Big Cat, Little Cat

Big Cat, Little Cat
by Elisha Cooper

At first it was just the big cat, living alone until one day it was joined by a little cat.  The big cat taught the little cat many things and, over time, the little cat grew in size as the friendship between the felines also grew.   Then, one day, the big cat was gone, much to the sadness of everyone.  Lonely at first, the former little cat (now a big cat himself) finds happiness and purpose with the arrival of a new little cat!

This sweet, but sad, story addresses the loss of a pet in a age-appropriate, sensitive way.   While it never specifically says what happened to the older cat, readers will likely understand the meaning behind the sadness of the family and other cat.   The black and white illustrations were simple yet effective in bringing this emotional story to life.   A wonderful story that is an excellent choice for anyone dealing with the loss of a pet. 

Author's website: http://www.elishacooper.com/

Mr. Wuffles!

Mr. Wuffles!
by David Wiesner

There's something strange about Mr. Wuffles' new toy!   In this almost wordless picture book, a new toy sparks the interest of a picky cat named Mr. Wuffles.  However,  the new object is not really a toy, but a small alien spaceship!   Will the tiny aliens be able to escape the determined Mr. Wuffles? 

David Wiesner uses amazing illustrations to tell the story of Mr. Wuffles and the aliens inside the tiny spaceship.    Readers who enjoy his other wordless picture books, including Flotsam and Tuesday, will love his newest story!

Book trailer:

Creepy Carrots

Creepy Carrots
by Aaron Reynolds
illustrated by Peter Brown

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots.  He loves them so much that he always finds time to stop by the carrot patch for a snack.    His ravenous appetite for carrots is tested, however, when he suddenly realizes that creepy carrots are following him!   Although he sees the creepy carrots everywhere he goes,  no one else seems to be able to see them.   Will Jasper find a way to escape the creepy carrots?

This Caldecott Honor Book is a hilarious story full of great illustrations.    I've read it aloud to many classes and most of my students love it!



Author's website: http://www.aaron-reynolds.com/

Illustrator's website:  http://www.peterbrownstudio.com/books/#.Un5o442RE7A

Creepy Carrots Zone:  

Sleep Like A Tiger

Sleep Like a Tiger
by Mary Logue
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

Does everything go to sleep?  When a little girl does not want to go to sleep, she asks her parents in everything in the world goes to sleep.   What follows is a description of how many animals sleep, from the nocturnal bats hanging upside down, to the tiger in the jungle sleeping to stay strong.  Eventually the little girl settles herself into her bed in ways very similar to the animals her parents described.

This lovely bedtime story is accompanied by beautiful, bold illustrations that recently earned this book a Caldecott Honor.    As I read the parts where the parents described how different animals slept, I imagined the possibilities for pairing this picture book with nonfiction text about animal sleep habits.   

Me...Jane

Me...Jane
by Patrick McDonnell

From the time she was a young girl, Jane Goodall loved animals.   This book tells the story of a young Jane Goodall who dreamed of a life in Africa studying animals.   Even as a little girl she would watch animals, often carrying a beloved stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee wherever she went.

This delightful story, full of beautiful illustrations, is a nice introduction to the childhood of Jane Goodall.  Its short, simple sentences make it an excellent choice for younger readers.    This will make a great pairing with The Watcher by Jeanette Winters. 

Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein

Little Red Chicken won't go to bed without a bedtime story, but gets so excited that she keeps interrupting each one! After three stories, there are no more left to tell. How will Little Red Chicken fall asleep without her story?

This is a funny book that reminds us how important it is to be patient and not interrupt during a story. I read this book to many of my classes this past week and followed it with a discussion on how to be good listeners during our library storytime. It is also a 2011 Caldecott Honor Book, so it is full of great illustrations.

Author's Website: http://www.davidezra.com/