April Favorites

These are my favorite reads for April 2010.

Where's Your Nose? Begin Smart Books. 2010. May 2010. 16 pages.
My Little Baby. Begin Smart Books. 2010. May 2010. 16 pages.
The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah. By Leslie Kimmelman. Illustrated by Paul Meisel. 2010. February 2010. Holiday House. 32 pages.
Dogs. Emily Gravett. 2010. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.
Farm. Elisha Cooper. 2010. April 2010. Scholastic. 48 pages.
I Am Going! (An Elephant & Piggie Book). Mo Willems. 2010. Hyperion. 64 pages.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Poetry Friday: Dinothesaurus

Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian. 2009. March 2009. Simon & Schuster. 56 pages.

If you've got kids that love dinosaurs, this one is too fun to miss! Douglas Florian has written poems about all sorts of dinosaurs. And with the pronunciation guide, you might just be able to read some of these aloud.

One of my favorites is Stegoceras.

Thick head. Brick head. Hard head, too.
Round head. Mound head. Odd head, you.
Bone head. Stone head. Head like a dome.
Bash head. Smash head. Then head home.

If you're familiar with Douglas Florian's previous works, you know that he is a great poet for kids. If you're not familiar with his works, you should be! You may or may not be all that interested in dinosaurs, but chances are you'll find something of his to appreciate. (Some of his books include Laugh-Eteria, Insectlopedia, Mammalabilia, Comets, Stars, The Moon, and Mars, Lizards, Frogs, and Poliwogs, Beast Feast, and Bing Bang Boing.)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Princesses Are Not Perfect

Princesses Are Not Perfect. Kate Lum. Illustrated by Sue Hellard. 2010. March 2010. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

Once there were three princesses: Princess Allie, Princess Mellie, and Princess Libby. They lived in a rose-covered palace by the sea. They weren't the kind of princesses who sit around doing nothing. They were very busy. They grew things in the garden, baked things in the kitchen, and built things in the workshop. Each princess had her specialty.

What happens when these three princesses decide to switch jobs one day? They each learn that princesses are not perfect, that each princess has their own special talent, their own gift, that certain something that makes them special, unique. And of course, they learn it is best to do what they love.

I liked this one. I didn't expect to like it. The illustrations didn't seem all that inviting--to me--a bit too busy perhaps. But once I started reading this one, I found it be charming.

This one is a follow-up to Princesses Are Not Quitters (2003).

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Not All Princesses Dress In Pink

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink. By Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin. 2010. June 2010. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

Not all princesses dress in pink.
Some play in bright red socks that stink,
blue team jerseys that don't quite fit,
accessorized with a baseball mitt,
and a sparkly crown.

I like the premise of this one. That no two princesses are alike. That you don't have to love pink to be a princess. But while it celebrates individuality, I couldn't help but notice that while princesses don't all dress in pink--apparently all of them do have to have a sparkly crown. Sometimes the use of the phrase "and a sparkly crown" sticks out more than others. In my opinion, this insertion sometimes spoils the story.

For example,

Some princesses roll around,
wrestling on the muddy ground,
then get right up to skip and dance
in tattered, stained and muddy pants,
and a sparkly crown.

I also wasn't crazy about the artwork. Though illustrations are certainly something subjective. Just because I didn't care for them won't mean that you won't.


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Lily Brown's Paintings

Lily Brown's Paintings. By Angela Johnson. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. 2007. Scholastic. 32 pages.

Lily Brown loves her mama, daddy, and baby brother and the world they live in.
Sometimes she spins around her room thinking about their world. And it's wondrous.
But when Lily Brown paints, her world starts to change.

The sunlight turns to stars,
and Lily begins flying
around them. All the universe
is one big colorful splash.

The stars circle the planets
in Lily Brown's paintings...

Lily Brown's Paintings is a book about wonder and joy. A celebration of life and art. Of beauty and imagination. I really enjoyed this one. I thought it was beautifully written. And I thought the illustrations by Lewis complemented the text well.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers