Search Results for: blog the picture books of laura joffe numeroff

More Moonbear Books by Frank Asch

As promised yesterday, here are some more books in the popular “Moonbear” series by Frank Asch. First is “Moondance.” One night, Bear and Little Bird were sitting together looking at the sky when Bear said he wished he could dance with the moon, but he thought the moon was too special to want to dance with him. Little Bird suggested he might dance with the clouds instead, but even when he asked politely, the clouds stayed in the sky and wouldn’t come down to dance with him. Bear went to sleep a little discouraged that night, but when he woke … Continue reading →

The Picture Books of Pamela Duncan Edwards

Let’s begin our look at author Pamela Duncan Edwards with her picture book about manners, called “Rude Mule.” On the first page we are presented with a question – what if a mule knocked on your front door and announced that he had come for lunch? And then what if he wouldn’t wash his hooves before eating, and what if he kept braying at the table? Well, he certainly wouldn’t get any lunch, but if he washed his hooves like a good little mule, and asked for lunch politely, you’d give him some. If he slurps and gobbles, what would … Continue reading →

Chimps Don’t Wear Glasses – Laura Joffe Numeroff

A departure from her “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” series, Laura Joffe Numeroff gives us “Chimps Don’t Wear Glasses,” an imaginative look into the animal world and how it relates to us as humans, encouraging the reader to let loose and be creative. I’ve found frequently in my explorations into children’s picture books that the illustrations surpass the text, and that is certainly true in this case. The illustrations are fantastic. We begin with a picture of a chimp rock band, all dressed to the teeth (some looking remarkably like Elton John) and the words, “Chimps don’t wear … Continue reading →

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part three) Reader Feedback and About Her Books

Thank you for joining us for part three of our talk with nationally published children’s book author Lynne Jonell. If you missed part one or two, click here. Lynne, when we left off you were telling us how children have strong emotions and often aren’t able to articulate them. You seek to give children a voice in your books, an empowering and comforting pursuit. Have you heard back from parents about how their children react to your books? Oh, yes. They’re funny books, for one thing, and parents and children love the chance to laugh together about some of these … Continue reading →

The Picture Books of Laura Joffe Numeroff

Laura Joffe Numeroff is best known for her blockbuster children’s picture book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” Published in 1985 by Harper Collins, this book is a cautionary tale – if you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for milk, and then a straw, then a napkin, and it will just escalate from there until that little rodent’s got you hopping. With great illustrations by Felicia Bond, this book is one of the most popular children’s books to come out in the last thirty years. To build on that success, Numeroff wrote several other books … Continue reading →

Top Ten Picture Books for Preschoolers

Pre-school age children love vivid characters that they can relate to. They enjoy stories with action and repetition. I had a hard time narrowing the list down to my top ten favorite books, but here they are. Corduroy by Don Freeman Every child has a stuffed animal and subsequently will enjoy reading about the adventures of Corduroy, a stuffed bear. Young readers will fall in love with the cuddly bear as he comes alive one night and searches the department store for his lost button. Cows In The Kitchen by June Crebbin This is a book and a sing-along since … Continue reading →

Tops & Bottoms – Janet Stevens

Tops & Bottoms is a charming and unique picture book written and illustrated by Janet Stevens. You will need to turn the book sideways to view the illustrations. As a bonus, it’s a great introduction into how vegetables grow and a vote for working hard. The book draws on the traditions of trickster and Brer Rabbit tales as well as European folk tales. In the story, we meet a lazy land-owning bear. He’s so lazy that he sleeps through growing seasons. We also meet the rabbit family who are not doing well. The rabbit father, Hare, lost a bet with … Continue reading →

Earthquack! – Marge Palatini

I thoroughly enjoyed discovering Marge Palatini a few weeks ago. What a sense of humor! “Earthquack!” is her updated take on the old “Chicken Little” story we all know so well. Chucky Ducky had just finished his morning swim and was letting the water roll off his back when he heard a rumbling sound and discovered that the earth was crumbling right beneath his little yellow webbed feet. Deciding it must be an earthquake, he set off to warn his friends. First on his list was Lucy Goosey. “The earth is crumbling!” he tells her, and she’s not sure if … Continue reading →

Drawing Lessons From a Bear – David McPhail

In this delightful children’s picture book, which I gather is slightly autobiographical, David McPhail talks to us in the persona of a bear who has learned how to draw. He didn’t always know how, though – that came slowly. It really all began when Bear was having his lessons in how to be a bear. His mother was very anxious for him to learn how to do all the things a bear should do. She taught him how to walk like a bear, how to sit like a bear, how to choose which berries were safe to eat, and how … Continue reading →