Perfect Picture Book Friday
Claudia & Moth (Viking, 2017) by Jennifer Hansen Rolli is a deceptively simple picture book.
Claudia loves butterflies. She wants to take them home. Her dad gives her a paintbox and now she gets to take butterflies home in her pictures. But then winter comes…
I don’t want to spoil the story ending by telling you more. But I love when Claudia sees the beauty of Moth.
You can read about the author/illustrator in this article and see her books here.
Perfect Picture Book Friday
I didn’t expect The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t (North-South Books, 2020) by Artie Bennett and illustrated by Dave Szalay to make me laugh out loud, but it did. Who’d have thought a true story about a loser could be so fun? And touching?
Zippy Chippy was a racehorse descended from legend racehorses, who couldn’t win a race. He even lost a 40 yard race against a human baseball player! He retired after losing 100 races, yet somehow his popularity has grown.
Definitely read the back matter after the story. It’s so fascinating.
Read the author’s amusing bio here. And read about Artie’s other books here.
You can find the illustrator’s bio here where you’ll find out he’s also an author. There are lots of sample illustrations on his home page. I like many of his other illustrations here, too.
Perfect Picture Book Friday
In a Jar (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2020) by Deborah Marcero is a delightful book of magical remembrances and friendship. And it’s about collecting, which kids love to do. I love the feel of the illustrations, too.
Llewellyn collects things in jars. These jars remind him of “all the wonderful things” he has seen and done. One evening he collects “cherry light into his jars.” (I so want to be able to do this.) And gives one jar of light to Evelyn. The two become friends and collect together. Then she moves away. “With Evelyn gone, Llewellyn’s heart felt like an empty jar.” See how he solves this.
This book reminds me a lot of Button and Bundle by Gretchen McLellan. See an interview with the author here. The two books make good companion stories.
Author/illustrator Deborah Marcero has written and/or illustrated other books. Read about them here.
Perfect Picture Book Friday
Caveboy Crush (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019) by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler is a darling picture book. I love the humor.
Neander is a cave boy who has a crush on the perfect girl. He tries to impress her, but unfortunately Neanne thinks his crushing is crazy. Until…
Well, you’ll have to read it yourself.
Author Beth Ferry has many other books which you can read about here including two new ones coming out this year. Read about her here.
Illustrator Joseph Kuefler is a writer as well. See his books here. But children’s books are his side job. Read more here.
Perfect Picture Book Friday
You know a book is good when you keep thinking about it. A Day So Gray (Clarion Books, 2019) by Marie Lamba and illustrated by Alea Marley is so appealing. It’s a day brightening book.
One little girl says, “this day is so gray” and her friend disagrees. She explains the other colors she sees. Through “blah brown,” “boring snow,” “bad luck black cat” and “I don’t like orange,” the first girl is convinced to see more.
Marie is an author and an agent (and a really nice person). You can read about her here and read about her books here. And if you want to know about her agenting, go here.
I love illustrator Alea Marley’s work–and not just in this book. Look at some of her other projects here. And read about her here where you’ll see she has lots of upcoming books.
