If you're like me, you give books as presents. On today's blog, I have two fun books published by Sleeping Bear Press that will make great presents for a young pirate or sailor in your life. Both books use great wordplay which will tickle the ears of both kids and adults.
REVIEWS
What happens when a young man (who loves to dance) signs up to be a pirate? Author-illustrator Shawna J.C. Tenney answers that question in this action-packed picture book.
More than anything, Jack wanted to be a pirate.
......
When Jack heard the
slosh slosh slap of the waves,
the flip flip flap of the sails,
the creak creak crack of the ship,
he felt the rhythm in his soul
But, he quickly found out that,
Jack danced without knowing it. At sword-fighting practice, he saw the pirates-in-training stumble and fumble. Jack couldn't help himself.
He showed his fellow trainees how to grand jete' over gullies during a treasure hunt. But that got everybody in trouble.
Finally, a feared pirate came on board. Jack and his friends hid and watched.
Jack couldn't just stand by and do nothing--he had to dance!
It was a fierce battle. In the end, the Captain conceded. "Blimey! Keep dancing, Jack! KEEP DANCING!"
Jack's amazing dancing steps won the battle, the Captain's heart, and the reward of becoming an official pirate. From then on, everyone put their best foot forward.
Parents, grandparents, and teachers will enjoy the pleasure of reading this story out loud and children will enjoy the onomatopoeia and how an unlikely hero wins the day.
To read about Shawna's backstory for writing and illustrating this book, please see this post on Kathy Temean's blog.
Back matter includes an author's note, explanations of dance movements, and pirate speak definitions.
MONSTERS IN THE BRINY
Lynn Becker's rhyming debut picturebook is about mythical sea creatures and the mayhem they cause when they meet up with a boat full of hardy, young sailors. Scott Brundage performs his magic with marvelous illustrations that are as funny and rollicking as the text.
The first monster who appears even before the first page is a Kraken.
You would
Share some jokes and your best riddle,Feed her cakes from Cookie's griddle,Teach her how to bow the fiddle,Kraken in the briny.
Just when the sailors successfully tame a surly, scruffly, sea goat, the ship gets a visit from a
The sailors
Keep a bucket at the ready,Mop his forehead if he's sweaty,Tuck him into serpent beddy,Serpent in the briny.
Next, the brave sailors meet a tearful turtle. They find innovative ways to cheer him up.
How about a hungry hydra?
"Yo! Ho! And up he's rising, Yo! Ho! He's quite surprising,
But wait.
One of the sailors is sick of shipwrecking monsters.
So,
Yo! Ho! And up we're rising,
Yo! Ho! We're all surprising,
Yo! Ho! We're harmonizing,
Monsters in the briny.
The back matter includes two pages about sea monsters and the music to "Monsters in the Briny" which is based on an old sea shanty about a drunken sailor.
If you're interested in reading about Lynn's book journey, you can find it on Kathy Temean's blog.
I recently took a webinar with children's book author Pat Miller. She encouraged picture book writers to look at different frameworks for their story idea. Using a song was one of her suggestions. Now I see how that can work so well--particularly with the imaginative team of Lynn Becker and Scott Brundage. This week Lynn and Scott will share some of the inside scoops behind this sea-faring creation in the Talking Story Facebook group. Don't miss the childhood game that inspired Lynn and some of Scott's drafts! (P.S. If you're not a member yet, just click on the link and request to join it.)
GIVEAWAYS
Please leave a comment by November 23 and let me know which book you're interested in winning. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NEW TO MY BLOG. If you follow my blog or sign up to follow it, I'll give you two chances.
Congratulations to Theresa Milstein who won SUPERPOWER? from last week's blog.
19 comments:
Dear Carol,
Both of these books sound delightful. Especially, the pirate story. Great illustrations in each book.
Thanks for sharing. I would love to win a copy.
Never Give Up
Joan
Your name starts the list with the pirate book, Joan. Thanks for following my blog--you have two chances to win!
Dear Carol,
That is great!
Thank you.
…Joan
Hi Carol, thanks for sharing these books. They both sound so fun, it's hard to choose.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Connie Saunders
I'll put your name in the hat for both, Connie. thanks for commenting and following my blog.
These do look like excellent books to read out loud. Pirates Don't Dance would be my first choice. Thank you for sharing!
You're in twice for Pirates! Thanks Danielle
Such a delightful pair of books! I'd be happy with either of them. If forced to choose, I'd go with Pirates Don't Dance, because "Captain Squinty Eye" alone makes me laugh. (Also, I follow your blog. Thanks.)
Hey Carol! My daughter, Meadow, and I would love Monsters in the Briny!! Both look like wonderful sea stories. Thank you for sharing them.
Glee
Thanks, Glee, for commenting and leaving your name. Your name goes i twice as a new blog follower!
Thanks Janet for following my blog. I'll put your name in twice for Pirates!
Love the illustrations in Monster in the Briney! Pirate loving kids will enjoy this book!
Both of these books look wonderful! I would be happy to win either one.
Since you follow my blog, Emily, your name will go into the hat for each! Thanks for commenting.
Yes, the illustrations are fantastic, JoLynn. Thanks for following my blog.
I would love to win Monsters in the Briny to share with my grandchildren. I love rhyming books! Thanks.
Happy to add your name twice, Gwen. Thanks for following my blog!
Both look like cute books with stupendous illustrations.
Thanks, Kathy, for your comment. Unfortunately, this giveaway ended last week. I hope you try again!
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