The Pig Scramble by Jessica Kinney, illustrated by Sarah Brannen

The Pig Scramble treated us to rich illustrations and a poignant, intelligent plot that kept my kids talking. Clarence lives on a family farm feeling overshadowed by his bigger, older brothers. He is trying to find his place on the farm.

The country fair provides this opportunity in the form of...you can guess. But even before the main event we are treated to subtleties somewhat rare in kid's books. Both author Jessica Kinney and illustrator Sarah Brannen's work to craft characters that make us wonder. Uncle Leon's workshop is drawn to a level of detail that we all found fascinating. Farm life is revealed through beautiful and detailed watercolors.

The moral is easy to identify; find your own place in the world and be yourself. I appreciated how the author treated the reader as smart enough to figiure this out instead of a paint by numbers path to the end.

10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathman

Goodnight Gorilla ranks up there with Goodnight Moon in my family.  Both give us the pleasure of retelling the story time and time again.  Even though these are simple board books there is a sense of something new to be discovered on each page.

 10 Minutes TIll Bedtime offers the same joy for us. Each page was a wonder of illustration and pacing.  We see the boy go through his usual get-ready-for-bed routine while serving as the focus for a tour group of...hamsters.  My son caught all the details of each tourist and the unique personalities so artfully carried out from scene to scene.  I didn't even notice that there we ten little tourists to find on each page and that each was numbered.  He loved finding each hamster and its accompanying mischief.

Oh, and be sure to look for the gorilla.  And then check out peggyrathman.com.

Books we're reading this week

Here's what's on our list this week.  All new except for the classic and hilarious Smelly Locker.  Stay tuned for some reviews.

Calvin Can't Fly by Jennifer Berne/Illustrated by Keith Bendis

10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathman

Smelly Locker by Alan Katz / illustrated by David Catrow

The Shipwrecked Sailor by Tamara Bower

The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer

Yo Vikings by Judith Byron Schachner

Pirate vs Pirate by Mary Quattlebaum / illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

Cookiebot! by Katie Van Camp and Lincoln Agnew

Bold graphics.  A kid with DIY skills.  A dramatic plot to capture the cookies.

That's what makes CookieBot!by Katie Van Camp and Lincoln Agnew
such a fantastic read. There is a new generation of readers who like to tinker, tear apart old VCRs and learn to solder before they can ride a two-wheeler.  Our young hero Harry is that kind of kid.  When confronted with a challenge (get the cookies) he cobbles together an invention that will save the day.  Or will it.

Van Camp and Agnew have crafted an engaging plot with modern illustrations influenced by a combination of street art and classic printmaking. 

Learn more about this series at harryandhorsie.com.

McMullan times two tonight

Happy Mother's Day! 

My daughter and I treated ourselves to to of Kate and Jim McMullan's books at bedtime.  The first selection, I Stink!, brings back memories of my oldest and his fascination with garbage trucks.  We used to follow the truck across our condo complex, watching each trash bag disappear with deep fascination.  I Stink! follows a garbage truck on its route and incudes a handy, unique section of trash related alphabet (P is for puppy poo) that is a nice change from P is for pretty or P is for pony.  The text had an urban-lyric quality that begs for sound effects and bold reading.   The illustrations are bright and formed from bold, brush strokes that align perfectly with the engaging text.

We followed I Stink! with I'm Bad! (sounds like diner at my house), also by Kate and Jm McMullen. This time we follow a T-Rex on its unsuccessful search for food. The same bold illustrations and vibrant blend humor and the dino's own voice that describe the T-Rex's characteristics in kid-friendly language.  "Did you just call me baby arms?  Long as your's pal-20 times stronger.  Think about it..." We did.

There's even a run-in with early mammals.  I won't spoil the ending that explains why this T-Rex just isn't ready to catch food.  Yet.

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

I am a total sucker for the gentle nature of a season book.  You know the ones I am thinking of - lots of rich, seasonal illustrations as the author leads us from one season to the next.

Bear enters his deep slumber as winter approaches.  Then he dreams luscious bear dreams of meadows, springtime and blueberries.  And the change of seasons.  He wakes and the world is new again.http://www.kevinhenkes.com/

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes will guide your little ones through the seasons while also easing them into slumber.  I think it would be a great book for a reluctant sleeper who wonders, "What happens when I sleep?"

Catch Mr. Henkes latest works at www.kevinhenkes.com

This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond

A silent snow fell all night long
It lay like lace along the trees.
It hatted the houses.
It capsuled the cars
in thick and sticky white.
-from This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond

It is such a joy to read a childrens' book that brings this level of writing to a quiet bedtime.  Normally I would save a winter book for the appropriate season but this one is too good to hold until November.  Words and illustration mesh perfectly, building through quiet snowfall, awakening and the euphoria that a snowy day lies at your feet with all its promise. 

My kids will never wake to a snowbound morning in our neighborhood so Ms. Bond's book gave me another opportunity to share stories of morning snowfall, closed schools, snowball fights and the absolute quiet of a wintry forest.  I hope that you will read this and do the same.