by Anthony DeStefano,
illustrated by Mark Elliott
Waterbrook Press, 2010
It's not easy to write a good rhyming book, but DeStefano has done an admirable job with this bedtime prayer for children. Short on adoration, but covering confession, thanksgiving, and supplication quite well, the book is suitable for children ages 3-7. The illustrations are realistic, and while the colours are somewhat muted, the pastels capture that soft, winding-down, going-to-bed feeling.
Recommended for reading aloud to your child or grandchild, or as a gift for the special child in your life. Buy it here.
In order to enter the draw to win a free copy of the book, please leave a comment below. The contest ends April 14th. The winner will be chosen and notified on April 15th.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picture books. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ferocious Wild Beasts!
by Chris Wormell,
Alfred A. Knopf, 2009
A boy is lost in the forest, and worries about his mother's reaction if he ever finds his way home. After all, she'd warned him repeatedly about the threat of ferocious, wild beasts. But the beasts he meets all seem friendly and helpful and just as scared as he is of running into such dangerous creatures.
While it's true that animals are often just as afraid of humans as we are of them, I think this book does children a disservice in leading them to believe that they'd have nothing to fear alone in the forest. Mountain lions and raccoons, for example, are seldom afraid of humans, can be quite dangerous, and certainly would not be safe to approach.
bottom line: the illustrations are quite charming, but the message less so. What were the author and publisher thinking? Leave this one on the shelf.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2009
A boy is lost in the forest, and worries about his mother's reaction if he ever finds his way home. After all, she'd warned him repeatedly about the threat of ferocious, wild beasts. But the beasts he meets all seem friendly and helpful and just as scared as he is of running into such dangerous creatures.
While it's true that animals are often just as afraid of humans as we are of them, I think this book does children a disservice in leading them to believe that they'd have nothing to fear alone in the forest. Mountain lions and raccoons, for example, are seldom afraid of humans, can be quite dangerous, and certainly would not be safe to approach.
bottom line: the illustrations are quite charming, but the message less so. What were the author and publisher thinking? Leave this one on the shelf.
Finn Throws A Fit!
by David Elliott,
illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Candlewick Press, 2009
Normally Finn likes peaches, but not today. Today Finn is in a foul mood - it's anybody's guess as to why, and isn't that a snafu? Fun illustrations and analogies, along with strong verbs, images, and a positive ending make this an enjoyable read.
bottom line: a good choice to read with your little one
illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Candlewick Press, 2009
Normally Finn likes peaches, but not today. Today Finn is in a foul mood - it's anybody's guess as to why, and isn't that a snafu? Fun illustrations and analogies, along with strong verbs, images, and a positive ending make this an enjoyable read.
bottom line: a good choice to read with your little one
The Strange Case of the Missing Sheep
by Mircea Catusanu
Viking, 2009
What happens when a flock of sheep go missing and a wolf is the prime suspect? It's a case for the incredible powers of Super Dog! ...Ah, if only the story was as exciting as my teaser would lead to you to believe... I actually found this fairly boring, apart from the funky illustrations.
Bottom line: not recommended
Viking, 2009
What happens when a flock of sheep go missing and a wolf is the prime suspect? It's a case for the incredible powers of Super Dog! ...Ah, if only the story was as exciting as my teaser would lead to you to believe... I actually found this fairly boring, apart from the funky illustrations.
Bottom line: not recommended
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
There's a Cow Under My Bed! / There's a Goldfish in my Shoe!
by Valerie Sherrard, illus by David Jardine
Tuckamore Books, 2008 / 2009
These fun, rhyming picture books star Oscar Ollie Brown, a boy who can't understand his mother. She says the strangest things: "You must have ants inside your pants," "A frog is in your throat," "Can't you hold your tongue?" "Be a lamb." Oscar Ollie Brown takes all her statements literally, which makes for some humorous interpretations and outcomes. These stories are very reminiscent of Tedd Arnold's Parts and More Parts, which are equally wonderful books. Rhyming is never easy - Valerie and Tedd just make it look so. In terms of text There's A COW Under My Bed! was justifiably nominated for a 2010 Blue Spruce Award.
I'm not so fond of the illustrations by David Jardine, however. While their cartoonish nature is appropriate, the colours are dark, morbid, and macabre, and the representations of characters and situations can only be described as creepy.
I believe there are more Oscar Ollie Brown books to come, and I will look forward to reading them while averting my gaze from the pictures. I can only hope that an alternate illustrator will be selected for the remaining texts, but I fear it's a faint hope indeed.
Tuckamore Books, 2008 / 2009
These fun, rhyming picture books star Oscar Ollie Brown, a boy who can't understand his mother. She says the strangest things: "You must have ants inside your pants," "A frog is in your throat," "Can't you hold your tongue?" "Be a lamb." Oscar Ollie Brown takes all her statements literally, which makes for some humorous interpretations and outcomes. These stories are very reminiscent of Tedd Arnold's Parts and More Parts, which are equally wonderful books. Rhyming is never easy - Valerie and Tedd just make it look so. In terms of text There's A COW Under My Bed! was justifiably nominated for a 2010 Blue Spruce Award.
I'm not so fond of the illustrations by David Jardine, however. While their cartoonish nature is appropriate, the colours are dark, morbid, and macabre, and the representations of characters and situations can only be described as creepy.
I believe there are more Oscar Ollie Brown books to come, and I will look forward to reading them while averting my gaze from the pictures. I can only hope that an alternate illustrator will be selected for the remaining texts, but I fear it's a faint hope indeed.
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