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It’s a Busload of Pigeon Books!
by Mo Willems

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busloadofpigeonbooks

Did you know that this April, the Pigeon turned 10?

In honor of the Pigeon’s 10th birthday, this special edition It’s a Busload of Pigeon Books! has been released. The cute bus makes a sturdy box for three favorites:

  • Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
  • Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!
  • The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!

pigeon

The books are sturdy hardcover, and a fun size (about 6 x 6). In addition to the books, they come with a poster which can be hung on a wall or the reverse side is an activity sheet.

This would be a GREAT new baby or 1st birthday gift to help build a child’s home library, or for any birthday up through 6 or 7.

Z is for Moose

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I “know” Paul O. Zelinksy as the illustrator of Emily Jenkins’ Toys Go Out books (linked to my post declaring my undying love for the books after I read the second in the series). Those books have a nice cover in color, and a few full-page black-and-white line drawings throughout. The artwork is cool, but the highlight of those books is the sparkling text.

However, in Z Is for Moose, written by Kelly Bingham, Zelinksky’s artwork and Bingham’s text are seamlessly integrated, creating a one-of-a-kind experience.

Before I had even read one word of it, I was charmed by the illustration on the pages before the title page (which I’m sure have a name, but I know it not). It gives the reader a peek at the characters, like a curtain being raised on a play.

It starts off as your typical picture book. A nice clear picture and “A is for Apple,” but what is that zebra doing peeking into the frame? B and C are business as usual, but “D is for Moose” has the moose posing proudly and the zebra referee saying “You are on the wrong page,” and pushing him out of the frame causing “E is for Elephant” to say “Look out!”

The moose continues through, trying to find his place, with the zebra continually admonishing him to move. By the time he gets to the M page (making cameo appearances on most of the other pages leading up to it, even saying on L “Here it comes!”), he is shocked to find that “M is for Mouse.”

He throws a tantrum, upsetting O, P, and Q, and takes a crayon in his own hand hoof, adding antlers to R’s Ring and S’s Snake as Zebra works hard to protect the other entries. When Moose realizes that he’s not going to be in the book, and it’s too late, Zebra takes pity on him and shares his own entry with his friend.

I give this book my high recommendation. It’s not for preschoolers only. The same set who enjoy Mo Willems ‘and Melanie Watt’s work will likely want this book on their “keep forever” shelf.

Jennifer Donovan loves reading and equally loves putting a wonderful book in the hands of an adult or child. She blogs at Snapshot.

Cybils Nominees with Emotional Intelligence

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I’ve been sharing Cybils Award nominees in the fiction picture book category lately, because I’ve been immersed in this reading and loving it. Several titles have popped out at me for their attention to more serious emotional experiences and their wonderful, gentle approaches for young readers.

While shyness may not seem like a huge deal to adults, for some children, its seriousness is a familiar challenge. With Anna Alter’s Disappearing Desmond, the idea of differing temperaments is handled with grace and fun, never making a judgment statement on either being shy or gregarious. This is simply the story of a friendship that benefits two children in unique ways for each of them, and it is told in a comforting tone that I imagine would appeal to more reserved kids. In a similar vein, Willow’s Whispers by Lana Button depicts a child who simply cannot find a loud enough voice to make her wishes and desires known, so unfortunately, she ends up sitting alone for lunch and doesn’t get served the type of juice that she really likes by the teacher. Willow’s thoughtful attempts at expressing herself loud enough to be heard are encouraging and affirming.

When families with young children find themselves dealing with a death of a loved one, they often turn to books as a way to help children understand and process their emotions. Two Cybils nominees address this issue in different ways, but both beautifully and lovingly. Grandma’s Gloves by Cecil Castellucci, is a realistic story of a young girl whose grandmother has passed away. Their very close relationship is heartwarming, and they often spent much of their time gardening together. This bond helps the girl and her mother work through their emotions following her death. In a more subtle manner, death and loss is also dealt with in Mo Willems’ City Dog, Country Frog, with gorgeous illustrations by John J. Muth. The story progresses over a year in which the dog remains vibrantly young, but the frog’s much shorter lifespan is nearing its end. The energy of this story is conveyed through its simple text and perfectly emotive illustrations. (Full disclosure- I watched the clock turn to midnight on 10/1 so that I could be the one with the honor of nominating City Dog, Country Frog— one of my favorites from this year.)

If you’re looking for more picture books that have been nominated this year, please visit the Fiction Picture Book page and browse the titles. The finalists will be announced on January 1, and I hope to share more from my growing pile in the coming weeks.

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Dawn’s fascination with picture books is indulged each and every day with her kids. Their adventures, bookish and not, can be found at my thoughts exactly.

Mailbox Monday — June 21

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The Printed Page invites bloggers to share what books have come into their house each week. You don’t have to be a book blogger — just a reader. You can share books that you received as gifts (as I did below), that you ordered for yourself, or that you received for review. Keep reading to see what we received, and check out the other Mailbox Monday participants at The Printed Page.

But beware, just like our What’s on Your Nightstand carnival that takes place tomorrow (and the 4th Tuesday of each month), Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

CARRIE

  • A review copy of Accidental Cowgirl: Six Cows, No Horse and No Clue arrived this past week. I’ll be participating in a book tour featuring this title, which captured my imagination and I’m really looking forward to it.

  • I was excited to see Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance arrive in my mailbox. I had read the new Bonhoeffer biography by Metaxas earlier in the year (click on that title to read my review) and LOVED it. It definitely whetted my appetite to learn more about this extremely interesting man so I’m looking forward to diving in to that one! Since I indulged you guys in a Bonhoeffer title around these parts already, I”ll likely review this new one over at Reading to Know. So keep a lookout over there if you are interested!

JENNIFER

  • Of Bees and Mist: A Novel by Erick Setaiwan — This book arrived quickly after I requested it last week, and I’m absolutely not sure what to think of it. It’s what I call a genre-buster. I love it when books totally surprise me as the other genre-buster I read did. I think that this one either won’t work for me, or I’ll love it. Anyone read it?
  • Kyle (6) had a birthday party this week, and a few new books came into our house that way. His favorite that we’ve already read more than once is Never Take a Shark to the Dentist: and Other Things Not to Do.
  • I bought him a few of Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books for an upcoming road trip (using amazon’s buy 3 get one free promotion, which is awesome!). We “discovered” them last year, and they had the perfect level of silly and simple for him. Though he’s quite a good reader now, he isn’t ready (or willing) to sit and read a long book. But he will read Elephant and Piggie, so it’s a good way to spend my book bucks. I buy hardbacks in these, and they are definitely ones that will end up in the “save for the grandchildren” box.

Most of the other books that have come into my house this week have been via NetGalley. I’m stocking up my Kindle for my month of e-reading self-challenge. There are a few that I’m really excited about:

  • Annexed comes out in October from Houghton Mifflin books for Children. It’s a YA title that looks at Anne Frank’s story from Peter’s perspective.
  • Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick is supposed to be a sort of mirror image of Henry James’ The Ambassadors, so perhaps I’ll read it as well for our Classics Bookclub before the November release date. But Henry James? Seems a little weighty. Any thoughts on this idea?
  • I downloaded The Genius Wars from NetGalley this week. It’s the 3rd in a series, and releases in August. My 11-year-old daughter got Catherine Jinks’ Evil Genius and Genius Squad from the library for our driving trip. I’m hoping she’ll fill in any gaps for me, and I’ll just read/review the 3rd one, but it seems like a great series for kids.


Each Tuesday we have a different meme that you join in, from Kids’ Picks to What’s on Your Nightstand, to a Children’s Classics challenge. Join Us!

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Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

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From Jennifer: I am so happy to announce our newest team member here at 5 Minutes for Books. Dawn has written a few guest reviews for us, and since I was looking for someone other than me to review popular fiction (because the survey indicated that you wanted more fiction reviews, and I hope you’ve noticed the change). Find out more about her — and the rest of us — at Who Are We?.

I feel obligated to be completely honest, right from the start of this review, by stating that I love Mo Willems’ books. L-O-V-E them. I have my favorites, of course, but all in all, I haven’t come across a book by Mo that I haven’t enjoyed reading aloud. (And yes, in my imagination, we’re on a first name basis- that’s the level of my fandom.) Mo has an incredible knack at creating absurd little characters, such as a pigeon who wishes to drive a bus, a dinosaur who doesn’t realize that she should be extinct, and an adorable little monster whose only wish is to scare the tuna salad out of someone. I get the sense that this guy truly understands the preschool set. Maybe it’s my history of teaching preschool, but so many of these characters leap off the page at me as absolutely spot-on for the four year olds that I have known in my time. What I like best is what my son coined the ‘freak out’ page that is pretty common among his titles– again, what says preschooler better than a good old freak out?

So, when I learned that he would be releasing a new picture book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, I knew that I would have to own it immediately. This new offering does not disappoint. He chose for his characters, what could arguably be the funniest named creatures one can find in the small mammal house at the zoo. Clearly, his trademark humor shines through, and I have found that this humor reaches across all ages, making for a book that children like to hear and adults don’t mind reading again and again.

I can wholeheartedly recommend checking out this latest book by one of my entire family’s favorite children’s authors, and if you’re interested, feel free to check out a personal funny story involving our recent visit to Mo Willems on his book tour.

No surprise here: this picture book has a very special place on our list of 5 Star Reads.

Dawn is most likely holding a book in her hands this very moment. She can be found blogging away at my thoughts exactly.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

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5M4B disclosure

mrtigergoeswildIn the opening pages of Peter Brown’s new picture book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, a city of animals is portrayed, but these animals are not what children would likely expect. They walk upright, carrying themselves with obvious poise, and they are dressed quite smartly in suits and long dresses, fancy hats atop their heads (made especially, one would think, to accommodate their horns and ears). In the brown and gray tableau of a busy street, one not-at-all happy face stands out in bright orange- Mr. Tiger.

Though he continues to act in the proper way, Mr. Tiger is clearly tired of this way of life. He longs to shed this straight-laced demeanor… and get a little wild. So he does just that. In a brilliant two page spread, Mr. Tiger, dressed in his suit, bow-tie, and top hat, appears four times, first from the waist up, then from the chest up, followed by the neck up, until finally only a bit of his face and hat can be seen. As his image “shrinks,” observant readers will notice his eyes looking all around, as if to see if anyone is watching. With the turn of a page, Mr. Tiger can now be seen poised on all fours, just as a tiger would be in the wild. Seriously brilliant!

As the story progresses, Mr. Tiger does more than just walk on all fours, and the reactions from the other animals residing in the city aren’t exactly positive. Mr. Tiger makes a bold decision in his attempts to get a little wild, but will this bring the happiness that he was longing for? In the end, Mr. Tiger discovers a perfect “happy medium” path that works for him, and for others in the city, as well.

For parents and educators who enjoy pairing picture books for compare/contrast discussions, I couldn’t help but be reminded of similar thematic elements in Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems, making these two a perfect duo to read together.

I’m a huge fan of Peter Brown’s previous picture books The Curious Garden and Children Make Terrible Pets, and this one only added to my delight with his style in writing and illustrating. I’d highly recommend you and your kids get wild with Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.

Hiding Phil

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5M4B disclosure

hiding_philWith the opening words, “Look! An elephant!” the book Hiding Phil sets a playful and amusing tone, as three cute young children come upon a hat-wearing elephant waiting at a bus stop. The fun continues on in Eric Barclay’s new picture book for preschoolers when the children realize that they have an elephant-sized problem on their hands.

The kids have a blast hanging out with Phil, who doesn’t talk, but whose name was luckily on his luggage tag. He’s perfectly sized to enhance their play, and he’s good at jump rope twirling, acting as a slide, and holding one side of the seesaw down. With happiness all around, the little girl in the group declares that their parents will just LOVE Phil. With one page turn, readers witness everyone’s simultaneous realization that this will not likely be the case. (This part is my favorite two-page spread of the book, and my kids cracked up to see all the widened eyes… even the rubber ducky in the kiddie pool!)

Here’s where the title of the book comes in, and the children’s attempts at hiding Phil the pachyderm are comical, but sadly ineffective. What will happen when their parents do indeed discover Phil? Well, I won’t tell you exactly that, but trust me when I say that your kids will have smiles on their faces as they reach the end of this book.

There’s a simplicity to the text and illustrations that is charming and reminiscent of one of my favorite author/illustrators, Mo Willems. Though even my seven- and five year old children loved this book, I would most highly recommend it for the three year old crowd, for it’s short length and vibrant illustrations. Hiding Phil brings giggles to a wholly fun read aloud experience with young children!

The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books

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bnguidechildrensbooksChoosing quality children’s literature can be a tricky task, whether you’re searching the library shelves for something to read with your own child or looking to purchase a gift for a friend’s little one. While there are no limits to the numbers of book blogs offering suggestions (including us!), even those of us who adore children’s books like to consult an expert once in a while, too. Kaylee N. Davis, a children’s book specialist and literary agent, has compiled an incredible collection of titles to recommend in The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books.

As an early childhood educator and a children’s lit lover myself, I was thrilled to not only recognize every character on the front and back cover, but also to turn the pages in this book and be reminded of so many fabulous books. The guide is broken down in sections by age and unique genres: Newborn to 2 Years; Picture Books Ages 2-6; Chapter Book Series Ages 6-8; Middle Grade Readers Ages 8-12; Innovative Formats; Fairy Tales, Folktales & Anthologies; Poetry; Growing Up; and Nonfiction & Reference, featuring only the “best of the best.” I appreciated the fact that there is a good mixture of work by contemporary authors along with many classic pieces of children’s literature, ensuring that lots of familiar titles will be seen along with many recommendations likely unfamiliar to new parents.

Let me reassure you that this is not simply a collection of titles, for each recommendation features full-color cover images as well as an informative description of each book. Each section also contains essays by beloved authors in that reading level or genre. Parents of toddlers will be happy to see an essay by Sandra Boynton on her influences as a writer, and picture book fans will smile when reading Kevin Henkes express his joy at being an author. Even one of my own personal favorites, Mo Willems, makes an appearance, in an essay that reminded me to encourage my children’s efforts in drawing and writing stories of their own.

If you’re looking for a gift for a new parent, or even an end-of-the-school-year gift for a children’s book loving teacher, be sure to check out The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books, a guide that will surely be welcomed on any kid-lit fan’s shelf.

Dawn loves reading and talking about children’s literature almost as much as reading the actual books to children. Every summer, Dawn highlights five picture books of the week on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Who Done It? edited by Jon Scieszka

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Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? That man is Herman Mildew.

The anthology opens with an invitation to a party, care of this insufferable monster, where more than 80 of the most talented, bestselling and recognizable names in YA and children’s fiction learn that they are suspects in his murder. All must provide alibis in brief first-person entries. The problem is that all of them are liars, all of them are fabulists, and all have something to hide…

I would highly recommend Who Done It? to anyone who reads a lot of YA fiction, and especially those who are major fans of the authors. It is slightly long, with over 70 different authors’ takes on why they did not kill editor Herman Mildew (even though most of them are suspect in some way, and almost all admit to wanting him dead). But I can’t think of one entry that I would have deleted.

As I said, if you are a YA insider, then you’ll love the in jokes (In her entry Emily Jenkins, a beloved children’s author, pokes fun at someone who might use a pen name, when in fact she writes YA under the name of e. lockhardt), not to mention the personality-filled, 1st person, humorous accounts from any author you love. I also found myself looking up several authors whose work I was unfamiliar with, yet whose entry charmed me.

Check out some of the powerhouses featured (children’s and YA authors, but all writing in an adult/young-adult way):

Judy Blundell
John Green
Maureen Johnson
Mo Willems
Elise Broach
Lauren Myracle
Rebecca Stead
Libba Bray

All in all Who Done It? is a very fun read, either to sit down and read straight through, or to pick up here and there when you want a short reading fix.

The only disappointment is that you don’t really get an answer at the end, though the twist is clever in itself, and it hardly had read as a serious fact-gathering mission to that point, so I wasn’t surprised.

CONTENT NOTE: I was familiar with Jon Sciezcka’s GUYS READ anthologies (fantastic!), so I automatically assumed that this was a collection for that same middle-grade 9 – 12 audience. It’s not. It’s definitely young adult, with a bit of mild profanity and some sexual references (concerning affairs and whatnot, though there is no explicit sexual content).

Activity Books featuring the Pigeon and Clementine

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Will your children be unwrapping gifts this holiday season to discover new books to enjoy? In addition to the picture books, early readers, or chapter books your young readers will love, don’t forget about the fun that activity books can provide. Going beyond just the average word find and crossword puzzle are two new releases that incorporate some of our kids’ favorite characters.

If you have had any reading interactions with a young child within the last decade, the chances are pretty high that you already know (and love!) Mo Willems’ beloved Pigeon. As he prepares to turn ten in the new year, Pigeon is enjoying a new adventure in the great big book of fun that is Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book! Seriously, there are over 200 pages of joy here!

I’m really impressed with the level of intention that went into the creation of this activity book. First off, there’s a story line that carries through from beginning to end, and along the way, children have opportunities for play and games that run the gamut from simplistic to more complex. Starting off with easy instructions on how to draw Pigeon himself, the book then offers a wide variety of coloring pages, mazes to navigate, pages that tear out to become board games or art projects, and more. Children are encouraged to play along with the story, and props are provided for them to cut out and create with a little bit of tape, including some finger puppets and, of course, a bus to call their own. The story of the book wraps up in typical Willems fashion, with a bit of absurdity and a lot of laughs.

Older readers may find appeal in activity books that encourage writing and drawing to record their own memories and perceptions of the world. With the ever-adorable Clementine as their guide, children will have a blast filling in the pages of the new Clementine All About You Journal by Sara Pennypacker.

Perfect for elementary school aged kids, this book provides places for them to record all the things that make them special and unique, and as readers who enjoy the Clementine books might expect, there is a level of whimsy to the writing prompts that will undoubtedly get kids laughing. Some pages provide open-ended space for writing, while others lead children into writing or drawing activities that call on them to be creative and thoughtful. Interspersed throughout the book are quotes from all five books, along with Marla Frazee’s gorgeous black and white illustrations. I happen to be a huge fan of all of Frazee’s work, and her depictions of this delightful little girl are as touching and timeless as ever.

As you’re looking for unique gifts for the young readers in your life, I encourage you to check out these two beloved characters’ new activity book offerings. The fun will continue long after the last bits of wrapping paper have been cleaned up!

Dawn’s kids have come to expect a new supply of reading materials every Christmas, and this year is shaping up to be no different than usual. When she’s not blogging away at my thoughts exactly over Winter Break, she’ll be looking for more shelf space around the house.

Our Picks for Kids’ Book Gifts

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Books make great gifts! They are totally accessible, easy to get at the last minute, whether online or in stores, and they are gifts we feel good about giving. I’m convinced that there is a book for every child on your list. If they “hate” reading, audiobooks make great gifts (check out mine and Nancy’s children’s audiobook giveaway post). We’ve also recommended specific books below that might entice them, as well as picks for those booklovers on your list.

Check out our picks below, and if you’ve discovered a new series, or have a go-to book gift for young readers (we’re focusing on preschool to 5th grade in this post), please leave a comment and share it!

NANCY

My 4th grader is somewhat of a reluctant reader, but when he finds a book or series he loves, he won’t put it down. So when the new Wimpy Kid book, The Third Wheel came in, I wasn’t surprised to find him immediately engrossed. He finished it the same day we got it, reading through dinner (a habit not normally encouraged in our house, as it’s family time) and instead of watching Monday Night Football. In the 7th book in the series, Greg has to find a date for the Valentine’s Day dance. I haven’t read the books after the first one but they’re extremely popular in his 4th grade class and highly recommended.

Parents of preschoolers may be familiar with Ladybug Girl, and while my kindergartner likes the books featuring Lulu, it’s the ones with her friend Sam that are a big hit with both of my boys. The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy follows Sam as he wants to play alone, while his little brother Owen tries his hardest to play too (the boys’ favorite part is when Owen asks to be “soup hero” too). Older and younger siblings will identify with each of the characters and it also reinforces using your imagination.

Finally, I can’t recommend books in a gift guide without including Mo Willems, and while he has new Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie books out this year (see Dawn’s section below), it’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs that I want to highlight. This hilarious twist on the classic story will have kids and adults rolling with laughter.

JENNIFER

I can’t stop recommending Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms and Horten’s Incredible Illusions, both linked to my reviews. This set of books would be great for any strong reader ready for more complex chapter books, no matter the age. Readers who have enjoyed Mysterious Benedict Society will enjoy this lesser-known new series, though I think Horten also works well for younger readers who like imaginative and adventurous stories who aren’t ready for the length or complexity of those stories.

That said, an special gift edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society Complete Collection would be greatly appreciated by the hardcore bookworm on your list, especially if he or she hasn’t yet discovered this series, or has just started it.

The One and Only Ivan is a good pick for animal lovers and more bookish types looking for a sweet, quieter story.

DAWN

I have to reinforce what Nancy first mentioned, because it’s become a tradition in our family that at least one Mo Willems book can be found wrapped under our tree each year. Willems’ latest Elephant & Piggie offering Let’s Go for a Drive delivers all the enthusiasm and hilarity young readers (and their parents and teachers!) have come to expect. Gerald’s propensity for extreme emotion is on display here, and as usual, Piggie is always ready to support her friend and his grand ideas. These fun books are big hits when read to the preschool set, and early independent readers love reading them on their own, too.

Two other picture books that I’ve reviewed this fall are on my list of gift recommendations. The Reader is simply delightful and there’s no better time to enjoy this tale of a boy sharing a treasured book with his canine companion after a walk in the snow than this winter. For some giggles and truly beautiful collage illustrations, be sure to check out Nighttime Ninja, as well.

And though it’s a year old already, I can’t help but put in a big recommendation for the middle grade novel Breadcrumbs, which my son and I absolutely adored last winter. A highly imaginative book that brings elements of fairy tales into a contemporary story, it also successfully created a story that appeals to both boys and girls, instead of falling into a stereotypical gender-specific niche. Take a look back at my review for more details and to find out why I called it a “Five Star Read.”

ELIZABETH:

Although it’s more of a Halloween book, my kids and I adored the Madeline parody Frankenstein. It’s really well done, perfectly riffing off the original. Since we were all big Madeline fans when the kids were younger, we all still liked it even though my twins are now 15. Every detail is pitch perfect, from the illustrations to the rhythm and rhyme of the story itself, to the “CaldeNOT” award on the cover.

A middle-grade reader that Ilsa and I both enjoyed was Iron-Hearted Violet. We both loved this story of an ugly princess and a timid dragon, which really is about the power of words to harm and heal, and how what we believe really does matter. It’s the sort of book that will spark great discussions, while at the same time just being a really good story. Highly recommended.

I also recommend Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris. It is a whirlwind adventure of time travel, art, mystery and history, filled with pencil sketches of famous people, art, and places. But more than that, it’s the story of the Dreyfus affair. However, it’s very age-appropriate and not a heavy book, and I loved that an important historical event could be introduced to middle readers in such an engaging story.

 

Check out other books we’ve reviewed for more gift ideas

Easter Books for Babies & Preschoolers

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Easter is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for some picture books to fill those baskets, Disney Press has some new ones that are perfect for the little ones in your life.

Pooh’s Easter Basket is an adorable board book shaped like an Easter basket, complete with gold corded handle. It’s a blustery day in the Hundred Acre Wood and when a basket blows by, Owl remembers that it’s Easter. Pooh and friends decide to fill the basket with treats for Christopher Robin, gathering a book, a scarf, a toy boat, and of course a jar of honey, and are happy to find Christopher Robin has returned the favor.

Happy Easter, Baby! is a sweet touch-and-feel book for babies who love to explore textures. Real pictures of babies are paired up with favorite Disney characters and different tactile objects. This book is part of the Disney Baby books series.

Easter is also a time for bunnies, and Thumper Finds a Friend is a cute book about making new friends. Thumper is playing tag with his friends when he comes across a hedgehog. Thumper tries his best to get this new creature to play with him, but it turns out she’s a little shy. This is great both for kids who are hesitant to make new friends and those who want to play with them.

And last but certainly not least is a new one from Mo Willems featuring that contentious pigeon. When the duckling asks for and receives a cookie, the pigeon rages against the injustice of it all. Fans of the pigeon – or Mo in general – will enjoy The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

These are great Easter gifts for babies and preschoolers, though of course the pigeon is fun for kids of all ages. Check back throughout the week for more Easter books featuring some beloved Disney characters.

Happy Pig Day! an Elephant and Piggie book

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Mo Willems’s most recent Elephant and Piggie adventure, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, had a lot of Gerald and very little Piggie. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Gerald, but I can identify with his more introverted nature. And I think for that reason, Piggie is my favorite of the two friends. Her enthusiasm and energy are contagious and never fail to make me and the kids laugh. So when the latest adventure, Happy Pig Day! arrived, I was happy to see it featured a lot more Piggie.

Piggie is so happy, it’s the best day of the year – Pig Day! The best day to have a pig party, sing pig songs, and say “Oinky! Oink! Oink!” Only Gerald thinks he can’t celebrate Pig Day because well, he’s not a pig. Of course Piggie shows him the error of his ways and Gerald joins in the celebration of the pig.

Elephant and Piggie books are easy readers geared toward preschoolers and Willems definitely knows his audience. Kids of that age can and will celebrate anything, so why not Pig Day? But they also know what it’s like to feel left out, and will identify with Gerald’s fear that he doesn’t fit in.

Fans of Mo Willems know his end papers are often as entertaining as the book, and the pigeon’s appearance will leave kids and adults giggling, as will the rest of Happy Pig Day!

Nancy thinks every day should be Pig Day. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.

On Reading: Revisiting My Take on Celebrity Authors

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I’m a book snob, and I’ll be the first one to admit it. For my own personal reading, my preferences aren’t too narrow, but I have certain genres that I seem to stick with. When it comes to what I read with my young children, though… that’s a different story. Picture books may have only 32 pages, but I there are strong differences between high-quality selections and the vast amounts of not-so-good-quality books that are published each year. For me, it’s all about the right mix of text that is entertaining and makes children think, along side illustrations that are attractive and appealing to young kids. And, it can’t be cheesy. Too much cheesiness, and I feel like the author is just taking a cheap route in an attempt to get his book sold.

Then there’s the celebrity author factor. To me, authors are celebrities, but I’m not referring to the fact that anyone who knows children knows the names Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, and Mo Willems. They are true celebrities in my eyes, but I’m talking about the phenomenon that sees folks like Madonna, Spike Lee, and Jeff Foxworthy officially sharing the title of Children’s Author with the aforementioned geniuses. (And yes, I purposefully did not link to their “works,” so you’ll have to take my word for it or Google it yourself.)

In my admittedly snobby opinion, not just anyone can write a good book for young children. But, it’s easy to see that a well-known celebrity name can get a book picked up by big name publishing houses. Sigh. I’m not alone in my opinion, as some book bloggers have even gone so far as to create a group decrying the presence of celebrity authors.

My opinion is pretty firmly intact on this topic, but then I went to last week’s National Book Festival and happened over to the tent where Julianne Moore was talking about the picture books she has authored over the last few years about a character named Freckleface Strawberry. I learned that she has written three books featuring this character based upon some of her own childhood experiences, growing up with that very nickname. Covered in freckles and with bright red hair, the character itself interested me as the mom of a five year old daughter who cannot go out in public without multiple comments about her VERY red hair. But… the celebrity name in the author line gave me pause.

Don’t get me wrong, I personally love Julianne Moore as an actress, but just because she’s good at that artistic expression, who says that she has any credentials to write a picture book?

Then I listened to her talk at the National Book Festival. (Hopefully, the video will go up on the site soon, and I’ll link to it!) I found myself nodding my head along as she talked about her lifelong love for reading, how big a role literature has played in her children’s lives, and the benefits that come from a literacy-rich childhood experience. She responded to some questions from children in the audience with recommendations for books, both classic and contemporary, that I value and appreciate. She spoke confidently and passionately about reading, and the only mention she ever made to the business in which most folks know her from had to do with the explanation she gave for why her hair wasn’t actually red that day. (She’s currently filming a movie and had a rinse in her hair to darken it for the role.) Celebrity name aside, she fit the role of children’s picture book author quite well, and when we saw her later in the day reading her first book, she even impressed me with her ability to make her story come alive.

I can’t say that I’m completely dropping my general opinion about celebrity authors, but I’m counting Julianne Moore as an exception to the rule. Now that I’ve read the three picture books she’s written, I’m happy to report that had they a different author’s name on the cover, I’d still be saying that I enjoy reading them with my children. The illustrator who chose to provide the artwork (without knowing the name of the author, mind you, an important detail I learned during her talk), is LeUyen Pham, an accomplished illustrator whose style is lighthearted and immediately recognizable. And, for my daughter, last weekend marked the day that she met the author who created one of her new favorite book characters, not a Hollywood star.

When she’s not hanging out with famous stars or authors, Dawn is usually teaching preschool, folding laundry or blogging at my thoughts exactly.

On Reading: Purging

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Recently we painted my 8 year old’s room. When we moved his bookshelf back in, I took the opportunity to go through his books and do some purging. Both boys’ bookshelves were overflowing and it was time to clean house. He did a great job of deciding which books to keep and which ones to pass down to his little brother. He kept some picture books, but most of them went in the purge pile, leaving chapter books that are at his level and the classics we’ve started buying that are still a bit above his ability. The Dr. Seuss, Golden Books and other easy readers that are now way below his level all went in the pile. I watched the first book he read without help (The Berenstain Bears and the Big Road Race) get tossed into the pile. The Disney bedtime story books (we somehow have 3 of these) went, but the A Treasury of Curious George stayed. It was interesting seeing what he still wanted to hold onto, which books had meaning to him. And while he held on to Knuffle Bunny Free — the book we got when we saw Mo Willems — he gave Knuffle Bunny to his brother.

And of course in order for the purged books to be passed down to my younger son, we had to do some purging from his shelves. This was a harder task, both logistically and emotionally. The books we decided would go would head out the door to a garage sale and/or the library, so these were permanent decisions we were making. So when he decided to get rid of Goodnight Moon (the first children’s book we ever owned, it was a baby shower gift) and Guess How Much I Love You, those went into the Mommy pile. Most books I didn’t mind getting rid of; there were a few I was a bit sad to see go, a few I was happy to see go (whoever came up with books that make noise obviously is not a parent), and the few I couldn’t bear to let go. Goodnight Moon and Guess how Much I Love You definitely fall into that last group.

As for the logistical difficulties, he’s not reading yet, but he’s on the verge of doing so. He can sound out words, knows a few basic sight words, and doesn’t get frustrated when he can’t figure out a word. So books that may be deemed too young for him in content are perfect for him to use in learning to read. Sandra Boynton and Dr. Seuss board books (mini versions of the real books) fell into this category, as did most of the DK books we own. He quickly caught on to my attempts to hold on to some of my favorites a little longer and soon was convincing me that a book I might have tossed was a good “learn to read” book.

We now have a huge box of books to sell or donate and room for new books to come into the house, and the next big purge won’t happen for some time. So I’m curious – do you find it easy or difficult to get rid of your kids’ books? Leave a comment and tell me how you handle this aspect of watching your kids grow up!

Nancy thinks it’s not possible to have too many books, even if the bookshelves don’t agree. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

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Knuffle Bunny Free is the third and final book in the Knuffle Bunny trilogy and it’s a perfect ending. Similar to Toy Story 3, it’s about growing up, letting go.

In the first book, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, a toddler named Trixie brings her Knuffle Bunny on a trip to the laundromat with her daddy. Unable to understand her increasingly anguished pleas – aggle flaggle klabble isn’t easily translated – Daddy and Trixie get all the way home before Mommy realizes what Trixie’s been trying to say all along -Knuffle Bunny got left behind. Fortunately he was just in the dryer.

In the second book, Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Trixie is now in preschool and both she and Knuffle Bunny make a new friend. At 3am, Trixie realizes something’s amiss, and Daddy treks across New York City – my favorite scene in all of the books – to rectify the situation. Trixie gets back her own Knuffle Bunny.

The final book, Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion, follows Trixie, her parents and the beloved bunny on a trip to Holland to visit Trixie’s Oma and Opa. When Trixie once again realizes Knuffle Bunny was left behind – in the seatback on the plane – everyone realizes how grown up she is. So when Knuffle Bunny is found – still in the seatback – Trixie makes a very grown-up decision. The ending is just so sweet and I couldn’t help but shed a tear.

The artwork in the Knuffle Bunny books is very unusual – black and white digitally enhanced images serve as the background for the colorful Trixie and her family. I personally love that the first two books take place in NYC, the brownstones they pass on the way to the laundromat and Washington Square Park in the middle of the night are just perfect for the story. I also find it refreshing that Trixie ages in each book – from a toddler to a preschooler to a big girl. Each book also has cameo appearances from other of Mo’s characters – the pigeon on a tee shirt, Trixie reading an Elephant and Piggie on the plane, even Leonardo as a doll in Trixie’s room.

Mo Willems recently went on tour to promote Knuffle Bunny Free, along with the new Elephant and Piggie, We Are in a Book!, and I was thrilled to learn he would be at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, just over an hour away. I surprised my 7 year old by picking him up early from school and braving the Denver traffic to see Mo.

Mo came out to a loud round of applause, accompanied by a large Knuffle Bunny, who sat on a chair for the readings. Mo read both We Are in a Book! and Knuffle Bunny Free. He answered questions from both kids and adults and was very funny and very gracious. Not to mention easy on the eyes!

One of the moms asked if he’s “Daddy,” which he translated to mean “are the Knuffle Bunny stories true.” I loved his answer: “Everything in the Knuffle Bunny books is entirely true. Except the parts I made up.” Mo’s blog has some videos where he’s talking about the process of creating the book, and he says “of the other Knuffle Bunny books, this is the one that is the least factual and yet the most true, I think that it’s closest to capturing Trixie and my and my wife’s sort of foibles and how we would deal with a situation such as this.”

After the readings he signed books, and then was on to his next, and I believe last, location. Unfortunately the Knufffle Bunny Free book tour has now ended but he does tour fairly frequently and has 2 new books coming out early next year, another Elephant and Piggie and a new one about a girl and her stuffed alligator. If Mo is going to be at a location near you I highly recommend going to see him.

For more details about our fun evening with Mo, including pictures, head on over to my blog post.

Nancy may or may not have a small crush on Mo Willems. She blogs about her boys and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys.

Cybils Nominees

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The Cybils are here — the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards. For more info on exactly what they are, check out the FAQ page.

Jennifer and Dawn are pleased to be serving once again as panelists. We are both giving Round I a try this year, helping to winnow all the nominees down to a handful of finalists from which the Round II judges to select a winner. Dawn is on the Fiction Picture Book panel, and Jennifer is on the Middle Grade Fiction panel.

Nominations are open until October 15. Perhaps there’s a book that was published between October 2009 and October 2010 that you think deserves a look. Check out the nomination guidelines HERE. Then be sure to check the descriptions of the category that you are looking to nominate in.

The shortlisted titles always get a lot of attention. Nominating a book for consideration is a way to give it an extra boost — and books and authors and publishers need all the help they can get.

Everyone can nominate one book in each category, and each book can have only one nomination, but there are SO many good books out there.

Here are some books that we would nominate if we hadn’t already used our nomination. In fact, I (Jennifer) will be truly grieved if a few of these don’t get nominated. Maybe you think that they deserve a nomination? Here’s the form link. You’ll need the ISBN number which you can find on the book or on amazon (that insures that each nomination is unique).

JENNIFER

Nonfiction Picture Books:
I nominated Up We Grow, but it was hard for me to decide between it and Wholey Cow. I am also a huge fan of the “Looking Closely” series, and they have an eligible title this year: Looking Closely in the Rain Forest.

Fiction Picture Books:
I nominated Memoirs of a Goldfish, but several other titles are just as worthy: Chester’s Masterpiece and a late-breaking contender Betsy Red Hoodie. I was really torn. (Update: Both of these books have now been nominated — YAY!)

Middle Grade Fiction:
I was also really torn here (Do you see a theme?). I had planned on nominating I, Q: The White House, ever since I read it over the summer. Then days before nominations opened, I finished The Kneebone Boy, and I knew I had to nominate that one. But I really hope that I, Q gets nominated, because it’s so original (Updated — it got nominated!).

Poetry:
This is the category that’s killing me! I do love my nomination, because to me, poetry for kids should be silly, and this one is: The Tighty-Whitey Spider. But this week I got a book in the mail that is spectacular. I’d have nominated it instead, and so I’m really hoping that someone else has seen it and gives it the nod. The illustrations are beyond beautiful, and the rhythm of these non-rhyming poems is so clever. Read more in my review for I Didn’t Do It. Let’s Have a Bite is pretty original as well.

DAWN

When I tried to put together my list of nominations, I found it to be a fun challenge, as I got to revisit books that have brought me joy and wonder this year.

Young Adult Fiction:
When I read After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick, I knew instantly that this was a book I would be thinking about for a long time. I was thrilled to be able to nominate it in the YA Fiction category, but that meant that I couldn’t nominate the debut title from Jon Skovron that I enjoyed so much- Struts and Frets. I do hope someone recognizes the authentic voice that Skovron created here in his coming-of-age story that blends teenage relationships and a love for music.

Nonfiction Picture Books:
I was happy to nominate a book that we recently discovered at our library, More Life-Size Zoo by Kristin Earhart, Teruyuki Komiya, Toshimitsu Matsuhashi, and Junko Miyakoshi. With amazing photographs that fold out of the book to truly be life-size, this book amazes. Another book stood out to me in this last year, though. Craig Hatkoff’s Leo the Snow Leopard, a picture book in the style of his previous amazing animal stories, such as last year’s Winter’s Tail.

Fiction Picture Books:
Okay, this is the tough category for me, most likely because this is the type of book that I read the most often. (The 2- and 4-year-old are enthusiastic listeners!) I watched the clock count down to midnight with my hand poised on the mouse so that I could be the person honored to nominate Mo Willems’ City Dog, Country Frog, a book that is beyond incredible. As I watch the list of nominations grow, I’m seeing so many worthy competitors, but there are still several that I feel should most definitely be on this list. Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya made me laugh and appreciate a darling new closure for a familiar story. Calvin Can’t Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne was immediately adored at first glance. A bookworm- now that’s something I can understand. Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat is just beautiful, and Hope Vestergaard’s Potty Animals never ceases to crack me and the kids up!

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Children’s Classics Award Winners– September

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Month three is upon us, and it’s time once again to talk about the award winning children’s books that we have read, perhaps sharing them with our children or revisiting them on our own. In July, I mentioned some Caldecott winning picture books that have been favorites in my family. For August, my older son and I both read several Newbery winning middle grade novels that were undeniably outstanding.

In preparing for this month’s post, I was reminded of one of the American Library Association’s more recently created awards, and for my own family of readers, this award will soon become relevant to our book choices. The unique category of ‘beginning readers’ received its own ALA award in the form of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize authors and illustrators for “their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading.” Who better to honor in name for this category of children’s literature than Dr. Seuss?

In my opinion, quality beginning reader books balance the need for sparse text with an engaging story- not always an easy task. Children just learning to read want to experience success with these books, but they don’t want to be bored to tears while doing it. (Sorry, Dick and Jane.) Since 2006, the winners of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award demonstrate this balance in action!

While I haven’t read many books in this category with my younger children, I remember back to when my oldest son was first learning to read. He was a big fan of the Henry and Mudge books, of which Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas was the 2006 Geisel Award honoree. Now that my middle child is almost four and a half, I envision visiting this section of the library more frequently in coming months, and I know of one particular series that never fails to please, even impressing the ALA enough to be awarded the medal two years in a row!

In 2008, the fabulous Mo Willems took home the Geisel Award for There is a Bird on Your Head!, only to be honored again for Are You Ready to Play Outside? Combining only a few words on each page with an incredible array of expressions and two very distinctive personalities in the main characters, Willems has created a series of books that most definitely is engaging, totally humorous and perfect at building budding readers’ confidence levels. These books beg to be read out loud and even acted out, which is perfect for my little youngsters. I imagine that we have many more years of fun to come with Elephant and Piggie, and I look forward to the day when my younger kids read them out loud to ME!

What award winning children’s books have been in your reading life lately? If you’re blogging about a book clad with one of those shiny medals, we want to read it, so please link up with us below. Or, you can start chatting with us about some of your favorites in the comments section– we definitely love to talk books!

Children’s Classics Participants
 

1. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (Ginger Pye)
2. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (A Caldecott Celebration)		 3. Reading to Know (Miracles on Maple Hill)
4. Nancy @ Life With My Boys (The Invention of Hugo Cabret)		 5. Sarah @ A Library is a Hospital for the Mind (Kitten’s First Full Moon)

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Dawn hasn’t received many awards in her day (except for the coveted “Meanest Mommy in the World” title, more often than she’d like), but she is kind of a big deal on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

BEA and BookBloggerCon: The Best and Worst

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The very BEST thing about Book Expo America (BEA) and Book Blogger Con was absolutely the relationships.

  1. Meeting Carrie live and in person — I’ve followed Reading to Know for years. I love Carrie’s opinionated reviews and commentary on books. When I was putting together a team for 5 Minutes for Books, she was one of the first I thought to ask. Since we started 5 Minutes for Books, we’ve become friends, and it was a pure delight to meet her and share this experience together (her thoughts).
  2. Meeting up with some other publishing contacts and bloggers who I had a more casual relationship with (but a deep respect) at a delicious dinner on Thursday night at Tony’s DiNapoli.

    3. Natasha, Amy, Swapna; Deborah & Nicole, Crown; Carrie & Dina, Big Honcho

  3. I didn’t look at the author signing schedule or plan to stand in line (although I’m bummed to have missed Mo Willems at the Hyperion booth Thursday morning). But when I arrived Thursday afternoon, and saw a fairly short line forming at Brilliance Audiobooks with Rick Riordan’s brand new book, The Red Pyramid, I was thrilled and hopped right in line. Amanda (11) and I are both huge audiobook fans, and I never got around to reading the Percy Jackson series, so I’m happy to get in on this one at the beginning. Also, continuing on the topic of relationships, I had a lovely conversation while we were waiting in line with a librarian and a CBS News reporter about tweens and reading (parent to parent and librarian to parents).

  4. Listening to a panel of YA authors read from their latest works, and finding out that one of them, Sophie Jordan, whose book Firelight releases soon, is from my hometown and attended my alma mater (Gig ‘Em Aggies!). We had a nice chat about fantasy as such a prevalent theme in YA. When she was reading the excerpt, I was wondering why fantasy and sci-fi are so popular (4 out of 5 of the books fit this genre). In her excerpt, she talks about the human boys looking up to the dragon girl and calling her “it,” because it’s all they can think of to call her. In that brief moment, I felt sorry for the dragon girl. I felt compassion for her, and I understood what it was like to be misunderstood, and then it hit me — that’s exactly what all tweens and teens feel like! A fantasy or sci-fi setting is perfect to depict that.

    I also really enjoyed hearing about Ally Condie’s Matched, and her thoughts on writing YA (“What is new to a young person is old to an old person. They are still discovering new things, and we discover right along with them,” paraphrased).

    I also joined the panel, green with envy, listening to Kody Keplinger’s story. She wrote The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

    5. in a month and a half when she was 17. She’s almost 19 now and her book is due out in September! The book is definitely too edgy for me (i.e. explicit), but I think it will be a hit with YA readers who like that sort of thing.

    Rebecca Maizel and Erin Bow (Plain Kate) rounded out the panel and were fascinating as well. Though I’m not really “into” Vampire lit, I think I would love to read Maizel’s Infinite Days, because it’s about a vampire who becomes human and ends up as a 16-year-old girl, tortured by her past (“We all have things in our past we wish we could undo,” Maizel said).

  5. Meeting author Justin Kramon at the BookBloggerCon reception. He sent me his novel, Finny, which sounded like something I would enjoy, so although it doesn’t release until July, I had to read it when I found out he was going to be at the author reception. I had only read about 1/3 of it when I was able to talk with him, but it was a book that hooked me at page 1. It is a wonderful book, and if you like coming of age stories (like Finny, I’m still coming of age in my late 30’s), and wonderful character-driven fiction, you must check this book out. Full review to come at release, but trust me. If I were not an old respectable married lady, I might be toeing the line of fan/stalker, but I’m going to wear my reviewer/influencer hat, and say that I’m just doing my job.
  6. I didn’t make a whole lot of new publishing or PR contacts, but I enjoyed putting names and faces together (and letting them do the same). Carrie and I had a great respite with Audrey at Sleeping Bear Press in her plushly carpeted booth, where she invited/made us to sit down in the chairs and take a load off while she told us all about their collection. We love Sleeping Bear Press, and now we love Audrey.

The WORST? Really nothing was that bad, but a few things that I heard (and thought and said) over and over:

  1. “It’s wonderful to be surrounded by books and booklovers, but I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had any time to just read.” There was a bit of withdrawal going on at Javits convention center.
  2. I had really hoped to meet more book bloggers at Book Blogger Con. I met some wonderful people at breakfast, lunch, the receptions etc., and I guess it’s my responsibility to take the relationship to the next level, but I probably didn’t do my best at networking with the limited time available. I’m okay with that, but I would have liked to find more kindred spirits and also share 5 Minutes for Books with others. But there’s always next year, right?

I’m blessed to be semi-local to NYC, and enjoy going into “The City” for events and whatnot, so BEA and hopefully Book Blogger Con will be on my agenda for May 2011 as well.

I’d love to read about your BEA and BookBloggerCon experiences to hear more about what I’ve missed. Link up your posts. Feel free to link more than one (just give them a different title or number them or something)

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Books on Screen Stage:
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

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There are some picture books that I’ve read hundreds of times over the years, either as the teacher reading to a group of preschoolers or as the mom snuggling with her own brood. When I can read a story again and again (times 100!), and still do it with joy and gusto, I believe it says something pretty remarkable about that book. At the top of that list are the wonderful and funny works by author/illustrator Mo Willems. With a collection of characters that continues to grow (he’s certainly one prolific writer!), my children and I happily consume his books like crazy.

This month sees the transformation of one of Mo Willems’ most beloved stories from the page to the stage, with the opening of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. If you have a young child and are not familiar with Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, I will refrain from chastising you, but will instead very strongly encourage you to correct this wrong immediately. Seriously, it’s a fabulous book, the kind of book that kids love for its humor and cartoonish illustrations, and parents love for its oh-so-realistic portrayal of the joys of toddlerhood.

When my four year old daughter and I were lucky enough to attend the afternoon premiere of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, we both spent the hour giggling, bouncing and simply enjoying this familiar story come to life and expanded a bit. Dad and Trixie’s adventure at the laundromat plays out just as we know so well, now with catchy songs and just the right amount of lines and expressions meant as asides for the parents to appreciate. Gigantic, day-glo dancing laundry and periodic guest appearances by our favorite temperamental city bird add to the fun. The cast portray the feelings of both frustrated toddlers and their just-as-confused parents very well, making the play, like the book, accessible to audience members of all ages.

In the role of Trixie, the not-yet-speaking-words toddler who loves her Knuffle Bunny, Stephanie D’Abruzzo is fantastic. She played the wide-eyed, tantrum-prone, wordless (and occasionally ‘boneless’) toddler part with sublime perfection! The best connection to this story, in my opinion, is the fact that Knuffle Bunny was inspired by actual experiences, and it was D’Abruzzo herself who gave the real life baby Trixie Willems the stuffed animal that became her Knuffle Bunny.

I’m happy to say that I learned that little tidbit during a brief conversation with Mo Willems, who just so happened to be at the performance my daughter and I attended! In honor of her birthday that day, Mo kindly gave her some Knuffle Bunny body art as a souvenir, and I was reminded of his good spirit that most definitely influences the wonderful children’s literature that he creates. He also let it slip that there are plans to take Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical on the road, so if you’re not in the Washington, DC area, don’t despair, but watch your own local family theater venues for potential shows near you. It’s the perfect opportunity to expose your child to live theater and experience a story that is a modern-day classic.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical is being performed at Washington, DC’s The Kennedy Center through May 23, 2010. Script and lyrics by Mo Willems himself, and fun music (that sticks in your head for days!) by Michael Silversher.

Dawn and her brood have been big Mo fans since her now-tween son was a Pigeon-loving preschooler. Her love for funny kids’ books, her crazy children, and other randomness are all chronicled at my thoughts exactly.

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