for this week!

And please remember that there will be no PPBF next week due (October 31!!!) to the fact that the Halloweensie Contest will be underway!!!  So exciting!  I can hardly wait until Monday... to see if anyone enters... anyone at all...  I'm hoping for at least a few - your stories are always so creative and fun!  (And no, I have not written my sample yet.  But I still have a couple days.  It could still happen... :))

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! :)

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Happy Book Birthday to Karen Kaufman Orloff and David Catrow’s newest “I Wanna” picture book I Wanna Go Home! Fans of I Wanna Iguana and I Wanna New Room will be thrilled that a third book in the series has finally been “born”. Can you believe it’s been ten years since I Wanna Iguana, the first book!? It was one of my nephew’s favorite picture books. He was six at the time; now he’s sixteen!

I Wanna Iguana was one of the very first book reviews I did on Frog on a Blog back in 2009. Read my review. I loved the book so much that I contacted Karen to do an interview for me and she agreed. Her interview was the very first interview I did on Frog on a Blog! Read the interview.    

Personally, I can’t wait to read I Wanna Go Home and see what clever Alex is up to this time around. I wanna bet it will be hilarious. Read the summary and Kirkus review below.

SUMMARY OF “I WANNA GO HOME”, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons: Alex is not happy about being sent to his grandparents’ retirement community while his parents go on a fabulous vacation. What could be worse than tagging along to Grandma’s boring bridge game or enduring the sight of Grandpa’s dentures?

But as the week goes on, Alex’s desperate emails to his parents turn into
stories about ice cream before dinner and stickball with Grandpa. Before
he knows it, Alex has made a surprising discovery: grandparents are way
cooler than he thought!

KIRKUS REVIEW
A child’s skepticism takes a header when a vacation with Grandma and
Grandpa proves more wild than mild.
After getting his iguana (I Wanna Iguana, 2004) and failing to
successfully petition for his own space (I Wanna New Room, 2010), Alex
returns for a third time, and now the situation’s truly dire. His parents
are taking off for Bora Bora, which means he and his siblings are slated
to stay with their grandparents for the duration. Broccoli lasagna and the
absence of both video games and computers are bound to lead to a terrible
time. In his initial desperate letters and emails written to his
vacationing parents, Alex pleads with them to return ASAP. Yet soon, Alex
is singing a different tune, as he discovers square dancing, bingo,
stickball and other wonderful aspects of old-folk living. Turns out that
two weeks just isn’t enough time. The epistolary picture book is hardly a
new genre, but it can prove a difficult one. Orloff handles the format as
well as the subject with grace and aplomb. Alex’s gradual acceptance of
his doting ancestors plays out believably, pairing beautifully with
Catrow’s controlled craziness. The pencils, watercolors and inks find the
funny in almost every single spread.
A clever conceit ably rendered; this is bound to prove popular with loving
grandparents and caustic kids alike. (Picture book. 4-7)

**AND NEW THIS YEAR, FOR TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS — A WEBSITE GEARED JUST FOR THEM, OFFERING IDEAS AND TEACHING MATERIALS FOR USING THE “I WANNA” BOOKS IN THE CLASSROOM***
Visit www.iwannabooks.com. The site offers lesson plans, printable
activities and games for students, testimonials from teachers, teacher
resources, and more.

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I was pleased to hear that the nuptials of Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer have at long last taken place.  Apparently Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) played the accordion.  Just prior to that, however, Palmer and Gaiman and some friends made this little ode to Henson’s Labyrinth (which some will tell you is based on Sendak’s Outside Over There).  Someone once told me that David Bowie’s dance sans jockstrap was the heterosexual girl equivalent of many a boy’s Princess Leia’s gold bikini.  I’m just happy that Palmer recreated this scene shot for shot.  Thanks to Aunt Judy for the link.

I haven’t avoided talking about Salman Rushdie’s newest children’s book (Luka and the Fire of Life) on purpose or anything.  I just wasn’t particularly interested in reading it when it came out.  I did read his previous book for kids, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, which sort of struck me as meaningful in the context in which it was written, but ultimately an example of an adult author trying a bit too hard to write for kids.  The newest may be different.  Here’s its trailer.

A little disjointed but I like the kid who plays Luka certainly.

I’m often surprised by the talents of untrained student actors when reenacting their favorite children’s books.  But let’s raise the bar a moment.  Not only shall we have children acting out a kid’s book.  Not ONLY will they have fabulous costumes.  But they’re going to do it in an entirely different language.  Woah.  The students of Zhejiang A&F University in Lin’an China made the costumes and acted in this video of the American children’s book The Fuzzy Philosopher by Becky Ances and Ryan Wilson.

Geez.  Even the lighting is good.  And the camerawork.  And everyone should always include a cookie recipe at the end of their book trailers (whether it makes sense or not).  Thanks to Ryan Wilson for the link.

Picture, if you will, an entire blog dedicated to book trailers and book videos for kids.  It sort of sounds like a version of good old Book Trailerpark (now sadly defunct).  In fact, it exists at Watch. Connect. Read. and is hosted by the superb K-5 teacher librarian Mr. Schu.  Now Mr. Schu is the rare personage that first came to my attention through, of all mediums, Twitter.  Yes, it’s true, kids.  If you’re good at Twitter you can gain fans in the real world.  This next video comes from Mr. Schu’s site and spoke to me.  I recently hosted Simpsons writer and children’s author Mike Reiss in my library. Mr. Reiss has done many a book with the elusive illustrator Mr. Catrow, but he has never met him.  In fact, I myself didn’t even know what the fella looked like.  Mystery solved: