Bobby Babinski's Bathtub and Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie. 2 Fun Picture Books + One Giveaway!

 Congratulations to Rois Hollenbeck who won Unicorn Yoga and to Susan Rice for Sing Some More from last week's blog.

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Bobby Babinski's Bathtub

This rollicking picture book published by Sleeping Bear Press is as fun as the title sounds and the cover looks. Written by Judy Young and illustrated by Kevin M. Barry, readers and their parents will enjoy the poetry and funny text. Caveat: parents, watch our for your children's bathtub expectations after reading this book!

Mr. Babinski has a problem. His son refuses to take a bath.  

In fact, Bobby's father has several problems. Every time he ingeniously answers his son's objections, Bobby comes up with a new reason not to take a bath. 

Mr. B chops a hole the roof of their house and builds a roller coaster so that Bobby can safely slide into his tub.

But, that doesn't satisfy Bobby. He needs some toys to keep him company in his tub. Mr. B satisfies his son's desire with an over-the-top assortment of ocean creatures.

Of course, Bobby complains again.

Mr. B patiently complies with each and every request resulting in more and more changes to their yard. Finally, when Bobby is stranded on a sandy island, his father arranges for a HUMUNGOUS pelican to bring him home. 

It scooped Bobby up, 

And with huge wings gyrating, 

Flew over the water 

To where Papa was waiting.

In the end, Bobby STILL refuses to go down for his nap:

As Bobby Babinski

Dropped in Papa's lap,

Papa held up some PJ's

Saying, "Time for a nap."

But Bobby Babinski said, "No!"

With a grin,

"I want to have bath time 

All over again!"

Who wouldn't?

ACOUSTIC ROOSTER'S BARNYARD BOOGIE

Here's another fun picture book brought to you by best-selling author Kwame Alexander with clever, colorful illustrations by Tim Bowers. Barnyard Boogie follows their previous book, Acoustic Rooster and The Barnyard Band, both published by Sleeping Bear Press. 

Indigo Blume is happily cleaning up her city for the Garden City Community Festival until she finds out that big crowds will be coming to hear her sing. 

Her mother and father try to reassure her that she will do fine, but she goes to sleep worried. During the night she dreams about the barnyard animals she'd been reading about before going to sleep. 

In her dream, the animals ask her to join their group but then a strong wind destroys their barn. Their efforts to rebuild it aren't enough and the animals bewail the demise of their home.

Indigo encourages them to throw a benefit concert to rebuild the barn which they name the Barnyard Boogie. Miss Dairy Parton loses her voice and Indigo has to fill in for her. Despite her fears, Indigo pulls off a great show. 

She wakes up, inspired by her barnyard friends and ready to,

Be a star...In your mind... Day and night...Let it shine!"

Here's a lively preview of the Acoustic Rooster musical premiering Fall 2021 at The Kennedy Center.

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Do you ever wonder what happens to the books that I review and don't give away? 

Here's why: 

Who do you think this is?

GIVEAWAY

For a chance to win Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie, please leave me a comment with your email address if you are new to my blog. Share this on social media and you'll be in twice! The giveaway ends October 2. 

Sleeping Bear Press Part III: 2 Picture Books, 2 Easy Readers

Congratulations to Jo Lynn Worden who won a Skype visit with Cathy Briesacher.

As of today, Linda Phillips has accumulated almost fifty books including the twelve provided by Sleeping Bear Press for the Eastern European school. I don't know about you, but I'm thrilled with the thought that these books are the beginning of a classroom library!

Digger and Daisy

New readers (and ESL readers) will appreciate the repetitive language and simple story by Judy Young of two siblings on their first camping trip.  Digger is afraid that every noise he hears is a bear, but his older sister always has an answer to allay his fears. The tables turn when she wakes up at night convinced that there is a bear outside their tent. The fun ending will delight readers at the same time that they take pride in reading the book themselves. The lively illustrations are by Dana Sullivan. You'll find more Digger and Daisy books on the Sleeping Bear Press website.

Tip and Tucker: Road Trip

In this first book in a new series, young readers meet Tip and Tucker: two very different hamsters with two different personalities. Tip is shy and fearful of new places and Tucker likes to explore. These two friends set off on a new adventure when Mr. Lopez purchases them at the pet store and then drops them in a place they've never seen before: a school. Although they're both a little unsure of what this means for the two of them, they do know they'll find out together. The series is written by Ann Ingalls and Sue Lowell Gallion. The illustrator, Andre Ceolin, is familiar to me; he illustrated Hanukkah Hamster. Another great book for ESL readers.

Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? Footprints at the Shore

A great book for summer vacation, Susan Wood's book in lilting verse, Sandy Feet! Whose Feet? will engage young readers to investigate footprints in the sand. Lifelike illustrations by Steliyana Doneva (illustrator of An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth) compliment each page spread. Parents can use the glossary at the back of the book to play a matching game with young readers and explore the text further with their older siblings.  

Good Night, Library

Readers will recognize the rhyme and rhythm of Goodnight Moon in Denise Brennan-Nelson's third book in her Good Night series. (Another one of those books that will make writers slap their hands to their forehead and say, "Why didn't I think of that?") Written from the point of view of young patrons saying good night to their favorite part of the library, "Good night, characters/Close your pages/Good night, plots/And puppet stages," each spread celebrates the amazing world of libraries. Marco Bucci's bold artwork will make readers want to find a library just like this in their neighborhood. 

Sleeping Bear Press Part I: Four Non-Fiction Picture Books, One SKYPE Giveaway

Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won The Forgiving Kind from last week's blog.

As I've mentioned before, one of the pleasures of reviewing books is that books arrive on my doorstep--sometimes even without me asking for them! Recently, I received several new publications from Sleeping Bear Press and I'm happy to share my reviews with you. No book giveaways though--I'm giving these books to Linda Phillips to fill her suitcase as we spread literacy and literature around the world! But read on-- one of the authors, Sophia Golz, is donating a 15-minute Skype visit. By the way, not only will these books serve as ESL resources in an underprivileged Eastern European classroom, they will be fantastic curriculum resources in American preK-3rd grade classrooms.

THE BOY WHO GREW A FOREST

Have you ever heard of Jadav Payeng? I hadn't until I read this informative, inspirational, and beautiful book, The Boy Who Grew a Forest, Sophia Gholz's debut picture book. 

As a boy, Jadav was upset that a nearby island in northeastern India was losing its trees. The island was eroding away into the river leaving hundreds of snakes without homes. In 1979, Jadav began planting bamboo. He brought seeds from neighboring villages and despite many odds, the forest became filled with wild animals and diverse vegetation. It grew from ten acres to 1360 acres--which is larger than 900 football fields! The lush illustrations by Kayla Harren show Jadav's toil as well as the joyful fruit of his labors. Gholz's End Notes include her inspiration for writing this book and a simple seed planting activity that children and their parents or teachers would enjoy. 

SOAR HIGH, DRAGONFLY!

Here's another topic I haven't thought about much: dragonflies. Sheri Mabry Bestor's book, Soar High, Dragonfly! does double duty. The top lines in larger text appeal to young readers with simple descriptions of the dragonfly's life cycle. The bottom text (which sometimes is literally under water--very clever!) goes into great detail about the dragonfly's behavior, habitat, and metamorphosis. Jonny Lambert's illustrations reminded me of Eric Carle's vibrant palette. This book will appeal to children and adults of all ages. 

THE FIRST MEN WHO WENT TO THE MOON

Fifty years ago Apollo 11 carried the first men to the moon. Like Soar High, Dragonfly, THE FIRST MEN WHO WENT TO THE MOON is written on two different levels. Rhonda Gowler Greene's lovely verse will be read as a story while the reader points out how the illustrations enrich the text. Older children will appreciate the secondary text which provide more details about what occurred during the space mission. To be honest, I've never seen a picture book written in this type of rhyme, but it works! The last five spreads repeat the first two lines of each poem and act as a fitting, circular conclusion. The last spread gives more information about the astronauts and the mission. Scott Bundage is the same talented illustrator who provided colorful and realistic illustrations for A is For Astronaut.

MARTY'S MISSION

MARTY'S MISSION by Judy Young is different than the three nonfiction books mentioned above. A part of Sleeping Bear Press's "Tales of Young Americans" series, this is a lengthier text about a young boy named Marty who tracked Apollo 11's voyage from his home in Guam. Marty and his family had moved to Guam for his father's job at the NASA tracking station. The night that the Apollo 11 was to splash down, the antenna got stuck. Marty is asked to perform a task that only a young person could do--fix the antenna. Based on the true story of ten-year-old Greg Force, a young American was instrumental in bringing the astronauts safely home. Readers who prefer learning via a true story rather than through an informational text, will enjoy MARTY'S MISSION. The life-like illustrations by David Miles amplify a text that both boys and girls (and their parents!) will enjoy. 

GIVEAWAY

Sophia Golz is donating a 15-minute Skype visit to one fortunate classroom. Leave me a comment (with your email address please!) and I'll add your name to the hat. Giveaway ends May 9th. 

NEXT UP

Stay tuned for reviews of some silly picture books from Sleeping Bear Press!

Linda and I are packing her suitcase!
Email her to find out how you can add your
picture books and chapter books to the suitcase.