Archive for the ‘Picture Book’ Category

Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

dountoottersIf you are looking for a refreshing and comical way to introduce the golden rule to the children in your life, then you will not want to miss the 2010 California Young Reader Medal nominee Do Unto Otters – A Book About Manners. It is written and illustrated by Laurie Keller, author of classics such as Grandpa Gazillion’s Number Yard and Open Wide: Tooth School Inside. Laurie Keller also wrote The Scrambled States of America which is a book that is used widely in 5th grade classrooms.

The premise of the book is that Mr. Rabbit’s has new neighbors and they are otters! But he doesn’t know anything about otters. Will the otters be friendly and honest? Will they cooperate and be forgiving of others? Most importantly will they help their neighbor untangle his ears now and then? Wise Mr. Owl advises Rabbit to “just treat otters the same way you’d like them to treat you.”  The book is about Mr. Rabbit learning how to be a good friend and neighbor by simply following the Golden Rule.

Along the way, the reader learns the words for “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” in five languages: Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Pig Latin. There are many moments for comedy within the text and some fun play on words such as, “We know how to co-OTTER-ate!” and “bad hare days.”

It would be a good book for teachers to use at the beginning of the school year with their classes. It is not a religious book even though it is, of course, based on the Golden Rule.

“Do De Do Unto Otters as You Would have them Do De Do Unto You”.

GENRE: Picture Book

Link here for Readers’ Theater

Link here for discussion guide.

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A Frog Thing

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

frogthingA 2010 California Young reader Nominee, A Frog Thing by Eric Drachman is the sweetest tale of a frog named Frank who wasn’t satisfied just doing ordinary frog things. He wanted to fly, but he was a frog and frogs can’t fly.

Follow along as Frank jumps and runs and leaps and dives until he finally finds his place in the pond.

When Frank rescues a baby bird that falls into the pond, its mother is so grateful and admiring of Frank’s swimming skills that she takes him for the ride of his life. Frank clings to a twig as the bird and one of her friends lift it and him into the air to glide, swoop, and dive high above his pond.

“When their flight was finished, the mother bird pulled Frank close.  ‘You are a very special frog,’ she said, and with a whoosh of her wings, flew back to her nest.”

The companion CD will transport listeners into Frank’s world with sound effects and wonderful performances by children and adults, while the delicate illustrations by James Muscarello, rendered in gouache, colored pencil, and pastels show a frog in motion with dreamy accuracy.

I really appreciated the message found in this children’s book of capturing the balance between shooting for your dreams, while at the same time understanding your gifts and limitations.

“Frank had wanted to fly.
But he was a frog.
And frogs can’t fly…
But they sure can swim!”

This stands as my favorite of author Drachman’s books and should be enjoyed by the children in your life.  Appropriate for ages preschool on up to second grade.

GENRE: Picture Book

Link here for Classroom Resources
Enjoy Reader’s Theater script for A Frog Thing here

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The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle

Monday, December 14th, 2009


zizThe Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle is the third in a series about the Ziz by Jacqueline Jules. The Ziz made his first appearance in 2001 in The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Young Readers.  The Ziz is king of all birds, who lived long, long ago in Jewish mythology. Whenever the Ziz has a problem, he goes to Mount Sinai to seek God’s advice.

In his latest adventure, the giant yellow bird has a hard time dealing with the darkness of winter. God gives him an oil lamp, but then asks him to share it.  A task he rebels against, until he overhears a conversation in the temple.  The Maccabees are ready to rededicate the temple but there is not enough oil.  It will take 8 days to make more.

This story offers an explanation as to how God went about performing this miracle.  It is a story about sharing and that the “light” is for everyone and burns brighter when shared.

“Light! Light! A Flicker, flame, or spark. Makes my heart happy in the dark.”

Sometimes sharing with others isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world. Through the help of some unlikely small friends, a solution to the light problem is found. By sharing, his problem is solved and so is someone else’s problem. “The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle” is a very good book for children ages 4-8. It does an excellent job highlighting the menorah which is a big part of the Hanukkah holiday.

GENRE: Picture Book

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Posted in Holiday, Picture Book |
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