WHERE TO HIDE A STAR

 

 

By Oliver Jeffers 

 

(HarperCollins, 2024)

 

 

I have been a fan of Oliver Jeffers’ picture books since I discovered The Incredible Book Eating Boy which I read to countless classes and parent groups. (It’s one of the first picture books I blogged about.) That book celebrates an unorthodox love of books and a hunger for knowledge. (Yes, the title should be taken literally.) Since then, Jeffers has continued to produce whimsical, zany stories that always make me do a double take before a broad smile covers my face.

 

Where to Hide a Star is his latest amusing, satisfyingly off-kilter tale. It begins as the story of a boy and his two friends—a penguin and a star, naturally. (Yes, cue double take.) The boy and his friends love to play hide-and-seek, the boy always being It “as he was the only one who could count.” During one game, the star goes missing. Worried, the boy seeks help from a Martian (of course).

 

In the meantime, the star is discovered by a girl who, lo and behold, has always dreamed of befriending a star. When the boy shows up, it’s awkward. “They both wanted the star, but they didn’t want to make someone else unhappy.”

 

Precious. 

 

At this point, the story is similar to Jeffers’ This Moose Belongs to Me. But then it’s decided that the Martian will assist the star in hiding, the presumption being that whoever finds it shall claim primary friendship rights. 

 

I’ll leave you to discover the ending yourself.

 

At this point, Jeffers’ books are—to borrow a term stirred up from his Book Eating Boy days—comfort food. I always know I’m going to enjoy them. I love the familiarity of his simple illustration style with boxy bodies, stick figure appendages, and warm background colors. I know I’m going to read each book again, the first read focused on quirks, the follow-ups taking in the entire project, sometimes picking up a missed quirk. 

 

With Where to Hide a Star, Jeffers’ winning streak continues.

 

 

 

  

THE ROCK FROM THE SKY

By Jon Klassen

 

(Candlewick Press, 2021)

 

 

Jon Klassen, a wry humorist and talented illustrator who sticks to a muted palette, is perhaps best known for his picture book I Want My Hat Back. In The Rock from the Sky, he sticks with what he does so well. The book consists of five quick, comical tales that build on one another with a recurring cast that includes a turtle, an armadillo, a snake, a rock and an ominous creature from the future. 

 

All of the text is dialogue. Only the turtle and the armadillo speak, their parts distinguished by turtle’s lines appearing in black font while armadillo’s words are in gray. Each story moves quickly, the dialogue minimal, thus allowing the reader to spend extra time finding humor in the illustrations and inferring what is about to come, often as a surprise to the particularly unaware turtle. In looking at the scenes, I can’t help but wonder if Klassen grew up watching Looney Tunes cartoons featuring the Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. The rock seems a stand-in for the old cartoon’s oft-present Acme anvil. 

 

This book doesn’t have the surprise factor that we got when I Want My Hat Back made its debut. We know what to expect of Klassen. Still, the book will satisfy readers and viewers. 

PLEASE, MR. PANDA

By Steve Antony

(Scholastic Press, 2014)

When I began to read this book for the first time, I was alarmed. A doughnut-carrying panda seemed to be a not-too-distant cousin of Grumpy Cat.

Panda:     Would you like a doughnut?
Penguin:  Give me the pink one.
Panda:     No, you cannot have a doughnut.
                 I have changed my mind.

Oh, dear.

One by one, black and white critters--a skunk, an orca whale--are offered and then denied doughnuts. As an educator, I wondered why in the world anyone saw fit to publish this book. This gruff panda is not a proper role model. Bring back cutesy pandas!

But, of course, my shock was for naught. Perhaps I've become too accustomed to people who fail to practice good manners. As the book goes on, we see that panda is not a doughnut hog who lacks the ability to share; instead, panda is taking a stand for good manners. Of course! How lovely.

When I read the story aloud to a group of students, I can see them go through the same thoughts as I experienced: mean panda, greedy panda,...ah, but no. A principled panda! As students catch on, there is an implied wink shared between us.

Turns out this book is a delightful way to remind children of the power of "please".

SECRET PIZZA PARTY

Written by Adam Rubin

Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

(Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013)

Haven’t blogged in a while so why not kick things off again with a Pizza Party? I mean, really, who doesn’t love a pizza party? How many of us have been suckered into a day of moving sofas and tables with the promise of pizza as the reward? We could buy our own, making the phone call from our own very stationary sofa and having it delivered to our door, but that “free” pizza is quite the enticement.

It seems there is a certain raccoon that is as obsessed with that cheesy pie as I am. But, of course, pizza is not for raccoons. No. These critters are supposed to subsist on food remnants from trashed cobs of corn, discarded fruitcake and maybe, on a good night, a pizza crust punctured by human teeth marks. Such is the life of a wild thing.

Still, this little raccoon wishes for more. He stares longingly through the windows of pizzerias until he is unceremoniously shooed away by a guy with a broom. (Yeah, that’s happened to mean on occasion, too.)

The cheeky narrator gives the tormented raccoon an idea: Throw your own SECRET pizza party. Think about it—no battles with brooms and, gosh golly, things are always more fun when they are a secret. What a great idea!

But there are a few kinks to work out. Delivery guy must not discover where raccoon lives. Raccoon must be in disguise when walking in the pizzeria. And, being as raccoons don’t have wallets—or money, for that matter—there needs to be a quick getaway with the goods. (Is this theft, you may wonder as a conscientious reader wishing to instill proper values on a young audience? P-lease. Raccoon is a wild animal. This is part of all that survival of the fittest stuff. It is a slight tweak to those not-so-exciting food chain diagrams from science class. Get over it. Or read Goodnight Moon for the umpteenth time.)

Raccoon overcomes every obstacle. Pizza! At last! Still, it does not seem right. Raccoon’s pizza party is a solitary experience. The masked has one more pizza-driven adventure left. After all, whether you are hauling duct-taped recliner chairs or dodging dusty brooms, pizza tastes even better when you put in the extra effort.

This is the type of amusing picture book that can be enjoyed over and over again at bedtime. I have gone through this book many times and Raccoon becomes more endearing with each reading/viewing. As a creative team, Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri seem to be the perfect pairing (like (veggie) pepperoni and gobs of mozzarella). This is the follow-up to Dragons Love Tacos, their ode to another ideal snack food. (Yes, I still have to blog that one, but according to my cravings, pizza trumps tacos.)

I can’t wait to see what they cook up next!

SHARK VS. TRAIN

Written by Chris Barton

Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

(Little, Brown and Company, 2010)

Preposterous, right? Under what circumstances would a shark compete against a train? You only have to spend an hour with a couple of boys and a box full of toys to see the possibilities. Indeed, that is where the standoff begins in this book. Even before the title page, two boys rush to the toy box, one selecting the toy shark (“GRRRRR”), the other choosing the choo-choo (“CHUGRRR-CHUG”). It’s a battle to the finish...or until the next distraction comes along.

I love this clever, absurd book. It celebrates boys’ imaginations and the shenanigans that can only come from free, unstructured play. Shark and train compete in a variety of situations. Some favor the shark—the hot-air balloon ride, for example. Unfortunately, train is deadweight.

My favorite of Tom Lichtenheld’s illustrations portrays advantage train as the two characters roast marshmallows. The locomotive smiles contentedly—perhaps a tad smugly—as it browns the treat with its engine. By contrast, poor shark can’t keep a fire going as he keeps dripping over the kindling. “Drat” indeed!

The situations get even sillier—sword fighting on a tightrope, space travel—just the way children’s play evolves. Younger children will be drawn to the illustrations and the expressions on the toys’ faces. Older children will appreciate the edgier humor such as when shark dons a party hat, goes trick-or-treating and says to the person with a bowl of candy at the door, “This clown is very hungry.” Oh, my!

I am a huge fan of Tom Lichtenheld’s work. (By golly, my last post just so happens to be another picture book that he illustrated.) He gives the viewer a little something extra as train’s distinct little red caboose doesn’t always chug along so well with the rest of the procession. The caboose reminds me of the tiny cloud in his delightful Cloudette. And, yes, I will be looking for more from author Chris Barton. For now, I cannot wait to take Shark vs. Train on a tour as a read-aloud in classrooms at school.

It does not matter who wins these goofy battles between the two toys. The true winner is the reader.

HELLO MY NAME IS BOB

By Linas Alsenas

(Scholastic, 2009)

Nothing like a good laugh. There was a point midway through this book that I started to laugh at a ridiculous situation and the giggle fit took me through to the end. My dog was very concerned as was the couple parked beside me on the ferry. Why be embarrassed? Madness can be glorious.

This book takes on the familiar opposites attractfriendship theme. Bob is a straight and narrow bear. Nothing much happens to him. He confesses on the first page, “I should warn you, I’m very boring.” Risky move as a finicky seven-year-old might toss aside the book and return to his bubble wrap popping techno-gadget. (Okay, maybe that’s just my distraction of choice.)

As Bob falls asleep in a chair while reading a copy of Hello My Name Is Bob—risky, risky—a goofily grinning panda bear appears at the side of the page. Hmm. Perhaps Bob’s book won’t be a total snoozer.

Yes, Jack is a risk-taking panda who seeks adventure in every moment. Hot air balloon rides, rock band gigs, safaris...Jack goes for it. Meanwhile, Bob counts toothpicks and assumes his favorite pose—“Sitting’s great, isn’t it?”

After showcasing their differences on separate pages, author/illustrator Linas Alsenas brings the bears together. They are best friends despite their differences. Naturally, each bear has a different take on their shared experiences.

The page that started my giggle fit? The bears sit in a row boat on the bayou. Bob leans over the side, fascinated by a frog sitting—of course—on a lily pad. He is oblivious to Jack’s antics, using an oar to valiantly fend off a threatening crocodile. As implausible as the scene may be, it continues to amuse me.

Bob and Jack remind us there is a whole range of boys. For every player, there’s one who ponders. Whether you know a Bob or a Jack—or someone in between—Hello My Name Is Bob should captivate any young reader. I might suggest the reader/audience assume Bob’s favorite pastime (yes, sitting) at least for the duration of the reading. Even energized surfers need to take five after hanging ten.

GOOD BOY, FERGUS!

By David Shannon

(The Blue Sky Press, 2006)

There are many splendidly trained pooches.  Ones that sit, stay, heel and vacuum the living room.  These dogs have never been raised by me.  Or, presumably, by David Shannon.  The author/illustrator of the popular “David” books (e.g., No, David!; David Goes to School) has a West Highland terrier named Fergus who is as challenged by rules and expectations as dear David.

At the outset, Fergus charges out the door, in hot pursuit of a cat.  Fergus can’t get the cat and the owner can’t get Fergus.  Calling and coaxing do not work.

Okay, Fergie, time to go in.  Come here, Ferg.  C’mon boy.  FERGUS, COME!  Here Fergie, Fergie, Fergie!  FERGUS MacLAGGAN!  YOU COME HERE RIGHT NOW!  Please, Ferg.  Come on.  Let’s go, boy!

Whoo boy, you know someone’s going to be in the doghouse.  No treat for you, Ferg.  But, of course, charmer that little Fergus is, he gets the treat and the prime spot on the sofa.  Some dogs just know how to rule rather than follow rules.  Let the “smart” border collies dazzle with their obedience.  And let Good Boy, Fergus! Impress and reassure all the failed dog trainers out there. 

IT'S NOT FAIR!

Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

(HarperCollins, 2008)

I’m not sure children are the primary target of this picture book.  The inside cover is a faux legal complaint, filed in the Circuit Court of Fairness, alleging a “totally unfair cause of action” against Sibling No. 2 by Sibling No. 1.  The specifics?  A shared chocolate chip cookie halved by the defendant in a manner that showed a complete disregard for any common representation of one-half with the CLEARLY larger “half” consumed by defendant to the nutritional detriment of plaintiff.  

As a former lawyer, I loved this opening.  Children will pass it by and immediately yank another bedtime book off the shelf if a parent even attempts to read this humorous document aloud.

Further, what kid wants his oh-so-serious protestations of unfairness mocked with increasingly silly “Unfair!” whines in a work created by adults, the very sort of people who always—ALWAYS!—dismiss the aforementioned protestations?  Why would a reputable publisher like HarperCollins even publish such drivel?!  Let a child author chronicle common examples of unfairness without the smirky bias of older folks, beaten down by repeated “Too bad” dismissals of even older folks.

But, seriously, I do hope parents and teachers pick up a copy of this book,...maybe even forcing kids to pay attention, even as “unfair” allegations are made when the TV cord is unceremoniously unplugged.  Yes, it starts with a cookie, an aggrieved boy eyeing his teensy portion and saying, “Why’d I get the smaller half?”  We’ve all been there, haven’t we?  (I am compelled to add that life would be so much better if pizza makers learned how to cut equal slices!)

Each page depicts another example of unfairness, the episodes grouped in sets of two or three rhymed wrongs, followed by the oh-so-familiar “It’s not fair.”  To help you get the gist, here are the opening lines:

Why’d I get the smaller half?

Why’d he get the bigger laugh?

Why can’t I have a pet giraffe?

It’s not fair.

Save for the giraffe, the early examples are true to life, with complaints about going to bed too early, being on a losing team and getting sick on one’s birthday.  Everyone join in now:  It’s not fair!

But Amy Krouse Rosenthal helps the reader change from frowns to smiles as her examples become more ridiculous.  Why, yes, the concept of unfairness begins in the maternity ward as infants compare baby blankets.  Three-legged stools look enviously at four-legged chairs.  Even ring-less planets grouse about Saturn’s gift.   By the book’s end, there may be no resolution to the totally unfair cause of action, but it won’t matter.  Sometimes we can’t control everything.  Sometimes unfairness happens.  And, yes, sometimes the best approach is to laugh and move on. 

BIG BEAR HUG

By Nicholas Oldland

(Kids Can Press, 2009)

I chuckled several times reading this simple picture book.  As a writer, I often think about where other authors get their ideas and I have no trouble imagining that Nicholas Oldland’s creation arose from reflecting on the terms bear hugs and tree hugger.

Yes, why do we talk about bear hugs?  I’ve never seen grizzlies embrace on nature shows.  And, to my knowledge, bear hugs aren’t common features at petting zoos.  Oldland doesn’t question things; he just goes with it, introducing us to the ursine version of Leo Buscaglia. 

“Everywhere he wandered, the bear shared his love hug by hug.”

The photoshopped illustrations are priceless, as a bug-eyed rabbit, moose and skunk encounter the loving bear.  The story becomes more amusing when Oldland informs us that “what this bear loved to hug most were the trees.”  And there you have the merger:  quite literally, bear hugs from a tree hugger.

The tale takes another turn when the bear comes across a lumberjack, intent on chopping down the biggest tree in the forest.  What will be the bear’s natural reaction?

After reading Big Bear Hug, nature walks will never be the same.

THE OBSTINATE PEN

By Frank W. Dormer

(Henry Holt and Company, 2012)

WARNING:  You must have just the right sense of humor to appreciate this book, the kind of mind that delighted when Roald Dahl sucked Augustus Gloop up a chocolate chute and inflated Violet Beauregarde into a human blueberry.  I refer to Dahl because Frank Dormer’s goofy humor will bring to mind the twisted wit of Dahl and his drawings bare a resemblance to Dahl’s partner in childhood amusement, Quentin Blake.

Not since Frindle has a writing instrument received such focus in a book.  The story begins with Horace’s Uncle Flood unwrapping the prized pen.  The dutiful pen stands at attention atop a desk before Uncle Flood shoos Horace away, screeching, “I MUST HAVE SILENCE WHEN I WRITE!”

Ah, yes.  Another temperamental artist.  And so Uncle Flood sets out to write something astounding, beginning with:  The following story is all true.  But the pen crafts its own message on the paper:  “You have a BIG nose.”  Uncle Flood is aghast.  He tries to write his opening sentence again and again, but the pen only sees fit to write more insults about the writer’s eyes and hair.  Uncle Flood has no choice but to chuck the bold—yes, obstinate—pen out the window. 

This must be the real reason so many people succumb to writer’s block.

The adventures continue when the pen continues to speak its own mind as it comes into contact with Officer Wonkle and Glenda Weeble, as well as driver Druthers and the delightful Mrs. Norkham Pigeon-Smythe and her easily affronted dinner guests.  Eventually, the pen finds its way back to Horace.  What will the pen write when it finally lands in his hands?

I have yet to debut this book as a class read-aloud, but I know it will become a memorable piece of fiction.  (Yes, I’ll have to preface the reading with a talk about putdowns.  Please remember, pupils,...pens are not people.)  I can imagine following the reading with a goofy writing period wherein students create funny anecdotes with their own obstinate pens and pencils.  Naturally, there will have to be clear parameters established.  Still, I must confess that, as I writer, I find inspiration in this sometimes poisoned pen.  Too often, I want to take care of my characters, protecting them from awkward situations and precarious fates.  I need to take more chances and, if readers object, then I shall of course blame the pen. 

A LOOK BACK AT MY TEN TOP BOOK PICKS

I have now posted my thoughts on 100 books I think are worth reading.  More posts are on the way.  However, I am pausing to look back on my recommendations and to follow a pervasive trend that exists in society:  encapsulating ideas in a numbered list (e.g., Letterman’s Top 10, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, my neighbor’s Top 3 reasons for cranking up the pressure washer the moment I choose to have a Saturday afternoon nap). 

Herein, is my Top 10 list, an encore trumpeting of some outstanding books I have previously reviewed.  Initially, I felt a Top 3 would suffice, but that left out too much.  A list of ten proved difficult as well.  My draft list included nineteen titles and I felt guilty about the runners up that would have proudly appeared in a Top 30 or Top 70.  I am, after all, the type of person whose favorite book may vary depending on my mood, the amount of Vancouver rain during the week or what I’ve read most recently to an engaged audience.

Perhaps because the process proved so challenging, I have included links to other books I have recommended that I connect for one reason or another to The Chosen Ones.  I can’t imagine anyone having read all my posts, so this provides another opportunity to read my thoughts about books I strongly believe are worth sharing with boys...and girls.  I encourage you to go back and peruse the original posts.  Just click on the title to read my initial thoughts.  The blurbs below are written based on my lingering impressions of each book.

Trumpets ready?  French horns?  Oh, let’s shake things up and throw in a ukulele and a couple of kitchen pots and ladles.  Drum roll, please...

Number 10:       
365 PENGUINS

By Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet
(Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006)

Love the fact the book is oversized.  Love the odd color palette.  The book has an environmental message and contains all sorts of math that kids will enjoy spotting.  Forget the counting from 1 to 10 books.  Fromental and Jolivet go much bigger!  More than anything though, this is a silly story about always lovable penguins (at least, when they come in manageable groupings).

Other math-themed recommendations:  A MillionDots, Tale of a Great White Fish.

 

Number 9:         
SURPRISING SHARKS

Written by Nicola Davies
Illustrated by James Croft  
(Candlewick Press, 2003)

Here’s a book that presents nonfiction in a fun way. Sure, the topic is a perennial favorite, but Davies helps debunk the popular misrepresentation that all sharks are enormous beasts intent on terrorizing humans while an ominous score plays in the background. It’s been a hit every time I’ve read it to groups of kids. Give them the facts and make it fun. Davies has done just that.

More terrific information books:  Transformed, Where Does Pepper Come From?, Tale of a Great White Fish.

 

Number 8:         
SCAREDY SQUIRREL

By Mélanie Watt

(Kids Can Press, 2006)

For some, safety trumps adventure.  Scaredy Squirrel loves his routines, set in his familiar tree.  Danger lurks in the great beyond:  poison ivy, killer bees, green Martians and savage sharks (Note to Scaredy:  read book pick #7.).  Elaborate emergency plans must be made in case the dangers ever become a reality.  Poor Scaredy soon discovers, however, that sometimes you just can’t plan for the unexpected.  This book is guaranteed to amuse!

Other quirky, amusing book picks:  Yuck, A LoveStory, Let’s Do Nothing, Pssst!, Chester, Chicken Big, Straight to the Pole, The Stupids Die, The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, I’d Really Liketo Eat a Child.

Number 7:          
 THE DOT

By Peter H. Reynolds

(Candlewick Press, 2003)

I can view the book literally as encouragement toward my woeful abilities as a visual artist, but this book has a broader application.  It prods all of us to go ahead and try things, to be acknowledged and to set our own standards instead of comparing ourselves to others.  This book is truly inspirational.  Every time I have read it, the audience spontaneously applauds the message.

Other books that celebrate art:  The Art Fraud Detective, Augustine.

Other inspiring books:  Once Upon an OrdinarySchool Day, Superdog:  The Heart of aHero, The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley.

Number 6:         
 THING-THING

Written by Cary Fagan

Illustrations by Nicolas Debon

(Tundra Books, 2008)

This book is great fun to read aloud.  Fagan packs the picture book with a broad range of characters, allowing readers to create so many different voices to represent the crazed salesman, the nostalgic old lady and the nervous suitor who tries to garner the courage to blurt a marriage proposal.  More than anything, however, this is the story of an odd looking toy, unceremoniously rejected by a spoiled boy named Archibald Crimp, and Thing-Thing’s hopes that someone will accept and love him.  The illustrations and the toy’s floor-by-floor observations at the Excelsior Hotel make this story completely fresh and wholly memorable.

Other heartwarming books I recommend:  Big Wolf & Little Wolf, A Visitor for Bear, Otis, Toy Boat.

 

Number 5:         
THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATINGBOY

By Oliver Jeffers  
(Harper Collins, 2006)

If only it could work.  Get smart by eating books!  Feast on stacks of books—Mmm!  Found a red one!—and obliterate the competition on lucrative quiz shows!  Become brainier than your teacher!  (Kids typically gasp and say, “That’s impossible!”)  Of course, Henry’s book-eating ways go terribly wrong.  The tale captivates young readers and underscores the value of books.  Digesting facts just might not be such a literal endeavor.  The title lets us know this will be a goofy read.  Indeed, it is.  I am so thankful that we can be entertained by the zany mind of Oliver Jeffers!

Other books I’ve reviewed that celebrate literacy:  The Wonderful Book, Have I Got a Book forYou, We Are in a Book, It’s a Book, The Boy Who Loved Words, I Can Read with MyEyes Shut!, You’re Finally Here. 

Number 4:           
FLOTSAM

By David Wiesner

(Clarion Books, 2006)

An old camera washes up on the shore.  Whose is it?  This is an opportunity to discover so much more than a mere message in a bottle.  Here is a wordless picture book that can take an hour or more to “read”.  It reminds children of the importance of attending to pictures.  Wiesner is another creator with a truly unique mind.  I am in absolute awe of this masterpiece collection.  It is candy for the eyes.

Other wordless books I’ve recommended:  Why, Ship Ahoy!,  Imagine a Place (okay, it has words, but I prefer to pass my time gazing at the pictures).

Number 3:         
BUILDING

By Elisha Cooper  
(Greenwillow Books, 1999)

I would never have thought that such a plainly named book about erecting a building would  be so brilliant in terms of text, illustrations and layout.  With each reading, something different stands out in Cooper’s portrayal of the people and the process of building a structure on a vacant lot. 

More recommended books about how things are made:  If I Built a Car, Transformed, Angelo.

Number 2:         
SCRIBBLEVILLE

By Peter Holwitz

(Philomel Books, 2005)

I see so many ways to use this book in working with students, but more than anything, this book is pure entertainment.  For me, it is a treasure that I only discovered by browsing the bookshelves in a library.  As transformed in the story, Scribbleville is the kind of enlightened place where I’d love to live.  And how true that the first people to show acceptance are the children...and a teacher.  You must track down this title!

Other great books about differences:  DavidGoes to School, The Shy Creatures, The Boy Who Loved Words, Nothing Like aPuffin, Chicken Big, I’m Not, Metropolitan Cow.

Number 1:         
 BIRD

Written by Zetta Elliott                 

Illustrated by Shadra Strickland

(Lee and Low Books, 2008)

I love dining on green eggs and (veggie) ham, imagining where the wild things are and fretting over a bus-driving pigeon, but Bird is a picture book that shows us how deep picture books can go, addressing complex subject matter like drug addiction, death and dreams.  The book shatters stereotypes and assumptions we make about drug users and reminds us that some who possess a core of goodness may still go astray.  Strickland’s illustrations are exquisite and Elliott’s story will linger with you.  If I could only keep one book (and thank goodness I am not faced with such a ludicrous predicament), this would be it.  Thank you, Shadra.  Thank you, Zetta.

If you like this, you might also be interested in these books about social issues: Way Home, Riding the Tiger, The Boy from the Sun and Shin-Chi’s Canoe.

DON’T FORGET TO COME BACK!

Written by Robie H. Harris

Illustrated by Harry Bliss

(Scholastic, 2004)

Some reading makes us think.  It loads us down with new ideas, transforms us.  This is not such a book.  Good thing, too.  Don’t Forget to Come Back! is a breezy read to make you smile.  Sometimes reading should solely be about the pleasure of being entertained. 

The story is easily relatable—Mom and Dad ready for a night out as their child (alternately referred as Pumpkin and Sugar) does everything in her power to convince them to stay or, at the very least, take her with them.  Logic (“I am NOT a baby”) doesn’t work.  Scare tactics (“if you go out tonight, the biggest baddest moose will walk into the kitchen—and eat me up”) also fail.  Through all the girl’s dramatic turns, Mom and Dad calmly continue to get ready.  And, yes, they actually do go out.

Sugar Pumpkin is left with Sarah the babysitter.  Thankfully, the story doesn’t drift into horror or some kind of cockamamie wild adventure.  Save that for movies.  The tale continues to quietly amuse.  Sarah reads The Bad Boyfriend:  A Novel as Sugar Pumpkin considers adding peanut butter and pickles to her slice of pizza.  They paint their nails, with SP incidentally creating a Jackson Pollock knockoff on her foot.  Turns out a night out for Mom and Dad isn’t so bad for anyone.

I pulled this book off a shelf after eying the cover.  I am a big Harry Bliss fan.  His illustrations need to be savored as he adds humorous touches.  In addition to the toenail splatter painting, he invents a new cereal (Cherry Glows), a Frankenstein lamp, and a memorable image of makeup abuse.  My favorite pictures, however, involve the menacing moose.  The speech bubbles, presumably by Robie Harris, contain just enough to enhance the narrative.

If you have a young one, Don’t Forget to Come Back! might be the perfect read before your next night on the town.  Just hide the nail polish.

HOW TO BE A GOOD DOG

By Gail Page

(Bloomsbury, 2006)

Confession: I love dogs. When I gazed at the title of this book, I (correctly) assumed this had to be a tongue-in-cheek reading. All dogs are good. (Some owners...not so much.)

When I bought the book, I still had Lincoln, my behaviorally challenged but nonetheless wonderful pooch. Independent minded, he did not respond to training. He knew the treats would come eventually, whether he shook a paw (for no discernible purpose) or not. I was the one who had to adapt. He would just be a dog. Let Fido or Rex be the circus animal. I tried reading the book to Lincoln, but he lost interest and resumed barking enthusiastically at the bushes in the back yard.

I have read How to Be a Good Dog many times to young audiences and we always bond in laughter over Bobo, the goofy white dog whose exuberance makes his good intentions lead to disastrous results. His antics cause him to be banished to the doghouse by Mrs. Birdhead, his human companion. (“Owner” seems so improper; dogs are family members, not property.)

Cat, initially relieved to be rid of the canine, finds that life in the house just isn’t the same without Bobo. Thus, Cat teaches Bobo how to be good. Through Gail Page’s clever acrylic illustrations, we see how Cat teaches Bobo standard dog commands; their interpretations of heel and roll over will get an audience giggling. It’s all silly fun.

When you read a simple picture book many times, you can still pick up new details. I recall a student being perplexed by Mrs. Birdhead who, naturally, has a bird on her head. However, this is the first time I followed the bird from page to page to see the bird’s actions and reactions. More silliness. Normally, I’m too entertained by Bobo to bother with the other characters.

Before, during and after reading How to Be a Good Dog, children will share all sorts of personal stories about all sorts of pets. As they make connections about their dogs, frogs and pet rocks, you’ll connect more with the children. Be a Good Reader and track down Good Dog.

NOTHING LIKE A PUFFIN

Written by Sue Soltis

Illustrated by Bob Kolar

(Candlewick Press, 2011)

Dogs, cats, men, women, Mars, Venus, animal, vegetable, mineral...we spend much of our time categorizing and pointing out the differences in objects and beings. As the title suggests, Nothing Like a Puffin begins this way. A ladder is nothing like a puffin. Neither is a house.

But then the lines start to blur. A newspaper cannot be like a puffin. Hey, wait! Both are black and white. Sue Soltis strikes a wry, conversational tone as her text gasps, “What are the chances? A newspaper is something like a puffin, after all.” Golly, gee!

Well, that must have been an odd blip. There are always exceptions. But, really, aside from a newspaper, there is nothing like a puffin. Hey, wait! (Again?) Yes, as the puffin drifts from page to page, it turns out that commonalities can be drawn between puffins and all kinds of things. Shucks. Maybe a puffin isn’t special at all. Or, ahem, maybe it is.

Gosh, how utterly confusing! Reminds me of the first time I had to complete a Venn diagram or the first time I read fiery pro and con letters to the editor about Canada’s policy of multiculturalism. Of course, Soltis and Kolar make the examination of similarities and differences so much more fun. I can smile, even laugh, and totally avoid the bottle of Tylenol.

Bob Kolar’s digital illustrations are vibrant and cheerful with many of the images reminding me of the cut-out art of Henri Matisse. Yes, the clouds, the puffin’s wings and even its tail are just like Matisse’s cut-out creations. But wait! The ladder and the human figures are nothing like Matisse’s cut-outs. Well, they are brightly colored, too. Similarities, differences,...it’s all a matter of degree.

It just dawned on me that apples and oranges may also have more in common than what distinguishes them. Wow. I feel another headache coming on. Let me just back up, dive back into Nothing Like a Puffin and enjoy it for its considerable entertainment value.

LET'S DO NOTHING!

By Tony Fucile

(Candlewick Press, 2009)

Bored. So bored.

Maybe it’s pouring rain on the day you’d planned to dig a hole to China. Maybe it’s dinnertime and you’re stuck at the table as Uncle Howard and Aunt Beatrice provide every detail about their visit to DoilyWood. (Please tell me there is no such place.) Maybe you’re stuck with your mom in a shoe store as she narrows things down to forty-six pairs of black high heels she’d like to try on to go with the black dress she finally picked on this same never-ending shopping excursion.

Yep. We’ve all been there. Bored.

Nothing to do. Doing nothing.

It’s all out of our control.

But author/illustrator Tony Fucile adds a twist. What if we take control and actually try to do nothing?

Frankie and Sal are best buds who embark on a quest for the zen of true nothingness. Sal’s the director. He sets the scene. Frankie is the well-intentioned boy whose overactive imagination sabotages nothing (or everything).

First up, Sal suggests they sit like statues in a park. Sit. Sit. Not a sound. Sit. Not a movement. Sit. Doing nothing is easy! But then Frankie envisions pigeons at the park, scanning the ground for worms, seeds and melting clomps from roadkill ice cream cones. (Okay, some of that arises from my imagination.) One at a time, the birds perch on one of the statues. Statue Frankie, naturally. Soon Frankie is covered by flapping, fluttering birds. How can anyone stand it?!

Ahhhh! Shoo!

Oops. Frankie did something.

Sal, of course, decides upon another scenario. And Frankie, of course, gamely joins in. Nothing happens. Until, of course, something happens.

Tony Fucile, a Disney animator, creates memorable images of the two main characters. Frankie, in particular, is endearingly drawn with a Barney Rubble tuft of blond hair, a too snug, too short shirt and prominent spectacles. The layout is also refreshing as the story begins immediately. No need to flip past a title page. That feature appears only after the text and pictures build up to Sal’s grand idea: “Let’s Do Nothing!”

This is an incredibly amusing book that everyone who has ever failed at The Silent Game will totally relate to. We like Sal and his creative scene-setting ideas, but Frankie steals the show. (Oh, and maybe Sal’s tiny dog who tunes out the boys and demonstrates what doing nothing is all about.)

Simple, yet brilliant concept. Add Fucile to the list of children’s book creators of whom I am absolutely envious.

ME HUNGRY!

By Jeremy Tankard 

 

(Candlewick Press, 2008) 

Roar! Grr! 

 

Sometimes when me hungry, me act like caveman. Me want food. Me want food now! 

 

Yes, Jeremy Tankard’s amusing picture book captures the primeval instincts that surface when the stomach churns. Caveboy Edwin (yes, Edwin) announces to his preoccupied parents, “Me hungry!” 

They each respond, “Me busy!” 

And so the caveboy sets off on his own hunting mission. 

Not sure that rabbits and porcupines were around in prehistoric times, but this book is not about factual authenticity. It’s a tasty reading snack, not to be intensely analyzed. 

Tankard uses ink and digital media to create simple images with barren, monochromatic backgrounds which I assume are intended to set a primitive tone. Told in simple one-, two- and three-word sentence chunks befitting cavemen, young readers will delight in repeating the phrases. 

Parents may, however, have to caution their children when heading to grandma’s for Sunday dinner. Bold statements like “Me hungry!” may come off as utterly barbaric in certain settings. 

 

Cautionary remarks aside, me like Me Hungry!

THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG

Written by Eugene Trivizas

Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

(Heinemann Young Books, 1993)

My grandmother once shocked me by saying, “Nothing is silly. Silly is stupid.” No doubt she blurted that in a moment of exasperation as I stuffed pickles in my nose and tried to speak Duck. Still, her words have always troubled me. How could she miss out? After all, sometimes silly was uproariously funny. You just have to be in the right mindset.

And how I’d love to have been in Eugene Trivizas’s mind as he created The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig! If you are going to turn a fairly tale on its head, by all means, go all out. Mission accomplished. The title, of course, reveals the twist, but it’s the details that transform this story into its own cherished classic.

As the wolves venture into the world on their own, they stumble upon a kangaroo pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks. Naturally! And how lucky! Everyone knows that kangaroos are only too happy to give away all that they cart around in their wheelbarrows. All one has to do is ask. (Politely, of course.)

The wolves are indeed sweet, civilized things. They play croquet and enjoy afternoon tea. How dare a dirty, rotten pig mess with them! Big pig huffs and puffs when he comes upon the wolves’ new home, a quaint brick abode on the edge of the forest. We know from the original fairy tale that huffing plus puffing does not equal a mound of bricks in the rubble. However, big pig, being despicable and cunning, returns with a sledgehammer to destroy the home and send the cute, furry wolves a-running with only their coveted teapot in paw. (Yes, these wolves, know what is important.)

I shan’t give away more of the plot, but I am willing to bet my grandmother would have tossed the book aside by the time she got to the part with the flamingo. Silly? Stupid? Ah, come on. It’s pure joy!