Picture Books to Read Over & Over

Hattie the Bad

by Jane Devlin, pictures by Joe Berger

Dial Books, 2010

$16.99, ages 3-5, 32 pages

Hattie, an assertive little girl with freckles on her nose and pigtails that stick out sideways, thinks it's more fun pulling pranks than being good.

But when parents refuse to let their children play with her, Hattie decides the only way to get her friends back is to be the best child ever.

The only problem is that Hattie is now so good, all of her friends think she's one-upping them.

How will she ever get kids to play with her again?

This delightful book celebrates the harmless fun of a little mischief, and the importance of being true to yourself.

The Pirate Cruncher!,

written and illustrated by Jonny Duddle

Templar Books, 2010

$15.99, ages 4-8, 38 pages

A dastardly pirate leads his ragtag crew in search of an island of treasure, only to discover that he's made a beastly mistake in this rollicking good story by a talented debut author-illustrator.

Captain Purplebeard is so smitten with the prospect of treasure that he ignores an old fiddler's warning that the island can perform a vanishing act and no one who has stepped ashore has ever returned.

Duddle's illustrations, so packed with detail, humor and action, will keep eyes lingering on the page long after the words are read.

Palazzo Inverso

written and illustrated by D. B. Johnson

Houghton Mifflin, 2010

$17, age 4-8, 32 pages

In this masterpiece inspired by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher, a mischievous apprentice confuses workers into building a palace upside down.

Mauk, the apprentice, loves to draw but his master, the architect, only lets him sharpen pencils, until one day Mauk gets a wild hare to turn the architectural plans around, causing builders to raise the palace in reverse.

The mistake is fortuitous, allowing Mauk to flee from adults by running on the ceiling, as readers turn the book around and read in reverse to try to find a way out.

But will the adults ever see the beauty of a palace turned on its head?

How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps

by Jennifer LaRue Huget, illustrated by Edward Koren

Schwartz & Wade, 2010

$16.99, ages 4-8, 40 pages.

A precocious girl undoes everything that's neat and tidy in her room, then shoves things into hiding places and pawns off stuff to her sister in this hysterical how-to for cleaning a room from a child's point of view.

Perfectly suited to Koren's squiggly style, the story will have readers in stitches over what she gets away with and laughing at her excuses for making more of a mess.

If you love the illustrations and humor, you'll also delight in the hysterical Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly-Pie, illustrated by Koren and written by Judy Sierra.

I'm the Best

written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins

Candlewick Press, 2010

$14.99, ages 3-5, 32 pages.

A goofy lovable dog in rainbow checkered shorts declares he's the best at everything in this exuberant tale about the dangers of boasting and the importance of being humble.

Dog tries to outdo his friends Ladybug, Mole, Goose and Donkey, only to have his friends show him that it's no fun to feel small.

Never meaning to be mean, Dog realizes he's been a show-off and apologizes to his friends, who save the day, telling Dog he is the best at being their best friend.

Cousin's paintings are so happy and energetic, you find yourself glued to the page, lost in her hypnotic splatters of color.

Stories With a Touch of Magic

The Boy Who Climbed Into the Moon

by David Almond, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Candlewick Press, 2010

$15.99, ages 9-12, 123 pages.

A lonely boy living in the basement of an apartment building decides to climb to the top story and touch the sky, and along the way meets happy people with strange ideas who encourage him to test out his theory that the moon is not the moon but a big hole in the sky.

Quirky and wonderful, this story will inspire readers to follow their dreams, no matter how crazy they seem, and find a place where they belong.

If you love this, don't miss Almond's brilliant tribute to the human spirit, My Dad's a Birdman, also illustrated by Dunbar, about a girl who helps her grieving father fly like a bird.

Drizzle

by Kathleen Van Cleve

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010

$16.99, ages 9-12, 368 pages.

Eleven-year-old Polly Peabody lives on a magical farm where rhubarb tastes like chocolate, tourists ride a giant umbrella her family built and every Monday at 1 p.m. it rains.

But then one Monday, it doesn't rain, and in a week's time, the plants are shriveling up, brother Freddy is sick and Aunt Edith is trying to convince her father to sell the farm.

Polly has always had special powers to talk to plants and bugs, but can she get it to rain before it's too late?

A whimsical fantasy about a shy girl who learns to face her biggest fears and help those she loves.

Magic Below Stairs

by Caroline Stevermer

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010

$16.99, ages 9-12, 208 pages.

When 11-year-old Frederick gets his chance to leave the orphanage and work as a footboy for a wealthy wizard, he can't believe his good fortune.

But little does he know that a mischievous hobgoblin who helped him out of a scrape at the orphanage has tagged along with him.

Once the wizard finds out about the trouble-making brownie Billy Bly, he bans all magical creatures from his manor, but Billy Bly is a stubborn little fellow and it's a good thing too with all the trouble brewing.

Full of charm and adventure, this is a perfect start for a young fantasy reader.

The Night Fairy

by Laura Amy Schlitz

Candlewick Press, 2010

$16.99, ages 9-12, 128 pages.

A night fairy named Flory gets stranded on a cherry tree after a bat pup accidentally bites her wings then tries to get other creatures to carry her around in this beautifully written book about what it means to be a friend.

Newbery winner Schlitz's short tale will delight any girl who's ever lain on her back, looking up into a tree and imagined what it would be like to be small enough to leap from branch to branch in a petal dress.

The Dreamer

by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sis

Scholastic Press, 2010

$17.99, ages 9-12, 364 pages.

A timid Chilean boy named Neftali daydreams about magical adventures and longs to speak freely about what he thinks, but fears that he will disappoint his domineering father in this breathtaking retelling of poet Pablo Neruda's childhood.

Neftali imagines poetry all around him, and with the encouragement of his stepmother and uncle, is able to rise above his father's reproach.

This lovely, poetic story envelops you and leaves you feeling more aware and available to the world around you, as well as more aware of the injustices that shaped the life of the Noble Peace Prize-winning poet.

Fast Reads for the Road

The Deadlies: Felix Takes the Stage

by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin

Scholastic Press, 2010

$15.99, ages 9-12, 142 pages.

Felix, a recluse spider, knows better than to show himself to humans, but one day his dream of riding the conductor's baton in the philharmonic hall gets the better of him and all havoc erupts.

At the sight of Felix on his baton, the conductor collapses in fright, causing Felix to fall and lose a leg. His mother worries exterminators are on their way and whisks the kids away from their hideout.

But why, asks Felix, must they always run away and will his dream of being an artist ever come true?

In this first book in a fun new series, Lasky transforms one of the most feared spiders into a creature to cheer for, though at the end, cautions readers to steer clear of them in real-life.

Whistle Bright Magic: A Nutfolk Tale

by Barb Bentler Ullman

Katherine Tegen Books, 2010

$16.99, ages 9-12, 224 pages

Twenty years after the debut of The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood, a grownup Willa returns from the big city to Plunkit with daughter Zelly, and though Willa can no longer see the fairies, Zelly meets the last remaining fairy child living in the wood, Ronald Whistle Bright.

But what can Zelly do to stop developers threatening to destroy the fairy village of Nutfolk Wood and will she ever reconnect with the father she hasn't seen since her parents separated?

Pair this engaging sequel with the first book for the trip there and back.

Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers School: We the Children, Book 1

by Andrew Clements, pictures by Adam Stower

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010

$14.99, ages 7-10, 143 pages.

Benjamin Pratt isn't happy about plans to flatten his harbor-side school and erect an amusement park in its place, but he never thought he'd fight it. After all, what's the use in challenging the inevitable?

But then a janitor slips Benjamin a coin inscribed with secret orders to defend the school against attack, and suddenly Benjamin and his friend Jill are uncovering things the developer never wanted anyone to know.

From the author of Frindle comes an exciting new series that will have kids riveted to the last page. Stower's blue and black ink illustrations makes this book feel like a classic passed down from parents to kids.

Lawn Boy Returns, Book 2

by Gary Paulsen

Wendy Lamb Books, 2010

$12.99, ages 9-12, 112 pages.

In this hilarious sequel to the 2007 Lawn Boy, a 12-year-old boy who made millions mowing lawns with his late grandad's old sit-down mower and investing in stock is now getting a taste for what it means to be rich.

He's having to juggle the media, the IRS, a full-blown business and a street full of girls wanting his autograph. On top of that Lawn Boy has to deal with an unsavory character named Zed, his prizefighter's long-lost relative, who's trying to mooch off his earnings.

A perfect read for reluctant readers from three-time Newbery Honor winner Paulsen.

Barnaby Grimes

by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

David Fickling Books, 2008-2010

$16.99 each, ages 8-12. 224-240 pages.

A courier lad named Barnaby Grimes bounds over the rooftops of a Dickensian city, battling supernatural forces and creepy characters, in this winning series by the creators of Muddle Earth.

In the latest installment Legion of the Dead, the "tick-tock lad" must try to unravel a plot involving zombies raised from the dead.

Riddell's intricate ink drawings capture his fast-pace escapades into a world of greed and betrayal.

Don't miss the first two books, Curse of the Night Wolf and Return of the Emerald Skull, all equally fun to read.

Books With Characters You Feel You Know (Or Wish You Did!)

Cosmic

By Frank Cottrell Boyce

Walden Pond Press, 2010

$16.99, ages 8-12, 314 pages.

What's a big lad of 12 to do if everyone assumes he's grown up just because he's tall?

Well, play along. Why not? Especially if it allows him to do things he couldn't do otherwise, like ride the Cosmic catapult at the amusement park and be invited to test drive a Porsche off the showroom floor.

But now Liam's gone too far and conned his way onto a spaceship that's rolled out of orbit, and Mom and Dad have no idea where he is.

Hilariously fun and clever, this crazy fun story imagines a resourceful kid finagling his way out of an impossible situation as only a kid can do.

If you love this, check out Boyce's Carnegie Medal-winning hit Millions and equally enjoyable Framed.

Wishing for Tomorrow: The Sequel to A Little Princess

by Hillary McKay

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010

$16.99, ages 8-12, 288 page

In this lovely sequel to the 100-year-old Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic A Little Princess, Bauer returns to Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies to see how Ermengarde, Lottie and Lavinia have faired since Sara Crewe, the little princess, and her scullery maid Becky left with a mysterious benefactor.

A new maid, Alice, has arrived at the school, bringing a breath of fresh air and practicality, as Emengarde eases her sadness at the loss of Sara and, at Sara's urging, agrees to watch over precocious Lottie, and an intriguing new boy moves in next door, stirring Lavinia's hunger for higher learning.

Scurvy Goonda

by Chris McCoy

Knopf Delacorte Dell, 2010

$16.99, ages 10 and up, 336 pages.

In this first installment of a wonderfully off-the-wall story, a 14-year-old misfit named Ted Merritt is convinced that his problems fitting in at school have a lot to do with the imaginary friend he's had since age 7, a crazy, bacon-loving pirate named Scurvy Goonda.

Everyone thinks Ted's a bit daft to talk to an imaginary friend and besides that, Scurvy's always leaving a mess in his wake. But when Scurvy disappears, Ted realizes what he's lost, and heads off to Middlemost, a strange land where imaginary friends are made to order, to rescue Scurvy and help stop an army of discarded imaginary friends from attacking Earth.

Along the way Ted discovers his elbow has powers to make wishes come true, and learns the true meaning of friendship.

Kid Vs. Squid

by Greg van Eekhout

Bloomsbury, 2010

$16.99, ages 9-12, 208 pages.

When plans to join his parents on a tour of squirt gun factories in Asia gets derailed, Thatcher Hill is forced to spend summer at great-uncle Griswald's curiosity museum in Los Huesos, California, dusting oddities like shrunken heads and barnacle-encrusted wooden box called a "What-Is-It?"

It looks like he's in for a dull summer until a mysterious girl breaks into the museum at night and steals the What-Is-It?, and Thatcher discovers she's no ordinary thief. She's the princess of the lost city of Atlantis and is trying to break a witch's curse that forces her people to wash ashore every summer at the boardwalk, and work the midway games and sausage stands.

Non-stop funny from start to finish, a great debut in children's books from author of the adult fantasy Norse Code.

Novels That Make Time Fly

Lyonesse: The Well Between the Worlds (Book 1) and Darksolstice (Book 2)

by Sam Llewellyn

Orchard Books, 2009 and 2010

$17.99, ages 9-12.

Idris Limpit never imagined he was anything but an ordinary school boy until the fateful day he's accused of being a Cross, a reviled being that's half-monster, half-human, and barely escapes execution.

His rescuer, a powerful magician, whisks him away from his fishing village to a place called the Valley of the Apples, where he goes through the rigors of training to be a monster tamer, only to discover his true destiny to be King of Lyonesse.

But Lyonesse is being pulled underwater and poisoned, and unless he can topple the evil Regent Fisheagle and her cruel son Prince Murther, all could be lost.

Though a complex read at times, the series transports you so completely into Idris's Arthurian world that it lingers in your thoughts long after the book ends.

Tunnels (Book 1), Deeper (Book 2) and Freefall (Book 3)

by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Chicken House, 2007-2010

$18.99. 496-672 pages.

Now in its third book and fast approaching its fourth, this riveting series follows Will Burrows and his best friend Chester as they search a massive subterranean world for Will's archaeologist father while trying to evade a ruthless band of Styx and stop its sinister plan to wipe out topsoilers with a deadly virus.

In the latest installment, the friends find themselves at the bottom of a subterranean pore, fleeing from evil twins and carnivorous creatures as they try to recover viles of the virus in time to thwart the Styx's plans.

I read this one in the dark of night with my headlamp on and felt like I too was underground stealing around dark corners with them. This is a great series for anywhere, but especially overnights in the tent or on a red-eye to vacation.

The Keepers' Tattoo

by Gill Arbuthnott

Chicken House, 2010

$17.99, ages 12 and up, 432 pages.

Adopted in infancy by an innkeeper and his wife, 12-year-old Nyssa has often dreamt of another life. But it isn't until a long-lost uncle pulls her aside in the night that Nyssa learns she was born a Keeper, a teacher who holds vast knowledge, and that an evil tyrant has sent Shadowmen to hunt her down.

The tyrant believes a secret tattooed on Nyssa's head and that of her twin brother could give him power over the Archipelago, and it's up to Nyssa to find her brother and unlock their powers before the tyrant Alaric and his Shadowmen get to them first.

This is one of those books that sneaks up from behind and pulls you in.

The Suburb Beyond the Stars

by M.T. Anderson

Scholastic Press, 2010

$17.99, ages 9-12, 240 pages.

In this followup to the wonderfully entertaining, The Game of Sunken Places, Brian and Gregory go looking for Gregory's missing cousin Prudence in the Vermont woods only to find that her neighbors are not where they are supposed to be, time is off-kilter, and something in the night is snatching up people.

Fast-paced and at times chilling, this second book in the series will be hard to put a bookmark in. You'll want to read straight through to the end.

Though this second book can be read by itself, it's even better paired with the first.

Young Samurai

by Chris Bradford

Disney Hyperion Books, 2009 and 2010

$16.99, Ages 9-12, 368 pages.

After Japanese ninja murder his father and the rest of the crew of a British merchant ship, 12-year-old Jack Fletcher is adopted by a revered samurai and trained in the ways of the Japanese warrior class, only to find his troubles growing.

Unless Jack can survive an ancient ritual that tests a samurai's courage, skill and spirit, and learn a challenging sword technique, he won't be able to protect his late father's rutter, an indispensable navigation guide of the world's uncharted oceans.

The first two books in the trilogy, The Way of the Warrior and the just-released The Way of the Sword, will keep martial arts fans at the edge of their seats.

Books Just For Fun

GirlForce: Shine

A Girl's Guide to Total Beauty

by Nikki Goldstein

Bloomsbury, 2010

$12.99 (pbk),176 pages, Ages: 9 and up.

In this fun, feel-good guide, girls learn to make the best of what nature gave them and celebrate their unique look.

Topics include: discovering your beauty type, keeping your skin fit, making the most of your features with makeup and pampering yourself.

This is a great pick-me-up for girls who want to be happy with who they are and not feel pressured to look like an impossible ideal.

If you like this, check out GirlForce, the first book in the series, and stop by www.girlforce.com.

Big Fat Little Lit

edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly

Picture Puffin Books, 2006

$14.99, ages 9-12, 144 pages.

This amazing collection of 36 comic stories and games culled by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Spiegelman and his wife Mouly will have your traveler with their nose in the book until there's no more book to read.

Celebrity artists, from Maurice Sendak to William Joyce and David Macaulay, bring their singular wit and talents to the page.

Among my favorite strips, Olivia creator Ian Falconer's "Pretty Ugly," about an ogre girl who makes the scariest face ever, that of a human girl, but can't undo it.

Doctors can't figure out how to cure poor Anna the ogre and her grandmother consoles her, saying "Real beauty is on the inside, Sugar." But Anna's no wilting flower.

While hiding away in a shed, Anna thinks about what grandmother said and realizes that all she has to do to be "pretty ugly" again is to reach inside her mouth and pull her face inside out.

As Anna beams with her exposed brain, eye sockets and nasal openings, her dad exclaims, "Ain't she adorable?"

Encyclopedia of Immaturity, Volume 1 and 2

the editors of Klutz, 2007 and 2009

$19.95, ages 9-12, 412 pages (Vol 1), 200 pages (Vol 2).

OK, this series was also on my 2009 Holiday Book Guide, but it's such a hit with my 11-year-old son that I'd feel remiss not suggesting it for summer traveling.

Packed with pranks, silly challenges and hysterical things to contemplate, it's every tween boy's dream of what a book should be.

This is a book that dares to be outrageous and will have your fellows reading back to you hilarious how-tos, like how to keep the plane seat next to you empty or make duct tape underwear.

There's lots of stuff to entertain them when they're stuck in the seats of a car or plane, like "Backseat Rituals."

Our boys immediately latched onto one called, "Trucker Honk." Every time they see an 18-wheeler, they look at the driver, pump their arm and wait for a honk back.

They also love the "back rub stories" -- one sibling shifts his back to the other, and the other tells him a story from the book and traces pictures on his back that go with the story.

Parents, consider skimming through the book before the trip and stashing a few crafts supplies in your carry-on, like duct tape, a plastic spoon and a black marker.

Wendelin Van Draanen Blog Tour: Day 1

Welcome to author Wendelin Van Draanen's first-ever blog tour! Along the way, Wendelin will answer questions about her writing life, including some never posed to her before.

To start off the 9-blog tour, Where the Best Books Are! is giving away three copies of Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash, the 12th book in her award-winning mystery series.

To enter, send me a comment with your name and address, or email me directly by midnight Tuesday, June 8. Enter as often as you wish and look for more giveaways along the tour.

Following Wendelin's post, you'll find my review of Cold Hard Cash (a fantastic summer read), then scroll down for a tour schedule, as well as links to participating blogs. Be sure to visit Wendelin's blog on the last day of the tour!

Q & A with Wendelin Van Draanen

Q. Wendelin, what inspired you to create the feisty super sleuth Sammy Keyes and how do you keep the character fresh? Also what's in store as the series heads toward its conclusion?

A. First, I'd like to thank you for launching this blog tour. I've been on book tours many times, but this is the first time I haven't had to deal with airport security. So thank you! Now onto your questions about Sammy Keyes.

I think the image we have of ourselves in middle school is one we carry with us through our lives. It’s alarming, really, how much of a lasting impact our tween and teen years have on our self-image and confidence, and I think this is especially the case with girls.

Creating Sammy Keyes as a spunky, curious, smart protagonist was not a conscious move on my part. I just wanted to spend time with someone I liked, and those were the traits that showed themselves. I was also drawn to her imperfections. Her hot-headedness. Her somewhat sassy reaction to authority. And it was interesting to me to realize that it was her imperfections that made me like her so much. She became the friend I wish I’d had in middle school. The one who would have stuck up

for me no matter what the cost to her.

I also didn’t consciously decide to write a series. I began with the idea for one mystery, but by the end of it I’d grown so attached to Sammy that I wanted to spend more time with her. So I began the second book. And the 20 hours of detention she gets for using the school’s PA system to clear her name in that book had to be served sometime, right? So I began on the third book. I had no contract, no request for these stories, and I collected plenty of rejects along the way. But I kept writing because—having a day job as a classroom teacher and seeing firsthand the issues kids wrestle with today—I thought there was a real relevance to the situations I was exploring through Sammy. I’m glad I hung in there because after the fourth book was complete, I got a multi-book deal and have been able to spend time with Sammy ever since.

I think what keeps the writing fresh for me—and consequently what keeps the series feeling fresh—is that Sammy’s world is not static. She grows up a month at a time from book to book, and although this evolution isn’t something that jars you if you read the books out of order (which is absolutely fine to do), her personal growth and the dynamic among her peers and the adults in her life keep things moving along and interesting. There’s also an overarching mystery (she doesn’t know who her father is) which will play out in the next couple of books, and then everything will be tied together by the end of the series (Book 18).

It’s been fun for me to “grow up” with Sammy, and interesting for me to see the wide range of readers who love her. From fourth graders to grandmothers, I think anyone who enjoys seeing the underdog triumph really relates to Sammy Keyes.

Thanks again for launching the tour. This has been great! I hope your readers will follow me to the second tour stop at Steph Su Reads (http://stephsureads.blogspot.com) where I’ll be tomorrow, doing a Q&A that involves questions about

my secret quirks, my book Flipped, and books in my future.

Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Yearling, 2010, paperback

$7.99, ages 9-12, 293 pages

It's not every day that a girl startles an old guy to death and finds herself with wads of cash waiting to be spent. But Sammy Keyes isn't a typical 13-year-old, and she's about to find out how weird money can make her act, especially when it's not her own.

If you know Sammy the super sleuth from earlier books, you know that trouble has a way of running into her, then splintering into more problems than she knows what to do with, and before long she's sneaking around for clues and closing in on bad guys.

This time, Sammy wasn't even snooping. She was just slipping up the fire escape, like always, into Grams' seniors-only high-rise, where Sammy's lived illegally since her mother left, when she ran into an old guy on the fourth floor landing and he had a heart attack.

With his last dying breath, he begged Sammy to pull out $3,000 from his pockets and toss it over the railing.

Now, you don't exactly ignore a man's dying wish. So Sammy flung it over and raced inside to call 911, and since she's not supposed to be living at the Senior Highrise, she disguised her voice as an old lady's and didn't mention the cash.

But then, after the paramedics had left, there was all that cash waiting to be found.

What would it hurt if Sammy snuck downstairs after Grams was asleep and searched the bushes, then sort of kept the money, you know, to help Grams make ends meet and get some things from the mall, not just for her but for her friends?

It wasn't hard to talk herself into it after the dead man's daughters came to claim his stuff from the hotel across the street and never mentioned a word about the cash. If no one's missing it, what would it matter if Sammy powered through a chunk of it?

And with Brandon's pool party coming up, how else can she afford a new swimsuit?

But now things are getting complicated. Sammy's lying to Grams, her best friends and kind old Hudson, and making matters worse, a guy in a beret named the Jackal and his buddy Sandman are casing Gram's next door neighbor's apartment looking for the money.

It'll take a camera, a frumpy disguise, some fast talking and a good baseball swing to get Sammy through this one.

Having never read a Sammy Keyes book, I had no idea what a blast it would be to tag along. You instantly feel like Sammy's closest chum. From the first page, she takes you by the hand and pulls you along, all the while confiding every thought she has.

If this 12th book is anything like the rest, your reader will be racing from one book to the next, reading back to you the funny parts, and hopping excitedly when you tell her there are still six installments to come.

Tour Schedule:

May 31^st: Where the Best Books Are – http://wherethebestbooksare.blogspot.com

June 1^st: Steph Su Reads - http://stephsureads.blogspot.com

June 2^nd: Through A Glass, Darkly – www.throughaglass.net

June 3^rd: Mrs. Magoo Reads – www.mrsmagooreads.com

June 4^th: The Children’s Book Review – www.thechildrensbookreview.com

June 5^th: Write for a Reader – www.writeforareader.blogspot.com

June 6^th: Mundie Moms - http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

June 7^th: Library Lounge Lizard - http://www.libraryloungelizard.com/

June 8^th: Wendelin’s Jog Blog - http://etrtr.blogspot.com/

Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo

Written and illustrated by Kevin Waldron

Templar Books, 2010

$15.99, ages 4-8, 48 pages

When Mr. Peek, the zookeeper, wakes up to find he can barely button his jacket, the zoo animals overhear him grousing about his bulging belly and think he's chiding them in this funny story about the folly of jumping to assumptions.

Setting off a chain of misunderstandings that only a mischievous boy can sort out, Mr. Peek begins his day thinking his green jacket, the one that makes him feel important, is much too snug and assumes it's because he's grown fat overnight.

Though only one button pops off when he puts the jacket on, Mr. Peek is baffled by the weight gain and grumbles about it as he goes about his job feeding and caring for the animals, each time getting more and more worked up.

At first Mr. Peek chides himself for being too plump, then his sour disposition gets the better of him, and he sees all sorts of bad things coming his way. Soon he's paranoid his bosses will see his expanding waistline and say he's too old to do his job.

All the while the animals think Mr. Peek is talking to them and they're becoming very glum. Mr. Peek, of course, is so busy wallowing in self-pity that he has no idea that his remarks are being misconstrued.

By the time Mr. Peek is in front of the monkeys, he's muttering to himself that he's a pariah. "Everyone's out to get you!" he declares, unaware that all of the monkeys behind him are bugging out their eyes with worry that they're no longer liked.

But what is Mr. Peek's son Jimmy doing giggling behind a tree in the monkey playpen and why is his jacket dragging on the ground?

What makes this book so fun is how absent-mindedly Mr. Peek goes about his day. He's oblivious not only to how irrational he's being (to think he can outgrow a jacket overnight), but to how harmful his words of self-reproach are to the animals and himself.

The instant I saw this book, with its nostalgic illustrations, I was transported back to my favorite Golden Books by Alice and Martin Provensen and Aurelius Battaglia, illustrators whose simple, uncluttered style, flat blocks of color and brilliant silhouettes enveloped me in innocence.

Whimsical and witty, Waldron's debut is a clever twist on the idiom, "much ado about nothing." By book's end, readers get one more big giggle and leave with a lasting lesson not to leap to conclusions.

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.

Two New Books That Celebrate Motherhood

As a mom, nothing makes my heart skip like feeling my boys snuggle up close or unexpectedly slip one of their hands in mind.

In celebration of Mother's Day on Sunday, I thought I'd share two new books that remind me of all those quiet little moments that make my heart swell.

Waiting Out the Storm

By Joann Early Macken,

illustrated by Susan Gaber

Candlewick Press, 2010

$15.99, ages 4-8, 32 pages

A mother tells her anxious little girl not to fear the rumblings of a storm in this breathtaking poem about having someone near to get through scary times.

As the first gusts of the storm stream through her hair, the rosy cheeked girl timidly calls out from behind a tree to her mother, who is kneeling in a field clipping daffodils for her basket.

The girl asks her mother why the sky is carrying on so, and her mother explains that the wind is calling out to the raindrops to play and the thunder is stumbling around, but not to fear, for it is only a sound.

But what will the turtles do, the ducks, chipmunks and chickadees, when the rain pours down and the lightning flashes? Not to worry, the mother comforts her, they too have someone near.

Macken's lyrical words transform a dark day into something playful, while Gaber's illustrations envelop you with warmth.

At times you almost feel raindrops skipping off the page, and when the girl holds tight to her mother's shirt, you feel the depth of their connection.

I Love My Mom

Written and illustrated by Anna Walker

Simon & Schuster, 2010

$9.99, ages 2-6, 32 pages

An adorable little zebra named Ollie shares all of the reasons he loves his mother in this soft-spoken story about a child's unwavering affection for his mom.

While Ollie and his mom shake out wrinkles from a freshly laundered blanket, he explains how special he feels when his mother makes the day about them and they wander happily with nowhere in particular to go.

They look, talk, giggle and walk, and along the way see new things, like a giant fluffy duck pruned from a bush and a dragonfly flitting by with delicate wings.

Next, on a arched bridge Ollie hunkers down to see a marvelous site, a line of orange fish swim downstream, as his mom watches only him, content in his happiness.

Next they walk through a cloud of butterflies, then play hide-and-seek among the flowers, before heading home for cups of cocoa, a playful bath and the best thing of all, a goodnight kiss.

Walker's watercolors are so tender, they win you over before you begin the story. Spare, delicate images echo back the love between mother and son, and make you warm and toasty too.