the myth of picture books

I'm behind. Very behind, and I apologize for that. I'm trying to think of the best way to use this blog to help kids and parents find books. Right now, my only solution is to post about one book at a time and use the labels to identify the age group I think the book is appropriate for.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY BETTER IDEAS FOR HOW TO ORGANIZE THESE BOOK IDEAS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!

In the meantime, I'm hearing lots of snippets from parents about the struggles they're having getting their kids to read over the summer. Many of them are complaining about getting their kids to read real books, more difficult books, not just picture books.

I'm all about reading for real. By that I mean, reading books that fill you up, that go further than just entertain, but teach and inspire and help a person grow.

But those sorts of books are not dictated by format. A novel can be just as silly, as light, as stupid as a picture book.

Picture books are not the problem. Often picture books have far richer, more difficult language than early readers or novels for young children. Because they are not designated easy readers, they have more freedom to use words like simulate and weightlessness and civilian as this book does:

DAREDEVIL: THE DARING LIFE OF BETTY SKELTON by Meghan McCarthy

From Amazon:

In the 1930s most girls were happy playing with dolls. But one girl, Betty Skelton, liked playing with airplanes, watching them fly around outside, and even flying airplanes herself! She lived for an adventure—in the air, the water, and on land—and nothing could stop her, especially not being a girl.

When Betty Skelton was young there weren’t many women flying airplanes or racing cars, but she wouldn’t let that stop her. She was always ready to take on a challenge, and she loved to have fun. Beetty rode motorcycles, raced cars, jumped out of planes, and flew jets, helicoptors, gliders, and blimps. And by the time she was an adult, Betty was known in the press as the “First Lady of Firsts!”

This vibrantly illustrated picture book biography reveals the exciting life of a brave pioneer who followed her dreams and showed the world that women can do anything!

The Stowaways

Occasionally we find a book that everyone wants to listen to out loud. I'm not talking about audio books, I'm talking about mom-reads-a-chapter-or-so-aloud-to-basically-everyone-depending-on-who's-around books.

Calvin is the one who insists on hearing from this book. Shaemus and Flannery have been there for most installments. Mary and Lucy have dropped in and out, but if they're here, and they know I'm reading, they wander in and they stay until I'm done.

The Stowaways is a great book reminiscent of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.

Ages 7 and up.

The Stowaways aren t like the other Weedle mice. They are inventive and curious, they go on adventures, and they are much too clever for their own good. In fact, everyone knows that Grampa Stowaway was killed in a trap on one of his adventures. So who would want to associate with a family like that?
   There s something else about the Stowaways. They keep secrets. Rory has made friends with a bird their natural enemy and his twin brother, Morgan, dreams of sailing away. But Gran has the biggest secret of all and Rory has discovered what it is. If Rory and Gran act on their suspicions, will they be heading for disaster? Or will it be the greatest Stowaway adventure of all?

The Imaginary Veterinary

Shaemus loves these books. THE LONELY LAKE MONSTER is book number two in the Imaginary Veterinary series. THE RAIN DRAGON RESCUE is the third book, it's coming out in June. He gave a slight shriek when he saw the second book in the library.

Ages 7 and up.

Pearl Petal and Ben Silverstein can't wait for their first official day as apprentices of Dr. Woo, veterinarian for imaginary creatures. That is, until they are tasked with clipping the sasquatch's toenails. Gross!

Then Pearl spots a monster in the lake behind the hospital. Even though they were told not to leave the building for any reason, Pearl sets off for a closer look, with Ben trailing cautiously behind.

The outing goes awry when Ben is captured by the creature and held hostage on an island in the middle of the lake. It's up to Pearl to hatch a rescue mission. Will she save the day or cement her reputation as the town troublemaker? And will the hospital's secret patient be able to help?

Horrible Histories Handbook of Pirates

I know I've talked about Horrible Histories Ad Nauseum on this blog. I know that, okay. 

But I don't know if I've mentioned their handbooks, and they must be mentioned. Stuffed with interesting facts, Shaemus asked me today if he could create a board game for Social Studies about pirates. He further explained that he wanted to make it about female pirates, but he couldn't find the pirate handbook. Nevertheless, he could remember in great detail the stories of six different female pirates. He prattled on about where they came from and what they did and what the evidence was about them—all from memory. These books stimulate interest in the history of the world and in our world today. 

What could be better than that?

Ages 7 and up.

An exciting addition to the Horrible Histories series, these titles will tackle all the hot historical topics in a new full-colour format with durable cover. Beginning with the perennial favourite Pirates, they're all the Horrible History a reader needs in one handy little handbook. Terry Deary reveals the terrible truth behind the lousy pirate legends and lies so forget the brave heroes swinging from masts and the handsome young men sailing the seven seas for this is history as it's most horrible! Readers can decide who was the baddest of the bunch in the top ten of putrid pirates, discover why the women pirates were just as wicked as the men and learn to talk the patter of a Pirate. Plus there are foul facts on the ships they sailed, the punishments they suffered and the rules they lived by. Now the nasty bits are at your fingertips!

Here are a few more of the handbooks:

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909

I love picture book biographies and I loved learning about Clara Lemlich. The illustrations are perfect and the story is important. Industrialism, immigration, better working conditions—all important topics today that can be discussed using Clara's story. A good, around-the-dinner-table, book.

Ages 7 and up.


From Amazon:
This picture-book biography of Clara Lemlich, a spitfire who fought hard for better working conditions, is an engaging, informative introduction to her activism as well as to the deplorable state of the U.S. garment industry in the early 1900s. Ukrainian-born Lemlich came to the United States with her parents to escape the Kishinev pogrom of 1903, only to be thrust into another appalling nightmare: the American shirtwaist factories. She began on a small scale to encourage her coworkers to strike, but at a union meeting, when even men wouldn't call for a walkout, she rose and shouted to the large gathering that the time for a strike was now, inspiring tens of thousands of women to leave their stations in the factories. Markel's style is clean and clear, making Lemlich's story accessible to a young audience. Readers are treated to solid information with a buoyant message about standing up for what is right. Sweet has created an outstanding backdrop for Markel's text with a vibrant collage of watercolor, gouache, blank dress-pattern paper, bookkeeping pages, stitches, and fabric pieces. 

Notebook of Doom

Now, I'm not going to lie and tell you that I've really read these books. But Shaemus has read these books and read these books and read these books, and Calvin has read these books and read these books and read these books, and the other kids pick them up and laugh, and I figured I'd better share.

That's right. The Notebook of Doom. 

It's a series. 

Seriously.

Ages seven and up.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night

How often does the fifth book in a series top all others. 

Do you know Alvin Ho? Because you should. It's particularly awesome that his name is Alvin Ho, and it is also particularly awesome that his brother's name is Calvin. How many times will I say awesome on this blog? I don't know. Please don't count. You have to read the description below. 

Ages 7 and up.

From Amazon:

Alvin, an Asian American second grader who's afraid of everything, has started to notice his mother getting bigger . . . and bigger. Alvin's sure it's all the mochi cakes she's been eating, but it turns out she's pregnant! There are lots of scary things about babies, as everybody knows. There's learning CPR for the newborn and changing diapers (no way). But the scariest thing of all is the fact that the baby could be a GIRL. As a result of the stress, Alvin puts on a few pounds and—in one hilarious misunderstanding—worries that he might actually be pregnant, too!