Monday, April 2, 2018

Picture Book Bonanza!

As a book reviewer and blogger, I'm now in the happy position of receiving packages of books in the mail. How cool is that? Here's some of the books I received recently as well as two I won from Kathy Temean's blog. 


W is for Welcome: A Celebration of America's Diversity
(Sleeping Bear Press, April 2018)

From, 
A is for America, A dreamer's destination, made up of people who are here due to immigration.
To, 
Z is for Zeal On Independence Day, we all can celebrate how people of all stripes (and stars) have made this country great.
Author Brad Herzog, along with over 15 different artists, has created a sweeping mural celebrating America's diversity. Each letter of the alphabet includes a short poem for young readers and a longer exposition of the topic for older students. Every page teaches readers about famous as well as not so famous immigrants, why people emigrate from their homelands, and how immigrants built (and continue to build) America. This is a great classroom resource which Joyce Hostetter and I will give away in the spring issue of Talking Story on Prejudice.


Don't Forget Dexter
(Two Lions, 2018)

In this fun book by author-illustrator Lindsay Ward, Dexter, a stuffed dinosaur, has lost his best friend, Jack.  Dexter looks all over the place for Jack and tries his best to get him back. Asking the lady at the front desk doesn't help--she's busy talking on the phone. Singing loudly, swishing his dangerous tail, chopping with his big teeth--nothing works! His worries of being abandoned are only relieved when Jack finally finds him. Young children may not realize it--but their subtle fears of abandonment are playfully and sweetly addressed. This is the first book in Ward's new series about Dexter. The next one, It's Show and Tell, Dexter looks equally fun!

Roof Octopus
(Sleeping Bear Press, March 2018)
This is a book that you have to read and see to believe. Lucy Branam's debut picture book is a fanciful combination of a story that young children will be immersed in along with vivid and imaginative illustrations by Roge´rio Coelho. I read this book to a 3-year-old and she totally understood that an octopus could live on the top of an apartment building. No mistake about it, an octopus can help deliver mail, be a swing for three friends, or help walk a dog. This would make a great baby shower gift or simply a beautiful book to add to your family's collection. 

Sterling Children's Books
(2017)

Every child wants to be the star of the show. In fact, first-born children usually ARE the stars that are photographed, cuddled, and made to feel famous by relatives, grocery store attendants, and even ordinary people walking down the street. Everything was perfect for Phoebe until a co-star is born. Life suddenly goes downhill when Phoebe is more like a personal assistant, than a star. Until...Phoebe gets her big break, steals the show, and gets her baby sister to laugh for the first time. This delightful book by Lori Alexander, is a perfect present for a first child dealing with the birth of a sibling. That's why I'm saving it for my granddaughter when her baby brother is born!


GIVEAWAY

If you are interested in receiving W is for Welcome, leave me a comment and I'll add your name to the giveaway list. The drawing will occur at the end of April in conjunction with the next issue of Talking Story. PLEASE leave me your email address if you are new to my blog so I can contact you if you win!

21 comments:

Connie Porter Saunders said...

Carol, all of these look great. I would be thrilled to win W is for Welcome. Thank you and Blessings!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol Baldwin said...

YOu're in first, Connie!

Linda Townsend said...

Please add my name to your drawing! Thanks for the giveaway!

Linda Townsend said...

Please add me to the drawing! Thanks for the chance!

sheri levy said...

How fun! You must have a pile of books to share with your grands! Enjoy-

Carol Baldwin said...

Thank you, LInda. Please leave your email address in case you win!

Joyce Moyer Hostetter said...

Roof Octopus looks and sounds amazing!

Carol Baldwin said...

Roof Octopus is amazing!

Rosi said...

Cute books all. I will pass on the drawing. Buried in books here.

Young Authors Program said...

Thanks for sharing W Is For Welcome, Carol! I wasn't aware of it at all. I recently finished a nonfiction ABC PB, so this would be great to read and compare.

Carol Baldwin said...

Your name is in, Dorothy!

Linda A. said...

Carol,

What interesting book reviews. Thank you! I enjoyed hearing about each and every one. There are so many different ABC books today. I also especially enjoyed hearing about Roof Octopus. Sounds fun! Anything is possible in a child's imagination.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Linda --there are a TON of different pb's. Your name is in the hat for the giveaway.

Mich Mash said...

Carol, thank you for your diverse subjects with these 4 PB's! I'm especially interested in W is for Welcome as I'm writing a PB on immigration as we speak! It would be great to compare, but more importantly shows this topic is especially needed now. I do love the octopus skillset too, however :)

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, MIch. I need your email address to enter your name in this giveaway!

Cat Michaels said...

Just stopping by to check out the new pibos but don’t need to be in your giveaway. As a first-born child, “w for welcome” especially makes me smile -:D.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Cat. I bet you welcomed many!!

Kathleen said...

I think back to when my daughter was younger and I know she would have loved DEXTER the dinosaur and would have also truly believed that an Octopus could live on the top of an apartment building. Actually, she would still enjoy them now because I don't think one can every be too old for picture books! :)

Carol Baldwin said...

YEs, Kathleen. We're NEVER too old for picture books--that's why I love them!

Unknown said...

Carol, these books all sound great. I'm going to tell my students about them, and about your blog. Please toss my name into your drawing for W Is for Welcome. What a great idea for an alphabet book. So timely!

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Eileen. Your name is in the hat and this is a timely book! Check out Famously Phoebe to teach plot!

PUSH-PULL MORNING: Dog Powered Poems About Matter and Energy

I wouldn't have believed that a book about matter and energy would be read by the picture book crowd, except that my third-grade and kin...