B is for Baby by Atinuke illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

A big brother is taking a basket of bananas to his Baba (grandfather), but he does not realise the baby has stowed away and is now riding on the back of his bike - no wonder the banana basket is so heavy. The baby peeks out from under the basket lid and sees a butterfly and a beautiful bird. A mischievous baboon takes her basket lid and as they ride past a heavily laden bus the baby passes a banana to one of the passengers. Meanwhile the boy, wearing headphones, has no idea that all of this is happening behind his back. 

When he arrives, Baba reaches into the basket for a banana, and he finds the happy baby with her big smile. Everyone sits down to enjoy a fresh biscuit and a cool drink. The baby has certainly had a terrific adventure. I do enjoy stories which feature tricksters like this sweet baby. Oh, and it is fun to see all the ways this simple story incorporates so many words beginning with the letter B and so much action happens in the illustrations. Your young reading companion is sure to enjoy this visual storytelling. 

This is a clever and unusual book, with beautiful illustrations and a fun story that little children will delight in following. Atinuke’s books are always a feast for senses, showcasing the beauty of the author’s home. Book Trust

Companion book:

Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spent her childhood in both Africa and the UK. As a traditional oral storyteller, drawing upon her recent Yoruba ancestry, she visits schools and theatres all over the world. Atinuke is the author of the bestselling Anna Hibiscus fiction series, as well as the No. 1 Car Spotter series, and the picture books Baby Goes to Market also illustrated by Angela Brooksbank and Hugo illustrated by Birgitta Sif.

Angela Brooksbank worked as a designer and art director in the children's book industry before undertaking an MA at the Cambridge School of Art and turning her hand to her own illustration. Angela says, "I am constantly inspired by children’s energy and unique response to life and hope that my work conveys some of their playful spirit." Baby Goes to Market, written by Atinuke, was her debut picture book.

You might also like to look for:

This week I visited a charity book sale and I found 57 fantastic books for less than AUS$110. Among them was this one - in mint condition - ready to gift to a new baby (she is coming next month). This book was published in 2019 and I found a copy on an online bookseller site for over AUS$40 for the hardcover edition. I think the paperback edition might be available [9781406390872]. 

Big Bug by Henry Cole

 

When I visit a library or bookshop there are a number of things I am always interested in - very easy beginner chapter books with enjoyable well written stories, scrumptious picture books with amazing art and again, great stories, and board books like this one. I marvel that this book has only 48 words and yet it is so satisfying right down the very last words - little nap!

The copy of Big Bug that I borrowed from a school library was published in 2014 as a hardcover picture book so I had little hope that it would still be in print. I am so pleased to see that the Board Book version of this book is available [9781534416901].  I think it is a measure of the importance of this book that it has been published in nearly every format - hardcover, paperback, board book, and even as an ebook. 

Blurb: Beginning with a beautiful close-up of a “big” ladybug, this adorable board book artfully depicts the concept of scale as it zooms out from the bug, to a flower, to a cow, all the way to an expansive spread of sky. Then author Henry Cole masterfully zooms back in from that sky, to a tree, to a house, to a window, all the way to the end where an adorable dog is taking a “little” nap. Young readers will love the lush illustrations of the animals, objects, and scenery of a farm, and they’ll delight in seeing how something “big” can suddenly seem “little” with every turn of a page!

This is a very simple book that is superbly done.  Cole plays nicely with perspective and with concepts.  The book can easily be used as a way to show the differences between big and small, but I think the real treat is showing children that perspective is important and understanding size is too.  Waking Brain Cells

Visually lovely and appealing. Kirkus

You could follow this book with Shrinking Mouse and for older children try to find Zoom.

Here is another book from this blog by Henry Cole.

Nesting

Julia Donaldson and Sharon King-Chai

 

Recently I have seen a few requests on Facebook forums asking for books to gift a young child or books for a baby gift or books that could be keepsakes.  I think these three books are so perfect. Julia Donaldson is a master with language and Sharon King-Chai produces exquisite art.

These books have flaps and die cuts (holes) and richly coloured illustrations. You can buy hardcover or paperback editions. If you can buy all three books they would be a beautiful gift. 

Counting creatures is indeed a counting book but it also introduces a young child to the names we use for animal babies - all told in gentle rhyme with a repeated refrain - 'Who has more babies that that?' You can see inside this book here.

The wild dog has four pups; the owl has five owlets; the arctic hare has seven leverets; the turkey has fifteen poults; and the frog has twenty-five tadpoles.

Then there is the delicious language: the cubs are tottering, swaying, pouncing and playing; the pups are nosing and nestling, writhing and wrestling; and the baby mice are pattering, pawing, nibbling and gnawing.

Sharon King-Chai says: The paperback cover for a rich and beautiful counting book full of gorgeous baby animals, with shaped pages, flaps and fold-outs - the cover was designed to be more seasonally appropriate as it is publishing in the spring (the hardback was autumn) and to include a die-cut flap.

See inside Colours, Colours everywhere here. 

See inside Animalphabet here. I talked about Animalphabet back in 2019.

 

Round by Jennifer Ward illustrated by Lisa Congdon

This book is filled with two word phrases exploring the idea of 'round'. 

Up round.

Down round.

Slow round.

Stow round.

Spotted round.

Dotted round.

Look at all the round things on the cover - nest; mushroom; dandelion; apple; snail shell; turtle and flower. The front and back end papers are also filled with round things. The bright colours on the cover are so appealing. I'd love to see this image used as wall paper for a child's bedroom.

In the library where I volunteer each week and where I borrow lots of books we had a debate about Round. Where should it live in the library?  The official catalogue service we use in NSW schools listed it as Seasons [508.2]; the CIP (Cataloging in Publication) data on the back of the title page says Fiction; or perhaps this book should live in Patterns [516.15]; or is this a book about the word 'round' and so should it go into Language Concepts [428.3]; and finally where is the best place so everyone - children and teachers will find, read and enjoy this splendid book? The decision - put with the picture books and they plan to use it in lots of displays and also they plan to share it with many teachers. 

This is a book you will love to share with a young child. There is so much to discover and so much to discuss and then, after reading this book, it would be great to go outside and find all the round things in your own street or park.

Here is the Author's note: "Roundness is found everywhere in nature but not necessarily as a perfect circle. Looking closely at the wild world, we can find roundness in the lobe of a leaf and the smoothness of a stone, in the curl of a wave and the coil of a shell. Seasons occur in a cycle of roundness, circling all around again and again; the water cycle is circular, too, as water is released from the ground and dropped from the sky over and over. Even the shapes of the planets and their orbits are round. Indeed round can be found all around us."

Kirkus suggest another book about the concept of 'round'.

Take a look at other art by Lisa Congdon. Round is her first picture book. Here is the web site for Jennifer Ward.

My pictures after the storm by Eric Veille

I have begun collecting books translated into English. Gecko Press always publish some fabulous examples. My pictures after the storm is a quirky book or perhaps a better word as used by Gecko is 'funky'. If you share this book with a young child you are sure to find lots to talk about. This book was published in 2017 and it is still available.

My pictures ... After is the format. 

After the elephant; After lunch; After the baby; After some magic; and After the Hairdresser.

You may know Eric Veille from his previous book:

If you like the idea of opposites or exploring before and after try to find this book too. It is a little more sophisticated but you are sure to enjoy sharing it with your young reading companion:

What is part this, part that? by Harriet Ziefert illustrated by Tom Slaughter

A hug is part squeeze and also part hold.

Read the title slowly - What is part this, part that?  Perhaps these examples will help:

Just like a bee is part buzz and part sting,
a rap song is part talk and part sing.

An empty glass is part empty or is it part full?
Is this swing part push or is it part pull?

Here are some other lines from What is part this, part that? which resonate with me:

When you talk to a friend it's part listen and part say.
What time of day is part wash and part play?

A rocking chair goes part back and part forth.
When you stand on the equator you're part south and part north.

At the back of the book there are twenty part this and part that ideas presented as puzzles. Can you solve these:

What's the word that means part yes and part no?
What beaked animal is part swoop and part "whooo"?

Harriet Ziefert is the author of over 300 books. Here are some I would like to read:

What is part this, part that? works so well because the graphic illustrations are brightly coloured, and often surprising.  Here are some other examples books illustrated by Tom Slaughter.

You can read a tribute to Tom Slaughter by clicking this quote about his work. Tom illustrated twenty books for children.  He sadly died in 2014.

Slaughter’s work, with its seemingly effortless whimsy rendered with a strong sense of line, color, and rhythm, has also been comparedto Matisse. His Pop-inflected drawings, prints, paintings, and illustrations convey his love of life as he relentlessly explored the complexities of the urban scene or the simple pleasures of boating.

If you are reading my post and not too much time has passed an Australian online bookshop has this book for a greatly reduced price ($35.99 down to $7.99).  This is probably because this book was published in 2013 and is now out of print. If I had a young friend aged 4-6 I would rush out and buy this book quickly. I should mention this book does contain flaps which are always SO popular with young children.

I do enjoy concept books, especially when they can be equally enjoyed by young readers and adults alike.  Here are two other examples:

Before After

My First book of Patterns

Hello Hello by Brian Wenzel

This book just oozes with design decisions from the rainbow coloured lettering and curious creatures on the cover to the riotous end papers filled with all the animals in grey scale at the front of the book and full colour at the back.  Every page is a visual delight.  The dust jack flap sums this up:

"a seemingly simple look at similarities and differences becomes a story of connection - a joyous ode to the natural world, in all its diversity and wonder."

Here is a text sample:

Hello hello black and white
Hello color hello bright.
Hello stripes hello spots
Hello giant hello not.

Hello Hello is also perfect for so many ages from the very young child who will delight in the rhymes and colour to the middle primary reader with an interest in endangered, threatened and vulnerable animals. The list of 92 animals depicted in this book will give you many options for research for example the Secretary Bird, Senegal galago, bi-color dottyback, the mudpuppy and the tiger-leg frog may all be new creatures to you - they certainly are to me.

This is also a book to show an art student - Brendan Wenzel uses so many techniques in his work and all set against a stark white background.

Take a look at the book trailer from Chronicle Books. You can see pages from the book on the blog Picture Book Builders.

Dynamic images cavorting, reclining, flying, or dancing across and around stark white pages snag both emotions and imaginations. The spare, rhyming text united by the bridging greeting of “Hello” places all creatures on the same interconnected playing field. Kirkus Star review


Hello Hello is the perfect book to use for Book Week in Australia in 2020.  This year the CBCA slogan/theme is:

I was suprised today to find a company that are making T-shirts with the slogan.  Click the link below to read more and see the full range of colours.

Available from Teacher T-Shirts Australia

Hello Hello is also available as a board book:

Just to help your curiosity here is a Senegal galago and a Mudpuppy.

Pat Hutchins

The captivating illustrations are like a bright quilt of colors and patterns, with humor tucked in for observant readers.  

School Library Journal Mary Hazelton

I was so sad to hear this week that Pat Hutchins died.  Her books have always been special to me.  This week I visited my local public library and was amazed to discover they only had one of her fabulous books.  I would have thought holding every Pat Hutchins title would be an essential part of any picture book collection.  I continued to search other public library catalogues but could only find a few of her famous books - Rosie's Walk, Titch, Don't forget the bacon and Goodnight owl.

Today I visited a very well stocked school library and borrowed a good selection. Pat is the author of nearly fifty titles but I particularly enjoy the woodland animal series.

• The surprise party (1969)
• The Silver Christmas Tree (1974)
• What game shall we play (1990)
• Shrinking mouse (1997)
• We're going on a picnic (2002)

I enjoy these books because each has a affirming message about team work, friendship and making sense of the world.  I also really like her decorative style showing fur and feathers using contrasting patterns.  We see this illustrating style for the first time in her famous book Rosie's walk.  Here is the clumsy fox who never manages to catch the oblivious chicken.

The surprise party is very similar to another Pat Hutchins classic Don't forget the bacon because it is about muddling up language.  Rabbit whispers to owl that he is having a party but owl mishears and thinks "Rabbit is hoeing the parsley tomorrow."  As the news spreads the information becomes more and more complex and sightly ridiculous.  "Rabbit is riding a flea tomorrow."  When Rabbit finally catches up with his friends they reject his silly ideas because they have the wrong information.  Luckily rabbit decides to yell and not whisper "I don't know what YOU think I'm doing, but I'M HAVING A PARTY." 

The Silver Christmas Tree is an old favourite of mine.  Squirrel decorates his Christmas tree and just as he finishes a beautiful silver star appears on the top but then it disappears.  He goes off to ask his friends if they have seen his star but each friend is very secretive and each appears to be hiding a present.  Squirrel thinks they might be hiding his star but a keen observer will see the shapes of these various gifts are very odd.

In What game shall we play? the animals search for each other asking "what game shall we play?"  Every child will recognise they are already playing - hide a seek - and so we smile when Owl suggests this exact game.  The other aspect of this book which would be very useful for ESL teachers is the way Pat Hutchins uses prepositions such as across, among, over, in, near and around.

Shrinking Mouse tackles a more complex concept.  If something is some distance away is it in fact smaller?  The 'joke' her works when children know the animals are not actually shrinking and they most certainly will not disappear altogether.

If you have read Handa's surprise you will also enjoy We're going on a picnic.  The three friends fill the picnic basket with their favourite treats - berries for Hen, apples for Goose and Pears for Duck but as they walk along deciding on the best spot to sit a small team of thieves are at work. The final illustration is sure to make you and your young audience smile.

Finally I should mention Pat's newest title - the sequel to Rosie's walk (1968) entitled Where, oh where, is Rosie Chick?  This is the perfect book to read to a very young child and it contains the same visual jokes she included all those years ago.

If you want to explore Pat Hutchins books you should also look for her monster series - The Very worst Monster, Where's the Baby, Silly Billy and Three Star Billy.  Where's the Baby is particularly clever in the use of rhyme of humour.  Students in my school always enjoy the antics of naughty Billy and his long suffering sister Hazel.  This book is a joy to read aloud.

Hutchins said of her writing, “I like to build my stories up, so the reader can understand what is happening and, in some cases, anticipate what is likely to happen on the next page. I think one can get quite complicated ideas across to small children as long as they are presented in a simple, satisfying way.”

Henry's map by David Elliot

In Henry's Map, Henry decides he needs a map as a way to get a little order into the farm.  He trots off with his pencil and a large sheet of paper and beginning with his own sty he draws the farm and its inhabitants. Even the youngest reader will pick up on the complication with this. Henry draws the sheep beside their wool shed then they follow him across the meadow to a shady oak tree where Henry adds Abigail the cow to his map. The journey continues and now Maisy, Daisy and Clementine - the sheep - along with Abigail all follow Henry over to the stable and Mr Brown the horse.

Finally the farm map is complete and all the animals stand on a nearby hillside to compare the map with the scene in front of them. "All the animals looked at the farm. Then they looked at the map. And then they looked at the farm again."

This book has echoes of the wonderful concept books by Pat Hutchins such as Shrinking Mouse.  Another book to explore in our library is As the crow flies by Gail Hartman which explores the idea of perspective.  Little Henry himself also reminded me of two favourite characters - Toot and Puddle. If you want to explore the topic of maps and map making even further make sure you look for My Map book by Sara Fanelli. We have five books in our school library illustrated by David Elliot including the wonderful anthology The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy.  We now need to add the sequel to Henry's Map - Henry's stars.

One more thing - do take a minute to compare the end papers.  Young readers will enjoy finding all the differences between the morning and afternoon scenes.

Henry, an adorable pig, maps his farm world and 

puts everything in its place.