Beautiful Oops!

Barney Saltzberg (2010), 28 pages

Audience: all ages

Format: board book

Can you take a crumbled piece of paper and make it into a sheep’s coat? Can you turn a scrap piece of paper into something interesting? Why, yes you can! This book reminds everyone that mistakes are okay. In fact, making mistakes is a part of life – so why not celebrate them! Author and illustrator, Saltzberg delivers this message in a very creative and innovative way. Using a series of flaps, pop ups, and die cuts he produced a fun, interactive, and imaginative book that people (at any age) will appreciate. With some ingenuity, “Oops! A torn piece of paper” becomes a wide-smiling crocodile or watch as a little paint spill morphs into … a collection of purple puppies, a family of birds, even an elephant. Satlzberg proves that no matter the mistake, whether torn paper, a drip of paint, a stain, a hole, etc … it’s just a chance to make something unique and interesting. This board book is constructed well with durable, glossy pages … so that even young children can enjoy moving the pages and gain motor skills. Each interactive element is surprising and delightful for more details check out the publisher’s promotional video. It may just inspire you to get crafty and go make some mistakes of your own! With it’s movable parts, bright colors, and creative design-this book is both fun and functional and the authors message is timeless … mistakes provide an opportunity to be creative and imaginative and more importantly they are an opportunity to create something new … something beautiful!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman, or The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Other books by this author: Kisses, Peekaboo Kisses, Crazy Hair Day, Star of the Week, Baby Animal Kisses, The Flying Garbanzos, and Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed?

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin

Lloyd Moss (1995), 28 pages

Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

Audience: all ages

Format: picture book

Music is the inspiration behind Moss and Priceman’s Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin. Using an orchestra of instruments the story progresses from a lone trombone to a chamber group of ten, which makes for an energetic and eclectic countdown. With each turn of the page, readers amass more instruments, sounds, and musical terms along the way; each additional instrument is added until at last, readers are treated to a full symphony orchestra. This book is both educational and fun. Moss’s text is filled with rhyme and rhythm … words even sways back and forth as if they were dancing to a musical beat. Priceman’s illustrations are lively. Her bold color choices and whimsical drawings are full of movement. This 1996 Caldecott Honoree is a wonderful addition to your picture book collection. It teaches counting, numerals, names and types of instruments, etc. and will appeal to a range of ages, from babies, toddlers, and beyond. A great book if attending the orchestra, a concert, or theatre for the first time. Or play-pretend and make a duo, trio, or quartet of your own at home!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Maestro Plays by Bill Martin Jr. or The Jazz Fly by Matthew Gollub

Other books by this author: Our Marching Band and Music Is

Other books by this illustrator: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, One of Each, Paris in the Spring with Picasso, Emeline at the Circus, and Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride (Caldecott Honor)

The Boss Baby

Marla Frazee (2010), 40 pages

Audience: all ages

Format: picture book

Buckle your seat-belts … it’s time to meet the Boss. Two-time Caldecott honoree, Marla Frazee has readers laughing from page one … The Boss Baby is ready for business when he steps out from the taxicab suited up in a black onesie and tie … “From the moment the baby arrived, it was obvious that he was the boss.” Frazee's text is hilarious and witty, but her illustrations steal the show and manage to make this story even more rip-roaring fun. The boss baby keeps a tight schedule of around-the-clock meetings (feedings, diaper changes, etc.) and enjoys the baby bourgeois lifestyle by relaxing in the spa (baby bathtub), working out in the executive gym (baby activity center) and using the private jet (baby swing) ... he even sets up "his office right smack-dab in the middle of the house." Unmistakably, this baby is in charge! After exhausting his parents (ahem, I mean his workers) baby starts to wonder how he'll keep them on their toes? Well, just like other bosses, sometimes babies have to think outside the box ...

This book will make you laugh and smile at the wild-ride of parenting. Frazee’s narrative is brilliant and her pictures are bright and cheerful – although younger children may not get the irony of the story, they will enjoy the expressive quality and exuberance of the characters. This may be especially useful when welcoming a new sibling. A must-have for any new parent or expectant family!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Ma! There’s Nothing to Do Here! By Barbara Park or There’s Going to be a Baby by John Burningham

Other books by this author: Hush, Little Baby: A Folk Song with Pictures, Roller Coaster, and Walk On!

Do You Want to be My Friend?

Eric Carle (1971), 30 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Meet one hopeful Mouse looking for friendship, –who along the way … finds it! Carle has once again created a wonderful children’s book for all ages. Presented in a nearly wordless format, this book prompts the reader with just one question “Do you want to be my friend?” As Little Mouse adventures out he runs into a variety of animals along the way including an especially long snake. Carle’s classic collage-images are vivid against the minimal white background, simple though they may seem, his design placement is intentional for young children trying to build reading readiness skills, “the ingenious placement of the pictures shows the child the correct direction in which to turn the page” establishing that the story is read from left to right. This important skill (understanding how books work and how they are read) is known as print awareness; a fundamental early literacy skill. This story also, builds another great reading readiness skill known as narrative (storytelling) ability. A practically wordless book, readers are encouraged to create and narrate the illustrations. Carle includes tips on storytelling and narrating this story in a note to parents and teachers in the book’s forward. Adorable and educational – the best of both worlds!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Hunter and the Animals by Tomie dePaola, The Story of a Little Mouse Trapped in a Book by Monique Felix or The Colors by Monique Felix

Other books by this author: From Head to Toe, My Very First Book of Colors, The Grouchy Ladybug, and Pancakes, Pancakes!

The Black Book of Colors

Menena Cottin (2008), 24 pages

Illustrated by Rosana Faria

Translated by Elisa Amado

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

This is quite possibly the most unusual and innovative children’s books I’ve ever seen. Originally written in Spanish as El Libro Negro de los Colores, this book has now been translated into several other languages, including English, French, and German. Printed in black ink on black paper –this book explores Tomas’s world of color –without actually using any!

For most sighted people it’s impossible or unfathomable to imagine seeing through taste, touch, or smell. Well, this book explores just that … what would it be like to experience color using alternative sensory experiences? Take yellow, for instance, “Thomas says that yellow tastes like mustard, but is soft as a baby chick’s feathers.” The color red is another story ... “red is sour like unripe strawberries and as sweet as watermelon. It hurts when he finds it on his scraped knee.” As the story builds, each color is uniquely described and accompanied by an image for a multisensory experience. A truly fascinating way to explore color! Text is printed in Braille at the top of each page, then translated in crisp white lettering at the bottom; line drawings are engraved and embossed into the paper (creating a textured-image experience). A complete Braille alphabet is included at the end the book.

This book works double duty as an educational tool to discuss the senses, such as touch, smell, taste, etc and as a way to explore color ... for instance, have children close their eyes and describe colors ... what is blue? what is green? Using these techniques I bet you'll discover a whole new world of color!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Is it Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? by Tana Hoban or Through Grandpa’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan

Other books by this author: Numeros/Numbers, Equilibrio/Balance, and Al Reves/Upside Down

The Surprise

Sylvia van Ommen (2007), 22 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Van Ommen’s The Surprise is just that – a wonderful surprise! The author manages to tell a unique story in this wordless picture with her charming illustrated characters. So what exactly is Sheep up to? And what is the big surprise? Well there’s a clue in the title written out in red yarn … this story begins with Sheep weighing, inspecting, and measuring her wool. Hopping on her trusty red scooter, Sheep heads over to the dye shop. After selecting red as her color preference, readers are treated to a series of hilarious steps as Sheep dyes, washes, dries, and shaves off her newly dyed crimson coat. Now naked, Sheep slips on a colorful sweater and heads over to Poodle who spins her roving into yarn. Once the yarn is formed, Sheep begins the process of knitting – her project is soon finished and wrapped up for gift giving. So who gets a custom-made hand-knit? Well, none other than Giraffe, who is oh, so handsome and happy with his new sweater! This book is filled with delightful details and charismatic characters. Van Ommen’s images are simple yet engaging making the wordless storyline obvious enough for any young child to follow along. Wordless books are great tools for developing a child’s narrative ability (an important pre-literacy skill). Have your child tell you what’s happening in the pictures; engage their imagination. Or if they are too young for narration, have them identify colors, objects, and actions. This book is one that can be enjoyed at any age!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola or Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth

Other books by this author: Jellybeans and Sheep and Goat

I’m All Ears: Sing into Reading

Fran Avni (1999), 46:39 minutes

Audience: All ages

Format: CD

Twenty-three songs feature rhythmic beats and lyrics that teach children early literacy skills. Each song helps children develop reading readiness skills. For example rhyming techniques are used in “Name Game” (rhyme recognition) and “Good for You” (rhyme completion). Alliteration is featured in numerous songs including “Chugga choo choo,” “Lily,” and “One Wet Windy Wednesday.” Phonemic awareness (sound deletion, isolation, and blending) is highlighted in several songs such as “Pineapple,” “Topsy Turvy” and “Fiddle Around with the Middle Sound.” This CD makes learning educational and fun at the same time!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this CD, you may like: Singing Sounds: Songs for Learning Early Speech Sounds

Other CDs by this artist: Little Ears: 27 Songs for Reading Readiness and Tuning Into Nature-Songs and Activities about the Earth

Rhymes Round the World

Kay Chorao (2009), 40 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

From celebrated illustrator Chorao comes Rhymes Round the World, a global compilation of traditional rhymes and songs both familiar and obscure. Translations include rhymes from several cultures and countries such as France’s Are you Sleeping?, Italy’s Cincirenella, Korea’s Wind Last Night, Poland’s Lizzie, Iran’s Morning Song, Greece’s The Girl Wants to Dance, and many more. Chorao’s signature cheerful watercolors bring simple poems, songs, and rhymes alive in her detailed full-page designs. For instance, the traditional Australian song “Kookaburra” illustrates playful laughter as an indigenous eucalyptus tree grows heavy with climbing children and an array of native wildlife (koalas, kangaroos, and the kookaburra bird) ….

“Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree,

Merry, merry king of the bush is he.

Laugh Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!

Gay your life must be.”

Without a doubt this book is as fun to read as it is to look at! Filled with fun, diverse rhymes, and beautiful images this is a book young audiences will enjoy. Parents and educators can read these rhymes as a way to introduce culture and diversity to children.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World by Naomi Shihab Nye

Other books by this author: The Baby’s Good Morning Book, The Baby’s Bedtime Book, Knock at the Door and Other Baby Action Rhymes

Museum Trip

Barbara Lehman (2006), 32 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Barbara Lehman's wordless storyline is endearing and creative with illustrations that really tell a complete narrative! Similar in style to her Caldecott honored The Red Book, Museum Trip is written in a wordless narrative with illustrations that tell the story of a child's museum visit and getting lost in its maze (literary by being separated from their class and figuratively as he gets "lost" or engrossed in the artifacts/exhibits on display at the museum). But wait … was finding his way through the maze just a daydream? Well, you’ll have to decide for yourself as he leaves the museum with a shiny souvenir there may be reason to think otherwise. A story that will delight children of all ages!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book you may like: Time Flies by Eric Rohmann, Wave by Suzy Lee, or Free Fall by David Wiesner

Other books by this author: The Red Book (Caldecott Honor), Trainstop, and Rainstorm

All The World

Liz Garton Scanlon (2009), 40 pages

Illustrated by Marla Frazee

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

A recent 2009 release and Caldecott honoree, Scanlon’s All the World reflects multiculturalism in a subtle, but effective way. Scanlon's repetitive prose “all the world ...has got its sky ... all the world ... goes round this way ... all the world ... is you and me" and Frazee’s watercolors echo the book’s universal message of family with charm and personality. Children will enjoy the detailed illustrations and the juxtaposition of simple portraits against sweeping, panoramic landscapes. A feel-good book that will appeal to children and families of all backgrounds! The traditional folksong "We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands" works well as a precursor or addendum to storytime:

We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got our mamas and our papas in our hands.
We've got our mamas and our papas in our hands.
We've got our mamas and our papas in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got our brothers and our sisters in our hands.
We've got our brothers and our sisters in our hands.
We've got our brothers and our sisters in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got the little bitty baby in our hands
We've got the little bitty baby in our hands
We've got the little bitty baby in our hands
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got our aunts and our uncles in our hands.
We've got our aunts and our uncles in our hands.
We've got our aunts and our uncles in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got our grandmas and our grandpas in our hands.
We've got our grandmas and our grandpas in our hands.
We've got our grandmas and our grandpas in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got the earth and the water in our hands.
We've got the mountains and the valleys in our hands.
We've got the oceans and the rivers in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.
We've got the whole world in our hands.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

Other books by this author: A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes and Noodle & Lou

The Giving Tree

Shel Silverstein (1964), 56 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Silverstein uses sparse words and simple ink drawings to generate a simple yet poignant book. “Once there was a tree … and she loved a little boy” … So begins a lifelong relationship between tree and boy. As the young boy grows from a carefree child to an elderly old man his demands and needs increase, but the tree’s love never tires. With a somewhat sad and contemplative ending this is not your typical fairytale; this story is the ultimate lesson of give and take especially when it comes to conservationism. Your child's library is not complete without this book, so “branch out” and read this book.

For an activity accompaniment, have children look outside in the backyard or at a local park and find fallen leaves. Trace the outer edges and see how many different leave-shapes you can collect; older children may want to do a rubbing with paper and pencil.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony or Where Once There was a Wood by Denise Fleming

Other books by this author: A Giraffe and a Half, The Missing Piece, and Where the Sidewalk Ends