Babyberry Pie. Heather Vogel Frederick. Illustrated by Amy Schwartz. 2010. October 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages.
When the moon goes dancing
Across the starry sky,
It's time to bring the baby in
For babyberry pie!
First you pick a baby
From the babyberry tree--
One who's sweet,
A cuddly treat--
And bring him home to me.
Babyberry Pie is a sweet, playful bedtime book. It rhymes. And while I wouldn't say it's the best rhyming book I've ever read, it certainly works well enough. My favorite part of the story is the middle--after bathtime--when it's:
Sugar for his bellybutton!
Sugar for his nose!
Sugar for his fingertips!
And sugar for his toes!
But while I found it cute in some places, I didn't like the "pie crust", where the parents pile quilts and pillows high in the crib to tuck baby into. Yes, it makes a cute "pie" and fits the imagery that the author was going for. But babies aren't supposed to sleep with pillows or blankets.
I Will Surprise My Friend: An Elephant and Piggie Book. Mo Willems. 2008. Hyperion. 64 pages.
Look! Hee hee hee! What are you doing? I am going to surprise my friend! Shhh... Here she comes! Boo! Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Hee hee hee! Hee hee hee!
Inspired by two playful squirrels, Gerald and Piggie decide to "surprise" each other by the big rock. But things don't go quite they way they planned! Oh, they end up surprised. But not in the way they thought they would be. When Gerald can't find Piggie, and Piggie can't find Gerald, Gerald begins imagining the worst. He must save Piggie! Meanwhile Piggie is a little worried about Gerald. But. Thoughts of lunch interrupt!
I Will Surprise My Friend is a funny book. It is part of the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. I would definitely recommend this series!!!
The Chronicles of Meap. Adapted by John Green. 2010. Disney. 32 pages.
This is a "junior graphic novel" adaptation of a Phineas and Ferb episode--The Chronicles of Meap. This is one of the best episodes--in my opinion. I love it because it's so funny, so quotable. (I now know why frogs and cows don't date.) It's about how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or an alien by its meap! It has a great subplot too with Perry and Dr. Doofenshmirtz. I love the episode.
I'll be honest. I'd probably love watching this story more than reading it. They leave out *some* of the best parts of the cartoon. They shortened Dr. Doffenshmirtz's back story quite a bit. Which is understandable but unfortunate. Since it is one of his best back stories that I've ever heard.
Nothing But Trouble. Adapted by John Green. 2010. Disney. 32 pages.
This book is a "junior graphic novel" adaptation of an episode of Phineas and Ferb. Now, I love Phineas and Ferb. I do. I love some episodes more than others. I've found some episodes are good viewing once or twice, but become obnoxious the twentieth time around. I've found some episodes are so very good, so very funny, that I could never tire of them. Nothing But Trouble features "Day of the Living Gelatin!" and "Elementary, My Dear Stacy!" I don't *love* either of these episodes in particular. (I don't dislike them either.)
In the first story, Phineas and Ferb fill a swimming pool with gelatin. It's fun at first--in a bouncy way--but the fun is spoiled by Dr. Doofenshmirtz's "Turn-Everything-Evil-Inator." Soon a gelatin monster--an evil gelatin monster--is on the loose.
In the second story, Phineas and Ferb along with Candace and Stacy are visiting grandparents in England. After staying up all night reading Sherlock Holmes, Candace is ready to bust her brothers in a whole new way.
I Will Surprise My Friend: An Elephant and Piggie Book. Mo Willems. 2008. Hyperion. 64 pages.
The Chronicles of Meap. Adapted by John Green. 2010. Disney. 32 pages.
Nothing But Trouble. Adapted by John Green. 2010. Disney. 32 pages.