NO NO YES YES (PICTURE BOOK)

PICTURE BOOK
NO NO YES YES by Leslie Patricelli (Candlewick)

Silly, silly, silly and as pitch-perfect as a baby's scream on an airplane are Patricelli's board books, capturing the discoveries and tribulations of the diaper set. Whether learning the proper use of the potty or the peg mallet, giving daddy chase or obligingly holding hands, sitting demurely amidst toys in the tub or having a "eureka!" moment with a finger up the nose, this fetching little baldy plays out baby's best and most natural instincts on every page. Black outlines (a la Lucy Cousins' Maisy) against bold scritchy-scratched acrylic backgrounds happily catch and hold the eye. All of Leslie Patricelli's books brim with plenty to recognize for both parent and child; this, along with BABY HAPPY, BABY SAD, are her latest. Pair her titles with a nice "Born to Read" onesie for a sweet little shower gift. Yes, yes!

Also of interest:
Let's keep on keepin' it short and sweet...for the shortest and the sweetest: babies! It's never to early to start reading aloud, you know!

WHO'S HIDING? by Satoru Onishi (Kane/Miller) Who's hiding? Who's crying? Who has horns? Who's sleeping? Who's backwards? Who can possibly resist the simple and recognizable patterns of snazzy stylized animals, all lined up for your child's repeated point-at-the-picture pleasure? Colors, animals, and a keen eye are all honed in this cleanly designed and clever concept book.

PEEK-A-WHO? by Nina Laden (Chronicle) Peek-a-Moo? It's a cow! Peek-a-Boo? It's a friendly little ghost! Peek-a-Choo-Choo? Look what's coming down the track! Peek-a-Zoo? All the animal friends have come to say hello! And as for peek-a-YOU, there is a little child-safe "mirror" for the grand finale and a big smile. The cuteness quotient is off the charts, and even the smallest children will love the confidence of knowing what comes next. An oldie but goodie, this little book is sure to be a big hit at your house, if it isn't already.

CLASSIC ANIMAL STORIES, compiled by Cooper Edens (Chronicle) All right, I know this is cheating as it is not a book for babies per se, but my goodness, it's hard to imagine entering kindergarten without having sampled every bit of what's between these bindings. Lovely mannered original versions, poems and excerpts abound from very classic work such as The Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Lassie, Peter Rabbit, The Ugly Duckling, Goldilocks, Octopus's Garden, Zippity Doo-Dah, Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Spider and the Fly, The Frog Prince, The Owl and the Pussycat, as well as choice excerpts from Lewis Carrol, Aesop, A. A. Milne, Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and mucho Mother Goose. Whether you whip it out when you're not sure how to make a conversation with a nursing baby or using it to send off a preschooler's nodding head to dreamland, this treasury has an accent on treasure, and will serve a child's recognition of literary allusions for years to come. Bedecked with classic turn-of-the-century artwork, you may need a second copy to rip out pages (gasp!) for framing and decoupage.

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

ME HUNGRY! (PICTURE BOOK)

PICTURE BOOK
ME HUNGRY! by Jeremy Tankard (Candlewick)

What's a caveboy to do when his parents are too busy to find him a snack? Go hunting, of course! After earnest but unsuccessful attempts with a bunny, a porcupine and a saber-tooth tiger, he finally encounters a woolly mammoth, but has our loinclothed lad bit off more than he can chew? This title does exactly what a good picture book should do: it uses a minimal amount of text paired with simple, bold and expressive illustrations tell a sweet story of friendship and cooperation. While there is not enough mammoth meat to serve for a storytime main course, this picture book "short" will be a welcome and often-requested addition to your rotation. Visit the author's promotional video on YouTube, and check out his other popular pick, GRUMPY BIRD (Scholastic), a contagious cure for the bad-mood blues. Fans of Mo Willems' brevity and wit will find a new friend in Tankard, and with any luck, this author might enjoy equal success. We hungry for more. (3 and up)

Also of interest:
All right, we have a cave-comrade for the little ones, how about a Cro-Magnon man for the older set?
STIG OF THE DUMP by Clive King, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone (Puffin Modern Classics) is about a little boy who discovers a gruff little caveman living in the quarry near his grandmother's house, and shares a series of inventive adventures, kind of British and anecdotal like Mary Poppins but with a lot more mischief and grunting. Though little Barney openly shares his excitement about his new companion, they dismiss Stig as a figment of imagination. My son's middle name is Edward after this wonderful illustrator (my husband thinks it's after Edward Gorey, but no matter, it's win-win), and Ardizzone's sketchy genius makes for perfect gritty and shadowed accents. I hear the audio read by Tony Robinson is very good, though I have not listened myself...yet! In any event, it should be read aloud in serial form, as it is perfect for funny voices and summer bedtime reading. Oh, to find a friend like Stig! (7 and up)

On a personal note:
Oooo, with this theme I can't resist the chance to share one of my favorite numbers by my all-time favorite movie star, the saucy and sensational Ann Miller!!! Here she is with Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munchin, and Betty Garrett in the film "On The Town" (1949). Why the producers felt the need to throw in that stereotypical "ooga-booga" weirdness is beyond me, but please ignore the dated stuff and instead pay attention to the timeless appeal, namely the world's greatest emerald green dress, and the eighth and ninth wonders of the world: Ann's legs like butter, topped with toesies clocked at 500 taps a minute. "I love self-expression!"

Cracks me up every time.

WE ARE THE SHIP (NONFICTION) and many more baseball at-bats

NONFICTION
WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL by Kadir Nelson (Hyperion)

"We look back and wonder, "How did we do all that?" It's simple. We loved the game so much, we just looked past everything else. We were ballplayers. There was nothing we would have rather spent our time doing.

Imagine that you are child in the box seats of the great baseball game of history, and sitting right beside you, giving the play-by play, is a man who had been around the block and around the bases of the Negro leagues of the early 20th century, a man who wanted to whisper to you all the secrets, truths and legends of his day before it fades past memory; imagine that can really happen, that such a gift can be given, and you have a sense of the spell cast by this formidable book. The dust is stirred, the crowd is heard, and the crack of the bat and the sting of the mitt sings, sings, sings in these pages. Via first-person voice (which takes a little getting used to, but then becomes incomparably warm and confiding), readers discover a parallel sports universe, a dream manifested by some powerhouse business visionaries who created a league of their own, with rules that bent (six foot curve balls, sharpened spikes for sliding, umpires chased over center-field fences?!) and heroes that were larger than life. Descriptive and well-researched chapters celebrate the greats, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell and beyond, and allow us to travel across the country with them as far as the Jim Crow flies, across the border to Cuba, and then, so bravely across the color line. Stoic painted portraits capture the serene beauty and almost loneliness of the field, the power of every sinewy muscle of the bat-swinging, ball-throwing arms, the dignity of every set jaw, and a double-page fold-out group portrait of the "First Colored World Series" will take. Your breath. Away. Nelson managed to match if not out-do the stirring visual tribute he gave in Ntozake Shange's ELLINGTON WAS NOT A STREET, and proved that his pen is as mighty as his brush. (And that's pretty mighty!)

A grand slam of sports history, African American history and All-American history, it's sure to sweep the ALA awards series and is the perfect gift for any baseball fan, but even more than that, it contains a piece of America that every child deserves to know. (8 and up)

This review is dedicated to my son and the most ravenous sports fan I know,
Russell (who just turned 13...proud of you!),
and to the memory of my Grandpa Sy (1918-1993),
who was a white bat boy for the Philadelphia Stars...
how he would have loved this book!

In their honors, how about we go in for a few extra innings of baseball books?:

First things first, let's get the Jackie love-in out of the way:
JACKIE'S BAT by Marybeth Lorbiecki, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Simon and Schuster) (6 and up) A fictionalized account from Jackie Robinson's bat boy is the vehicle for an accessible story about tolerance and how people even during times of terrible intolerance have still stepped up to the plate. Fans of Jackie Robinson will also love Myron Uhlberg's DAD, JACKIE AND ME (Peachtree) (7 and up), based on the author's experience of being the child of a deaf sports fan; the stirring scrapbook-style life story; PROMISES TO KEEP: HOW JACKIE ROBINSON CHANGES AMERICA by Jackie's daughter Sharon Robinson (Scholastic) (8 and up); STEALING HOME by Ellen Schwartz (Tundra) (10 and up), a well-developed novel about a mixed-race boy who finds hope and acceptance in his family and beyond, thanks to Jackie's rising star; then there's one of my very favorite children's books of all time, the brilliant novel IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR AND JACKIE ROBINSON by Bette Bao Lord and illustrated by Marc Simont (Harper) (10 and up), about how baseball impacts a new immigrant. Gosh, if I could just get through reading that last chapter out-loud and not choking up...and I don't mean on my bat! Sigh!

HEROES OF BASEBALL by Robert Lipsyte (Atheneum) Gorgeous photos accented by commentary from an author who clearly loves and knows the game. Lots of pictures and lots of text, this one's a hot dog with all the trimmings for the hard-core young fan. (10 and up)

PLAYERS IN PIGTAILS by Shana Corey, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon (Scholastic) Did you know that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was inspired by a player from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the tuen of the last century? Irresistible retro illustrations with smart, subtle humor add to this book's substantial charm. (6 and up)

BALLPARK: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S BASEBALL FIELDS by Lynn Curlee (Atheneum) Elegant and well-researched exploration of the history architecture behind the game's dreamiest fields, past and present. (8 and up)

BAT 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff (Sholastic) An oldie but goodie (which means it's available in paperback), this provocative piece of historical fiction follows a girl's baseball team as two players struggle, one Japanese girl recently out of internment, and one girl who has lost her father in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A brave storyline with plenty to discuss in mother-daughter book clubs or classrooms. (10 and up) A picture book on the same theme is the powerful BASEBALL SAVED US by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee (Lee and Low) (8 and up).

Also an oldie-but-favorite on the baseball fiction shelf is Alfred Slote's FINDING BUCK McHENRY (HarperTrophy), about a boy who tries to "out" his school janitor as a catcher from the Negro Leagues. Plenty to learn and to discuss for baseball enthusiasts! (9 and up)

JUST LIKE JOSH GIBSON by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Beth Peck (Simon and Schuster) Seems African American men weren't the only ones to get hit by some discriminatory pitches, as young fan of the Negro Leagues takes a swing at her baseball dream in her pink dress. Language sails over the fence and the illustrator calls "I've got it!" with beautiful and evocative pastels. (6 and up)

THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD by Phil Bildner, illustrated by C.F. Payne (Simon and Schuster) Folksy recounting of the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers' and New York Giants playoffs of 1951, told from the POV of the fans of the losing team. Wait'll next year! (6 and up)

HEY BATTA BATTA SWING!: THE WILD OLD DAYS OF BASEBALL by Sally Cook and James Charlton, illustrated in cool retro style by Ross MacDonald (McElderberry Books) What fun! Nicknames, slang, rule changes, changes in equipment and uniforms, legends and doctored baseballs make this required reading for any future umpires, commissioners, and present sports conversationalists. (7 and up)

PECORINO PLAYS BALL by Alan Madison, illustrated by Anna Laura Cantone (Atheneum) Hilarious account of a rookie's first little league game. (5 and up) Tee-ballers will also warm up to Leonard Kessler's classic I-Can-Read book, HERE COMES THE STRIKEOUT (HarperTrophy) (5 and up).

ROBERTO CLEMENTE: PRIDE OF THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Raul Colon (Aladdin) The pride of both Pittsburgh and Puerto Rico, beautiful cross-hatched illustrations grace the picture book biography of a great hitter, fielder, and humanitarian. (7 and up)

BASEBALL CRAZY: TEN SHORT STORIES THAT COVER ALL THE BASES edited by Nancy Mercado (Dial) The title kind of says it all, doesn't it? Solid authors like Jerry Spinelli, John K. Ritter and Charles R. Smith help reluctant readers raise their page-turning averages with brief, high-interest sport spots. (9 and up)

ZACHARY'S BALL by Matt Tavares (Candlewick) Ever want to be one of the lucky few who catches a foul ball? The one Zachary's dad nabs at Fenway seems to have other-worldly powers to make baseball fantasies come true. Check out all of Tavares' baseball books (MUDBALL, OLIVER'S GAME, moments of magical realism captured in the alluring, black-and-white pencil style from the school of early Chris Van Allsburg.

THE BIG FIELD by Mike Lupica (Philomel) A sportswriting master creates a scintillating story of a mushrooming competition between boys, set against the backdrop of an impending chamionship game. Father-son dynamics, old school vs. new school styles and a real passion for the details and depth that make baseball our national pastime all converge to make this a home run for older readers. (11 and up) Some people are saying Lupica is the new Matt Christopher or John Tunis. But hey, don't retire these guys yet! Keep them in your rotation to get on base with intermediate readers who could use a squeeze play from sports fact to sports fiction.

If you have a baseball card collector in your home but still don't know Dan Gutman's BASEBALL CARD ADVENTURES (MICKEY AND ME, SHOELESS JOE AND ME and HONUS AND ME are a few to start with), you are in for a treat as addictive as peanuts and popcorn! These are highly imaginative and engaging stories in which characters on baseball cards come to life and lead young baseball fans in time-traveling jaunts. Just like baseball cards, you'll want to collect them all. (8 and up)

And finally, speaking of time travel, I just have to make sure everyone has a copy of Christopher Bing's rendering of Ernest L. Thayer's immortal poem CASEY AT THE BAT, a 2000 Caldecott honor winner. Stunning how-did-he-do-it illustrations in the style of turn-of-the century engravings, peppered with collaged remnants of baseball days past, perfectly frame the erudite language of the ballad and make it a home run even for modern readers. A great keepsake gift for any baseball lover of any age.

If you have a reluctant reader with a sporty streak, try this tack! On an index card, create a baseball diamond, and assign base values for books: a triple for a novel over 96 pages, a double for non-fiction, a single for a picture book, a home run for every four books read or two hundred pages...whatever motivates your player to round the bases without being overwhelming. Keep the cards all through the summer, and calculate the average through the season. Reward your rookie with a trip to the ballgame...go to the dugout early, and have the players autograph his or her favorite baseball book instead of a program!

Root, root, root for the readers...

THE SEA SERPENT AND ME (PICTURE BOOK)

PICTURE BOOK
THE SEA SERPENT AND ME by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Catia Chien (Houghton Mifflin)
Every now and then there comes a book so delightful, so lyrical, that we are reminded why children's books are art and not just product. This is one of those books. When a little girl takes a bath, a friendly little sea serpent emerges from a drop of water from the faucet. He tells her exciting and beautiful stories of the deep blue sea, "where manta rays swim like dancing blankets and there are crabs with antlers and fish shaped like guitars." She promises to return him to the sea when it stops raining, but meanwhile, he is growing at a rate a la Helen Palmer's A FISH OUT OF WATER. Still, the girl frets over the day she will have to release him, but when they reach the shore, it is the sea serpent who is reticent. Can she find the words encouraging enough to help him become brave enough to enjoy his own freedom?

Oh my goodness, this book is a bit of a miracle, awash in lovely watercolor scenes with the jubilance of Jean Jacques Sempé but with broader strokes and the abandon that more closely mirrors the imaginative world of children. Every single page is different and interesting, bravely traversing double-page spreads of the deepest fathoms and intimate frames that make both the girl (wearing a ducky buoy as she leans over a fish tank) and the serpent the reader's friends. Though the serpent is a monster of sorts, he is always wide-eyed, smiling and never fearsome. Best of all, the visual beauty of this book is matched by its subtle and meaningful content about growing pains, packing an emotional punch along the lines of Munsch's LOVE YOU FOREVER but without the ambiguous adult skeeviness. This would be a brilliant book to share with a child starting school or any other great adventure, and will fortify the adult reader as well to be brave as the ones we love embark on something new. Darling, deep and dear, this is the sort of book that children will remember for years, with images that wend their way into the landscape of dreams. (4 and up)

Also of interest:
While we have our wet suits on, how about another underwater book that's bound to make a splash:
MANFISH: A STORY OF JACQUES COUSTEAU by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Éric Puybaret (Chronicle) As a boy, Jacques Cousteau fantasized what it would be like to breathe beneath water. Later in life, all things converge as he combined his love of film and his amazing invention of the aqualung to show the world
the undersea worth exploring...and worth saving. Smooth, flat art style against glossy paper goes far to capture the silky quiet of the sea, and the brilliant vertical fold-out that allows the reader to virtually and visually dive down into the depths of the ocean is a surprise. An inspiring life story clearly told for young readers across the grade levels, this beautiful book is a real catch. It appears that picture book biography remains the big fish in the sea of children's literature!

Also all new, tried-and-true and all wet:
ALISTAIR AND KIP'S GREAT ADVENTURE! by John Segal (McElderberry Books), a very simple story of two buddies who brave the waves and get a whale of a ride (nicely paired with William Steig's classic AMOS AND BORIS, and THE CASTAWAY PIRATES: A POP-UP TALE OF BAD LUCK, SHARP TEETH AND STINKY TOES by Ray Marshall and Wilson Swain (Chronicle), a wild, whirling rhyme for kids who just can't get enough of that pirate stuff. And also, don't forget the older, undersung little read-aloud treasure, SEA-CAT AND DRAGON KING by Angela Carter, illustrated by Eva Tatcheva (Bloomsbury), the whimsical tale of a cat who has to create a sweater for a kind but homely ruler beneath the waves; beautiful language, cunning line drawings and a creative conflict make this story sparkle. There, now you have plenty of material for a beach-blanket read-aloud in your library...or in your lap!

Shop with Esme
Oooo boy, this is dangerous shopping news, an auction of children's literature treasures from one of my favorite independent booksellers in the whole world. Visit the Debt Depletion Store within the next few days to bid on treasures like an original Max-the-bunny painting by Rosemary Wells, a Lily drawing from Kevin Henkes, a signed assemblage and art piece by Brian Selznick (who won the Caldecott for THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET), Arthur Geisert's complete hand-printed dummy for OINK OINK (heart be still! Out of my league, but my favorite of the bunch!), and a myriad of autographed and original collectibles from folks like Chris Raschka, Daniel Pinkwater, Jules Feiffer, Molly Bang, Jon Scieszka, David Small, Ed Emberley, Jack Gantos, and best of all, yours truly! ;-) Please check out my fairy godmother set which includes an audio and autographed print version of DIARY OF A FAIRY GODMOTHER, a magic wand and three bona fide wishes plus an autographed book and an unabridged CD; also available is the complete autographed set oof SAHARA SPECIAL and companion novel VIVE LA PARIS, ahem, a perfect end-of-year gift for a middle-grade teacher, if I do say so myself.

Friends! Librarians! SCBWI members! Booklovers all! Please spread the word about this unique auction being hosted by my friends at Reading Reptile in honor of their efforts to stay in business and continue serving children and families for coming up on twenty years! I have a bit of a girl-crush on owner Deb, who is one of the best artists in the universe in her own rite...check out my visit to see what I'm talking about! Truly this is an extraordinary and exceptional place in the universe, and Deb and Pete are truly good people who are beautiful parents and generous spirits. They support all of us through their good work and now they deserve our support, so bid early and bid often!


Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

JUMPY JACK & GOOGILY (PICTURE BOOK) AND FIVE MORE READING REASONS TO LAUGH

It's May, it's May, hooray, hooray! To tell you the truth, though I'm not one to wish away time, I'm happy to see April in the rear-view mirror. I was plagued with some sort of respiratory/allergy/asthma nonsense that had me canceling dates and moving deadlines, kvetching like a 98-year-old, and so high on Codine that one friend accused me of sounding like "Towelie" from South Park. But they say that laughter is the best medicine, so in the interest of spring fever I offer you this healthy dose of the funniest new picture books I could find:

PICTURE BOOK
JUMPY JACK & GOOGILY by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall (Holt)
In the spirit of Monsters, Inc. without the corporate touch, we have a snail with a deep-seated fear of monsters, without realizing that his best friend is of that ilk. Googily, with sharp teeth but a disarming smile and eyes that are, indeed, googly, very endearingly checks wading pools, closets, under tables and beds for any culprits, and children will enjoy the inside joke of a monster inserting himself into every place that Jumpy Jacks fears one might be. After Googily has done a thorough job of easing Jumpy Jack's fears, can Jumpy Jack return the favor? Smooth, stylized illustrations in an unusually attractive palette are permeated with silliness, and besides being genuinely funny, it's a solid and sensitive little storytime stroll through themes of patience, empathy and cooperation. This author and illustrator duo has already has earned many fans with their naughty friends rooting around in MEET WILD BOARS; this story is kindler and gentler, but every bit as comical. I'm scared of how monstrously popular this book could become. (5 and up)

Also recommended:
STARRING MISS DARLENE written, produced and directed by Amy Schwartz (Roaring Brook) Darlene tries very hard to take direction in her acting class, but manages to botch things up most dramatically. She takes a little snooze during her big scene in Sleeping Beauty, find herself all wet in the flood of Noah's Ark, and does a little ad-libbing when she can't remember the lines. Thankfully, the theater reviewer who comes to three performances tends to appreciate the avant-garde. This book will go far to alleviate any stage fright, proving that there are no small parts, only small actors...and this hippopotamus is definitely not one of them. This book is full of inspired, unexpected twists and face-hurting laugh-out-loud moments. The treatment has murmurings of James Marshall's FOX ON STAGE, though clearly, Schwartz enjoys a genius all her own. Applause, applause! (5 and up)

DEAR MISS PERFECT: A BEAST'S GUIDE TO PROPER BEHAVIOR by Sandra Dutton (Houghton Mifflin) Perhaps you are a porcupine looking for a dance partner. An elephant unsure of where to lay your trunk during meals. A raccoon questioning the proper protocol when rooting through a garbage can. Or a shy turtle with an oral book report looming. When I first picked up this book, I was anticipating something more along the lines of Sesyle Johnson and Maurice Sendak's WHAT DO YOU SAY, DEAR? assuming that the beasts to whom the author was referring were actually (ahem) children, but she did, in fact, mean other members of the animal kingdom. Even though the characters are wild things, the eloquent letters and lessons of compromise and consideration easily transfer to other genus. Loose cartoon illustrations are from the school of James Stevenson and Betsy Lewin, and the hilarity of this book exceeded all expectations and bears repeated readings. Perhaps if we say please very nicely, there will be more Miss Perfect books to look forward to, hopefully a quest for the perfect companion as alluded to on the last page. For now, we'll just have to frequent Miss Perfect's lovely website, and make our best efforts to make good behavioral choices. A spoof on the advice columns that the author enjoyed as a child, I must say thank you for a truly outstanding and original book that I personally consider a "must-have." (5 and up)

BIG BAD BUNNY by Franny Billingsley, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Atheneum) Baby Boo-Boo is clearly misunderstood. This is not a little mousie baby. Oh nooooo. She is a scratchity-clawed, pointy-toothed, growling, stomping, chomping roaring bunny! GRRRR! STOMP! ROAR! But when this Big Bad Bunny takes a wrong turn and gets lost, will she appreciate the coddling efforts of a well-meaning mommy? With the culminating intensity of Jez Alborough's WATCH OUT! BIG BRO'S COMING!, this book mounts to a satisfying conclusion. Children will certainly identify with Big Bad Bunny's desire to get her "props," and having a little girl be so loud and grouchy was refreshing (in a book, anyway). Super cute illustrations are perfect for spring storytimes; share by alternating your little sweetie squeaky voice with your growly-howly monster voice for best effect, and you'll find that your meekest mice will hop right on the bunny bandwagon. (4 and up)

DOCTOR TED by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre (McElderberry Books) When Ted Bear skins his knee and can't find a doctor, he becomes the change he wishes to see in the world. Unfortunately, his diagnosis generously offered at home and school might put him at risk for malpractice. ("His mother was in the kitchen. "You have measles," said Doctor Ted. "We should operate." "Those are my freckles," said his mother. "Eat your breakfast.") When he manages to do more harm than good with his teacher and principal, it looks like Ted is going to have to hang up his stethoscope, until a real emergency on the playground gives him the chance to exercise his skill as a caretaker. Bold, black-line and color illustrations against hospital white background are particularly pleasing to the early childhood eye. Andrea Beaty recently penned everyone's favorite book about the inventive builder, IGGY PECK, ARCHITECT, and it seems the craft of this talented storyteller just gets better and better; she is definitely an author to watch. With a daring and hilarious wit that aligns your funny bone page after page, this book is truly a perfect storytime prescription, and it was so nice to get it while still on an HMO. A must in every pediatrician's office, and every children's library; read one and call me in the morning. (5 and up)

DUCKS DON'T WEAR SOCKS by John Nedwidek, illustrated by Lee White (Viking) One day, while Emily was "in a serious mood, taking a serious walk, she met Duck." Duck is definitely not serious, riding a unicycle. In socks. Why is he wearing socks? Or a tie? Or a hat, for that matter? And certainly, there can be no excuse for a duck in...underwear...or can there?! Children who area bit more tightly sewn will find their stitches coming loose after some time well spent with this unconventional friend. Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu's NO! THAT'S WRONG! (Kane/Miller) is also a story about some animal wardrobe malfunctions, in which a little rabbit is insistent that a frilly pair of red underpants makes for a fetching hat; the endpaper with various animals creatively sporting articles of clothing is worth the cost of the book alone, and should provide endless inspiration for anyone considering trying out for Project Runway. Both of these books provide the young reader with the delicious opportunity to correct someone else, and both these books allow you to use the word "underwear," and, as we learned from Jonathan London's classic FROGGY GETS DRESSED, that's always a good investment. (both 4 and up)

Too many titles, you say? I'm afraid it's tough noogies...if you have ticklish 4 to7 year-olds on your hands, you kind of need every single one. And to add insult to your funny bone injury, if you visit a couple of my favorite kidlit blogs, Three Silly Chicks and Bottom Shelf Books, you'll find more good humor than an ice cream truck. Go ahead! She who laughs, lasts!

Feel free to share your faves...what books get your young reader chuckling?

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

KEEPERS: TREASURE-HUNT POEMS (POETRY)

POETRY

KEEPERS: TREASURE HUNT POEMS by John Frank, illustrated by Ken Robbins (Roaring Brook)
Prizes abound in these pages that celebrate the thrill of the hunt: The joys of flea market finds, flotsam and jetsam, rainy-day attic discoveries, and the rare treasures hiding in camouflage in woods, deserts, and under the ground. Beauty and discovery are the rewards reaped by readers who meet the challenge of keeping their eyes wide, experiencing everyday objects in new and thoughtful ways through a contemplative combination of words and pictures. Fans of the increasingly popular SPOT 7 series and the work of Walter Wick will appreciate the brilliantly saturated close-up photographs that feature most of the subjects of the verse (Abalone Shell: "Rocking/in the current's swirl.../a melted rainbow/cupped in pearl"). The reader feels like they are also discovering a new treasure with every turn of the page. The best find of all is the concept; children will be inspired to use a digital camera and thoughtful words to transform everyday bric-a-brac into something special. Literary garage sale, anyone? (7 and up)

Also of interest:
More fun for hoarders!
CORK AND FUZZ: THE COLLECTORS by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lisa McCue (Viking) "Cork was a short muskrat. He collected shiny stones. Fuzz was a tall possum. He collected shiny stones, empty lunch bags, bottle caps, pinecones, long sticks, gum wrappers, food, and more food. Two collectors. Two best friends." When Fuzz adds a feather to his horde, a Mama duck decides to add him to to her bevy of babies. It will take some pretty savvy problem solving to get Fuzz out of this fix! This droll and cozy story is separated into short "chapters" to build confidence. A solid pick for early readers that feature friends we can visit again and again is always worth adding to a collection. (5 and up)

And speaking of treasured finds, I came across this 70's throwback featuring Rita Moreno trying to keep up with Morgan Freeman's unadulterated grooviness on PBS's Electric Company (one of my favorite show as a kid, big surprise!). "Easy reader, that's my name, unh, unh, unh!" Heavens to Betsy, that's catchy! See if you can listen in and not find yourself humming it later. "Gus got gas and the guy got gum. We saw a big gymnasium." Outasight!

On a personal note:
A big thank you to Kari and friends at North Central College for arranging an exceptionally lovely evening with future teachers. I was truly impressed by the spirit and excellence of the school and the program! Apples all around!

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WINGS (NONFICTION)

NONFICTION
WINGS by Sneed B. Collard III, illustrated by Robin Brickman (Charlesbridge)

The diversity of our fine feathered (and furry and insect) friends is celebrated in this excellent exploration of these mysterious and dreamlike appendages. Excellent informational prose from points of inquiry take us on a first-class non-fiction flight. How fast can wings fly? How slow? How far, and how many? Why? To catch, to flee, to chase, to find mates, to travel, each answer is explained in the context of a particular winged creature. Helpful resources at the back of the book will lead children to continue to take flight on-line, and a glossary of all boldfaced vocabulary throughout the book is provided; this book is never dumbed down. I am so excited to just be learning about this prolific author, with a contagious passion for nature along the lines of children's literature's naturalist legends Jim Arnosky and Steve Jenkins, but I must confess that for all of this book's fine content, I was at first drawn by the stunning papercut illustrations. Readers will be sent into a veritable state of slack-jawed shock at the otherworldly textures this illustrator is able to accomplish with cut paper, from a blowing feather to the curve of a flower petal. This book is a delight for any booklover with an interest in animals, nature or science, and is a solid non-fiction read-aloud for primary grades, always a rare bird. (6 and up)

Also of interest:
In honor of the first robin of spring, which I saw yesterday, here are a few other fine feathered titles to add to your flock:
UNITED TWEETS OF AMERICA: 50 STATE BIRDS, THEIR STORIES, THEIR GLORIES by Hudson Talbott (Putnam) Fans of Laurie Keller's zany SCRAMBLED STATES OF AMERICA will enjoy this collection of true tales of every state bird, beak firmly planted in cheek. Lovely artwork and lots of laughs combined with solid research material make this a perfect spring pick for classroom libraries. (7 and up)
TODAY AT THE BLUEBIRD CAFÉ by Deborah Ruddell, illustrated by Joan Rankin (McElderberry) "Blue Jay Blues," "Mockingbird Warning," "Mrs. Crow Gets Dressed," "There's a Robin in My Bathroom," don't you just want to read them all? Well, you can! Hooray hooray hooray, this beautiful and engaging verse is matched with creamy pastel watercolors, making it a perfect collection to celebrate both the return of spring and National Poetry Month! (5 and up)
BIRDSONGS by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (McElderberry) Why should finches have all the fun? Join in the cacophony with this onomatopoetic counting book, with bold cut-paper illustration. (4 and up)
And there are two tributes to the red-tailed hawk of Fifth Avenue:
CITY HAWK: THE STORY OF PALE MALE by Megan McCarthy (Simon & Schuster), straightforwardly told for primary audiences, and who can resist those big googly-eyes that are a signature of McCarthy's illustration? (4 and up) And then there is the more detailed PALE MALE: CITIZEN HAWK OF NEW YORK CITY by Janet Schulman, illustrated in how-does-she-do-it gorgeous watercolor and colored pencil by the inimitable Meilo So. (6 and up) Teachers, Read them both and compare the treatment of the same subject by different authors and illustrators!

Shop with Esmé:

Hmmm, I don't know if I could afford to spend more on a bird's house than I spend on my own, but doesn't this prime real estate (above) from Uncommon Goods inspire the crafter in you? As does the "Fairy Tale Dreamcatcher" from OneGoodBumblebee (this would make a fun classroom activity, or Mother's Day gift for kids to make!) and the obscenely priced Songbird Chandelier from Anthropologie? They sell those little felt birdies and flowers at Michael's, people. Sorry to derail the consumer love train, there, but after all, DIY is the new Nordstrom's, dahhhling!

On that note, I love my soaring bird bracelet I got at Erm Originals on Etsy, it goes with everything. She's always got lots of lovely wing-themed jewelry, and in the spirit of the birds, her pieces are are cheep, cheep!

Also on the subject of crafting and birds, take cyber-wing to The Crafty Crow, an egg-ceptional blog featuring kid-friendly art-and-craft inspirations and plenty of pix! I know you will want to bookmark this fabulous resource to visit again and again!


Happy Earth Day, and happy robin-sightings, everyone!

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.