Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon

This book is my 450th review.  I am very happy that Herman and Rosie has this honor and that it is a short listed title.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book for so many reasons.

1. The end papers - if you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I really appreciate illustrators and book designers who take the time to include end papers that extend the text of a book.  In Herman and Rosie you will see an old map of New York with little stickers attached to show where Rosie and Herman live along with the location of a "great hot dog place".

2.  The ending :  "Rosie found Herman. And Herman found Rosie. The city was never quite the same."  I am such a romantic!

3.  The music which floats through all the glorious illustrations.  I think I will read this book to the children in my library with a soft jazz track playing in the background.

4.  The views of NY city - the Brooklyn Bridge, the subway, the Empire State building and more.

5.  The use of maps.  I adore maps in books and the one Gus has made showing how Herman and Rosie roam all over the city but never quite meet up is perfect.

This is a book about relationships.  We are all different.  We look different.  We enjoy different things and yet we all long to make connections.

Gus Gordon includes an important quote on the imprint page of his book :

"I have at last, after several MONTH'S experience, made up my mind that [New York] is a splendid desert - a domed and steepled solitude, where the stranger is LONELY in the midst of a million of his race." Mark Twain, June 5, 1967.  I visited New York city just last year and I certainly experienced this exact feeling.  Things might have been different if I had met Herman.

After reading this book I will look at Nobody owns the Moon by Tohby Riddle which has a similar theme of two disparate animals who link up in the city.  The biggest difference is that in Nobody owns the Moon the two friends part at the end and may not see each other again. I remember this made me quite sad. We will also look at the joyous series Melrose and Croc by Emma Chichester Clark which by coincidence also features a crocodile or is Herman an Alligator?  We will also read one of my all time favourite books about friendship - A friend like Ed.

One final thing. Stop and take a few minutes to look very closely at the front and back covers of this book.  You will see it is actually a record inside its sleeve.  Such a perfect nostalgic image.

Look out for the 'boss' of the multinational telemarketing company that Herman works for.  A very funny political comment.

You can read some reviews of this book here.  The reviewer in Magpies can have the final word 

"This picture book is so hip it positively swings, but it also has soul and leaves you feeling like you've eaten honey straight from the jar."  Tali Levi is quoting Herman himself.  Magpies Volume 27 Issue 4 

Too many elephants in this house by Ursula Dubosarsky illustrated by Andrew Joyner

One of the things I especially love in a picture book is when the illustrator or book designers decide to use different end papers - one image at the beginning of the book and a different one at the end. In Too Many elephants in this House Andrew Joyner has squished at least fifteen plump and happy elephants onto the first end paper.  One is holding a small bunch of flowers.  It is a tiny splash of colour in the midst of mass of grey bodies. Flipping to the final end paper we see the same squash of elephants but this time a small boy is happily wedged over an elephant bottom and all the elephant eyes are looking at him.

This is a story about problem solving.  There are too many elephants and the aptly named Eric needs to find a solution. The zoo already has a full quota of elephants, transport to Africa is out of the question and if he just lets them out into the street that is bound to cause mayhem.

You can see many of the exuberant illustrations from this book on the illustrators web site.  I have not met Andrew Joyner but he must be a very happy man - his picture books beam with smiles.  We all enjoyed The Terrible Plop when it was short listed a few years ago and it was fun to show Andrew's little video about how to draw a bear to our students.

After reading this book to my students we will also look at The boy who was followed home by Margaret Mahy.  It has a similar theme of creatures that take over the house.  We will also look at The Great Escape from city zoo by Tohby Riddle. The twenty elephant restaurant by Russell Hoban and Where do you hide two elephants? by Emily Rodda.  I used to have an old book called But No elephants.   I found a video copy which we can use instead.  We will also explore a mini theme about boxes. You can see a terrific pinterest collection of box books here made by my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything.  I do not think this book will win the CBCA awards but I am sure it will be a winner with my youngest students. Look for this book in your library today - it is sure to make you smile too.

The terrible suitcase by Emma Allen illustrated by Freya Blackwood

It is important to begin looking at this book, The Terrible Suitcase, with a close look at the end papers which show a small red suitcase hurtling among the planets. The implication here is that this suitcase has arrived from outer space and perhaps this is confirmed when we see, on the title page, the small red suitcase is now wedged between some old boxes and picture frames perhaps in an attic.

The opening lines of this book establish the character of our un-named narrator.  She is M.A.D. mad! because instead of a wonderful new backpack for her going to school present she has been given a terrible suitcase.  Howard has a rocket backpack which makes her retaliate by throwing playdough and wrecking their game. When she arrives at school for her first day our grumpy girl compares her suitcase with all the wonderful backpacks she sees outside the school or preschool and her displeasure increases.

There are hints all through this book that our little protagonist is a space fan.  She makes a playdough planet which smashes Howard's matchstick sculpture of an intergalactic spacecraft, she chews her space station hologram sticker and can't swap it for one with a photo of Halley's comet and inside her suitcase she has a supply of spacefood sticks. (Are these still available at the supermarket they were popular when I was a child a long time ago?).

The classroom has an imagination corner with a large fridge sized cardboard box which for our narrator makes the perfect rocket and so she climbs inside.  A short time later Millie crawls in and magically the suitcase becomes the centre of their imaginative play becoming a toolkit to repair the rocket and a computer so they can plot their journey to earth.  Our little hero goes to bed that night looking forward to a day of fun with her friends and her suitcase.

I went to school in the age before backpacks were invented and even now I still marvel at all the designs and the ways children add embellishments such as little toys to personalize their bags.  In my school the majority of children have the official green school back pack.  I actually have the suitcase used by my Grandfather when he went to school.  It is so large and must have been very heavy to carry up the hill each day to school.

When we read The Terrible Suitcase in our library next term we will also explore Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes which is also about fitting in at school and acceptance by the peer group and Annabel swift Kindergartener by Amy Schwartz , Jessica's Box by Peter Carnavas and Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. We will also explore the fourteen books in our library illustrated by Freya Blackwood many of which have been short listed and award winners in past years.  You can see some images from The Terrible Suitcase on the illustrator's blog.

On final thought.  Perhaps the suitcase did not come from space instead it is the way you can travel there.  Here is a set of teacher notes.  This book is another title which has been short listed for the CBCA Awards.

With Nan by Tania Cox illustrated by Karen Blair

With Nan is a book which should be read slowly to a very young child.  Reading slowly will match the lovely tone of this book as we see a loving relationship between Simon and his Gran and watch the time they spend together in the garden discovering all sorts of hidden creatures.  The text contains a simple structure :

"Simon didn't quite understand until Nan showed him a leaf (turn the page) that flew,(turn the page) a rock (turn the page) that hopped (turn the page) and ground (turn the page) that scurried away."

This is a book written for pre-school children and so it fits perfectly into the CBCA Early Childhood section.  At first glance the illustrations seem quite child-like but they are full of warmth and expression.  I especially like the first page which shows two sets of gum boots - one yellow set which are small and one purple - the little dog is chewing on one purple boot with a look of bliss on his face.  In the illustrations we also see Nan is quite adventurous.  She looks a little old with her hair in a bun but we see her up in a tree, down on all fours looking in the leaf litter, dancing with sticks and giving little Simon a piggyback home.  Nan lives in the country and I think many young city children will relate to the wonders that come from exploring a large property like this.

I was pleased to discover we have seven other books in our library by Tania Cox and that one was also short listed many years ago - Snap! Went Chester.

When we read With Nan in our school library we will explore all the other books by Tania Cox and also take a look at picture books about camouflage such as Who's hiding here by Yoshi, The Hunt by Narelle Oliver, Lots of spots by Lois Ehlert and Elmer by David McKee.

You can read an interview with Tania Cox here and find a set of notes about the animals in With Nan along with some activities and colouring pages.

CBCA Short list 2013

Exactly one week ago today the Children's Book Council of Australia announced the short listed titles for our Book of the Year awards which will be awarded in August this year.

I was quite excited to discover our school library contains nearly all the titles and I have actually blogged three of them.

Book of the Year for Younger Readers

French, Jackie Pennies for Hitler 

French, Simon Other Brother 

Gleitzman, Morris After 

Hartnett, Sonya Children of the King 

Herrick, Steven Pookie Aleera is Not my Boyfriend 

Millard, Glenda Ill. Stephen Michael King The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk 

Book of the Year Early Childhood

Allen, Emma Ill. Freya Blackwood The Terrible Suitcase 

Cox, Tania Ill. Karen Blair With Nan 

DeGennaro, Sue The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog 

Dubosarsky, Ursula Ill. Andrew Joyner Too Many Elephants in This House 

Harris, Christine Ill. Ann James It’s a Miroocool! 

Walker, Anna Peggy 

Picture book of the Year

Brooks, Ron Text: Julie Hunt The Coat
Goodman, Vivienne Text: Margaret Wild Tanglewood 
Gordon, Gus Herman and Rosie
Lester, Alison Sophie Scott Goes South 
Mullins, Patricia Text: Glenda Millard Lightning Jack 
Wilson, Mark Text: Jackie French A Day to Remember

Over the last week I have read nearly all the books on these lists and so I will share my thoughts for each book in this blog but for today I think I will be brave and make some predictions.  I hope Pookie Aleera wins the Younger Readers Award.  In the Early Childhood picture book category I did enjoy It's a Mirocool because it feels so Australian and is a different take on the usual tooth fairy story and for Picture book of the Year I have no firm favourite.  I loved the sentiment and setting of Herman and Rosie, the depth of research in A day to Remember, the philosophical message of Tanglewood and the life affirming and joyous message of The Coat.  I guess we will have to wait and see which books win but meanwhile it will be good to read the thoughts of reviewers, teachers, teacher-librarians and of course the children over the coming months.  In our school library we will begin reading these books next term.

A big thank you to My Book Corner for these book cover images.  I love the way they have created these little sets so you can see all the titles at a glance.

When we read these books I like to make links to other books by the same authors and illustrator along with links to books on a similar theme.  When we read Tanglewood there are some terrific books about trees in our library which I have collected on Pinterest.

Nell's Festival of Crisp Winter Glories by Glenda Millard illustrated by Stephen Michael King

"On Sunday morning, Perry Angel chose a pencil from his tin of seventy-two. Its name was Bluephyre and it was the colour of a fairy wren.  Bluephyre was shorter than the other pencils because it was Perry's favourite.  He used it when he and Nell wrote haiku.  But on this morning Perry didn't want Nell to see what he was doing, so he put Bluephyre in his pocket and took it to Annie's studio.  Keeping a secret from Nell was new and strange to Perry. When he was no-one's child, he could not have imagined living with someone you could ask anything of, tell anything to. But Nell was even more than that.  She could read your heart simply by looking into your eyes."

Perry loves Nell so much and he knows she loves to dance. He devises a plan so that Nell and his other most favourite person Jenkins can dance the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.  The whole community begin to make plans for Nell's festival of Crips winter Glories but when Nell has a serious accident it seems Perry's special dream might not come true.

Glenda Millard has done it again.  This is the seventh and final installment in the Kingdom of Silk series and reading it is like looking into a glass filled with sparkling diamonds.

I have already blogged The naming of Tishkin Silk,  Plum Puddings and paper moons, and The Tender Moments of Saffron silk which has just been short listed for the CBCA Younger Readers book of the year awards.

I am a huge fan of the Kingdom of Silk series. Right now, a girl in Grade 6 and her mum are reading them and it is such a joy to see how much they are enjoying these books and also the special bond that comes when two people find a book they both love. I read a lovely quote the other day "people who know and love the same books are you have the road map to your soul."  This is certainly true for me and the glorious Silk series.

My favourite part of this book is when Nell is given a walking aid. It is called "The Intrepid.  It was cherry read with wheels and brakes and a padded eat with a basket underneath.  Nell lifted the seat and looked at the basket. 'That will come in handy for putting vegetables in when I'm out in the garden,' Nell told the physiotherapist. 'And for library books when I'm visiting people at the old folk's home."  When my mum started using a four-wheel seat walker like the one Nell has, I wanted to give it a name, but we never managed to think of one.  I think 'The Intrepid' is such a perfect name - hopefully encouraging the older person to continue a life of adventure and surprises.

Having read the final book in this series I am now going to sit down and start all over again.  It is a rare thing for me to re-read books and it is also a rare thing for me to read every book in a series, but I have adored every one of these books and am so happy I can revisit them in my school library over and over again.

The Twits by Roald Dahl illustrated by Quentin Blake

Of course this is not a new book.  It was first published in 1980 but recently a teacher reported that our CD version was not working so I bought it home to listen.  The CD just needed a quick clean and this then allowed me a glorious few days of listening to this wildly funny story as I drove my car to and from school and other places.

Roald Dahl is so wonderful at creating fabulous vile characters that all readers love to see get 'their just desserts'.  Mr and Mrs Twit are spectacularly awful.  The description of Mr Twit's beard full of  "dried up scrambled egg ... spinach and tomato ketchup and fish fingers and minced chicken livers and all the other disgusting things Mr Twit liked to eat" perfectly introduces this awful man.  If you look closely Roald Dahl is so skilled with his use of language.  We read of scrambled eggs - that might be okay.  Then spinach - slightly disgusting.  Tomato ketchup - I wonder if he wanted to say tomato sauce? But it is the final food that really twists at your stomach - chicken livers - these sound the most revolting of all.

Our copy of the audio book is read by Simon Callow and he does a wonderful job with all the voices especially Muggle-Wump the monkey and the delightful Roly-Poly bird. When you read or listen to The Twits I am sure you will cheer for these heroes as they outwit and ultimately destroy Mr and Mrs Twit who have been so cruel and horrid for far too long.

"One week later, on a nice sunny afternoon, a man called Fred came round to read the gas meter.  When nobody answered the door, Fred peeped into the house and there he saw, on the floor of the living room, two bundles of old clothes, two pairs of shoes and a walking stick.  There was nothing more left in this world of Mr and Mrs Twit.  And everyone, including Fred, shouted....HOORAY!"

If you have not read The Twits rush into a library and grab a copy today. If you have read The Twits - rush into a library and re-read it - you will not be disappointed.  Finally if you have no time to read The Twits then look for the audio book and listen while you do other things.