A Funny Little Bird, by Jennifer Yerkes

A Funny Little Bird

Author: Jennifer Yerkes

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Publication Date: April 1, 2013

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I almost loved this book. Almost. The idea is strong. It's the story of a nearly invisible bird, told with simple drawings and negative space, who tries to be more visible by borrowing elements from nature, including colourful feathers from other birds. The message is supposed to be about accepting yourself for who you are, I suppose. But it lacks a certain, I don't know, soul. It's hard to describe. Maybe toddlers would enjoy trying to find the bird on each page. I guess. I'm sorry this review is so muddled and lukewarm, but that describes my feelings for this book.

In Lucia's Neighborhood, by Pat Shewchuk (illustrated by Marek Colek)

In Lucia's Neighborhood

Author: Pat Shewchuk 

Illustrator: Marek Colek 

Publisher: Kids Can Press 

Publication Date: March 1, 2013 

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I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. The illustrations are GORGEOUS and make me want to live in the neighbourhood in the book (which I think is somewhere in Toronto but I'm not sure). It follows the story of a little girl, Lucia, as she listens to her grandmother tell her about urban visionary Jane Jacobs then explores her own neighbourhood with renewed appreciation. But my absolute favourite thing about the book? All the people in the streets, the parks, the doorways...none of them are texting! The teenagers are hanging out, the old men are feeding birds, there are people reading books and playing cards. But no one has a laptop or a cell phone. There was something quite lovely about that.

I will definitely be looking for more books by author Pat Shewchuk and especially illustrator Marek Colek!

The Legend of Papa Balloon, by C.R. McClure (illustrated by Steven Kernen)

The Legend of Papa Balloon

Author: C. R. McClure

Illustrator: Steven Kernen

Publisher: Schiffer

Publication Date: March 28, 2013

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Holy clumsy allegory, Batman! This book should win an award for Most Heavy-Handed Message (all but knocking Change the World Before Bedtime out of the running). 

So there's a land in which everyone worships light, as expressed by one of four different colours of balloon. Does that make ANY sense AT ALL? No, of course not. But it's meant to be a clumsy attempt to explain different religions all worshipping the same god (i.e. The Light). Like I said, this book is THE CLUMSIEST ALLEGORY EVER. Then along comes a mysterious stranger, Papa Balloon (I know, it SOUNDS cute, because it sounds like "pop a balloon" but that joke is never even made in the book). Papa Balloon has a--gasp!--CLEAR balloon and is therefore revolutionary in this balloon-worshipping land. Everyone suddenly wants his opinion on how to live their lives and his opinion then becomes the only one that matters. People from all four colour lands follow Papa Balloon into a clear balloon utopia. 

Have I mentioned that this book is just the worst? It's the worst.

What the Snakes Wrote, by Hazel Hutchins (illustrated by Tina Holdcroft)

What the Snakes Wrote

Author: Hazel Hutchins

Illustrator: Tina Holdcroft

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication Date: February 14, 2013

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How cute is this book? If you haven't read it yet, I'll answer for you. SO CUTE!! Rufus the dog has noticed some strange things happening on his farm. The snakes are working together to spell something...but what? As Rufus tries to decode the snakes' message, the farmer is busy trying to build something to help the snakes out.

I know Hazel Hutchins from her fantastic picture books for young children (Up Dog, Up Cat, Cat Comes Too, Dog Comes Too) but I didn't realize she also wrote such great story books for preschoolers. I love that with all of her books early literacy is a strong theme, but the main focus is still on making a great book that children will love (some authors let their "lesson" get in the way of their storytelling, but not Hutchins). I'm definitely a fan.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, by Mélanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping

Author: Mélanie Watt

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Publication Date: April 1, 2013

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Oh Scaredy Squirrel! Is there a more lovable paranoid neurotic in children's literature? I love all the Scaredy Squirrel books, but I especially love the ones in which Scaredy Orville Squirrel (S.O.S.) has to go out into the wide world of germs and dangers (like Scaredy Squirrel Goes to the Beach). In Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, Scaredy is afraid of--you guessed it--camping. This is particularly hilarious considering he lives in the woods! But he's convinced that campsites will be filled with all kinds of scary things like quicksand, zippers and penguins. He'd rather watch camping shows on TV. The only problem? The electrical outlet for his television is located right in the middle of the campground.

If you haven't read the Scaredy Squirrel books, I highly recommend them. They're okay for preschoolers, but elementary-aged kids will adore them, especially the detailed "safety plans" that Scaredy makes for everything. Awesome!

Hit the jump to see some of the things Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of!

Dog Comes Too, by Hazel Hutchins (illustrated by Gosia Mosz)

Dog Comes Too

Author: Hazel Hutchins

Illustrator: Gosia Mosz

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication Date: February 7, 2013

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I love, love, love how Hazel Hutchins uses word play in her books for toddlers. Okay, it isn't really "word play" as much as it is using the same words in a variety of ways. In Dog Comes Too the words are "too" (and to, two) and "big." She reinforces the word usage by using them in different phrases on each page, each featuring the delightfully scampy dog. And it's never too young to learn the difference between "too," "two" and "to"! There are MANY teenagers who still don't seem to know!

Cat Comes Too, by Hazel Hutchins (illustrated by Gosia Mosz)

Cat Comes Too

Author: Hazel Hutchins 

Illustrator: Gosia Mosz

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication Date: February 7, 2013

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The thing I love most about Hazel Hutchins charmingly simple books for young children is that they reinforce word usage by using the same words in a variety of contexts. In Cat Comes Too, the words she features are "too" (and to, two) and "little." It's not that there are necessarily a lot of different meanings of the word, but toddlers will still enjoy recognizing its usage on each page ("too crowded, little climb," "too small, little push," "too little to get out"). I just love that a book aimed at toddlers thinks to do that!

Now if only she'd write a book for teenagers explaining "your" and "you're"!