Clink’s an old and rusty robot who has watched countless robots be taken home to families while he stays on the shelf. No one seems interested in a robot who simultaneously makes (burned) toast and plays music. But is there a match out there for Clink?
This book is poignant, ultimately joyful, and beautifully illustrated. Both boys have agreed they would love to adopt Clink, burned toast and all.
Author: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Matthew Myers
Comments Off on Clink
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged clink, food, Kelly DiPucchio, Machines, Matthew Myers, science fiction, toys
This series is nothing if not predictable. A little white mouse says “That’s not my [robot/monster/train/etc.]” over and over, explaining why the item on each page is not the one he is looking for (usually based on their textures or colors). At the end of each book, the little mouse exclaims “That’s my [robot/monster/train, etc.]!” and then explains why. (For example, “Its antennae are so sparkly.”) These books were very popular through the toddler years–we had the robot, monster, and train versions and there were lots more at daycare. Strangely, the whole series is now out of print.
Author: Fiona Watt
Illustrator: Rachel Wells
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Posted in Board Books
Tagged Animals, Fiona Watt, Machines, out of print, Rachel Wells, series, That's Not My Monster, That's Not My Robot, That's Not My Train, Usborne Touchy-Feely
One summer day, Henry and
his friend decided to go to
Fitchburg to see the country.
“I’ll walk,” said Henry.
“It’s the fastest way to travel.”
“I’ll work,” Henry’s friend
said, “until I have the money
to buy a ticket to ride the
train to Flitchburg. We’ll see
who gets there first!”
Based on a passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, this book focuses on how there are many ways to reach the same destination. Some of them are more conventional. Some of them are quicker. Some of them are more fun. And all of them take effort, of one sort or another.
Being thoughtful about the kind of effort is best suited to a particular task, rather than just hopping into the first thing that comes to mind is a good message for anyone. The boys like the racing aspect of the book, they like counting the money and the miles accumulated by the two bears, and they are always a bit surprised that the “winner” is ambiguous.
While we really enjoy this book, we’ve tried out a few other in this series (Henry Builds a Cabin and Henry’s Night) that did not connect with the boys. Your mileage may vary.
Author: D.B. Johnson
Illustrator: D.B. Johnson
Comments Off on Henry Hikes to Fitchburg
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, D.B. Johnson, Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award, fable, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Machines, New York Times Best Illustrated Book, series, Thoreau, USA
Sure, I could talk about what a classic this book is. How funny it is. Its cadence. Its illustrations. All wonderful.
But the most wonderful part of all is that last night my oldest read (not recited!) about the first 25 pages of it to us. He’s an official reader now!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!
Author: Dr. Seuss
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Comments Off on Green Eggs and Ham
Posted in Early Readers
Tagged Dr. Seuss, fable, food, Green Eggs and Ham, I read this as a kid, Machines
Happily, it is Clementine season. We love those sweet, juicy balls of Spanish citrus, and it is hard to eat them without humming a bit of “oh my darling, oh my darling…” Which, strangely enough, leads us to this book. Using the tune from the famous western folk ballad, this story is told from the viewpoint of a hapless would-be suitor who keeps trying (and trying) and failing to send a romantic message to his darling, Valentine (who is concurrently working on a, much more successful, surprise of her own). The word play is clever, the scenarios delightfully ridiculous, and it offers the opportunity for lots of dramatic interpretation (singing is optional, but lots of fun).
Author: Alison Jackson
Illustrator: Tricia Tusa
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Alison Jackson, food, Machines, out of print, songs, The Ballad of Valentine, Tricia Tusa, USA, Valentine's Day
Whether you love riding roller coasters or watching them with fearful fascination (our current default), this book is a pleasure. The wonderful illustrations create a backstory and a personality for each person in the book. The attention to detail is amazing and the story is sympathetic to riders and non-riders alike. It almost (almost!) makes you want to get on board.
Author: Marla Frazee
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Comments Off on Roller Coaster
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Diverse Books, Machines, Marla Frazee, Roller Coaster
A perfect tall tale of daring and dairy. This book may (almost literally) have everything. Among other things, there are aliens, dads, dinosaurs, flying saucers, hot air balloons, pirates, ponies, piranhas, space time paradoxes, time machines, vampires, volcanoes, and (fortunately) the milk. An effortless read aloud and an absolute hoot.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Skottie Young
Comments Off on Fortunately, the Milk
Posted in Chapter Books
Tagged aliens, Animals, Fortunately the Milk, Machines, Neil Gaiman, pirates, science fiction, Skottie Young, space time paradoxes, Tall Tale, vampires, volcanoes
My friend Rabbit means well.
But whatever he does,
wherever he goes,
trouble follows.
This is another quick, funny, unexpected book with beautiful illustrations. Both boys love to chime in on the (frequently repeating lines) and happily anticipate the next wild (slightly disastrous, mostly humorous) event. A perfect treat before bed.
Author: Eric Rohmann
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, bedtime, Caldecott Medal, Eric Rohmann, Machines, My Friend Rabbit
Zoom (a cat who loves water) finds an address and a map left by his uncle (who has gone off adventuring) labeled “The Sea and how to get there.” But following the map does not help Zoom find what he expected–at least not at first. This is a deeply imaginative book that intrigues the boys–it reminds me of The Maggie B. with its beauty, coziness, and themes of sailing, adventure, and family. It is the first of three books about Zoom and it may be our favorite.
Author: Tim Wynne-Jones
Illustrator: Eric Beddows
Comments Off on Zoom at Sea
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, Eric Beddows, Machines, out of print, portal fantasy, series, The Maggie B., Tim Wynne-Jones, Zoom, Zoom at Sea
This book is an utter classic and I’m guessing most of you already have it memorized. (I recently met Peter S. Beagle at a screening of The Last Unicorn and we ended up reciting “Too Many Daves” in a sort of call and response together at his signing table. It was a lovely, utterly odd moment.) We love all the stories, from “The Sneetches” and “The Zax” to “What was I Scared of?” Nothing quite compares to the best of Dr. Seuss, and this book may be his best of all. If you don’t already own it, I suggest you find a copy immediately.
Author: Dr. Seuss
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Comments Off on The Sneetches and Other Stories
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged beach, Dr. Seuss, fable, I read this as a kid, Machines, Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn, The Sneetches and Other Stories