rules of the house

“Follow the rules.

Brush your teeth.

Make your bed.

And never

Ever

Open the red door.”

Rules of the House: an eerie cautionary tale about following the rules, sibling loyalty and when one trumps the other.  Mac Barnett's dry and slightly dark humor pairs well with Matt Myers' detailed and foreboding paintings.  Myers' every stroke and layer of color are carefully considered, and they effectively heighten mood and suspense in the latter part of the story.  To tell you the truth (and maybe it was because I first read this book late at night), at one point, I was a little scared for Ian and Jenny.  I don't want to spoil the plot for you all, so I won't say too much more.  But, one thing I learned—ALWAYS pack a toothbrush.

outer space bedtime race

"The Mercury kids land rocket ships,

then hurry to their nightly dips.

They glide along on rocky paths 

to steamy crater bubble baths.

Inside sleep chambers, warm and snug,

they squeeze together in a hug.

Click-CLICK go all the chamber lids.

It's bedtime for the Mercury kids. "

Here’s one for your little space cadets.  Alien kiddos race around the solar system race to get to bed first in the great Outer Space Bedtime Race.  Words by Rob Sanders and pictures by Brian Won.

otto the book bear

Otto is not your ordinary bear, but bears found in storybooks these days rarely are.  At night, he leaves his storybook home, clambers down the bookshelves and goes exploring.  He likes to read his favorite stories and practice writing on his family's typewriter.  One fateful day, he somehow gets left behind.  Sad but excited by the promise of adventure, he sets out into the big, wide world in search for a new place to live.  Nothing feels like home until he finds "a place that looked full of light and hope."  Can anyone guess where he ends up?