The Pigeon is back, and this time he’s joined by several other beloved Mo Willems characters in Pigeon Presents: Mo…on the Go! (Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications; $3.99 iOS; $2.99 Nook; PreS-Gr 1), an impressive app with a number of entertaining game options.

Child and adult narrators instruct users on how to operate the activities as upbeat piano music sets the playful tone. In the “Pigeon’s Dream Drive” children steer a bus driven by the Pigeon through a maze of streets. The object? To pick up ducklings without being caught by a mad cow. Honking horns, barking dogs, and quacking ducklings add to the fun.

“Dance-o-Rama,” featuring Gerald and Piggie, asks users to choose three dances for each character to perform on a stage to the tune of disco music. Leonardo the Terrible Monster hosts the “Monster Maker,” which requires swiping the screen to choose from an array of body parts to build a creature. Children can also create Knuffle Bunny-inspired pictures using the iPad camera. The sepia photos with stickers of characters from the book can then be saved or shared via email.

Willems makes cameo appearances in both the “Monster Maker” and “Dance-o- Rama” (where he shows off some fancy footwork), and he’s the host of the “Mo’s Squillems,” a drawing activity designed for one or two players. In that game, children create pictures based on a squiggly line provided on the page. Each visit brings a new line, offering endless possibilities.

Mo…on the Go! is more than just pure entertainment; it encourages imaginative play and problem solving. The variety of options, the focus on creativity, and Willems’s quirky humor will have young fans (and adults) returning again and again.—Cathy Potter, Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, ME

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, the prestigious award bestowed annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the “artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” First presented in 1938, the medal is named in honor of the 19th-century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott and features a scene that encapsulates the humor, vitality, and charm of his ground-breaking artwork (based on 1878’s The Diverting History of John Gilpin, the image shows the title character clinging to a runaway horse as flapping geese, yapping dogs, and gaping bystanders look on).

Encompassing an eye-tempting array of artistic styles and beautifully wrought images, the books adorned with the familiar gold Caldecott seal (or silver for honor books) present a treasure trove of tales ready to be discovered and enjoyed by enthusiastic young readers. For older students, the decades-spanning assemblage offers a rich opportunity for examination and discussion, providing a glimpse at the evolution of the picture book and children’s literature in the United States, an avenue for exploring the influence of historical events and cultural trends on bookmaking, and means for tracing changes and innovations in illustrative techniques and tools.

The award’s diamond anniversary is also the perfect occasion for launching a mock Caldecott election in the classroom, an endeavor that will engage youngsters in a wide range of grade levels. In addition to providing the impetus for lively debate, such a project can improve listening skills, help students to develop the vocabulary and thought processes needed to evaluate and discuss literature and art, encourage active participation, and engender a of love of reading. Visit the ALA website for a list of medal winners and honor books. A dedicated 75th Anniversary page includes a free-to-download bookmark featuring a special commerative logo created by 2008 Caldecott medalist Brian Selznick starring characters from past winners along with clues to their identities.

Why Should Kids Have All the Fun?

Indulge your own love of picture books by perusing some lovely coffee-table compendiums that treat renowned illustrators and their work. In addition to being a pleasure to read and browse, these books can inform classroom author and literature studies and provide insight into the amazing process of creating art.

Meet the Founding Father

In Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing (FSG, 2013), Leonard S. Marcus provides a vividly written portrait of the father of the modern picture book. Born in Chester, England, in 1846, the “tall, lanky, and good-looking” young man with “light brown hair that occasionally stood on end” left behind a boyhood spent sketching and wandering the countryside for a position as a bank clerk, eventually striking out for Manchester to take a similar post as “quill-driver” while testing the waters of a possible career in art.

Identifying mentors while always honing his craft, Caldecott sold numerous drawings to newspapers and magazines—now a burgeoning nationwide industry due to the invention of steam-engine-powered presses—before settling in London and making a name for himself as a book illustrator (critical acclaim and fame came with his work in 1875 on Washington Irving’s Old Christmas). When he finally turned his drawing pen to making books for children, his vivacious filled-with-motion style, irrepressible sense of humor, and innovative ideas about layout and design would forever change the genre.

Marcus’s articulate narrative incorporates keystone details and events to evoke the backdrop of Caldecott’s life—cherished pastimes, his penchant for poking fun at himself, and the invigorating spirit of change ignited by the Industrial Revolution—while pinpointing the enduring essence of his artwork. Handsome reproductions of Caldecott’s illustrations, unpublished drawings from his sketchbooks, and other works appear throughout, along with other 19th-century images that set time and place and make for easy comparison.

A Sendak Gallery

Elegant, oversized, and packed to the brim with gorgeous images, Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work (Abrams, 2013) is a delight to both browse and delve into.  Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Society of Illustrators in New York City, the book coincides with the 50th anniversary of Sendak’s game-changing Caldecott-winner, Where the Wild Things Are (Harper, 1963), as well as what would have been his 85th birthday (Sendak passed away in May of 2012). More than 200 reproductions are presented, many from private collections and never before published, representing the amazing scope and breathtaking spectrum of Sendak’s career.

In addition to studies, preliminary sketches, and variant illustrations made for well-known picture books, the volume also includes his advertising and commercial art (e.g., Bell Atlantic’s 1997 “Wild Things Are Happening” campaign), posters, storyboards for animation sequences, designs for stage productions (of his own work as well as operas and ballets), illustrations for magazines (a 1976 Rolling Stone cover showing the “Moishe” Wild Thing decked out as a Christmas tree), and more, each given context with thoughtfully written captions. Twelve essays penned by individuals with whom Sendak’s life intersected range from Leonard Marcus’s piece on Sendak’s seminal picture book trilogy to author/illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky’s reminiscence of taking Sendak’s picture book course at Yale. This stunning visual compendium is part critical exploration, part personal remembrance, and all-out tribute to a remarkable artist and his outstanding body of work.

The Power of the Doodle

Young fans of Knuffle Bunny, that beloved and beleaguered pigeon, and the “Elephant and Piggie” series (all Hyperion) know that Mo Willems is a funny guy, and in Don’t Pigeonhole Me!  (Disney, 2013), he proves that he can illicit just as many laughs from adults. For 20 years, this three-time Caldecott Honor recipient has been compiling an annual sketchbook intended to be distributed as “a calling card for clients and/or holiday card for friends.” Though the format has evolved since the stapled-together mini zine of his “starving artist” days, these booklets still serve as a “continuing experiment,” a place where Willems holds complete creative carte blanche and freedom “from any restrictions.” This cartooning crock pot has helped him cook up ideas for at least three of his picture books, including Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003).

‘Don’t Pigeonhole Me! ‘(Disney)  © Mo Willems

Twenty sketchbooks are reproduced, each set in the context of Willems’s career and life with a funny introduction. Earlier editions showcase adult-pitched New Yorker-style vignettes and sequences that treat relationship woes, offer wry glimpses of city life, and present droll perceptions of art and artists. Later volumes reveal Willems’s experimentation with a longer narrative form, design elements, and storytelling rhythms, including a tale about an “unaccomplished baddie” wolf would later inspire 2005’s Leonardo, the Terrible Monster; an early—and definitely not-for-kids—version of 2012’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs; and a “hard reader” starring an inebriated bunny who spouts a “drunken diatribe of words that merely sound like what they mean.”The final installment collects together doodles originally drawn on the butcher block paper that adorns the Willems family dinner table (characters that may, or may not, someday appear in a picture book). Great fun to browse and unabashedly hilarious, this book also reminds readers of the importance of experimentation and taking chances, of allowing one’s self the space to daydream, and of the awesome power of the doodle.

Why Picture Books?

Compiled and edited by Marcus, Show Me a Story!: Why Picture Books Matter (Candlewick, 2012) presents conversations with 21 renowned illustrators. Whether interviewing longtime picture book mavens such as Robert McCloskey, Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, Ashley Bryan, and Tana Hoban, or relative newcomers including Yumi Heo and Chris Raschka, philosophical thinkers like Mitsumasa Anno or humorous tale-tellers like James Marshall, Marcus focuses on teasing out the “vital thread that links an artist’s life story to the stories and images for which he or she is known.”

Why does a child grow up to become an artist? Who encouraged or mentored these individuals? What experiences inspired them? Why did they choose to make picture books? The lively interviews, each introduced with an insightful recounting of the artist’s career and important innovations, convey much about each individual’s personality as well as revealing truths about the creative process and the role picture books play in the lives of children.

The illustrators reflect on wide-ranging themes, touching upon the impact of historical and political events on one’s life, the realities of racial discrimination, milestones such as becoming a parent, the origins of their beloved characters, or the evolution of the art form. An inset of full-color reproductions showcases a selection of sketches, studies, dummies, and other pre-production work that sheds light on each artist’s illustrative process. An interesting read for anyone who loves picture books, this volume can be used to expand author studies and is s gem worth sharing with older students considering a career in the arts.

DIVAKARUNI, Chitra Banerjee. Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale. illus. by Suzy Pilgrim Waters. Roaring Brook /Neal Porter. 2013. ISBN 9781596433786. JLG Level: Primary (Grades K–1).

“Once upon a time, in a little village in India, there lived an old woman whom everyone called Grandma.” She loved to garden by her little hut near a deep, dark jungle. She also loved her two dogs, Kalu and Bhulu. They protected her, but they also helped her with the chores. One day Grandma decided to visit her daughter, but she’d have to go through the jungle where many dangerous animals lived. Thinking a little adventure never hurt anyone, she resolved to go. Her loyal companions promised to take care of the garden and listen for wild animals that may try to harm her. “If you get in trouble, just call for us.” And get in trouble she did. Bright colors illustrate this trickster folktale which is based on a story first told to the author by her grandfather.

MEISEL, Paul. See Me Dig. Holiday House. 2013. ISBN 9780823427437. JLG Level: P : Primary (Grades K–1).

Using a predictable text, with an anything but conclusion, Meisel tells the story of how a dog and his canine friends spend their day doing what they love to do—dig . The animals in the forest get mad, so they go somewhere else. Their united efforts reveal a treasure box, which they tug out of the sand. On opening the box, the expert diggers find angry pirate ghosts. They run away but the specters fly after them. A lone dog decides to take a stand to protect the others. Can he stop the incensed mob by himself? Geisel Honoree Meisel uses sparse dialogue in a surprisingly hilarious primary title that begs to be read again.

MOORE, Eva. Lucky Ducklings. illus. by Nancy Carpenter. Scholastic/Orchard. 2013. ISBN 9780439448611. JLG Level: Primary (Grades K–1).

In June 2000, at the end of Long Island, NY a mother duck hopped out of the pond and took her babies for a walk into town. It was a fine day for an outing. They even had a picnic while strolling along. Little did the mama duck realize that danger was just ahead. For there, in front of them, was a storm grate with wide openings. One by one, the ducklings stepped into the slots and fell down into the storm drain. “That could have been the end of the story, but it wasn’t.” Based on true events, the near-tragedy inspired the town to replace the storm drain grates with narrow openings

RASCHKA, Chris. Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle. Random/Schwartz & Wade. 2013. ISBN 9780375970078. JLG Level: Primary (Grades K–1).

“It’s like riding a bicycle—you never forget how.” Raschka’s newest watercolor picture book features a youngster who learns to ride a bicycle with a little coaching from a caring adult. Using a large, simple font to reveal her progress, she chooses a bike and an over-sized blue helmet. Then they watch others before her first attempt to ride. Training wheels are helpful, but the real test is finding your balance without them. Maybe riding in the grass or down a small hill is the secret to keeping her stabilized. After a tumble or two, they decide maybe not. Perhaps what they need is teamwork, because after all, everyone can learn to ride a bike.

WILLEMS, Mo. That is Not a Good Idea. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2013. ISBN 9780062203090. JLG Level: P+ : Primary (Grades K–1).

In melodramatic fashion, Willems introduces new characters–a hungry fox, a plump goose, and her baby geese. Using intertitles (white text on black background), readers see the story unfold, very much in the style of silent movies. The fox sees dinner, and elegantly asks for her for a stroll. She reluctantly agrees, but the goslings don’t think it’s a good idea. When he asks to go into the deep, dark woods, she thinks it sounds fun. The little ones think it is really not a good idea. As the goose gets closer to the cooking pot, her gaggle flaps their wings in warning–that is really, really not a good idea. Seemingly oblivious to the fox’s advances, our heroine blindly steps further into his trap, but she has her own good idea. (And yes, our favorite characters are subtly hidden in the illustrations.)

For strategies about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Author interviews: “Writers Speak to Kids” is a free series of 17 videos from NBC Learn that features interviews with popular and award-winning children’s books creators. The authors, responding to questions posed by NBC News correspondent Jenna Bush Hager, talk about their writing process and experiences. The series launched on September 17, with interviews of Peter Brown, Doreen Cronin, Jeff Kinney, Daniel Kirk, and Mo Willems. Gordon Korman, Ridley Pearson, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Philip Stead, Rebecca Stead, Clare Vanderpool, and Jacqueline Woodson are among the other authors that will be interviewed during the fall. The program is intended to inspire students and help them learn about creative writing techniques.

Mora Award Winner

Día celebration: The Lynden Public Library of the Whatcom County Library System in Washington has won the 2012 Estela and Raúl Mora Award for exemplary efforts promoting El día de los niños, El día de los libros (Children’s Day, Book Day). More than 250 people attended the festivities, and each child was given a book. The event featured craft activities led by bilingual teen volunteers, and had several storytimes that ended with a game of lotería (Mexican bingo) with books given as prizes. There was also a disc jockey, a piñata, and other games. The Lynden Public Library will receive $1,000 and a special plaque. “What resonated with the committee was the grassroots involvement of Lynden’s Día,” said Beatriz Pascual Wallace, Mora Award chair. “There was a strong sense of community connection with this event, of everyone coming together to plan, celebrate, and share.”

For the first time, three honor awards were given: the District of Columbia Public Library, King County (WA) Library System, and Sacramento (CA) Public Library each received $300. The award, presented annually in partnership with REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish speaking, was established in 2000 by author/poet Pat Mora and her siblings to honor their parents. The award will be presented during the American Library Association’s (ALA) Midwinter meeting in January 2013 in Seattle.

Common Core

Free writing rubrics: Turnitin, in partnership with the English Professional Learning Council, has made writing rubrics developed to align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) available free to educators. The rubrics for argumentative, narrative, and informative essay assignments for 9th and 10th graders and 11th and 12th graders help instructors explain to students what is expected of them, assess student work, and track their progress. You can also watch a free video on the Common Core writing rubrics.

Early Learning

Digital content: Capstone’s myOn reader has expanded its collection of early childhood reading content with the inclusion of hundreds of enhanced digital titles from eight additional publishers: Bellwether, August House, Little Folk, August House Story Cove, Orca, Rourke, Speakaboos, and Sylvan Dell.

Launched in 2011, myOn reader is a personalized literacy program that offers access to an integrated library of digital books with reading supports, customized to a student’s interest and reading abilities. Teachers can monitor, track, and measure student reading growth. To date, myOn reader offers more than 2,500 books. These titles include reading supports such as an embedded dictionary, highlighting, and audio. “Reading proficiency is the foundational aspect of learning, so building students’ literacy skills early is critical to putting them on the path to success throughout school and beyond,” said Todd Brekhus, president of Capstone Digital. “The expanded collection of early childhood content available on myON reader combines a student’s love of technology with their innate curiosity and interest in learning.”

A Booklist for Teens

Best books: Sixteen school and public libraries have been selected by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), as official book groups for their Teens’ Top Ten, a booklist created by and for teens. Groups of young adults from these libraries nominate titles published during the 2013-2014 calendar year to create the Teens’ Top Ten nominations. Then, it’s up to teens across the country to vote for their three favorites. When the ballots are tallied, the Top Ten list is created. And that’s not the only job for these teen book groups. They also evaluate books for more than 30 publishers. New groups are chosen every two years.

The libraries that have been selected are: BHS Book Club, Barrington (IL) High School; Book Hook, Cecil County Public Library, Elkton, MD; Bookhype, Perry Branch Library/Perry High School, Gilbert, AZ; Bookmarked, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA; CCHS YA Galley Group, Concord-Carlisle (MA) Regional High School; Greene Teens Review Board, Springfield-Greene (MO) County Library; HCRHS Bookworms, Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Flemington, NJ; Interesting Reader Society, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO; McReaders, Oakridge Middle School, Clover, SC; Mount Carmel Academy Book Club, Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, LA; PPL Teen Book Club, Prescott (AZ) Public Library; Read, Read, and Read Some More, Milton (VT) Middle School and High School; The TABbler, La Vista (NE) Public Library; Teen Book Posse, TAB, and Q Club, Kitsap Regional Library, WA; Teens Know Best, Metropolitan State University and St. Paul (MN) Public Library; Young Adult Advisory Councils, Johnson County Library, Shawnee Mission, KS.

Granted

Literacy skills: Want to help teens in grades 10–12 learn news literacy skills like distinguishing between fact, and opinion and between propaganda and news? Public libraries and library consortia can apply for more than $50,000 in grant money from the News Know-how initiative. Funded by the Open Society Foundations and administered by the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), students get training and support from librarians, journalists, and news ethicists.

Participating libraries select 12–15 diverse students from the 10–12 grades from their community. The students must attend about 25 hours of training during the summer 2013 and complete a team project that requires about 25 hours of outside work. All students who complete the project receive a stipend. Make sure to apply by December 8.

Book donations: Three Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grants are available for underfunded libraries, schools, and non-traditional organizations that provide educational services to children. Recipients of the grants will receive more than 100 titles submitted for consideration for the 2013 Coretta Scott King Book Awards as well as all the winning books. You have until January 31 to apply for the grant (make sure you click on Book Donation Grant after you log on). Winners will be notified in February.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are presented each year by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee of the American Library Association’s Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) “to encourage the artistic expression of the African-American experience via literature and the graphic arts.”

Related TeachingBooks.net resources »»»

Whether they are taking their first steps and beginning to sound out words or making leaps and bounds toward decoding longer sentences and more complex story plots, emergent readers benefit from high-quality books that grab their interest and support their efforts. These recently published easy-reader offerings combine well-written and appropriately leveled narratives with vibrant illustrations that enhance the text with visual details and contextual clues. Ranging from funny tales to nonfiction, these books are guaranteed to reel in readers and keep them turning pages.

Great Beginnings
Lushly illustrated and sized somewhere between a traditional easy reader and a picture book, the volumes in Holiday House’s “I Like to Read” series are just right for beginners. The texts incorporate high-frequency and easy-to-decode words, short sentences, and helpful repetition, and the generous format leaves plenty of room for large reader-friendly fonts and eye-fetching artwork.

Emily Arnold McCully’s Late Nate in a Race stars a “slow”-moving mouse who dawdles while his family eats breakfast and gets ready to go. After arriving at the park, his raring-to-go siblings jump into place at the race’s starting line. Nate is reluctant to join in (“No./I like to go slow”) until his mother insists, and, despite a sluggish start, he “zips” ahead of the pack to win (“Nate likes to go slow—/and fast”). Warm-hued watercolors depict the action, which builds to a satisfying and smile-inducing conclusion.

Rebecca and Ed Emberley’s color-drenched artwork depicts the adventures of a group of Mice on Ice  with bold lines and striking geographic shapes. As the critters soar blithely across a frozen pond, their skates leave behind a pattern that looks familiar: “What is that?/That is a cat/That is a cat with a hat.” Bursting to life in vivid reds and oranges, the grinning feline enthusiastically joins the mice on the ice (“Nice!”). In addition to providing visual clues, the bold illustrations expand the very simple text into an imagination-stirring fantasy, inviting readers to verbalize their own version of the events.

In Michael Garland’s Fish Had a Wish  (all Holiday House, 2012; K-Gr 2), the protagonist daydreams about taking on the unique abilities of various creatures (“I wish I were a bird!…I could fly high up/in the sky” or “If I were a bobcat,/I could have spots”). However, after gobbling down a tasty mayfly, the narrator remembers, “It is good to be a fish.” Filled with pleasing rhythms, the text is both lyrical and accessible. The earth-toned images provide realistic depictions of each critter, emphasizing the characteristics highlighted in the text and helping readers to match pictures to words. Use the author’s format as a template—“I wish I were…” followed by “I could…”—and have your students verbalize, write, and illustrate their own becoming-an-animal aspirations.

Funny-Bone Ticklers
Pig Has a Plan (Holiday House, 2012; K-Gr 2) to take a nap, but the rest of the farmyard animals have other ideas—“Cat wants to pop” (puncturing helium balloons being blow up by frazzled mice), “Rat wants to mix” (a bowl of cake batter), “Hog wants to hum” (while spreading out a festive table cloth), “Pup wants to bop” (to music blasting from a boom box), and more. Fed up with the hubbub, the pig finds a clever way to get some quiet (submersing his head in the mud while breathing through a straw), just as his friends launch the birthday bash that they had been preparing for all along. Bubbling with humor, Ethan Long’s dynamic cartoon artwork adds plenty of zip to the text and keeps readers engaged in the happenings.

Combining colorful cartoon artwork with short-and-snappy dialogue balloons, Jeff Mack presents six brief tales about Frog and Fly  (Philomel, 2012; K-Gr 2). Most of the encounters between this predator-prey pairing end up with Frog extending a hot-pink tongue and gulping down gullible Fly with a satisfied “Slurp” (though Fly finally serves his nemesis his just desserts by orchestrating a meeting between the amphibian and “a frog-slurping bear”). Utilizing a limited vocabulary and simple sentences, Mack packs the text with witty wordplay and perfect comic timing, and the illustrations provide useful visual clues while topping off the slapstick humor. Kids will want to read it over and over again.

Mo Willems’s “Elephant and Piggie” series continues to inspire new readers—and an abundance of giggles—with Let’s Go for a Drive!. Always a careful planner, Gerald the elephant enlists the aid of his ever-enthusiastic porcine sidekick to assemble all of the essentials for a successful jaunt (map, sunglasses, umbrellas, etc.), before realizing that they are missing a key ingredient: a car. Luckily, Piggie comes up with a plan of his own. In The Duckling Gets a Cookie?! (both Hyperion, 2012; K-Gr 2), the short-fused Pigeon throws one of his trademark temper tantrums—accompanied by dramatic color shifts and appropriately large-font text—over the fact that a tiny, adorable duckling has received a cookie from the reader, just by asking. Like the other offerings in this good-as-gold series, this book’s simple text and exuberant cartoon artwork blend laugh-out-loud moments with heartwarming themes of enduring friendship to encourage and electrify emergent readers.

Friendships and Families
Two feline friends, one cheerfully upbeat and the other a curmudgeon, return for another lighthearted adventure in Mac and Cheese and the Perfect Plan (2012). It’s a hot day, and Mac is determined to get his best pal out of the alley where they live and off to the seashore. However, by the time the grumpy Cheese agrees to go—and assembles a truckload of must-have items (“A kite. A dish./A chair. A fish” and much more)—they miss the bus. Never fear, Cheese finds a way to ease Mac’s disappointment and save the day. As in Mac and Cheese  (2010, both Harper; K-Gr 2), Sarah Weeks artfully utilizes repetition and rhyme to tell a tale filled with gentle humor. Jane Manning’s watercolor artwork delineates the setting, supports the text with clear details, and offers depictions of the characters that emphasize their very different personalities—as well as their true affection for one another.

Kevin Henkes, creator of Lily (of the purple purse), brave Shelia Rae, blanket-owning Owen, and other enchantingly child-like mice, has introduced another endearing character. In Penny and Her Song, the spirited protagonist arrives home from school excited to sing her just-made-up ditty, but has to wait until the time is right before sharing it with her family. It’s love at first sight between Penny and Her Doll  (both 2012), just arrived from Grandma, and the mouse must think carefully before deciding upon the perfect name for her new playmate. In Penny and Her Marble  (2013; all Greenwillow; K-Gr 2) the youngster finds a dazzling object in her neighbor’s yard and is instantly captivated; later, feeling guilty about taking the marble, she decides to return it to Mrs. Goodwin, and is met by a wonderful surprise. Ranging from impatience, to joy, to remorse, Penny’s emotions ring true, and readers will empathize with the familiar challenges she faces. From the pastel-colored covers, framed with borders of spring-hued blooms, throughout each book’s interior, the artwork overflows with buoyantly depicted action, text-elucidating details, and warmhearted charm.

It’s Time to Read
Two lively offerings provide opportunity to combine reading fluency practice with a lesson on telling time. Margery Cuyler’s Tick Tock Clock  (Harper, 2012; K-Gr 1) uses terse, toe-tapping rhymes to describe the hour-by-hour doings of a pair of energetic twins as they keep their grandmother busy throughout a fun-filled day. Activities include painting (“Tick tock./Ten o’clock./Tick tock./Messy smocks”), a trip to the park (“Tick tock./Two o’clock./Tick tock./Chase a flock”), and dinner (“Tick tock./Five o’clock./Tick tock./Cook in the wok”). Robert Neubecker’s jaunty artwork imbues the characters with sparkling personality.

Traveling via bus and train, Bear Takes a Trip  (Barefoot, 2012; K-Gr 2) from the city to the mountains, where he and a friend hike, sail, and have a great time. Stella Blackstone’s rhyming verses describe each leg of the journey (“He makes his bed and washes his face./He eats his breakfast and packs his case”) while Debbie Harter’s breezy artwork depicts details and jewel-toned scenery. The time—presented in both digital format and on a clock face—is indicated on each spread.

Use a large demonstration clock and/or smaller student-held mini-clocks to represent the times featured in both of these tales and have your students practice reading the hands. Discuss typical morning and afternoon activities, make a list on the board, and compare to the characters’ actions in both stories.

Just the Facts: Quality Nonfiction
Part of National Geographic’s lineup of beginning readers, Laura Marsh’s Caterpillar to Butterfly  (2012; K-Gr 2) blends simple, clearly written text with outstanding color photos to outline this insect’s amazing metamorphosis. This attractively laid-out book not only grabs readers’ interest, but also provides them with a solid introduction to informational texts: scientific terminology is employed throughout the narrative (along with definitions and pronunciations), points are illustrated with well-chosen images, species featured in the photos are identified, and captions effectively expand upon the content. The volume ends with additional facts, advice on making a butterfly garden, and an identify-the-images quiz. Kids and educators can visit the “National Geographic Super Readers” website part of a program designed to support and rev up emergent readers, to browse other titles in the series, download bookmarks and incentive badges, play games, and more.

Nic Bishop Spiders (2012) pairs easy-reading sentences with astounding up-close images to introduce arachnids. The writing is simultaneously accessible, fact-filled, and animated: “…the spider oozes digestive juices on its meal. This turns the prey’s insides to goo, so the spider can suck them into its stomach” (digestive juices, prey, and other terms are defined in a glossary). The pictures are spectacular, and a photo index identifies species and encourages readers to flip back through the book and practice locating information. Nic Bishop Butterflies is also available (2011, both Scholastic; Gr 1-2).

David Macaulay, author of numerous nonfiction classics such as The New Way Things Work (1998) and Cathedral (1973, both Houghton), applies his genius for conveying information through an inviting combo of illustration and text to a new series of easy readers. Focusing on high-interest topics, two offerings immediately engage readers by addressing them directly with second-person narratives. Asking, “Are you friend or foe?,” Castle  first takes youngsters within the “tall towers,/thick stone walls,/doors of wood and iron” to tour the structure and investigate its workings, and then pulls back to describe a siege by enemy soldiers.

Jet Plane  (both Macmillan, 2012; Gr 1-3) puts readers into a passenger seat and explains the mechanics of an airline flight from takeoff to landing. Written in a dynamic tone and warmed with touches of humor, both texts incorporate vocabulary appropriate to the subject matter and end with “Words to Know.” Detailed indexes facilitate information seeking. The appealing artwork utilizes a variety of viewpoints, close-ups, cutaways, and diagrams to aid in decoding the text and to expand upon the content.

Folklore Fun
Most children know the story of “The Three Little Pigs,” and Claudia Rueda’s Huff & Puff  (Abrams Appleseed, 2012; K-Gr 2) provides an opportunity for students to utilize their familiarity with the tale to support their reading efforts and appreciate the entertaining spin on the plot. Peering through the cut-out hole on the book’s cover, youngsters take on the role of the big bad wolf, watching each pig “building a house,” standing “inside the house,” and then “huffing and puffing” to blow the structure down (“First pig is not happy”). So it goes until the third pig’s brick home proves indestructible (and a look within the dwelling provides a delightful “SURPRISE!” for both the wolf and readers). The simple text, high-spirited artwork, and interactive element add up to a satisfying experience for emergent readers. Enhance comprehension by having your students discuss the plot of this upbeat retelling and make comparisons to other renditions.

Melissa Wiley retells and expands upon an Aesop’s fable in Fox and Crow Are NOT Friends (Random House, 2012; Gr 1-3). Three entertaining chapters describe how these two enemies repeatedly—and humorously—try to outwit one another to earn bragging rights along with a tasty piece of cheese. Sebastien Braun clearly depicts the animals’ antics with lighthearted artwork in sherbet hues. The straightforward text, amusing illustrations, and hilarious rivalry will encourage developing readers to persevere. Expand the reading experience by sharing other fables, and having your students come up with “what happens next…” scenarios.

The activities suggested above reference the following Common Core State Standards:

RL. 1.1. Ask and answer questions about key detail in a text.
RL. 1.9. Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
RL. 2.3. Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
RI. 1.5. Know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text.
RF. K.4 Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.
RF. 1.4. Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

Related TeachingBooks.net resources »»»

ASTON, Dianna Hutts. A Rock is Lively. illus. by Sylvia Long. Chronicle. 2012. ISBN 9781452106458. JLG Level: NEK: Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K-2)

The team that brought us An Egg is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006) is back this fall with a new nonfiction picture book about a well-loved topic—rocks. In their award-winning style, Hutts and Long tell the multi-faceted story about how rocks are made, how they help us, and how we use them. Gorgeous illustrations (even on the end pages) strengthen the text. You’ll want to add this to your geology collection and perhaps put a few rock samples nearby.

BANG, Molly and Penny Chisholm. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas. illus. by Molly Bang. Scholastic/Blue Sky. 2012. ISBN 9780545273220. JLG Level: SCE: Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2-6)

The pair behind Living Sunlight (Scholastic) brings us Ocean Sunlight for the fall. Though it may seem there are so many facts included in the few short pages of the picture book, there are far more phytoplankton in the seas. The earth’s surface is 75% water. From those that eat the phytoplankton to those who eat marine snow (“poop and mucus, carcasses and guts”), the ocean is full of life and food. Back matter includes even more facts to share with our voracious readers.

HALL, Michael. Cat Tale. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. ISBN  9780061915161. JLG Level: P: Primary (Grades K-1)

It’s math. It’s language. It’s art. It’s lots of fun. Hall is back (My Heart is Like a Zoo) with a new geometrical rhyming adventure for the young and young at heart. Lillian, Tilly, and William J. explore the world as words lead the way. “They pack some books and kitty chews. They choose a spot. They spot some ewes.” Somewhere along the way, things get jumbled up, but they straighten out the tale, and start their adventure again. Bright pictures and a large font add to the ease of sharing this book with a group.

HOOD, Susan. Spike, the Mixed-Up Monster. illus. by Melissa Sweet. S & S/Paula Wiseman. Sept. 2012. ISBN 9781442406018. JLG Level: K: Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K)

Sometimes a picture book does more than entertain at storytime. Such is the case in this title. Spike wants to be a big scary monster, but he’s actually tiny and cute. When a scary Gila monster arrives on the scene, Spike accidentally saves the day and becomes the hero. Readers will love the underdog theme and the surprising Gila monster. In addition to offering a moral to the story, the book includes photos and facts about Spike and his friends. It’s also bilingual and includes a Spanish word glossary. Brilliant!

WILLEMS, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2012. ISBN 9780062104182. HE: Humor Elementary (grades 2-6)

Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.” Even without the illustrations, you can’t help but laugh. The story begs to be read aloud–again and again. Willems’ hilarious retelling of Goldilocks is a surefire winner. And it’s Mo Willems. Enough said.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.