In the picture-book selections, the art ranges from glorious, ingenious, breath-taking, and innovative to downright hilarious. These imaginative titles span a variety of ages and interests, from preschoolers to middle-grade audiences.
BARTON, Chris. Shark vs. Train. illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. Little, Brown. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-00762-7. PreS-Gr 2-When one boy's toy shark faces a companion's toy train in a series of contests (high-diving, marshmallow-roasting, burping, etc.), the competition is as heated as the results are hilarious. Lichtenheld's energetic illustrations provide visual humor and perfectly complement the cheeky text. An over-the-top reflection of imaginative play. (Apr.)
BLEXBOLEX. Seasons. tr. from French by Claudia Bedrick. illus. by author. Enchanted Lion. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59270-095-0. PreS Up-Raspberry-tinted captions in block letters—"BUD," "SUNBURN," "MIGRATION," "STILLNESS"—set the tone for this joyful portfolio that accommodates recollection and anticipation of seasonal experiences. The large, stylized silk-screen prints are rich with inventive forms and combinations of color. (July)
BROWNE, Anthony. Me and You. illus. by author. Farrar. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-34908-0. PreS-Gr 2-In this modern retelling of "Goldilocks," a fair-haired girl in a dark hoodie gets separated from her mother and wanders through their blighted urban neighborhood before coming upon a grand yellow house that belongs to some smug bears. Browne juxtaposes small, monochromatic scenes with bright, airy pictures to brilliant effect. (Nov.)
FLEMING, Candace. Clever Jack Takes the Cake. illus. by G. Brian Karas. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84979-4; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95697-3. K-Gr 3-Too poor to buy a gift, a resourceful boy whips up the perfect present for the princess's 10th birthday party; however, the lad runs into an assortment of dessert-devouring dangers during his journey to her castle, leaving him empty-handed but with a satisfying story to tell. A sweetened-with-humor adventure, conveyed through vivacious narrative and delectable artwork. (July)
FRAZEE, Marla. The Boss Baby. illus. by author. S & S/Beach Lane Bks. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-0167-9. PreS-Gr 2-Frazee's delightfully droll new-infant tale is cast as a corporate take-over complete with a demanding CEO (wearing a black onesie, striped tie, and single-minded scowl), plentiful executive perks (a private jet swing), and a pushed-to-the-limits workforce (Mom and Dad). Deadpan text and comical 1950s-esque artwork are guaranteed to generate a windfall of laughs. (July)
HUGHES, Shirley.Don't Want to Go! illus. by author. Candlewick. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5091-9. PreS-K-With Mom in bed nursing the flu and Dad off to work, a toddler faces a day at a neighbor's with trepidation. But a peekaboo-playing baby, his good-natured older brother, and a little white dog change her feelings, if not her plaintive refrain. Gouache paintings with homey details illustrate this warmhearted winner. (Nov.)
ISAACS, Anne. Dust Devil. illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86722-4. K-Gr 4-Larger-than-life Angelica Longrider and her trusty horse, Dust Devil, go on a whirlwind ride through Big Sky country, chasing the dastardly Flying Desperadoes on their Montana-size mosquitoes. It's a wild and zany escapade, told through witty language and gorgeous, gleeful art. (Sept.)
KAPLAN, Bruce Eric. Monsters Eat Whiny Children. illus. by author. S & S. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8689-8. K-Gr 2-Two endlessly complaining youngsters are kidnapped and carried off to a hungry monster's lair where they overhear arguments about the best way to prepare them: Should they be served in a salad or as burgers or vindaloo? Black line drawings depict a revolting group of characters in this deliciously outrageous cautionary tale. (Sept.)
KERLEY, Barbara. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy). illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. Scholastic. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-12508-6. Gr 3-6-Determined to prove there is much more to her world-famous father than his public persona, Twain's 13-year-old daughter compiles her very own biography. Kerley cleverly incorporates excerpts from Susy's journal into an intimate, eye-opening, and uproariously entertaining portrait of an American icon, an account matched punch-for-punch by Fotheringham's frolicsome, autumn-hued artwork. (Jan.)
NELSON, Marilyn. Snook Alone. illus. by Timothy Basil Ering. Candlewick. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2667-9. K-Gr 4-After a storm separates Snook the terrier from a monk named Abba Jacob, the pup finds himself alone on a remote island. Will he ever again see his beloved master? With pitch-perfect prose and stunning artwork, this doggone-satisfying picture book is a gentle tale of compassion and friendship. (Oct.)
O'MALLEY, Kevin. Animal Crackers Fly the Coop. illus. by author. Walker. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-9837-4; RTE $17.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-9838-1. Gr 2-4-When a chicken who prefers cracking jokes to laying eggs sets out to follow her dream of becoming a stand-up "comedi-hen," she and three other pun-pulling new friends run afoul of robbers before finding their funny-ever-after fortune. O'Malley's slapstick send-up of "The Brementown Musicians" percolates with eye-rolling one-liners and endearingly antic cartoons. (Feb.)
RODRIGUEZ, Béatrice. The Chicken Thief. illus. by author. Enchanted Lion. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-59270-092-9. PreS-Gr 1-A fox lurks at the edge of an idyllic domestic scene-then, bam!-he steals a hen. Three animals give close chase through day and night until they catch the rascal. But things aren't necessarily what they seem in this wordless picture-book-with-a-twist, illustrated with robust watercolors. (Aug.)
SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. What If? illus. by author. Roaring Brook/A Neal Porter Bk. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-398-4. PreS-Gr 1-Simple yet sublime, this picture book presents the third-wheel dilemma—two seals tossing around a beach ball are joined by another who wants to play too—with three different outcomes. Brief narrative prompts and gorgeous color-saturated paintings invite children to voice events, contemplate friendship issues, and imagine alternative possibilities. (Apr.)
UNDERWOOD, Deborah. The Quiet Book. illus. by Renata Liwska. Houghton Harcourt. RTE $12.95. 978-0-547-2156-9. K-Gr 1-This concept book cum bedtime story—"There are many kinds of quiet"—features cuddly toy animals in everyday scenarios from the lives of young children. An unhurried pace and subtle hues make this a stellar book to settle down with at the close of the day. (Mar.)
WIESNER, David. Art & Max. illus. by author. Clarion. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-618-75663-6. PreS-Gr 4-The masterful Wiesner takes a deconstructionist view of art through the interactions of two lizards, one an accomplished painter and the other an exuberant wannabe. Together they explore different mediums, color, and line with a minimum of dialogue and brilliantly hued panels and spreads dripping with paint and humor. (Sept.)
WILLEMS, Mo. We Are in a Book! illus. by author. (An Elephant & Piggie Bk.). Hyperion. Tr $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3308-7. PreS-Gr 2-A delightful metafictional easy reader. Elephant and Piggie have some fun with their audience once they discover that they are the subjects of a book. Piggie makes readers say "Banana," dissolving Elephant into uncontrollable giggles. Willems's simple yet animated characters are full of energy, and children will love being in on the joke. (Nov.)
WINTER, Jonah. Here Comes the Garbage Barge! illus. by Red Nose Studio. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. PLB $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95218-0. K-Gr 2-Based on a 1987 event, this tale follows the wanderings of a trash-laden boat that departs from Islip, NY, journeys down the coast in search of a dumping ground only to be repeatedly repelled, and eventually returns to its starting point 162 malodorous days later. Zany narrative, overblown characters, and clever made-from-garbage artwork convey an important message with a light touch. (Jan.)
WIVIOTT, Meg. Benno and the Night of Broken Glass. illus. by Josée Bisaillon. Lerner/Kar-Ben. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8225-9929-6; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-8225-9975-3. Gr 3-5-An orange-and-white cat that makes its home in the basement of a friendly Berlin apartment house is witness to the terrors of the November 1938 night that shatters lives and signals the start of the Holocaust. Plain language and angular, mixed-media artwork move deftly through scenes that descend from light into darkness as neighbors turn on neighbors. (May)
This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
RSS
