A classic turns 75, The Pigeon gets a retrospective, and Brightly.com offers bedtime story prompts. Read on, and get your kids to vote in the 9th Annual CBC Children’s Choice Awards!http://www.cbcbooks.org/ccba/
On March 29, Viking will release a 75th-anniversary edition of Robert McCloskey’s classic Make Way for Ducklings.
Platypus, by Sue Whiting, illustrated by Mark Jackson; Candlewick Press, 32 pages, $16.99, ages 6-9.
Have you ever taken a good look at a platypus? Outfitted with a duck’s bill and webbed feet, this mammal has a flat tail like a beaver, but lays eggs and provides milk to its young. Australian picture-book authorSue Whiting examines the peculiarities of this marvelously puzzling creature by weaving lyric prose with scientific text. Expertly matched by fellow Aussie Mark Jackson’s mixed-media illustrations, Platypusunravels the mysteries of one of natures most secretive and peculiar creatures for early readers.
Skunk on a String, by Thao Lam; Owl Kids Books, $18.95, 40 pages, ages 2-6.
This wordless picture book about a high-flying skunk is a surprisingly adorable tale about overcoming adversity and prejudice. Young readers will adore following the hapless critter as he tries to enlist Good Samaritans to untie him from the tail of a balloon. Instead, he’s shoved away–he is a skunk, after all–and he floats above a parade, over a zoo, and even under water. Eventually, the skunk is released from his aerial bondage, only to realize he rather enjoyed the high life. Thao Lam’s charming paper collage art in a dizzying array of spots, stripes, and polka dots evoke a bustling cityscape. (Readers may recognize Lam’s art from Cricket and Highlights magazines, where she’s a regular contributor.) Skunk on a String is a subtle riff on the old adage, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” without uttering a word.
Copyright 2016 Erin Gleeson, reproduced with permission from Abrams Books.
The Forest Feast for Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes That Are Simple to Make, by Erin Gleeson; Abrams Books for Young Readers, 111 pages, $19.95, ages 5 and up.
Do your kids balk at eating broccoli? Perhaps they adore fruits, but bemoan a lack of variety. Food blogger, photographer, and contributor to Better Homes and Gardens Erin Gleeson’s latest cookbook is geared to those most critical foodies with The Forest Feast for Kids. This kid-friendly follow-up to Gleeson’s New York Times bestselling The Forest Feast is full of uncomplicated recipes appealingly photographed to entice young eaters to try colorful foods and to roll up their sleeves and participate in meal prep.
I decide to put the book to the test–so many children’s cookbooks aren’t really designed with kids in mind, and though full of pretty pictures, seldom do the meals on the pages appear on actual dinner plates. My seven year old seized the opportunity, and immediately bookmarked ten desserts she said we had to try, but eventually settled on Watermelon Smoothies. For nutritional balance, I tabbed the Red Salad recipe, which includes tomatoes, bell peppers, apples, pomegranates, and radishes. Together, we made our grocery list, and all the items (minus the pomegranate) were easily procured at the nearby grocery store. Both recipes were prepared in less than ten minutes, and formed a lovely accompaniment to our main course of sauteed chickpeas and rice. Even my skeptical husband ate the fruity salad. Did I mention this all took place on a schoolnight? It is possible to involve kids with mealtime decisions and preparation, and can be accomplished in roughly thirty minutes. Healthy needn’t be time-consuming or dull, and Gleeson’s book is a cheerful reminder of that.
The author’s homespun watercolors of kitchen utensils and cutting techniques recall the work of cookbook author Susan Branch, and
accompany sunny photographs of salads, smoothies, and strawberry parfaits. Directions are simple to follow, and most recipes lend themselves to weeknight dinner preparations.
Encouraging children to eat properly is much easier when they’re involved in the meal-planning, and The Forest Feast for Kids is a bright and fanciful addition to the home cook’s library.
Try one of the recipes for yourself–Abrams has graciously provided the recipe for Watermelon Smoothies, posted above.
Ezra Jack Keats’ centennial, the CBC Children’s Choice Awards,
the Carnegie medal and Kate Greenaway shortlist nominations, and the departure of “To Kill a Mockingbird” from paperback are part of this week’s rundown of noteworthy news in the world of children’s books. (Click on each subhead to read the stories.)
(Reproduced with permission from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation)
Voting Is Now Open for the 9th Annual Children’s Choice Book Awards.
Young readers across the country will determine the winners by voting online at ccbookawards.com from March 8 through April 25, 2016. Last year, over 1.3 million kids and teens made their voices heard!
Anthony Browne, Helen Oxenbury and Chris Riddell are in the running for their third Greenaways – how many have you read? (We reviewed five of the long-listed titles here at Literary Kids!)
A Big Surprise for Little Card, by Charise Mericle Harper, illustrated by Anna Raff; Candlewick Press, 40 pages, $16.99, ages 4-7.
In a tidy residential tower of cards, every paper-based inhabitant has a job–Round Card is a price tag, Wide Card is a postcard, and Tiny Card is a prize redemption ticket. Only Long Card and Little Card haven’t learned their destinies. One day Little Card receives a letter informing “L.C.” that he is to become a birthday card, and he rushes off to birthday-card school. Unfortunately, the letter was meant for the other L.C., Long Card, and though the mix-up is soon cleared, there’s no time for re-education. Little Card is immediately sent to a girl named Alex to be her brand-new library card. Together the pair discover the joys of the library, and though shouting is frowned upon, they find plenty of wonderful reasons to celebrate libraries, making everyday a Happy Library Day. Just Grace series author Charise Harper’s ode to her own Vancouver Public Library is expertly matched by Anna Raff’s (World Rat Day) exuberant mixed-media collages. Librarians everywhere will certainly bookmark this as a sweet, slightly nutty addition for story-times dedicated to explaining the function and importance of libraries.
Illustrations from Hector and Hummingbird written by Nicholas John Frith. Illustrations copyright 2016 by Nicholas John Frith. Used with permission from Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic.
Illustrations from Hector and Hummingbird written by Nicholas John Frith. Illustrations copyright 2016 by Nicholas John Frith. Used with permission from Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic.
Hector and Hummingbird, by Nicholas John Frith; Arthur A. Levine, $17.99, 32 pages, ages 3-6. (March 2016)
Nestled somewhere in the wilds of Peru live Hector the bear and his best friend, Hummingbird. Lately, Hummingbird has been more of an albatross than buddy, and his constant chattering finally pushes Hector to the limit. The bear heads deep into the forest in search of peace and quiet, only to realize he and Hummingbird are birds of a feather. British author Nicholas John Frith’s debut picture book is a catchy readaloud, and the bright, bold illustrations done in flamingo pink, turquoise, and astroturf green have a delightfully retro appeal.Fifteen Peruvian animals are hidden in the backgrounds (there’s a guide on the endpages), a fun bonus activity for when the reading is done.
Frith’s innate ability to combine words and text for the picture-book crowd make him an author to keep on your radar. It’s hard to believe that this is his debut. Perfect pace, great art, fun story. I think (and hope) we’ll see more from him in the future.
Copyright 2015 David Litchfield, reproduced with permission from Clarion Books.
Musical Bears
The Bear and The Piano, by David Litchfield; Clarion Books, 32 pages, $16.99, ages 4-7.
If a bear plays a piano in the woods, does he make music? In David Litchfield’s debut picture book, the answer is a roaring ‘yes.’ In it, a precocious bear stumbles upon a bramble-covered piano that has somehow been miraculously deposited in a forest glen. The creature is instantly drawn to the instrument, and despite initial disappointment with his efforts, the bear keeps practicing, until he is serenading great gatherings of grizzlies. When discovered by humans, the bear dons a tuxedo and hits the road, finding fame tickling the ivories. What happens when he misses home and how his friends greet the bear upon his return is a touching testament to hometown pride and everlasting friendship. Litchfield’s mixed-media illustrations are full and lush, captivating with glimmering detail. Readers of all ages eagerly await the author’s encore performance.
Literary Features Syndicate 