the airport book

Lately, Nate’s been asking where Florida, Paris and Hong Kong are.  He wants to visit Disneyland in each of those places and wants to go on each park’s version of the Haunted Mansion. lol  I’ve been telling him that they’re far away and that you have to take an airplane to get there, etc.  I’m not quite sure he understands because he’s never flown before.  So, enter The Airport Book.  I like all the of aspects of Lisa Brown’s newest work—the content, the color palette, her illustration style—but I love the design and composition of the page spreads the most.  She really captures the bigness and airiness of an airport, with its comings and goings and ubiquitous swarms of people.  When I first flipped through its pages, I had flashbacks of memorable times spent in airports—waiting, breathing in all the activity, getting lost in the sea of background noise, walking around and looking up at everything.  

 Back to the book—Nate likes all the dialogue between the family members and when we read it, he gets concerned about the whereabouts of the little girl’s monkey.  There are so many details to notice and get lost in on each page and I’ve been enjoying reading and re-reading the book with him.

penguin in peril

There’s something about Penguin in Peril by Helen Hancocks that reminds me a little of a Wallace and Gromit short—a little dark, a little bit of intrigue, and very clever all around.  It’s great for teaching rare words “peril,” “cunning” and “foiled.”  

Rare words, according to Jim Trelease, are ones that kids won't typically hear in everyday conversation, but will encounter in books.  They occur not only in chapter books, but in picture books.  Many picture books are rich sources of rare words, diverse vocabulary and regional lexicon.  Are there any interesting rare words in your bedtime story tonight?  And please mention the title.  I'm always looking to increase the diversity of our book collection. 

what degas saw

What Degas Saw gives children insight into the quotidian inspiration that Degas found on the wide boulevards and narrow streets of Paris—its light, denizens, quiet corners and lively din.  “He wanted to find a way to capture the beauty of the passing moment. … All across busy Paris he studied movements of people at work and play.”  In his work, he strove to depict “the city’s push and pull, its run and jump, its lean and stretch. “

Words by author and MoMA curator Samantha Friedman, with aquatint etching illustrations by Cristina Pieronpan.  What Degas Saw accompanies an exhibition at MoMA entitled Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty.  It’s on view until July 24 for those of you NYC dwellers.

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.