The Little Crooked Bookshelf

I NEED TO WEE!
by Sue Hendra & Paul Linnet

(This week’s pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.)  

What it’s all about …
When you gotta go, you gotta go. But Alan the bear is having too much fun to take a wee break. With the help of his friends and a special dance, will Alan make it to the toilet in time?

Why I love it …

Hendra and Linnet have their very young audience squarely in mind at all times and know what tickles a little one's funny bone.

Favorite line ...

The refrain,

"I NEED TO WEE!"

will be a hit at story hour.

Favorite illustration ...

From I NEED TO WEE! by Sue Hendra. Illustration copyright 2015 by Paul Linnet.

Why will kids love it?
Every element is super kid-friendly -- from the map endpapers to the brightly colored illustrations of wacky characters to the funny story about the familiar wee dance. 

Why will parents love it?

It's the perfect book to share with littles known to do the wee dance. Use it as a gentle conversation starter about not waiting as long as Alan.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author-Illustrators
Sue Hendra studied illustration at Brighton University while also selling doughnuts from a kiosk at Chessington Zoo. Sue has now illustrated over 100 books for children. When Sue met Paul Linnet she found another person with the same silly sense of humor as her and they fell in love and started writing and illustrating together. Their creative brilliance soon led them to come up with a wealth of bestselling, award-winning picture books including Barry the Fish with Fingers, Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell, Supertato, and most recently the Laugh Out Loud Book Award–winning I Need a Wee. Sue and Paul live in Brighton with their daughter Wanda who inspired Sue’s picture book and TV series Wanda and the Alien.

Paul Linnet was born by the sea near to Brighton, but he grew up in Derby, where he studied graphic design and played guitar in a band called The Chihuahuas. Eventually Paul moved back to Brighton where he met Sue Hendra and they instantly fell in love. Their celebrated picture book partnership has created many bestselling, award-winning books including Barry the Fish with Fingers, Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell, Supertato, and most recently the Laugh Out Loud Book Award–winning I Need a Wee. Sue and Paul live with their daughter Wanda in a house in Brighton where Paul likes to fuss about with an old motorbike and still plays the guitar.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

THE NIGHT GARDENER
by The Fan Brothers

This week's pick is from cottager Anika Denise.


What it's all about
One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William’s gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William—and his town—are changed forever.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf…
It's a quietly magical story with spare text and stunning illustrations. Brothers Terry and Eric Fan demonstrate the art of the page turn beautifully.


My favorite lines…
Something was happening on Grimloch Lane.
Something good.


My favorite illustration…

Why kids will love it…
There's a deep a sense of mystery and hope that will pull children through the story. The finely detailed illustrations, reminiscent of Gorey and Sendak, invite long looks and repeat reading.

Why grown-ups will love it…
Its sense of magic and whimsy will no doubt captivate adults as well as kids, but the book is also an entry point to a conversation about loneliness, kindness and community that I think older readers will find interesting.

For any age, The Night Gardener is a stunning read.

Mr. Pig Visits Marsha Riti -- WIN A SIGNED BOOK!*

Oh, howdy! You found me. I ditched the snow of the Enchanted Woods for the warmer air of Austin, Texas. That's because I'm on my way to visit the talented Marsha Riti, illustrator of The Critter Club.

Marsha is going to give me a tour of her studio and introduce me to her newest addition -- a baby!

I'm a little nervous. How do I look?

<<knock, knock>>

Marsha Riti having a bowl of Flap Cereal™ with her good friend Duck.

Oh hi, Mr Pig! Welcome! You're early. 

Um, is that your baby?

NO! This is my friend, Duck, who poured you a bowl of cereal. He was just leaving. Bye, Duck!

Thanks, Duck -- and thanks for having me, Marsha! I know you're a busy lady with lots of The Critter Club books to illustrate. Liz and the Sand-Castle Contest is my favorite.

Thanks! Why don't you finish your Flap Cereal and I'll give you the tour? I have lots to show you!

[top] Marsha working at her kitchen table; [bottom l to r] Marsha's desk and sketches for a new story.

OK, Mr. Pig, welcome to where I like to work. Sometimes a friend and I co-work at my dinner table. I’m enjoying “co-working” with my little baby Maple too.

Maple looks like she's a good helper. Hi, baby! 

And this is my actual desk and a few sketches for a story about babies I’m working on. I love that my desk has a north facing window: best light ever.

What's behind this door?

This is my Art Closet! Yay! Let's take a peek. . . .

Marsha's art closet.

Since my desk is in the living room I like having all my art stuff stowed away in its own space so it’s not visual clutter, and hopefully little hands will not get into it. 

See all of my cute art pencils, crayons, and fun kid’s books?

Pretty! They make me want to draw like you. Well, you and your co-worker have lots to do, so I'll be on my way. Thank you for the cereal and the tour, Marsha! Nice meeting you, Maple! 

My pleasure, Mr. Pig! 


*GIVEAWAY! Speaking of fun books for kids, Marsha is kindly sending one of our readers an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of her newest book, ELLIE AND THE GOOD-LUCK PIG! Leave a comment to enter to win. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, February 18th.

Marsha Riti previously illustrated a picture book, The Picky Little Witch, for Pelican Publishing, and is currently illustrating a chapter book series for Simon & Schuster, The Critter Club. 

Marsha enjoys creating and experimenting with new ways of expressing herself visually. She also loves exploring and educating herself about the craft of writing, and is currently working on a couple of different book ideas, ranging from stories about a silly duck to a dreamy book about the moon.

Marsha graduated from the University of Texas with a BFA in studio art. She has been a member of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for a number of years, and is also a co-founder and member of a female illustrator collective called the Girllustrators.

She is represented by Teresa Kietlinksi of Prospect Agency. Visit Marsha at marshariti.com.

Mr. Pig LIVE . . . with Henny!

Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of my hit talk show, "Mr. Pig LIVE!" 

Today's guest is the feathered star of Elizabeth Rose Stanton's acclaimed debut picture book. Let's give a big, er, hand for the chicken with arms . . . 

HENNY!  

Baawwaaak! Hello, Mr. Pig.

Welcome, Henny! Before I get to our interview, let's roll a clip. . . . 

   

Henny, what is your full name? 
Henrietta Van Cluck Stanton. Just kidding. It’s just Henny. I just thought I’d be fun to pretend I had a longer name.

What is the best thing about being you? Having arms.

What is the worst thing about being you? Having arms.

Do you have a belly button?
That’s the least of my concerns.

*Snort.* If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?
Duct tape, a hammer, my chopsticks, chicken aspirin, and a whole bunch of books. Oh and, of course, my pink purse and green umbrella.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

What is your idea of the perfect day?
Sitting on a hilltop, a gentle breeze blowing through my comb, reading a book.  

Aaah, delightful. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I kind of have one already, don’t I? I mean, come on, a chicken with arms? All I need is the cape. I’ll have to ask Stanton to draw me one.

Hmm. I smell a sequel! What are you reading right now?
George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

What is your favorite word?
Bwwaaak! It’s kind of like “aloha”—it means hello and goodbye in Chickenese. Sometimes, when I want it to, it also means “thank you.”

What is you least favorite word? 
BaGOKin’! (it’s a bad word in Chickenese)

What is your favorite sound?
No sound. I like quiet. 

What is your least favorite sound?
Too much sound—especially from that baGOKin’ rooster. Oops! I shouldn’t use bad words. 

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
Oui! There is a French edition of me (published in France by Seuil Jeunesse). 

Ooh la la! Congratulations! If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?
I would most certainly have to return the favor and invite Mike Curato’s sweet Little Elliot, especially since he’ll bring the cupcakes. I would also invite Ame Dykman’s Cub because he knows the tea party rules and, finally, Drew Daywalt’s Beige Crayon, because he could draw us up a turkey dinner—and maybe some chairs.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

Little Elliot and Cub have been on my show. Lovely folks! What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
Bugs, with my chopsticks. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?
When someone called me “creeptacular.” Then I decided I kind of liked it. 

What is your pet peeve? 
People who think my name is HENRY. 

What was it like working with Elizabeth Rose Stanton? 
She’s an inveterate procrastidoodler. But I guess that’s a good thing since that’s how she thought me up. Oh, and that cute cat of hers gets in the way. A lot. 


Thank you so very much for having me, Mr. Pig! Baawwaaak!!  

Thank YOU, Henny! Now stick around. Nina from Mamabelly Lunch's with Love has prepared a Henny-themed bento lunch just for you!*

*Scroll down to see the HENNY Literary Lunch.

*******

About the book
HENNY
by Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2014  
ISBN 9781442484368 



A New York Public Library Best Children’s Book of 2014  

“This adorable, albeit unconventional, story of self-discovery will charm all ages." --American Booksellers Association Kids’ Indie Next List, Winter 2013-2014

★ “The premise is clever, and the execution is hysterical . . . a good message about making the best of one's circumstances and looking on the bright side.” --Booklist, starred review

“Henny’s journey of adjustment and empowerment is a useful lesson for young children, told in a fun, imaginative way." --BookPage

“In gentle pencil-and-watercolor sketches on an eggshell-white ground, Stanton scatters moments of quiet humor like chicken feed." --Publishers Weekly


About the author
Elizabeth Rose Stanton began her picture book writing and illustrating adventure a few years ago, after a brief career as an architect and long career as a parent and fine artist.

Her debut picture book, HENNY (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books), was awarded a Booklist star and was recently named as one of the best books of 2014 for children by The New York Public Library. She has signed on again with Simon & Schuster for a new picture book, PEDDLES, about a little pig with some big ideas, due out in early 2016. 

She lives in Seattle with her husband and Bea-the-Cat. Elizabeth is represented by Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media in New York, and is a member of SCBWI International, and SCBWI Western Washington.   

Visit Elizabeth at her website or blog. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Literary Lunch . . . with Henny!

Meet the star of Elizabeth Rose Stanton's new book Henny. Henny is an avarage chicken. Well, almost. There is one tiny little thing different about Henny. Have you spotted it yet?

Well . . . Henny was born with arms. Which is pretty unusual for a chicken. But Henny likes being different. And she can do lots of fun things with her arms that other chickens can't. Like eating bugs with chopsticks!

Nina's kids loved this book and this was their favorite page, so she used it for Henny's Literary Lunch inspiration!

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches With Love made an egg-cellent lunch chock full of:

• Fruit Booty Corn Puff Worms to eat with chopsticks
• A Henny sunflower seed sandwich with cheese, seaweed, and carrot decorations
• An egg (an important part of the book, but we can't give away everything now, can we?)
• And some spinach leaves to keep those arms strong underneath all of that yummy food!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

Gaston
by Kelly DiPucchio
illustrated by Christian Robinson

This week's pick is by Cottager: Anika Denise

What it's all about . . .
Gaston, a large pup among three poodle sisters, tries hard to be a proper pooch with perfect manners, but it's difficult, given he's much bigger and noisier than his dainty, tea-cup sized siblings. One day, Gaston switches places with Antoinette, a wee dog in a similar "odd-pup-out" situation, among a family of boisterous bulldog ruffians. While it becomes clear that each pooch has found its way back to its rightful family, neither feels all that comfortable there, and in the morning they are both relieved to trade back.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
It's a great read aloud, and Robinson's elegant, painterly illustrations further elevate DiPucchio's delightful text.

Our favorite lines . . .
The puppies were also taught how to look pretty in pink, nibble their kibble, and ride in style.

Our favorite illustration . . .

Illustration (c) 2014 Christian Robinson

Why kids will love it . . .
The art is great, and the puppies' names—Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La and Gaston—are fun to say. 
 
Why grown-ups will love it . . .
It's a funny, stylish picture book with endearing messages of family, belonging, and nature vs. nurture.

Mr. Pig Live. . . with Extraordinary Warren!

Welcome back to another edition of the most talked about talk show in the Enchanted Woods…

MR. PIG LIVE!

Today’s guest is simply. . . extraordinary! Please put your hands (or wings) together for WARREN, a very talented young chicken and the star of Sarah Dillard’s new book Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken.

What is your full name?  

Warren. I know. It is so ordinary.

Hmph! Try being named "Mr. Pig." Anyway, what three words best describe you, Warren?

Hmmm...Extraordinary, for one. Special? Definitely. Supreme? Oh... Probably not.

What's the best thing about being you? 

Someday I really am going to be something great. Just wait!

What's the worst thing about being you? 

I am pretty much the only one who realizes that someday I am going to be something great. No one understands me. Everyone is always laughing at me. But just wait, I'll show them!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring? 

I would bring  some chicken feed. It may be dull, but at least it is reliable. Oh, and of course I would bring my best friend, Egg.

From EXTRAORDINARY WARREN. Illustration copyright 2014 by Sarah Dillard.

Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

I am really working hard on my flying, but let me tell you, it is not as easy as it looks. 

Do you identify more with Goldilocks or the three bears?

To be honest, I'm really not a fan of porridge, so I have a hard time identifying with any of them.  

What is your favorite word?

My favorite word is destiny. I believe I have one. I'm just not quite sure what it is yet.

What is you least favorite word? 

My least favorite word used to be ordinary, but then I found out there are worse things to be.

What is your special talent? 

I'm extraordinary. Isn't that enough?

It certainly is. If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be? 

Charlie Brown, because I know how he feels, Bob, from Tracey Campbell Pearson's book Bob, because he is a pretty creative rooster and I would like to be like him when I grow up, and that goose in Mo Willem's book That is Not a Good Idea! because I think I could learn something from her.

Do you have any siblings?

I live with a bunch of other chicks. We are probably related.

What is your most embarrassing moment? 

Flying lessons.  I just can't seem to get the hang of it.  

Do you have a pet peeve? 

Rats. They might act like they are your friend, but they never ever mean it.

From EXTRAORDINARY WARREN. Illustration copyright 2014 by Sarah Dillard.

What are you reading right now?

Being and Nothingness by Jean Paul Sartre.

What was it like working with Sarah Dillard?  

It was okay working with Sarah, but I have some questions about that dinner she had last night.

Ahem, well, that's all the time we have for today. Thanks, Warren! Please stick around after we introduce Sarah... because Nina from Lunches with Love has made an EXTRAORDINARY lunch in you honor! (We promise...no dull chicken feed.) Scroll down to check it out!

Sarah Dillard grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. She studied art and English at Wheaton College, and illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. She lives on a mountain in Vermont with her husband and dog, both of whom inspire many of her characters, and ensure that she goes for a walk everyday. 

You can visit Sarah online at sarahdillard.com

Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken
by Sarah Dillard
S&S/Aladdin, $12.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-4424-5340-1

"Dillard (Perfectly Arugula) has a solid grasp of the possibilities of sequential art, drawing panels that break up physical processes like learning to fly (where Warren runs into some trouble) and following Warren as he trudges over a hill, ruminating about his failure to warn the flock. Warren’s sidekick, an egg who eventually hatches, is the story’s sweetest surprise: “Is this farm the whole world or is there more?” the chick asks. “Did you know that I’d be so yellow and fuzzy?” A good-humored story that nicely blends picture book, chapter book, and graphic novel elements."--Publishers Weekly

Sneak Peek! 
Extraordinary Warren Saves The Day
by Sarah Dillard
Forthcoming from S&S/Aladdin 
(October 14, 2014)

ISBN-13: 978-1481403528

Warren, the bespectacled hero of Extraordinary Warren, is delighted to have a sidekick and feathered friend in the newly hatched Egg. But Egg is rather exasperating. New to the world, he asks so many questions and has so much to learn. Early one morning Egg takes off on his own and crosses the road, where he winds up getting lost in a field of corn. Warren is so busy imagining his flight to the moon that he doesn’t even know Egg is missing! But when Warren finally realizes Egg has flown the coop, nothing stops him from locating his best buddy—not even that hungry rat, Millard.