Without You

Without You. Genevieve Cote. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.


Stop! You're going to fast!
Step back! This is a racing track!
You're so careless!
You fuss over any little mess!
I don't want to play with you anymore.
Fine! I won't miss you at all.

The super-adorable stars of Me and You are back again in Genevieve Cote's Without You. The book features a white bunny and pink pig that are best friends. Well, best friends most days of the week. But after an "accident" with a wagon full of toys, their friendship is put to the test as each accuses the other. Soon these two are naming all the things they can do without the other. Proving that they don't need each other to have fun. Showing that they're just fine on their own.

Well, I can read a book without you.
And I can cook without you.
I can play dress-up without you.
I can go to the park without you.

But after awhile, both realize something: they miss each other; they need each other. I enjoyed this one very much. I just loved and adored the first book. And I found this second book just as charming. It's got a good message about friendship, about getting along with others, but it isn't preachy. It just felt right.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party. Melanie Watt. 2011. Kids Can Press. 32 pages.

Scaredy Squirrel never has big birthday parties. He'd rather celebrate alone quietly up in his tree than party below and risk being taken by surprise. A few surprises Scaredy Squirrel is afraid could spoil the party: Bigfoot, confetti, clownfish, ants, ponies, and porcupines. So he plans a small celebration where he's the only life of the party. 

To know him is to love him, at least for me. I always enjoy a good Scaredy Squirrel picture book. He's a delightfully timid--and anxious--character. His fears may not be rational--but who are we to judge?! After all, how rational is it to be afraid of clowns? Yet a good many of us are! Anyway, I love Scaredy Squirrel. I love his "plans." I love how he tries to stay in control. I love his ultimate back-up plan--to play dead--to deal with the unknown, to deal with his fears. I love how things never go according to his plan. Like it or not, this squirrel is always having to adapt. And these "changes" may be "scary" at first, but ultimately, they're for the best.

This one was an enjoyable addition to the Scaredy Squirrel series. My review of Scaredy Squirrel, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

I Broke My Trunk!

I Broke My Trunk! (Elephant and Piggie) Mo Willems. 2011. Hyperion. 64 pages.

I have not seen Gerald today. Why?
Gerald! What happened to your trunk?
I broke my trunk.
How did you break your trunk?
It is a long crazy story.
Tell it! Tell it!

I Broke My Trunk is the newest book in the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. Gerald, the elephant, does have a long and crazy story to share with his best friend, Piggie. The story of how he broke his trunk. Did he break it when he lifted his friend Hippo? No! Did he break it when he lifted Hippo's big sister? No! Did he break it when he lifted his friend Rhino? No! How about lifting a piano, two hippos, and a rhino? No! Then how did Gerald break his trunk?! Will Piggie believe this crazy story? She may just end up with a long and crazy story of her own to share!

I liked this one. It was very funny. It was very playful. I liked the dialogue, the language. For example, I loved this exchange:

Gerald: Then, I had an idea! I wanted to lift Hippo onto my trunk!
Piggie: Why?
Gerald: Because!
Piggie: Okay.

It just felt right. Everything about these books feel right. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Gerald and Piggie. I love their friendship. I love the way they think and act. These books are just too much fun!!!

Other books in the series include:

I Will Surprise My Friend
Can I Play Too?
Elephants Cannot Dance
I Am Going
Pigs Make Me Sneeze
Watch Me Throw The Ball
Are You Ready to Play Outside
I Love My New Toy
I Am Invited to A Party
My Friend is Sad
Today I Will Fly
There Is A Bird On Your Head
We Are In A Book

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The More We Get Together

The More We Get Together. Caroline Jayne Church. 2011. Scholastic. 12 pages.

The more we get together
together together
The more we get together,
the happier we'll be.

This familiar song is shared with young readers in board book format in Caroline Jayne Church's newest book, The More We Get Together. If you love happy, cute art--illustrations--there is a good chance you'll enjoy this one. There's just something sweet and charming about her art. I love the way she draws children, I do. In this case, she draws children playing with one another.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Twosomes: Love Poems From the Animal Kingdom

Twosomes: Love Poems From the Animal Kingdom. Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Lee Wildish. 2011. Random House. 24 pages.

Bats
Good morning! How the nighttime flew!
Now, may I hang around with you?

Dogs
Nice to meetcha! You smell delish!
Wanna share my water dish?

I enjoyed this small poetry book very much. The poems are very short--just two lines apiece. But some of them work very well; some are quite clever! My favorite would probably be the ones featuring porcupines and geese.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers