Mimi and Lulu: Three Sweet Stories, One Forever Friendship by Charise Mericle Harper
In the same three story style as Dog and Bear, Harper tells short stories about two friends. Like Dog and Bear, there is the clever, caring friend (Bear and Lulu) and the care-free, more ego-centric friend (Dog and Mimi).
While Harper’s story telling (easily recognized themes with short and sweet execution) is excellent, just as Seeger’s is excellent, there is something about Harper’s illustrations that turn me off. What animals are they, anyway?
I can’t wait to see how the kids react. I used to think David Shannon’s illustrations were odd but his books are now among my favorites after seeing the kids enjoy them.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (August 25, 2009)
Dog and Bear: Three to Go by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
I was greatly anticipating this book and I was not disappointed in its content! Dog and Bear are back and just as funny and cute as ever.
In the first story “Uh-Oh,” Dog uses an old-time tooth-pulling remedy to remove a bucket stuck on Bear’s head, only to launch the bucket into the air and firmly onto his own head.
In “Opps,” Dog is having fun jumping on a bed. It is Bear’s foresight and caring that leads to a happy, rather than tragic, ending for the care-free adventurous Dog.
And finally, “Alphabetical Order” is a great story to introduce the little ones to letters and arrangement.
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (September 1, 2009)
Stretch by Doreen Cronin
Along the lines of Wiggle and Bounce, Cronin’s Stretch is a book that begs for movement. You can also use this book with My Daddy is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Children by Baron Baptiste and Boing by Nick Bruel for an exercise themed preschool story time. I know I love to whip out these titles when summer is nearing and the kids have ants in their pants, itching to play.
You can plan a program around just this title. Encourage kids to bring their swimming boards or a pilates mat so they can “stretch underwater…stretch on a wave.” Use bubble gum to stretch your lungs to take a breath, then blow out. Then you can group stretch!
Dog and Bear 3 by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
I was just over at Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s page and saw this - Dog and Bear: Three to Get Ready. Being a huge fan of all her pictures books (but especially Dog and Bear), I am delighted to see book three! Can’t wait to get me hands on it to read to my nephew. It is a Neal Porter Book/Roaring Brook Press book with a release date sometime in Fall 2009. Yeah!
Read It, Don’t Eat It by Ian Schoenherr
You are holding a book. What should you do with it? Open it, and you will find out.
Ideal for introducing per-schoolers to book etiquette with humor. “Borrow, don’t steal. Try not to squeal.” Crisp illustrations and text that covers it all! This will make outreach to the local pre-K’s that much easier.
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Tom and Amanda Ellery
Poor little Morton is stuck way out in the outfield. No one hits the ball all the way out there! Like any little boy stuck in the outfield with only the gnats for company, he begins to daydream.
He images he would have more fun as a variety of different jungle animals only to realize there are dangers inthe jungle for each of those animals… until he is called back to reality by a fly ball.
Fun and silly with great illustrations, I can’t wait to use this one for storytime.
Say Hello by Jack and Michael Foreman
You can see from the cover illustration that this is one of those picture books that tackles a difficult childhood issue, in this case, loneliness as a result of exclusion.
First a dog (all alone), then a boy (left out, no fun) join a group of children playing a game of baseball.
Another book with minimal artwork but that delivers its message. First the dog then the boy are isolated (even by the binding) from the gathered children. I really felt terrible when the little boy said, “I wouldn’t do this to anyone.” The author encourages the reader, “When someone feeling left out, low, it doesn’t take much to say … Hello!”
Posy by Linda Newbery and Catherine Rayner
Posy is a wiskers wiper, a crayon swiper… a playful wrangler and knitting tangler, among other things. I adore the crisp yet fuzzy illustrations (Can you tell I don’t have an art background? I just know what I like!) though some of the text is awkward (tomcat fearer, disappearer). I can’t wait to use this during our Good Morning Stories. Whoopie for adventurous kitties 
Good Luck, Bear by Greg Foley
I’ve recently begun using Greg Foley’s picture books during my story times and they are a hit! I didn’t discover the delightful bear stories until I stumbled upon Good Luck, Bear while looking for St. Patrick’s Day books.
Simply written, this compassionate bear and sagacious mouse duo are a delight.
His first picture book, Thank you, Bear won the Charlotte Zolotow Award in 2008. The sequel, Don’t worry, Bear was a highly recommended book in 2009.
Read an interview with Foley before Thank you, Bear at cool hunting and after being published at School Library Journal.
Youth Media Awards… What?!
January 26, 2009 at 7:30 pm (Book Discussion, Book Reviews, Commentary) (ala, Caldecott, children's literature, newberry award, picture books)
And the Caldecott. What were they thinking there? After last year’s inspired pick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I can’t help but feel this years was just… adequate. I thought there were several books much better than their top (and even Honor) choices: Abe’s Honest Words was my favorite. But I admit, I am ill qualified to judge illustrations. I am confident in my understanding and cricisms of literature and Savvy was poor choice indeed.
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