A Beatrix Potter Treasury

Potter, Beatrix. 2007 (this edition). A Beatrix Potter Treasury: The Original and Authorized Editions by Beatrix Potter. New colour reproductions by Frederick Warne.

This treasury contains eleven of Beatrix Potter's animal stories and a nice little introduction that places them all in context. (This little introduction is "The Story of Beatrix Potter" and features plenty of pictures as well as reproducing the original letter to Noel Moore with the first "story" of Peter Rabbit. The intro focuses on her life and her books and the publishing process--their success and reception by the world.) Each of the eleven stories has a one page "about this book" introduction.

The stories include Peter Rabbit (1902), The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904), The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies (1909), The Tale of Mr. Tod (1912), The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906, 1916), The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907), The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908), The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or the Roly Poly Pudding (1908), The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan (1905), The Tale of Ginger and Pickles (1909).

The stories of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny were not new to me. I grew up with them. In fact, perhaps they were a bit too well known to me. Unless it's a common phrase for families to talk about "getting put in a pie" all the time. (Let me know if it is!) The phrase in full was a lecture to Peter Rabbit especially (Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail not really needing to be told twice) to stay out of Mr. McGregor's garden. "Your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor."

Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny (and many of the other stories as well) show that there are consequences to every action. If you're a good little bunny, then nice things happen to you. If you're a bad little bunny, then they don't.

I enjoyed almost all the stories in A Beatrix Potter Treasury. I can't say that Ginger and Pickles would ever be my choice as a read aloud, in fact, I don't quite "get it." Why an economic story disguised as a children's book?

I do wish this collection had more stories. I would have loved to see it have The Tale of Two Bad Mice, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, and The Tailor of Gloucester to name a few. But I suppose for those looking for that thorough an introduction could order The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter which came out the year before by the same publisher. (One is 400 pages and $40 retail, the other is 190 pages and $20 retail.)

Oliver Finds His Way

Root, Phyllis. 2002. First boardbook edition 2008. Oliver Finds His Way. Illustrated by Christopher Denise.

Oliver Finds His Way is a wonderful board book. (Once again I have fallen in love with a Phyllis Root book.) Oliver is a young brown bear who happens to lose his way and then with much consideration and determination finds it again. Here is how it begins, "While Mama hangs the wash out and Papa rakes the leaves, Oliver chases a big yellow leaf...down the hill, around a clumpy bush, under a twisty tree, and all the way to the edge of the woods." Before he even knows what has happened, he's lost without a clue as to how to get home again. When he realizes this, he "cries and cries and cries. But he is still lost. Oliver rubs his nose and tries to think. He thinks and thinks and thinks. All alone at the edge of the woods, Oliver has an idea." I'll leave it to you discover what his clever idea was on how to get home again, but it was an enjoyable and natural twist in my opinion.

I loved this book. Loved the illustrations. Loved the story. Loved the format. I'm sure it would have been a good picture book--the traditional format--but I'm happy to see it in sturdy board book format. I think this is one that young ones can really enjoy.

Looking for A Moose

Root, Phyllis. 2006. (2008 Paperback). Looking for a Moose. Illustrated by Randy Cecil.

Before I read Looking for A Moose, I admit that I never thought it could be that fun to look for a moose. But this playful (and repetitive) book has made a believer out of me. The fun Root has with language is contagious. Really contagious. Here is how it begins, "Have you ever seen a moose--a long-leggy moose--a branchy-antler, dinner-diving, bulgy-nose moose?" "No! We've never, ever, ever, ever, ever seen a moose. And we really, really, really, really want to see a moose." So these four kids (and a dog) go on an adventure to search one out. Do they find one? You'll just have to read for yourself and see! It's fun, you'll just have to trust me on that.

I thought the illustrations were great. I loved the tone and colors of the book.

Penguin by Polly Dunbar

Penguin. Dunbar, Polly. Candlewick Press, 2007

 

Ladybug has mixed feelings about Penguin.  Snugglebug however has a definite opinion of the same book.  He didn't care for it.  The text and illustrations seemed to be over 5-month old Snugglebug's head.  Neither captured his attention.  The story is about a boy who is given a Penguin.  He tries a variety of ways to get the Penguin to engage him in conversation.  Since nothing is successful, he resorts to teasing and cajoling Penguin.  This, too, does not work.  In the end, he tries to feed Penguin to a lion, but ends up being eaten himself.  Penguin saves the boy's life, thus ending the language barrier. 

 

The difficulties lie in the latter half of the book.  Ladybug does not approve of teasing or cajoling for any reason, especially a language barrier.  That said, Ladybug feels this book is on the level of a 4 or 5-year old.  It would be a great book to open the conversation about cultural differences and ways to bridge the gap.  And in Ladybug's opinion, it is never too early to learn to bridge the gap.

Becky's thoughts: I had mixed feelings on Penguin as well. The teasing and being-eaten-or-almost-eaten-by-a-lion just didn't sit right with me. The "message" of the book is that there are many ways to communicate, many ways to say I love you. And my mother even entertained the idea for a moment or two that the Penguin was able to love unconditionally or sacrificially. It was able to "turn the other cheek" if you will. I couldn't quite embrace the notion of the Penguin-as-Christian-symbol.

The narrator just wasn't likable. In that it reminded me of Princess Justina Albertina by Ellen Dee Davidson (another book about bullying). In that case, our narrator didn't almost get eaten, she really and truly did get eaten. As did Pierre in Pierre by Maurice Sendak if I remember correctly. (Though it's been at least twenty years since I've read it, so it could have been a close call. I don't think that one had anything to do with bullying though.) And then there is Ugly Fish by Kara LaReau which also left me a bit cold. Talk about harsh consequences for bullying! My point, within the scheme of things, books about bullying and teasing, it has its place.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug!

Emberley, Ed. 2007. Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug!

This book is delightful. Not that I want to over-use that word, but it's just a fun little book that I think is perfect for one-on-one reading aloud. (As opposed to sharing with a classroom group or library story-time.) The action starts even on the title page with three itty-bitty baby bugs. One says: "Listen!" Another says, "What's that?"And the third says, "Do you hear something?" Soon they see what appears to be a space ship getting closer and closer and closer. When it lands, the itty-bitty baby bugs learn along with the readers that he is the "Big Bad Bullybug!"

Page by page the suspense builds as the Big Bad Bullybug reveals all the reasons why he is "big" "bad" and a "bully." For example, "I have three mean green eyes for scaring itty-bitty baby bugs." And "I have sharp white teeth for biting itty-bitty baby bugs." It continues revealing with each page and each cutaway illustration just how big-and-bad this bully monster is.




But the Big Bad Bullybug, as big as he is...as bad as he is...doesn't know this...the itty-bitty bugs have a friend and protector. Someone who is a champion of the little guy. (Or should I say the itty-bitty baby bugs.)

As I said, this one is just fun. And satisfying.