Picture Books for Children Read online

  New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2006 | 978-0-399-24365-3

  Everyone has had one of those days, and this book names them specifically. With this clever concept, each page, or sometimes a two-page spread, presents the type of day in word and picture. Favorite Pants Too Short Day, Itchy Sweater Day, Can’t Find Stuff Day—see them all here. The illustrations, in paint and ink, show a young boy or girl undergoing the trial of that particular day. Comical drawings and bright colors make the artwork kid friendly. While some of the days are laugh-out-loud humorous, others are poignant. This book would be a great discussion starter on feelings and bouncing back from disappointments. One of Those Days is one of those books that enters into a child’s sensibilities and understands.

  Rylant, Cynthia 4–8 years

  ALL IN A DAY

  Illustrated by Nikki McClure

  New York: Abrams, 2009 | 978-0-8109-8321-2

  How can the concept of time be explained to a child? This seemingly impossible task might be just a bit easier if this book is used to describe “a day.” With rhyming text, Rylant makes clear how a day’s newness signifies hope and that anything can happen. McClure’s illustrations depict a young boy in a country setting, with chickens and a garden, with dandelions and a hammock, with walks in the woods and a sudden rainstorm. (See figure 2.4.) An artist’s note at the end explains the process of making the cut-paper illustrations, including how the colors—alternating gold and pale blue with each page turn—were added by computer. The overall scheme of black and white with just one color combined with the unique illustrations is beautifully spare on some pages and remarkably detailed on others. Altogether, it evokes moods of happiness and satisfaction, which work well with the poetic text. In the last scene, the little boy walks toward the rising sun, shovel over his shoulder, ready to meet the new day as the text encourages listeners to seize the day and make it their own.

  Sanders-Wells, Linda 4–8 years

  MAGGIE’S MONKEYS

  Illustrated by Abby Carter

  Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2009 | 978-0-7636-3326-4

  What is real, and are there situations where it just does not matter? A big brother figures this out when his little sister tells the family that pink monkeys now live in the refrigerator. Everyone else in the family—Dad, Mom, and older sister—go along with Maggie’s notion. But her brother keeps reminding everyone that the monkeys are not real. Told in first person from his point of view, the story builds on his frustration with his family and their acceptance of these monkeys. But one day, when his friends visit and start teasing Maggie, he comes to her defense and stands up to his friends. With every question they ask, he counters with the answers that other members of his family have given him. Illustrations, in black colored pencil and gouache, portray the family in cartoon style with bright colors. The brother’s frustration and the other family members’ benign acceptance come through clearly and humorously in the artwork. An impish twist: some of the illustrations feature a pink border; some of these include a little pink monkey crawling along the side or perched on top. This is a lively story about family loyalty and the magic of imagination.

  Figure 2.4. All in a Day

  Shannon, David 4–8 years

  TOO MANY TOYS

  Illustrated by David Shannon

  New York: Blue Sky/Scholastic, 2008 | 978-0-439-49029-0

  Shannon’s signature humorous situations and giddily goofy illustrations make this book a delightful experience for children and adults. When Spencer’s mother finally reaches her limit with the mess in his room, she insists that he get rid of some of his toys. And who can argue with her? Just about every page bursts with toys of all kinds. Glorious color and realistic text detail what types of toys Spencer plays with and where the toys came from. Two scenes of special note: Spencer giving his mother the big-eyed, aw-mom look when she dares to try to throw out a dirty old stuffed bunny, and Spencer in an office setting as he argues his case to negotiate a deal with his mother for keeping the toy train. Genius! Adults will laugh with recognition, and kids will relate to Spencer in this slice-of-life adventure.

  Shea, Bob 5–9 years

  BIG PLANS

  Illustrated by Lane Smith

  New York: Hyperion, 2008 | 978-1-4231-1100-9

  Considering its big size (9.5 by 13 inches), its huge type fonts, and its over-the-top braggadocio, this book has the perfect title. A look inside the head of a boy who has been placed in the corner of his classroom, the story features his imaginings: from taking over a business meeting, to winning a football game, all the way up to being the president and then an astronaut. The mixed-media and collage illustrations complement perfectly the wacky, no-holds-barred nature of the story. Anyone who secretly has dreamed of being the boss of everyone will enjoy this book.

  Sheth, Kashmira 4–8 years

  MONSOON AFTERNOON

  Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

  Atlanta: Peachtree, 2008 | 978-1-56145-455-6

  A young boy in India finds a willing playmate in his dadaji—his grandfather—on a rainy afternoon. They race boats, watch a peacock, visit the banyan tree so the little boy can swing and pick mangoes. This sweet tale transcends nationalities as it portrays the love between a grandson and grandfather and the simple joys of playing and observing nature. (See figure 2.5.) The two also talk about what the grandfather did as a young boy and imagine what the present little boy will do when he is a grandfather. When his grandmother scolds them for tracking in mud, the boy and his grandfather even take on the same sheepish expression. The watercolor illustrations, soft and muted, reflect the rainy day. Their view of an Indian street, courtyard, and house will be interesting for children who are just learning about cultural differences.

  Figure 2.5. Monsoon Afternoon

  Shields, Gillian 3–7 years

  DOGFISH

  Illustrated by Dan Taylor

  New York: Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2008 | 978-1-4169-7127-6

  What can a boy do when his mother insists that he does not need a dog and that his goldfish is just as good a pet? The first-person narrative lends immediacy to his story; he also throws in comments on the feelings the characters portray—sad, irritated, hopeless—which are then reflected in the illustrations. Overall, a mood of humor comes through as son and mother trade reasons for and against, and as the boy tries to treat his goldfish like a dog. The illustrations, rendered digitally, are spare and modern looking. The round heads of the characters match the round goldfish bowl, round goldfish, and round head of the imaginary pet. A delightful charmer of a story over a familiar battle. Supplement with Emma Dodd’s What Pet to Get? (Scholastic, 2008), where a little boy comes up with all kinds of wild ideas that his mother shoots down; You? by Vladimir Radunsky (Harcourt, 2009), where a girl finds a pet in the park; and Fiona Roberton’s Wanted: The Perfect Pet (Putnam’s, 2009), in which a duck convinces a boy that he is ideal.

  Stein, David Ezra 4–8 years

  INTERRUPTING CHICKEN

  Illustrated by David Ezra Stein

  Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2010 | 978-0-7636-4168-9

  Just as the title promises, this story features a chicken who insists on interrupting the bedtime stories that her papa tells. One after the other, favorite tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little do not make it past the second page, as the chicken bursts in with words of warning to the storybook characters. The illustrations—in watercolor, crayon, china marker, pen, opaque white ink, and tea—abound in reds, greens, and blues and feature the characters with exaggerated heads and tail feathers. The pages that open up to the storybooks depict an immediate change; not only the fact that an open book is pictured, but the illustrations change to muted colors and a limited palette. So when the little chicken literally enters the story, her bright colors contrast. The repetition of the three stories with three interruptions leads to the little chicken writing and illustrating her own story, done in childlike drawings and letters. A sweet ending fi
nally brings rest in this story of a familiar bedtime ritual. Another animal that likes to interrupt stories, this time a dog, stars in Peter Catalanotto’s Ivan the Terrier (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2007).

  Stevenson, Robert Louis 4–8 years

  THE MOON

  Illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson

  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006 | 978-0-374-35046-8

  A poem by the famous nineteenth-century author Stevenson forms the text of this picture book. The watercolor-and-ink illustrations depict a young boy going out for a nighttime boat ride with his father. At first glance, the story told in the pictures has little to do with the poem, but each line contains elements reflected in the illustrations. A mood of adventure and fun permeates the trip out to the boat, the boat ride, and the trip back home. The moon appears on every two-page spread, except for the very last, when morning has come. Sharp eyes will notice that in that scene the little boy runs to his parents with the book The Moon. An excellent example of illustrations complementing text, with neither explaining the other, this book could be used as a learning opportunity for poetry. This might even be one that children will memorize on their own with enough repeat readings.

  Sullivan, Sarah 4–8 years

  ONCE UPON A BABY BROTHER

  Illustrated by Tricia Tusa

  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010 | 978-0-374-34635-5

  More than just another pesky little brother story, this book combines the bothersome brother with the creativity of the writing process. Lizzie loves to make up stories, and when her little brother, Marvin, comes along, he becomes part of her plots. Although he is a pain, he unwittingly helps her overcome her writer’s block. Everyday scenes of school and home life take on a charming cast with humorous illustrations and stories within the story. Little extras like Lizzie’s special Princess Merriweather pencil and Marvin’s many messes add to the giggles. The text makes clear the writing process, including its highs and lows, and brings home the point that stories are best when shared.

  Swanson, Susan Marie 3–7 years

  THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT

  Illustrated by Beth Krommes

  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008 | 978-0-618-86244-3

  A comforting reverie about home combines with fantasy, as a girl flies on the back of a bird over her town and up above the moon. The rhythm of the text makes it a delight as a read-aloud. A wonderful example of precision of language, the text combines seamlessly with the detailed illustrations. With three colors—black, white, and gold—Krommes provides the reader with the whole world from a single room to outer space. Each of the double-page spreads contains one or more objects of the bright color, highlighted in the scratchboard illustrations. This book was a Caldecott Medal winner in 2009. Readers may feel its kinship to Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon, as well as the cumulative story of The House That Jack Built.

  Viorst, Judith 4–8 years

  JUST IN CASE

  Illustrated by Diana Cain Bluthenthal

  New York: Ginee Seo/Atheneum, 2006 | 978-0-689-87164-1

  Charlie, who always imagines the worst, believes in being prepared. Viorst’s text humorously details his imagined fears and his sometimes over-the-top preparations, such as digging a pit in his yard for a lion that may get loose. The illustrations in mixed media match the gentle humor in his imagined scenarios and his complicated preparations. In the end, a surprise birthday party truly takes him by surprise—it is one situation for which he has not prepared. The sometimes crazy things Charlie does will appeal to children, who will identify with his worry and with his imagination. The illustrations, presented simply with lots of white space, feature bright colors and incorporate collage. A good choice for read-alouds or for one-on-one sharing.

  Wardlaw, Lee 4–8 years

  WON TON: A CAT TALE TOLD IN HAIKU

  Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

  New York: Henry Holt, 2011 | 978-0-8050-8995-0

  Telling a story within a demanding form is difficult; Wardlaw makes it look effortless as she uses senryu, a form of Japanese poetry. Like haiku, senryu is a poem of three lines, with five syllables in the first, seven in the second, and five in the third. Clearly expressed, Won Ton’s journey from an animal shelter to a new home shows humor, attitude, and growing affection for his new family. Illustrations rendered in graphite and gouache on watercolor paper offer spare visuals—usually just Won Ton and an object or two on each page—which coordinate beautifully with the text. The endpapers feature a great expanse of cat fur that matches Won Ton’s grayish blue fur throughout the book. Besides being a heartwarming story of a rescue animal, this book is an excellent supplemental source for the study of haiku and senryu for any age group.

  Weeks, Sarah 4–8 years

  SOPHIE PETERMAN TELLS THE TRUTH!

  Illustrated by Robert Neubecker

  New York: Beach Lane, 2009 | 978-1-4169-8686-7

  The truth that Sophie feels compelled to tell concerns babies. This humorous look at being a big sister is told in the first person, accompanied by illustrations that go beyond the words in expressing how perfectly awful her little brother is. The text includes lots of large, hand-drawn words and phrases that convey Sophie’s disgust and exasperation. The cartoon-style illustrations, in India ink and colored digitally, come on strong, just like the title character. An articulate big sister, Sophie reveals her irritation but eventually finds that she does like the little guy. This book will appeal to all kids who think their younger siblings are monsters. Pair with How to Be a Baby—by Me, the Big Sister (Schwartz & Wade, 2007) by Sally Lloyd-Jones. See this plot turned upside down in James Solheim’s Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist (Philomel, 2010), in which a baby explains her sister.

  Wong, Janet S. 4–8 years

  HOMEGROWN HOUSE

  Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

  New York: Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, 2009 | 978-0-689-84718-9

  No place is quite as comforting as a grandmother’s house, as the girl in this story discovers when she is faced with moving to yet another new place. She recalls her family’s previous three houses and wonders at her parents’ need to move again. Enveloped in the love of Grandmom, she relates the things that they like to do together revolving around the grandmother’s house and its importance to her. The lovely watercolor illustrations pick up this theme with scenes of the girl and her grandmother gardening and cooking. Grandmom’s comments reveal her to be feisty, a positive thinker, and loving toward her grandchild. This story and the impressionistic illustrations wrap the reader in a blanket of a grandparent’s love.

  Woodson, Jacqueline 4–8 years

  PECAN PIE BABY

  Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

  New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin, 2010 | 978-0-399-23987-8

  Sibling rivalry before the new baby actually arrives is not uncommon. In this story Gia resents the coming baby whom everyone, it seems, cannot stop talking about. Even her friends’ jump rope rhymes are about babies. Notice Gia’s size in some of the illustrations where she is feeling especially crowded out by talk of, and preparation for, the new baby. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations depict an African American girl and her mother, with multiethnic school friends and relatives. This story sweetly captures the mixed emotions of a big sister who feels her relationship with her mother will be changed forever.

  Yolen, Jane, and Heidi E. Y. Stemple 3–8 years

  NOT ALL PRINCESSES DRESS IN PINK

  Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin

  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010 | 978-1-4169-8018-6

  For all those girls going through the princess phase, this book reinforces the idea that girls can play sports, get dirty, fix things, and enjoy many fun activities. They may still wear their princess crowns, but they also dress in sports jerseys, jeans, overalls, and bike helmets. The delightful digital illustrations feature a diverse collection of active girls, all with their crowns. Teachers, librarians, and parents may want to use this st
ory, a nice antidote to the plethora of pink, to let both girls and boys know that many facets to one’s personality and many different interests can coexist. The rhyming text comprises between two and four lines per two-page spread, which keeps the story rolling along to the final scene, a royal ball with all manner of clothes—but no pink! Pair with Mary Hoffman’s Princess Grace (Dial, 2008), in which Grace and her classmates learn about real princesses throughout history and the world, shattering several stereotypes.

  3

  In My Community

  In the picture books in this section, the main relationships portrayed exist outside the family, but still within the community. The books represent a moving out to other places, with a potential for fear, but also great fun. The realization that every family is not like one’s own family, a necessary step in maturity, may be explored in discussion. Separate sections for friends and school are included.

  Addy, Sharon Hart 4–8 years

  LUCKY JAKE

  Illustrated by Wade Zahares

  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007 | 978-0-618-47286-4

  Jake and his pa, panning for gold in the West, find one nugget. This takes them to a store where Jake finds a pet pig, which inadvertently guides them to their real treasure: establishing a restaurant and shop. Events leading to consequences that build upon one another carry the story along, as the father and son become planters, cooks, and traders of goods. Although Pa always invokes luck, it is hard work and clever trading that bring them success. The large illustrations, rendered in pastels, capture the spirit of life during the Gold Rush. Rich-hued colors of deep purple, orange, and green establish a mood of warmth. The love between father and son, though never overtly expressed, is evident, as are Jake’s feelings for his pig, the real initiator of luck. Though not romanticizing the Old West, Lucky Jake makes it relatable to today’s children.