No More Yawning by Paeony Lewis, Illustrated by Brita Granstorm
So... I am not sure what to say about this title other than... I yawned. It was hard for me to determine a target audience for the title because of the difference between character appearance, actions and the listed bedtime of 7pm - and I am not sure about the message other than the parent's repetition of everything the little girl shouldn't be doing instead of going to sleep. There is some comfort to be had in the pattern and the creative ways that the girl takes the mother's advice so that it keeps her from going to sleep - almost Amelia Bedelia-esque. I tried this one out on my three year old son, Grady, and he was not impressed - I got the impatient flipping of pages about 4 pages in. Of course... not even Grady has to go to bed at 7, woe to me if I ever tried that one. The tips at the end are more for parents than children... but we appreciate all the help we can get with bedtime. Overall just sort of lackluster -
Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World by Julianna, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald Uhlich.
From the same father/daughter team that did
Owen and Mzee , this nonfiction title is easy to enjoy. Its not as bogged down in prose as the other title and students of many ages can enjoy the pictures as well as the informative text. The information at the back about the polar bear habitats and conservation are important, and presented in a kid friendly way. If nothing else, its hard to look at the pictures and not be anything but drawn in by the adorable face.
What Pet to Get by Emma Dodd
The plot and the progression remind me of at least a dozen other titles, but the illustrations are well done with each a humorous touch as the young boy imagines the impact of each type of pet. The mother/child relationship is loving and her patience limitless as her son goes through a seemingly exhaustive list of inappropriate household pets - and her reasons are practical and easy for children to imagine along with the son. The illustration on the last page is the best - and is sure to get lots of laughs from your audience.
Harriet Dancing by Ruth Symes and Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church
Overall, this was a so-so offering to me. The art is very colorful and playful - going right along with Harriet's playful and joyful personality. There is a message here about letting others play and having fun together, especially between different groups - as well as the value of a true friend. However, it might be a little heavy handed - even for the younger ones.
Zen Ties by John Muth
This is a follow up to Zen Shorts by the same author. The art is incredible - somehow peaceful and dreamlike but still with an aching clarity at times, particularly of the faces. I love the story - its timeless and the relationship between the elderly and children can be a hard subject to convey. I loved the word play, I just wonder how much of it children will pick up on.
