Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
And here is my second favorite picture book of 2009: All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Caldecott Honor medalist Marla Frazee. The words of All the World are a poem about the earth which everyone shares. The illustrations are those of multi-cultural faces, in multi-cultural places, experiencing universal emotions and activities. Witness the beauty of nature, and the comfort of things we all do: eat, grow, travel, relax. “Hope and peace and love and trust. All the world is all of us.” I find this book to be a soothing meditation, well suited to the child curious as to how they figure into this big, whirling, planet that countless people call home. See this book listed in our catalog
Bedtime
Bedtime in the Jungle
Submitted by Tammy, driver of the WoW van!
Bedtime in the Jungle by John Butler. The sun is starting to set in the jungle as bedtime approaches for the baby animals. The daylight in the background gradually disappears on each page as the moon gently rises and the stars appear in the night sky. Children will be delighted as the animal mothers gather their babies close to settle them for the night. Using soft words of comfort inspired by the song “Over in the Meadow” each mother encourages her little one(s) to go to sleep. All of the animals are depicted in their natural settings, in soothing shades that are sure to calm young children and encourage them to sleep. See this book listed in our catalog
The Treasure Bath
Submitted by Melissa from Lexington Park!
The Treasure Bath, by Dan Andreasen, is an imaginative tale of a little boy who is disappointed about “bath time.” The book begins with a little boy helping his mother with baking. As you can imagine, little ones and baking can create one big mess. So, off to bath time he goes, glumly of course. Through vivid illustrations, and imagination, you will journey with the boy as he discovers a bath tub sea of interesting characters! They lead him to a map, and then a treasure chest. Inside the chest… well, you’ll just have to check out the book in order to know the rest! It’s a “giggly” twist, ending in sweet surprise! Picture books without any words have always been a personal favorite. These wordless tales encourage imaginative thinking, and allow your child to develop their own words to the story. This sort of imaginative story telling actually encourages the development of narrative skills and sequential learning. See this book listed in our catalog
Where to Sleep
Sumitted by Tammy, driver of the WoW van!
Where to Sleep by Kandy Radzinski. I think this would be a great book to read aloud before a nap or bedtime. In this book, children are taken in and around a farmhouse in search of a perfect sleeping spot for a kitten. On one page a sleeping spot is suggested only to be rejected on the next page for various reasons such as noisy, crowded, or spot already taken. The colorful, full page pictures are sure to keep a child’s attention, while the text is simple enough for beginning readers to follow. Children will enjoy sharing the reasons why they think each spot wouldn’t be a good choice, and will be delighted to see where the kitten finally finds to rest.
Moonpowder
Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Moonpowder by John Rocco. Eli Treebuckle likes to fix things, and as we quickly find out he also fancies himself an inventor. He has just fixed the radio, and is listening to it when his mother tells him it’s time for bed. “Sweet dreams” she tells him, however, Eli hasn’t had “sweet” dreams for months. His dreams are more like nightmares. Mr. Moon pays him a visit that night and takes him on a strange and wonderful adventure to the Moonpowder factory. Mr Moon tells Eli that moonpowder is a “magical marvel, a masterful miracle, a mystical masterpiece……”
Moonpowder, it turns out, is the essence that makes sweet dreams. So, Mr. Moon flies Eli off to the factory where his fixing services are required, and he flies him in a life size helio-rocket copter, the very thing that Eli himself has designed and is in the process of building! While at the factory, Eli has a nightmarish episode inside Mother Nature’s closet. This is a beautifully written and illustrated story with shades of Roald Dahl.
The Monster at the End of this Book
Submitted by Jill from Leonardtown!
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone. Grover, the blue Sesame Street monster, is eager to read this classic Little Golden Book with you, until he reads the title page–and realizes that there will be a MONSTER at the end of this book! And Grover is so SCARED of monsters! Our furry blue friend will spend the next 18 pages trying to prevent you from turning any more pages, and therefore bringing us closer to the end of the book (and the MONSTER)! He tries securing the pages with tape, string, and strong brick walls, but when you reach the next-to-last page, poor Grover is reduced to begging and pleading. Will you turn the final page and face the MONSTER at the end of this book?