Thursday, August 27, 2009

Book Week 2009: Picture Books - A Visual Delight

The picture bookshelf at home has recently extended to it's second shelf. We have a lot!! Here are a few of our favourites which are on regular rotation.

Sock Monkey Goes to Hollywood
Its no secret that I adore sock monkeys! This is my all time favourite sock monkey book. In this adventure, Sock Monkey the actor has been nominated for an award, but to attend the gala event he must have a bath! I also highly recommend checking out Sock Monkey Boogie-Woogie and Sock Monkey Rides Again.


And the Train Goes...
Full of fantastic retro style illustrations using bold colours and some very witty detailing, it's the rhyming nature of this train tale that I love so much. especially fun to read aloud, you find yourself really getting into the clack, clack clickety clack of it all.


Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
That crazy pigeon, always up to something! Author Mo Willems was a script writer for Sesame Street for over 9 years and I love each and everyone of his books, but this is the standout. When the driver leaves the bus temporarily, he gives the reader just one instruction: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" But, boy, that pigeon tries every trick in the book to get in that driving seat.


Man on the Moon: (A Day in the Life of Bob)
It's Bob's job to keep the Moon clean and tidy. He gives guided tours and lectures and even sells little souvenirs to the moons daily visitors. he's always on the look out for aliens, but Bob knows there aren't any aliens on the Moon. Or are there? A cute look at the Man in the Moon myth and what such a job may entail. Lots of aliens hiding about staying out of Bob's sight.



Fancy Nancy Bonjour, Butterfly
The french speaking iridescent azure butterflys are the reason Abby is going to the butterfly farm for her 4th birthday. Fancy Nancy has many posh adventures, but our little nature lovers have a fondness for this. Fancy Nancy is excited about Bree's Butterfly Birthday, but then she has to go to her Grandparents wedding anniversary party instead. She is at first disappointed, but getting to stay in a grand hotel and attend a party soon has her enunciating in french again.

Sunny [With CD]
The illustrations to this adorable little story are made up entirely of stunning photographs. In this story, Sunny and his friends are having a hootenanny. There are two other adventures about Sunny's friends, Snowy and Chinook and Windy. A lovely gift size book, Sunny comes with a CD of music from the story.



Mutt Dog!
One of the first picture books we every owned, Mutt Dog is the story of a scruffy Mutt who lives by his wits in the big city. Mutt Dog is brave and fast and gentle and loyal and smart, but he's also hungry, and he doesn't have a home. Then one day his luck changes, and he at last finds a family--and a cozy, loving place to belong.



I am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed (Charlie & Lola)
I love everything about Charlie and Lola! The books of course, the TV show, the merchandise. Everything! But this story is a favourite just because it is so cheeky. Lola is trying every trick in the book to get out of going to bed, despite Charlie's help. She finally gives in once all the tigers have had their pink milk, whales have been shooed down the plug hole and the two dancing dogs have lent her some PJ's.

Busiest Firefighters Ever!
My husband and I can quite literally recite this story word for word, cover to cover with out even sneaking a peak. We pull out this amazing feat of memory endurance on long car trips. You really can't go past the Little Golden Books for fantastic stories, awesome illustrations and lasting memories.



The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
Easily the master of the children's tale, the Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake combination is a match made in heaven. A giraffe with an infinitely expandable neck, a pelican with a magical retractable beak, a dancing monkey, and Billy, a small boy with a dream, team up to make the most amazing ladderless window-cleaning company ever invented!

1 comment:

  1. We love Don't Let the Penguin Drive the Bus - guaranteed to crack my kids up every time.

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