The Train Man

Title: The Train Man
Author: Andrea Zimmerman
Illustrator: David Clemesha
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7991-3
Adopt-a-Book Price: $11.62

It is still adopt-a-book month and that means that we still have more picture books looking for love.  In the words of the Train Man "All Aboard!"

Chugga, Chugga, Chugga, Chugga, Choo, Choo.  What little kid doesn't love trains?!  Train Main by Andrea Zimmerman is a beautiful beginning reader for the child who just can't get enough trains.  It tells the story of a young boy who just can't wait to grow up and become a train man.  There are so many things he will do, and so many places to see as he drives the train. 

Plus he knows that even though his brother is too young to say choo-choo now, that when he gets older he'll teach him to say that plus "All Aboard" and then his brother will be a train man too!

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

Title:  The Lorax
Author:  Dr. Seuss
Copyright: 1971

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd, (he would be 108 if he wasn't dead) I will review a pile of Easy Readers as well as a few Dr. Seuss classics, and their movie counterparts. 

The Lorax was originally written in 1971 and teaches children a valuable lesson about protecting the environment.  I have always thought that The Lorax was a happy book since it has a happy ending.  Some children however don't like it because the book feels sad.  The book features the Lorax, a magical creature who speaks for the trees, the Once-ler who's greed leads to the destruction of the Truffala trees and forest, and a young boy (in the movie his name is Ted) who wants to know what happened to the trees.  The book is written in typical Seussical fashion using rhymes and a few made up words here and there. 


If you don't know, the movie version of The Lorax came out on March 2nd 2012.  It features Danny DeVito, Zach Efron, Taylor Swift and a few other big name actors.  The movie takes Dr. Seuss' original book and turns it into an hour and a half long feature film.  Judging by the response of the audience members the movie was a bit too long for children under five.  However, the animations are adorable, and the plot remains mostly the same.  Sadly, what the producers removed from the film was the traditional Seuss language.  I didn't notice any rhyming in the movie and it was severely lacking for that.  All in all though, it was a well done movie and I was very happy that it was animated and didn't feature Jim Carey!

Dave the Potter

Title: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
Author: Laban Carrick Hill
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-316-10731-0

Dave the Potter is a hauntingly simple story written in verse and telling what little we know about a slave who lived in the 1800's named Dave.  "To us it is just dirt, the ground we walk on," but to the potter clay is everything that he lives for.

This week at the library we have been holding our Art Adventures program during Presidents week winter break.  Many of the artists that I have shared with the participants have been well known, Warhol, Picasso, O'Keeffe.  Nothing unusual or surprising, up until Thursday that is.  On Thursday we are celebrating the work of two very different Potters, Dave who lived in South Carolina as a slave, and George Ohr who lived in Biloxi,  The lives of these two men overlapped though they never met.

February is Black History month and today I highly recommend that everyone pick up a copy of Dave the Potter to share with your students, children, or friends.  It tells the remarkable story of a slave who still managed to leave his mark on the world through the poems he etched into his jars.  The illustrations by Bryan Collier show what Dave's studio and life might have looked like.  The details included in the illustrations of Dave throwing pots is mesmerizing and for anyone who has worked with clay will recognize the steps are just right.

"Dave belongs to Mr. Miles/

wher the oven bakes & the pot biles///

--July 31, 1840"

The last few pages contain historical information about Dave's life as a slave, his work as a potter, and his haunting pottery that has left it's mark on the world.  

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.

Big Red Lollipop

Title:Big Red Lollipop
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
ISBN: 978-0-670-06287-4

Do you remember the first birthday party you ever attended?  I sure do there was candy everywhere, pin the tail on the donkey, dancing, and lots of cake.  I wore my fanciest outfit and couldn't wait for mom to leave me at the party. 

Rubina in the Big Red Lollipop is sure to never forget the first birthday party she attends either, especially when her mother insists that her younger sister Sana has to attend also.  What could possibly be worse to a young girl then needing to attend a party with her baby sister?

For children with younger siblings the Big Red Lollipop will be an unforgettable story.  Rukhsana Khan weaves a tale filled with humor, cultural differences, and childhood angst.  While all Rubina wants is to fit in with her classmates, her mother believes in a sticking to the beliefs that she grew up with. 

"I can't take her!  She's not invited."
"Why Not?" says Ami
"They don't do that here!"
Ami says, "Well that's not fair.  You call up your friend and ask if you can bring Sana or else you can't go."
"But Ami!  They'll laugh at me!  They'll never invite me to another party again!"

What Rubina doesn't realize is that the party will only be the beginning of her problems with Sana.  Now you'll have to check out the book in order to figure out what else can possibly go wrong.