Today's Sun by Gregg Dreise

I don't usually talk about Board Books on this blog but this one by Gregg Dreise caught my eye. Black and white board books have become quite popular in recent years as research now shows they are perfect for new babies aged 0-6 months. My friend, who is a new grandmother, has been looking for black and white board books too. 

Before I look at Today's Sun you might have a few questions:

What is a board book, you ask? A board book is a book made from heavy cardboard. Board books are very durable and can stand up to a lot of abuse from little hands. In addition, many board boards can easily be wiped clean after baby has drooled all over them. They are usually smaller than a typical picture book and since they are designed primarily for kids 0-3, the stories (if they have one) are much shorter in length. What we do all day.

Why black and white? Since research shows that babies are stimulated by high contrast images, I highly recommend you invest in some black and white board books. Bold black, white and red graphics are much more likely to engage your infant than soft pastels and beautiful watercolor illustrations. What we do all day. 

High-contrasting, black and white images with sharp outlines are much easier for baby to see in the first few months of life while eyesight is still developing. At birth a baby’s retina is not fully developed; a newborn retina can only detect extreme contrasts between light and dark, or black and white. With everything appearing a little out-of-focus it’s no surprise that your baby will be completely absorbed when a book of black and white images is put in front of them. Mesmerised

Here are some text extracts from Today's Sun:

"As today's sun yawned, I munch like a hungry, fluffy possum."

"As today's sun stretched, I laughed like a happy kookaburra."

"As today's sun thawed, I bounced like a joyful kangaroo."

Here are a few more you might be able to find. It only took me a few minutes to discover all of these examples.  I am sure there would be hundreds of others in you local library and independent bookstore.

Mr. Maxwell's Mouse by Frank Asch and Devin Asch

Today I spent some happy hours book shopping.  As I walked through one very large shop this book caught my eye - the mouse on the plate, the expression on the face of the cat and above all the author - the wonderful Frank Asch.  I knew at once Devin must be his son and after reading the first page I knew this book would be perfect.

I have been collecting books for a senior class on the theme of power - power in relationships, use of power, feeling powerless and so on.  This week we enjoyed discussing Extra Yarn and now I will add Mr. Maxwell's mouse to my list.

Mr. Maxwell dines each day at the delicious sounding Paw and Claw Restaurant.  On this day he decides to partake of a mixed green salad followed by raw mouse.

"Excellent choice, sir, Would you like us to kill it for you?' asked Clyde.  'That won't be necessary,' said Mr. Maxwell ... just make sure it is fresh and healthy."

The meal arrives - a mouse stretched out on a single piece of rye toast as if sunning itself on a sandy beach.  Our canny mouse engages Mr. Maxwell in conversation.  Asking for salt, suggesting the type of wine as an accompaniment and even asking Mr. Maxwell to say grace before - well before the deed.  Mr. Maxwell is not a religious man so the mouse kneels down and prays ending with the perfect word 'Amice!'

If you are looking for another book on the theme of persuasion this one is perfect and it also has such a delicious vocabulary and scrumptious illustrations.  This is a picture book for our middle and senior students.  This book is also an example of a trickster tale.

Vocab - precisely, manicured, flourish, gloated, unaccustomed, fraternize, dignity, squeamish, patrons and mayhem.

Here is a review if you need more detail of the plot.  Mr. Maxwell's mouse was first published in 2004. The paperback copy was released this year.

You might also enjoy Cat you'd better come home, The Spider and the Fly and Strat and Chatto.

a delicious cat-and-mouse tale in which small outsmarts large