Funny Picture Book!
Animal Albums from A to Z by Cece Bell
ANIMAL ALBUMS FROM A TO Z by Cece Bell is a collection of 26 poems set to fun-loving tunes that will make you rock, sing along, and want to dance. The hilarity comes into play with the absolutely perfect wordplay in the poetic lyrics. Cece Bell’s humor comes through the tongue-in-cheek-you-can’t-say-THAT! and topics such as “My Aromatic Armpit Is Astonishing to All”. Each poem tune made me giggle and want to read and listen to it again. The songs are period music take-offs. “Sometimes the Soup is Salty” sung by The Sensational Sloth-Boys is reminiscent of the Beach Boys. Each poem is set up in the book’s spreads next to an album cover, which lists other abecedarian song titles. For example, “Rhapsody for a Rogue Rodent” is a love song from a hopeful rat called Rascal Ratt and the Rockabilly Rabbits. The R album features their Revolution Rabies and Radio Riffraff plus other song titles using the /r/ sound like Rotten Old Rhubarb. The book features animals from Arnie Dillow to the Zydeco Zebras (produced by none other than Zucchini Records).
Quite frankly, I could not stop reading and listening. I highly recommend that you add this book to your personal, school, and public library collection. The backmatter “About the Artists” is an added laugh-out-loud bonus if the poetic lyrics and tunes are not enough.
PICTURE BOOKS: JOURNEYS
Tiny Bird: A Hummingbird’s Amazing Journey by Robert Burleigh
Follow Tiny Bird, an aerobatic Ruby-throated hummingbird, in Robert Burleigh’s gorgeous nonfiction picture book, TINY BIRD: A Hummingbird’s Amazing Journey. Told in third person, this lyrical story uses alliteration, onomatopoeia, imagery, and a fun refrain. Readers learn about a hummingbird’s solo flight over farmland, cities, and the Gulf of Mexico encountering predators and storms before reaching its winter home in southern Mexico. Facts woven throughout the text and in Wendell Minor’s evocative illustrations, provide colorful information about size, feeding, and the bird’s perilous flight. Burleigh skillfully conveys the bird’s movements with lyrical text and action words. Endnotes provide super-interesting details about hummingbirds and encourage readers to make their yards hummingbird-friendly. Young readers – and adults alike – will enjoy reading about Tiny Bird’s incredible 1500-mile migration.
Two Bicycles in Beijing by Teresa Robeson
Teresa Robeson’s charming picture book is clever, fresh, and provides a lyrical look at a Beijing, China. It begins in a bike factory where two bikes, Lunzi (the red bicycle) and Huangche (yellow) meet. The two leave the factory together to live in a shop where they lean on each other and watch from a bike shop window. As one would expect, the two friends get separated when purchased. Robeson does an excellent job of creating a kid-relatable Lunzi’s heartfelt journey of separation. Readers are taken on a lyrical ride through iconic landmarks and activities in Beijing as the red bike goes on a quest to find his friend. Throughout the story, Robeson also skillfully introduces readers to many Mandarin Chinese words. The lovely resolution arrives with joyful discovery. This picture book invites curiosity about the visual and cultural hallmarks of Beijing and is a must for every bookshelf!
Book Spine Poetry
Book spine poetry is made by arranging titles to create a poem.
REIMAGINING By Joyce Uglow
The Path, Wonder Walkers
Tenacious, Wild, Winter
A Walk in the Woods
Animals in Surprising Shades
Animals in Pants
Saving the Sun
What You Need to Be Warm
Over and Under the Canyon
Hop to It
Keep Moving
Pause. Breathe. Be.
Think
What is Hope?
Wonder
What is a Family?
You. Me. We.
Change Sings
Welcome to the Wonder House
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