I read fewer picture books than I did when my own children were in the target age group. However, I LOVE good picture books and I use them often when teaching theatre to students from pre-school through 12th grade. They are a fantastic tool for developing character, for discovering and building basic story structure and … Continue reading
I read fewer picture books than I did when my own children were in the target age group. However, I LOVE good picture books and I use them often when teaching theatre to students from pre-school through 12th grade. They are a fantastic tool for developing character, for discovering and building basic story structure and … Continue reading
Penelope Rex (a young T-Rex) is starting school. She is surprised to find her classmates are human children. Unfortunately for her classmates, T-Rexes love the taste of children so Penelope is continuously eating her classmates. In the true tradition of broad, cartoon-like humor the other students are unhappy–but otherwise unhurt–when Penelope spits them out, having … Continue reading
Starring: Action Clam Also Starring: Cow Your Host: Mr. McMonkey Before I start this review I need to acknowledge that I love Bob Shea’s work. I love his sense of humor–both in its cleverness and its broadness of scope. So I was prepared to love this book before I read it. I was not disappointed. … Continue reading
The Honeybee is a picture book that tries to detail the annual cycle for a honeybee. The illustrations have a watercolor feel without the washed-out effect that can sometimes happen with that medium. Everything is in shades of yellow set off by dark black and occasional pinks, which definitely stresses the topic of the book … Continue reading
Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela Alma thinks her name is too long. Her father tells her the story behind each part of her name, telling her after she has heard the stories she can decide for herself if her name really is too long. As her father tells her about each of the people … Continue reading
The Day You Begin opens with a gentle acknowledgement: There will be times when you walk into a room and no one is quite like you. The illustrations are done in soft, bright tones that reinforce a compassion to support us as the text acknowledges the many ways in which we can feel conspicuously different … Continue reading
John Deere, That’s Who is an interesting and well written biography of John Deere. Maurer is a Minnesota author and, although John Deere was not from Minnesota, his work is definitely one of the foundations of the Minnesota farming life. This book answers the questions: So who changed the plan for America’s farmers? Who changed a … Continue reading
A grandson unwillingly visits his grandfather, who does not speak English. Bored and resentful, the young boy takes out his sketchbook and: Right when I gave up on talking, my grandfather surprised me by revealing a world beyond words. Grandfather and grandson share an ability and love for drawing. They begin to each share their … Continue reading
Originally written in the Ojibwe language, Bowwow Powwow is an explanation of the basics of what a powwow is and an idea of why it holds such a revered place in Ojibwe culture–past and present. The illustrations are beautifully done in jewel tones, which have a relaxing, calming effect on the reader. Our main character is … Continue reading
