Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post features a man of seemingly endless talents, author /illustrator Don Tate. Looking forward to meeting him at the WOW retreat and learning about his process, with text and art! Title: It Jes’ Happened, When Bill Traylor Started to Draw Written by: Don Tate Illustrated by: R. Gregory Christie Lee and … More It Jes’ Happened and more from Don Tate
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
Another author I’m thrilled to meet at the Week of Writing (WOW) Retreat is Barb Rosenstock. I’ve already started my list of questions for her. What an amazing writer! It’s hard to choose just two favorites… Title: Dorothea’s Eyes, Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth Written by: Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by: Gerard DuBois Calkins Creek, 2016, … More Dorothea’s Eyes and The Noisy Paintbox
Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post features two books from Duncan Tonatiuh. … More Separate is Never Equal and Diego Rivera, His World and Ours
How much do you know about the puzzling platypus? Title: Platypus Written by: Sue Whiting Illustrated by: Mark Jackson Candlewick Press, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 5+ Themes/topics: animals, nature, Australia Opening: Beyond the snaking bend in the creek, where the water lazes in a still green pool, a scraggly gum tree perches on the … More Platypus
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
Go beyond planes, trains, and automobiles! Check out this week’s fascinating “Perfect Picture Book.” Title: The Secret Subway Written by: Shana Corey Illustrated by: Red Nose Studio Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 4-8 (I would say 5+) Lexile: AD810 Themes/topics: history, New York City, subways, invention Opening: Welcome to … More The Secret Subway
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?
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 