Author:  Andrea Stenn Stryer

Illustrated by:  Bert Dodson

Published by:   Bay Otter Press, Palo Alto, California.  2007

Age:  5 – 8 years

Theme:  communication, resourcefulness, deafness, strength and courage

Opening Lines:   High in a land where winds blow snow clouds off tall mountain peaks, Kami stepped out into the early morning dark.  He sniffed the moistness.

Synopsis:   (from the flap)  The story tells of a young, deaf Sherpa boy in the Himalaya.  His family earns its living by guiding mountain climbers and carrying their gear on yaks.  When the yaks cannot be found before a trek, Kami sets off in the high mountains, determined to find them.  Despite his fear of being alone in a fierce storm, Kami finds the courage to keep searching.

Why I like it:  The vivid illustrations are amazing and convey the majesty of the mountain terrain and depict Sherpa society. The story was inspired by a determined little boy the author met while trekking in the Mount Everest region of Nepal.  Though he could not speak, he communicated well with creative gesturing.  And he loved the yaks especially the littlest one, just as Kami does in this story.

I loved most that this author shared the thoughts of Kami, showed us his determination both in surving the storm, saving the Yaks, but also in being understood.  I loved that his being deaf and unable to speak was shown not to be holding him back in achieving his goal.   A great story showing what we can do if we put our minds to it.   I loved the page where it says….   Father put him down in front of Curly Horn.  Kami took the big yak’s thick woven collar in his hand.  Immediately, the other yaks fell in line.  Kami grinned at Father.  I did it, and he knows I did it!   Kami tugged on Curly Horn’s collar.   This left me with a lump in my throat, a really lovely moment.  I was also surprised when I finished the story and realised there was no dialogue.  Cleverly written and with a back story on the last page this makes for an interesting resource for schools as well.

It is not surprising to hear of Andrea Stenn Stryer’s passion for trips to the Himalayas, trekking in Nepal, snorkelling in Great Barrier, and visiting Antarctica, and African savannah.  Her previous book is The Celestial River: Creation Tales of the Milky Way.

Bert Dodson has illustrated more than seventy books for children and authored two and was an animation designer for a four-part PBS television series .. Intimate Strangers (1998).   He also illustrates opera stories for children.

Resources/Findings:  A write-up of an award by Otter Press…    http://www.bayotterpress.com/kamiyaks.htm

Here are some facts for kids…..    http://www.alanarnette.com/kids/everestfacts.php

Another great site on Sherpa’s …   http://www.sherpakyidug.org/sherpa/sherpa_facts.asp

Another interesting fact site for kids….    http://kinooze.com/2012/08/28/who-are-sherpa-people/

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors

Illustrated by:  Amy Rottinger

Published by:  Halo Publishing International

ISBN-10: 1612441505

ISBN: 9781612441504 Hardback

Ages:  2 years and over

Theme:  choices, responsibility, new pet, friendship

Opening line:   Lai-Lai is full of joy today.  She is getting a new puppy.

Synopsis:  A young girl called Lai-lai is looking forward to picking up her new puppy.  She has difficulty on deciding on a name.  While wandering outside she learns nature can give her a helping hand with ideas for a new name.  Can you help her decide?

This is a beautiful story that I have been given the pleasure to review. Children will love and understand Lai-lai’s frustration in finding the perfect name for her new pet.  Amy’s colourfully bright illustrations will capture their attention with each turn of the page.

Dr. Chokan has been a successful, practicing foot and ankle specialist for 10 years.  Currently, he is owner and founder of Ohio Foot and Ankle Center with 4 locations in Northeast Ohio.  He lives in Hudson, Ohio with his loving wife and 5 children: Hunter, Reece, Finlay, Calais and Lucia  and their dog Paisley.

Here is a lovely trailer of the book….    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBv2FY2_iY

To find out more follow the link to “World of Ink Blog Hop”

Written by:  Hisako Madokoro

Illustrated by:  Ken Kuroi

Translated by:  Peter Howlett

Published by: RIC Publications Ltd Asia, Japan

Ages:  3 – 6yrs

Theme:  Love, caring, responsibility, adventure, friendship and humour.

Opening Lines:  One day, Barney goes to play in the park.  He hears a sound coming from under a park bench.

Synopsis:  Barney is a chubby little puppy who loves adventure.  One day he finds a cute little kitten crying in the park.  The kitten runs to Barney snuggling up, thinking he is her mother.  Barney is not sure what to do but when realising the kitten is lost, sets out to find it’s mother.  Barney proves  himself to be a real “big brother.”

Why I like this:  It is such a cute and engaging story of an older puppy taking responsibility for a young kitten.  The gentle sweet story written in bold print is easy to read and children will love it’s warm fuzzy message.  Children learn the value of caring for others.  The warm sweet illustrations are playful and a delight. The pages of the book are thicker than normal so will wear well with the constant request to be read.  The book was originally published under the title of “Korowan wa Onlichan by Child Honsha Co ltd in Japan, 2006, later translated from Japanese to English.  Great as a bedtime story or an added tool to help a young child adjust to a new arrival in the home

Resources/Findings:   Although there are no resources directly related to this book , here are a few ideas where this book would be useful.

A great teachers aid for teaching about looking after animals….  http://www.allaboutanimals.org.uk/primaryTeachers.asp

All you need to know about very small pets for kids, links and communities, clubs, etc…    http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/kids/best-small-animal-pets-for-children.aspx

Have kids in the classroom write why their brother or sister is the best.  Here is examples  and quizzes, etc…   http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/comments_siblings.html

For parents helping their child adjust to a new sibling….    http://www.babycenter.com/0_helping-your-preschooler-adjust-to-a-new-sibling_3636582.bc

Thought you would like to see a little of illustrator Ken Kuroi’s work….   http://www.kaiseisha.net/illustrator/ken_kuroi.html
For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.  Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”    – by Henry David

“Sow a thought, and you reap an act, Sow an act, and you reap a habit, Sow a habit, and you reap a character, Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”         -by Charles Reade

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors.”     -by Jim Morrison

Written by:  Anthony D Fredericks

Illustrated by:  Tammy Yee

Published by:  Sleeping Bear Press 2007

Ages:   6 years and up

Themes:  history, remembrance, love, loss, understanding, multicultural

Opening lines:  When I was little, my grandfather and I went everywhere, always sharing stories and discovering new places.  We were the best of friends.

Synopsis:   From Amazon-  In April 1, 1946 – an enormous tsunami wave strikes Hilo, Hawai’i, causing death and destruction. Even those islanders who are fortunate to have survived find their lives forever altered. Young Kimo loves his grandfather very much – they go everywhere together, sharing island stories and experiences. But there is one story his grandfather has yet to share and that is the reason behind their yearly pilgrimage to Laupahoehoe Point. Here, in silent remembrance, Grandfather places a flower lei atop a stone monument. It is only after his grandfather’s sudden death that Kimo learns the story behind their annual visit and the reason for the sadness that has haunted his grandfather throughout the years. Evocative writing brings this tragic event from Hawaiian history to present-day reality for young readers today.

Why I liked this:  The title alone caught my eye and I was interested in how a topic such as a Tsunami could be covered in a PB.  The story is beautifully written, both factual and moving.  There are many aspects to this story that I love, the relationship between the young boy and his grandfather, the faithful remembrance of a lost love one,  how a tragic event could affect so many people and the effect it has on them years later. An Author’s Note in the back of the book discusses the phenomena of tsunamis. Former schoolteacher Tony Fredericks is an award-winning author of many nature and animal books for children. A frequent presenter at schools and conferences across America, Tony teaches education courses at York College in York, Pennsylvania. Tammy Yee’s soft watercolour tones add to the story’s serious theme yet create a sense of calm that reflects the calm before and after the storm, she lives in Hawaii.

Resources/Findings:  The Author’s Note at the end of the book a helpful tool for teaching words and concepts related to a tsunami.  This book is useful for discussion in class of relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, also discussion about loss of a love one and how It also celebrates life and how life continues with special memories kept alive to honour those who die.

A teacher’s guide is found here to compliment this story….     http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/tsunami.pdf

Other books on the topic of Tsunamis, (one is unaware of how many books cover this tragic even until you search.) ….        http://www.tsunami.org/storebooks.html

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors

Author:   Julia Donaldson

Illustrator:   Emily Gravett

Published by:   Macmillan Children’s Books 2010

Age:  2 – 6 years

Themes:  fear, trust, art, restless, sleeplessness

Opening Lines:   Cave Baby’s lucky – he lives inside a cave with his mum (who’s good at painting) and his dad (who’s very brave)  And a sabre-toothed tiger, and a hyena and a hare and a grey woolly mammoth, and a big brown bear.

Synopsis:  A cute little Cave baby is worried he is going to be thrown to a big brown bear, after painting over the walls and pictures in his parents cave walls.  A hairy mammoth takes the cheeky little baby on a thrilling ride through a moonlit landscape with a tiger, leaping hare, a laughing hyena and possibly a big brown bear.

But where are they going? And what has it to do with the baby’s scribblings on the cave wall?  You will have to read it to find out.

Why I like it:   I love books that beg to be opened, that have illustrations with such expression, that are cute, funny, bright, interesting and artistic.   This is one of them. Emily Gravett’s full page pencilled drawing over paint give the little Cave baby such expression right down to his little leafed nappy and bare feet.  The illustrations certainly move the story along with it’s soft dark night colours giving the close feeling of the animals of the jungle,  to the bright, clean light of day where we view the mess that has been made.  Julia’s beautiful rhyming text is minimal and often ambles through the illustrations so as not to detract the eye from the big picture.

Note: A newer edition in soft cover is now out, making this a very bright and attractive book to visit. It comes complete with a CD.

Emily Gravett is a twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal.    Julia Donaldson is a mult-award winner and popular picture book writer.  Originally writing songs for television, it wasn’t till one of her songs was turned into a children’s book that she turned to writing for children.  Of her 184 published works, 64 are widely available in bookshops.  The remaining 120 are intended for school use and include her Songbirds phonic reading scheme which is part of the Oxford Reading Tree.

Resources/Findings:   Here is Julia Donaldson’s website and as you can see she has also educational material….. http://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk/

Another link…    http://www.cavebaby.co.uk/activities.html

http://my.redhouse.co.uk/learn#3-years

Parental resources for tracking baby’s path…   http://pathways.org/awareness/parents/developmental-milestones/monthly-milestones-and-activities-calendar?gclid=CKeu9Yb65bYCFUVZpQodtTQAgw

Watch Emily draw Cave Baby….     http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7hY4MgstiVg

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors

Author/Illustrator:   Shirley Hughes

Published by:   The Bodley Head an imprint of Random House 2009

Ages:   3 – 6 years

Themes:   Friendship, Fairy-tale, appreciation, loss.

Opening Lines:   Once there was a girl called Minnie who lived in a large, beautiful apartment in Notting Hill, London.  Her mother and father went off to work each day very early and did not return until late at night.

Synopsis:   A bit old and a bit shabby, Jonadab is a donkey, just one of the many toys in Minnie’s toy box. Both he and his timid friend, the toy mouse Rita, are largely overlooked as Minnie plays with other, newer toys. But Jonadab is no ordinary toy. He can fly. Ignored for too long, Jonadab flies off and plays with the fairies in the park but what happens when he wants to return?  Can Rita help? Will Minnie realise they are missing and how does she find them?  Well you will have to read it for yourself.  A magical story of friendship between two toys and will Minnie learn the value of the toy she has lost.

Why I like this:  This gorgeous book of colourful illustrations has more text than most picture books.  At first glance one would think of Madagascar with the cute old, worn, flying donkey and his friend the mouse.  But theirs is a magical adventure, and the story shows us that trusted old friends are the best kind.  It’s true the old saying “you never realised how good it was, till it is gone.”  Shirley reals us in with her life-like artwork. Her delicate, fine detail along with a touch of old world charm are a delicious treat to the eye.  A world-renowned and loved writer, she received an OBE in 1999, won two Kate Greenaway Awards and countless others, having written and illustrated over fifty books as well as illustrated another two hundred for other writers, she has sold over eleven million copies. A great advocate for children’s writing especially picture books, I was delighted to come across this link of a meeting with Shirley, giving us a lovely insight into her life, this woman has a great sense of humour, and I can only wish I had been there too.    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3559843/Shirley-Hughes-conjuring-up-halcyon-days-of-childhood.html

Note:  There is a newer print of this story out, as you can see by the cover, published by Red Fox in 2010.

Resources/Findings:   While I could not find any specific resources for this particular book, there are Shirley Hughes resources for another book of hers called Dogger which could very easily be adapted for this story…..  http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/dogger.htm

Maybe a day of learning to draw…..    http://www.howtodrawanimals.net/how-to-draw-a-donkey

Here is also a great way for children to help other kids, to donate those toys which you have grown out of, start a collection at school or home to send….    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spread-the-joy-donate-a-soft-toy/295585317219013

There are many other organisations where a collection of soft toys would be welcome for children less fortunate, not just at Christmas time, but any time of year.

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors.

Author:  Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Illustrator:  H B “Buck” Lewis

Published by:   Walker Books Ltd 2009

Age:  3 – 6 years

Theme:   Friendship, love, adventure, space, South Pole

Opening Lines:  I had just put away my new helicopter and was cleaning out my ant farm when I heard a knock at the door.

Synopsis:  As described on Amazon ;  Joe couldn’t be more surprised to find his friend Osbert knocking at his front door—AWOL from the zoo—with an invitation to a South Pole extravaganza under his wing. Since penguins can’t fly, and Joe has a helicopter from Santa, the boy is soon piloting a bunch of penguins on a long journey south. But when Osbert ignores the southern lights and only has eyes for a penguin named Aurora, Joe starts to worry. Will he ever get back in time for his own family’s Midwinter Bash?

Why I like it:   This is such a cute story of a boy and his Penguin friend, Osbert.  Elizabeth’s first person narrative takes us on a journey by helicopter to see the Southern Lights, thanks to Joe.  Osbert his friend, is such a character (whose girlfriend smells of seaweed) had staged a zoo breakout and brought along a few friends for the ride.  This story is married with sweet colourful pictures giving a whimsical feel.  I loved seeing the penguin wave the helicopter in to land with his lights, and later Joe standing in line for the toilet with his leg crossed and face of concentration, made me smile.  Very cute for any child any time of year, and a love story to boot!  Note: this is a second book of a series.

Resources/Findings:  In the back of the book are suggestions for throwing a Party.   Invitations, and theme.  Also a great punch recipe and a Black and White Penguin Cookies recipe.

Here is Elizabeth’s website…    http://www.codykimmel.com/osbert-in-love.html

Fun facts and activities about Penguins…     http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/

Fun facts about Antarctica for kids…..    http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/antarctica.html

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors.

KATIE and the MONA LISA

Author/Illustrator:   James Mayhew

Published by:   Orchard Books 1998

Ages:   3 – 6 years

Themes:   Art, history, loneliness,  inquisitive

Opening lines:   Katie and her grandma often went to the gallery on their days out together.  Grandma liked to tell Katie all about the famous paintings.

“Which picture do you like best?” asked Grandma

“Mona Lisa,” said Katie.  “She smiled at me.”

“She smiles at everyone,” said Grandma.  “That’s why she’s famous.”

Synopsis:    A curious young girl wants to know what makes the Mona Lisa smile.  As she steps through the frame she finds not all is as it should be.  In order to help cheer the Mona Lisa up, they set out on an adventure together, stepping into other famous pictures… with disastrous results.  Thanks to Katie, the Mona Lisa eventually has something to smile about.

Why I like this:    I came across this book while looking for something else and was taken by the beautiful cover illustration.  This is one of nine books on Katie’s adventure in the art gallery, by James Mayhew.   An exert from Amazon states….   A passionate advocate of art and culture for the very young, James’s books range from Shakespearean anthologies (To Sleep, Perchance to Dream; Shakespeare’s Storybook), through to grand opera (The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera) and most recently ballet, with the Ella Bella Ballerina series. His books are published in many languages including Chinese Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, Catalan, Greek, German, Italian, Brazilian, French, Korean, Finnish, Danish, Swedish and Estonian.

As well as having over 50 books published he has illustrated many works for famous authors and written texts for illustrators.  Some have been adapted for television.  Another exert from Amazon states… James has devised and performed unique orchestral concerts for children with narration and live illustration, including Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition for the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2008 he was invited to participate in workshops and children’s promenade performances at The Royal Opera House, Convent Garden.

With a unique ability to draw children in to appreciate fine art and history at a young age, it is no wonder he is in huge demand to give workshops and speak at conferences.  The text in this particular book is an easy read and the illustrations rich in depth, James cleverly mimics the works of famous artists before him.

Resources/Findings:   Katie’s own Blog….   http://katieandthemonalisalive.com/the-team/

http://katieandthemonalisalive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Katie-and-the-Mona-Lisa-flier-fairfield-hall.pdf

James Blog….   http://james-mayhew-author-illustrator.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/katie-and-mona-lisa-live.html

This website has some fun projects to teach our young kids to appreciate fine art…..   http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/09/15-fantastic-fine-art-projects-for-kids.html

Great website if you’re a teacher wanting to book a fine arts lesson to visit….  Checkout the blue tab at the bottom of the page and get some ideas…..   http://www.fineart4kids.com/index.html

For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors.

Right now I just wanted to do a quick 12×12 check-in.  Yes that’s right.  Don’t faint.  I know it’s the 1st of April here at 9am Monday morning and as the title says, this is no April fools’ joke.  So recapping on my last three months, I have to admit I haven’t done very much.  While I have joined the 12×12 this year, my main aim is to revise and revise, to get a few drafts up to perfection.  In January I managed to get a draft done, yay! But in February all I did was scribble some notes down in the back of my journal and missed even commenting on Julie’s blog. Internet connection while away was terribly intermitten and I am no whizz on the iphone, I can tell ya!  Anyway I feel really pleased this month as I completed a rough draft with that idea and came up with another one for this month.  They are terribly rough and need a lot of work and rethinking but it’s done, so I am on target.  I have done revisions on three of my drafts thanks to the help of my critique group, they are awesome.  Now I am going to be passing them back in the following months and revising, to get them spic-an-span for subbing.  I am looking forward to what the next three months has in store for me.

As I said, I’ve not done much, but I am focused, and that’s the main thing.

Hope you all are having a really happy Easter.