Picture books are for everyone - sharing and celebrating with all readers

Picture books have a wonderful way of drawing children into their stories. Children of all ages love listening to stories read aloud, looking at pictures, reading picture books themselves or with their parents. Some parents might think that kids grow out of picture books, but I really see 13 and 14 year olds loving picture books as much as 6 and 7 year olds.

“Picture books are the connective tissue between a parent and a child. …you stop everything, snuggle up on the couch or the floor and share a story.” – John Rocco, 2012 Caldecott Honor Winner, from his Picture Book Month essay

This month marks the 2nd annual Picture Book Month. Cosponsored by many national literacy organizations, this celebration has caught the imagination of schools, libraries, booksellers, and book lovers across the globe as they come together to celebrate the print picture book. Read more about how librarians across the country are celebrating in this School Library Journal article.

At our school, we are taking time to focus on reading picture books with our older readers in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. So often by the time kids become proficient readers around 3rd grade, they feel that they've moved beyond picture books. But there are powerful, moving picture books just right for these older students.

We are reading the California Young Reader Medal nominees for picture books for older readers with our 3rd graders They are having fun participating in an election where their vote counts. So far, they have loved reading Marissa Moss's Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero and Brian Dennis's Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle. We're talking about what makes a good picture book for older readers - not just illustrations, but how the illustrations and book design add to the story, creating movement, emotion and interest. We've talked about character development and story tension - all elements they're looking for in good stories, no matter the length.

We are focusing on Jacqueline Woodson's amazing picture books with our 4th and 5th graders. My students are completely drawn into her stories, appreciating the language, character development and emotions. I'm also really appreciating how many elements of the Common Core State Standards can be incorporated into these discussions.

For example, when we read Visiting Day, students were able to practice referring to specific details in the text and illustrations as they inferred that Maya's father was in prison (a fact the text does not explicitly state). Because of their spare language, picture books often require readers to infer meaning. We practice these skills with a meaningful picture book as a group, and then we can talk about them in reading workshop conferences one on one with students as they apply these skills to longer books they're reading.

What picture books do you like to read with your children? Do you find that your older children still enjoy reading picture books? How has their taste changed as they have gotten older?

I'm looking forward to visiting the Picture Book Month website throughout the month of November. Each day will feature a new essay by a range of amazing authors, illustrators and librarians. As founder Dianne de Las Casas said, “Not only are picture books alive and well, they are thriving. Picture books are not just an early childhood step to literacy, they are little pieces of emotion and childhood wrapped in a beautiful, page-turning package. November is Picture Book Month. Read * Share * Celebrate!”

The books shared here are from our school library. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Scary books for struggling readers (ages 9 - 12)

Do you know a kid who bounces from book to book, never really settling into a story? Several of my students struggle with picking books. They can't find ones that interest them that are at their reading level. One of my 5th graders, Carl, has tried out a new series and loves it: Return to the Library of Doom. He's sharing it with his friends, and it's spreading through his class.

Return to the Library of Doom, by Michael Dahl, is a series designed for older students who still struggle with reading. The sentences are short, direct and clear. The action moves at a fast pace, with little distracting descriptions. There is plenty of spacing between lines, so kids can track the words easily. Best of all, from their point of view, the stories are creepy and exciting, filled with bold illustrations that remind them of the comic books they love.

Killer App
Return to the Library of Doom
by Michael Dahl
illustrated by Bradford Kendall
Capstone / Stone Arch, 2012
ages 9 - 12
available on Amazon and your local library
Google Book preview

My favorite in the series is Killer App. When Carl first read this, he said to his teacher that it's the best book he's ever read. That's saying a whole lot from Carl, a whole lot.

Four teens are driving along a desert highway when one shows his girlfriend an app that sends him "really FREAKY horror stories." When they start to download one, they notice a black cloud of ravens headed toward them.

"The dark cloud grows larger and larger. Savage screams pierce the air."

This type of direct writing pulls in students who want a suspenseful story, but who cannot wade through long descriptions. The design of the book also draws in my 5th graders. They love the illustrations, the drawings on the words, the whole look and feel of the books is "cool." And that coolness factor counts a lot, especially for kids who don't think reading is very cool. Take a look at one of the pages from the Google Preview:

In the next chapter, a group of motorcyclists find the phone next to the abandoned car covered with scratches. The mystery builds as these kids try to escape the ravens and hide in an deserted gas station. I enjoyed its inventive twist of modern technology, the frightening gore of attacking birds, and the references to classic movies and books. I laughed when the Librarian saved the day, saying, "Only horror can defeat horror."

This series will hook readers, it will keep them glued to the pages. Dahl's writing does not provide much character development, but his stories can provide the structure for students to practice active reading skills. Watching my 5th graders pass them from friend to friend makes this Librarian smile.

Carl and I nominated Killer App for the Cybils Early Chapter Book Award. The Lexile level of this book is 380, and the Guided Reading Level is an L. While the reading level is appropriate for students reading at a 2nd grade level, it is designed for 4th through 8th graders.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publisher, Capstone / Stone Arch Books. We so appreciate their supporting our readers as they seek out new, exciting series to share with their friends. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs, by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen - Dark humor for Halloween (ages 8-12)

I enjoy sweet, funny picture books, but every so often I love wickedly funny books that make me laugh and cringe at the same time. If you're looking for something a little different for kids ages 8 to 12, check out Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs. Kids who like puns and dark humor will have fun with these gruesome poems, marking the unfortunate ends of all types of animals.

Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs

by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen

illustrated by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins

Charlesbridge, 2012

ages 8 - 12

available on Amazon and at your local library

This collection of epitaphs mourns animals from the chicken who doesn't quite make it across the road to the cow who has been "cream-ated." Lewis and Yolen fill their poems with word play, rhymes and visual puns. It certainly isn't for everyone - but I'm certain there's a group of kids who will love it. Here are some fun examples:

Good-bye to a Rowdy Rooster

Too cocky by far,

he head-butted a car.

Hen's Last Cluck

The end of her day

was in fowl play.

Jeffrey Stewart Timmins' illustrations add to the dark humor, with visual puns, a smoky pallet and plenty of blood and guts. My students loved seeing how animals from these early poems show up as ghosts or apparitions in later pictures.

I laughed and snorted my way though this. The macabre humor will be just perfect for some, but it will definitely turn others off. Third grade boys loved it. My 13 year old daughter thought I was nuts. But then, that's nothing new.

But best of all, I like the way these poems make students stop and think. For kids who like this sort of dark humor, they'll come back to this collection again and again, dipping in and enjoying a bit more each time. This isn't a collection that you'll read in one sitting from cover to cover, but it's perfect for sampling its wicked humor and choosing your favorite poem.

J. Patrick Lewis is the U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate and the Winner of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) 2011 Excellence in Children's Poetry Award. Yolen is one of my favorite authors, from her novels to picture books. They both have a keen ear for language and a vital sense of what makes kids laugh.

The review copy came from our school library collection. All images shared above are copyright ©2012 by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins, shared with permission from the publisher. The poems are copyright ©2012 by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell - great monster fun with a twist (ages 4 - 8)

Do you have any little monsters in your house? They could be kids who love pretending to stomp and gnash and growl. Or they could be little terrors who fight and kick and scream. I love Patrick McDonnell's new book, The Monsters' Monster, for the way it takes both of these types of monsters, and then throws in a twist! This fun picture book will make kids laugh, think and want to read it again and again - what a perfect combination.

The Monsters' Monster
by Patrick McDonnell
NY: Little, Brown Books, 2012
ages 4 - 8
available on Amazon or your local library
enhanced ebook available at the iTunes & Nook stores

Once upon a time, there were three little monsters who thought they were the toughest, grouchiest, loudest monsters around. In fact, they spent all their time trying to out-monster each other.

One day, these trouble makers decide to build a MONSTER monster of their own: “the biggest, baddest monster EVER!” But they are in for a surprise. It turns out he isn’t exactly the monster that the little guys were expecting. Instead, their big, giant monster is happy. He giggles. He hugs them (with a crushing monster squeeze). And he isn’t grouchy at all. In fact, he’s thankful. The little monsters who created him are indeed perplexed by this, even stunned into speechless quiet.

Patrick McDonnell’s artwork combines the humor of cartoon figures with watercolor and ink backgrounds, skillfully creating the tone of the story. The ending will bring smiles and contented sighs to adults and children alike, as the monsters realize they all are thankful for their new friend.

Little, Brown has also released this as an enhanced ebook on the iTunes Book store and Nook Kids Read and Play store. These enhanced ebooks combine audio narration with the picture book, along with some basic, limited interactions. Kids in my library have loved listening to the pitch-perfect narrator for The Monsters' Monster. They were a little unsure when to tap images and when to just read and listen. But the more limited interactivity kept the focus squarely on enjoying the story. It's definitely one they gave two thumbs up (and plenty of laughs - even from 8 year old boys).

So if you're looking for a Halloween book, or something to bring a smile and a quiet moment to your own monster, definitely give this a try. Take a look at these other delightful reviews and a fascinating interview:

• Tasha at Waking Brain Cells says, "McDonnell’s writing is perfect for reading aloud, setting the right pace and tone to make it a wild rumpus of a read."
• Over on Goodreads, my friend Alyson Beecher writes, "We could all use some reminders of the need for simple gratitude. Done with humor but really sweet."
• Pamela Paul writes in the New York Times, "Alas, as Victor Frankenstein found out long ago, monsters rarely conform to their creators’ intentions. In this case, there’s nothing scary about him. He’s actually quite endearing."
• Jenny Brown's interview with Patrick McDonnell over at the Kirkus Reviews blog. McDonnell tells us that as he started to work on this story and think about the three little monsters, "I began to think: 'What makes a monster a monster?' The answer I came up with was—his thoughts."

All images shared above are copyright ©Patrick McDonnell, 2012 shared with permission from the publisher. The review copy was kindly sent by the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Sharing about the presidential election (ages 6 - 11)

Are you talking about the presidential election with your children? How do you share about these grownup debates with kids? I try to convey the importance of the country's decision, how we all have a part to play. It's also important to introduce some of the basic terms of the election process with kids. After all, they hear grown ups talking about it all the time.

Here are three favorite books to share that help inform kids about what's going on:

If I Ran for President
by Catherine Stier
illustrated by Lynne Avril
IL: Albert Whitman, 2007
ages 6 - 9
available on Amazon and at your local library

What would it be like to run for president? I enjoyed sharing this book with students, helping them imagine what it would be like to be a candidate. The pictures show all sorts of kids asking questions like, "Am I the best person for the job? Am I ready to work VERY, VERY, VERY hard for my country? Do lots of people believe in me, and will they help me run for office?” My students appreciated Avril's multicultural cast of kids. Stier writes in a fun, personal way while integrating some key election terms ranging from primaries and caucuses to the Electoral College and presidential debates.

Grace for President
by Kelly DiPucchio
illustrated by LeUyen Pham
NY: Disney / Hyperion, 2008
ages 6 - 10
available on Amazon and at your local library

One morning, Mrs. Barrington shows her class pictures of the presidents. Grace, a lively African American girl, asks her teacher, "Where are the girls?" Grace is stunned when she finds out that no girls have ever been elected president. Not one to take things sitting down, Grace declares, "I've been thinking it over, and I'd like to be president!" Mrs. Barrington seizes on this idea and hold a school election, with each student voting in the Electoral College for a different state. Pham's illustrations are full of joy, energy and emotions. Kids love the division of kids along gender lines. While Grace is African American, race is never an issue. This is a fun story kids love to read again and again.

Madam President:
The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics
by Catherine Thimmesh
illustrated by Douglas B. Jones
MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2004
revised and reissued, 2008
ages 8 - 11
available on Amazon and at your local library

With a great combination of facts, humor and pizazz, Catherine Thimmesh shares short two-page profiles on dozens of women who have made their mark, "a lasting footprint-whether it be pointy-toed and spike-heeled or rubber-soled and loosely laced-on the very bedrock of America" and the world. Starting with first ladies who found ways to influence and shape political policies and the nation's discourse, Thimmesh shows young readers how these women affected the world around them. She balances the information and humor perfectly, providing background context, interesting details, and primary source quotations without ever sounding like a textbook. Originally published in 2004, this revised 2008 edition has updated information on Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Condoleezza Rice.

If you're looking for fun, you've got to turn to our favorite comic book hero: Babymouse!

Babymouse for President
by Jennifer L. Holm
illustrated by Matthew Holm
NY: Random House, 2012
ages 8 - 11
available from Amazon or your local library

Kids at our school library love, love, love Babymouse. So this is a natural to share at this time of year. Babymouse decides she's going to run for student council president, going up against her arch-nemesis Felicia Furrypaws and even her own locker! Life is never smooth sailing for Babymouse (Typical!), and this election is no different. When Felicia promises that kids will have an ice cream sundae at school every day, Babymouse wonders how much she can promise. Holm introduces a few elements of campaigning, but keeps the emphasis on school humor and elections. If you've got Babymouse friends in your house, head over to the great Babymouse Website to check out the election coverage! There are campaign videos and online voting - very fun!

I haven't gotten a chance to see Michael Townsend's Where Do Presidents Come From? My students have had great fun reading his wacky take on the Greek myths in comic book form in Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunder. The publisher's description of this new book says, "It's full of insanely weird facts about our leaders (Did you know that President Coolidge had a pet pygmy hippo named Billy?), as well as the history and powers of the presidency, day-to-day life, and pros and cons of the job." Sounds like more wacky fun that my 4th and 5th graders will eat up!

The review copies for all of these came from our school library. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Creepy Carrots, by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown - Halloween fun for kids ages 4-8

Kids are full-swing in the Halloween mood. The weather is cooling off, fall is here and kids talk nonstop about their costumes. I love building on this excitement by sharing scary books. But little kids need books that are scary without being too frightening. For some Halloween fun, try out Creepy Carrots. Kids will laugh at the jokes, love the shivers, but know that it's all just pretend the whole time.

Creepy Carrots
by Aaron Reynolds
illustrated by Peter Brown
NY: Simon & Schuster
ages 4–8
available on Amazon and at your local library

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots. He eats them going to school, going to baseball practice and then on the way home again. Jasper pulls carrots up from the ground anywhere he can find them — especially in Crackenhopper Field. But soon, Jasper starts seeing maniacal, monster carrots stalking him at every turn.

“Monster carrots?” you say. Yes, indeed — creepy, monster carrots. Reynolds and Brown work together brilliantly, building suspense, eliciting laughter, creating a Twilight Zone–feel for this creepy tale of vegetable revenge. Is Jasper being stalked by snarling, angry carrots or is it his overactive imagination?

Young kids will delight in the spooky elements of this story, laughing at Jasper’s fear while completely understanding just how it happens. After all, kids know all about having to check the closet for monsters that might just be waiting to pounce. The ending brings the story right back to its humorous side, providing a satisfying lesson on greed through laughter instead of preaching. This is a great new book perfect for kids who like to shiver and laugh at the same time.

I loved this book trailer! It's also fascinating the way Peter Brown talks about his inspiration for the illustrations. It would be very interesting to show this to older students, and ask them about the illustrator's perspective.


The Creepy Carrots Zone from Peter Brown on Vimeo.

For other great Halloween reads, check out my monthly Bookshelf article at Parents Press: Monster Madness. I enjoyed reading other reviews on Five Minutes for Books and Fuse #8, as well as Julie Danielson's post on the Kirkus Blog.

If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books