Starring Walter Pigeon by Suzanne Houghton

 

Walter Pigeon knows he is different. He loves movies and hopes to be a star one day. He spies a poster for a movie starring Walter Pigeon entitled Ace detective Jack Parker. Yay - he is in a movie! Walter assembles his kit and sets off to solve a mystery. Greer, a meek little pigeon, explains she has lost her laugh.

"Greer couldn't explain what it looked like ... 'but I know what it feels like ... It's like the tickly fizzy bubbles from a glass of lemonade ..."

"My laugh makes me heart light up and brightens my day."

"My laugh turns my frown upside down. It makes me tingle all over. My laugh makes me feel happy."

How will Walter ever solve the mystery of the missing laugh?

Adults will also enjoy the name choice - Walter Pigeon (1897-1984) was an actor who was "known for his "portrayals of men who prove both sturdy and wise".  There is also a fun visual twist on the last page.  I discovered this book (which is sadly now out of print but might be in some Australian school libraries) because my friend sets out fabulous book displays every week or two. This book was part of her pigeon books display and three borrowers took it home in June which is why she regularly displays her books so that borrowers can find them!

Here are a set of discussion questions to use with Starring Walter Pigeon. This is the first book by Australian author/illustrator Suzanne Houghton. Here are some of her other titles and you can see her work on Instagram:

Where are all the Christmas Beetles; Life in a Hollow

Companion books:

The Case of the Missing Tarts

Timeless by Kelly Canby

Publisher blurb: Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit’s brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything, at all. Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, he tries to catch it, wait for it, but it’s not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you have to make it.

A story about time - a perfect match for my blog which began when a little kindergarten child told me her mum or dad did not have time to read her the library book she had taken home that week. This made me so sad and then I thought of Momo by Michael Ende which is an allegory about time and the time thieves of the modern world (today that means phones).

Here is part of the text from Timeless:

"It began in no time at all. And continued, time after time, day after day, until eventually there was simply no time at all. Someone was always running out of it ... or losing track of it ... or lying around letting it slip through their fingers."

Emit wants to help his parents - they say they need more hours in the day. He hears the words 'time flies' but he just couldn't catch any of it in his net.  He hears the words 'time passes you by' so he stopped and waited to see time passing but all he saw were busy people rushing through the city. Someone mentioned time is precious so Emit decided to look in the museum, the art gallery, the mint and the bank because that is where precious things are stored. Then someone else said 'time stands still' so Emit tried standing but that was just a waste of time. 

Finally, the solution arrives. Emit sees a newspaper advertisement - This year give the gift of time. Grabbing his money Emit goes to the store to buy some time as a gift but the shop lady has none for sale. Instead she offers this advice:

"If time is what you want, you have to make it. Remember that, always!"

Now Emit has the answer but how he applies this information is a little curious. We see him with his family. The have opened a shop called Emit and Family Quality Time. The shop is filled with clocks because this is a repair shop - we make, build and repair. 

Go back through the book and look for all the things Emit would love to do with someone in his family - play a ball game; have a hit of tennis; enjoy a family board game (Funopoloy); read a book together!; go fishing; draw a picture; and enjoy some gardening.  Here he is with his book and his distracted father.

Here are a few ideas from the teachers notes (Fremantle Press) plus some of my additions:

The title of this book is Timeless – what does the word ‘timeless’ mean? The cover design shows that 
there is a double meaning in the title. By using two different colours, the word ‘timeless’ has been 
broken into ‘time’ and ‘less’. What does this tell you about the story? What do you think the boy is trying to catch with his net?

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time? What takes up your time? What things do you like to spend time on? What lesson does Emit learn in this book? Do you think anyone else learnt this lesson? How can you tell? Would you like to share this book with your parents or other adults - why or why not?

How does Emit make time at the end of the book? Do you think this is a real way to make time, or is it 

symbolic? Emit’s shop is called ‘Quality Time’. What does the word ‘quality’ mean? What is ‘quality time’? 

See inside Timeless here. Here is an interview with Kelly Canby about her book. And here are more illustrations from the book. And you should explore her webpage. 

You could share some sayings or wise words about time with your library group:

• Time is the wisest counselor of all. Pericles
• Never leave ’till tomorrow which you can do today. Benjamin Franklin
• Time stays long enough for those who use it. Leonardo da Vinci
• The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. Michael Altshuler
• Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing. Miles Davis
• You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. Charles Buxto
• Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think. Chinese proverb
• Time flies over us but leaves its shadow behind. Nathaniel Hawthorne
• A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. Charles Darwin
• Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Steve Jobs
• Do we need more time? Or do we need to be more disciplined with the time we have? Kerry Johnson
• Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Marthe Troly-Curtin
• I recommend you take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves. Earl of Chesterfield
• Time is a gift that most of us take for granted. Cheryl Richardson
• The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Chinese proverb

And here are some time idioms.

A sign of the times; Behind the times; A whale of a time; Time on your hands; Strapped for time; Time is of the essence; In the nick of time; A race against time; Time flies (when you’re having fun).

Timeless has been shortlisted by the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) for the 2024 award - Picture Book of the Year. Here are the judges' comments:

Witty, entertaining and visually delightful, this book delves into time and time constraints through young Emit’s eyes, whose family always craves more hours in its day. Minimal but sophisticated, the well thought-out text distils the complexity of the abstract concept it explores, cleverly playing with time related idioms and word puns. Bright, engaging illustrations, as if hand-drawn by a child, seamlessly integrate with the printed text demonstrating excellence in design. Varied layouts and perspectives enrich the visual experience, with key ideas highlighted through vibrantly colourful large text that sometimes becomes part of the composition. The masterfully crafted endpapers, in a league of their own, entertain and encourage further reflection about time and our relationship with it, while echoing a satisfying resolution to Emit’s own search for time.

I also love how Canby’s unique illustration style of sketchy brush strokes evokes a sense of the urgency of movement and activity that Emit sees around him. Similarly, pages cluttered with vibrantly coloured amorphous objects, busy background scenes and hurried people with harried facial expressions, further develop the theme of busyness. Reading Time

Timeless is striking and filled to the brim with heart and swathes of colour. From the first page, you can’t help but be endeared toward Emit in his stripy green shirt and expressive illustration. Paired with Canby’s rhythmic storytelling, Timeless is heart-warming and incredibly clever. It’s a gorgeous tale that’s playful, innovative and – in our busy modern world – very timely.’ Better Reading

‘This beautiful book is filled with vibrant and appealing illustrations on each double page and striking endpapers full of busyness and explosions of colour. The simple yet powerful text tells a story that will resonate with children and the adults in their lives.’ ReadPlus

When I read Timeless for the first time I stopped when I saw this chilling and important image - I am naming this the thief of time - parents on phones!

Then I saw these two images on Instagram today - they could be wonderful discussion starters with a group of older students, and I would also add them to a parent talk.

Sophie Blackall - new book Ahoy! due 2nd April

Image Source: Instagram

Image from a new book illustrated by Felicita Sala - If you run out of words

Image Source: Instagram and here

Companion books:

Now we're together

Five more minutes

Tisha and the Blossom

I adored a previous book by Kelly Canby:

Littlelight

Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar by Emily MacKenzie

 

"Ralfy dreamed about books. In fact he didn't just dream about them ... he wanted to read all the time."

Adults will adore Ralfy's book list with titles such as:

• Around the field in 80 days
• The Secret Vegetable Garden
• The 39 Lettuces
• The Hoppit
• Warren Peas 
• Gone with the Carrots
• The Rabbit, the Fox and the Wardrobe

"He made lists of all the books he had read (and gave them carrot ratings). He made lists of all the books he wanted to read (and placed them in category order). He even made lists of books to recommend to his family and friends."

Now go back and re-read the book title - Wanted!  Yes Ralfy is a book thief. 

"He crept off with comics and cookbooks, dashed away with dictionaries and nabbed novels and pinced poetry."

Did you need a sentence to demonstrate alliteration - surely this one is perfect.

Who is Ralphy robbing?  Young Arthur has tons of books but he notices some favourites are missing. Arthur sets up a surveillance using his camera, notebook, chalk, sticky tape and a torch. He sits up waiting with snacks and his teddy bear for company. Late that night Ralfy arrives he takes yet another book and hops away. Arthur tries to tell adults what has happened but no one believes him especially not the police. 

Luckily for all the book owners though, Ralfy makes a big mistake. Unluckily for Ralfy the next house he tries to rob belongs to PC Puddle - the policeman Arthur had phoned earlier. The police use a lineup of rabbits wearing 'I love books' T-shirts and a conveyor belt of carrots and books to identify the thief. 

Ralfy is found - and he confesses but all Ralfy really wants is lots of books. Arthur (and every reader) has the answer. Ralfy needs a library card!

This book was published in 2015 but it is still available. It would be a good addition to your school library and a fun book to read at the start of the year as you are encouraging your students to use your library, read and borrow often! Here is the website for Emily MacKenzie. She lives in Scotland. Here's a video of Emily reading her book Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar.

MacKenzie’s text is sweetly amusing without being precious, and smart without being over-the-heads of children. Her watercolor and ink illustrations provide a pleasant, cartoon-like background to her story. The pictures perfectly accompany the text on the page without distracting from the plot. When you stop to appreciate the sophisticated ease of MacKenzie’s writing and illustrating style, it is hard to believe this is a debut book. The Children's Book Review

MacKenzie combines story and illustration with brightness, action, and intrigue, keeping the pace moving while endearing this fluffy burglar to readers. Much of the illustrative humor is geared toward older bookworms, with famous titles adapted to long-eared persuasions: Warren Peas, for example, and The Rabbit with the Dandelion Tattoo, ensuring that adults will stay as engaged as little listeners will. This will be a raving favorite for fans of books about books as well as older readers who can appreciate the library humor. Kirkus review

There are three books in this series - the newest one The great library rescue will be published in April, 2024.

Beware! Ralfy Rabbit LOVES books. He loves nothing more than finding a quiet spot and reading. But things aren't so quiet anymore … Rodney, Ralfy's new baby brother, is making sure of that. And when Ralfy discovers a huge bite-mark hole in one of his favourite books, things go from bad to worse. Who could be behind the biting? Ralfy Rabbit is determined to find out!

Help! Ralfy and his little brother Rodney LOVE reading - so when they hear that their local library is closing down, they know they have to do something. According to the librarian, it would take a magic dragon to save the library - so Ralfy, Rodney and their friends set off to find one! Will Ralfy find the magic dragon? Or is there - just maybe - another way to bring the town together and save the library for everyone?

When Dad's Hair took off by Jörg Mühle translated by Melody Shaw

Blurb: One day, Dad’s hair decided it was tired of being brushed and combed. It wanted a life of its own, to see the world. It took off. Out of the bathroom, into the kitchen, and before you could say, “Hairsta la vista, baby!” it was gone. Dad gave chase around the town. He spots his hair hiding in the lawn, on the road, at the zoo —it’s amazing how many things look like hair. He gives up. Dad tries to accept life without hair. Then the postcards arrive. The hair is on a round-the-world trip and Dad is still bald. Until one day the unbelievable happens and the hair comes back.

This book is a quick one to read - it will be enjoyed by young readers aged 7+ but also by parents especially dads. It has 63 pages, some with just one line of text, and full colour zany illustrations.

When you share this book with a younger child they will be exposed to some terrific vocabulary: flailed, scolded, threatened, fluttered, whumped, hullabaloo, stalking, stomped, wits' end, apparently, shimmied, crypt, launderette, hightailed, and zilch.

I also love the sense that this is a story that has been told over and over again in this family - rather like a tall tale. 

Younger listeners will enjoy the silly, complicated chase scenes, while slightly older kids and even adults will also appreciate the plentiful puns and amusing alliteration.  Kirkus

When Dad's Hair Took Off is a great example of words and pictures telling the story, and it's all encapsulated in a short novel that will get young readers laughing. Kids' Book Review

Early readers are sure to love the madcap nature of this story. Reading Time

Here is the German cover:

We are lucky to have books by Jörg Mühle here in Australia and now thanks to Gecko Press we can.

Duck's Backyard

Two for me, One for you

Meet at the Ark, at Eight

Goodnight Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora

What do the veggies do at night? Rhubarb reads stories to the broccoli. Baby carrots and baby lettuce snuggle into the soil. Cucumbers stay calm and celery is snoring. "Cranky corn rolls over and covers up its ears." They might be asleep but all of them are still growing assisted one mighty garden worm who we see tucked into his or her very long bed on the last page.

A bedtime veggie feast for the eyes and ears. Kirkus

Written in a musical rhyme, this picture book is ideal for reading aloud to toddlers and preschoolers. Waking Brain Cells

The childlike approach, appealing art, and relatable worm character are enough to connect story and audience ... Horn Book

This book is perfect for preschool children. With a group of older children you could use this book to demonstrate alliteration - Turnips tucked in tightly. There are also puns such as beets are simply beat. 2021 is the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables. My friend at Kinderbookswitheverything has a terrific list of books for this theme. You can see some terrific books about gardening at the Eric Carle site. See more books by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora.  I am (as you would expect) quite keen to see his book called My cousin Momo.

Gimmie Cracked Corn and I will share by Kevin O'Malley

You must be yolking.

What are you - a comedi-hen?

This is the perfect book to tickle your funny bone. It is filled with jokes and puns - you will laugh out loud on every page.

When Chicken dreams of buried treasure, he and his pal fly the coop and set out on a journey to find the golden corn, in this scrambled retelling of a classic Eastern European folktale. Their eggs-traordinary adventure takes them across the road, through the woods, and to a distant barn where they hear of pigs that can fly and dreams that can feed the imagination. Packed with word play and over twenty puns, thanks to Kevin O'Malley's trademark humor, Chicken's adventure reminds us that sometimes we need to leave home to realize the things we really treasure can be found right back where we started. Book Depository

Sadly this book is out of print but I just wanted to share it here in case you can find a copy in a library (as I did!). I recommend this for young readers aged 7+ and their adult friends.

Cornball comedy guaranteed to pun-ish your funny bone. Kirkus Star review