We're Off To Look for Aliens

We're Off To Look For Aliens by Colin McNaughton boasts that it's "two books in one!" Personally, I wasn't all that impressed. It could have been an off day for me, of course, I haven't really seen what others think of this one. It was one of those books that was "just okay" for me. I didn't hate it. Didn't dislike it. But I didn't love it. I just am indifferent to it really. The first book, the framework story, is about an author-dad who is excited that his book has arrived in the mail. He's anxious to pass the book to his kids and see what they think of his book. Dad is too "nervous" to watch his kids read the book, so he takes the dog for a walk. The second book, found in the middle of the book, is WE'RE OFF TO LOOK FOR ALIENS. That book is about a young boy, or possibly young man, who goes off with his dog into outer space. He goes exploring here and there and whatnot. I *don't* want to offer any spoilers so I won't say much more about that. The rest of the book is just their response to their dad's book. Again I don't want to spoil it because there's a bit of a twist.

The text of the second book is fun and light and playful. It was rhythmic. It was repetitive. It was enjoyable.



So you might enjoy this one. You might really love it. You might have an enthusiastic response to this one. I didn't. But picture books are super-subjective. And an interest in aliens would be a big bonus. And I think being a kid would be too. Sometimes adults just are too grown up to really "get" a kid's book.

Dinner Time

Jan Pienkowski's Dinner Time quite honestly confused me. On one hand, I enjoyed the pop-ups. Taken out of context, the pop-ups are quite fun and playful. Easy to manipulate. The frog, for example, the opening pop-up is just fun. You can make him "speak" based on how open or closed the book happens to be. The art is enjoyable as well, for the most part. I'm not sure if I would have found it fun or a bit scary as a kid--I spooked really easily--but it's well done. It's the premise of this one that confuses me. Not really. Just a little bit. It's the food chain done pop-up style. And not the food chain you might be expecting. Vultures eat frogs. Gorillas eat vultures. Tigers eat gorillas. Crocodiles eat tigers. Sharks eat crocodiles. Everybody but the shark is a meal. And the pop-ups show these greedy jaws--sharp, pointy teeth included--in action. The food chain does exist. It is a part of life. But whenever a wildlife documentary happens to be on, I'm one of those squeamish sorts that can't bear to see animals eating other animals. The chase. The capture. The blood. The devouring. And it's not like this book has any of the blood and guts. It's simple and straightforward enough.

"Tiger said, "I'm going to eat you for my dinner." And he did."

This one will either appeal to you or it won't.

How To Be A Baby by Me The Big Sister

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. 2007. How To Be A Baby by Me The Big Sister. Illustrated by Sue Heap.

I love this book. I L-O-V-E love this book. In case you hadn't noticed, it is narrated by the big sister. It is funny. It is down-to-earth. It is true. It just sparkles with charm. I loved every minute of it. Here is how it starts off,

"When you're a baby, you are in a crib and not in school. When you're a baby, you just wear your pajamas ALL THE TIME and not real clothes. Your mommy and daddy have to dress you, because you don't know how. (But I do.) When you're a baby, it's not good because you don't have any hair. (I have long hair like a princess.) When you're a baby, you don't read books. You eat them."

And that is just the beginning...

I love the text. I love the illustrations. I love the premise.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Take it from the narrator of this book, an all-knowing big sister: when you're a baby you don't read books. You eat them. You don't know how old you are, or even if you're a boy or a girl. And you have to keep a special plug in your mouth to stop your scream from coming out. But one day, you won't be little anymore, and then you'll be taller and smarter, and actually quite clever. Like the narrator. And you'll be able to share memories of what it was like when you were little with your incredible Big Sister.

About the Author

Sally Lloyd-Jones is the author of the recently published Handbag Friends (also illustrated by Sue Heap). She worked in children's publishing for several years, leaving in 2000 to write full-time. She lives in New York, New York.

Sue Heap is the illustrator of Handbag Friends (written by Sally Lloyd-Jones). She has illustrated several other picture books, and is the author-illustrator of Cowboy Baby, which won the Smarties Gold Award in the picture book category. She lives in England.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Newly illustrated by Giselle Potter, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod is a classic children's poem by Eugene W. Field. Though I don't specifically recall this one from my own childhood, I showed the book to my mother. She not only knew about Wynken, Blynken, and Nod but she began to list off other poems by Eugene W. Field. And as if that wasn't enough, she then began to sing some of his poems. So it's all a matter of context I suppose.

You can read the poem in its entirety here. Though I thought I'd share the first verse,

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the poem. (I don't dislike it. But I don't love it either.) But I can say that I enjoyed the illustrations by Giselle Potter. Some of them were just amazing. They were simply beautiful. And they drew you into the story.

Other reviews (from folks that love the poem and the illustrations both) include: A Well Read Child, Jen Robinson's Book Page, A Patchwork of Books, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

My Friend the Monster

Taylor, Eleanor. 2008. My Friend the Monster.

When Louis moves with his family to a new house, he makes a friend in the most unusual place. In his bedroom. Under his bed. His new friend, affectionately called "my monster" is tall, green, and only has one eye. The two begin to do most everything together. (Louis' parents even get the green monster a bed of his own.) But Louis' favorite thing to do with his new monster friend is make more friends.

It releases in mid-to-late July 2008.

Picture books are subjective. I know that. You know that. What one person loves, another person just can't see the appeal. It's not that I dislike My Friend the Monster. I don't. That is to say I don't dislike it. I just don't have much enthusiasm or affection for it. In other words, to borrow a phrase from my mother, that's the kind of book I'd check out at the library. I don't know to me when it comes to monster books it doesn't get better than There's A Wocket in My Pocket or What Was I Scared Of? both by Seuss. And it lacks the charm (in my own opinion) of Go To Bed Monster! But you and yours might feel differently. So read it for yourself and see. And here's the beauty of it. You can read books before you check them out at the library OR before you buy them at your local store. (I'd like to imagine everyone buying from a local independent bookstore.)