by Michael Buckley, illustrated by Dan Santat
Young
Kel Gilligan is out to show the world that he can overcome terrifying
obstacles like trying new foods, using the potty, and -horror of
horrors- taking a bath. Kel Gilligan is not afraid of anything! Except,
maybe, that monster under the bed... Dan Santat's illustrations capture
the astonishment of Kel's family while posing Kel in dynamic superhero
poses. A laugh out loud book for anyone who's had to face the obstacles
of childhood, Kel Gilligan will have the whole family gearing up for
their own daredevil stunts- like waiting very patiently for your turn to
read this book!
Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
Simon & Schuster, February 19, 2013
Baseball is often called the great American pastime, but it's also popular in Japan. In Take Me Out to the Yakyu,
Aaron Meshon looks at the similarities and differences between baseball
games in the United States and Japan. The games are presented in
parallel narratives, the child narrator introducing young readers to a
handful of Japanese words as well as making a cultural comparison. Aaron
Meshon's illustration style combines the the quirky gouache work of
Giselle Potter with (the currently popular) 50s and 60s retro, plus a
touch of Japanese cute. For those interested in more information,
backmatter includes a glossary and additional facts. As someone who's
not a baseball fan, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this book. Young
baseball enthusiasts will gobble it up.
Again! by Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster, April 23, 2013
There's a hole burned in the back of this book, but you have to read to
find out why. A little dragon wants his favorite book read again and
again and again before bed. His parent, of course, falls asleep before
the book has been read enough times. So little dragon, turning red with
anger, lets loose...causing a little damage to his favorite book (and
yours). Emily Gravett has created a dynamic picturebook in which the
characters break from the page. Again! is sure to have young readers calling "read it again!"
Bluebird by Bob Staake
Schwartz & Wade, Random House, April 9, 2013
In Bluebird, Bob Staake tells a story of loss, friendship, pain,
and beauty. A young boy befriends a bluebird. They find ways to
experience the world together until the unthinkable happens. Using a
very limited palette of greys, white, and blues, Staake captures a
range of emotions, from friendship to pain, to the release of
flight.Bluebird is a moving wordless picture book that proves sometimes,
words only get in the way of a good story.
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
First Second, April 2, 2013
I've
been following Lucy Knisley's blog for years and was excited when she
mentioned she was working on a graphic novel for First Second. Finally,
it's here! Raised by a caterer and a gourmand, food has always been
important to Lucy Knisley. In Relish, Lucy examines moments of
her life in which food played an important role. From discovering foie
gras to working at a cheese counter to helping her mom at farmer's
markets, each stage of her life is defined by food. Included are a
series of illustrated recipes, which are necessary to have on hand as
you are certain to become ravenous while reading. Relish is a delectable graphic memoir for anyone who enjoys food- whether that be fine cheeses or doughnuts.
I've been following Lucy's blog since college and love her work. Can't wait for the event at Oblong Books!
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, November 6, 2012
As someone who anticipates a first snow, I reveled in Obed's
descriptions of ice. While some grumble about the cold, others wait for
their breath to become frosty, for the air to feel silver with ice and
cold. Obed captures this feeling, distilling the essence of winter into
poetic prose. She traces winter by marking each type of ice that occurs,
and the fun one can have on it. Every sentence begs to be read aloud
and Barbara McClintock's accompanying illustrations are exquisite. Twelve Kinds of Ice is a wintertime gem perfect for slipping into a mittened hand, curling up with beside a fire, or tucking into a stocking.
Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems
by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Carin Berger
Greenwillow, HarperCollins, February 2013
Have you heard of a Tattlesnake or a Braindeer? How about a Magpipe? In Stardines,
poet Jack Prelutsky introduces readers to sixteen strange creatures,
writing a poem about each. Berger's collage illustrations accompany each
poem, displaying Prelutsky's creatures in scenes inspired by the work
of Joseph Cornell. Absurd, creative, and funny, Prelutsky's poems will
spark imaginations.
