Perfect Picture Book Friday
Mouseling’s Words (Clarion Books, 2017) by Shutta Crum and illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke is a darling picture book. It’s a fresh look at an oft told story of mouse versus cat, but it’s much more than that. It’s also about leaving home, and the love of words.
Mouseling’s family has a collection of words in their nests. Aunt Tillie brings them home from the Swashbuckler Restaurant. Mouseling’s siblings have left home and his parents tell him it’s time for him to leave, but he doesn’t want to. He thinks he’s too little. He can’t leave his words. But when Aunt Tillie tells him there are more words out in the world, Mouseling determines to go.
I loved where Mouseling ends up.
See all of author Shutta Crum’s books here and read about her here.
Illustrator Ryan O’Rourke’s (no, not the baseball player) shows his books here and his bio is here.
Author: Susan Uhlig
Wordy Birdy
Perfect Picture Book Friday
Wordy Birdy (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2018) by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Dave Mottram is a funny picture book. And it reminds me so much of one of my daughters when she was three because she didn’t stop talking!
Wordy Birdy doesn’t know she has a problem. Her problem is not listening because she’s too busy talking. But an almost disaster makes her aware of how she needs to listen, and in the end she finds she likes to listen. Don’t miss reading the end flaps and see who else is excited to be in the book…
This book has been put on many “Best Book” lists that you can see on the author’s site. Tammi is a well-published picture book author (as well as a very nice lady). You can see all her books here.
I love Dave Motram’s illustrations and sense of humor. I liked his about page, too! You can see other samples of his work here.
And there’s a sequel coming out in February!
I love the expression on the cougar’s face and can’t wait to see what is in store for us in Wordy Birdy Meets Mr. CougarPants. The title alone makes me smile.
Genius is immediate, but talent takes time.
Genius is immediate
The Rudolph Effect
I know the holiday season is over, but I’m sure you remember this story. Santa’s reindeer won’t let poor Rudolph play any reindeer games. “Then one foggy Christmas eve…” those hypocrite reindeer suddenly liked Rudolph because he was useful. (Summary my own.)
I often see this theme in bully short stories in my student lessons. The picked upon main character saves the bullies, saves the day, or does something so great that now the bullies like him. Have you had that happen in real life? Me? Not so much. Neither have children. What’s that phrase? Haters will hate.
Bullies usually pick on isolated kids–the new kid, the different kid, the loner. Why is that? Because those isolated kids don’t have others to stand up for them. No support group in this situation. It’s like a pack of wolves against a lone rabbit. Scary! And because those bullies have issues of their own. Though sometimes mob mentality is in play too.
Good bully stories focus on how the main character deals with being bullied. (Without immediately going to parents or teachers. Even though we tell kids to go for help, we also know that bullies often plan retribution.)
-Some are tough and don’t react no matter what.
-Others fight back.
-Some run.
And what else?
New bully stories need to have something fresh about them.
There are lots of bully stories out there. Look at this one library’s Pinterest board of titles for young readers. Here’s a list aimed at tween and teen girls from a mighty girl. I’m sure we could find tons more.
Resources for writing about bullies:
“Advice & Tips On Creating & Writing Bullies”
“How do I write a believable, violent, and manipulative school bully?”
“Avoiding the avoid the cliched bully”
“Character Type: Bully”
Do you have other thoughts on this issue? Share them in the comments section.
I’ll keep at it stubbornly and gladly until the job is finished.