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By: Mayra Calvani,
on 11/24/2011
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: christmas picture books, frederico the mouse violinist, violin music, doll, Add a tag
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 11/18/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Melissa Sweet, Christmas picture books, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, Tony Sarg, Balloons Over Broadway, Add a tag
When my daughter was growing up, we lived a hop, skip, and a jump from the Museum of Natural History. That was great just in itself, but it also meant that every Thanksgiving we were at the starting point for the Macy's parade. My daughter was less than a week old when I bundled her up and took her to the parade. She spent the entire time gazing at my face, but still I felt like a real parent for the first time. As she grew, we usually skipped the parade. It was soooo crowded that we watched it on TV. But we still had our traditions. On Wednesday night we'd go to the museum grounds, where workers would be blowing up the balloons for the big day. It was fun to wander up and down the streets and see our favorites as they filled with helium and magically came to life. Of course, eventually word got out and that too became soooo crowded.
Balloons Over Broadway takes me back to those days. This amazing picture book tells the story of how Tony Sarg, a puppeteer, came to invent the gigantic balloons that are the hallmark of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Like many icons, the balloons just always seemed to exist, so kudos to Melissa Sweet for unearthing how they developed from blimp-like rubber balloons carried on wooden sticks to the soaring helium-filled wonders of today.
Melissa Sweet, a Caldecott Honor winner, obviously threw herself into this book. The artwork, a combination of watercolor illustrations and collages made from found objects, fabrics, and handmade puppets, exude the creativity and love of play that Sarg devoted his life to. In an authors note, Sweet tells us that she "played with all sorts of materials, not knowing exactly what the outcome would be." The end result shows that it was time well spent.
The book concludes with additional info about Tony Sarg, as well as a bibliography. The back end papers feature a 1933 advertisement from the New York Times, touting the upcoming parade. Among the "helium filled monsters" is one I would give anything to see: "The Colicky Kid: Listen to him squall!! He's mad. He's bad. He yowls bloody murder!"
And head on over to Sweet's website to view her Balloons Over Broadway activity kit. It has fun templates of puppets for kids (or anybody) to make.
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
by Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin, 40 pages
Published: November 2011
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 8/2/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Christmas picture books, Bone Dog, halloween, Eric Rohmann, Add a tag
One of the rules I live by is not to read anything in which a dog dies, and that includes picture books. I made an exception for Bone Dog, by Caldecott medalist Eric Rohmann. Ella, an old dog, tells Gus, the boy who loves her, that she won't be around much longer. "But no matter what happens, I'll always be with you," she promises. How Ella keeps her promise is the charm behind this picture book, perfect for Halloween, or any old day.
Although the book might be scary for some young readers (a skeleton crew ambushes Gus in a cemetery), on the whole humor dominates, as when the skeletons tell Gus, "You've got guts kid...but not for long." And the ending message, that a dog's loyalty knows no bounds, is ultimately reassuring. Rohmann's signature style of dark outlines underscores the dramatic cemetery setting and is guaranteed to send shivers up readers' spines. Don't wait for Halloween for this one, check it out now.
Bone Dog
by Eric Rohmann
Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages
Published: July, 2011
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 1/7/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Otto Autobiography of a Teddy Bear, World War II, Tomi Ungerer, Christmas picture books, Add a tag
"No one, I dare say, no one was as original."
--Maurice Sendak
"He never lost the feeling of how a child sees the world. And a child's view is not really sentimental."
--Burton Pike, professor of comparative literature at CUNY
"The most famous children's book author you have never heard of."
--Phaidon Press
Who do the above quotes refer to? None other than Tomi Ungerer, one of my all-time favorite authors. I was an Ungerer fan as a child, poring over my tattered copies of The Three Robbers and Emile again and again. As an adult I came across The Beast of Monsieur Racine and fell in love with this exuberant story about a retired tax collector whose life is changed forever when he finds two young friends where he least expected. Read the book. It's one of my top 10 favorite picture books.
Many of Ungerer's books are now out of print. (One reason he fell out of favor here was his not-so-secret hobby of erotica.) Luckily, Phaidon Press is in the process of reprinting 26 of his titles. The latest is Otto: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear. Originally published in German in 1999, the picture book tackles a disturbing subject, World War II. Like all of Ungerer's work, the book doesn't shy away from the gory realities of war and what happens to soldiers and to civilians, children included.
Otto, the teddy bear of the title, tells the story of his life, beginning with his creation in a toy workshop in Germany in the 1930s. Not one to shun unpleasant truths, Otto admits that being stitched together "was quite painful." Given as a birthday present to David, a young Jewish boy, Otto spends blissful day playing with the boy and his best friend, Oskar, who is not Jewish. Then things begin to change. David must wear a yellow star on his jacket. Next he and his family are taken away. In a moving illustration, David hands over Otto to Oskar for safekeeping. Interestingly, Oskar is the one who looks upset and is crying, not David.
During wartime, Oskar's building is bombed and Otto is sent flying. Again, the illustration of the carnage, with the bodies of dead soldiers, is unsparing. He's picked up by an American soldier, thereby saving the soldier's life when a bullet hits them both. (Quibble: Could a stuffed teddy bear be enough of a buffer?) The soldier takes Otto home and gives him to his daughter. Loved again, Otto enjoys being pampered until he's snatched from the girl's arms by "three nasty boys" and finally ends up in a trash can. An old woman rescues him and bring him to an antique shop, where he stays in the window for many years. One rainy night, an old man spots him. Yes, dear reader, it's David, the original owner, who survived the war (although his parents didn't). David takes him home, and the story is written up in the newspaper, which leads to Oskar (another survivor) contacting David, and the three friends are reunited.
Despite the involved plot, the text for Otto is relatively straightforward, although there are a few vocabulary words to chew over, such as "indelible," "charred rubble," and "mascot." Would a Level 3 reader be able to get through the book by herself. Yes. Should she? No. A trusted adult's presence is strongly recommended, as a child is bound to have many questions. The illustrations, as with all of Ungerer's work, are amazing. Done in soft watercolors, they can be playful (as when David and Oskar dress Otto as a ghost and dangle him in front of a neighbor's window), touching (Oskar saying
By: Mayra Calvani,
on 11/10/2010
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: christian children's books, christmas picture books, cheryl malandrinos, baby jesus is missing, little shepherd, Add a tag
Obed's father decides they must go to Bethlehem to find this newborn babe. Obed, however, is terrified. How can they even consider leaving the flock alone at the mercy of the starving wolves? His father tells him not to be afraid, but Obed is doubtful. Will his flock be safe in his absence? That will require a miracle!
The Little Shepherd is a 'cozy' picture book to read by the fire with the family this holiday season, especially on Christmas night. The author's prose flows beautifully, with just the right balance of narration, description and dialogue. It is a sweet tale about the power of faith and the good things that come with it. The story has a quiet, magical, slightly suspenseful tone and looks at the birth of Jesus from a different angle. I also enjoyed the colorful illustrations by Eugene E. Ruble. They do have a distintive style and add a splash of color on the pages and help transport the reader to a different time and place. In short, Little Shepherd will make a lovely gift to any child this Christmas. It will also be a worthy addition to any library or classroom shelf. I look forward to this talented author's next book.
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By: Writing for Children,
on 12/21/2008
Blog: The National Writing for Children Center (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: books for kids, Amy M. OQuinn, Christmas picture books, Grinch, Book review, Dr. Seuss, Add a tag
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By: Mayra Calvani,
on 11/24/2011
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: christmas picture books, frederico the mouse violinist, violin music, doll, Add a tag
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 11/18/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Melissa Sweet, Christmas picture books, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, Tony Sarg, Balloons Over Broadway, Add a tag
Balloons Over Broadway takes me back to those days. This amazing picture book tells the story of how Tony Sarg, a puppeteer, came to invent the gigantic balloons that are the hallmark of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Like many icons, the balloons just always seemed to exist, so kudos to Melissa Sweet for unearthing how they developed from blimp-like rubber balloons carried on wooden sticks to the soaring helium-filled wonders of today.
Melissa Sweet, a Caldecott Honor winner, obviously threw herself into this book. The artwork, a combination of watercolor illustrations and collages made from found objects, fabrics, and handmade puppets, exude the creativity and love of play that Sarg devoted his life to. In an authors note, Sweet tells us that she "played with all sorts of materials, not knowing exactly what the outcome would be." The end result shows that it was time well spent.
The book concludes with additional info about Tony Sarg, as well as a bibliography. The back end papers feature a 1933 advertisement from the New York Times, touting the upcoming parade. Among the "helium filled monsters" is one I would give anything to see: "The Colicky Kid: Listen to him squall!! He's mad. He's bad. He yowls bloody murder!"
And head on over to Sweet's website to view her Balloons Over Broadway activity kit. It has fun templates of puppets for kids (or anybody) to make.
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
by Melissa Sweet
Houghton Mifflin, 40 pages
Published: November 2011
1 Comments on Balloons Over Broadway, last added: 11/21/2011
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By: Catherine Nichols,
on 8/2/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Christmas picture books, Bone Dog, halloween, Eric Rohmann, Add a tag
Although the book might be scary for some young readers (a skeleton crew ambushes Gus in a cemetery), on the whole humor dominates, as when the skeletons tell Gus, "You've got guts kid...but not for long." And the ending message, that a dog's loyalty knows no bounds, is ultimately reassuring. Rohmann's signature style of dark outlines underscores the dramatic cemetery setting and is guaranteed to send shivers up readers' spines. Don't wait for Halloween for this one, check it out now.
Bone Dog
by Eric Rohmann
Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages
Published: July, 2011
4 Comments on Bone Dog, last added: 8/4/2011
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By: Catherine Nichols,
on 1/7/2011
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Otto Autobiography of a Teddy Bear, World War II, Tomi Ungerer, Christmas picture books, Add a tag
--Maurice Sendak
"He never lost the feeling of how a child sees the world. And a child's view is not really sentimental."
--Burton Pike, professor of comparative literature at CUNY
"The most famous children's book author you have never heard of."
--Phaidon Press
Who do the above quotes refer to? None other than Tomi Ungerer, one of my all-time favorite authors. I was an Ungerer fan as a child, poring over my tattered copies of The Three Robbers and Emile again and again. As an adult I came across The Beast of Monsieur Racine and fell in love with this exuberant story about a retired tax collector whose life is changed forever when he finds two young friends where he least expected. Read the book. It's one of my top 10 favorite picture books.
Many of Ungerer's books are now out of print. (One reason he fell out of favor here was his not-so-secret hobby of erotica.) Luckily, Phaidon Press is in the process of reprinting 26 of his titles. The latest is Otto: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear. Originally published in German in 1999, the picture book tackles a disturbing subject, World War II. Like all of Ungerer's work, the book doesn't shy away from the gory realities of war and what happens to soldiers and to civilians, children included.
Otto, the teddy bear of the title, tells the story of his life, beginning with his creation in a toy workshop in Germany in the 1930s. Not one to shun unpleasant truths, Otto admits that being stitched together "was quite painful." Given as a birthday present to David, a young Jewish boy, Otto spends blissful day playing with the boy and his best friend, Oskar, who is not Jewish. Then things begin to change. David must wear a yellow star on his jacket. Next he and his family are taken away. In a moving illustration, David hands over Otto to Oskar for safekeeping. Interestingly, Oskar is the one who looks upset and is crying, not David.
During wartime, Oskar's building is bombed and Otto is sent flying. Again, the illustration of the carnage, with the bodies of dead soldiers, is unsparing. He's picked up by an American soldier, thereby saving the soldier's life when a bullet hits them both. (Quibble: Could a stuffed teddy bear be enough of a buffer?) The soldier takes Otto home and gives him to his daughter. Loved again, Otto enjoys being pampered until he's snatched from the girl's arms by "three nasty boys" and finally ends up in a trash can. An old woman rescues him and bring him to an antique shop, where he stays in the window for many years. One rainy night, an old man spots him. Yes, dear reader, it's David, the original owner, who survived the war (although his parents didn't). David takes him home, and the story is written up in the newspaper, which leads to Oskar (another survivor) contacting David, and the three friends are reunited.
Despite the involved plot, the text for Otto is relatively straightforward, although there are a few vocabulary words to chew over, such as "indelible," "charred rubble," and "mascot." Would a Level 3 reader be able to get through the book by herself. Yes. Should she? No. A trusted adult's presence is strongly recommended, as a child is bound to have many questions. The illustrations, as with all of Ungerer's work, are amazing. Done in soft watercolors, they can be playful (as when David and Oskar dress Otto as a ghost and dangle him in front of a neighbor's window), touching (Oskar saying
5 Comments on Otto: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear, last added: 1/11/2011
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By: Mayra Calvani,
on 11/10/2010
Blog: Mayra's Secret Bookcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: christian children's books, christmas picture books, cheryl malandrinos, baby jesus is missing, little shepherd, Add a tag
I love reviewing Christmas children's books during this time of year, and it is my great pleasure to showcase Little Shepherd on my blog today.
Anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be entered in a giveaway for a lovely basket of Christmas themed gifts retailing for $65. This giveaway is international. Please leave your email address so we can contact you!
My review
On a cold night outside of Bethlehem, a little shepherd named Obed watches over his sheep. Now five, Obed has his own flock to guard. He's proud that his father has entrusted him with such responsibility. After all, his family depends on the sheep for food and clothing. But little Obed is also worried about the wolves and so he keeps a sharp eye on his flock.
Then one night, a bright light shimmers in the star-filled night. Angels come with a message, a message of good things to come for everyone on earth.
“Do not be afraid,” the angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Obed's father decides they must go to Bethlehem to find this newborn babe. Obed, however, is terrified. How can they even consider leaving the flock alone at the mercy of the starving wolves? His father tells him not to be afraid, but Obed is doubtful. Will his flock be safe in his absence? That will require a miracle!
The Little Shepherd is a 'cozy' picture book to read by the fire with the family this holiday season, especially on Christmas night. The author's prose flows beautifully, with just the right balance of narration, description and dialogue. It is a sweet tale about the power of faith and the good things that come with it. The story has a quiet, magical, slightly suspenseful tone and looks at the birth of Jesus from a different angle. I also enjoyed the colorful illustrations by Eugene E. Ruble. They do have a distintive style and add a splash of color on the pages and help transport the reader to a different time and place. In short, Little Shepherd will make a lovely gift to any child this Christmas. It will also be a worthy addition to any library or classroom shelf. I look forward to this talented author's next book.
Little Shepherd is available from:
25 Comments on Review and Giveaway of Little Shepherd, by Cheryl G. Malandrinos, last added: 11/13/2010
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By: Writing for Children,
on 12/21/2008
Blog: The National Writing for Children Center (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: books for kids, Amy M. OQuinn, Christmas picture books, Grinch, Book review, Dr. Seuss, Add a tag
Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center
Title: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Written and Illustrated by: Dr. Seuss
Hardback: 64 pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (October 12, 1957)
ISBN-10: 0394800796
ISBN-13: 978-0394800790
While perhaps not a classic in the traditional sense of the word, How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, is definitely a beloved Christmas book in modern culture. How many of us haven’t enjoyed the story of the mean old Grinch and his nasty plans to steal Christmas from the residents of Who-ville? And how about little Cindy Lou Who? And, of course, the signature illustrations by Dr. Seuss are familiar to us all!
In the rhyming style of Dr. Seuss, this book tells about a stingy soul who hates Christmas and despises anything at all that brings holiday joy and cheer to others. So he (the Grinch) comes up with a spiteful plan to take all the gifts, decorations, Christmas trees, and food from the happy people of Who-ville. He dresses as Santa, transforms his dog, Max, into a ‘reindeer’, hitches him up to a ramshackle sleigh and heads to Who-ville. In the cover of darkness, he goes down the chimney of each home and steals anything and everything to do with Christmas. He doesn’t even leave crumbs big enough for a mouse!
In one home, however, little Cindy Lou Who wakes up and asks the Grinch why he’s taking all their Christmas. The mean old Grinch even deceives the child, and he tells her he’s taking the tree to fix a broken light. What a bitter, sly, critter he is! However, he doesn’t care as he hauls all ‘the presents, the ribbons, the wrappings, the tags, the tinsel, the trimmings, and trappings’…and even the logs from the fireplaces up the side of Mt. Crumpit! He thinks he’s stolen Christmas from all the Whos!
But suddenly he hears something and pauses! ‘Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!’ The Grinch is confused.
Then the Grinch has a revelation! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps….means a little bit more!” And at that moment, as the residents of Who-ville will say ‘the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!’ So he brings everything back and ends up celebrating Christmas with the residents of Who-ville!
In a nonsensical way, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, really pegs the true meaning of the season. It’s not the presents, the decorations, the special food, or the Christmas tree that matters. It’s the heart! So for a special treat, be sure to grab this book off the shelf to share with your family this holiday season.
********
Amy M. O’Quinn is a pastor’s wife and former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six. She is also a freelance writer who enjoys jotting down ideas around the fringes of family life. She specializes in non-fiction, and her work has been published or acquired by magazines including Jack and Jill, US Kids, Guideposts for Kids, Learning Through History Magazine, Highlights, GEORGIA Magazine, Homeschooling Today, International Gymnast, etc. She is also a product/curriculum/book reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and a regular columnist for TEACH Magazine. The O’Quinns live on the family farm in rural south Georgia. You can find Amy’s blog, Ponderings From Picket Fence Cottage, at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
Amy M. OQuinn, books for kids, Christmas picture books, Dr. Seuss, Grinch
1 Comments on The 12 Days of Christmas & Other Winter Holiday Picture Books for Kids - Day 10, last added: 12/22/2008
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Thanks for an informative review, the links, and for sharing your memories!