Book 149

Mystery Mansion, by Michael Garland, Dutton Children's Book, 2001.  Preschool to Elementary.

Mystery Mansion is a spectacularly beautiful seek-and-find book.  The clues are given to "Tommy" and to the readers by notes in rhyme from Tommy's aunt.  I do have to confess that I changed Tommy's name to "Thomas" and his aunt's name to "Luna".  This made perfect sense to my four-year-old Thomas because he says that his Aunt Luna lives on a shooting star.  The story around Mystery Mansion is very sweet and the pay-off is worth the build-up, but I bought this book for the artwork. 

Michael Garland is an artist with a staggering range.  Many of his styles are represented in this book.  The two-page spread of the garden scene alone is well worth tracking down this book.  In fact, that is exactly why I did track down this book.  I thought that the garden scene would be my favorite, but as soon as I spotted a dragon in the wall-paper I had a new favorite scene.  I'm a grown woman, and I just spent half-an-hour poring over the artwork in this book.  Imagine how long it could keep a child entertained.

Fairy Tale Haiku -- 61

Pyramus and Thisbe

A hole in a wall,

A secret tryst, a lion,

And two lovers die.

Book 148

This Is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press 2012.  Preschool to Early Elementary.

Yesterday, (January 15th) was National Hat Day, so to celebrate, I pulled out this book from the new book stack to read to my little boy.  The funny thing is, so did our local library.

This Is Not My Hat is a companion piece to Jon Klassen's earlier I Want My Hat Back, only it takes place underwater instead of in a forest; and the story is told from the point of view of the thief and not the, er, victim.  The end result, however, is pretty much the same.  If you don't like I Want My Hat Back because of the conclusion, you will not like This Is Not My Hat, either.  It helps to have a sense of humor.  It helps even more if your humor has dark tendencies.

The artwork for This is Not My Hat is every bit as wickedly delightful as the earlier book's, with a bit more of a build-up in the tension and a seek-and-find on one of the two-page spreads. 

Book 147

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, written by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle, Henry Holt 1967.  Toddler to Preschool to Early Elementary.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was another Kohl's Cares book.  When I bought it for my son, I thought he'd like the illustrations, which he does.  That he also enjoys the text is a bonus.

As a children's librarian, I was not a fan of highly repetitive books.  It is hard enough to hold the attention of twenty to thirty toddlers or preschooler without running the risk of potentially boring them.  As the mother of a budding reader, I do love some repetitive books.  My four-year-old reads this book right along with me and that is wonderful.  Eric Carle's artwork makes all the difference.

Eric Carle's artwork, as I've said before, practically hums with life.  It is vibrant and engaging.  It is distinct and charming.  It is wonderful.

Book 146

Pixieland Rhymes, A Big-Time Wonder Book, illustrated by Rene Cloke, William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.  Preschool to Elementary.

I bought this book for myself and for the artwork.  The rhymes feel forced and dated -- I'm not sure that I will ever read them out loud.

The artwork, on the other hand, is stunning.  This book is full of stunning vintage (1930s) illustrations.  It is a great book for reference and I suspect that before long I will feel compelled to write new text to go with the absolutely gorgeous artwork. 

Book 145

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?, by Eric Carle, HarperCollins 2000.


Aside from the Simply Vera line by Vera Wang,  I am not crazy about Kohl's and seldom shop there.  I am, however, quite ecstatic about the Kohl's Cares books.  So while I may not wander through the rest of the store, I do very often look to see which books are Kohl's Cares books.  When Eric Carle was brought back as a Kohl's Cares author, I was thrilled.

My son turned four in November, he knows all his letters, and he is starting to be able to "read" simple words, especially if they are repeated frequently.  Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?  is a perfect book for him to start "reading".  The bulk of the text repeats with every page turn -- the only change being the animal in question.  Because he can recognize the animals, he can essentially "read" the entire book.  That is pretty exciting for him.

If I didn't already love Eric Carle's artwork before, I would have after I saw the peace dove he created last month.  I already did love his work, however, so now I just have a deeper appreciation for it.  His illustrations are vibrant, textured, easily recognizable both for the subject and as being Carle's work, and virtually hum with life.  There is a reason why he has been illustrating so successfully for so long.  There is a reason why he is one of the most well-known names in children's literature today.

Thomas' January stories -- Part 1

1.

Once upon a time, there was a candle.  It made fire.  And the fire took a bath.  The End.

2.

Once upon a time, there was a spider.  On a web.  He was lost and sad.  He was crying.  He found a bug.  In his mouth.  He didn’t eat it.  The End.

3.

Once upon a time, there was a piggy with a blue fur blanket.  He was lost and sad.  Like the spider.  And he was tired.  He went back to bed.  He got caught in the blanket and fell to the floor.  The End.

4.

Once upon a time, there was a kitten named Molly.  She was grumpy.  She was tired.  She wanted to go back to sleep.  On the floor.  Thomas wanted to play.  “Happy New Year!” said Thomas.

5.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was outside.  It was raining.  He was outside in the rain.  He took a bath.  Without a bathtub.  The End.

6.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He wanted clean underpants.   He looked in his underpants drawer.  He found Scooby Doo underpants.  “Scooby Doo underpants!” said Thomas.  “I can’t believe it!”  The End.

7.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was chasing shadows.  He was dancing with shadows.  The End.

8.

Once upon a time, there was a lighthouse.  A blue castle lighthouse.  Thomas made it.  Molly broke it.   The End.

9.

Once upon a time, there was a goblin.  He had a goblin house.  The goblin ran in the goblin house and closed the door.  And said, “No more stories!”  The End.

10.

Once upon a time, there was a castle.  A beautiful letter castle.  There was a princess in the castle.  Thomas couldn’t fit in the castle.  The End.

11.

Once upon a  time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was playing music.  On a piano.  On the patio.  It was a patio piano.  Ding, ding, dong.  The End.

12.

Once upon a time, there was a present.  It was opened.  In the present was a hat.  And a bow.  And a song.  The End.

13.

Once upon a time, there was a birthday.  It was a letters birthday.  Happy Birthday, letters!  And it was a happy birthday for cars.  Happy Birthday, cars!  And Thomas said, “Do you want to hold my hand?”  The End.

14.

Once upon a time, there was a fish.  A giant fish.  It jumped up in the water.  It couldn’t swim.  It was paper mache.   The End.

15.

Once upon a time, there was a ghost.  He was running around the house.  He was running, running, running.  He needed to take a bath.  The End.

16.

Once upon a time, there was a Pants Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He made a heart.  For his mommy.  He found his mommy and said, “I made you a heart.  Come and see!”  The End.

17.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He made a big poo-poo.   In the big-boy potty.  It was so big.  It was green.  And wet.  The End.

Thomas' December stories -- part 12 (and conclusion)

89.

Once upon a time, there was a present.  For Mommy.  Mommy opened it.  It was a trick.  Merry Christmas!  The End.

90.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas.  A mouse Thomas.  A Thomas in a too-dark mouse hat.  He played his flute.  It squeaked, like a mouse.  He played “Jingle Bells”.  It was a rat “Jingle Bells.”  Rat, rat, rat.  Rat, rat, rat.  The End.

91.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  And cold.  He found a fish.  The fish turned to stone.   And it sank in the waterfall.  He found a book.  It was a king book.  Thomas took the jacket off the king book.  Thomas put on the jacket.  He was King Thomas.   The End.

92.

Once upon a time, there was a doctor.  He was a Doctor Thomas.  He had a card.  With writing on it.  He flew in with the wind.  He took temperatures.  I don’t think he was a real doctor.  The End.

93.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He had glasses.  Like Velma.  He found a clue.  Like Velma.  A chocolate clue.  Merry Christmas!

94.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He had a magic soap.  The soap had eyes.  It could see.  The soap was sleeping.  Thomas put the soap in the bathtub and took a bath.  And he was clean – Magic!  The End.

95.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was a King Thomas.  He wanted snow.  Glow-in-the-dark snow.  He put on his big crown.  It fell in his eyes.  He couldn’t see the no-snow.  The End.

96.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  It was a dark night.  He found a light.  A dreaming light.  On a silent night.  A starry night.  And the light was music.  For Thomas.  The End.

97.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas.  He found a door.  It was a guy door.  To book trains.  “It’s not for kittens, Molly!” said Thomas.  The End.

98.

Once upon a time, there was a map.  It was a pirate map.  A pirate Christmas map.  To Christmas treasure.  The End.

99.

Once upon a time, there was a castle.  A shooting star castle.  With windows.  Glass windows.  In the windows was a train station.  With trains.  That go everywhere.  The End.

100.

Once upon a time, there was a castle.  A paper castle.  A Thomas named Thomas went through the door.  He tore up the castle.  There was water in the castle.  And a magic purple spider.  The End.

101.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was outside.  He was lost.  It was dark outside.  He found a flashlight.  A star flashlight.  He found a kangaroo with a map.   The End.

102.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He had a shadow of a sea on his ceiling.  “I love my shadow,” said he.  The End.

103.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He wanted snow.  There was no snow.  He sang to the sky snow angels, “Hello, Snow.  Where are you?”  The End.

104.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He had cake.  And more cake.  On the moon.  It was delicious.  The End.

105.

Once upon a time, there was a shadow monkey.  He was hanging up, up in the sky.  He was lost and sad.  He wanted to fly like an angel does.  He found a shooting star.  A wishing shooting star.  And he held on.  The End.

106.

Once upon a time, there was a goblin.  A Thomas named Thomas scared him into a cave.  Into a cave tree.  It was dark in there.  The goblin had dark eyes.  The End.

107.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He stood up to go potty.  And he didn’t fall down.  The End.

108.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He made a sky.  He made cloud pillow stairs.  Stairs that went up, up, up.  Up to where Molly was sleeping.  The End.

109.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He lived in a garden.  He was lost and sad.  It was raining and Thomas was slippery.  He drew with chalk.  He drew a house.  He was very safe and dry.  The End.

110.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He had shadow hands.  On the ceiling.  He made a hat.  He made a heart.  He turned off the lantern and the shadows were gone.  The End.

111.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He painted a train.  On his wall.  In his room.  A train to bears, and cats, and dancing dogs.  “Come and see!” said Thomas.   The End.

112.

Once upon a time, there was a shadow globe.  It was on the wall.  It was dangerous.  Thomas was scared.  Molly Kitten got the globe with a Batman pillow.  The End.

113.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He found a happy house.  He was Turtle Thomas.  He couldn’t run.  He’s not a turtle anymore.  The End.

114.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost and sad.  He found a map to candy canes.  Thomas ate a candy cane.  He was sticky all over.  And happy.  The End.

115.

Once upon a time, there was a boat.  It was sleeping.  In a tent.  With spaghetti and rainbow lights.  The End.

116.

Once upon a time, there was a web.  It was streaming down.  Like a string.  And there was a monkey.  The monkey wanted to climb down the web ladder.  He couldn’t.  He was too big.  The End.

Book 144

Donut Chef, by Bob Staake, Golden Book (Random House), 2008.  Preschool to Elementary.

My four-year-old son received five books for Christmas this year:  A Thomas the Tank Engine book, a Dr. Seuss Book, two Eric Carle books and Donut Chef.  I let him choose one new book to read at his bedtime.  He almost chose the Eric Carle kangaroo book because he also received a plush kangaroo for Christmas, but, in the end, he chose Donut Chef.

Donut Chef is a longer rhyming text picture book, so perhaps it was a mistake to make it the fourth picture book I read tonight -- Christmas night -- after a very long day.  Normally, when I encounter longer picture books, I skim them; that is, just read what I need to in order to make the story work.  With Donut Chef, I had to read every line.  Every rhyming line was needed to tell the story properly.  Every rhyming line is needed.

I first bought a Bob Staake children's book for the artwork.  I love the artwork.  I didn't really expect to like the text.  I was pleasantly surprised, delighted, and mildly annoyed when I did like the writing in the first book.  I'm no longer surprised.  Now I buy the books because my son REALLY loves them.  I know he likes the artwork, but he also really likes the text.  He likes the text so much that when he received a robot today for Christmas, he stared quoting "Hello, Robots". 

I buy Mr. Staake's books for self-preservation:  If I do have to read a Bob Staake book to my son every day, and usually more than once a day -- which I do -- it is good if I have a few choices. 

Thomas' December stories -- part 11

81.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He lived in a garden.  He was lost and sad.  He built a castle out of pillows.  With blankets for the floor.  He had a candy cane Christmas tree.  And he didn’t take baths.  The End.

82.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  There was a monkey in his room.  It was a scary monkey.  It scared Thomas.  Thomas scared the monkey away.  Hooray!  The End.

83.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was lost.  He found a glowing map and an airplane.  He went to a cave.  To go potty.  The End.

84.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He found a square picture frame.  He took pictures of the wall.  He took pictures of the ceiling.  He took pictures of Mommy.  He took pictures of his trains in his messy room.  He took pictures of a green feather in the bathtub.  The End.

85.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  And there was a daddy named Daddy.  Daddy was lost and sad.  Thomas found Daddy.  The End.

86.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He was five years old.  And there was a Mommy.  She was three thousand.

87.

Once upon a time, there was a big, white moon.  It had legs.  It could run.  It was a water-tower.  And there was a little rabbit moon.  A candy cane moon.  And it was an angel.  The End.

88.

Once upon a time, there was a Thomas named Thomas.  He lived in the garden.  He was lost and sad.  He found a rock.  It was a beautiful rock.  It was a blue rock.  It was a sleeping rock.  Thomas made a happy hat for the sleeping rock.  The End.