Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 5

This is Part 5 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. This compilation of book summaries/reviews focus on children’s picture books. Who are your favorite children’s picture book authors?

A Year Full of Holidays (May 13, 2010) by Susan Middleton Elya.

   Diana Cain Bluthenthal, illustrator.

Young Nell’s birthday falls at the end of August, not long before Labor Day. Like many youngsters, she enjoys her birthday so much she wonders when it will come again. Her mother tells her that using the holidays will help her keep track.

            This picture book is a merry little story with rhyming text and colorful illustrations. It would likely be a pleasing tale for many youngsters. As a teaching tool for holidays, it is limited, as it does not include holidays from around the world such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Chinese New Year. However, don’t let this stop you from picking up this cute story.

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake (May 5, 2011) by Michael B. Kaplan.

   Stéphane Jorisch, illustrator.

After her very first bite, Betty Bunny declares, “When I grow up, I am going to marry chocolate cake!” But she can’t have any again until she eats a healthy dinner the next night. After ribbing from her furry siblings, she throws a tantrum. Her mother tells her she’ll save her a piece of cake for the next day, but she still has to eat a healthy meal first. But Betty Bunny is tricky. What does she do? Does she understand what it means to be patient?

            “Betty Bunny” is an excellent example about trying to teach patience. Kaplan’s bunny family design works well to depict the fiction of the book, while including the much-observed feistiness of a youngster with sibling interactions. This is a good story for three- to five-year-olds or for anyone who has trouble resisting chocolate!

Cupcake (Jan. 18, 2010) by Charise Mericle Harper.

Cupcake is sad because he feels ordinary next to his colorful brothers and sisters. He meets Candle, who feels plain next to his fancy brothers and sisters. Candle determines that Cupcake will feel special if they come up with a special topping for him. They try a variety of different styles. Do they find a keeper topper?

            “Cupcake” is a likable tale with simple illustrations. It is an uncomplicated story for young children. Cupcake is trying to find something to make him special, but in fact there is something special in each of us, even if it’s not visible. That is an excellent reminder for us all and an important lesson to instill in the youngsters we know.

Dream Big, Little Pig! (Mar. 15, 2011) by Kristi Yamaguchi. Tim Bowers, illustrator.

Poppy the Pig is a little pig with big dreams. One day she wants to join the ballet and the next she wants to be a singing sensation. She finds that she is not good at everything she tries, but her mom, grandparents and best friend are always supportive of her dreams. They are her cheerleaders. What is the result of Poppy’s dreaming big? Do her dreams ever end?

            The story is easy to grasp and the illustrations are nice and simple. “Dream Big, Little Pig!” sends us a message that no one should give up on their dreams or on trying new things. It also sends an important message that determination can be much stronger than natural talent.

Home for Christmas (Nov. 1, 2011) by Jan Brett.

Rollo is a young, Swedish troll with a tail. Their tails will eventually fall off, but “only if the troll is kind, helpful, and does his chores.” Rollo is not that kind of troll. When his family asks for help, he runs off toward the mountains, sick of their asking. He is gone for awhile. Does he make it home for Christmas? Has he changed his wild ways?

            As always, Brett’s stories are delightful to read and her illustrations are even more delightful to look at. I love how she incorporates her border illustrations into her stories. They add more vibrancy, beauty and fun. Her books are great additions to a personal library no matter what the age!

Immi’s Gift (Oct. 1, 2010) by Karin Littlewood.

An Inuit girl, Immi, lives in an igloo. She does a lot of ice fishing, thinking she’ll gather more fish “in case anyone comes around,” which they rarely do. But there’s a little wooden bird on the end of her pole, not a fish. She attaches it to her necklace beside a small white bear. She collects more trinkets and decorates her igloo with them. What does her igloo attract? When the igloo melts and it’s time to move on, what does Immi drop in the water?

            Cute, cute, cute. This is a lovely read with softly charming illustrations. It shows us how something simple can become something treasured and that in receiving, it is gracious to give in return. A wonderful story to read to kids!

The Runaway Wok (Jan. 6, 2011) by Ying Chang Compestine. Sebastià Serra, illustrator.

The title wok is Ming Zhang’s exchange for a few eggs. Ming’s family is poor, so his mom is not initially pleased when he brings the singing wok back instead of a bag of rice. After all, how can one celebrate Chinese New Year with food if they have a wok but no food to cook in it? They are surprised, then, when the wok bounds away to the rich, greedy, cheating Li family. What does the wok do at the very end? How does the Zhang family fare?

            Although this story features a Chinese family in Beijing readying for the Chinese New Year, the message knows no particular race. In a very entertaining way with bright, colorful illustrations, the story showcases that gluttony is undesirable. However, Compestine writes the story in a way that is fun and doesn’t scream, “Lesson!” I really enjoyed this tale.

Shout! Little Poems that Roar (Feb. 1, 2007) by Brod Bagert.

   Sachiko Yoshikawa, illustrator.

As the title implies, there are multiple poems in “Shout!.” There are poems of all types from school to dinosaurs to scarecrow eyes. There’s even a poem about ketchup. All of the poems are written to be entertaining, and they will be, for young kids. The poems are simple but the illustrations are lively and colorful and express high energy.

When a Dragon Moves In (May 1, 2011) by Jodi Moore. Howard McWilliam, illustrator.

A boy builds a sandcastle fit for a dragon and sure enough, one moves in. The dragon is the boy’s playmate, protector and partner-in-crime. Fingerprints are really dragon prints, and he didn’t eat his sister’s peanut butter sandwiches, the dragon did. While adults will recognize that this boy has a magnificent imagination which he weaves with his naughty antics, kids will find hilarity in his misbehavior.

            Moore’s story is reminiscent of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series with its imaginative take on cause-and-effect. Moore’s writing is light and fun and full of mischievous expression. McWilliam’s illustrations are vivid and colorful and match Moore’s text with ease. A story for the whole family!

            Think creatively: If you had a dragon, what would you name it?

Zoomer’s Summer Snowstorm (May 10, 2011) by Ned Young.

What would make a really hot summer day bearable? A summer snowstorm! For Zoomer, a puppy, his cool-down plan starts off as an innocent snow cone, but when he turns around, the snow-cone machine has vastly overflowed in the kitchen. What’s a pup to do now? Open the window and put on his hat and mittens! A geyser of icy cold winteriness erupts out of the kitchen window. Zoomer happily makes a snow menagerie of creatures (including a dog-headed sphinx), a snow locomotive on snow tracks, and the polar empire of Zoomarctica. His baseball-obsessed twin brothers, Cooper and Hooper, gripe about the frigidity until he adds a snowy amusement park. How do their parents react?

            This is a wonderfully entertaining story. Kids will delight in Zoomer’s winter wonderland and wish they had one of their own made of snow. The writing is as silly as the illustrations are spectacular. I think that Young’s illustrations make the story all the more fun. They’re so vivid with the contrast of warm summer colors and cold winter ones that they alone entice readers/listeners to join in the fun. Get out your parka!