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Picture Books: New Takes on Old Topics
Filed under: Books for Kids, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Big Kids
There are certain subjects -- friendship, numbers, big cities, the alphabet -- that get plenty of love from the children's book publishing industry. They're old standards, and we see new titles on these topics all the time. So, writers need to work extra hard to come up with fresh takes on these kid-lit staples. Luckily for us, they do.
"Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad" by David Somar and Jacky Davis (Dial, $17)
The "Ladybug Girl" books have all been sweetly earnest, with nice bits of humor, and truly lovely illustrations. They've also done an exemplary job of depicting the joys of pretend play. You'd think that by the fourth installment, the series would start to flounder a bit. But, no. This newest ode to childhood imagination is just as endearing as its predecessors. This time around, we get to see little Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) at play with four of her fellow insect-lovers. The ideas for play that they come up with ("We can't touch the ground because it's hot lava") will ring true for readers young and old. Plus we get to learn a little lesson about group dynamics.
"Ten Birds" by Cybéle Young (Kids Can Press, $17)
To call "Ten Birds" a counting book really feels like selling it short. This book is one of the most imaginative mash-ups and stunningly gorgeous pieces of art I've seen in a long time. It definitely is a counting book, as its subtraction-centric plot is about 10 birds crossing a river one by one. But it's also a bit of a book about engineering and invention. Each bird crafts its own unique mode of transport in order to cross the water, including a pulley system, a motorized raft and -- in homage to "Angry Birds," perhaps? -- a catapult. The black-and-white art, only a few steps removed from, say, Da Vinci's sketchpad, is the perfect illustration style for these ingenious and whimsical gadgets.
"A is for Zebra" by Mark Shulman, illustrated by Tamara Petrosino (Beach Ball Books, $6)
Authors keep dreaming up creative new ways to present the alphabet to kids (see recent classics such as "Alpha Oops" and "The Sleepy Little Alphabet"), but Shulman's brainchild takes an approach we've never seen before. As the subtitle says, it's the first alphabet book about last letters. So U is for gnu and P is for hip-hop. But this is no "one word and we're moving on" ABC book. Most pages have clever snippets of dialogue, which showcase words ending with that page's letter, like a wolf saying, "I'll huff and puff" on the F page. It's pretty ingenious.
"A Walk in London" by Salvatore Rubbino (Candlewick, $17)
If you've seen Rubbino's "A Walk in New York," then you'll have an idea what to expect from his vivid and evocative trip to London. With a mom-and-daughter-go-sightseeing plot to frame the whole adventure, you get all sorts of wonderful trivia and historical bits about England's capital. Everything you'd expect from a London travelogue is there -- Big Ben, double-decker buses, the Thames -- but there is a whole slew of less-expected gems, as well. For instance, did you know Norway sends London a giant Christmas tree to set up in Trafalgar Square every year? And Rubbino's delightfully retro-ish artwork makes this trip all the more pleasurable.
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"Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad" by David Somar and Jacky Davis (Dial, $17)
The "Ladybug Girl" books have all been sweetly earnest, with nice bits of humor, and truly lovely illustrations. They've also done an exemplary job of depicting the joys of pretend play. You'd think that by the fourth installment, the series would start to flounder a bit. But, no. This newest ode to childhood imagination is just as endearing as its predecessors. This time around, we get to see little Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) at play with four of her fellow insect-lovers. The ideas for play that they come up with ("We can't touch the ground because it's hot lava") will ring true for readers young and old. Plus we get to learn a little lesson about group dynamics.
"Ten Birds" by Cybéle Young (Kids Can Press, $17)
To call "Ten Birds" a counting book really feels like selling it short. This book is one of the most imaginative mash-ups and stunningly gorgeous pieces of art I've seen in a long time. It definitely is a counting book, as its subtraction-centric plot is about 10 birds crossing a river one by one. But it's also a bit of a book about engineering and invention. Each bird crafts its own unique mode of transport in order to cross the water, including a pulley system, a motorized raft and -- in homage to "Angry Birds," perhaps? -- a catapult. The black-and-white art, only a few steps removed from, say, Da Vinci's sketchpad, is the perfect illustration style for these ingenious and whimsical gadgets.
"A is for Zebra" by Mark Shulman, illustrated by Tamara Petrosino (Beach Ball Books, $6)
Authors keep dreaming up creative new ways to present the alphabet to kids (see recent classics such as "Alpha Oops" and "The Sleepy Little Alphabet"), but Shulman's brainchild takes an approach we've never seen before. As the subtitle says, it's the first alphabet book about last letters. So U is for gnu and P is for hip-hop. But this is no "one word and we're moving on" ABC book. Most pages have clever snippets of dialogue, which showcase words ending with that page's letter, like a wolf saying, "I'll huff and puff" on the F page. It's pretty ingenious.
"A Walk in London" by Salvatore Rubbino (Candlewick, $17)
If you've seen Rubbino's "A Walk in New York," then you'll have an idea what to expect from his vivid and evocative trip to London. With a mom-and-daughter-go-sightseeing plot to frame the whole adventure, you get all sorts of wonderful trivia and historical bits about England's capital. Everything you'd expect from a London travelogue is there -- Big Ben, double-decker buses, the Thames -- but there is a whole slew of less-expected gems, as well. For instance, did you know Norway sends London a giant Christmas tree to set up in Trafalgar Square every year? And Rubbino's delightfully retro-ish artwork makes this trip all the more pleasurable.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-05-2011 @ 2:29PM
Emilio Paletta said...Hi Folks May 5, 2011
"Squire Dumpty" makes a great gift for your children K-4, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and youngsters in general.
What makes "SQUIRE DUMPTY" unique?
Many things, most especially the fact that "Squire Dumpty" stands alone. I'll explain. Throughout the literate world, individuals are already familiar with Humpty Dumpty, going back to 1810 when the riddle was first written.
Along with this common bond, "Squire Dumpty", is the only children's book of it's kind, combining history, story telling, humor, poetry, a dictionary, and beautiful eye catching water-color illustrations. Geared toward the 4-8 year old set, mothers can show and tell the story, to their younger children. I'd venture to say even they will enjoy perusing the book, as the untold story of "Squire Dumpty" unfolds right before your eyes; ending the suspense of wondering why it was that he sat on the wall in the first place and why all the king's men were unable to put Humpty Dumpty, together again.
The story depicts the following events: An opening celebration honoring "Squire Dumpty" on the eve of his retirement; during which he is elevated to Knighthood, his journey to the parcel of land awarded him by King Longjohns; for his many years of service to the crown, the events leading up to his sitting on the wall, the fate that befell him following his great fall, the rescue by his friend Sir Pantsalot, the medical intervention by all the King's men, and finally, his return to the Fiefdom of Dinkleberry; where he is placed in a home for disabled veterans. Unlike the famous riddle Humpty Dumpty, on which my story is loosely based, "Squire Dumpty" ends on a happy note.
Check it out on---- amazon.com -- Open and see for yourself
Emilio Paletta Author
Reply