Zen Shorts

Jon J. Muth (2005), 36 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

This 2006 Caldecott Honoree introduces three siblings, Michael, Karl, and Addy to Stillwater a gentle giant panda who arrives unexpectedly in their backyard after being carried away by his umbrella; Stillwater’s Mary Poppins-esc arrival only adds to the character’s mysticism. With a friendly demeanor Stillwater addresses each child in a congenial way and builds special friendships by imparting knowledge and guidance through a series of Zen inspired tales. According to Muth “Zen shorts are short meditations … they have no goal, but they often challenge us to reexamine our habits, desires, concepts, and fears.” Using Stillwater’s character of tranquility and serenity Muth effectively translates traditional Zen Buddhist literature in a thought-provoking and accessible ways. Muth’s text and watercolor-ink illustrations are endearing and capture Stillwater’s message of patience, contemplation, and humility perfectly. Zen Shorts is an excellent read; it functions both as a storybook of friendship and meditation. The lovable and enchanting character Stillwater reappears in the author’s similarly inspired books, Zen Ties and Zen Ghosts … where once again, Muth approaches challenging and provocative subject matter with ease and benevolence.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Zen Tales: Up and Down by Peter Whitfield, Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean, or The Value of Honesty: The Story of Confucius by Spencer Johnson

Other books by this author: The Three Questions (Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy), Old Turtle and the Broken Truth, Stone Soup, Zen Ghosts, and Zen Ties

Spork

Kyo Maclear (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Constantly neglected Spork is lonely. Forks, spoons, knives, even chopsticks make their way to the dining table ... but never Spork. Born from a fork father and a spoon mother he was both a little round and a little pointy. Although his parents loved him as he was, Spork wanted to be easily identifiable, to be just one thing or another. After awhile, he decides to become more fork-like, but he still doesn’t fit in because all the other forks think he’s too round. Later, he tries to be a spoon, but that fails because he’s too pointy. Spork desperately wants to belong. Every night he wistfully watches from a distance as spoons play games and forks rake, mash, and twirl. Later they all enjoy a bubble bath in the sink. But, all that changes when the messy thing arrives. Food was flung here and there, everywhere ... spoons were tossed and forks were bent. "This messy thing smeared and spilled and flung and clumped and dripped without a care.” In all the chaos, Spork realizes he finally has a purpose – he was the perfect tool, a bit of both fork and spoon! Grabbing Spork, the messy thing shrieks with delight waving him around ... at last Spork has found his purpose! Being suitable for baby is the story of how Spork “finally and happily found his way to the table.”

Arsenault’s illustrations are so expressive the utensils seem animated. Her color palette is pale and muted mostly gray, white and pastel blue-green. However, she adds a sense of drama as the “messy thing” enters the story and dashes of bright crimson red flash across the pages. Author, Maclear born to British and Japanese parents revels in her own spork-ness; she presents a creative and fun

story for children to enjoy everywhere regardless of cutlery heredity. This story is a great lesson in learning how to appreciate differences in each other and oneself, may appeal especially to children with biracial backgrounds.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Zero by Kathryn Otoshi, or Only One You by Liinda Kranz

Other books by this illustrator: Migrant and Mr. Gauguin’s Heart, and Bonjour Les Hirondelles

TumbleBooks: eBooks for kids

300 + titles, 160 games

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: website

TumbleBooks a library collection of eBooks for kids, “created by adding animation, sound, music, and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you” (TumbleBooks, Inc., 2011). This collection is impressive, easily navigated, sorted by author, title, and reading level (displays include a book’s cover, synopsis, basic bibliographic information, and reviews). One of the nicest features is that users can personalize their account by selecting favorites and adding items to playlists. These eBooks are engaging and entertaining to watch and will appeal to a young audience. The web site offers other interactive elements such as quizzes, games, and language learning (books in Spanish and French), but the books are available offline as well, users can install TumblePad 2.0 software for Macs or PC to access the books.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this resource, you may like: NOOKbooks for kids produced by Barnes&Noble or iPad eBooks and apps for kids

Moo, Baa, La La La!
Sandra Boynton (1982), 8 pages

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: board book

“Moo, Baa, La, la, la” – sounds like a cow, a sheep, and three singing pigs? Hold on a minute, somehow that doesn’t seem right … I thought pigs said: “Oink?”

Boynton’s unique brand of humor is infectious and pure joy for both children and adults! Her cartoon illustrations are extensions of her witty storylines – this artwork provides personality and character to her books. Hilarious and clever, Boynton has landed a winning combination, entertaining both reader and child. This book will definitely appeal to young children with its rhyming cadence and simple concept (animal sounds). An ideal book for young children who are learning about animals - they can participate by naming the animals and saying the sounds aloud. This best selling book is also available in Spanish titled Muu, Beee, ¡Asi Fue! Try pairing this book with a boisterous round of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" during storytime.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O
With a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" there
Here a "moo" there a "moo"
Everywhere a "moo-moo"
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a pig, E-I-E-I-O
With a (snort) here and a (snort) there
Here a (snort) there a (snort)
Everywhere a (snort-snort)
With a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" there
Here a "moo" there a "moo"
Everywhere a "moo-moo"
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a horse, E-I-E-I-O
With a "neigh, neigh" here and a "neigh, neigh" there
Here a "neigh" there a "neigh"
Everywhere a "neigh-neigh"
With a (snort) here and a (snort) there
Here a (snort) there a (snort)
Everywhere a (snort-snort)
With a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" there
Here a "moo" there a "moo"
Everywhere a "moo-moo"
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Cow that Went Oink by Bernard Most, The Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brow, or Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Other books by this author: A to Z, Belly Button Book, Blue, Hat, Green Hat, Hippos Go Berserk, Doggies, The Going to Bed Book, Opposites, & many more

Whose Toes are Those?

Jabari Asim (2006), 12 pages

Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: board book

“Who do you suppose has such fine toes?” I wonder … who could it be? Without ruining the surprise you’ll know for sure at the book’s end! Poet, playwright, and author Jabari Asim creates a wonderfully joyous book filled with fun-loving rhymes. He explores feet in a whole new way by taking a creative spin on the traditional rhyme “This Little Piggy Went to Market” where children are encouraged to explore and discover their toes – a popular subject for babies. As babies grow they explore the world around them; some of the first few things they discover are hands and feet. Pham’s original illustrations were drawn graphite sketches digitally painted with computer tools, resulting in vibrant and bubbly pictures. Her images are bright and cheerful complimenting Asim’s poetry perfectly. Author and illustrator pair up again in Asim’s Whose Knees are These? For more reading fun combine these storybooks with a rowdy song of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” Babies and toddlers will love this combination!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes by Annie Kubler, Where is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz or Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Other books by this author: Boy of Mine, Girl of Mine, and Whose Knees are These?

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do You See?

Bill Martin Jr. (2003), 14 pages

Illustrated by Eric Carle

Audience: babies

Format: board book

Two great children’s authors Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle have come together to create a very popular series of “what do you see” books. These books are great fun for babies. Filled with repetitious and cumulative text makes this an easy read and especially enjoyed by babies who follow along and anticipate the next lines. This popular series began with Martin’s Brown, Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? which teaches children about colors and animals. All of these books are unique in the animals they represent however Panda Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See? features all endangered animals. Examples include water buffalo, spider monkey, green sea turtle, macaroni penguin, and the red wolf. Carle’s illustrations are done in his signature collage-style with bold colors and primitive perspective capturing the essence of each animal. At the end of the book, children are treated to a re-cap of all the animals which effectively works to practice all that they’ve learned. This series translates well to a board book format, which is more accessible for babies.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy or My Very First Book of Animal Sounds by Eric Carle

Other books by this author: The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael R. Sampson, A Beasty Story, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Maestro Plays, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Dim Sum for Everyone

Grace Lin (2001), 28 pages

Audience: toddlers

Format: picture book

Who wants some dim sum? Everyone will after reading Lin’s book Dim Sum for Everyone. Join a family with three little girls as they go out for a tantalizing meal at a Chinese dim sum restaurant. A series of little dishes are served from carts straight to the table. Diners get to point and choose each dish; mouthwatering sweet pork buns, fried shrimp, turnip cakes, sweet tofu, and egg tarts are paraded before the reader. Ma-Ma, Ba-Ba, and all three daughters have their favorites. So everyone chooses a little dish to share “we eat a little bit of everything; everyone eats a little bit of everything.” Whether you eat out frequently or are going for the first time - it’s never too early to teach kids about new cuisines. In addition, Lin includes some historical background on dim sum’s evolution, translation, and customs. Lin’s illustrations are bold and patterned; primary colors dance across the page appealing to young children. Traditional Chinese ingredients (ginger, daikon, bok choy, taro, etc.) and other dim sum dishes (dumplings, stuffed eggplant, rice noodles) even decorate the endpapers … yummy! Parents might want to use this book in a preliminary discussion of food; for example go to the grocery store and point out new vegetables or ingredients. Expand your palette and your child’s vocabulary at the same time!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Bee-Bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park or Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger

Other books by this author: Fortune Cookie Fortunes, Kite Flying, Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Lissy’s Friends, and Olvina Flies, and Robert’s Snowflakes