Ikura Soup: Book Reviews from Plossville

Books About Banning Books: This Book Is Banned

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:34:00 +0000

In a world where we rush to take sometimes absurd and over-the-top actions when we perceive even the slightest slight, this book is needed and needs to be read to the greatest number of young humans in the fastest manner possible.

In what starts as a funny book about the tenuous relationship between giraffes and hippos, but soon devolves into a ban-free-for-all, we discover through author Raj Haldar's brilliant storyline that book banning is a slippery slope and may indeed have unforeseen consequences. That's not all of course but between the giraffes (banned), birthday parties (oh, they're totally banned), Unicorns (yes, unicorns), and old-fashioned beds (I don't want to talk about it), the message is clear and in fact stated in a quote from the author at the end of the book;

"...and remember, even if a book isn't for you, it could be perfect for someone else."
Raj Haldar

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author/Illustrator: Raj Haldar/Julia Patton
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 40
Language: English
ISBN-10: 172827656X
ISBN-13: 978-1728276564
Date: 2023
Publisher: Sourcebook Explore. (September 26, 2023)
Price: $7.44 (at the time of this post)

Books About Perception: The Barnacle is Bored

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 16:32:00 +0000

Barnicle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske is a perfect illustration of the concepts of both empathy and "the grass is always greener". In this book, part of a series it seems, we have Barnicle who is fastened to a dock on the shore as many barnacles are.

We learn that he does not necessarily find his life exciting enough and complains about how much better he imagines the life of a neighbor, a fish, is. With no actual knowledge of the fish's daily life or life in general for that matter, Barnacle passes judgment and grouses about how easy the fish has it.

He soon finds out that his life might not be as bad as it seems.

While some may argue that this could teach children to settle for what they have and thus lower any drive to better themselves or to be blind to perceived privilege, I disagree. What this shows, in a cute and funny way, is that you can't pass judgment on anyone's behavior, life, attitudes, etc. without knowing them and what they are or have been going through.

It's a great message wrapped up in a cute story.

I've read this book to a 1st-grade class. Their reactions were wonderful and slightly unexpected. They laughed at the beginning, saw the big moment coming, were anxious, were shocked by the turning point, and laughed by the end. Well worth it.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Fenske
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 40
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545865042
ISBN-13: 978-0545865043
Date: 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 10, 2016)
Price: $11.49 (at the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon

Books About Creativity: Not a Box

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 03:25:00 +0000

There are many books about creativity and the act or practice of being creative out there. Many are amazing, like basically anything Peter Reynolds touches, and some are...meh. This one is definitely not "meh" but one you might be inclined to pass over because of its bland cover with black and white line art.

Don't do that.

Author Antoinette Portis cuts to the chase in her Theodore Seuss Geissel Honor Award-winning book, "Not a Box". She isn't terribly wordy and her pictures aren't particularly ornate or colorful. What she is is, brilliant. In simple text and pictures, she captures exactly what it's like to let your mind race and imagine wonderful things and adventures with an ordinary box.

As a child who was not able to get the latest gizmos and gadgets, and one that spent an inordinate amount of time outside in the woods and streams and mud and dirt, My siblings and I made stuff using sticks and discarded lumber and whatever else we could find. I can identify.

When the library media specialist at the school where I work read this to the class I was with, I was immediately taken back to my childhood. The best part though was watching the students lean forward a little more, big smiles on their faces and sparkles in their eyes, and cheer about the many different things that a box can be.

This is definitely a keeper. For more fun with being creative get her other book, Not a Stick, and let your child's mind roam free.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author/Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061123226
ISBN-13: 978-0061123221
Date: 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (December 12, 2006)
Price: $15.49 (at the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon

You can buy "Not a Stick" at Amazon too. It's just as great a book except for this time it's, well. a stick.

Books About Resilience: Penguin Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 02:30:00 +0000

We are learning about the growth mindset in our school. A great way to teach younger students about anything is with a cute book with a funny story that doesn't smack the lesson across their little heads with a blunt instrument. This is one of those books.

Classrooms and schools are full of "I'm gonna teach you something" books. Those books, created for purveyors of some new behavior, citizenship, friendship, etc. program, are usually less fun to listen to and could be more creative.

Penguin Problems is a great way to illustrate the resilience part of the growth mindset but different from the way you think. Without giving anything away here, well maybe a little bit, sometimes you can illustrate a positive by showing someone not fully embracing it.

This is one of those books. My kindergarten class laughed and giggled all the way to 100% getting the message. It's fun, funny, and cute. A great read for any young student, or family member reading it to them.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Lane Smith
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553513370
ISBN-13: 978-0553513370
Date: 2018
Publisher: Randon House Books for Young Readers; Illustrated Edition (September 27th, 2016)
Price: $13.79 (at the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon

Books About Empathy: We Don't Eat Our Classmates

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 00:43:00 +0000

Ryan T. Higgins' book, "We Don't Eat Our Classmates", is a delightfully absurd lesson for children of all ages on the golden rule.

For those who might not remember what the golden rule is, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You". It's simply the notion that you do to others what you'd like those people to do to you. It's simple and straightforward yet, in this day and age we need to be reminded of it once in a while.

This is being taught in some schools now as "Empathy". The concept of feeling what another person is feeling in their heart, in yours. This is the perfect book to teach this lesson in humanity. My school, like many others I would venture to guess, is choked full of purpose-written books to teach social lessons. These are usually pretty boring and mundane. Books like "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" teaches the same ideals in a far more engaging manner. Don't buy the lesson kits, search and find real books by real authors and real illustrators that teach the lessons you want to teach in a much better, funner, way.

I don't want to say too much about this book, plot wise, as you should experience it yourself.

Suffice it to say that we have a T-rex named Penelope who is facing her first day at school. She's excited to go to school but life throws a wrench into the works as she discovers that her class is populated entirely by children and, as every young T-rex knows, "children are delicious". She can not understand why she can't eat them after all she's a T-rex.

Fortunately, with the help of the class pet, she learns a valuable lesson in empathy.

It's a must-read I think for children and parents alike. It's funny and entertaining all the way through. I've read it to a first-grade class and they loved it. More importantly, they got the message.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author: Ryan Higgins
Illustrator: the author
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 48
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1368003559
ISBN-13: 978-1368003551
Date: 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion; First Edition edition (June 19, 2018)
Price: $9.75 (at the time of this post)
Where to buy: Amazon

Books About Point of View: They All Saw a Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:56:00 +0000

This is the third of what may turn out to be a longer than initially planned series of reviews. The thing is, that while I do enjoy a good pointless children's book once and awhile, that books that delight, inspire and teach are far more...well...important I think.

This is another of these types of books for children.

They All Saw a Cat is by Bendan Wenzel who is a Brooklyn New York based author illustrator who, with several amazing books under his belt, seems destined for colorful literary greatness.

Like Do You Believe in Unicorns and A Tale of Two Beasts, They All Saw a Cat looks at an object, you can probably guess what it is, from different perspectives. The twist here is that those perspectives are radically different from an illustration point based on who's perspective it is.

This is another book where the discussion, facilitated by one of our library media specialists, was a full on full class discussion. Students were explaining the perspectives shown in the illustrations from their own perspectives. It was a truly joyous event to witness.

This is a 2017 Caldecott Honor Book so you know that the judges saw something special in the illustrations and they were 100% correct. The illustrations here are so smart, so well thought out and so wonderful that the book just sort of swirls around you when you read it. It pulls you in and you enjoy being there.

Author: Brendan Wenzel
Illustrator: the author
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 44
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1452150133
ISBN-13: 978-1452150130
Date: 2016
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Price: $9.75 (at the time of this post)
Where to buy: Amazon

Books About Point of View: A Tale of Two Beasts

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 23:54:00 +0000

Like Do You Believe in Unicorns, Fiona Roberton's book, A Tale of Two Beasts, is a book about point of view. Unlike ...Unicorns, and this is in no way a criticism of Murgula's fabulous book, A Tale of Two Beasts is not subtle about the message at all.

This is going to be difficult but again I am going to tip toe through this as not to spoil anything for you...but buy this book.

The story is basically about a little girl who finds and an animal in the forest in distress. She jumps to the rescue and cares for this poor unfortunate creature as anyone would. You'd expect the adorable little creature to be grateful. I mean, wouldn't you?

The book is written in a way that throws a white hot light on how two folks can see the same event in totally different ways. The fact that it deals specifically in ones physical well being is a perfect since people's points of view can get very concrete and emotional when their physical well being is at the center of the debate.

It is a lesson that every child should be exposed to (and most politicians and policy makers these days as well).

The pictures are wonderful and help tell the story perfectly (and that's all I can say without ruining it for you).

Buy this book too.

Author: Fiona Roberton
Illustrator: by the author
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1444916726
ISBN-13: 978-1444916720
Date: 2015
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Price: $13.87 (as of the time of this post)
Where to buy: Amazon

Books About Point of View: Do You Believe in Unicorns

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 23:31:00 +0000

There is a lot of educating going on in the my school district and, one would hope, the rest of the country as well, around "point of view".

This is the first of two books that I've had the opportunity to hear read to first and second graders in the past seven days on the topic. Both are wonderful but offer two different approaches to the subject.

Buy this book and buy it right now.

This first is this brilliantly written and illustrated Do You Believe in Unicorns by Bethanie Deeney Murgula and I'm going to be very careful here because I don't want to spoil a single thing for you.

The book is written in a very creative way that both asks the reader if they believe in unicorns and offers explanations for what the spot-on perfect illustrations are showing (or not showing) the reader. I watched a second grade class of 21 students go full on debate club discussing the book from their individual points of view. Boys and girls alike were completely engaged in the debate. They were actively making predictions, offering alternate or additional explanations and thinking deeply about what they were seeing/hearing. There were a lot of, "but it could also be this..." moments in the room. Time was spent on each page as additional information, predictions and explanations were offered by a fully engaged class of seven and eight year olds attacking this book, its pictures and text.

In a world were we are moving rapidly towards an "if I'm right you have to be wrong" state of affairs what better than to teach students how wrong that can be.

I'm not sure if I said it before but....BUY THIS BOOK!

Author: Bethanie Deeney Murgula
Illustrator: by the author
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English

ISBN-10: 0763694681
ISBN-13: 978-0763694685
Date: 2018
Publisher: Candlewick
Price: $8.79 (as of the time of this post)
Where to buy: Amazon

Bad Seed

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 22:46:00 +0000

Bad Seed

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Pete Oswald

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 40

Language: English

ISBN-10: 006246776X
ISBN-13: 978-0062467768

Date: 2017

Publisher: Harper Collins

Price: $11.73 (as of the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon

I believe in redemption.

I think that it's too easy to judge people harshly over a long period of time based on a bad choice or two in the past.

People can change, so can seeds evidently.

After a recent issue in my own offline life, where a chance at redemption was offered to a student that I work with, I walked into the library at my school this afternoon and see this book on the shelf...staring at me.

This is a wonderful book with a message that every child needs to hear.

You can do "bad" things but can still turn it around and become a better, if only slightly less "bad", person. If you can do that, who knows what you can become if you put in some effort.

We have the story of a sunflower seed gone "bad". It used to be good but outside forces and circumstances caused a shift of some kind, and like Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, he/she turns to the dark side.

Is there redemption for this unfortunate little seed?

Yes, perhaps not total redemption, but a glimmer of hope for the future.

It is a message that every child should hear and the words by Mr. John and illustrations by Mr. Oswald make it a story that every child can access and connect with I think if given the chance.

Hey, it moved me enough to write a post about it, my first in a long time.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

The Debate on Books of Consequence

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite books this year is Jon Klassen's This is Not My Hat. It is a book that teaches consequences for bad choices plain and simple. SPOILER ALERT: You steal a hat, you get caught and there are consequences.

Klassen's other book, I Want My Hat Back follows the same theme. There are others too. William Bee's Whatever for example.

Anyway, the debate around here is whether it a good book or not and seems to center on the fact that the crook is caught and suffers consequence (he's eaten). Some say that the statement from the culprit on page one, "This is not my hat. I stole it." makes it a book to be avoided. I say wrong, wrong, wrong.

The book brilliantly speaks to the way children think. They know they've made a bad choice when they do, for the most part, but try to rationalize their decision in their minds. Klassen illustrates that process perfectly as well as the feeling that they won't get caught.

These books are important in today's "everybody wins" culture. Children are not learning to take responsibility for their actions, how to deal with disappointment, that they have to work to succeed, or even that no means no. If we can do that through picture books that they enjoy, and they do enjoy these types of books, all the better.

There are exceptions to this rule too. Jeanne Willis's book, A Tadpole's Promise, is a horrible book I think that basically teaches kids if people who are different try to get together, tragedy ensues.

Oh, and This is Not My Hat won the Caldecott Medal this year, so there.

Books About Consequence: Not My Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:42:00 +0000

Not My Hat

by: Jon Klassen

Illustrations by the author.

Hardcover: 40 pages

Language: English

ISBN: 0763655996

ISBN 13: 978-0763655990

Date: 2012

Price (as of the date of this post): $9.99 (Amazon without shipping)

Where to buy? Amazon.com

I LOVE this book! I really like books that make kids laugh but also cause them to think and this one does. Books of consequence, like When Charlie McButton Lost Power and Whatever teach through entertaining story lines and expressive illustrations. This is another book from that shelf.

Fans of Mr. Klassen will recognize familiar themes from his other book, I Want My Hat Back. Some may dismiss it as a retread of the first book and for them I am sorry.

In both books an animal has something stolen, goes looking for it and there are consequences for the perpetrator. But the genius of Not My Hat over I Want My Hat Back is that the story is told from the perspective of the perpetrator and not the victim. We hear child-like explanations throughout and they are spot on.

The illustrations by the author have an earthy and organic feel to them. They are beautiful and suit the story telling perfectly. I particularly like the expressions on the victim's face as the story progresses.

This is a great book, there I go repeating myself, but really...a great book. He is a Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Award winner after all. Go get it.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

The Red Lemon

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:34:00 +0000

The Red Lemon

by: Bob Staake
Illustrations by the author.
Hardcover: 40 pages
Language: English
ISBN 13: 978-0375835933
Date: 2006
Price (as of the date of this post): $10.17 (Amazon without shipping)
Where to buy? Amazon.com

I am torn by this book.

I think that the illustrations are wonderful and have a very graphic artsy feel to them and I am a sucker for good illustrations. The textures and gradients make them pop.

My issue is the text.

I discovered the book on the shelf of a kindergarten room in which I have bus duty (waiting in the room with a bunch of kids that ride the same bus until the bus arrives at school to pick them up). I have read them many of my favorites from Charlie McButton to Our Tree Named Steve and the audience, which ranges from k-2, are a good cross section of the school.

They liked the book while I read it to them. They didn't love it but did seem to enjoy it and made references on every page about the size of the farmer.

They were engaged all the way up to the end. When we finished the book there was a stunned silence.

"That's it?" One of them asked.

I looked at one of the second grade boys, he shrugged his shoulders. I looked at the other kids and their faces bore confused and questioning looks.

We read it again to see where we had missed something. Some message that made the ending, or lack there of, make sense. Nothing the second time around either.

Mrs. Ikura Soup says that she thinks the message is don't throw away something until you know what it's worth. Don't just dismiss something potentially valuable without thought.

Others often compare Straake to Dr. Seuss and those are huge shoes to fill. He is not Dr. Seuss, no one but the doctor himself is.

The book is cute looking but left us feeling cheated and unsatisfied. Take a pass on this one I think.

Content: 2/5

Illustrations: 4/5

Concept: 2/5

Quality: 5/5

Price: 3/5

Our Tree Named Steve

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:50:00 +0000

Our Tree Named Steve

by: Alan Zwiebel
Illustrated: David Catrow
Hardcover: 32 pages
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0399237225
Date: 2005
Price: (without shipping) $11.99 USD as of the date of this posting.
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/)

This is a book that is amazing, touching and full of surprises.

The tree, who was named Steve by a toddler who couldn't pronounce the word tree, shows the true meaning of friendship but not in an anthropomorphic way as in Silverstein's "The Giving Tree".

Steve is spared by the family when their house is built. Hey stands by stoically, as trees do, and watches the family grow. He helps in a way that is all tree. You never feel that he is anything but a tree and that makes the book far more emotional.
It is touching and wonderful.

Steve is brought to life by one of my favorite illustrators, David Catrow. Mr. Catrow was also responsible for bringing Patty Lovell's Molly Lou Melon to glorious life. He has also showed us, with the fine prose penned by Karen Beaumont, what happens when one decides I Ain't Gonna Paint No More (review here). Another fave Catrow book for me is I Wanna Iguana written by Karen Oloff.

Buy this book, read this book and if, at the end, you are not a little misty, have your pulse checked.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Quick Hits From The Book Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:54:00 +0000

Here are some quick hits from the Scholastic Book Fair going on this week at my School.

Dear Deer by: Gene Barretta. One of the best illustrations of homophones I have ever seen. Witty and clever it will keep your reader engaged and might even prompt them to come up with some of their own.

Pub. Date: September 2007
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Format: Hardcover, 40pp
ISBN-13: 9780805081046
ISBN: 0805081046
$12.95 at Barnes and Noble

The Curious Garden by: Peter Brown. Inspired by New York's High Line Park this is the book about adaptive re-use. In it we have Liam, a boy, who explores a derelict raised train line running through his city. We watch him nurture the plants that grow there and soon the whole structure is covered by garden. I think that adaptive re-use is something every child should be exposed to and this is the books that does just that.

Also, Peter Brown, author of Chowder, is one of the few authors whose books I buy on faith alone. I have yet to be disappointed.

Pub. Date: April 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 40pp
ISBN-13: 9780316015479
ISBN: 0316015474
$12.23 at BN.com

Not Norman: A Goldfish Story. by: Kelly Bennett. Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. A book both about buyer's remorse and giving something a chance before abandoning it, this is the story of a young boy who has to have a goldfish, Norman. Once Norman is home however our young fish owner has second thoughts and decides to "trade up". Will he or won't he?

A great illustration of the need to pauase before making snap decisions done with a wonderful sense of humor and delightful illustrations.

Pub. Date: March 2008
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Format: Paperback, 32pp
ISBN-13: 9780763627638
ISBN: 0763627631
$5.03 at BN.com

The Very Cranky Bear. by: Nick Bland. It is raining and cold in the Jingle, Jangle Jungle and a group of friends set out to find a warm and dry place to wait out the storm. They find bear's cave and move right in without asking permission. When bear reacts in a slightly less that hospitable manner some of them decide that they know best how to make him less cranky, they don't.

A book about asking before taking, about listening to people before deciding what's best for them, a book you should read to your kids.

I have only seen this in my Scholastic Book Fair. Amazon has it listed as unavailable and BN does not list it at all. A search of Scholastic's website, one of the most confusing there is, resulted in nothing too. Too bad, this is a book every kid should see.

Always in Trouble by: Connie Demas. Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. When I was a lad, I love saying that, we had a dog named Chipper. He was a great dog and lived to be about 14. He was small but with the heart of a Viking Warrior. He meant well and yet was never able to be a 100% "good dog".

I think that is true about all of us and it's certainly true with the dog, Toby, in this story. I believe that deep down there is a good dog in Toby but let's face it, he is a dog and a dog can only be good sometimes.

A book about understanding.

Pub. Date: January 2009
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Format: Hardcover, 40pp
ISBN-13: 9780545024532
ISBN: 0545024536
$ 14.52 at BN.com

I'm The Biggest Thing In The Ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:39:00 +0000

I'm The Biggest Thing In The Ocean
by: Kevin Sperry
Hardcover: 32 pages
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0803731929
Date: Dial 2007
Price: (without shipping) $11.55 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/)

We all know that one should not brag...oh wait...we all may not. Be that as it may this book is a terrific illustration of why not.

In it we meet a Giant Squid. It brags "I'm the biggest thing in the ocean!" Then proceeds to show us everything that it is indeed bigger than; shrimp, clams, various fish and other sea creatures. There is, isn't there always, something that it is not larger than and it meets this creature with perhaps predictable consequences.

The message is a simple one, when you brag, chances are that there is someone else better even than you and, it is fortunate that you don't live in the sea, you will look foolish for your bragging.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0000

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More
by: Karen Beaumont
Illustrated by: David Catrow
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0152024888
Date: 2005
Price: (without shipping) $10.55 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

I know "ain't" is not quite proper English.

But, that's ok. This is a rhyming, fun crazy book that shows young readers rhyming prose. Every time I have read the book to students the entire group gets into guessing which part of his body the kid is going to paint next.

There are a few cautions.

The kid paints the whole house. An explanation about books vs real life may be in order.

The kid does paint his butt and the word butt is used.

That's it. Fun, fun, fun with Catrow's fantastic illustrations. A winning combo.

Message:
[Parents] Sometimes things we feel are inappropriate are use full teaching tools.
[Kids] Just because someone in a book (or tv or theater) does something that shows bad judgment or insensitivity to other peoples feelings or property does not mean that you should.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

I'm Still Here in the Bathtub

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:33:00 +0000

I'm Still Here in the Bathtub
by: Alan Katz
Illustrated by: David Catrow
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689845510
Date: 2003
Price: (without shipping) $6.39 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

I initially got this book on an impulse. It was prompted by the fact that David Catrow did the illustrations. Then, when I got home, I started through the book.

"This is stupid", I thought, "Just a rehashing of familiar tunes with semi-clever new lyrics."

But I am old and may have missed a point or two initially.

That, is an understatement.

The thing is, in the classrooms that have this book in the k-2 school where I work this is one of the most popular books on the book shelf.

It teaches a lost art to the very young, that is the art of parody.

This is a goofy, silly, sometimes potty-humor-esque romp through songs that your kids will love and you'll think are semi-stupid and worthless.

Get over it, it's not about us adults.

The kids will have fun and they'll have the knowledge of song parody installed along with the other creative brainware that these books install into their heads for use later in life.

And that, is a good thing.

Message:
[Parents] Just becaue we don't get it doesn't mean it's not good.
[Kids] What new lyrics can you make up?

Content: 4.5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Dogku

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:57:00 +0000

Dogku
by: Andrew Clements
Illustrated by: Tim Bowers
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0689858239
Date: 2007
Price: (without shipping) $11.55 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

First off, I love Haiku. I written two books in Haiku. So the concept of an unconventional use of the poetic device or style is something I welcome.

This is the story of a stray looking for a new home. All seems to be going along swimmingly until the word "pound" is mentioned (you may need to explain that in this case "pound" has nothing to do with animal confinement).

This an adorable book.

When I saw it initially, at a Scholastic Book Fair, I was intrigued but a little apprehensive. Could the reality of the book live up to what I imagined? It does and Mr. Bowers illustrations aide in making thins a great book let alone a great way to add haiku into your child's life.

Message:
[Parents] Haiku is fun, embrace it...oh....and can we keep him can we huh huh huh?.
[Kids] Learn to write as fast as you can, you can do really cool things with words!

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Bad Day at Riverbend

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:09:00 +0000

Bad Day at Riverbend
by: Chris Van Allsburg
Illustrated by: The Author
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Language: English
ISBN-13: 9780395673478
Date: 1995
Price: (without shipping) $19.95 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: Barnes and Noble (http://www.bn.com)

A day dawns like any other in the small western town of Riverbend, but something is about to rock the very foundation, and in fact the beliefs, on which the small town is built.

This an amazing book.

Allsberg, who also wrote and illustrated Jumanji and The Polar Express as well as many others, seems to write from a slightly dark and refreshingly twisted point of view. His books provoke thought, "A Ha!" and "OMG!" moments with the turn of every page. This book is a shining example of his ability in that regard.

While I can not say any more about the story for fear of giving it all away, suffice it to say that the first time I saw the book read, I ran out and got it. It has been a hit with the kids I read to for a year now.

We don't know 100% how kids thought processes are wired and programmed as they develop, I can only assume that books that entertain and yet provide discovery and provoke thought help to make smarter and more creative kids. If you agree, then Bad Day at Riverbend is a must have for your bookcase.

Message:
[Parents] Good old fashioned coloring is good (but this is not a coloring book).
[Kids] Sometimes things happen that are unexpected and have no explanation. We just have to deal with it.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 4/5

Ckicks and Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:13:00 +0000

Chicks and Salsa.
by: Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by: Paulette Bogan
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Language: English
ISBN 13: 978-1599900995
Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.4 inches, paperback, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $6.95 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

I love Mexican food.

This is a just plain fun book. Barnyard friends, led by a rooster who has a thing for his local Food Network, learn to love some down home food from south of the border.

The illustrations are wonderfully colorful and fun and the writing is a delight. By the end of the story you've got chickens eating salsa, pigs eating nachos and ducks eating guacamole.

A great fun book.

Message:
[Parents] Make it fun and kids will probably try anything.
[Kids] Try new food, you might like it.

The Stinky Cheese Man and other fairly stupid tales.

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 13:13:00 +0000

The Stinky Cheese Man and other fairly stupid tales.
by: Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by: Lane Smith
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Viking/Penguin
Language: English
ISBN: 9780670844876
Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 inches, hardcover, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $17.99 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

This books is nuts.

It breaks traditions, rips classic tales to shreds, has colorful yet somehow slightly disturbing illustrations and yet I can not recommend it enough.

Scieszka and Lane created a book, back in 1992, that is a wonder of modern art and unconformity. The book is disjointed, jumps around and has blank pages. It is also one of the books that my 12 year old daughter remembers from her early years. The text is clever, witty and highly creative.

The illustrations are AMAZING. There is a Dali/Picasso-esque quality to the pictures that is well worth the price of admission.

Message:
[Parents] Art is something best served witty.
[Kids] Look what this guy draws, there is no "wrong" in art.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Good Boy Fergus

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:59:00 +0000

Good Boy Fergus
by: David Shannon
Illustrated by: The Author
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Blue Sky Press
Language: English
ISBN: 0439490278
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 inches, hardcover, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $15.99 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

I love David Shannon's work from "No David" to this one. His art is delightful and the stories are charming and fun for young readers.

Fergus is a dog and like most dogs, responds to the words that dogs respond to. Words like cat, out, ride and walk to name a few.

The story is like a small documentary into the life of a dog from a dog centric viewpoint. The text gives you a disjointed, jumpy feeling which, again, follows the way a dog lives.

There is no deep message here. Just good clean fun.

Message:
[Parents] Hmmmm, maybe this is how kids think too.
[Kids] Dogs are fun.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Chowder

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:07:00 +0000

Chowder
by: Peter Brown
Illustrated by: The Author
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Language: English
ISBN: 0316011800
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 inches, hardcover, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $15.99 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

Here's one I saw at the book fair but purchased at the local non-chain bookstore.

Chowder is a bulldog who marches to his own drummer (who is obviously distant). To say that he is different is an understatement. His owners love him the way he is but he yearns for something more.

Mr. Brown has crafted a delightful story that will have dog owners everywhere shutting down the computer when they leave the house for work. This is a book where it is ok to be different and that difference is applauded.

The illustrations are beautiful. Soft, colorful and with unique angles and perspectives not usually seen in children's books. There is a picture of Chowder leaping from the car at the store which becomes, at first, like a Where is Waldo.

A great book and one that has been added to my personal collection.

Message:
[Parents] If it's ok for a dog to play kick-ball with a pig then it's fine for your kid to play with whoever they want to.
[Kids] People who look different can be fun too.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

When Charlie McButton Lost Power

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:15:00 +0000

When Charlie McButton Lost Power
by: Suzanne Collins
Illustrated by: Mike Lester
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Language: English
ISBN: 0399240004
Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 10.4, hardcover, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $15.99 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

It's bookfair week at the school where I work and the next few posts are going to be books that I have purchased for my own kids library. Not my kids but books I use at school, at the daycare center or at the YMCA.

This book grabbed my attention right away. Young Charlie McButton is a high-tech kid. He has every gadget, every bell, every whistle. The kid is wired.

Disaster strikes Charlies tech empire when a storm takes out the power grid and his world is plunged into candlelit 19th century, Abe Lincoln reading by the fire darkness.

The book is extremely well versed. The rhymes come easily and are clever. It is brilliant. Ms. Collins has crafted a creative and devestatingly charming story.

Mr. Lester has created illustrations that both compliment and help drive Ms. Collin's words to perfection. There is a picture of Charlie's face when he can't find a power source that is worth the price of the book itself. The whole book has a slight Calvin and Hobbes-esque feel which is fine with me.

Message:
[Parents] Deer ticks be damned, get the kids outside.
[Kids] When we were kids we played army outside, not on TV.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

John, Paul, George and Ben

noreply@blogger.com (Skip Ploss) — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 04:36:00 +0000

John, Paul, George and Ben
by: Lane Smith
Illustrated by: the author
Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
Language: English
ISBN: 0786848936
Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8, hardcover, full-color interior ink
Price: (without shipping) $16.99 USD as of the date of this posting
Where to buy: amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)

You must buy this book!

Once and awhile something comes along that is such a cool concept, such a fresh idea and has the potential for great payoff in the future that you must buy it. This is one of those.

Did I mention you should buy this book?

John, Paul, George and Ben is a refreshingly cute story of some of our founding fathers, John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington and Ben Franklin (oh and Independant Thomas Jefferson) and how thier behavior in early life paid big dividends not only for them but for our nation too.

The illustrations are wonderfully "antique" look of a Copley, Trunbull or Peale painting and the font used is a work of art as well. The pictures are rich and deep and, well, beautiful.

The payoff? Your kids might actually take a liking to history. What's not to love about that?

In closing, buy the book. I did and my kid is 11, ok, it was for me.

Message:
[Parents] Maybe the way your child's way of shooting peas across the room out of his/her nose will pay off someday and pay off big.
[Kids] You should always behave yourself but be yourself and find something to use your talents on.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5