Interactive Picture Books

Over the past few months, William and I have come across some books that have had him so engaged and asking to read them over and over. These books are highly interactive and hands-on, but they aren't lift-the-flap or touch-and-feel books. These are geared toward an older audience and obliterate the wall between author and reader. Today, I want to highlight three of these books and urge you to run out and get them for your preschooler or early-grade kiddos pronto. :)

1. Press Here

Press Here by Herve Tullet (Chronicle Books, 2011) is an impressively simple book that had William extremely excited. Full of gentle commands to "press the yellow dot" and "tip the book to the right," the simple primary-color dots react to each action at the turn of the page. They multiply, or get all jumbled up in a corner, and young readers will laugh and push your hand out of the way so they can do as prompted. In the end, the dots build to full-color excitement and the text urges the reader to do it all again. Which they do!

2. Please, Open This Book!

Please, Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt (auth) and Matthew Forsythe (ill) (Simon & Schuster, 2015) features a cast of animal characters imploring the reader not only to open the book, but to never close it again! Someone once closed the book, and, well, they will show you what happened then. With each turn of the page, the animals get more panicky that you are about to close the book, and they are very disappointed in you. With delightfully engaging illustrations and playful text, this is another book that will have your child asking to do it all again.

3. Welcome to Mamoko

Welcome to Mamoko by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski (Big Picture Press, 2013) is a feast for the eyes. Truly, your child can enjoy this book unaided (but you may enjoy the adventure just as much!). There is trouble in Mamoko, and a large cast of animal and alien characters, and the reader is urged to "follow the adventures of each of these characters in every scene." Each page is densely packed with illustrations and winding paths, and the reader follows the antics of each character with their eyes to reveal the story. It is truly a unique and exciting way to discover and enjoy the unraveling of a story. Brilliant!


If you enjoy these books, other hands-on titles include: Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter, Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson, and Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg.

And other titles of books that break the fourth wall include: the pigeon books by Mo Willems, The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak, and Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko.

I hope that you and your child can bond over these interactive books. Are there any other unique, must-read interactive books that you'd recommend?

Happy Wednesday!

~Jen

The Terrible Two

I have really enjoyed reading chapter books with William, and we recently finished The Terrible Two, co-written by Mac Barnett and Jory John.

The book opens with Miles Murphy's transition to a new school. He and his mom have just moved from a beach community to a small cow town ("Somewhere in the distance, a cow mooed."), and he's not thrilled about it. At his old school, he was the "prankster," a role that he was proud of and worked hard to achieve. And he has every intention of being his new school's best prankster, as well.

But there's a problem: the first day of school starts with -- a PRANK! Someone has parked the principal's car at the top of the steps, blocking the school entrance. Miles is worried that there is another prankster, but somehow gets the blame for the car stunt from purple-faced, self-important Principal Barkin. Regardless, Miles is determined to show this town who's prank boss, and devises a scheme.

When he pulls a prank on the whole school, though, his prank is hijacked. He receives a message on a rubber chicken, and goes to meet the messenger. It is none other than Niles Sparks, the goody-two-shoes school helper. Niles proposes that they team up as a force-to-be-reckoned-with pranking duo: The Terrible Two. At first Miles rejects the idea, but only after a pranking war leaves him in awe of Niles' impressive pranking skills does he agree.

This book is soooo funny. From Principal Barkin's "principal pack" to the elaborate pranking journals kept by the two main characters to the clever writing, you will enjoy the story just as much as your child. Barnett and John have created flawed characters that are real and relatable -- and always funny. As intense as Principal Barkin can be, you can't help but like him! And all of the pranks and sticky situations that the characters find themselves in keep the pages turning. The chapters are short and quick, with illustrations sprinkled throughout, courtesy of Kevin Cornell.

I highly recommend this book for early or even middle-grade readers. And, if you are at all interested in hearing from the authors, check out this entertaining interview via the School Library Journal. In it, Barnett and John talk about how they see themselves in the characters, how their writing process worked, and the pranks they pull -- and have pulled on them! -- when they do school visits. Engaging books coming to life -- I love it!

Happy reading,
~Jen

Valentine's Babylit Books

Before Vivy was born, I was in a bookstore with William. He was running an engine along a train table and my eyes were glancing over the shelves. And that's when I saw it: a Romeo & Juliet board book.

At the time, William was beyond board books, so I lamented that this gem wasn't available when my kids were tiny. Well, enter Vivy and an expansive line of Babylit books later, and we've now got ourselves quite a little collection going.

The Babylit series by Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver puts classic literature into the hands of toddlers. (Oh, how I wish these had been my brainchild! They are so fun.) With adorably contemporary artwork by Oliver, each book focuses on a theme of colors or opposites or numbers. And the selections pictured here are perfect for pulling out for Valentine's Day.

We own other non-romantic books from their line: The Wizard of Oz (colors), Alice in Wonderland (colors), and Frankenstein (body parts), to name a few. Babylit continues to put out new titles, and I NEED Vivy needs a copy of Les Mis. :) These also make fabulous baby shower or 1st/2nd birthday gifts.

Happy Friday!

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

I read a book with William last night. A book that had him laughing out loud. A book that had him yelling at the pages to tell the characters what to do. A book where the pictures truly tell half the story.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole (Candlewick, 2014) is the creation of award-winning duo Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. It is the story of two boys who set out to dig a hole until they find something spectacular. While the words tell you of their decisions, the illustrations complete the story, showing a series of hilarious misses.

In the end, they are satisfied that they had a spectacular adventure. But where, exactly, did they end up?

Klassen's illustrations are more than delightful -- they also move the story forward in a completely lovable and captivating manner. The subtle differences between the opening and closing scenes will have you scratching your head. And the images of the boys' missteps -- and the seemingly knowing dog -- will make kids laugh out loud. It is so engaging and fun to read.

Go check it out! This pair also teamed up for the book Extra Yarn, which also won a Caldecott Honor, and you can check out a convo between them here.

Happy Wednesday!

Wayside School

Today, I'd like to venture away from picture books a bit and discuss a great early-grade chapter book.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School was written by Louis Sachar, award-winning author of Holes and the Marvin Redpost series. Wayside School was supposed to be built one story high and have 30 classrooms. But the builder made a mistake and built the school 30 stories high with one classroom per level! (He said he was very sorry.)

The book details the strange happenings of the teachers and students on the 30th floor. Mrs. Gorf, who turns her students into apples, is soon replaced by Mrs. Jewls, who thinks her students are so cute they can't possibly be children and must be monkeys. And the students are even sillier than the teachers: There's Joe, who cannot count in the correct order and yet gets the right answer each time; Bebe, who can draw over 300 pictures in an hour; and of course Sammy -- the new kid in class -- who wears layers of raincoats and is very smelly.

I started reading this to William this week, and just as Abby had been when I read it to her, he was completely enthralled and giggly and kept asking for "just one more chapter." It is a great bridge from picture books to chapter books in that the action and stories are so compelling and hilarious for kids, they don't miss the illustrations on each page. The chapters in the book are quick and filled with ridiculousness, as well as timeless experiences from grade school and childhood.

First published in 1978, there have been three editions of this original book, as well as two sequels: Wayside School is Falling Down and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger. Check them out for your kiddos soon, and you may find yourself enjoying them just as much.

Happy reading!

~Jen

Babybug

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, my cousin Stacy gifted me a subscription to Babybug magazine. Have you heard of it?

Babybug is an award-winning magazine for babies and toddlers six months to three years old. Each issue is filled with stories, rhymes, photos and beautiful artwork that appeal to a very young child.



source

With words and pictures from a variety of authors and artists, the concepts are simple and relatable, and perfect for reading aloud by a parent or other caregiver.

Some of our favorite rhymes and knee-bouncers have come from the pages of Babybug, making story time an engaging and interactive experience.

I love our Babybugs. I saved all of Abby's and read them to William and now Vivian. Vivian now gets a subscription of her own, and we squeal when we open the mailbox and there is a new, happy, colorful issue waiting for us. A subscription for these books also makes a unique gift for a baby shower, birthday, or holiday.

Cricket Media, the publisher of Babybug, offers a variety of literary magazines for children of all ages. I encourage you to check them out!


 

I was not in any way paid for this blog post -- I just treasure these products and what they've meant to our family. I hope you will treasure them, too!

A Family Favorite

Continuing the conversation of delightfully absurd stories that we began yesterday, I'd like to highlight one of our family's favorite picture books: Stop That Pickle (author: Peter Armour; Illustrator: Andrew Shachat; published by HMH Books for Young Readers 1993).

My sister gifted me this book years ago, before I even had kids, because the notion of an ornery, runaway pickle was too ridiculous not to share. :) Basically, when Ms. Elmira Deeds visits the deli and orders a pickle -- the last pickle in the jar -- it does NOT want to be eaten. It runs out of the deli and is chased by a cast of other edible characters who all aim to -- you guessed it -- stop that pickle!

When my nephew Brad was a little boy, he'd beeline for the bookshelf in our guest room when he'd come over and would always select Stop That Pickle to read while he stayed. Warmed my heart. Over the years, Abby and William (and some day Vivian) have loved my husband's rendition of this story with a variety of ridiculous voices, and they join in the repeat of "Stop that pickle!" on each page. This can get very loud. :)

I wonder if the author knew he was writing an interactive book? :) Add this to the list of books that instill a delight in the experience of reading in young kids. (We adults sure love reading this with them, too.)