Picture Books
Selected by Cindy Robertson, Librarian.
Scheduled to be published in the Times Union on 7/2008.
| Title: Can You Growl Like a Bear? Author: Butler, John For ages 3-6. An interactive format (questions) combined with large friendly illustrations make this book a winner. Butler provides rhythmic elements in text, in content, and even in his soft, almost cuddly illustrations. Children are coaxed into making the sounds animals make, including some unusual selections such as dolphin clicks and panda snuffles, until bedtime quiets all. |
| Title: The Pout-Pout Fish Author: Diesen, Deborah For ages 4-8. Gather the children and read this book aloud. The pout-pout fish thinks he is made to “spread the dreary-wearies all over the place” because of his down turning mouth. Several creatures of the deep try to convince him he could be more cheerful, but when a “she” fish plants a kiss upon the glum guy’s pout, he’s a changed man…um, fish. Giggles are guaranteed. |
| Title: Mary Had a Little Lamp Author: Lechner, Jack For ages 4 and up. Kids attached to a special “snuggly” or item will recognize a fellow devotee in this exaggerated nod to that lamb-loving Mary of nursery rhymes. Using its power cord as a leash, this Mary, however, drags a lamp around wherever she goes. Somehow the lamp shines brightly despite being dragged down the street, pushed down a playground slide and even pulled behind a sled. At last, Mary leaves the lamp behind when she attends summer camp, only to take up with a new “friend” in a delightfully silly ending twist. |
| Title: Guess What I Found in Dragon Wood Author: Knapman, Timothy For ages 5 and up. At first glance, readers may be led to believe that a boy has discovered a dragon in this first-person narrative, humorously illustrated by Gwen Millward. However, the creature brought home to mom and dad, and subsequently to school, is called a “Benjamin” and is quite odd from a dragon’s perspective. While the Benjamin doesn’t fly or breathe fire, it does know how to play a game called soccer (which it teaches to its new friends) and sometimes leaks water from its eyes. Good fun! |
| Title: Turtle Girl Author: Crowe, Carole For ages 5 and up. Magdalena’s grandmother taught her to care about the sea turtles on the island where she lives. After the turtles laid their eggs this year, however, Grandmother weakens and dies. At first, Magdalena’s grief manifests as refusal to care about turtles anymore, but the cry of a gull wakes her up to the dangers the emerging hatchlings face. Magdalena and her mother witness the hatchlings’ race to the sea and find comfort in continuing the family tradition. This is one of those rare books that tackles an “elephant in the room” with a gentle touch while keeping the reader interested in a larger story. |