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
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Diverse Books, Machines, Marla Frazee, Roller Coaster
In our house, some days we eat with chopsticks
and some days we eat with knives and forks.
For me, it’s natural.
Perfect for any kind of mixed family (and most families are mixed, in one way or another), this book shows how flexibility, willingness to learn, and a sense of humor can allow people from very different backgrounds to come together and create a new family. Well, that is what I notice. The boys just agree that “[i]t’s hard to be happy if you’re hungry” and that it is funny to watch adults learn (with a lot of trial and error) how to eat.
Author: Ina R. Friedman
Illustrator: Allen Say
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged A Reading Rainbow Selection, Allen Say, Diverse Books, food, How My Parents Learned to Eat, Ina R. Friedman, Japan, USA
A chief’s son
went fishing
alone,
and a terrible storm arose.
Deliberately patterned on universal archetypes and Northwest Coast Native motifs, this story contains many unexpected elements for both its hero and its readers. The boys are fascinated by this one, and I suspect the unusual, almost frightening, images play a major role. Recommended for slightly older children, especially those who enjoy tales of the sea.
Author: Paul Owen Lewis
Illustrator: Paul Owen Lewis
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, Diverse Books, Paul Owen Lewis, Storm Boy, USA
The girl was small and the cat was big.
And on certain nights
she rode on his back
to the place where
the Milk-Pool was.
Another simple and beautiful bedtime tale. This has role reversals, great illustrations, and lots of creativity. Perfect for a quick and cozy read before bed.
Author: Lane Smith
Illustrator: Lane Smith
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, bedtime, Diverse Books, Lane Smith, out of print, The Big Pets
I’ve been meaning to write about a number Christmas books this holiday season, but somehow this sweet book keeps slipping to the front of the queue. In short, a lot of otters find a baby and a book that belong to a very unusual (and yet ultimately very relatable) mother. But the seemingly simple story quietly addresses being lost and found, bold and safe, curious and content (often all at once).
A Lot of Otters seems to have been inspired by a legend about otters and books that Ms. Berger explored in an earlier work, Animalia (which I expect will also show up here someday). It is calming and soft, with beautiful illustrations that are perfect for for kids who are enthralled by otters (like my youngest). I especially recommend it for bedtime.
Author: Barbara Helen Berger
Illustrator: Barbara Helen Berger
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged A Lot of Otters, Animalia, Animals, Barbara Helen Berger, bedtime, Diverse Books