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BANKS, Kate. The Bear in the Book. illus. by Greg Hallensleben. 40p. Farrar/Frances Foster. Oct. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-30591-8.
PreS–In this deceptively simple bedtime story, a boy snuggles up with his mother to read his favorite book. It is about a bear going to sleep for the winter, and together they look at the pictures and talk about the text. “‘Do bears really sleep all winter long?’ asked the boy.” He turns the page and notices the snow. “‘Snow is [...]
Amidst all the stories filled with angst, broken hearts, and vampires, books that make you laugh-out-loud are a welcome respite. This fall offers many selections for young readers that will tickle their funny bone. Be sure to read these aloud. We could all use a good laugh from time to time.
What’s the secret behind a successful picture book? Although the best ones are often informational, they’re also mischievous, subversive, and exhilarating, says Patti Lee Gauch, a former editorial director at Philomel Books who has edited three Caldecott-winning books.
MARSALIS, Wynton. Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! illus. by Paul Rogers. 40p. Candlewick. Oct. 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3991-4.
PreS-Gr 1–Who better to lead children in a celebration of sound than jazz virtuoso Wynton Marsalis? From the “tluck…tlock” of a dripping faucet and the “Chrrick chrrrick” of toast being buttered to the noises of trucks, drums, and washboards, the musician gives voice to the sounds enveloping an African American boy throughout the day. The setting, established by the wrought iron balconies [...]
Author Dianne Ochiltree and Fire Captain Susan Peterson, the first female firefighter in Sarasota, FL, at a book launch party for Molly by Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter (Calkins Creek, 2012).
On August 31, Candlewick launched a yearlong video celebration of picture books in honor of their 20th anniversary. Every day for 365 days, as part of the We Believe in Picture Books campaign, Candlewick will offer a video shot by authors, illustrators, staff, and friends, sharing what picture books mean to them, recommending a favorite story, and more. Librarians and teachers are welcome to post these videos on their own websites to share with students. You can also submit your own video to the publisher in which you informally talk about your favorite picture book, what the format means to you, or why it matters.
FLORIAN, Douglas. Shiver Me Timbers!: Pirate Poems & Paintings. illus. by Robert Neubecker. 32p. CIP. S & S/Beach Lane Bks. Aug. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1321-4; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5712-6. LC 2010048963.
Gr 2-5–From the smiling, rollicking kids on the cover laying claim to a beach full of treasure to the shipload of fierce, sneering, plundering, cutlass-waving, face-making buccaneers, boastful of their scurrilous behavior, these pirates are a motley group. In 19 poems, they teach “Pirate Patter” and punishment and describe some [...]
As summer comes to a close, we think of things we love: walks on the beach, watermelons, and time to read whatever we want. So as you gear up for the fall, take that last walk on the beach, go to your farmer’s market and select fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner, and settle down in your cozy backyard chair with a pile of books from your favorite authors. Take a look at these new titles from some of our literature stars.
Ideal for helping youngsters wind down from a busy day, The Family Bedtime Treasury: Tales for Sleepy Times and Sweet Dreams (HMH, 2012; PreS-Gr 3) presents a cozy collection of eight beautifully reproduced slumber-themed picture books and eight illustrated poems. The offerings represent an enticing variety of storytelling moods and artistic styles guaranteed to hold the eye and ear of young listeners.
Jose Aruego, best known for illustrating Robert Kraus’s Leo the Late Bloomer (Windmill, 1971), died August 9 in New York City on his 80th birthday.
Remy Charlip, dancer, actor, and an award-winning author and illustrator of more than 30 children’s books including I Love You (Scholastic, 1999) and Mother Mother I Feel Sick (Parents’ Magazine Press, 1966), died August 14. He was 83.
Julia Child, the noted chef, author, and TV personality, would have turned 100 on August 15—and two picture books are now on sale in time for the big day.
Election Day is just around the corner, providing bountiful opportunities for exploration and discussion in the classroom. Add a little pizzazz to your investigations of past and present office holders and the election process with books that blend a bit of fun with the facts. Ranging from poetry to graphic novels to biography, the titles featured here utilize eye-catching formats and winsome artwork to bring their topics to life and entertain while they educate.
With the start of a new school year just around the corner, it’s nice to have someone you can trust to take the edge off the newness. The latest titles from our favorite authors for primary readers may just fit the bill. From fiction to nonfiction, these books promise to deliver exactly what you expect—a great story and the comfort of finding an old friend.
WOLF, Karina. The Insomniacs. illus. by The Brothers Hilts. 32p. Putnam. Aug. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25665-3.
K-Gr 2–The spindly legged, pale Insomniac family–Mother, Father and little Mika–lead a regular diurnal life until Mrs. Insomniac gets a new job “twelve time zones away.” Once they arrive at their new home, the family members live up to their name and goth visages–despite their efforts, they cannot fall asleep at night but snooze at work and school. Unable to rectify this dire situation [...]
SLJ caught up with author-illustrator Tad Hills about Rocket Writes a Story (Random, 2012), which follows a loveable dog as he tries to write his own book, and is the sequel to the bestselling picture book How Rocket Learned to Read (Random, 2010).
Else Homelund Minarik, the Danish-born author of the hugely popular “Little Bear” (HarperCollins) series for beginning readers, died July 12 at her home in Sunset Beach, NC, of complications following a heart attack. She was 91.
More than 500 people gathered in New York City yesterday for a morning of stories, music, and video clips to celebrate the life of artist and children’s book author Maurice Sendak, who died May 7 in Danbury, CT, following complications from a recent stroke.
Inspired by real family events, and told through the eyes of her granddaughter Natalie, Second Lady Jill Biden’s Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops (S & S, 2012) tells the story of what life was like when her son Beau was deployed to Iraq for a year.
The picture book isn’t dead—in fact, it might be entering a golden age, say some of the most talented and innovative children’s book creators during SLJ’s Day of Dialog.
