Stevens, Janet, and Susan Stevens Crummel 6+ years
HELP ME, MR. MUTT! EXPERT ANSWERS FOR DOGS WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS
Illustrated by Janet Stevens
Orlando: Harcourt, 2008 | 978-0-15-204628-6
Dog lovers will howl with laughter and cat lovers will mew with delight at this humorous book, a collection of letters to canine counselor Mr. Mutt, supplemented by notes from The Queen, a cat who lives in the same house as Mr. Mutt. The questions revolve around typical dog problems: they want more food, they want their people to play with them, they do not want to be dressed in costumes, and they like to bark. Even the addresses on the letters reflect the canine theme. The hilarious text contains Mr. Mutt’s replies, complete with charts, graphs, and illustrations of what the advice seeker should do. Mixed-media artwork illustrates the kindly and wise Mr. Mutt and the imperious Queen, plus other dogs. Toward the end of the story, Mr. Mutt and The Queen have an altercation, which ladles on more visual humor, including ads in newspapers. The endpapers, too, contain newspaper ads that enhance the narrative. A must-read for animal lovers of all ages, this book could be used as a humorous read-aloud or even for teaching students how to write letters. Read Eileen Christelow’s Letters from a Desperate Dog (Clarion, 2006) and The Desperate Dog Writes Again (Clarion, 2010) and Mark Teague’s Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School (Scholastic, 2002) for more fun with dogs and letters.
Stohner, Anu 4–8 years
BRAVE CHARLOTTE AND THE WOLVES
Illustrated by Henrike Wilson
New York: Bloomsbury, 2009 | 978-1-59990-424-5
Charlotte the sheep saves her herd from torment by a gang of young sheep who like to pretend to be wolves. Her smarts and willingness to be different lead her to trick the gang. First published in Germany, this book combines a mildly suspenseful story with appealing illustrations, created with acrylics on cardboard. The texture of the sheep practically begs to be touched. For teachers or parents who want to reinforce the importance of not following the crowd, this story will also attract readers and listeners who enjoy a story about a clever main character. The title heroine first appears in Brave Charlotte (2005).
Wojciechowski, Susan 4–9 years
A FINE ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Illustrated by Tom Curry
New York: Random House, 2004 | 978-0-385-73640-4 | paper
Set in Ireland, this magical and satisfying story concerns two towns that compete annually for the best-decorated place for St. Patrick’s Day. When the people of one town help a leprechaun whose cows are in trouble, they know they will not be able to finish their decoration, but they find they have been rewarded anyway. Folk art illustrations of wondrous texture capture the villages, their inhabitants, and the work they are about. Rich colors saturate the pages with a mix of two-page spreads, one-and-a-half-page spreads and one page, with most of the text in white space. A fine book for read-alouds, and not just for St. Patrick’s Day.
Wojtowicz, Jen 4–8 years
THE BOY WHO GREW FLOWERS
Illustrated by Steve Adams
Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2005 | 978-1-84148-686-4
Strange, yet familiar. Odd, yet not disturbing. Somehow the fact that flowers grow out of the body of Rink Bowagon at the time of the full moon seems normal because his whole family skews exotic. While the children at school shun him, he forms a connection with the new girl, Angelina, who has one leg shorter than the other. With the help of a shoe that he designs and makes for her, they attend a dance, and he finds out a secret about that flower that always appears behind her ear. A fantasy, this tale is also a school story, with normal petty jealousies and teasing. Look for the unusual names of the students. The acrylic illustrations, especially the flowers, bring loveliness to each page. The two main characters, expressed as serene and happy in text and art, project an appealing sweetness in their differentness. Small illustrations of scissors, a boy at a desk, a needle and thread, and much more decorate the pages of text facing one-page illustrations. As the connection between Rink and Angelina blossoms, the ending is not surprising, but is instead a satisfying answer to “And then what happened?”
Yaccarino, Dan 4–8 years
LAWN TO LAWN
Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
New York: Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, 2010 | 978-0-375-85574-0
Lawn ornaments—some people love them, while others would describe them as tacky or creepy. But in this story, lovable (and almost human) wins out. A gnome, deer, flamingo, and jockey, named Norm, Betty, Flo, and Jack, respectively, face disposal in the trash truck if they cannot follow their beloved friend Pearl when she moves to a new house. As they make their journey, they meet other lawn ornaments, gargoyles, and statues, all the while avoiding the garbage trucks. Just when they arrive within sight of Pearl’s house, lion statues thwart their plan to enter through the gate. But what was once an enemy becomes a friend, and they are delivered by truck to their joyous reunion with Pearl. Humorous gouache illustrations take the ornaments on the road, where statues come alive in bold color. The highly colorful endpapers, too, feature weathervanes, a mailbox, a totem pole, a carousel horse, fountains, and other statues as appealing figures that the characters may have met on their way. Snappy dialogue ensures that each ornament demonstrates a distinct personality in this fun story.
Yolen, Jane 5–9 years
COME TO THE FAIRIES’ BALL
Illustrated by Gary Lippincott
Honesdale, PA: Wordsong/Boyds Mills, 2009 | 978-1-59078-464-8
The prolific Yolen offers another book in the realm of fantasy, this one a delight to ear and eye. The rhyming text tells of the ball being planned and the preparations of the fairies that want to attend. For extra drama, a Cinderella-type character emerges who owns only a torn dress. Eventually they all arrive at the ball, including the fairy who comes in late but with a beautiful dress, and who attracts the attention of the prince. The exquisite watercolor illustrations show fairies at all stages of preparation, with such fun details as a “Mom” tattoo, thick glasses, and striped stockings. Their transportation to the ball includes wonderfully imaginative uses of rabbits, turtles, and frogs, as well as other woodland animals. Dominant colors of green, gold, orange, and tan reflect the natural habitat of the fairy folk. The rhymed text conveys the hurry and hoopla of getting ready, the music and dancing of the ball, and a love story at the end. The first and last pages feature scrolls with stylized lettering that announce the ball and the wedding, respectively. For those who love fantastic worlds, especially those of fairies and princesses, this book will enchant.
Ziefert, Harriet 4–8 years
BY THE LIGHT OF THE HARVEST MOON
Illustrated by Mark Jones
Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple, 2009 | 978-1-934706-69-5
The orange, gold, and red of autumn permeate this book, a blend of reality and fantasy. What begins as day’s end is magically transformed, with a gust of wind, into a party of leaf people. Pastel illustrations bring texture and color to pictures that spread to the edge of pages, with text surrounded by the artwork. Leaf children and leaf adults sport pumpkin heads and leafy trunks and extremities, with clothes, hats, and footwear just like humans. Their activities, too, mimic those of humans: bobbing for apples, stacking pumpkins, and eating pie. Ideal for a lesson on autumn, this visually stunning book will appeal at any time of year to those who love the colors, smells, and sounds of fall. Celebrate other seasons with Ziefert’s Snow Party (2008) and Butterfly Birthday (2010). Pair this with Nancy Raines Day’s Halloween-themed On a Windy Night (Abrams, 2010) and compare mood.
6
Folktales and Fairy Tales
The picture books in this section represent stories that have arisen from the oral and literary traditions of many cultures and countries, including folktales, fairy tales, tall tales, traditional tales, legends, myths, fables, and trickster tales. From classic favorites to new discoveries, these books teach and entertain as they have through the a
ges.
Aesop 4–9 years
THE CONTEST BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE WIND
Retold by Heather Forest
Illustrated by Susan Gaber
Atlanta: August House LittleFolk, 2008978-0-87483-832-9
When the wind brags of his strength, the sun challenges him to see who can take off the coat of a man. The wind tries with his mightiest blowing and howling, but the man just clutches his coat more tightly. Then the sun, with heat and light, causes the man to remove the coat on his own. Dark colors, especially gray for the wind, and bright yellow for the sun, aptly illustrate this struggle between force and gentleness. The facial expressions of the wind and the sun indicate this mean-friendly dichotomy, too. The illustrations include scalloped-edged borders, full spreads, quarter-pages, and several pages to be turned sideways. This variety moves the story along, just like the man who walks on the road toward rainbows of light.
Alley, Zoë B. 4–8 years
THERE’S A WOLF AT THE DOOR: FIVE CLASSIC TALES
Illustrated by R. W. Alley
New York: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook, 2008 | 978-1-59643-275-8
With its large size and graphic novel style, this book provides a perfect vehicle for the title character, whose inflated sense of his power stands out in these episodic adventures. Although most of the stories included here will be familiar—The Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing—the continuation from one to the next pulls the whole narrative together, ending with The Wolf and the Seven Little Goslings, wherein the embattled wolf finally gives up. A sly sense of humor permeates the text and illustrations, with the fashion-obsessed Little Red Riding Hood and the comments of the sheep in The Boy Who Cried Wolf just a few of the highlights. Adults as well as children will appreciate the mix of the familiar and new, delivered in a fun comic style.
Arnold, Caroline 4–8 years
THE TERRIBLE HODAG AND THE ANIMAL CATCHERS
Illustrated by John Sandford
Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills, 2006 | 978-1-59078-166-1
Set in the north woods of Wisconsin, this story of lumberjacks and the creature they befriend is enhanced by woodcut illustrations that capture the larger-than-life characters. The typeface and illustrations lend an old-time style to this story which, though original, is based on the century-old stories of the hodag and the lumberjack Olee Swensen. In this version, three animal catchers want to capture the hodag for a zoo. Although a fearsome beast in appearance, the hodag is a friend of the lumberjacks, who outwit the animal catchers to protect him. Many of the black-and-white illustrations are enclosed in borders and take up the whole page opposite that of the text. In some of these bordered boxes, the illustration escapes outside of the border, especially in those depicting the hodag—he is just too big! Several two-page spreads feature unbordered illustrations, including a marvelous confrontation scene between burly lumberjacks and mousy animal catchers. Adults and children alike will cheer for the lumberjacks and the friendly hodag as they outsmart the bad guys.
Aylesworth, Jim, reteller 4–8 years
THE MITTEN
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock
New York: Scholastic, 2009 | 978-0-439-92544-0
In this retelling of a classic tale, the mitten belongs to a little boy. When he loses one of the mittens made by his loving grandmother, its inviting warmth attracts a squirrel, a rabbit, a fox, and a bear. Improbably, they all squeeze in and achieve the warm coziness they seek. But when a mouse tries to wedge in, disaster results. McClintock’s lovely illustrations display an antique charm, especially of the boy and his grandmother. Immersing oneself in the text and illustrations is like wrapping oneself in a warm fuzzy blanket. Interesting examples of framing abound in these illustrations, with literal frames around the pictures in the first few pages and then a combination of open and framed illustrations as the story progresses. The size of the illustrations also varies, with larger pictures as more animals push their way into the mitten. A gentle tale, especially for younger listeners, who will be attracted by the repetition as each animal tries to talk its way into the mitten, and the anticipation for what will surely happen when too many squeeze in. Extra bonus: a recipe for hot cocoa on the back cover. Similar, but using a different setting and set of animals, is Mary Casanova’s One-Dog Canoe, set in the north woods.
Brett, Jan 4–8 years
THE THREE SNOW BEARS
Illustrated by Jan Brett
New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007 | 978-0-399-24792-7
Brrr! Brett’s realistic illustrations, rendered in watercolor and gouache, will make readers and listeners practically feel the cold in this Arctic rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Aloo-ki, searching for her sled dogs, wanders into the bears’ igloo. Instead of porridge, chairs, and beds, the little girl samples soup, boots, and fur bed covers. In the meantime, the bear family finds her dogs, a side story told in smaller illustrations that serve as borders on each two-page spread. In a clever presentation, Arctic animals hold these circular illustrations. (See figure 6.1.) With realistic costumes, Aloo-ki and the bears bring a traditional Inuit look to the familiar tale. Look for special touches, such as the penguin totem outside the bears’ igloo, the storage of clothes in a hanging basket, and the animal-shaped soup bowl. A great selection for teachers seeking multicultural retellings of familiar stories. For a traditional take on this tale, see Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Scholastic, 2003) by Jim Aylesworth. A Renaissance-themed Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Marshall Cavendish, 2009) is retold and illustrated by Gennady Spirin. Anthony Browne’s Me and You (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010) offers a modern urban version.
Figure 6.1. The Three Snow Bears
Bruchac, Joseph, and James Bruchac, retellers 4–8 years
RACCOON’S LAST RACE
Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
New York: Dial/Penguin, 2004 | 978-0-8037-2977-3
Because of his long legs and lean body, Azban the Raccoon beats every animal in races. But wait! Don’t raccoons have short legs and plump bodies? This pourquoi tale, which seeks to answer a why question, explains how raccoons came to be their present shape. From the oral tradition of the Abenaki, versions of the Azban tales can be found in other American Indian nations, according to the author’s note at the beginning of this book. The text, perfect for storytelling, is enhanced by illustrations rendered in pen and ink, gouache, and pastel. The colors of nature in the first part of the book—green, brown, and autumn orange—contrast with the grays, deep blues, and black of the mountain where Azban meets his fate. Be sure to read other books by the father-son Bruchac team, also illustrated by Aruego and Dewey, such as Turtle’s Race with Beaver (Dial, 2003) and How Chipmunk Got His Stripes (Dial, 2001).
Deedy, Carmen Agra, reteller 4–8 years
MARTINA THE BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH: A CUBAN FOLKTALE
Illustrated by Michael Austin
Atlanta: Peachtree, 2007 | 978-1-56145-399-3
Forget all preconceived notions of cockroaches; Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha is beautiful. As she receives suitors in her family home in a street lamp, she follows her grandmother’s advice about how to sort out the good from the bad. In the end, as in all good tales, she finds true love—with the little mouse whose weak eyes cannot see her beauty. The acrylic illustrations, bold in their color and size, display a sly humor, as does the text. Readers and listeners will cheer as Martina rejects a vain rooster, a smelly and selfish pig, and a sneaky lizard. On subsequent readings, they may want to see if they can spot the clever mouse in early scenes. A sweet ending tops off this tale.
DeFelice, Cynthia 4–8 years
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO
Illustrated by Andrea U’Ren
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006 | 978-0-374-35640-8
Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady, though very poor, are satisfied with what they have. When Mr. O’Grady finds a magic pot that doubles whatever is placed in it, they use
it wisely. After an unfortunate fall, in which two Mrs. O’Gradys come out, Mr. O’Grady hops in, too, and soon there are two couples. But since each one wanted a best friend, this works perfectly for them. The pen-and-gouache illustrations perfectly capture the poor characters and the sparse living conditions—the O’Gradys are both drawn unbelievably thin—and then the duplicated potatoes and coins and candles. A timeless quality imbues this tale, which delights with its humor and magic.
Demi 6+ years
THE HUNGRY COAT: A TALE FROM TURKEY
Illustrated by Demi
New York: Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, 2004 | 978-0-689-84680-9
With her distinctive paint-and-ink artwork and excellent storytelling, Demi presents the story of wise man Nasrettin Hoca. Because he likes to help people, he finds himself dirty and smelling of goat just before a friend’s banquet. When he is rejected because of his appearance, he finds a clever way to make a point about friendship and hospitality. Based on stories about the real Nasrettin Hoca, a Turkish philosopher, teacher, and humorist, this tale brings out his common sense and sense of humor. The illustrations, bordered in a Middle Eastern design and filled with people, delight the eye with bold colors, cultural integrity, and that humor with which Nasrettin taught his lessons. This sumptuous book would be a good introduction to Middle Eastern folktales or discussions of judging by appearances. For another Nasrettin tale, see Eric A. Kimmel’s Joha Makes a Wish (Marshall Cavendish, 2010).
Picture Books for Children Page 17