This book gives a big laugh

Pinky (a pig) is on his way to place an order for a pizza at the pizzeria. He is gathering snow as he walks through the snowy town. He doesn't even notice that he is turning into a snowman (!) because he is too busy trying to remember the ingredients he is supposed to say when he places his order. Very funny, both when he is a snowman as he places his order AND when he is back to being a boy when the order is ready to deliver home.

End of month tribute to picture book month!

Stumpkin c) 2018 Lucy Ruth Cummins; Stumpkin is the proverbial “runt of the litter”. He takes rejection upon rejection until he wins out from being the last pumpkin standing. This is a sweet book with a triumphant ending. (It is similar to stories where there is one last toy or one last puppy, etc.) And it is great paired with The Ugly Pumpkin c) 2005 by Dave Horowitz. 

If Picasso Painted a Snowman c) 2017 by Amy Newbold. This book introduces the reader to the art forms of many famous artists such as Pablo Picasso from the title. A few others reflected are Vincent Van Gogh, Jackson Pollack, Claude Monet, and Georgia O’Keefe. The thread is what would that artist’s take on a snowman potentially look like? It is a great premise, an engaging book, and creates lots of room for terrific conversation and learning.

Just a delight!

When you go fishing with your friends but all you catch is a huge fish who is big enough to eat all of you, then what? This sweet picture book has a delightful solution for the big fish and all of the friends.

Beautiful version!

I love this gorgeous rendition of a traditional favorite! Troll gets a taste of his own medicine. In the end note, Jerry Pinkney tells us, "I invented the character of the giant fish to offer a way for the troll to recognize what he'd done to others and to experience his word-bullying from another point of view." Further, later on in the note he says, "Ultimately it was only my imagination, however, that could invent the characters of these ever-so-relatable billy goats Gruff. They are, like many of us, both meek and at the same time strong in the face of adversity...and they must work together to 'stand up to the bullies' and be a force of change." c) 2017

A mid-month tribute to picture book month!

I Yam A Donkey! c) 2015 by Cece Bell; This hilarious book is about grammar but how, in the end, grammar doesn't matter much if you are in mortal danger!

The Yoga Game by the Sea c) 2014 by Kathy Beliveau; This is a great combination of riddles about things by the sea and the directions for accompanying yoga moves. Painted in quiet pastel water colors, this is a beautiful book!

A thought to make us happy!

Thank you Peter H. Reynolds!

Imagination triumphs over trauma!

This picture book imagines how a little boy (Junior) survives the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Each day that he is trapped under the rubble, he uses his imagination to paint a happy picture from times prior to the earthquake. I liked this because strong happy memories can surely buoy us!