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If dinosaurs had any inkling as to how popular they’d end up, I’m sure they would have stuck around longer to enjoy their fame and fortune. Here are a few more new titles to add to your prehistoric, dino-inspired picture book collection, some serious, some silly. All fun.  Dino-Daddy by Mark Sperring and Sam Lloyd […]

This week is three random selections from my TBR shelf. No pattern today!

Can Anybody Hear Me? written and illustrated by Jessica Meserve, is a straight-to-the-point book about a young lad whose family just won't listen to him. His entire family is incredibly noisy, boisterous, and outgoing and poor Jack is just the opposite. He likes to be quiet and living with the family he does, that means he often isn't heard.

When all Jack wants is to share with his family that he plans to climb to the very top of a mountain, no one can hear him, they simply shout the answers they think he wants to hear. When Jack gets lost on his journey up the mountain, he's scared that no one knew where he was because they didn't listen to him. Once he is returned home safely, he finally builds up the courage to speak up and tell the family what's on his mind.

No beating around the bush here. Can Anybody Hear Me? is great for those shyer children that just don't speak up or for a simple, sweet read aloud.

Can Anybody Hear Me?
Jessica Meserve
32pages
Picture Book
Clarion Books
September 2008
9780547028347

Doctor Meow's Big Emergency, written and illustrated by Sam Lloyd, is part of the Whoops-a-Daisy World series, each of which features a different character within a small town (very similar to the Richard Scarry books). This title focuses on Doctor Meow at the Kiss-it-Better Hospital and her mission to help Tom Cat who has hurt his leg. We get a glimpse inside the hospital, the map of the ambulance ride, and the help given to Tom Cat. All done with huge, bright, illustrations with a very "retro" feel.

I really think kids will love participating in reading a series, even at a young age, and picking up on characters featured in other titles. I was a huge fan of the Richard Scarry series when I was younger and collected all the books and can definitely see this series being just as successful. The story is simple enough for little ones to follow, the illustrations are perfect for the story, and the hospital experience is one every kid can stand to read about.

Doctor Meow's
Big Emergency
Sam Lloyd
32pages
Picture Book
Henry Holt
September 2008
9780805088199

Finally, a title I've been hearing a lot about these last couple weeks is The Tale of Two Mice: A Cat-and-Mouse Tale, written and illustrated by Ruth Brown. Part adorable story, part lift-the-flap, I can see why so many say this is a kid pleaser!

The reader is initially introduced to Billy and Bo, two mice living behind a baseboard in a huge old house. When the brothers run out of food, they have to go on an adventure through the house to stock back up on supplies. Billy is concerned they are being followed by an unwanted guest, but Bo just thinks Billy is crazy, seeing things where there is nothing. The end result is hilarious and will have kids giggling all over the place.

The lift-the-flaps are not so numerous that this couldn't be a good read aloud title, I would definitely recommend for story times. Kids love being in on the joke! Very funny, cute, and sweetly illustrated.

A Tale of Two Mice
Ruth Brown
32pages
Picture Book
Candlewick
December 2008
9780763640156

To learn more about any of the titles, or to purchase, click on any of the book covers to link to Amazon.

Reviewed by Carma Dutra, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers
Author and Illustrator: Sam Lloyd
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 20, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1416957960
ISBN-13: 978-1416957966

The story begins with Mr. Pusskins and Emily singing and thinking that life couldn’t get any better. One day, Mr. Pusskins’ world is shattered when his owner, Emily, brings home a fabulous surprise named Little Whiskers who happens to be a baby kitten! Mr. Pusskins doesn’t want a kitten around. He is perfectly happy being an only pet. However, Little Whiskers has other ideas as most young kittens do. Mr. Pusskins wants to send Little Whiskers a way ASAP. The plot thickens when Mr. Pusskins writes a letter “To whom it may concern,” to get rid of Little Whiskers. But Mr. Pusskins is accused of making hideous noises and of waking up Little Whiskers. Emily banishes Mr. Pusskins outside in the cold rain.

Author and illustrator Sam Lloyd does a marvelous job of depicting emotions with Mr. Pusskins’ big frowning eyes and his orange scruffy coat. In opposition, Little Whiskers is cute, small and white. This wonderful and funny story shows children that jealously can cause trouble while forgiveness has great rewards. As the end of the story says “And now life is perfect!” Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers is a great love story for the young set.

I read this story to my six year old granddaughter and she laughed out loud several times. This is what a picture book with good illustrations should be about. Lloyd’s illustrations cover the full page with a few that spread across two pages. Action words like BAM and CLUNK are drawn in broad black strokes and much larger than the text.

About the Author Sam Lloyd was born in the north of England, but migrated to sunny Brighton. She works on art projects with children at a local school, and paints large murals. Sam’s great passions range from swimming in the Brighton Sea and gardening to traveling to far parts of the world, where she has found much inspiration for her writing and illustrating of children’s books.

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Carma Dutra is a freelance writer and children’s writer. Get children’s writing tips and reviews of award winning books by visiting Carma’s Window. Download the free EBooks, Tips for Children’s Writers and Illustrators, and Unite to Write, a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory.