Posts tagged Jon Klassen

Tracey’s Dozen (or so) Favorite 2012 Picture Books

December 25, 2012 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

First of all, a very merry Christmas greeting from the bloggers at Mackin Books in Bloom.  We hope that you are enjoying the holiday season with your friends and family!

I thought about asking my fellow blog writers if I could do a “Favorite 100 Picture Books of 2012,” but I figured they would just roll their eyes at me.  Picture books are the hardest for me to narrow down, because I love them so much.  I couldn’t even get this “Top 10” list down to a dozen.  Could you?

HappyIt's a TigerMore

Happy by Mies Van Hout.  9781935954149. 2012. PS-1.

Children are often confused by any emotions beyond happy, sad, mad, and bored.  The expressions on the brightly colored fish in this picture book go beyond these basic feelings, showing kids how they look when they are nervous, shy, furious, brave, confused, astonished, and more.  Click here to find other picture books on emotions.

It’s a Tiger!Mackin Picks by David LaRochelle (ill by Jeremy Tankard).  9780811869256. 2012. PS-1.

As the young narrator tells a story of a walk in the jungle, suddenly a tiger jumps out!  He tries to hide, but—there’s the tiger again!  No matter where he tries to hide, the tiger is there.  Will he get eaten?  This funny, interactive picture book shows that you shouldn’t make assumptions.

MoreMackin Picks by I.C. Springman (ill by Brian Lies).  9780547610832. 2012. PS-2.

If having something is good, then getting several is better, right?  And having lots is even nicer.  But what if you get a bit much?  A magpie thinks he needs more and more—until he ends up with way too much. Thank goodness he has little friends to teach him a lesson that is good for all of us to learn.

This Is Not My HatThis Moose Belongs to MeMinette's Feast

This Is Not My HatMackin Picks by Jon Klassen.  9780763655990. 2012. PS-2.

A tiny fish has just stolen the hat from a big fish, but he’s not worried.  The big fish is sleeping and probably won’t wake for a long time; and when he does, he won’t notice that his hat is missing, and if he does notice, he won’t know who took it or where he is hiding…and on and on.  But the pictures show that the big fish does wake up and he DOES notice that his hat is missing—and the little fish is about to get his comeuppance.

This Moose Belongs to MeMackin Picks by Oliver Jeffers.  9780399161032. 2012. PS-2.

Wilfred has a pet moose named Marcel.  And since Wilfred prefers things to be just so, he has a lot of rules for his pet.  Marcel is not always so good at following all the rules, unless there are apples involved.  Though Wilfred thinks the moose is his, the moose has other ideas, and when they meet up with a lady who claims that “Rodrigo” is her moose, Marcel stays with her (she has an apple).  What will Wilfred do without his pet—and friend?

Minette’s Feast : The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat by Susanna Reich (ill by Amy Bates).  9781419701771. 2012. PS-2.

While Julia Child and her husband were living in Paris, she adopted a cat and named her Minette.  As Julia practiced her cooking skills, she would offer left-overs to Minette.  (Sweet!) Though Minette enjoyed these treats, her preferences ran to other tasty things—like freshly-caught mice and birds!  This cat’s-eye view of the famous chef includes an author’s note.

Birthday for BearDog in ChargeZ Is for Moose

A Birthday for Bear by Bonnie Becker (ill by Kady MacDonald Denton).  9780763658236. 2012. PS-2.

Bear refuses to acknowledge his birthday. (Does anyone else have this problem?)  But Mouse is determined that Bear will celebrate it.  First Mouse tries a fake birthday invitation, then he pretends to be a balloon deliveryman and a postman with a birthday card.  Even when Santa comes down the chimney with a present, Bear insists, “I DO NOT LIKE BIRTHDAYS!”  But can he resist that present?

Dog in Charge by K.L. Going (ill. by Dan Santat).  9780803734791. 2012. PS-2.

Dog is a good dog—the very best dog—and his people award him lots of treats. But when he is left alone in the house with five wily and messy cats, he finds out that he is not really in charge at all.  When his people get home and see the mess, they won’t call him “the very best dog.”  And will he ever get a treat again?

Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham (ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky).  9780060799847. 2012.  PS-2.

Zebra lines up all the animals in alphabetical order to present themselves in the book, but Moose is too excited to wait his turn.  He interrupts again and again, until finally it is time for M.  But…M is for Mouse!  Disappointed and upset, Moose behaves badly, just like every other little kid that just wants to be noticed.  Zebra feels sorry for Moose, so there is a happy ending. Click here for more alphabet picture books.

Beetle BookUnspokenOne Cool Friend

The Beetle BookMackin Picks by Steve Jenkins. 9780547680842. 2012. PS-3.

I am a big fan of Steve Jenkins, and though I really hate bugs, I am fascinated by them (and I’m also an admirer of the art of Christopher Marley.)  So I think this is my favorite Steve Jenkins’ title yet (though What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? and Just a Second are close runners-up).  Jenkins provides lots of information about beetles, including life cycles, defenses, behaviors, and senses, along with his trademark collages of greater-than-life-sized creatures.

Unspoken : A Story from the Underground RailroadMackin Picks by Henry Cole.  9780545399975. 2012. K-2.

This beautiful wordless book tells the story of a young girl in mid-19th century Virginia who discovers that there is an escaped slave hidden in her family’s barn.  At first she is scared, but then she sees the frightened eye of the slave peering out of the stored cornstalks.  When Confederate soldiers arrive with a wanted poster for the fugitive, she must search her conscience to decide if she has the courage to help him.

One Cool FriendMackin Picks by Toni Buzzeo (ill. by David Small). 9780803734135. 2012. K-3.

While visiting the zoo one day with his father, Elliott falls in love with the penguins (they are so much like himself) and decides to take the smallest one home.  The problem then is to keep the penguin happy…and hidden from his father.  Fortunately, his father is clueless—or is he?  I was, though I shouldn’t have been, because illustrator David Small had left plenty of hints to the fun ending!

Meal of the StarsRock Is Lively

A Meal of the Stars : Poems Up and DownMackin Picks by Dana Jensen (ill by Tricia Tusa).  9780547390079. 2012. 1-3.

Tricia Tusa’s pretty illustrations give a clue how to read Dana Jensen’s clever poems in this unique poetry book.  Each poem is about something that either goes up or goes down.  If it goes down—raindrops, for example—the poem reads from top to bottom.  In the poem of the ladybug crawling up the dandelion stem, you start reading the poem from the bottom to the top.  An excellent marriage of text and illustrations.

A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston (ill. by Sylvia Long).  9781452106458. 2012. 1-4.

Aston and Long have combined their talents again in this fascinating look at earth’s lively rocks and minerals.  Lively?  Yes, as melted magma.  Rocks are also helpful and sneaky and creative and more.   This beautifully illustrated, poetic, and informative book explains how rocks are made, how they help us, and how people and animals use them.

What’s your favorite picture book from 2012?

Blogger:  Tracey L.Tracey

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Funny Picture Book Read Alouds

November 12, 2012 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , ,

I’ve written several times about how I enjoyed reading aloud to my boys when they were little and to my daycare kids, and how they loved being read to.  These funny picture books will be enjoyed by all—and I picked them for their appeal to adults as well. They are the perfect marriage of text and illustrations—with much of the story and the humor communicated through the pictures.  Each will work great for one-on-one reading, or reading to a small group, or as a classroom read-aloud.

Dog in Charge by K.L. Going (ill. by Dan Santat). 2012. 9780803734791. Gr PK-2.

Dog is a good Dog. A smart Dog. The very best Dog.  He sits, stays, and even dances on command—and is rewarded with yummy dog treats.  When the family leaves for the store, he is in charge of the five cats.  Or is he?  The cats don’t sit and they don’t stay.  Soon every room in the house is a mess, and Dog is in despair.  He is not a good dog or a smart dog—and there will be no yummy treats in his future.  Collapsing to the floor to think, he falls asleep.  But these cats really do love their dog, and they don’t want him to get in trouble.  By the time the family gets home, Dog is once again the very best Dog.  And the cats?  They are “good cats. Smart cats. The very best cats.”

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. 2012. 9780763655990. Gr PK-2.

“This hat is not mine. I just stole it,” admits a tiny fish sporting a tiny hat.  He goes on to tell us that the hat belongs to a big fish that was sleeping, and reasons that the big fish probably won’t wake up for a long time, and if he does wake up, he probably won’t even notice his missing hat, and if he does notice, he won’t know who took it, and if he does, he won’t know where the thief is going.  But the reader sees that the rationale isn’t holding up—the big fish does wake up, and he does notice his missing hat, and he does know who took it, and so on.  The little fish swims into the tall plants that grow close together, thinking that no one will find him.  Kids will know, however, that the little fish is about to get his comeuppance…and the big fish will get his hat.

A Birthday for Bear by Bonnie Becker (ill. by Kady MacDonald Denton). 2012. 9780763658236. Gr PK-2.

It is Bear’s birthday, but he refuses to acknowledge it.  He always keeps very busy on his birthday, dusting and sweeping and mopping and scrubbing.  But Mouse is determined that Bear will celebrate his birthday.  When a fake party invitation doesn’t work, he pretends to be a balloon deliveryman, and then a postman with a birthday card.  He even tries coming down the chimney dressed in a red Santa suit and carrying a present.  Finally Bear cries out, “I DO NOT LIKE BIRTHDAYS!”  But can he really resist that present?  This fourth Bear and Mouse picture book is just as charming as the others, and the fusion of text and illustrations is as delicious as Bear’s birthday cake.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds (ill. by Peter Brown). 2012. 9781442402973. Gr PK-2.

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots, especially the fat, crisp ones that grow freely in Crackenhopper Field.  He stops whenever he can to pick some and eat them.  He can’t get enough of them—until creepy carrots start following him home.  He sees their threatening forms everywhere…but no one else does.  Finally Jasper has an idea:  those creepy carrots can’t get him if they can’t get out!  So he builds a thick wall around the field, and surrounds it with a moat filled with crocodiles.  He heads home, assured that those creepy veggies will never get out.  The carrots?  They are cheering because Jasper will never get back IN! This silly-scary book is great for kids who don’t want their scary books too scary.

Blogger:  Tracey L.

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Mindy’s Caldecott, Schneider, & Stonewall Award Picks

January 16, 2012 · Filed under High School, Novels, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Realistic · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

My brain is still in picture-book mode from choosing the picture book titles for our Booktalk Now! Spring Webcast, so I must say I am really looking forward to the Caldecott picks this year.  There are so many great books that I could see taking the award or an honor, but I’ve narrowed down my predictions to just four:

  • Grandpa Green by Lane Smith – I really love this book.  It is a tribute to grandparents that will be treasured by many families, but it is also an opportunity to inspire kids to think about the way that art can capture history—personal or otherwise.  I’d love to see young people sculpting their own memories after reading this book or perhaps creating some other tribute to what has come before them.  What better book to win an award for the art than one with such potential to inspire young artists!
  • Won Ton: A Cat Tale in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin – I wouldn’t call myself a “cat person” but even I was charmed by the cat in this picture book.  Wardlaw’s haiku match with Yelchin’s graphite and gouache illustrations to create a character in the cat to whom you can’t help but relate.  PW called this book “surprisingly powerful,” and I think the book’s overall design plays a role in its emotional impact, which makes it a strong contender, in my opinion.
  • I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen – This pick will likely have some naysayers, but I, for one, would love to see more humorous books get honored.  This book is wickedly funny, and its use of color to tell the story is really interesting.  It’s different, for sure.  Maybe too different for the committee?  We’ll see!
  • Underground by Shane Evans – Underground  proves that you don’t need a lot of words to tell a powerful story. Each spread is dominated by dramatic illustrations with only a few well-chosen words to tell the story. If you want to talk about Black History with younger kids, this is the book to use.  Evans puts readers there without overwhelming them.  It’s intense, but it’s compelling in a way that few picture books are.

I also have my eye on a couple of other awards this year.  I’m always interested in the Schneider Family Book Award picks given my personal interest in the way that disabilities are portrayed in fiction.  I like Rebecca Elliott’s Just Because for the picture book category.  The book opens up the idea that there aren’t answers for why some people can do things others can’t. Sometimes the answer is “Just because.”  I highly recommend sharing this book with young people regardless of whether they have anyone in their lives with a disability for its simplicity and charm. For older readers, I enjoyed Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II by Ron Kortge and The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen for their complex look at life with physical differences.

There are some serious contenders for the Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award this year.  In particular, I am J by Cris Beam stands out as an authentic look at a transgender teen who hopes one day his parents will accept him.  Other highlights from my favorite list include Shine by Lauren Myracle and Sister Mischief by Laura Goode.

I’d love to know your picks for any of these awards!  Please feel free to share in the comments!

Blogger:  Mindy R.

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Exploring Character Education with Picture Books

November 7, 2011 · Filed under Formats, Grade Levels, Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Among the sessions I was able to attend at the recent AASL conference was one that focused on character education through picture books.  Most of the books that the presenter discussed in the session were oldies-but-goodies, so they were already on Mackin’s character education lists.  But I was inspired to think about some of the picture books I’ve come across recently with character traits in mind.  After all, as the presenter pointed out, picture books are a great way to focus a conversation with kids and help make intangible concepts more concrete.

Chris Rashka’s latest book, Ball for Daisy, is a gentle wordless story that begins with a dog playing with her favorite toy—a red ball.  She is delighted to have another dog join in her game, but when the other dog accidentally deflates the ball, it doesn’t take words to express Daisy’s sadness. Raschka’s watercolor and ink illustrations capture the action in panels that resemble a graphic novel, and he skillfully conveys Daisy’s feelings.  You can use this book with younger readers to talk about being courteous with other kids’ toys or to talk about the emotions Daisy is feeling and how they relate to them.

Dream Something Big tells how we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.  It begins with one little chip of tile that inspires Simon Rodia to create the Watts Towers in Los Angeles, which are now U.S. National Landmark.  In this book, he is called “Uncle Sam” and his story is told from the perspective of a fictional young girl who watches the towers go up in her neighborhood, when people thought the man was foolish and crazy.  She grows up and takes her children to see the towers, and she notes that people no longer think he was crazy. They think he was a genius. This is a wonderfully inspiring book that will be at home in an art class as well as a character education lesson.

The young girl in I Had a Favorite Dress finds dealing with change isn’t so bad  with a little creative thinking.  When she out-grows her favorite dress that she wears every Tuesday, her mother advises her not to make mountains out of molehills, instead make molehills out of mountains.  With this advice in mind, mother and daughter make something new out of that old favorite dress every time it becomes too small or out of season, until finally there’s nothing left to snip or sew. Even then, change can’t get the best of her.  She captures the memory of her favorite dress (and all its incarnations) with a picture she draws herself.  Share this picture book with your young fashionistas for a subtle lesson in adapting to life’s changes.

I Want My Hat Back is one of my personal favorites of the year.  Readers watch as a bear looks for his hat.  He asks animal after animal if they have seen his hat until a deer asks what his hat looked like.  As he describes his hat, he realizes that he has seen it, and that is when readers realize that one of the animals was lying (though observant readers may have already picked up on some suspicious behavior from the rabbit).  Bear gets mad, and he goes back to confront the rabbit. Then it is the bear’s turn to act suspicious when he is questioned about the whereabouts of the rabbit. A unique picture book that looks at honesty and guilty behavior that will have kids laughing and, hopefully, talking.

These are just a few that I thought of.  What are some of your favorite titles to use in character education lessons?

Bibliography:

Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. Scwartz & Wade. May 2011.

Dream Something Big by Diana Hutts Aston. Dial. August 2011.

I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn. Abrams Books for Young Readers. January 2011.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. Candlewick. September 2011.

Blogger: Mindy R.

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