Iggy Peck Architect

Andrea Beaty (2007), 32 pages

Illustrated by David Roberts

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Ignacious Peck is a born architect. At the age of two he was building towers out of “nappies and glue.” By age three he could build churches with steeples, temples, and more! He could build anything really using materials of all kinds from backyard dirt to apples, and pancakes … Iggy was a self-made architect. However, his success comes to a screeching halt when he meets Miss Lila Greer a second grade teacher (frightened by heights and tall buildings). She forbids any talk about architecture and upon such news Iggy’s “heart sank to floor … now second grade was a bore.” Luckily though while out on a class hike and picnic … Iggy saves the day. How may you ask? Why with shoestrings and skill … a bridge appears saving his classmates and Miss Lila Greer! With new appreciation for building ingenuity, Miss Greer happily welcomes Iggy Peck and talks of building from Rome to Quebec back in her classroom again. Full of quirky rhymes and creative verse, Beaty’s book is a gem and a great read-aloud book for adults and kids. Roberts’s illustrations are outstanding. His attention to detail, use of pattern and texture is hypnotic – long after reading you’ll pour over these pages again and again picking out new details each time. This is a book kids will go nuts for ... with just one read you’re guaranteed to fall in love with Iggy Peck, Architect!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Art by Patrick McDonnell, The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, or Into the Sky by Ryan Ann Hunter

Other books by this author: When Giants Come to Play, Doctor Ted, Firefighter Ted, Hide and Sheep, and Cicada Summer

Little Blue and Little Yellow

Leo Lionni (1959), 40 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Written as a tribute to his two young grandchildren, Lionni’s first book Little Blue and Little Yellow is truly a satisfying read. Little blue loves playing with his friends, especially little yellow who lives across the street. One day, little blue goes looking for his best friend. After looking everywhere, little blue finally stumbles upon little yellow and they are so happy to see each other they hug and hug until they turn green! The two friends, now as little green have an adventurous day out playing in the park, running through tunnels, climbing mountains … exhausted they return home. But to their parents’ dismay, little blue and little yellow are gone – only little green remains. Saddened little blue and yellow cry themselves to pieces (little blue and yellow pieces) until “they finally pull themselves together” and return home to their parents. Mama blue and papa blue are so thrilled to see little blue – they hug and kiss him and hug little yellow too … but in doing so, they become green. Realizing what had happened, they go over to their neighbors to share the news with mama yellow and papa yellow and both families rejoice! Lionni’s use of simple language and minimal graphics make this a book young children can enjoy. At first glance, Little Blue and Little Yellow is a clever personification of color theory, but beneath that it illustrates the bond of friendship, acceptance of oneself, and racial unity.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Press Here by Hervé Tullet or Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Other books by this author: Geraldine, the Music Mouse, A Flea Story, In the Rabbitgarden, Let’s Play, and Matthew’s Dream

A Very Special House

Ruth Krauss (1953), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

This a story of a very special house,

“I know a house –

it’s not a squirrel house

it’s not a donkey house

– it’s not a house you’d see –

and it’s not in any street

and it’s not in any road –

oh it’s just a house for me Me ME.”

Step inside a little boy’s day dreamy world … and what will you find? A turtle, a rabbit, a lion eating chairs, some monkeys, some snunkeys, and more! Children’s books are unique; they are sometime silly, strange, even absurd – a total departure from ordinary adult literature. Here in lies the beauty, literature written for children is imaginative and fantastical. These books give readers a chance to get into character, act out, create noise, stay creative, and be ridiculous. A Very Special House takes full advantage of all those aforementioned aspects of storytelling resulting in a charismatic story from start to finish. Krauss’s text begs to be read a-loud with its funky poetic cadence, nonsensical words, run-on sentences, and rhymes. Exuding charm throughout, both author and illustrator produced a story full of whimsical details. Sendak’s illustrations are captivating and sweet; almost as through drawn straight from one’s own imagination ... delicate black line drawings dance around the page while only the little boy is blocked in color. Using his limited palette and creative genius Sendak captures a child’s jubilant and imaginative nature. Reissued in 2001 by HarperCollins, this 1954 Caldecott honoree is now readily available making it possible for more children to curl up with this classic storybook!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson or I Want to Paint My Bathroom Blue by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak

Other books by this author: Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead, The Happy Egg, And I Love You, Big & Little, and Open House for Butterflies

Bella and Stella Come Home

Anika Denise (2010), 40 pages

Illustrated by Christopher Denise

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Husband and wife team, Anika and Christopher Denise work in unison to create a gorgeous and thoughtful picture book. It’s moving day for a young girl named Bella. Holding Stella, her yellow stuffed elephant, Bella makes her way to the new house. As the duo check out their new home, they compare it to the old one … “Stella and I walk into the kitchen. It’s yellow. Our old kitchen was blue. Stella thinks kitchens should be blue. I do to.” The narrative reads like a true conversation and reflects a child’s mindset of uncertainty, doubt, and fear when moving. Stella the elephant alternates between being a small stuffed animal and a giant life-size elephant … a testament to the way a child might imagine her friend. Christopher Denise’s illustrations capture a range of emotion from a child’s worry (as Bella rides away in the car), fear (of sleeping in a new place), curiosity (touring the new house), and joy (meeting new friends) beautifully. There is a soft sensibility to the illustrations (almost comfort) especially as the soft pastel palette moves from day to night, –the images are luminous. Perhaps color and style were conscientious choices, as the subject of moving to a new neighborhood is often scary – this book feels like a warm pink-yellow hug. The author’s simple and poignant language keeps this a story even young preschoolers can understand. I also find her inclusion of Stella (the elephant) quite amusing; perhaps a characterization of the popular idiomatic expression “elephant in the room.” A wonderful story from start to end – and perfect choice for kids making new transitions and new friends.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Zuxu’s Wishing Cake by Linda Michelin, Rosa’s Room by Barbara Bottner, or We’re Moving (First-Time Stories) by Heather Maisner

Other books by this author: Pigs Love Potatoes

Other books by this author: Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat

Olivia

Ian Falconer (2000), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book and television show

Falconer first introduced Olivia, a spunky confident, and precocious little piglet in 2000 and it was love at first read! Through a very limited palette of charcoal grays and splashes of red, Falconer invites us into Olivia’s world; a world where she imagines all kinds of things (like singing at the opera, painting masterpieces, building sandcastles, etc). From the onset, Olivia is lively, self-assured, and “good at a lot of things” --her personality and charm materialize page after page. She has so much energy sometimes, she wears her mother out, but her mother loves her anyway and Olivia replies: “I love you anyway too.” She also has a passion for books often negotiating with her parents how many bedtime stories she’ll get (print motivation) … a great read for a spirited youngster! Winning a Caldecott Honor in 2001 launched this fun-loving character into popularity and now ten years later has become a bestselling series. Falconer has authored several other Olivia-themes books which have since inspired a television show, products, a website (recipes, games, activities), even a fan club.

Olivia, the television show (based on Falconer’s picture books) produced by Chorion began airing episodes in 2009. The animated series focuses primarily on Olivia and her family. Characters include Mom, Dad, brother Ian, baby brother William, cat Edwin and dog Perry, and others, such as school classmates, teacher, grandmother, etc). Plots focus on typical family life, Olivia’s daydreaming adventures, talents, and behavior. This show captures Olivia’s independent spirit, affinity for red clothing, active imagination, and ingenuity well –and yes, she still manages to be full of opinions too! Frequently Olivia quotes her life lessons or “rules of life.” For instance, in episode Olivia and the Crystal Ball she tries to hid baby William unsuccessfully … resulting in “Rule #4: If you really want to hide your baby brother, change his diaper first.” Released in 15-30 minute segments, this program is easy viewing for preschoolers. In addition, each episode includes two shorts (usually small clips of amusing or funny vignettes). Olivia’s outgoing nature and exuberance is infectious. Whether read as a storybook or viewed online, Olivia is a character young children everywhere will enjoy!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird, Eloise by Kay Thompson, or Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor

Other books by this author: Olivia Saves the Circus, Olivia … and the Missing Toy, Olivia Forms a Band, Olivia Counts, Olivia’s Opposites, Olivia Helps with Christmas, and Olivia Goes to Venice

If you liked this television show, you may like: Max and Ruby, The Backyardigans, or Ni Hao Kai-Lan

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

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)