Patricia Reilly Giff Blog Tour - Day 3!

Zigzag Kids: Number One Kid and Big Whopper

By Patricia Reilly Giff

Illustrated by Alasdair Bright

Wendy Lamb Books and Yearling, 2010

$15.99 (per hb.) and $4.99 (pb.)

Ages 6-9, 80 pages.

As you open the first books of Giff's new series, you almost expect to see kids bound off the pages and hear the long ring of a school bell.

There's such exuberance to Giff's early readers and Zigzag Kids is no exception.

In Zigzag Kids, Giff writes about after-school care at Zelda A. Zigzag elementary -- and in such a fun and lively way, it's as if Giff became a youngster herself when she wrote it (or got inside kids' heads for a look around).

The two-time Newbery Honor-winner understands how children feel -- even their silent worries -- and is keenly aware of how they interact with each other, with plenty of "humpfs" when they're frustrated and "eee-yaaahs" when they succeed.

Like her popular Polk Street Kids books, the new series, set in the basement of the school and at times at the YMCA, appeals, in a large part, because it shows children reacting to their world just as you'd expect them to.

Giff, who taught in public schools for 20 years, captures the sincerity of children's perceptions, and in doing so, makes her characters real to the kids who are reading about them:

My Chat with Patricia Reilly Giff

Q. The "Polk Street" stories involve typical classroom situations, but "Zigzag Kids" takes place in an after-school center. Why this setting? 

A. Writing the "Polk Street" series was the happiest of times. I've always wanted to return to that world, and it was handed to me by my daughter, Laura, who with my grandson, taught in an afternoon center. What fun to explore the problems and triumphs of the young in a setting that might be less structured, more chaotic than a classroom.

Q. After-school care is in high demand now and there are a lot of interesting discussions about its impact on kids. Some say after-school programs offer kids who feel disenfranchised at school a way to blossom; others say after-school programs "overschedule" kids. Will some of these ideas be woven into your stories?

A. I do hope they'll blossom… but the path zigzags: Destiny Washington tells her arch-enemy Gina that her greatest-great grandfather was Abraham Washington … Charlie invents flying feet that just don't seem to fly. And what are those specks in the pool? Lizard eggs?

Q. Is it harder or easier to write for developing readers versus middle-grade readers?

A. I'm truly blessed because I love writing, any writing, even store lists have some interest. But as a reading teacher, I fall into writing for the Zigzag age group easily, using short sentences, frequent paragraphs, and early vocabulary.

Q. You've won the Newbery Honor for "Lily's Crossing" and "Pictures of Hollis Woods," but I'm curious, which book (or books) are you proudest of and why?

Smart Books for Early Reading

Learning to read can be an exhausting affair for little ones. There are so many new words to stretch out and recognize that it's easy to get burned out after a page or two.

That's why it's so great to find beginner books that explore ideas they can relate to, and make them feel happy and accomplished.

This spring, I've highlighted five beginner series that are certain to reduce wiggles at reading time. Some are silly, others sweet, and all are fast-paced and irresistible to look at.

Max Spaniel (Two Books)

Written, illustrated by David Catrow

Orchard Books, 2009-2010

$6.99, ages 4-8, 40 pages

A goofy, lovable pooch named Max tries to convince everyone that he's not a dog in this side-splitting series about chasing your dreams.

In every book, Max gets a wild hare to be something new and gets in one funny predicament after another.

In Dinosaur Hunt, he struts about like a great hunter and ends up creating his own prey out of garden tools, then in Funny Lunch, Max declares he's a great chef, only to realize he's made a pizza mess.

Catrow's illustrations are incredibly funny and keep readers giggling.

Elephant and Piggie (12 Books)

Written, illustrated by Mo Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, 2007-2010

$8.99, ages 4-8, 64 pages

A fun-loving pig and straight-laced elephant quibble about how to go about things, but always make up in this charming graphic series by Caldecott Honor winner Willems.

Elephant, a sobering fellow with spectacles, is sometimes frustrated by Piggie's blithe approach to life, but by story's end Piggie always gets him to loosen up and see the bright side of things.

In one adventure they decide to hide out and surprise each other, only to find themselves alone and sad that the other has left them behind.

In the latest book, Can I Play Too?, due out June 8, Gerald and Piggie meet a snake who wants to play catch, but wonder how he can play without arms.

In each mini drama, Willems uses short, pithy dialogue, speech balloons, fun sound words, and hysterical facial expressions to keep readers eager to read on.

Benny and Penny (Three Books)

Written, illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes

Toon Books, 2008-2010

$12.95, ages 4-8, 32 pages

In this delightful graphic series, two mice siblings learn to apologize, forgive and make friends as they play and explore.

In Just Pretend, Benny refuses to let little sister Penny play pirate with him, then calls her a crybaby for being upset about it, only to feel badly when he can't find her.

In The Big No-No, the siblings accuse a hedgehog neighbor girl of stealing their pail, only to realize they jumped to conclusions and owe her an apology.

In the latest, The Toy Breaker, they try to hide their toys from cousin Bo because he always breaks them, then discover a way to play so that nothing gets damaged.

Readers will relate to their squabbles, and along the way, learn how to make up with their own buddies. The format, a series of simple panels and talk balloons, makes the stories skip along.

Cork & Fuzz (Six Books)

Written by Dori Chaconas,

illustrated by Lisa McCue

Viking Juvenile, 2005-2010

$13.99, ages 4-8, 32 pages

A short muskrat and a tall possum discover that friends can be very different and still have fun adventures together in this gentle series reminiscent of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad.

In the first five books, the scrappy pair learn about acceptance, good sportsmanship, compromise and standing up for a friend while getting into all manner of mischief.

In the latest adventure, The Babysitters, Cork loses track of a baby porcupine he's babysitting and it's up to Fuzz to help find him.

Exciting adventures and adorable pictures keep readers coming back for more. (This is such an adorable pair, parents will want to track down stuffed toy look-alikes to surprise their readers.)

Astroblast #1: Code Blue

Written, illustrated by Bob Kolar

Cartwheel Books, 2010

$5.99, ages 4-8, 40 pages

A space monkey gets flustered when an alarm goes off in the Astroblast Snack Shack and none of his crew is there to make treats in this first book in a clever new series.

It's up to readers to round up the monkey's crew before a crowd of googly-eyed aliens line up to buy Milky Way shakes and Creamy Moon cakes. But first they'll have to navigate through a maze, dig for moon stones, locate missing tools and untangle wires.

Kolar, author-illustrator of Racer Dogs, combines a rousing rhyme, bold illustrations and fun puzzles that break up the text.

Sweet Beginnings: 10 Storybook Collections, Learning Books, Early Readers and Short Chapter Books

A Little Books Boxed Set Featuring Little Pea, Little Hoot, Little Oink, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace, Chronicle Books, $19.99, ages 4-8. Three adorable stories about the challenges of being little are reproduced as small board books and packaged in a box with windows for photographs. Meet a pea who prefers spinach to candy, an owl who would rather sleep than stay up late, and a pig who wants to clean up instead of make a mess.

Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury, written and illustrated by Jan Brett, Penguin Young Readers Group, $29.99, ages 4-8. Brett's most beloved titles, Gingerbread Baby, The Mitten, The Hat and The Three Snow Bears, are packaged in their original size in this enchanting collection that's sure to have children climbing into laps for a marathon read-through. (Afterward, visit Brett's wonderful website of crafts listed in my favorite links.)

Creature ABC and Creature 4 Floor Puzzles, by Andrew Zuckerman, Chronicle Books, $19.99 (book), $24.95 (puzzle set), ages 4-8. Award-winning Zuckerman captures the whimsical expressions of animals in minimalist, ultra-high resolution photographs in two stunning editions: an ABC book and a box of double-sided, 2-foot-square puzzles. The creatures are so cute, your child will wish they could hug them on the page. (View a video of Zuckerman photographing animals below!)

Little Mouse Gets Ready, by Jeff Smith, Toon Books, $12.95, ages 4-8, 32 pages. A bouncy little mouse gets the hang of snaps, buttons and even a tail hole as he hurries to get dressed for a day of play in this charming early reader by Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Smith, author of the wildly popular graphic novel series Bone. (This is a great companion to Toon Book's 2008 release Jack and the Box by Art Spiegelman.)

Max Spaniel Dinosaur Hunt, written and illustrated by David Catrow, Orchard Books, $6.99, ages 4-8, 40 pages. A lovably goofy spaniel named Max goes on a hunt for dinosaurs and ends up building his own inventive replica in this hysterical early reader by award-winning cartoonist Catrow, the illustrator of Plantzilla by Jerdine Nolen.

Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes, written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, Candlewick Press, $12.99, ages 4-8. Mercy, the porcine wonder, sets off on a hilarious chase through the drive-in theater, after leaping snout-first out of Mr. and Mrs. Watson convertible in pursuit of popcorn with real butter in Book 6 of this wonderful series.

Emmaline and the Bunny, written and illustrated by Katherine Hannigan, Greenwillow Books, ages 9-12. $14.99, 112 pages. Emmaline loves to stomp in puddles and shout silly phrases, and more than anything wants a bunny, but in the town of Neatasapin, messes are frowned upon, until one day a wild bunny come along that changes everything in this delightful book by the author of Ida B.

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas, based on the character created by Mordecai Richler, by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dusan Petricic, $10.95, ages 8-12, pages 112. Award-winning Fagan brings back the pint-size star of Richter's celebrated series Jacob Two-Two in a swashbuckling adventure filled with silly pirates, acrobatic brothers, a cookie-loving giant and a friend with a treasure in her pocket.

Ottoline Goes to School, written and illustrated by Chris Riddell, HarperCollins, $10.99, ages 9-12, 176 pages. Whimsical ink drawings abound in Riddell's second book about super-sleuth Ottoline Brown and her hairy monster friend Monroe, as they investigate a mysterious curse that haunts a school for "differently gifted" kids.

Book 4, Water, Water Everywhere (Sluggers), Simon & Schuster, written by Phil Bildner, illustrated by Loren Long, $14.99, ages 9-12, 272 pages. An evil chancellor closes in on Griffith, Graham, Ruby and their magical baseball as they barnstorm around the country with The Travelin' Nine baseball team, raising money to pay off debt in the fifth installment of this suspenseful series set in 1899.