The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

by Deborah Diesen
illustrated by Dan Hanna

published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Sept 2015

Ages 3-6


Ever since we first encountered Mr.Fish with his fish face stuck in a permanent pout, spreading  dreary-wearies all over the place, we've been a big fan.

And, boy was I thrilled when Ms. Diesen stopped by and left me a comment on that post!

The very first book, The Pout-Pout Fish, with its perfect beat and rhythm, is an all-time favorite for read-aloud sessions. After The Pout-Pout Fish and the Big, Big Dark, and The Pout-Pout Fish Goes To School, the duo is back with some holiday spirit in, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.

While it might be near-impossible to recreate the magic of the first book for authors in any genre, it is even tougher in picture books. But, Ms. Diesen and Mr. Hanna have worked very hard to capture the beauty of Mr. Fish's endearing nature yet again.

Mr. Fish makes his Gift list and is all set to go shopping for his friends. He wants to get the best and latest gifts with "bling-zing" as nothing less would do. When circumstances arrange themselves to frustrate and disappoint him regarding finding the very gifts "guaranteed to bring delight", Ms. Shimmer comes along and shows him that making gifts for friends "with his very own fins" is just the thing to do to spread the joys of the season.

The seven-year old's favorite is Manta Claus, and his sleigh pulled by sea horses, of course. Cute and clever details like that tucked into every page provide hours of fun for the little ones to discover and giggle over. Although Mr. Fish's shopping dilemma may resonate more with adults than kids, the gentle reminder that hand-made holidays are what it is all about brings a sense of peace and calmness to the young readers.

I am very happy to be part of the Blog Tour for The Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.

View Inside the Book at US MacMillan

Learn More at  www.poutpoutfish.com


Interview with author, Ms. Diesen:

How did you come up with the original Pout-Pout fish book in 2008?

The story grew out of an actual pout!  One day many, many years ago, when my elder son was a preschooler, he was having a very grouchy afternoon.  Hoping to amuse him, I made an exaggerated pouty face at him.  He smiled and then pouted right back, which got us both laughing.  “We look like fish,” I said.  “Like pout-pout fish!”  As soon as I said that out loud, it became a story idea.  I jotted the idea down and I started writing The Pout-Pout Fish that same day.  Years later, I started sending the story to publishers, and in 2005 it was accepted at Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers.  The book was published in 2008 and began a series of stories, all featuring Mr. Fish, his friends, and their adventures. Since the first book, we’ve seen Mr. Fish go to school, learn to smile, face the dark, discover how to dream and play hide-and-seek.

What do kids (and their parents) love most about the series? 

I think one of the things that makes Mr. Fish an appealing character for many kids and parents is that kids and parents alike can identify with his experiences.  Toddlers sometimes pout; so do adults!  Preschoolers have things they’re scared of; so do adults!  Kindergartners get nervous about starting something new; so do adults!  Mr. Fish’s experiences provide a way for kids and grown-ups to explore those issues together.  In addition, the stories have rhyme, repetition, and wordplay, which are fun in a read-aloud book.  And Dan Hanna’s illustrations!  They’re fantastic.  They truly bring the stories to life.

What is Mr. Fish up to now? Does he have a case of the “dreary wearies” in the latest book, too?

Mr. Fish’s newest adventure is called The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.  In it, Mr. Fish is in a bit of a holiday panic, searching for perfect gifts for all of his friends.  His shopping trip is unsuccessful, and Mr. Fish is sure that he’s let all of his friends down.  But his friend Miss Shimmer reminds him that the best gifts of all come straight from the heart, and she helps him craft simple and meaningful presents to bring to the holiday party.  His friends are delighted with their presents, and together everyone celebrates peace, joy, and love – what a very merry gift!

What do you hope young readers (ages 3-6) will learn from The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish? Is there a message here for grown-ups as well? 

I hope that Mr. Fish’s latest tale will help children to realize that presents don’t need to be expensive or complicated or splashy.  Simple, heartfelt presents that connect us to one another are the best gifts of all.  A drawing; a craft project; time spent together; even just a smile!  These sorts of gifts are the most cherished and the most enduring.  It’s a lesson we grown-ups have to re-learn periodically as well.

Do you have any tips for parents of toddlers about the joy of giving presents, rather than just receiving them, this holiday season?

Kids love to give presents, and they especially love having an active role in the process of creating the presents.  Try a craft idea or project that’s extremely simple and stress-free, and then let your child have at it with a minimum of help.  The more messy, lopsided, and imperfect the results the better!  Have fun with the process, and as you do you’ll create not just gifts but memories as well.

How do you and the illustrator, Dan Hanna, work together on the books? (Are there any special stories about the illustrations on Not-Very-Merry that you can share?) 

I absolutely adore Dan’s art, and I credit it as the reason for the success of the series.  We work independently of one another during the creation of the books.  I work with our editor on the stories; then, when a story is finished and ready, she passes it along to Dan.  Dan moves through the art creation process, from sketches to finished product, working with our editor and with the art director.  I do see some of the steps along the way, but during the illustration process the author’s most important task is to stay out of the way!  And that’s for the best, because it allows the artist to bring the story to life in the way only an artist can.  Dan brings a thousand times more to the illustrations than I could ever begin to imagine – the characters and their expressions; the settings and their details; and all the funny and quirky extras.  For instance, in The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, one of the spreads shows a store full of what I describe in the text as shiny trinkets and handy gadgets.  Dan took that description and brought it alive by imagining, drawing, and labeling shelf after shelf in the gift shop with hilarious and unique sea gifts.  His creativity is amazing.  I feel very grateful and happy to get to make books with Dan!

Any future plans for Mr. Fish? What adventures can we expect to see him in next? 

Mr. Fish has a new mini-adventure coming out later this year called Kiss-Kiss, Pout-Pout Fish.  This mini-adventure, like the previous mini-adventures Smile, Pout-Pout Fish and Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish, is a very short board book with just a few words per page, meant for babies and young toddlers. In spring 2016, there will be a touch-and-feel alphabet book and a sticker book.  Another mini-adventure, called Trick or Treat, Pout-Pout Fish, will arrive later in 2016.  And in 2017, Mr. Fish will be in a new full-length hardcover called The Pout-Pout Fish, Far, Far From Home.  He stays pretty busy these days!  But he’s enjoying all of his adventures. As am I!



Interview with illustrator, Mr. Hanna:

How long have you been illustrating the Pout-Pout Fish books? What inspired your depiction of the main character, Mr. Fish?

I started illustrating the first book in early 2007 and so it's been about 8 or 9 years now.  About 15 years ago I was scuba diving in Fiji.  There was a huge rusting hulk of a shipwreck about 80 feet down.  At the end of a pole extending above the deck was a small metal basket.  Resting in that basket was a pudgy fish about the size of my fist.  I swam up and looked right into his eyes and he looked right back with a deep, gloomy frown.  Years later, when I received the manuscript for The Pout-Pout Fish, that memory bubbled up.  I realized, at that moment, that Mr. Fish was an actual fish, living on the other side of the world, 80 feet down on a shipwreck.

When there’s a new Pout-Pout story to illustrate, how do you collaborate with author Deborah Diesen?

It may seem odd but I don't communicate with Debbie regarding the illustrations.  I work with are the Editor (Janine O'Malley) and Art Director (Roberta Pressel).  When I initially receive a manuscript I'm given complete freedom to break it down into pages and to illustrate it however I think best.  After I complete the first dummy (a mock-up of the book) I send it to Janine and Roberta.  That begins a long series of feedback and changes until we get to a version that we're all happy with.  At that point I begin the final art that will eventually be delivered to make the book.

What has been your favorite Pout-Pout book to illustrate? Why?

The first book!  Nothing can compare to getting your first book published.  Its success paved the way for all the others.  The original book was the first for both Debbie and me and that made it extra special.Usually a publisher will team up a first timer with someone who has experience.  Fortunately, FSG took achance on two rookies.

What medium do you use to make the illustrations? What’s your favorite to work with? Tell us about your creative process.

I use the PPPPP approach: Paper, Pencils, Pens, Paint and Photoshop. My favorite is just pencil and paper.  When I start a new book I like to visit a variety of coffee shops in my area.  I let my caffeinated mind roam, scribbling out ideas and laughing to myself.  If a sketch doesn't make me laugh then it usually doesn't make the cut.

What illustration in The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish did you have the most fun creating?

I especially like the one where Mr. Fish imagines giving Ms. Clam the robot body.  She just looks so happy and empowered. The items in the shop and the gifts Mr. Fish imagines in this story are so detailed and quirky.

How did you come up with them? Did you have a specific inspiration?

For the imagined gifts, I drew on my own experience as a kid where I would dream up magnificent presents for my family and friends.  Eventually, as with Mr. Fish, I would have to confront reality and drastically scale back my plans. The shop items are based on all the goofy stuff you can find on the shelves of some of the more interesting gift shops.

Of all the items that the Pout-Pout fish dreams up (robot, spaceship, submarine etc.), which one would you love to get this Christmas?

The Submarine!  When I was a kid there was an ad in the back of a comic book for a submarine.  The ad went something like this:
"Delux Submarine!  Life Size!  Torpedo Tubes!  Absolutely NO Cardboard Parts!  Only $10!! I saved up the money and sent away for it.   As I waited for it to be delivered my dreams were filled with visions of underwater adventure.  Eventually it arrived and sank my dreams into the abyss.  It was just a cardboard box with torpedo tubes made from toilet roll tubes.  It was even more depressing than the SeaMonkeys and X-Ray Glasses.

What do you think was your most valuable childhood experience?

Being bored.  I firmly believe that having enough free time to sit around and be bored is very important for the development of a healthy imagination. What kinds of things inspire you to work?I'm primarily motivated by death.  When I contemplate my eventual demise it scares me into action.  Although what really gets me going — is death and a cup of coffee.

What do you want the students to get out of your school visits?

That being a writer or illustrator is like being a wizard.  Your magic wand is a pencil.  Your potions are words and scribbles.  And the spells you cast will be the stories you write and the pictures you draw.  So pick up a pencil and make some magic happen!

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

Initially I let my imagination run wild.  Then I knock it out with a tranquilizer dart while I do some research.  Finally, my groggy imagination re-awakes, snarls angrily and then runs wild again.  I've found that this approach works best for me.

Do you have any advice for aspiring picture book illustrators?

Buy one thousand parrots and place them in a room with a looped recording saying something like: "Dan Hanna can sure draw fish!" Then release the parrots, using a helicopter, over each of the major publishing houses. When the editors leave for lunch they'll hear the parrots in the trees screeching "Aaaaccck, Dan Hanna can sure draw fish!" Now I know this scheme seems rather elaborate, but it worked for me.

How did it feel to have your first book (and author Deborah Diesen's first book) become so successful?

It feels like a hot air balloon ride.  But not like one of those rides where the basket catches on fire or the balloon hits a power line or something.

What do you think will be the ultimate fate of your work?

Five billion years from now, when our sun has blown up and the Earth is a smoldering chunk of charcoal, humanity will hopefully have escaped to another planet.  Perhaps, packed away in one of the zillions of moving boxes will be an old, dusty copy of "The Pout-Pout Fish".  Maybe then, some remnant of my wandering soul will smile as a genetically enhanced child stumbles across it and cracks open its ancient spine.

www.BlueBellyLizard.com
www.DanHanna.com


[Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book, but the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.]

Black Cowboys

Black Cowboys

text by Kyla Ryman
photographs by Andrea Robbins and Max Becher



Photo books can be tricky, especially photo board books meant for the very young. To correlate the text with the image, and remove any ambiguity so the young mind can make the appropriate connections is not an easy job. Typically, photographs focus on one thing at a time and the text artfully highlights that same thing, drawing the reader's attention to that particular aspect without distractions. Not all books manage to do it well, sadly.

Black Cowboys is a photo board book that digs into American history to bring an almost-forgotten culture. The book has engaging photos of black cowboys and cowgirls doing what cowboys and cowgirls do. About a third of cowboys in the Wild West were black but are not featured prominently in books, movies, and television even though the culture is still thriving today.

The first page shows a photo of two black cowboys in the foreground wearing identical red shirts and cowboy hats and jeans. Background includes another cowboy and cowgirl on a wagon, plus another non-black cowboy in the very back of the wagon. The caption reads "Circle 44 Riding Club, Bruno's Arena, Houston, Texas." The accompanying text on a stark white background simply states, "These cowboys are wearing red shirts."

We go on to see cowboys laughing, cowgirls wearing black shirts, a cowboy on a bull and a cowboy off a bull so on. The photo accompanying the text, "This cowboy is off the bull" was a bit fierce as it shows an irate bull almost stomping down a fallen cowboy. All part of the Rodeo game, as we adults know. And it perhaps serves as an entry point for discussion with the children about rodeo culture. But, as a board book for toddlers, the book has very little to offer.

Although sturdy board books are traditionally for the very young, Black Cowboys can appeal to older children as a way to explore the culture and promote further thought and discussion.

[View inside pages at Home Grown Books]

[Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book but the opinions expressed here are my own]

Ten Picture Books with Spare Words for the Very Young

Picture books are still exerting their magic in our household, partly because I insist on bringing home a dozen every week from the library. It's a hit-or-miss these days -- some picture books are clever and interesting enough to warrant repeat reads, some are too blasé.

Now that kids have moved on to more engaging pursuits, reading-wise or otherwise, it is fun to see which picture books still appeal to them.



Shh! We Have A Plan 

Little Owl Lost
By Chris Haughton

The illustrations take center stage in Mr. Haughton's books, with stark, minimal text (just about 100 words) conveying everything that needs to be conveyed, and more!

Be it the deep blue and purple hues of the night in Shh! We have a Plan, or the earthy olives and fuchsias and oranges in Little Owl Lost, the pages are a treat to behold.

Little Owl Lost is incredibly cute with its catchy refrain and simple language that flows smoothly enough for the 2 and 3 year olds to enjoy. Little Owl has fallen off its nest and is looking for its mother. Big eyes, pointy ears, and a big body (bigger than Little Owl's at least) does not a Mommy Owl make.

In Shhh! We Have a Plan, four friends go to the forest to catch a bird. Of course, the littlest of the four is the smartest of them, which we gather as the story unfolds. He tries to greet the bird rather than capture it. A subtle lesson in kindness is woven in without overwhelming the young readers.

The making of A Bit Lost/Little Owl Lost and Shh! We Have a Plan are certainly enlightening. The thought and effort that went into each of these books is staggering.


Froodle 

by Antoinette Portis

After This is Not a Box and This is Not a Stick, it is hard to think of anything that could be better, but Ms. Portis has done it again. With spare words and delightful illustrations, the book is a wonderful read for the 2 to 3 year olds.

A little brown bird is tired of singing the same old song. We all know the familiar bird calls. Caw. Coo. Chip. Peep. And those four are the only words that the birds say. All birds, except, our little brown bird, who is tired of singing her assigned birdsong. So, she starts a trend of saying the most bizarre things. Slowly other birds follow suit. All except Crow who steadfastly sticks to his Caw. Does he get adventurous? What is Crow's new song?

Stick and Stone 

by Beth Ferry
illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

The illustrations captured the kid, even if the story was quite simplistic.

It's all about how the genial-looking roundish rock, aka Stone, and comical lonely branch, aka Stick, meet and become friends and help each other out.

Spare words and relatable situation makes it perfect for younger kids.

A Perfectly Messed-up Story

by Patrick McDonnell

Interactive books , like Press Here by Hervé Tullet, invite the young readers to respond to the book in a specific way. It might work, it might fail, depends on the kid willingly participating.

Much like Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite by Nick Bromley illustrated by  Nicola O'Byrne, little Louie in this book can't seem to have things just so. Perfection eludes his story. In the end, he realizes his story is just right, imperfections and all.



The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

By Dan Santat

The idea that a friend from the imaginary world awaits to be picked and paired with the imaginer (it's a word, as of now!) is interesting. The story itself was rather uneventful, not much to get the kid excited enough for a repeat read, but it was refreshing enough to enjoy the first and only read.


Flashlight

By Lizi Boyd

The illustrations needed no words, the book is a perfect bedtime companion.

Wordless for the most part, the book capitalizes on nocturnal goings-on in a verdant environment where curious critters go about their business until our protagonist shows up.

What's in the dark is just as interesting as what's in the beam of light. With just a few tools, the protagonist is exploring with the curiousness only a kid can muster.

The twist at the end, plus the details tucked into each page, kept the 7 year old reading the book a few times to catch it all.


I Don't Want to Be A Frog

by Dev Petty
illustrated by Mike Boldt

A little frog doesn't want to be a frog because he doesn't like the frog-like things he is supposed to like. He doesn't like being wet, so he wants to be a cat who we all know can't stand getting wet.  He wants to be a rabbit because he can hop... and so it goes.

Each time, the parent shoots the idea down by simply reasoning that, "you are a frog." And the little frog simply does not like being a wet, slimy thing.

However, as is the only way such stories can end, frog ends up being happy because he is not wolf-food as wolves don't prefer wet, slimy things.


This Is Not My Hat

By Jon Klassen

Klassen's unique brand of humor and style of illustrations are sublime, where the reader is in on the joke, and the characters have these perfect eyes that convey so much despite their deadpan expressions. However, this book was a bit of a disappointment in terms of content/story.

A little fish steals a hat from a big fish and tells us about it at the beginning, confident that he won't get caught. Of course, he gets caught in the end, but it is not transparent. Sometimes, open-ended stories allow the kids to imagine their favorite ending. But, this was too ambiguous and yet a bit too limited.

Did the big fish eat the little fish and get the hat back? Why did the little fish steal in the first place? Why couldn't he have just asked to borrow that hat if he liked it so much? Why was he sure he won't get caught? These were some things that bothered the kid...


The Book With No Pictures

By B. J. Novak

A bit gimmicky, and probably would not have worked if it wasn't B.J.Novak writing it, the book lacked charm and wit for me, but the kid was laughing his head off the first time he read it.

The book relies on mashing up odd combinations of words and forcing the adult to read them out loud. And sure enough, there are no pictures in this book.

Of course, every time the kid hears "Butt" or "Fart" type words or even made up sounds like "Blarg" or "Blurf" he breaks into convulsive giggles, so, not terribly hard to get him to keel over laughing.

[image source: multcolib.org]

Three Wordless Picture Books

Fox's Garden
by Princesse Camcam
published by Enchanted Lion Books (2014)

A (soon-to-be?) mommy fox wanders to the edge of the snowy forest hoping to find shelter in one of the homes bordering that area. She is chased away repeatedly by grown-ups.

A kid watches all this and notices the fox entering their greenhouse. He takes a basket of food and offers it to the fox, who is now nursing her four pups.

He goes back to his room. A nice touch here is a picture showing the drawing of a fox on the kid's wall by the bed, not to mention the vintage decor.

The fox is finally ready to move on, followed by her four pups. She leaps into the kid's room (when he is not there) and leaves a surprise garden for him right on his little rug.

When I read that Princesse Camcam (aka Camille Garoche) assembled cut-paper dioramas and lit it strategically and photographed it to make the pictures in this book, I was blown away. It looks hauntingly magical, yet softly transcendental, as the power of a simple act of kindness dawns on us.



Draw!
by  Raúl Colón
published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (2014)

A boy sits on his bed in his room, a book in hand which simply says 'Africa' with an African Elephant on the cover. A large sketchbook is by his bed. We gather he might be home sick seeing the medicine-like bottle on his night stand.

Next we see him, still on his bed, sketchbook on his lap, intently drawing. Five identical pictures of varying sizes zooming towards us alerts us to the possibility that something magical might be happening in the next pages.

Sure enough, with his easel and sketchbook and art paraphernalia, plus a canteen of water and some sandwiches, his signature safari hat on his head, the kid is in the African savanna waving to a friendly elephant.

Over the next pages, the story unfolds as the kid draws the animals he encounters, with the elephant being his friendly transport. The apes posing for him brings a smile, especially when the one sitting for the picture has the safari hat and sandwich that the kid had on the previous scene.

The exciting part is when he tries to draw the charging rhino. Then, things go a bit haywire. But all's well that ends well and we see when the kid ends up posing for the baboons with his trademark hat and a sandwich in hand.

The power of imagination is beautifully explored and presented in this wordless picture book wherein every spread is a work of art.



The Farmer and the Clown
by Marla Frazee
published by Beach Lane Books (2014)

A farmer is toiling in a desolate landscape, clearly unhappy. Along the horizon rolls a circus train from which a baby clown is ejected out. The farmer reluctantly goes to investigate. He meets the baby clown wearing a perpetual painted-on smile.

Into the muted tones of the farmer's world enters this one bright spot, all in red, even if the farmer sees it otherwise.

He grudgingly takes the baby clown home. Over the course of a day, we see them shed their outer facade and learn a bit more about each other.

When the farmer sheds his dull black overalls, he reveals a red pair of long-johns. When the baby clown washes up, we see the sadness underneath the contrived smile. This is a priceless scene where things take a turn in the story.

 The farmer does his best to amuse the and entertain the kid who simply remains unmoved but maybe a bit hopeful. The spread where the baby clown helps the farmer with his chores is delightful. They even have a picnic together. That's when they notice the circus train yonder in the horizon coming their way.

They both hurry to the train. The baby is united with his family and the farmer waves goodbye to all of them as they speed away. Just like that.

The brilliant touch is the last page where we see the farmer, feeling lonely again, is walking along and unbeknownst to him, a circus monkey follows him, finger to his lips and a twinkle in his eye, appealing to us to keep his secret.

[image source: enchanted lion books, marlafrazee.com, simonandschuster]

Picture Books: Minimal and Elegant

Some children's books like One Green Apple and Riding the Tiger by Eve Bunting, or Plant a Pocket of Prairie by Phyllis Root, or The Origami Master by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer are packed with thoughtful messages and handpicked words that perfectly convey these messages.

And then, there are a few books that are so simple in concept and yet so beautifully executed that kids and adults can each get something different from it.

Once Upon a Memory
by Nina Laden
illustrated by Renata Liwska


Does a chair remember it was once a tree?
Does the feather remember it was once a bird?

Short, crisp, lyrical text packs warmth and sentiment, while the soft-hued pictures allows us to linger and enjoy each page, each moment captured therein.

The kids tried to come up with their own - Does the fireplace brick remember it was once clay? Does my cotton shirt remember it was once a fluffy cotton boll?

Ribbit!
by Rodrigo Folgueira
illustrated by Poly Bernatene


A sweet story about friendship. A piglet squeaks a friendly, "Ribbit!" befuddling the frogs.

Throughout the whole book, when the frogs puzzle over this new visitor, all that the piglet says is, "Ribbit". This frusrtates and aggravates the frogs as they wonder if the piglet is mocking them somehow. The piglet just wants is to be friends, which takes a long time for the frogs to realize.

Never assume the worst, and always have an open mind are two ideas that sprout from this simple tale, looking at the frogs. Of course, the resident six year old wondered why the piglet just didn't come right out and say, "Hey, I just want to be friends." If the piglet could say, "Ribbit" he could have said a bit more to clarify, especially seeing all the commotion he is causing.


A Leaf Can Be . . . 

by Laura Purdie Salas
illustrated by Violeta Dabija

Minimal and elegant, with just a few rhyming words, the various uses of a leaf are showcased in this beautifully illustrated book.

A leaf can be a . . .
Shade spiller
Mouth filler
Tree topper
Rain stopper 

The younger child loved coming up with a few more uses for a leaf on his own, thanks to this book. The fact that a lowly leaf, ignored usually, and mostly unsung except during the bright pageant in fall, takes center stage and shines, makes this a wonderful read.

The bigger delight of this book is the illustrations - magical and gorgeous, simply brilliant.

I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love
by Nancy Tillman  (Author Illustrator)

Nancy Tillman has a series of wonderful books. Being a fan of her illustrations, I linger over every page in each of her books.

There are things about you quite unlike any other...
things always known by your father or mother.
So if you decide to be different one day,
no worries... I'd know you anyway.

Thus starts this wonderful book cherishing the unique things that makes each child special.

If one day we're walking and talking, just us,
when you're abracadabra, a rhinoceros...
I might be surprised, but just for a while...
I'd know it was you by your magical smile.

[image source: amazon.com]

Ant, Ant, Ant!: An Insect Chant

Trout, Trout, Trout!: A Fish Chant 

Ant, Ant, Ant!: An Insect Chant
by April Pulley Sayre
illustrated by Trip Park

Bird, Bird, Bird!: A Chirping Chant
by April Pulley Sayre
illustrated by Gary Locke


April Pulley Sayre is the author of many popular non-fiction animal picture books. Some of her books we liked are shared in the Non-fiction Animal Picture Books post. Her commitment to accuracy of facts and her talent with lyrical text makes many of her books popular with the kids, especially for read-aloud sessions.

What's not to love about American freshwater fish? Being in trout and salmon country here in the pacific northwest, the younger kid has been learning about fish and other sea creatures as and when they catch his fancy.

As the title says, it is a fish chant. The rhythm sets the pace, making it addictive after the second read.

Threespine Stickleback.
Freshwater Drum.
Lake Chub. Creek Chub.
Chum, chum, chum!

Sockeye salmon. Arctic Char.
Mooneye, Walleye,
Gar, gar, gar!

The book is filled with freshwater fish names some of which are quite silly - makes one wonder how they got their names. The illustrations capture this silliness of the names while not straying far from what the fish really look like. There is a certain wild humor woven into the pictures that my kids easily picked up on and enjoyed heartily.

At a certain level, it is possible to dismiss it as just a gimmick of listing names of fish in some enchanting order, but at another level, it is pretty clever and multi-layered for learning and read-aloud fun.

What's the point of a good formula, if there aren't more along the same lines, right? So, we came upon Ant, Ant, Ant!: An Insect Chant. Unlike some sequels that disappoint, this one is a winner again, at least with the 6 yo.

Employing a similar catchy rhythm, Ant, Ant, Ant! lists various insects,some of which I had never heard of until now. And by the third read, we get curious and start researching these new insects.

Billbug, bed bug,
bark beetle, bee
Painted lady butterfly,
flea, flea, flea!


Cockroach, Earwig.
Like them? Can't!
Firefly, Flower Fly,
Ant, Ant, Ant!

Again, Trip Park has cleverly integrated some subtle humor that kids pick up on. For example, one of the pictures shows an insect reading Trout, Trout, Trout! and a Perch leaps out of the water to make a cameo. Enough to make the resident 6 yo squeal with delight at the discovery.

While Bird, Bird, Bird! is not illustrated by Trip Park as with the other two books, it still has the same lilt and charm and eye-catching popping-out-of-the-book caricature-ish appeal.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,
picture that!
Chachalaca, Chickadee,
Chat, Chat, Chat!


Kingbird, Kingfisher,
Kinglet, Kite,
Frigatebird, my word,
what a sight!

While most of the birds were familiar to us, there were quite a handful that we enjoyed learning about.

The only thing that the 6 yo objected to: The inconsistency in title of the 3rd book! While the first one is "Trout! Trout! Trout!" - a particular fish, and the second one is "Ant! Ant! Ant!" - a particular insect, the 3rd book should have been "Chat! Chat! Chat! A Chirping Chant" --OR-- Keep the 3rd the same, and the first should have been "Fish! Fish! Fish! A Bubbling Chant" and the second should have been "Insect! Insect! Insect! A Buzzing Chant" to be in alignment with "Bird! Bird! Bird! A Chirping Chant".



[Teacher's guide for Trout, Trout, Trout!]
[image source: April Pulley Sayre website]

My First Day

My First Day
What Animlas Do on Day One
by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page


Unlike humans, many animals are born ready to move, and even care for themselves. Their survival depends on it.

Whether they plop to the ground from a few feet above or jump out of their nest into the cool water below; ride piggyback or trot along with the herd, newborn animals can do amazing things.

In their characteristic style, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page present 22 animals, focusing on the first few hours on the day they are born. The cut-paper illustrations are stunning, as always. 

Some of the  double-page spreads showcase how different the first days are for a few of the animals. For example, in one double-page spread, on the left side, the golden snub-nosed monkey says, "On my first day I went everywhere with my mother. I clung to her fur as she slept, ate, and swung through the treetops." whereas on the right side, a muntjac says, "But my mother had to leave me to look for food, I stayed very still..."

"What did you do on your first day — the day you were born?" The book asks the young reader to think about it even as it explains how some animals are born pretty helpless like humans whereas some others are on their own from the very start.

Back of the book has thumbnail pictures with a paragraph of information about each animals

[image source: npr.org]

A (Bigger and More Colorful) Tide Pool Book

There's something about tide pools that has caught the fancy of the 4 yo, thanks to a recent coast exploration, and the tide pool books we read. So much so that for Father's Day, Og made a book for Papa, rather than a card or a note.

The fascination with tidepool/tide-pool/tide pool/tidal pool continues. Last weekend, both the kids were interested in doing more tide pool related work. Books, in particular, with related art/illustrations for the book. Ana is still working on hers. Og's is done and ready to be shared. So here it is.


I love the dramatic effects of glue and chalk pastel work that the kids like to do every now and then. That's how the cover for this particular book came about. 


Oggie chose the five tidepool creatures to be represented on the cover - viz., gumboot chiton, sea anemone, mussles, sea star and limpet; and insisted on the slightly dramatic illustration of the Starfish eating the Limpet. 

The layout was Og's idea, drawing was mine. Just freehand using the regular bottle of Elmer's school glue on black construction paper, no pencil drawing. We let it dry out under the blazing sun - was ready in a couple of hours. 


Then I set Oggie loose with an array of chalk pastels. The coloring was entirely Oggie's activity, I just popped in to click pictures on and off.

As usual, he dictated the words extempore, just whatever came to his mind. My suggestions and edits were summarily rejected. And, for some reason, he wanted the title page to state what Oggie and Mama like :)


Little illustration touches are Oggie's as well. For example, the first page with six limpets  "walking" to a starfish - he drew the starfish ray at the edge of the page. Not a full blown regular starfish on the page, but, a hint of it, just one of its rays, which, as he explained, is all he can draw: "I don't know how to draw a good starfish, Mama." Also, the "sea weed field" was his idea, and he tried his best to draw sea weed on that page.

The writing and most of the illustrating was done by me, as expected. Of course, having as much patience as a lit firecracker trying not to go off, Oggie wanted the illustrations pronto, which meant I can get away with my meager skills, no worries.

All in all, a fantastic endeavor, very satisfying - not just the end product, but the whole process that engaged us a good part of a Saturday.

Of course, with his permission, I added a page with "About the author" information.

Being quirky as he is sometimes, Og wanted the counting book to start from 6 and go only up to 14. He was particular about that. While it irked my sense of order, I told myself that we can always add more pages later.


Without further ado, here are the individual pages of the book, made with the standard 9x12 construction paper. 

Creepy Creatures Books

Creepy Creatures Crickets
by Valerie Bodden

You are outside on a dark summer night.
You hear strange music that seems to come from the grass.
What could it be?
It is the sound of crickets chirping.


With close-up photographs of crickets and their predators, and direct, short sentences about size and characteristics of these insects, the book immediately appealed to me. Some pages with cut-out pictures on a stark white background served to focus our attention on the details of the creature.

And it looks like it has caught the attention of the resident 4 year old who seems to be interested in the natural world around him these days, choosing to read more non-fiction animal picture books than others.

There are half-a dozen books in this Creepy Creatures series - Centipedes, Scorpions, Mantises, Spiders, Worms that we've learnt about so far.

The last page of each book offers  "Make a..." section showing us to do something simple. Like, Centipedes book has "Make a Centipede" with instructions to make a centipede from Popsicle stick and yarn. The simplicity of it impressed me which inspired us to make one.

Crickets book offers "Make a Cricket's Song" where we are encouraged to rub a comb with a stick to "sing" like a cricket - i.e., make the sound the crickets make by rubbing one wing against the ridge on the other wing. Which Oggie did with unbridled joy.

Glossary and Read More sections along with Websites for listening to the sounds and viewing more pictures online are quite helpful to complete our study.

Four books the 4 yo enjoyed

As I was typing the list of titles here, I realized that these four books have at least one thing in common: they are each written and illustrated by the same person. Something about author-illustrated books (or illustrator-authored books) appeal to me a lot. No doubt, some brilliant collaborations have produced some amazing books but the fascination for "written and illustrated by" is rather compulsive for me.

There Are Cats in This Book 
by Viviane Schwarz

This had both the 4 and the 6 year old amused by the clever way in which it pulled in the reader to interact. The little flap-like pages with cat-shaped cutouts and such novelties had Oggie reaching for it to read by himself.

 Tiny, Moonpie and Andre are three cats who love to play, and nap. The book starts with them purring under a blanket which is just a flap-page, which when turned reveals the cats as if the blanket were pulled off of them. The cats egg the reader on to turn the page and join in their play.

Oggie's favorite? The page with a tidal wave full of fish with the cats struggling to stay afloat urging us to turn the page so they can get out of the water.

 This book turned out to be a lot of fun for the new reader in the family, with just a few words and entertaining visuals.

For some reason, the books designed for Beginner Reader like the I Can Read! books haven't really appealed to Oggie (and incidentally, they didn't appeal to Ana at that age either, a few years ago).

[image source: SmithsonianStore.com]

Stuck 
by Oliver Jeffers

We read How To Catch A Star by Jeffers and Oggie found it odd that the little boy was trying to find a star at daytime "when the stars don't come out", and was shaking his head when the boy does befriend a star just as he set out to, telling me emphatically that that is not the star he was looking for. (The little boy ends up with a Sea Star, not the Sky Star.)

Anyway, since we liked Oliver Jeffers' illustrations in that first book, we read Stuck. A boy's kite gets stuck in a tree and he tries various ways to dislodge it, all of which involve him throwing things up into the tree which in turn gets stuck until finally the kite gets loose and falls back to him.

Why does he throw things in the tree, Mama? Why can he throw the animals on the tree? And many such questions indicated how literally Oggie was taking this book.

And in the last page, the tree is shown stuck with the various things the boy threw up there to dislodge his kite, except it has something like a rocket-ship stuck in the tree whereas none of the pages earlier showed him throw that rocket up there. Baffling for a detail-oriented recently-turned-four year old, but, it did not deter him from enjoying repeat-reads anyway.

[image source: amazon.com]

I Want My Hat Back 
by Jon Klassen 

The bear has lost his hat. He looks for his hat. He finds his hat. The end. So what's all the fuss about this book? Well, one has to read it to understand all the buzz.

It took a couple of reads for Og to catch on, with me lingering longer on  relevant pages at subsequent reads without explaining.

The poker-faced expressions of the animals despite all that is going on, and the comical way in which the bear races back when he knows where he has seen his hat is priceless.

The last page is hilarious.The resident 6 yo breezed through the book and at the end couldn't help asking, "Did the bear really eat the rabbit?"

It appears so, little girl, it indeed appears so.

I loved the illustrations and the whole presentation. It is clever, comical and subtle.

[watch a video clip here]

[image source: schoollibraryjournal.com]

That's How!
 by Christoph Niemann

How does the digger work, Mama? How does the airplane fly in the sky, Papa?

For kids who wonder about how things work but are too little to pay attention to the factual explanation, this fanciful book lets them imagine how things might work.

Presented in the form of a Q&A between two kids, one asking the Q and the other saying, "Hmm... let me think" and then attempting rather far-fetched answer like Airplanes held together and operated by Chickens, Whale and Octopus propelling a Freighter, this book is by no means a serious one meant to help kids understand machines.

Of course, on every page, Oggie laughed aloud before he emphatically stated, "No, that's not really how it works, I know, Mama..." even though he doesn't quite know how they really work.

[image source: laughingsquid.com]

Runny Babbit

Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook
by Shel Silverstein

Poems have been the rage for the six year old for the good part of last year. Especially silly poems. Poems that tickle the funny bone, poems that make her repeat the words to me and ask triumphantly, "Get it, Mama? It's funny!"

So when Nana gave her the book Runny Babbit for Xmas, it was delved into immediately. The book came with an audio CD of select poems read aloud.

As the title might suggest, we had a larrel of baughs reading this book. For a wew feeks we were salking tilly - especially Ana - learning about Spoonerism.

So if you say, "Let's bead a rook
That's billy as can se,"
You're talkin' Runny Babbit talk,
Just like mim and he.


And, the book is not all about silly. It is clever and witty and heart-warming, with Silverstein's signature illustrations, making it otterly uriginal and armingly chamusing.

Published posthumously, the book certainly has a strong kid appeal, and the jaded adult in me found it challenging to read aloud without the brain auto-correcting the words in real-time.

The book had the kids exercising themselves a bit, got them saying everyday things in the Runny Babbit way that made me stop and think for a second.

Where the Sidewalk Ends was Ana's favorite Silverstein  (the only one on our bookshelf, although not the only one we've read so far) reaching for it from our bookshelf on and off. Oggie has a few favorites in that book as well these days- mainly attracted by the drawings - especially the head rolling one, The Loser.

Runny Babbit is soon becoming a top favorite to reach for and curl up with on a lazy afternoon.


[image source: amazon.com]

Two books most-read in 2011

As I was sifting through the highlights of 2011, focusing on replaying the treasured memories and weeding out the not-so-pleasant ones, I wondered if I were to zero in on one book, and only one book each, that Ana and Og enjoyed reading the most this year, what would the two books be?

And I posed this same question to my Saffron Tree family and collected a fund of responses, which I have shared in Part 1 and Part 2 at ST.

This is a fun exercise for me as I have pretty much shared the much-loved books over the whole course of the year. So, I looked in on the more recent  reads that I have not written about here and came up with the most-read-and-relished books, the most-talked-about books, the most-amusing books... well, in short, just two lovely books that they didn't tire of easily.

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein

Ages 4+

The tattered old hardbound book, full of memories and character, a hand-me-down from her dad, was the one most often chosen from the bookshelf by the six year old at bedtime. It is one of my favorites as well as I am partial to poetry.

From Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout to Unicorn, Yipiyuk to Afraid Of The Dark, Sick to Crocodile's Toothache, this book is full of the absurd, the funny, the weird, and the charming, making for a delightful and amusing read, anytime, every time, as evidenced in our house.

Poems, poems, poems! That's what the 6 yo gravitated towards in 2011.

Flap Your Wings
by P.D. Eastman

Ages 4+

Reading this book became almost an obsession with the 3.75 year old. Every night at bedtime, for about 5 weeks, among the stack of 4 books for the bedtime-read carefully chosen by the pre-schooler, was nestled this irresistible (to him at least) volume.

A little boy walks along a path; he finds an egg without a nest; he finds a nest without an egg; he promptly puts the two together. And thus stars this wonderfully rooted story with Mr. and Mrs. Bird providing the comic and the heart-warming.

While the profound concepts of the nest getting crowded and the young one learning to fly away on his own are lost on the little one, it is an equally amusing book at face-value: from the time the enormous egg hatches and we find out the "baby bird" is a crocodile till the end when "Junior" (as he is fondly called by the Birds)  desperately flaps his "wings" clumsily all the way down to the water below... and swims elegantly, feeling at home, the book entertains and provokes giggles.

[image source: amazon.com, google.com book search]

The Absent-minded Toad

The Absent-minded Toad
by Javier Rondón
illustrated by Marcela Cabrera
translated by Kathryn Corbett

Ages 2 and up

This book has been a firm favorite in our bookshelf (Thanks, Nana!) for the past three years or so and I realized I haven't shared it here.

Originally published in Spanish as El Sapo distraído, this English translation The Absent-minded Toad is pretty charming and simple with lilting text just under 200 words.

A toad, dressed for the market, armed with his list, sets out jauntily. He gets so caught up in the happenings around him that when he finally reaches back home he realizes he has not bought a single thing from his list.

What makes the book impressive for me are the gorgeous colorful illustrations. The sort of illustrations that kids at home pored over by themselves even if nobody was reading the book to them. The sort of deceptively simple and subtle yet humorous paintings that make me dream about picking up my brush and imitating the style even if I have no clue where to start.

There is a lot of action what with vendors at the busy market peddling their wares and the book manages to capture and present it all via soft but bright watercolors and mildly humorous lyrical text.

After many repeat reads over the years, with Ana and with Og, I am glad I didn't emulate the toad and completely forget to share this book here forever. This book is a keeper in our shelves.

The Songs of Wild Birds

The Songs of Wild Birds
(Book and CD)
by Lang Elliott

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Ages: 0+ (CD), All ages

Not often do I come across non-fiction books on Creatures of Nature, not targeted for children, that manage to capture and impress both the 3 and the 6 year old. And, blow me away at the same time.

Well-known sound recordist, writer and photographer Lang Elliott has exercised his magic all over us, or rather, I should say his Song Birds have.

This book and CD combination is a treasure for bird lovers, especially lovers of song birds native to North America.

The Songs of Wild Birds book has full page photos of 50 native songs birds, with one page description of each of the birds' calls and habits. That in itself might not have held the attention of the 3 year old, but the accompanying Audio CD certainly did.

With his gentle voice and unassuming tone, Lang Elliott introduces us to the world of beautiful music in nature, made by the wild song birds.

When I was young, song birds used to conjure up images of nightingales, warblers, jays, singing melodies somewhere out in the wilderness, even if I had no idea what the birds looked like other than the illustrations I had chanced upon in rare picture books.

Thanks to Ana's teacher, who pointed us to this book, both Ana and Og have actively learnt about some of the native birds, why they sing their songs, what exactly is their song, and how to identify some of the birds and their calls.

Judging by the fact that from the first week of June to-date of listening to the hour-plus CD daily in part or whole - either during commute or at bedtime, or simply for an afternoon Quiet Time, along with the book in hand turning the page to match the bird that Elliott shares in the CD - I am convinced this book sure seems magical to my 6-year old.

Especially when it came right at the heels of our own backyard wild birds study, particularly the Northern Flicker.

And, when I hear, "That looks like a Common Loon, Mama" or, "I think I heard a Red-Tailed Hawk screech, Mama" from the 3 year old when we are out in the trail nearby, I smile quietly, thanking Lang Elliott for introducing my kids to something beautiful. Even if there are no Red-tailed Hawks nearby and it was probably the call of a jay.

What is your favorite bird call? has been a frequent question at home for the past few weeks. And the kids' answer changes week to week depending on the mood. "My favorite is the Black-throated Green Warbler, Mama" says Ana, while Oggie chimes in, "My favorite is Barred Owl, Mama, he says Who Cooks For You?".

And sure enough, Lang Elliott makes it easy to remember some of the distinct sounds of these wild birds by providing a verbal/textual equivalent.

What's mine, you ask? Well, my all-time forever favorite from this book of 50 bird calls is that of the American Bittern. No contest. The sound-recording in the CD is amazing (compared to the youtube link here, I mean) - the oong-ka-choonk is so unique that it is hard to mistake it for any other call. And, the fact that the American Bittern is fondly nicknamed "thunder pumper" makes it hard to not pick this as my favorite.

The trivia that Elliott peppers the CD with did not go unnoticed. I heard Ana, on more than one occasion, state excitedly to whoever happens to pay attention at that time, that while her favorite is the Bald Eagle, its call is not. And proceed to elaborate:

"It makes a funny chirping sound. The movie people got it wrong. They play a screeching scary bird call and show the bald eagle up in the sky. It is actually the red-tailed hawk that makes that screeching sound. Red-tailed Hawks often fly near where Bald Eagles fly".

Of course, not that this in itself is not plenty, but, what made this book extra special to me is that it inspired Ana to draw these birds. She is not exactly a gifted drawing artist, although I believe drawing comes with training; but, she loves to draw, color, paint, make art, and that's what matters to me. Not the end product. At least, not at this time.

So, when she picks up the book, turns to a favorite page, and tries to draw the bird on the white board with a limited palette of markers, I wait till she is done and start clicking them before she erases that one and moves on to another one she'd like to try her hand at.

So what if her Seeder Waxwing doesn't quite look the original or her goldfinch is orange and black, right?

Lang Elliott has brought out many books along similar vein. Visit Lang Elliott's Books site for details. Along with his friends he has established a non-profit called The Music of Nature, which is, "dedicated to celebrating nature through the presentation of powerful media, especially high definition videos, sound recordings, photographs, and associated text."