This week – a middle grade favorite. And next week, I’ll be launching a monthly series from published authors entitled “Mining for Heart.” Stay tuned. Title: Pax Written by: Sara Pennypacker Illustrated by: Jon Klassen Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins, 2016, fiction, 288 pages Suitable for ages: 8-12 Lexile: 760 Themes/topics: nature, war, family, relationships, pets, grief Opening: … More Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Another WOW Retreat author is Audrey Vernick. She’s definitely a baseball fan and writes nonfiction as well as fiction picture books. Title: The Kid From Diamond Street, the Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton Written by: Audrey Vernick Illustrated by: Steven Salerno Clarion, HMH, 2016, biography Suitable for ages: 4-7 (easily extends to age 10) … More The Kid From Diamond Street and other Audrey Vernick favorites
Today on PPBF I’m featuring another author participating in the WOW retreat. Jill Esbaum, a rhymer, hits age-old childhood themes in new and creative ways. Title: Teeny Tiny Toady Written by: Jill Esbaum Illustrated by: Keika Yamaguchi Sterling, 2016, fiction, 40 pages Suitable for ages: 4-7 Lexile: AD520 Themes/topics: problem solving, siblings, rescue Opening: (Opening … More Teeny Tiny Toady and other Esbaum favorites
This week’s Perfect Picture Book selection provides a fun project to start off your summer reading program… Title: Dream Something Big, the Story of the Watts Towers Written by: Dianna Hutts Aston. Illustrated by: Susan Roth. Penguin/Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011 Suitable for ages: 5-8 Lexile: AD830 Themes/topics: Art, U.S. National Landmarks, determination, creativity … More Dream Something Big
The title alone is enough to give any parent visions of a giant crayon wreaking havoc on freshly painted walls….. Title: Frankencrayon Written and Illustrated by: Michael Hall Greenwillow, Harper Collins, 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: crayons, monsters, writing, fourth wall Opening: (Title page shows crayons lamenting the cancellation of the book.) Help! … More Frankencrayon
Summer car trip coming up? This Perfect Picture Book Friday selection just might give you a fresh take on it. Title: Are We There Yet? Written and Illustrated by: Dan Santat Little, Brown and Co., 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 3-6 Themes/topics: boredom, trips, space and time Opening: A car trip to visit Grandma is … More Are We There Yet?
Title: The Tree in the Courtyard, Looking Through Anne Frank’s Window Written by: Jeff Gottesfeld Illustrated by: Peter McCarty Random House/Knopf, 2016, fiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 (I would recommend 8-11) Themes/topics: caring, tolerance, Holocaust, trees, WWII Opening: The story opens with a quote from Anne Frank about the tree outside her window. Following the … More The Tree in the Courtyard
As a person who loves the interplay of words, I’m not usually drawn to wordless books. But this one, featuring different points of view, is a wordless gem. … More The Other Side
There IS something truly marvelous about trash pick up. Experience the magic in this week’s Perfect Picture Book selection. Title: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans Written by: Phil Bildner Illustrated by: John Parra Chronicl e Books, 2015, Fiction (based on a true story) Suitable for ages: 5-8 Lexile: AD560L Themes/topics: … More Marvelous Cornelius
Here is a truly beloved classic, guaranteed to invoke contagious giggles.
… More The Monster at the End of This Book
