Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator

Title:  Hooray For Amanda and Her Alligator
Author:  Mo Willems
ISBN: 978-0-06-200400-0
Copyright: 2011

Mo Willems has created some of the most loved, and unusual picture book hero's in recent times.  He is well known for his Knuffle Bunny books, the Elephant and Piggie easy reader series, Pigeon, and Naked Mole Rat.  Now Mo brings us Amanda and Her Alligator!  What is not to love about an adorable (though lengthy) picture book about an Alligator. 

Don't be alarmed,this book is actually 70 pages long.  Most picture books are only 32 pages...  Luckily for all the parents who will need to read Amanda and Her Alligator out loud to their young children, the story is broken up into 6 1/2 separate tales.  Each tale has a very surprising title such as:

1.  A Surprising Surprise

2.  An Un-Surprising Surprise

2.5.  An Extra Surprise

3.  A Surprising Tickle

Well, I am sure you get the point.  I was sold with the first two pages:

"Amanda was at the library getting her books for the week. 

Her alligator was not.

He was waiting for Amanda to get back.

I do not like it when Amanda is gone, though Alligator. 

I am no good at waiting. 

He paced around the room. 

He fiddled with his tail."

This book is sure to be an instant hit for three reasons. 

1 - it features a thoughtful and intelligent female protagonist (Amanda is at the library after all what could be smarter)

2- It features an Alligator who recognizes his inability to wait (Lets be honest how many alligators or children are capable of waiting)

3-  The Alligator is not only a fun interactive friend, but he also contains surprising value.  (Ha now you will need to read the story to learn Alligators true value.) 

I'm not sure there is anything more that I can say to sell this book.  If you need further proof merely look at the picture below.

Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking

Title: Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking
Author: Philippe Coudray
ISBN: 978-1-935179-12-2
Copyright: 2011

Just in time for the holidays comes the amusing antics of Benjamin Bear.  This is one of the newer stories from TOONbooks who also brought us Silly Lilly, Benny and Penny, Little Mouse, and Stinky (all of which are available at the Norway Memorial Library). 

Benjamin Bear attacks life in his very own way.  He is friends with a penguin, a bunny rabbit, and many forest animals.  The book is broken up into short comic strips that are easy to read.  For beginning readers this is a great book to get the "feel of reading" without needing to slog through pages and pages of text.  On the plus side, the reader is sure to laugh at each seperate storyline. 

If you don't believe me that this book is sure to be a winner, come in to the library and check it out.  If your kid doesn't laugh we will give you your money back!  (But lets be honest who could read this whole graphic novel and not laugh once?)

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Title:  Pie
Author: Sarah Weeks
ISBN: 978-0-545-27011-3

What better way to start Thanksgiving week then with a book all about Pie!  Polly Portman lives in a small town.  The book takes place in the 1950's and like all small towns the naming is uncreative.  Polly's pie shop is simply called PIE.  Also like all small towns Polly refuses to accept any money for her pies.  Instead she bakes to make people happy, and the people sure are happy!

That is until Polly dies leaving behind her cat LARDO and her niece and biggest fan Alice.  If a book about all about Pie isn't weird enough just wait until the town finds out that she left her beloved pie recipe to her cat!  Now everyone wants a piece of the cat and the fortune that would come with him. 

This is a quick but well written and emotional book.  Plus each chapter starts with one of Polly Portman's patented pie recipes!