Isabella Girl on the Go

Isabella Girl on the Go by Jennifer Fosberry
Illustrated by Mike Litwin
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
2012

     Isabella, the same creative and adventurous girl from My Name is Not Isabella, is back.  This time around Isabella is spending the day in her backyard with her father. She imagines herself as an archaeologist, a queen, an artist, a warrior, and even an astronomer. Along the way, she takes readers on a beautiful journey to some of the most renowned  world monuments and places: the pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, Chichen Izta, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal, among others.
     Her father keeps asking her to help around the backyard, but Isabella has bigger plans and an imagination to take her there.  The illustrations by Litwin are wonderful. There are wonderful details to captivate readers in each page, like the buttons that make Isabella's stuff animal eyes and that reappear throughout the illustrations. Or you can try to figure out where did Isabella get her inspirations for each journey (like the  tomato plant that turns into the Eiffel Tower or the wooden fence that becomes the Great Wall). At the back of the book, there is a description of all the places Isabella visited as well as a list of resources to learn more about them.  Great book to share with all the girls in your life!

Madam President

Madam President by Lane Smith
2008

After reading a book about U.S. Presidents, a little girl imagines/pretends to be Madame President. There are executive orders to give ("More waffles, please"), lunch to approve (brown bag school lunch), babies to kiss (an unexacting baby in his carriage), treaties to negotiate (getting a cat and dog to shake hand), and increasing security during recess. A good president must be diplomatic ("which is why I'm not commenting on that hat"), and tackle press conferences with grace ("C'mon, Tiffany, get real! No comment"). A president has special privileges, like the power to veto bad school cafeteria food, lame school musicals and everything else she feels is just not good enough for the "Head Honcho, Big Cheese!" At the end of a busy day, which also included averting a major disaster (a messy bedroom), the girl lays in her bed exhausted. "Sometimes even a president gets pooped."
Madam President will entertain old and young alike. Its main character is a determined little girl with a lot of knowledge and spunk. Smith's illustrations are great as usual. There's a lot of humor in its pages. I especially like the two page spread with the cabinet which includes Mr. Potato Head as the secretary of agriculture. Great read aloud to introduce the executive power in the lower grades.

Darkness Slipped In

  

Darkness Slipped In by Ella Burfoot
2008

     "Daisy was thinking of a game to play when Darkness slipped in at the end of the day."  She was inside her bedroom, playing around and dancing, too distracted to notice Darkness coming in through the window and spreading out on the floor. "Pretending he wasn't there, he slid along the wall. But Daisy had seen Darkness and she wasn't scared at all."  Darkness took over the room and covered up the light, but Daisy never feared. She had a plan.  She reached and grabbed him by the wrist and made him dance the twist with her.  "Now Darkness comes in every night to dance and laugh and play" until is time to say good night and he lays Daisy down to bed.
   Darkness Slipped In is a beautifully designed bedtime story.  The contrast between the bright pinks of Daisy's room and the slick blacks of Darkness are striking.  Daisy's ability to disarm the Darkness and control her fears are a powerful example for all kids afraid of "lights out" time.  The book's rhymes flow with ease making it a very enjoyable read aloud.  Darkness' characterization and illustration is never scary and its shiny appearance and smooth texture is quite appealing.  Daisy is adorable. This is a wonderful book to share before bedtime.

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)

Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner
Illustrated by Michael Emberley
2010

     Miss Brooks is a librarian who simply loves books. She dresses up for reading circle like the characters in the books so she can get kids as excited about reading as she is. But Missy, a first grader, wants nothing to do with it. She finds the whole thing completely "vexing." It's May and Miss Brooks tells Missy and her classmates that they most find a favorite story, wear a custom, and share it with the rest of the class. Missy has no idea what she's going to do because she finds something wrong with every book Miss Brooks and the other kids read. "They are too kissy," "too pink," and "too silly," she tells her mother. "You're as stubborn as a wart," said her mom. That was the bit of inspiration Missy needed: warts. She finds Shrek! by William Steig and falls in love with with. She dresses up like an ogre and realizes that even a contrarian like her can find something "funny and fantastic and appalling in the library."
     Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) is a wonderful book. Missy is a great character and Emberley's illustrations of the girl are fantastic. Missy's old soul-grunge look is hilarious and her facial expressions are priceless. I really love this book and I'm definitely adding it to my favorites shelf.


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A Pet for Petunia

A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
2011
Ages 3-7

     Petunia really, really, wants a pet.  The problem is that she doesn't want any pet, not a regular, classic pet anyway, like a cat or a dog...she wants a skunk.  Why? Because she doesn't just like skunks, she loves them: "they have cute little noses", "big black eyes," they're "black and white and they have STRIPES!"  For Petunia, skunks are "perfectly awesome."   As you can imagine, her parents want nothing to do with Petunia's pet wish.  She can beg and look as cute as she wants, she won't get a skunk. "Why not?" she asks.  "They stink," say her parents.
     After this statement from her parents, Petunia looses it and gives an intense (and hilarious) speech complaining about the unfairness of their negative response.  It really sounds like it's coming out of a five year old's mouth.  The font starts really big and gets progressively smaller as she runs out of steam and decides that she must "naturally" leave home, because "a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do..."  Funny enough, who should Petunia come across while running from home in the forest but a skunk.  "And with a gasp, Petunia smells the worst smell she has ever smelled in her whole entire life."  She runs back home and decides her stuffed animal skunk will be good enough pet for her...until she sees a porcupine.      
     Petunia is adorable.  Her little purple striped outfit matches perfectly with her love for the striped skunk (maybe I'm just glad to see a girl loving purple instead of pink).  The text flows and the changes in font style and size make it a great guide for a read aloud.  I hope to see more of Petunia.
   

How to Get a Job by Me, the Boss

How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrated by Sue Heap
2011
Ages 4-8

     The Boss is ready to give us some well thought out advice on how to get a job.  OK, so the Boss might not even be out of first grade yet, but she definitely knows what she's talking about. She knows the definition of a job, "A Job is so you can have something to do and get money for your family. And sometimes a Job is so you can get all dressed up and wear your new shoes to work."  She knows what isn't a Job: "Sitting in you chair eating cookies (school is a sort of job because you do homework. Except they don't pay you ANY MONEY.)" She also has plenty of hilarious advice as to the jobs you could have when you grow up:  a Super-Ballerina-Soccer-Mermaid-Fairy Princess, a Cowboy or Explorer and even a Penguin "but that's just silly."  "Except you shouldn't be a Robber. It's not allowed."  The most important advice the Boss has though, is to do something that you love and "something you're GOOD at or no one will want you to do it for them."
     If I tried to describe all the parts I liked of How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss, this will be a very long blog entry. My favorite, and I know I'm being bias here, is the Boss's description of the job of a teacher:

If you are a Teacher,

first you need to find some kids

and make them all come to your School

and Behave.

[...]

Teachers MUST know all the answers

and how to be NOT BORING.

          How to Get a Job...by Me, the Boss is delightful, clever and funny.  It's a great classroom read-aloud with great vocabulary and hilarious illustrations.  I can't wait to check out the other books in this series.

   

   

My Name is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream?

My Name Is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry
Illustrated by Mike Litwin
2010

     Isabella is the coolest girl character I have found in a while.  She dares to dream of becoming anything she chooses, a different exceptional woman every moment of her day.  Just as her mom wakes her up with "Good morning, Isabella", she answers "My name is not Isabella!"  "Then who has been sleeping in my daughter's bed?" asked the mother. "I am SALLY, the greatest, toughest astronaut who ever was!"  Isabella is imagining she is Sally Ride, the first US woman to travel to space.  As her day moves along, Isabella imagines being Annie Oakley, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Elizabeth Backwell, and finally her own mother.
     My Name Is Not Isabella is a perfect book to show girls that there's no limit to what they can accomplish, that they have the capacity to become whatever the set their minds to.  The best thing about My Name Is Not Isabella is that it conveys this message without being "preachy" or overly educational; it's a delight to read and a lot of fun as well.  The illustrations are wonderful and the play/changes on the typography really adds to the story and its message.  At the back of the book there is also short biographies on the amazing historical women that Isabella has dreamed of being.  This is a book to share with all the girls in your life!
   

Mary's Penny

Mary's Penny by Tanya Landman
Illustrated by Richard Holland
2010

     A long, long time ago, there was a farmer.  He had two son, Hans and Franz, and a daughter, Mary.  Hans was beefy and Franz was brawny.  Mary was neither, but she was smart.  But since this story takes place a long time ago, the father completely ignores Mary because she's a girl and there's no place for girls in a farm.  The father is trying to figure out who to leave the farm to when he dies, Hans or Franz.  So he gives each one of the boys a penny and challenges them to buy something with it that would fill the whole house.
     When her brothers fail at their mission -one tries to fill the house with wheat and the other with feathers- Mary approaches her father for her chance to complete the challenge.  Reluctantly, the father hands her his last penny.
     In Mary's Penny, our heroine proves that it doesn't take brawn to run a farm, but brains.  Her way of filling the farm with what she buys with her penny is wonderful. She fills it with light and knowledge.  This is a beautiful book to show the power of brains over muscle and to defeat stereotypes.  The illustrations are captivating.  I loved the mix of textures, drawings and photos.  Great book to share with boys and girls alike.
    

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell
Illustrated by Neal Layton
2007

     Emily has an old stuffed rabbit called Stanley.  He's her best friend and together they embark on great adventures that Emily imagines.  The problem is that the Queen has become obsessed with Stanley, and she really wants him.  She send all sorts of emissaries -who keep interrupting Emily's adventures- to offer gifts in exchange for Stanley.  But Emily makes it very clear she won't trade him at all!  The story builds up, as well as the ammounts offered in exchanged for Stanley.  The repetitious pattern of the emissaries statements from the Queen to Emily are fun to read aloud and to build up the new item added at the end of each list.
     Emily is a very likable character.  She's creative, resolute, and brave.  The way she resolves the conflict is very sweet.  I also, really enjoyed the illustration which are a very interesting mix textures and mediums.  Let's just say I'm really glad to see there are more Emily Brown books published after this one that I can now go check out.

Bink and Gollie

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Illustrated by Tony Fucile
2010

     I've been a DiCamillo fan for a long time (Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux are two of my favorite young adult books), so I was excited to come across a picture book of sorts written by her and McGhee.  I say "of sorts" because it has three chapters, so it doesn't really look like your classic picture book, although it reads like one... albeit a long one.   Anyways, Bink and Gollie  is a wonderfully sweet and funny story about two friends who love each other, though they might not always agree on everything.
     Gollie seems to be a bit older than Bink and more mature. Bink is more of a free spirit, while Gollie is more practical.  The dialogue is spot on and their adventures are very endearing.  The illustrations have a Sunday funnies feeling about them that make the two friends seem familiar.  At the end...I didn't want it to end.  I love those two girls. They are, as Bink would say, "marvelous companions".

The Princess Knight

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer
2001 (First American Edition 2004)

     Violetta's mother, the Queen, died after giving birth to her.  The King is used to training his three sons to be brave knights and doesn't know what to do with Violetta.  So he decides to teach her the same lessons he taught his sons.   The problem is that Violetta is tiny and clumsy and they all make fun of  her.  Violetta starts practicing alone at night.  The King decides to marry Violetta off to the knight that wins a tournament.  Soon all of her new skills will be put to a test as she shows her true worth.
     The Princess Knight is a story about finding your inner strength, believing in yourself and not falling into a mold.  Violetta is a great character to expose to young girls and to read to boys to defeat the stereotype of the weak girl. 

Ladybug Girl

Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis and David Soman
Illustrated by Jacky Davis
2008

     Chances are you've seen a Ladybug Girl book at the library or the bookstore.  There is a now at least five of them out there (including one being released tomorrow Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad).  The thing is, I was very hesitant to pick it up because I'm practically allergic to girlie books...I'm talking about the pink, glitter and princess obsession of the last couple of years...So, I gotta admit, that the Ladybug Girl was a very pleasant surprise.
     Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug) wants to play with her older brother, but he won't include her in his baseball game because she's too little.  Her parents are busy, so she decides to go explore outside and soon realizes that she's not that little and she can have adventures on her own.  She's a very likable character, adventurous, creative and original.  The illustrations are sweet and really help develop Lulu's personality through great facial expressions.  I'm definitely a fan of Ladybug Girl now, and I'm thrilled to have found a book with a cool girl doing the exploring.

Princess Pigsty

Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke
Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer
1997

     I fell in love with Isabella immediately.  She's is a princess who's pampered and tended to all day... and she hates it.  "I am tired of being a princess! It's boring, boring, boring!" "I want to get dirty!"  

     As someone who always disliked girls being called princesses, hated pink, and loved to get down and dirty, this book truly spoke to my inner child.  I can't wait to be able to share this wonderful tale with my daughter!