The Parrot Tico Tango
Anna White
Barefoot Books (2004)
This is a stunning cumulative picture book about a special Parrot that we both adore!. Tico Tango takes, steals, seizes, grabs, and snatches fruit from his friends. Eventually, he takes too much and all the fruit falls to the ground to be disbursed among his friends. There's a moral too--- "Tico Tango feels contrite-- he knew he had to put things right."
The pictures are bright and colorful, very tropical looking and the prose consists of beautifully rhyming couplets that flow from thine lips. Here's a random page: "The Parrot Tico Tango Had a round yellow mango, And he carried to his right A lemon small and bright, and on his left a fig , Which was purple sweet and big, And Tico Tango knew that he had to have it too, So he grabbed it!"
Anna Witte has written one other children's book called Lola's Fandango, about discovering your inner strength and spirit(Yep, I am going to take this one out from the library as soon as possible). She also has written for a television series:
From her website: http://www.annawitte.com
TIKITIKLIP II, a series of short animated films based on the myths and stories of pre-Hispanic cultures of Latin America, was a finalist at the Prix Jeunesse International 2010 Festival. www.prixjeunesse.de
A clip from the first TIKITIKLIP series
Here is the song Tico Tango (which may be in the newer editions): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAnI3sQVIzI
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Barefoot Books is a very interesting publishing company started by moms. http://www.barefootbooks.com/?bf_affiliate_code=000-0g7p-4828
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Ode To Steven Kellogg
A Rose for Pinkerton
Steven Kellogg
Puffin Books (1981)
A Hunting We Will Go
Steven Kellogg
Morrow Junior Books (1998)
A My Name is Alice
Author: Jane Bayer
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Dial Books for Young Readers (1984)
Lately ,books by Steven Kellogg have been randomly showing up everywhere and I am struck by the rich and lavish illustrations. But also, the books take me back, well, somewhere. I have this vague memory that perhaps Steven Kellogg came to my school for a visit when I was kid. I asked my mom, but she doesn't remember. At any rate, the illustration style seems familiar and comforting---like all that a children's book should aspire to be.
The best part of his illustrations are that you have to look closely to see all the little details. For example, in A Rose For Pinkerton (named for his dog Pinkerton and his feisty cat Second Hand Rose), a story about a kitten that wants to be a poodle and a Great Dane that wants a friend, there are all these little thought bubbles, signs that are funny such as Take Home a Spring Bouquet of Kittens, the dog dish that says Chow on it, the dog saying Lick, lick, lick, lick, and a million other details that make it fun to look at. An added benefit is that Mirette can enjoy these books for a long time on her own.
A-Hunting We Will Go takes the English country song (and possibly game of chase) from the 1600's and plays on the tradition of making up verses. In this case, the verses are all about getting ready for bed: "Pajamming we will go! Pajamming we will go! Put the llamas in pajamas. Find the fox a pair of socks. Give each bear clean underwear. Then, with our friends in tow. . .a hugging we will go!" It's very cute and again tons of details to explore with your toddler.
A My Name is Alice is based on a ball game that my mom taught me when I was a little girl. You bounce a ball and say something like A my name is Alice and my husband's name is Arnie. We live in Alaska and we sell Apples. Every time you say a word that starts with A, you bounce the ball one time. Sometimes when I took long walks with Mirette, I'd go through the entire alphabet as a way to fend off boredom or chill. Here's an example from the book for the letter P: " P my name is Polly and my husband's name is Paul. We come from Pittsburgh and we sell Pebbles. Polly is a Puffin. Paul is a Pig." The window of the shop says Pebbles LTD: Rare specimens for Advanced Collectors. then there are various signs in front of the pebble displays: Precious Pebble, Assorted roadside pebbles, rare prize winning pebble, odd purple pebble, pond pebble, pebbles found in puddles. Funny!
Steven Kellogg lives on a farm in Connecticut and has written over 110 books for children and won many awards. His website http://www.stevenkellogg.com/page2.html has an awesome video of him speaking at the Library of Congress's National Book Fest. He decided to be a children's book illustrator in Preschool and never lost site of his vision!!! Geez!
He has a great piece on his website about the power of picture books. To him, it's like a stage, where turning the page itself creates dramatic movement. He says, "The individual spreads are designed so that they crackle with graphic vitality. The characters seem to speak, cavort, and leap from the page so energetically that their life and movement are totally convincing." He also says, 'There are limitless possibilities available to the artist, who sets up relationships and tensions between the illustrations and the text, allowing magical discoveries and subtle revelations to emerge in the areas between. When this happens, there is an uncanny fusion of all the elements, and the dynamic new expression that is created introduces young readers to the world of art."
My heart pitter-patters when I read something that so affirms why I love picture books. I love you Steven Kellogg--thanks for bringing so many great books to my childhood and to Mirette's childhood too.
Steven Kellogg
Puffin Books (1981)
A Hunting We Will Go
Steven Kellogg
Morrow Junior Books (1998)
A My Name is Alice
Author: Jane Bayer
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Dial Books for Young Readers (1984)
Lately ,books by Steven Kellogg have been randomly showing up everywhere and I am struck by the rich and lavish illustrations. But also, the books take me back, well, somewhere. I have this vague memory that perhaps Steven Kellogg came to my school for a visit when I was kid. I asked my mom, but she doesn't remember. At any rate, the illustration style seems familiar and comforting---like all that a children's book should aspire to be.
The best part of his illustrations are that you have to look closely to see all the little details. For example, in A Rose For Pinkerton (named for his dog Pinkerton and his feisty cat Second Hand Rose), a story about a kitten that wants to be a poodle and a Great Dane that wants a friend, there are all these little thought bubbles, signs that are funny such as Take Home a Spring Bouquet of Kittens, the dog dish that says Chow on it, the dog saying Lick, lick, lick, lick, and a million other details that make it fun to look at. An added benefit is that Mirette can enjoy these books for a long time on her own.
A-Hunting We Will Go takes the English country song (and possibly game of chase) from the 1600's and plays on the tradition of making up verses. In this case, the verses are all about getting ready for bed: "Pajamming we will go! Pajamming we will go! Put the llamas in pajamas. Find the fox a pair of socks. Give each bear clean underwear. Then, with our friends in tow. . .a hugging we will go!" It's very cute and again tons of details to explore with your toddler.
A My Name is Alice is based on a ball game that my mom taught me when I was a little girl. You bounce a ball and say something like A my name is Alice and my husband's name is Arnie. We live in Alaska and we sell Apples. Every time you say a word that starts with A, you bounce the ball one time. Sometimes when I took long walks with Mirette, I'd go through the entire alphabet as a way to fend off boredom or chill. Here's an example from the book for the letter P: " P my name is Polly and my husband's name is Paul. We come from Pittsburgh and we sell Pebbles. Polly is a Puffin. Paul is a Pig." The window of the shop says Pebbles LTD: Rare specimens for Advanced Collectors. then there are various signs in front of the pebble displays: Precious Pebble, Assorted roadside pebbles, rare prize winning pebble, odd purple pebble, pond pebble, pebbles found in puddles. Funny!
Steven Kellogg lives on a farm in Connecticut and has written over 110 books for children and won many awards. His website http://www.stevenkellogg.com/page2.html has an awesome video of him speaking at the Library of Congress's National Book Fest. He decided to be a children's book illustrator in Preschool and never lost site of his vision!!! Geez!
He has a great piece on his website about the power of picture books. To him, it's like a stage, where turning the page itself creates dramatic movement. He says, "The individual spreads are designed so that they crackle with graphic vitality. The characters seem to speak, cavort, and leap from the page so energetically that their life and movement are totally convincing." He also says, 'There are limitless possibilities available to the artist, who sets up relationships and tensions between the illustrations and the text, allowing magical discoveries and subtle revelations to emerge in the areas between. When this happens, there is an uncanny fusion of all the elements, and the dynamic new expression that is created introduces young readers to the world of art."
My heart pitter-patters when I read something that so affirms why I love picture books. I love you Steven Kellogg--thanks for bringing so many great books to my childhood and to Mirette's childhood too.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Book of the Day: Gordon the Goat
Gordon the Goat
Munro Leaf
J. B Lippincott Company (1944)
Mirette and I were at a birthday party. The birthday girl wanted a piece of cake with a pink flower, the other girl also wanted a pink flower. I waited for Mirette to also ask for a pink flower, but much to my amazement she said that she wanted a green flower. The other two girls decided that they too wanted a green flower. I was elated! Was my child a leader?
On the other hand, we were at the beach recently and Mirette started telling these older boys what to do. "Hey guys, come over here to the beach," she demanded. One of the boys wouldn't budge. He said, "No, I won't do that." Mirette looked shocked that he wouldn't bend to her will. I worry about my only child being too bossy.
A mentor of mine turned me onto this great book which teaches kids the virtue of being a leader. It's written in 1944, so it's a little preachy and blunt in it's message (no subtle metaphors here!), but it's still a great little tale.
Gordon has great intuition not to follow the lead goat, but does so anyway. He gets swept up in a tornado and lands hard onto the ground, coming to the conclusion that from now on he will do his own thinking. Hooray! The pen and ink illustrations are simple, almost looking like a quick sketch, but lovely.
Interestingly, there is another book that Mirette and I took out from the library called Gordon In Charge by Jill Newton. It basically was a reversed version of Munro Leaf's book about a goat who is really bossy and learns how to be part of the group.
Munro Leaf's list of books sound so old-fashioned. He wrote: Being an American Can be Fun, Manners can be Fun, Reading can be Fun, How to Behave and Why, Grammar Can be Fun, as well as the famous The Story of Ferdinand.
Munro Leaf (1905-1976) was educated at Harvard and worked with Mr. Geisel creating pamphlets on malaria prevention for the war. Here's his website though it's not exactly filled with interesting information: http://www.munroleaf.com/. Enjoy!
Munro Leaf
J. B Lippincott Company (1944)
Mirette and I were at a birthday party. The birthday girl wanted a piece of cake with a pink flower, the other girl also wanted a pink flower. I waited for Mirette to also ask for a pink flower, but much to my amazement she said that she wanted a green flower. The other two girls decided that they too wanted a green flower. I was elated! Was my child a leader?
On the other hand, we were at the beach recently and Mirette started telling these older boys what to do. "Hey guys, come over here to the beach," she demanded. One of the boys wouldn't budge. He said, "No, I won't do that." Mirette looked shocked that he wouldn't bend to her will. I worry about my only child being too bossy.
A mentor of mine turned me onto this great book which teaches kids the virtue of being a leader. It's written in 1944, so it's a little preachy and blunt in it's message (no subtle metaphors here!), but it's still a great little tale.
Gordon has great intuition not to follow the lead goat, but does so anyway. He gets swept up in a tornado and lands hard onto the ground, coming to the conclusion that from now on he will do his own thinking. Hooray! The pen and ink illustrations are simple, almost looking like a quick sketch, but lovely.
Interestingly, there is another book that Mirette and I took out from the library called Gordon In Charge by Jill Newton. It basically was a reversed version of Munro Leaf's book about a goat who is really bossy and learns how to be part of the group.
Munro Leaf's list of books sound so old-fashioned. He wrote: Being an American Can be Fun, Manners can be Fun, Reading can be Fun, How to Behave and Why, Grammar Can be Fun, as well as the famous The Story of Ferdinand.
Munro Leaf (1905-1976) was educated at Harvard and worked with Mr. Geisel creating pamphlets on malaria prevention for the war. Here's his website though it's not exactly filled with interesting information: http://www.munroleaf.com/. Enjoy!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Book of the Day: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Simms Taback
Viking (1999)
Just as Mirette gets a free book each month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, she also gets a Jewish-themed book from the PJ library once a month.
All families raising Jewish children from age six months of age through eight years are eligible. If you are in an area that supports this program, it's free. I called them and they told me it would be sixty dollars for a subscription, but then I called again (because my friend offered to buy it for us) and we were suddenly eligible for our free books. Yipee!
Alas, unlike good ol' Dolly, we find the books to be mediocre at best--great for learning about Jewish themes, but not selected for their amazing drawings and word-play. Just ask Steve, my non-Jewish hubby, how he feels about reading Hoppy Hanukkah for the umpteenth time. Groan.
All this to say, we FINALLY got a PJ book worthy of mention in this blog: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. Yipee. The book won the Caldecott Medal in 2000 and with good reason--the pictures, made using watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink, and collage are stunning and the story is very clever.
Based on a Yiddish folk song, it uses cut-outs to show Joseph's coat becoming smaller and smaller--coat to vest to scarf etc. The idea is that you can always make something out of nothing.
The first thing I learned about Simms Taback is that he died December 25th, 2011 at the age of 79 of pancreatic cancer. . He won a Caldecott Honor for his book There Was and Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and he also wrote a book called When I First Came to this Land (one of my favorite songs to sing with Mirette). I also learned that he made posters for schools and libraries that you can buy. They'd be great for a child's room. He designed the first ever Happy Meal Box (okay that's kind-of weird in my opinion) and started the Graphic Artist Guild. Another cool fact: he actually wrote the book in the 70's and it was under-appreciated. He re-did it thinking today's society may be more interested in the topic. Lo and behold, he was correct!
Here's his obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/simms-taback-writer-and-illustrator-of-childrens-boohttp://www.simmstaback.com/This_Is_The_Official_Simms_Taback_Site.htmlks-dies-at-79.html
And his website: http://www.simmstaback.com/This_Is_The_Official_Simms_Taback_Site.html
Great interview: http://www.creativeparents.com/simmsinterv.html
Simms Taback
Viking (1999)
Just as Mirette gets a free book each month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, she also gets a Jewish-themed book from the PJ library once a month.
All families raising Jewish children from age six months of age through eight years are eligible. If you are in an area that supports this program, it's free. I called them and they told me it would be sixty dollars for a subscription, but then I called again (because my friend offered to buy it for us) and we were suddenly eligible for our free books. Yipee!
Alas, unlike good ol' Dolly, we find the books to be mediocre at best--great for learning about Jewish themes, but not selected for their amazing drawings and word-play. Just ask Steve, my non-Jewish hubby, how he feels about reading Hoppy Hanukkah for the umpteenth time. Groan.
All this to say, we FINALLY got a PJ book worthy of mention in this blog: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. Yipee. The book won the Caldecott Medal in 2000 and with good reason--the pictures, made using watercolor, Gouache, pencil, ink, and collage are stunning and the story is very clever.
Based on a Yiddish folk song, it uses cut-outs to show Joseph's coat becoming smaller and smaller--coat to vest to scarf etc. The idea is that you can always make something out of nothing.
The first thing I learned about Simms Taback is that he died December 25th, 2011 at the age of 79 of pancreatic cancer. . He won a Caldecott Honor for his book There Was and Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and he also wrote a book called When I First Came to this Land (one of my favorite songs to sing with Mirette). I also learned that he made posters for schools and libraries that you can buy. They'd be great for a child's room. He designed the first ever Happy Meal Box (okay that's kind-of weird in my opinion) and started the Graphic Artist Guild. Another cool fact: he actually wrote the book in the 70's and it was under-appreciated. He re-did it thinking today's society may be more interested in the topic. Lo and behold, he was correct!
Here's his obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/simms-taback-writer-and-illustrator-of-childrens-boohttp://www.simmstaback.com/This_Is_The_Official_Simms_Taback_Site.htmlks-dies-at-79.html
And his website: http://www.simmstaback.com/This_Is_The_Official_Simms_Taback_Site.html
Great interview: http://www.creativeparents.com/simmsinterv.html
Book of the Day: Do Unto Otters
Do Unto Otters
Laurie Keller
Henry Holt and Company (2007)
Do you want your cavemanish toddler to learn some manners? I do PLEASE! Do Unto Otters is a very fun foray into the world of social graces. There are so many special little things about this book, it's hard to know where to begin, but here goes. . .
Mirette laughs at the silly bunny singing doo-dee-doo. There's lots of puns using the word otters---such as co--otter--ate instead of cooperate and a picture of the book Harry Otter. Please, Thank You and Excuse Me are translated into five languages--Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Pig Latin (C'mon don't you think the Pig Latin part is kind-of cute). There are lots of things going on and little pictures on the sidelines that are fun to look at--very cartoon-style. Finally, and most importantly in Mirette's opinion, one of the otters farts which Mirette finds hysterical. But mostly, I like it because I think the author found a really fun, non-preachy way to explore manners.
Well, what do you know, Laurie Keller also wrote Arnie, the Doughnut which Steve got as a gift from a family. Her website: http://www.lauriekeller.com/aboutme.html
Her blog: http://lauriekeller.com/wordpress/open-wide-tooth-school-inside-classroom-ideas/
Lots of activity ideas on both these sites.
Here's an interesting interview with the author: http://www.kidsbookreview.com/2010/07/authorillustrator-interview-laurie.html
Laurie lives with her boyfriend and two cats in a little cottage in Michigan. She likes Peanut M and M's and is inspired by Maira Kalma (my favorite too!).
Laurie Keller
Henry Holt and Company (2007)
Do you want your cavemanish toddler to learn some manners? I do PLEASE! Do Unto Otters is a very fun foray into the world of social graces. There are so many special little things about this book, it's hard to know where to begin, but here goes. . .
Mirette laughs at the silly bunny singing doo-dee-doo. There's lots of puns using the word otters---such as co--otter--ate instead of cooperate and a picture of the book Harry Otter. Please, Thank You and Excuse Me are translated into five languages--Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Pig Latin (C'mon don't you think the Pig Latin part is kind-of cute). There are lots of things going on and little pictures on the sidelines that are fun to look at--very cartoon-style. Finally, and most importantly in Mirette's opinion, one of the otters farts which Mirette finds hysterical. But mostly, I like it because I think the author found a really fun, non-preachy way to explore manners.
Well, what do you know, Laurie Keller also wrote Arnie, the Doughnut which Steve got as a gift from a family. Her website: http://www.lauriekeller.com/aboutme.html
Her blog: http://lauriekeller.com/wordpress/open-wide-tooth-school-inside-classroom-ideas/
Lots of activity ideas on both these sites.
Here's an interesting interview with the author: http://www.kidsbookreview.com/2010/07/authorillustrator-interview-laurie.html
Laurie lives with her boyfriend and two cats in a little cottage in Michigan. She likes Peanut M and M's and is inspired by Maira Kalma (my favorite too!).
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Book of the Day: No Two Alike
No Two Alike
Keith Baker
Beach Lane Books (2011)
Tomorrow I leave for a mom's trip to Aspen, Colorado. I won't be hob-nobbing with the rich and famous (though last time I was there I did run into Kristen Davis of Sex in the City fame), but hanging with my best friends, one of whom lives there.
I'm suffering from mom's guilt-- What if something happens to me? What if something happens to her? What if she feels abandoned? If I can get this past this, I am so excited for a weekend break!
I wanted to share a short and sweet book that my sister gave Mirette gave for Hanukkah.
No Two Alike is a rhyming story that coveys the message that "no two snowflakes are alike, almost, almost. . . but not quite." The snowy illustrations are nature-filled, peaceful, and beautiful.
Keith Baker has illustrated many books, including LMNO Peas. He has a great website with another gorgeous introduction: http://www.keithbakerbooks.com/. If you click on the book icon, there's a little tutorial on making snowflakes. Enjoy!
Keith Baker
Beach Lane Books (2011)
Tomorrow I leave for a mom's trip to Aspen, Colorado. I won't be hob-nobbing with the rich and famous (though last time I was there I did run into Kristen Davis of Sex in the City fame), but hanging with my best friends, one of whom lives there.
I'm suffering from mom's guilt-- What if something happens to me? What if something happens to her? What if she feels abandoned? If I can get this past this, I am so excited for a weekend break!
I wanted to share a short and sweet book that my sister gave Mirette gave for Hanukkah.
No Two Alike is a rhyming story that coveys the message that "no two snowflakes are alike, almost, almost. . . but not quite." The snowy illustrations are nature-filled, peaceful, and beautiful.
Keith Baker has illustrated many books, including LMNO Peas. He has a great website with another gorgeous introduction: http://www.keithbakerbooks.com/. If you click on the book icon, there's a little tutorial on making snowflakes. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Book of the Day: And Tango Makes Three
And Tango Makes Three
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (2005)
Leave it to my Mirette--social justice advocate in the making--to pick out from the library today And Tango Makes Three. She had me read it to her not once, not twice, but three times in a row.
The story is based on a true tale about two male penguins that hook up at the Central Park Zoo and raise a little penguin named Tango. It's a very simple, peaceful, and celebratory way to explain how okay it is to be two dads raising a kid (or a penguin for that matter) without getting into a lengthy discussion about homosexuality. It's also a really cool and beautifully illustrated story. It makes me want to be at Central Park Zoo right now watching Tango play and swim.
As you may well imagine, this book has been banned and censored. That's incredible--it's so sweet and innocuous. But just to be fair to the other side. . . Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the book is far from a “true story.” “It’s very misleading,” she said, “and it’s a very disingenuous, inaccurate way to promote a political agenda to little kids." (from Wikpedia)
Justin Richardson, M.D. is a professor of psychiatry and wrote Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask). He also gives a lot of parental advice on a variety of shows such as NPR's Morning Edition.
Peter Parnell is a playwright and television producer who has a cat named George.
Here they are reading their book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-8ehpyDwRA
The two of them teamed up to write Christian: The Hugging Lion. Also, a true amazing animal story.
Henry Cole: Don't just walk to this website---RUN!!! It starts with an adorable intro that made me laugh. There are games that look engaging to a kid Mirette's age--puzzles and memory. He has illustrated many books, some of which we actually have. Yet another illustrator who has a website that radiates warmth.
http://www.henrycole.net/main.php?link=home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNICWycmTtQ
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (2005)
New York Fringe Fest about Tango
Leave it to my Mirette--social justice advocate in the making--to pick out from the library today And Tango Makes Three. She had me read it to her not once, not twice, but three times in a row.
The story is based on a true tale about two male penguins that hook up at the Central Park Zoo and raise a little penguin named Tango. It's a very simple, peaceful, and celebratory way to explain how okay it is to be two dads raising a kid (or a penguin for that matter) without getting into a lengthy discussion about homosexuality. It's also a really cool and beautifully illustrated story. It makes me want to be at Central Park Zoo right now watching Tango play and swim.
As you may well imagine, this book has been banned and censored. That's incredible--it's so sweet and innocuous. But just to be fair to the other side. . . Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the book is far from a “true story.” “It’s very misleading,” she said, “and it’s a very disingenuous, inaccurate way to promote a political agenda to little kids." (from Wikpedia)
Justin Richardson, M.D. is a professor of psychiatry and wrote Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask). He also gives a lot of parental advice on a variety of shows such as NPR's Morning Edition.
Peter Parnell is a playwright and television producer who has a cat named George.
Here they are reading their book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-8ehpyDwRA
The two of them teamed up to write Christian: The Hugging Lion. Also, a true amazing animal story.
Henry Cole: Don't just walk to this website---RUN!!! It starts with an adorable intro that made me laugh. There are games that look engaging to a kid Mirette's age--puzzles and memory. He has illustrated many books, some of which we actually have. Yet another illustrator who has a website that radiates warmth.
http://www.henrycole.net/main.php?link=home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNICWycmTtQ
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