every picture tells a story

It's scary when it
Happens. Dad is arrested
And goes to prison.

THE NIGHT DAD WENT TO JAIL: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE GOES TO JAIL by Melissa Higgins with illustrations by Wednesday Kirwan. Captsone 2011. <642>




Taking care of gramps
Requires lots of planning
Here is what to do.

HOW TO BABYSIT A GRANDPA by Judy Reagan with illustrations by Lee Wildish. Knopf, 2012. <643>




Good night laila tov
Comforting words from parents
Send kids off to sleep.

GOOD NIGHT, LAILA TOV by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by Jui Ishida. Random House, 2012. <644>




Papa works far from
Home. I cannot wait to see
Him. I miss Papa.

LET'S GO SEE PAPA by Lawrence Schimel with illustrations by Alba Marina Rivera. Groundwood 2011. <645>





Butterflies spread wings
Showing off fancy colors
Spreading pollen wide.

BUTTERFLIES by Seymour Simon. Collins 2011. <646>

earth, air, water, and other elements

SPLIT! SPLAT! by Amy Gibson with illustrations by Steve Bjorkman (Scholastic, 2012) is about something that was a rarity this past fall: rain. Lovely pattering text mimics the drops of rain and the excitement of a little girl who goes outside to play among the splits and splats. <634>



Thousands of years ago, a young boy named Kali practiced shooting his bow. One night he discovered a secret in the bow. If he held it to his lips, he could make beautiful music. KALI'S SONG by Jeanette Winter (Schwartz & Wade, 2012) celebrates the artist, the one who makes something beautiful from something that has the potential to do much harm. <635>



Oh, to be THE CLOUD SPINNER, a boy who can spin golden cloth from the clouds in the sky. THE CLOUD SPINNER by Michael Catchpool with illustrations by Alison Jay ((Knopf, 2012) fairly glows off the page as the boy's wondrous scarf catches the attention of a greedy king. Shades of Rumpelstiltskin will reverberate while reading, but this is a unique take on an oft written tale about the consequences of being greedy. <636>




Audrey Wood gives beginning readers (and some older ones, too) a lovely view of all manner of skies in BLUE SKY (Blue Sky Press, 2012). Blue sky gives way to sunset sky and dark sky and dream sky as the day progresses. Chalk illustrations provide bright colors by day and deeper colors by night. <637>

Blaikus for some picture books

Laughter plus keeping
Secrets plus sharing equals best friend
Math: never better.

THIS PLUS THAT: LIFE'S LITTLE SECRETS by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrations by Jen Corace. Harper 2011. <612>



Niceness not allowed.
This school is for naughtiness.
Unless you're clever.

SCHOOL FOR BANDITS by Hannah Shaw. Knopf 2011. <613>



Pete the cat rocks out
Ready for school and much more.
You can sing along.

PETE THE CAT ROCKING IN MY SCHOOL SHOES by Eric Litwin. Illustrations by James Dean. Harper 2011. <614>



Dogs are not allowed.
But cats make room for just one
Rewarded with kiss.

NO DOGS ALLOWED by Anne Davis. Harper 2011. <615>