Piggies

Audrey Wood (2004), 32 pages

Illustrated by Don Wood

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Looking for a fun counting, bedtime, or storytime book? Well, look no further – this very clever book by husband and wife, Audrey and Don Wood covers all those bases and more.

Read along as little fingers i.e. “piggies” scramble across the pages making bedtime countdown quite a bit of fun!

From one to 10, these little piggies run, jump, and dance across the pages making children squeal with delight. Although the premise is fairly simple, the story reveals a very clever ending and the accompanied images are so bold, bright, and pure - they make the story a blast to share and read, lending itself well as a storytime book. Each page is visually interesting yet strikingly simple, so children even in the back of the circle will easily follow along. I’ve used this book several times, and it’s always a bit hit. The kids love the silliness of the piggies as they balance, cheer, and create havoc among ten little fingers and toes. In addition, this book not only teaches counting, numbers, but opposites as well … as the authors illustrate hot, sweaty palms beside cold mitten-clad hands, or clean hands freshly soaped in a flurry of bath-time bubbles as opposed to dirty, mud splattered palms. One fun activity is to read the book and have the kids hold up their “piggies” matching the gestures in the book when counting (1-10), hiding piggies (closed fists), giving piggie kisses (folding fingers together), etc. – which teaches kids dexterity and important motor skills.

Reviewed by: Katharine Conn, MLIS

If you liked this book, you may like: The Game of Finger Worms by Hervé Tullet, Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora, or Piggy Pie Po by Audrey Wood

Other books by this author: Alphabet Adventure, Alphabet Mystery, Ten Little Fish, Piggy Pie Po, The Napping House, Heckedy Peg, and Scaredy Cats

The Grouchy Ladybug

Eric Carle (1977), 40 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Early one morning, two ladybugs happen to meet on a leaf full of aphids. One is friendly and one is grouchy. Although friendly ladybug suggests sharing, grouchy ladybug will not hear of it! She screams ”No, they’re all mine, all mine, or do you want to fight me for them?” Friendly ladybug concedes saying: “If you insist.” But grouchy decides that is a waste of time; she’s not big enough to fight and goes out to pick on somebody bigger. Grouchy ladybug ventures out all day from 6am to 6pm looking for a suitable opponent … and even after facing a wild range varying in size from a yellow jacket, a stag beetle, a praying mantis, a sparrow, hyena, gorilla, elephant, and finally a whale – the grouchy ladybug rejects all saying “oh, you’re not big enough.” However, the whale is SO large that ladybug flies over to its flipper and fin asking if they want to fight … eliciting no response …she reaches its tail, and with one great SLAP! Grouchy finds herself right back where she started. Now grouchy is wet and hungry. Luckily the friendly ladybug had saved her some aphids for dinner. Tired and grateful grouchy ladybug finally relinquishes her tough bravado and says: “Oh, thank you.” Carle’s illustrations are bright and colorful. Each image is carefully crafted and full of texture and detail giving personality to all of his characters, even teeny-tiny ladybugs. This book isn’t just a lesson in manners ... It’s a lesson in telling time (small clocks show each hour past as the sun rises and sets across each panel) and size comparison (flying along the small ladybug is shown in comparison to other insects and animals). A great book for storytime; pair with Carle’s other stories The Very Lonely Firefly or The Very Clumsy Click Beetle for a trio of reading fun or sing “Five Little Ladybugs.”

Five little ladybugs climbing on the door

One flew away then there were four
Four little ladybugs sitting on a tree
One flew away then there were three
Three Little ladybugs landed on a shoe
One flew away then there were two
Two little ladybugs looking for some fun
One flew away and then there was one
One little ladybug sitting in the sun
She flew away and then there were none

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis or Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

Other books by this author: A House for a Hermit Crab, “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” Said the Sloth, The Very Lonely Firefly, Opposites, Mister Seahorse, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle and 10 Little Rubber Ducks

The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

What a delight! The concept is simple, but so effective ... as the author explains we experience many types of quiet throughout the day. Taking on a variety of moods this book slowly progresses from the lively, "first one awake quiet" to the subdued; towards the end bedtime-type quiet is described as "story time quiet, tucking in Teddy quiet, bedtime kiss quiet, … sound asleep quiet." This succession makes this book a soothing read for nighttime. The text is composed of simple lines that are easy to read, yet so descriptive ... for instance, "jelly side down quiet" (you can almost imagine the room's silence as the bread hits the floor) or "coloring in the lines quiet" (the peaceful contentment children experience as they color in pictures). There is even a “quietness” found in Liwska’s illustrations, which are soft and subtle perfectly reflective of the subject matter. Underwood’s observations combine the traditional with the unexpected – making this book an excellent conservation starter for parents and educators. For instance, ask children to think up other quiet situations or use this book in conjunction with Underwood’s The Loud Book! and spark a discussion of opposites.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, or The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

Other books by this author: A Balloon for Isabel, Pirate Mom, and The Loud Book!

Other books by this illustrator: Red Wagon and Little Panda

Fortunately

Remy Charlip (1964), 40 pages

Audience: Pre-K

Format: picture book

“Fortunately one day, Ned got a letter that said, ‘please come to a surprise party.’ Unfortunately the party was in Florida and he was in New York. Fortunately a friend loaned him an airplane.” Can you guess what happened next? Well, don’t be so sure …. every other page will keep you on the edge of your seat! As this adventure unfolds, readers can follow along as Ned faces a series of lucky and unlucky coincidences … but, don’t worry this story happens to end on a high note! Throughout the book, Charlip cleverly alternates between fortunate and unfortunate situations resulting in a very exciting and imaginative storyline. Charlip’s illustrations further highlight each opposing scenario by alternating between colorful illustrations (emphasizing the fun, friendly, positive nature of fortune) and gray tones that accentuate the unfortunate circumstances. A very witty twist on the world of opposites, children will love the fanciful and haphazard life Ned leads.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: What's Up Duck?: A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills or That’s Good! That’s Bad! by Margaret Cuyler

Other books by this author: Thirteen, A Perfect Day, Where is Everybody? and Hooray For Me!