3 Kids Picture Books that Teach Good Manners, Just in Time for the Holidays
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 8, 2009
Manners, manners, manners. The oh-so important skill: manners! We need them all year round but somehow they seem extra important during the holiday season. Here are a couple of books that have an encouragingly humorous take on socially acceptable behavior. I have read each one and give my complete seal of approval. I’ve included the publisher’s synopsis for your benefit, thank you!
Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance (Book 6): Annie Barrows
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 2, 2009
Ivy + Bean – Doomed to Dance (Book 6)
by Annie Barrows (Author), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 6-10
Hardcover: 122 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 14, 2009)
What to expect: Ballet, Best friends, Friendship
Hooray! I can finally say that I have read an Ivy and Bean book. And let me tell you, I thought it was fantastic.
2 Books to Ruffle Your Feathers with Ambition
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 14, 2009
“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.” ~ Louisa May Alcott (Author of the classic children’s book Little Women)
by Tammi Sauer (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Sterling (August 1, 2009)
What to expect: Talent Shows, Ability, Chickens, Domestic animals, Humor
In life, we always find groups. Groups of like-minded beings (animals and people). Groups typically stick together because of race or breed, some stick together because of shared talents. It is usually these shared talents that give us purpose and sheer enjoyment in life.
I Love You Stinky, Face & Yummiest Love
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 9, 2009
Lisa McCourt is well-known for her cheeky Stinky Face titles, but whether you have a stinky face or a snugly bear for a child, she has stories that will draw a crowd, wild or tame.
by Lisa McCourt (Author), Cyd Moore (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 0-6
Board book: 16 pages
Publisher: Scholastic (March 2004)
What to expect: Love, Animals, Parent and child, Fiction
McCourt has masterfully managed to be playful and energizing in this distinguished bedtime story. How can you put playfulness and energy into a bedtime story? By using a soothing and reassuring tone.
Mama, what if I were a big, scary ape? Would you still love me then?
“If you were a big, scary ape, I would make your birthday cake out of banana, and I would tell you, ‘I love you, my big, scary ape.’ “
A great way to wind down from a busy day of play is to smile, giggle, snuggle, and read. This book offers all of that and more. Unconditional love is one of the most important parts of developing a secure, and emotionally healthy child; I Love You, Stinky Face delivers that message loud and clear. While this is a book that both boys and girls enjoy, it will certainly strike a chord with the dudes. It’s a winner!
Add this book to your collection: I Love You, Stinky Face
by Lisa McCourt (Author), Laura J. Bryant (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 0-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (January 1, 2009)
What to expect: Love, Bears, Parent and child, Fiction
Yummiest Bear is delightfully sweet, just as its title depicts. The book beholds the wonderful magic of love that is created by the natural foundations of a parent-child relationship that strengthens on an everyday basis. McCourt’s writing is energetic without being loud, and captures regular moments and makes them all special by proclaiming a parents unconditional love. The illustrations have a gentle, angelic charm, and re-enforce the mutual admiration between parent and child. The pictures are fairly gender neutral, which makes the book work for any family combinations. I believe this book also helps parents to be able to laugh at the more mundane situations that are a part of parenting.
Like when you hate broccoli.
Then it’s your favorite.
Then you hate it.
Then it’s your favorite.”
Slightly more mellow than I Love You, Stinky Face, Yummiest Bear is a calm and expressive book for the sentimental — sure to produce sweet dreams.
Add this book to your collection: Yummiest Love
You may also like: It’s Time for School, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt, Would They Love A Lion? by Kady McDonald Denton, and Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.
Are You A Horse?: Andy Rash
Published: June 22, 2009
by Andy Rash
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (March 1, 2009)
What to expect: Animals, Horse, Comedy, Birthday party
Andy Rash’s Are You A Horse? is a very witty original, yet, perfectly reminiscent of the classic book by Dr. Suess’ protegé P.D. Eastman, Are You My Mother?. Roy receives a saddle for his birthday and we discover that he does not know what it is for. In fact, he doesn’t even know what a horse is! So the journey begins, Roy sets out to find a horse. The artwork, created using gouache and india ink on Arches watercolor paper, sets a “yee-haw” vibe and effortlessly depicts a “country and western” tone. It’s a lively adventure full of guesswork that is so absurdly obvious to preschoolers — a foolproof way of achieving fits of laughter. The ending is pertinent and priceless. Too funny!
Publisher’s synopsis: For his birthday, Roy’s Friends give him a saddle and some very specific instructions:
1. Find a horse.
2. Enjoy the ride!
But there’s a problem; Roy doesn’t know what a horse IS! So he sets off to find out with hilarious results: A snake tells him to look for a creature with legs. A crab has six legs, but he’s too unfriendly to be a horse. A chameleon smiles at Roy, but horses don’t change color… What’s a horseless cowboy to do?
Add this book to your collection: Are You A Horse?
You may also like: Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard, or Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman
Boo Hoo Bird: Jeremy Tankard
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 17, 2009
by Jeremy Tankard
Reading level: Ages 1-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (April 1, 2009)
What to expect: Birds, Animals, Boo boos, Emotion
Jeremy Tankard has certainly found the right frequency when it comes to connecting with children. Bird, the star of two fantastic picture books, is a character whose personality has been developed with brilliant accuracy to portray the honest nature of children. Bird first appeared as his cantankerous self in Grumpy Bird. He returns to us in fine form for Boo Hoo Bird. The book shares many different ideas on making boo boos feel better. Tankards wording is precise, and his illustrations have perfect comedic timing. Perceptive parents should welcome discussions at the end of this book to talk about the camaraderie between Bird and his friends and their ability to express empathy even when Bird is at his worst. Tankard delivers an excellent message of compassion. This is such a relate-able book for children, and parents will find it hilarious. It’s short, sweet, and easy to read over-and-over again–and you will have to!
Publisher’s synopsis: Bird and Raccoon are playing ball, when Bird gets bonked on the head. “Boo hoo hoo!” he cries. What will make Bird feel better? A kiss? A cookie? A bandaid? Bird’s friends Raccoon, Rabbit, Beaver, Sheep, and Fox are full of sweet and funny ideas.
Perfectly pitched and hilariously imagined, this charming story about a universal experience will put a smile on the face of every child who has suffered a boo-boo and every parent who has struggled to come up with just the right way to give comfort.
About the author: “After a childhood of drawing and writing I attended the Alberta College of Art and Design where I studied drawing and printmaking. I worked as a graphic designer and typesetter before embarking on a career in illustration. After a few years of commercial illustration I went back to storytelling and began writing and illustrating my own books.”
Add this book to your collection: Boo Hoo Bird
You may also like: Grumpy Bird and The Pout-Pout Fish
Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures: Vanita Oelschlager
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 18, 2009
Birds of a Feather: A Book of idioms and Silly Pictures: Vanita Oelschlager
by Vanita Oelschlager (Author), Robin Hegan (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-9
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Vanitabooks (April 1, 2009)
What to expect: Idioms, Humor
Birds of a Feather is a brilliant book with a purpose: to introduce children to idioms. Oelschlager and Hegan have done an excellent job of helping children understand some very absurd idioms. Each idiom is illustrated with the literal version, then the objective is to guess the “real” interpretation of the phrase. The answers are provided upside down in the corner of each double page spread. Young children are very literal thinkers and it’s hard for them to grasp abstract concepts. This book manages to show the absolute silliness that comes about from certain sentences, and gently shows children that some words, when put together, can have very different meanings. Humor, when done correctly, can be one of the most effective ways to teach a child something new — this duo have their humor “on the nose”!
Add this book to your collection: Birds of a Feather: A Book of idioms and Silly Pictures: Vanita Oelschlager
NOTE: I also enjoyed Vanita Oelschlager’s book Ivy in Bloom.
Tickle Monster: Josie Bissett
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 15, 2009
Tickle Monster (Publisher’s Choice Award 2008) (Mom’s Choice Awards)
by Josie Bissett (Author), Kevan J. Atteberry (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 2 – 7
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Compendium (August 15, 2008)
What to expect: Laughter, Joy, Tickling
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll want a piece of this book. Tickle Monster posseses the power of laughter. That’s right laughter, you know, that emotion we show through explosive vocal sounds when something makes us happy. There is no laughing on the inside when it comes to tickling, especially when the Tickle Monster is involved — we’re talking side-splitting, tear-jerking, stomach-hurting, joyful laughter!
The Tickle Monster, who comes from Planet Tickle, has one mission: to bring joy and laughter to planet Earth. Author Josie Bissett (whom you may know as Jane from the hit TV show Melrose Place) has created a wonderfully zany monster character with her fun, interactive and rhyming story. Bissett has built in the natural anticipation of a tickling affair that truly heightens this perfect playful experience. The cheerful artwork by Kevin Atteberry adds to the comical and frisky nature of this super friendly monster.
My fingers are squiggly, your piggies are wiggly.”
It is the amazing SUPER-SOFT Magical Tickle Monster Mitts (sold separately) that truly complete this book — they have to be one of the softest things around. The best part is their ingenious design, your fingers are left free to turn the pages and, of course, do some serious tickling!! Laughter is one of the most contagious forms of communication. This book holds the key to having a wonderful bonding and delightful story-time experience. Really fun!
Add this book to your collection: Tickle Monster
Add the Magical Tickle Monster Mitts to your collection: Tickle Monster Mitts
My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life: Kate Feiffer
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 10, 2009
My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life
by Kate Feiffer (Author), Diane Goode (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (March 24, 2009)
What to expect: Mother and daughter relationships, Father and daughter relationships, Humor
Oh, the humor! My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life essentially defines the quintessential spirit of parent-child relationships. It’s a picture book that even adults will appreciate reading to themselves — giving it to your own mother would certainly be a way to show her that you appreciate her, now, even if you couldn’t show it as a child.
Everyone likes her.
She looks nice.
She bakes great cookies and makes me feel better when I have a bad day.
But
would a really nice mom do embarrassing things like kiss me in public
and tell loud jokes that no one thinks are funny? Well, my mom does
those terrible things and worse – that’s why I am sure that I
have the most embarrassing mom in the world and that my mom is trying
to ruin my life…
Or is she?
Guess what? It turns out that Dad is also trying to ruin his daughter’s life. He makes her do her homework (gasp), and worst (hold your breath) … clean her room — sacrilege. Poor Dad ends up in jail, too. But wait a minute … who will make dinner, who will read a bed-time story? Perhaps parents are pretty favorable after all. I am not going to tell you the ending, but I am going to tell you that Kate Feiffer, with her pitch-perfect writing skills, and Diane Goode, whose artwork corresponds flawlessley, have got this book SO right! I urge you to check-it-out.
Come to the Castle: A Visit to a Castle in Thirteenth-Century England
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 24, 2009
Come to the Castle: A Visit to a Castle in Thirteenth-Century England
by Linda Ashman (author), S.D. Schindler (illustrator)
Reading Level: 3-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Flash Point (April 14, 2009)
What to expect: Medieval times, Castles, Rhyme, Humor
Do you have a lord or lady of the house that would enjoy taking a look at what it’s like living in a castle during medieval times? Using good natured humor and rhyme, Linda Ashman gives us a taste of the middle ages from many different perspectives. We hear from the Earl, Steward, Herald, Lady, Cook, Cleaning Servant, Gong Farmer (who has the worst job), Knight, Suitor, Daughter, Jester and Doctor. Each character has a clear voice of their own — you can almost hear it — to tell their story of life as they see it. On the last page Ashman has provided informative descriptions about the roles of each of the above characters. As each character tells his or her story, a lively tale of a 13th-century banquet unfolds. And just as it says in the inside jacket cover, “life in the castle isn’t always as elegant as you might think.”
Some words from the Jester as the banquet begins and excitement sets in … and right before the silverware goes flying:
“The trumpets sound! The guests sit down.
The grand procession starts.
Servants carry platters piled with meat and pies and tarts.”
I found this book very enjoyable. That’s a bonus when you learn something too!
Add this book to your collection: Come to the Castle: A Visit to a Castle in Thirteenth-Century England
