MORE GREAT PICTURE BOOKS!

I haven't been reviewing picture books as much as I used to, but I'm going to try to change that.  So here are a couple of fun picture books perfect for sharing with preschoolers and kindergartners.

UP! TALL! and HIGH! (BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER)
by Ethan Long
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-399-25611-0
Picture Book
PreK-K
Reviewed from purchased copy.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Three side-splitting stories in one great picture book!

In three laugh-out-loud situations, an irresistible cast of colorful birds illustrate the concepts of "up," "tall" and "high." First, a short peacock proves that he may not be tall, but he definitely isn't small. Then, a resourceful bird helps his penguin friend find a way to fly. Finally, two birds want to live in the same tree, but what goes up must come down! Each short story features a flap that reveals a surprise twist.

With fun fold-outs, easy-to-read text, and a hilarious cast of characters, these stories beg preschoolers and emerging readers to act them out again and again.


REVIEW

I'm always amazed when authors create stories out of only a handful of words, which is exactly what Ethan Long does in this book.  Not only does he present three different concepts (up, tall, and high), but he also creates stories that are funny and appealing to preschoolers.  In the first story, we learn the concept of tall, but when the supposedly, "tall" bird turns out not to be "tall" at all, he proves that just because one is not tall, does not make one small.  I love the way the illustrations clearly show what the words state in such delightful ways. And the flaps are a nice touch. The second story involves a bird helping his friend penguin fly.  I love the problem-solving aspect of this story, how the bird uses a creative solution to do the seemingly impossible. A remarkably complex theme told very simply.  The third story involves a bird pridefully stating that he is up. When the bird that is 'down' joins him and the tree collapses it beautifully demonstrates the theme of 'pride goeth before a fall' but also the value of having friends to help us up when we fall.  Definitely worthy of the 2013 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.

MAX & MILO GO TO SLEEP
by Heather & Ethan Long
Aladdin, 2013
ISBN: 9781442451438
Picture Book
PreK-1
Reviewed from purchased book.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Meet Max and Milo, two hilarious beaver brothers who make going to sleep an up-all-night adventure.
 
Milo can’t get to sleep: He tosses and turns; he turns and he tosses. And then finally he calls on his older brother: “MAX! WAKE UP!”


But no matter what helpful sleeping tip Max suggests, Milo turns it riotously on its head and is as far from rest as ever. Will Milo finally get to sleep? Will he ever stop driving Max crazy? Will the beaver brothers be up half the night in search of forty winks?


Insomniacs everywhere, take comfort! Max and Milo are here to solve your sleepless nights in the most hilarious of ways!


REVIEW

Max and Milo are very different, despite being brothers. While Max drifts off to sleep, Milo is wide-awake.  He seeks out his brother's help and tries to find ways to sleep, unsuccessfully. Finally, Max is wide-awake too and scolds his brother, who finally goes to sleep, leaving Max wide-awake.  Full of humor and amusingly creative solutions to Milo's problem this book is perfect for sharing at bedtime or storytime. Recommended.


Comments

  1. Up, Tall, and High are some of my son's new vacabulary words so I will look for this book to add context (and cuteness!)

    ReplyDelete

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