Book Review: The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Book: The Dark
Author: Lemony Snicket
Source: Jon Klassen
Published: 2013
Source: Local Library

A little boy is afraid of the dark and takes every possible measure to guard against it. But one night, his nightlight blinks out and the dark starts to talk to him . . . but not for the reason you’d think.

Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen, why have they not teamed up before? Snicket tones down some of his literary elaborateness and Klassen’s sharp-edged drawings, with plenty of negative space for the dark, make this a story about fear and friendship that you’re sure to remember.

Reading Roundup: July 2013

By the Numbers
Picture Books: 9

Sources
Library: all

Standouts
Writing: Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chad Cameron
This starts out like every fall book ever, until you notice that some things are not where they're supposed to be. I can't wait to try this on our storytime kids.
Illustration: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise by Tomie dePaola
While it's not for everyone in its unabashed religiosity, the art in this one is top-notch. Flowers, animals, and people in the signature dePaola style (additionally influenced by native Mexican art) spill over the pages in washes of color.
Overall: Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
A boy and a robot make friends. When trouble appears to occur, they each respond lovingly and in their own particular way to take care of their friend. Yaccarino's solid shapes and strong colors bring both characters to life.

Because I Want To Awards
Dark and Twisted, Just the Way I Like It: That is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems
With a menacing wolf, a dewy-eyed duck, and a gosling Greek chorus of doom, this book was already making me grin by the time I got to the twist. Then I laughed out loud, because I'm sort of sick like that.
Would Like to See How a Teacher Uses This: A Call for a New Alphabet by Jef Czekaj
Filled with contemplation of how letters go together to form sounds (particularly combinations like ph or qu), this one seems made for teachers to use in class.

Reading Roundup: June 2013

By the Numbers
Picture Books: 12

Sources
Library: all

Standouts
Writing: Rain Brings Frogs: a little book of hope by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
A testament to the power of optimism. No matter what life throws at him, a little boy finds the best in it, often in unexpected ways. Warmed my shriveled and blackened heart.
Illustration: White is for Blueberry illustrated by Laura Dronzek, written by George Shannon
How exactly is white for blueberry? Find out in this exploration of colors in nature that asks you to look at things just a little differently. It'll be fun for readers big and little to guess how everything goes together.
Overall: Brief Thief written by Michael Escoffier, illustrated by Kris DiGiacomo
Hee! This may win the Jon Klassen Subversive Text award. A lizard looking for toilet paper (and finding none) "borrows" a pair of underpants that were just lying around, but finds his conscience bothering him. The sly illustrations bring you in on the joke. I can't wait to hear the squeals of delighted disgust when I read this one aloud.

Because I Want To Awards
Pay Attention!: Monday is One Day, written by Arthur Levine, illustrated by Julian Hector
A sweet and simple recital of what families do to get through the week until they can spend the weekends together. What caught my eye and what will keep this in the storytime rotation for awhile is the depiction of all the different families in the illustrations. Grandparents, two dads, a single mom, urban, rural, etc, this is a step away from the usual 2.5 kids in the suburbs.
You Don't Have to be a Brat to Stand Up for Yourself: Mary Wrightly, So Politely written by Shirin Yim Bridges, illustrated by Maria Monescillo
A soft-spoken little girl finds herself constantly overruled or overlooked, but she manages to keep her manners intact even when she puts her foot down.

Roundup postponed

Sorry folks, no roundup tonight. Too worn out from ALA festivities. Watch this space tomorrow.

Book Review: Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Book: Perfect Square
Author: Michael Hall
Illustrator: Michael Hall
Published: 2011
Source: Local Library

A little square is happy in its square-ness. But every day brings new catastrophe. The square makes the best of it, transforming itself into a fountain when it’s cut into strips and poked full of holes, or making itself a river when it is snipped into ribbons. Finally, the day comes when nothing happens to the square at all. And even

After reading this book, I just wanted to do art with the kids the rest of the day. How simple a project is that? Give the kids squares and scissors, and see what happens.

There’s also a discussion hiding in this book about change, and how you can grow out of your own skin, how the things that used to make you perfectly happy can end up being not enough anymore. Even if your kids are too young for that, they’ll enjoy Perfect Square.

Reading Roundup: May 2013

By the Numbers
Picture Books: 16
Early Readers: 1

Sources
Library: 16

Standouts
Writing: When Moon Fell Down by Linda Smith, illustrated by Kathryn Brown
One night, the moon fell out of the sky and met a cow. This dreamy story made me smile.
Illustration: A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley
The edge-to-edge photographs from all over the world make this a book I would happily cut up and put on my wall in frames. Except not. I would never do such a thing. *shifty eyes*
Overall: Chu's Day by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Adam Rex
Chu, a little panda, spends his day at various locations around town, with his parents anxiously asking whether he's going to sneeze or not. When he finally does, you understand their concern. My favorite part was the little details in the illustrations, like a card catalog in the library that was converted to a mouse computer lab. Awww.

Because I Want To Awards
Biggest Giggles: Vacation's Over!: the return of the dinosaurs by Joe Kulka
There's a tie for my favorite page of this book. Contestant one: dinosaurs shopping for back-to-school stuff. Contestant two: the T-rex that came home to discover that his pet Fluffy had fossilized. How to choose?
Even If Her Name Weren't on the Cover: Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Brandon Dorman
Having read Fuse #8's blog for the past mumble mumble years, I could hear her voice loud and clear in this charming tale of a stage-frightened dancer turned teacher (of giants), who then must deal with stage fright in her own students. Too much fun.

Stack-Buster #9

Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy Lee
Open the book. Then open another. And another. What do you find? This story will fascinate kids as they climb deeper and deeper into the stories, and then back out again. Suzy Lee also incorporates a vintage style to her illustration that will reinforce the notion of journeying through multiple nested books.




Oink a Doodle Moo by Jef Czekaj

A group of farm animals plays telephone, each adding their signature sound to the mix. How long can it go on before someone trips up? This one had kids yelling out animal noises and giggling as their poor storytime reader did her best with the crazy combinations. A really fun read-aloud.



Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta, illustrated by Ed Young

A ninja creeps through the night, silent as a ghost. Can he complete his mission, or will somebody come along and catch him? While the story is cute, the art is the star. Young uses traditional Japanese motifs and art techniques to make this a truly beautiful book.