Picture Book Review: Good Night, Good Night by Sandra Boynton (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

This longer version of the popular The Going to Bed Book is the original 1985 hardcover version with new drawings by the author. As in The Going to Bed Book, several animals are on a boat and they go through their bedtime routine which is described in rhyme. 

About the Illustrations 

The pictures have been changed from the original board book, in that colors of certain things have been altered, certain figures have been placed differently on the page, and there are several additional spreads that are found only in this longer version. There is noting substantively different about the pictures that have simply been altered; the additional illustrations add in a scene showing the characters' sleeping arrangements and the music to sing along with two bunnies who perform a lullaby.

Story Time Possibilities

This is a great read-aloud, but it's important to figure out how to sing the lullaby before sharing it with an audience. The notes are easily picked out on a piano and the tune is not hard to learn, but it would not be ideal to go into a story time without having worked out the tune ahead of time. Otherwise, this is pretty much a guaranteed story time hit. Boynton is beloved for books of this type, and having this nice full-size version to add into a story time repertoire will be a boon for most libraries and classrooms. I will most likely use it in a night-time themed story time at my house this fall. 

Readers Advisory

This book makes the mundane bedtime routine look like fun. The images of the characters rushing around to prepare for sleep are filled with fun energy, but when the characters begin to yawn and get into bed, the mood shifts in a way that can really help little ones make the transition to bedtime. It's an excellent bedtime story and an all-around excellent picture book for Boynton fans to appreciate anew.

Disclosure 

I received a finished review copy of Good Night, Good Night from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Prehistoric Pets by Dean Lomax, illustrated by Mike Love (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

Filled with facts, this pop-up book introduces the prehistoric ancestors of today's common household pets.

About the Illustrations 

Each page is filled to the edge with colorful digital illustrations and a host of text boxes and other informational blurbs. Each two-page spread talks about a particular animal family and provides drawings of some of the species within that family. The right-hand side of each spread also opens to reveal a pop-up of the prehistoric creature from which these species are descended. The text is really prominent on each page, so the 2-D artwork is mostly background, but the 3-D pop-up images do catch the eye.

Story Time Possibilities

This isn't a story time book because it's just too wordy. Theoretically it would be possible to just read the main bolded text on each page, but the unwieldiness of then having to show the pop-ups to an audience makes it more desirable to simply recommend it as a lap book.

Readers Advisory

This is a book for that kid who wants all the details about everything. There is just so much information packed into every square inch of every page that it's almost overwhelming. I do think the subject matter is fascinating, and I think my first grade daughter who is currently studying the stone age in our homeschool will want to look at it, but I'd be surprised if any child wanted to tackle every word in the book in one sitting. For me, the most interesting piece of each page is the section across the bottom that talks about fossils. I imagine other readers will similarly zone in on the sections that appeal to them most.

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of Prehistoric Pets from Templar Books in exchange for an honest review.

Family Story Time, 9/22/21 (Farm Theme)

After almost a two-year hiatus, I'm back to doing story time once again. This time around, I'm performing story times in my basement every other Wednesday, and I've invited four other families to join me. We kicked off the season with a very small group: my five kids, ages 7, 5, 3, 18 months and 18 months, and one other family with a 3-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy. (The age range for the story time has been advertised as 5 and under, but my big kids will always happily participate when the group is small). I decided to start with a favorite September theme, the farm. 

Opening Song (with ukulele): Story Time is Starting, Clap Your Hands 

Book: Early One Morning by Mem Fox, illustrated by Christine Davenier
This book relies a little too heavily on the illustrations for me, and I did prompt the kids early on to realize that the boy is looking for eggs. Once we established that fact, they were very happy to let me know that of course gates, trucks, cows, sheep, etc. do not lay them. My older girls also thought the little boy was cute.

Song with Puppets: When Cows Get Up in the Morning
We sang this song with the Melissa & Doug puppets of a a horse, a pig, a sheep, and a cow. I intentionally ended with the cow to transition into the next book. 

Book: Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
For this book, I introduced the refrain of "Click clack moo, clickety clack moo, click clack moo" before I started reading and had everyone practice so they'd be ready to join in when it occurred in the story. It worked great!

Song: Milkshake Song 
I learned this song from Songs for Wiggleworms. My two oldest daughters demonstrated the movements for us. On the way home, my friend texted that her son fell asleep in the car and it was probably this song that did it. Haha.

Book: Stanley the Farmer by William Bee
This is one of my favorite Stanley books. I made sure to point out our family favorite, Little Woo, on every page. 

Song: Bumpin' Up and Down on My Little Red Tractor 
I took the words I normally use for Bumpin' Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon, and just changed wagon to tractor in every verse. Piggyback songs are great for new audiences - it makes it so easy for them to join in with the singing.  

Book: Barn at Night by Michelle Houts and Jen Betton
We ended with this gentle book about what happens in a barn at night. The 2-year-old boy had a lot to say about the pictures, and everyone loved the horses.

Song: Goodnight 

We sang Laurie Berkner's "Goodnight" to each of the animal puppets I introduced at the beginning, bringing the story time full circle.

Closing Song (with ukulele): Story Time is Over, Clap Your Hands 

Picture Book Review: Step by Step by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Diane Goode (2021)

Quick Booktalk

Inspirational text and lively illustrations encourage young readers to do big things a little at a time.

About the Illustrations 

Using the same style she employed to illustrate books such as the Cinderella Smith series and the Louise the Big Cheese picture books, Diane Goode lends a collection of cheerful figures to McGinty's affirming words. Boys and girls of varying skin tones (and one girl using a wheelchair) welcome an uncertain newcomer into their circle, modeling how they try each day to make a step toward their goals, whether they're working on counting, painting, building, or writing.  The background of each page is stark white, focusing all the attention on the attitudes and movements of the characters. 

Story Time Possibilities

I think the best place to read this book aloud is probably a classroom. It feels like a good positive way to kick off a school year and to encourage kids to try, and keep trying, until they are successful at whatever they wish to achieve. I do think there are story time themes and locations that might lend themselves to sharing a book like this. I used to do story time alongside a yoga instructor, for example, and I think in that context it would have been well-received. Similarly, if there is need of a book on the theme of confidence or perseverance or "growth mindset," this is a strong choice. The rhyme and rhythm work well, and the illustrations are spare enough that they can translate well from the front of a small room to the back. 

Readers Advisory

This book reminds me a bit of I Can Be Anything by Jerry Spinelli, but with a more realistic emphasis on putting in effort to learn new things rather than a hollow blanket pronouncement that anyone can be anything. I don't tend to love books whose sole purpose is to teach a lesson, but this one is a lot more appealing than most. The ideal age range for this book is probably 4 to 6 years. I will most likely give it to my almost-6-year-old to read to herself or to her sister who is almost 4. 

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of Step by Step from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.