Two Silly (But Signifcant) Picture Books from Sleeping Bear Press

Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef for winning a copy of Wood, Wire, Wings from last week's blog.

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The two books I'm featuring this week definitely create smiles -- but they each teach something too.

TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS

With a title like that, you know this is going to be a book that will appeal to the silliest young reader, right? 

And doesn't the cover for Travel Guide for Monsters tell you that's what you will find inside?

In this fun picture book in verse, the author Lori Degman, talks directly to the readers as if they have their own personal monster (and what preschooler doesn't?). Each page shows the monster in a different location with a warning as to what could happen to the monster if he travels there. For example, in Arizona, the reader is warned,

In Chicago,

And in the Florida Everglades,

The unsuspecting reader (and monster) get to travel cross-country (in a vehicle that looks remarkably like an old VW bus), seeing some of the famous sights which make the United States diverse and fun.

Finally, when the vacation is over, the reader faces one last challenge:

Your travels give you memories

you'll treasure through the years.

But how will you explain your

monster's crazy souvenirs?

As you can tell by these samples, illustrator Dave Szalay had a great time illustrating this book! 

The curriculum take-away from Travel Guide for Monsters is the map in the back where young readers can identify where they live or have traveled.

Otis. P. Oliver Protests 

Raise your hand if you have/know a child who likes to get dirty.

Raise your hand if you have/know a child who doesn't want to take a bath.

Just as I thought. I bunch of you raised your hand. 

Then Otis P. Oliver Protests by Keri Claiborne Boyle is for you and that child:

From the opening pages we meet Otis, the youngest of four children (his older siblings are ALL girls--he doesn't stand a chance) his dog, and his worm farm. 

His family takes issue with his body odor and he decides it is time to protest baths.  #1 enemy? Soap.

He enlists the support of his friends, they lead marches along the street and picket his driveway. 

Thus begins protest correspondence with his mother. Notes are delivered--in style--by each of his older sisters and his dog. Negotiations ensue. Would Otis consider abandoning the protest for the price of lasagna and garlic bread? He considers the offer.

Finally, Otis gives in--vainly holding out for the promise of dessert. 

In the end, Otis scribbles one last note:

Once again, I think the illustrator, Daniel Duncan, had a grand time creating the illustrations to accompany the text. The protest signs are genius in and of themselves! 

What's the curriculum tie-in for Otis P. Oliver Protests? The importance of good hygiene--and of course, keeping the cook happy!

GIVEAWAY 

I am delighted to give away these books this week. I think you and your child or grandchild will have fun reading both of these. If you have a preference, please indicate in your comment. As always, include your email address if you are new to my blog, and sharing on social media gives you an additional opportunity. Giveaway ends on Friday, August 7 at 5 PM. 

Our World: A First Book of Geography--A Review and Giveaway

My friends who are picture book writers, parents, grandparents, or teachers will LOVE Our World: A First Book of Geography, As I said in an email to the author, Sue Lowell Gallion, it is one of those books that you read and say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?" And then you have to go buy it for a young reader in your life.  

REVIEW

Our World is not only a beautifully written and illustrated board book about our world but when folded back it becomes a freestanding globe with a magnetic closure. Excuse the pun, but this is an out-of-this-world concept. The illustrator, Lisk Feng, did an outstanding job of bringing Sue Gallion's words to life. 

Our World begins with,

Many places to explore,
From mountain peaks to ocean floor.
Look around you, step outside . . .
Find forests tall
And grasslands wide. 

The poem continues by mentioning jungles, deserts, polar caps, bodies of water, mountains, etc.  

On the opposite page from each poem, there is a brief exposition of the natural wonders that are vividly depicted. 

This page describes the rivers, lakes, and oceans. The text reads:

High in the mountains, snow melts and flows downstream to form rivers. Other rivers begin as underground springs or lakes. Rivers flow into oceans. Did you know that most of our planet is covered in oceans? Fish, coral, and other animals thrive in shallow waters. Some creatures also live in the cold, black ocean depths. In some places, the ocean is deeper than the tallest mountains on Earth!

One of the pages shows the whole world. The poem reads, 

Continents large, islands small, 
Salty seas surrounding all.

The second to the last page shows a view of earth from outer space as an astronaut might see it. The exposition reads, "The light and warmth from the sun is what makes life on Earth possible for plants, animals, and humans too." The poem reads,

Our blue planet,

Warmed by sun:

The reader turns to the last page and finds a sweet illustration with this simple, yet poignant text:

A living home for everyone.

Because of the way in which the book is constructed, toddlers will enjoy flipping the pages and seeing how the magnets make the globe stick together. Pre-readers will enjoy rhythmic poetry. The text is informative for second through fourth graders, which makes the book a great preschool and elementary school resource when studying geography and ecosystems. 

You'll find an activity guide here and a hands-on activity guide to make an inflatable globe here.

GIVEAWAY

Interested in winning this book? I bet you are! Please leave me a comment with your email address (if you are new to my blog). Giveaway ends July 24 at 5 PM! As always, if you share on social media or subscribe to my blog, you receive an extra chance. Just let me know what you do!