Monday, November 8, 2010

Three Unusual Titles are all overdue!

     The Bog Baby (2008) by Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward.  When two young sisters go fishing in a magic pond, they find an unusual pet.  They take him home, feed him cake crumbs and sneak him into school.  But the Bog Baby started to get sick, wouldn't eat, didn't jump up and down anymore and the sisters didn't know what to do.  Guess who helps them solve the Bog Baby problem...their mom, of course.  The illustrations are gorgeous and the story line magically simple.  Click on both of their names above and  explore their beautiful websites.  Doesn't the cover just make you want to open it up!

     You? (2009)by Vladimir Radunsky; translated from dog-ese to English by my learned dog, Tsetsa.  An owner-less dog and a dog-less girl are watching the people and dogs pass by in separate areas of a park, hoping to be noticed.  Eventually the stray dog and the girl find each other.  All the dialogue is told through thought/speech bubbles and this would demonstrate point-of-view to students.   In the author note, Mr. Radunsky says, "I love dogs; big and small, with spots and without.  I love dogs with chubby cheeks.  I love dogs with long noses.  I love dogs with bushy tails or no tails at all...." 

     Palazzo Inverso (2010) by D.B. Johnson: Inside this quote resides; "I don't grow up. In me is the small child of my early days." M.C. Escher.  This book demonstrates Johnson's love of Escher's work.  Mauk's master is building a grand Palazzo and something happens to turn the building upside down.  Master blames Mauk but all he does is sharpen the pencils...Kids will love turning this book around as they discover what really happens.  One reading will easily turn into "one more time" just so everyone can understand how things got mixed up. 

     My daughter smiled and her eyes glowed as we explored each of these titles from our public library.  Isn't that what we really want for all children-a simple love of literature that makes your face light up!  Now I have to rush them to the library as they are several days overdue!!!  What picture books made you light up this week?  Me: I was overjoyed that each author featured had a brilliant website!  I love when that happens.

2 comments:

Felicity Grace Terry said...

I've just realised that there are several of my followers who I haven't yet met or haven't visited for such a long time that I thought I'd stop by to say hello. A great post, it is good to be reminded that there are children out there who have a love of books when we are so often told that this is no longer the case, that children no longer enjoy books.

Golden Eagle said...

Those are unusual titles . .. but they look interesting!