The Little Crooked Bookshelf

I'M WORRIED
by Michael Ian Black

Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

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

What it’s all about …

Potato is worried. About everything. Because anything might happen.

When he tells his friends -- a girl and a flamingo -- he expects them to comfort him by saying that everything will be okay. Except they don’t. Because it might not be, and that’s okay too. 

Why I love it …

I'm powerless to resist a worried potato. 

Favorite line:

"Like Potato, remember that time you rolled off the table?"

Sample illustration:

From I'M WORRIED by Michael Ian Black. Illustration copyright 2019 by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Why will kids love it?

Lots of laugh-out-loud moments make up this story that's equally funny and reassuring. The ending is as comforting as a pb & j sandwich. Unless you're a flamingo who is worried about peanut butter jars. 

Why will grown-ups love it?

Delivering a gentle lesson about enjoying the now, I'M WORRIED is a great read-aloud choice for grown-ups looking for books for their own little worriers.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers

Amazon

Barnes & Noble
Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author

Michael Ian Black is a writer, comedian, and actor who currently appears on Another Period, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. He created and starred in many television series, including Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella, and The State. He wrote the screenplay for the film Run, Fatboy, Run and wrote and directed the film Wedding Daze. Michael regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian and is the bestselling author of the book My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face), the memoir You’re Not Doing It Right, and the children’s books Chicken Cheeks, The Purple Kangaroo, A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea, I’m Bored, Naked!, and Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop. Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children.

About the Illustrator

Debbie Ridpath Ohi is the author of Where Are My Books?. Her illustrations also appear in Sea Monkey and Bob, written by Aaron Reynolds; I’m Bored (New York Times Notable Book) and Naked!, written by Michael Ian Black; as well as ten Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade titles. For more info, visit DebbieOhi.com or @InkyElbows on Twitter.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

THE LINE TENDER
by Kate Allen

(This week's pick is from cottager & librarian Melanie Roy.)

What it’s all about …

Best friends Lucy and Fred live in the seaport town of Rockport, Massachusetts. Lucy is an artist and Fred is a scientist and together they are working on a field guide of the wildlife they come across over the summer. When Lucy experiences a devastating loss, she relies on her late biologist mother’s shark research proposal to pull her out of despair. 

Why I love it …

This story is so well done. It will break your heart yet leave you with hope. When you finish reading, be sure to go back and re-read the Rachel Carson quote at the beginning. It will have so much more meaning. As I read I kept picturing the seaside town in the Jaws movie as the setting. This book really would make a terrific movie. There is loss, love, laughter, and a road trip. 

The illustrations --  Lucy’s shark drawings -- are incredible. 

Why will kids love it?

I would hand this to a reader in fifth grade and beyond.Kids will love it because they want to grapple with heartbreaking and difficult topics from the comfort of the pages of a book. And it has some really cool sea animal facts that will be interesting to learn. I hope to do a book club with this title to hear their thoughts.

Why will grown-ups love it?

The opening paragraph of the book: “The morning the great white came to Rockport, my best friend and I were sticking our fingers into the coin returns of every pay phone in town. We averaged about two dollars a day during the summer. Most days we cashed in for candy.” What grown-up wouldn’t want to be reminded of those simple pleasures of our childhood? Beyond that, though, this story is so well done. It tackles tough topics and presents it in a way that is not utterly depressing. 

Pair it with:

Great White Shark Adventure (Fabien Cousteau Expeditions)

by Fabien Coustea, James O. Fraioli, and Joe St. Pierre

This graphic novel would be a great companion to The Line Tender.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author-Illustrator
Kate Allen grew up in Massachusetts and now lives in Minneapolis, MN with her family. The Line Tender is her first novel. You can find Kate on Twitter at @kateallenbooks

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 SIMPLE ART OF FLYING
by Cory Leonardo

(This week’s pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak, who has never owned a bird nor abandoned a hedgehog, but does have a good dog named Lucy.)  

What it’s all about …
Alastair the parrot dreams of escaping the pet shop and flying off with his beloved sister, Aggie, to a palm tree. But when Aggie is purchased by 12-year-old Fritz and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast Bertie Plopky, Alastair must hatch a plan. He soon finds he's forced to choose between following his dream life and letting go.

Why I love it …

This novel dug its claws into me from page one and would not let go. When Alastair eats paper, he can taste the words. He becomes a fan of poetry and soon writes his own witty versions of famous works. Alastair is grumpy, eloquent, and sensitive -- and I found myself rooting for his happiness. Cory Leonardo's debut novel is a stunner.

Favorite lines ...

And if a little time and warmth and light can turn an ugly, old pit into a tree, who's to say a little time can't do the same for you? For me? I know what I'm betting on.

I'm betting on trees. 

AND 

Sometimes the palm tree's the wrong ingredient for your pie.

Why will kids love it?
A funny and moving story starring a cast of quirky animals, a 12-year-old aspiring doctor, and an elderly, hip-hop dancing pie baker -- what's not to love? Perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan and Kate DiCamillo's books.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author
Cory Leonardo grew up believing she'd replace Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune, but when that didn't pan out, she decided she'd turn letters and phrases in a different way (but minus the glittery dresses, sadly). A born-and-bred upstate New Yorker, she currently lives in the Syracuse area with her husband and three plucky children. This is her first novel.

OUT OF THIS WORLD: THE SURREAL ART OF LEONORA CARRINGTON

Woo-hoo! March is Women's History Month! I'll be focusing my picks on books by women — about women. (This is Anika, btw, and yay... it's great to be back in the Cottage!) 

Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington
by Michelle Markel
illustrated by Amanda Hall

Anika, age 6, with 'Girl Without Arms' 

This week’s pick is from Cottager Anika Aldamuy Denise, who owns an original painting by Emily Lisker, an artist whose style combines folk art and surrealism. And who coincidentally illustrated another of Michelle Markel's books!

What it’s all about …
Out of This World is the fascinating and stunningly illustrated story of Leonora Carrington, a girl who made art out of her imagination and created some of the most enigmatic and startling works of the last eighty years.

Why I love it …
Leonora's story was unknown to me until I read Michelle Markel's and Amanda's Hall's gorgeous picture book biography. Making art is a leap of faith. Making art in the early 20th century when you're an Englishwoman of genteel birth and scrapping it all to join a group of all-male surrealists in France? Inspiring and impressive!

Favorite illustration …

From Out of This World by Michelle Markel (HarperCollins 2019) (c) 2019 Amanda Hall

Favorite lines ...
The stories took Leonora to worlds that shimmered beyond this one, and when the spirits
flew, and the gods stirred their cauldrons, and the fairies shifted shapes, something
flew and stirred and shifted inside of her.

Why will kids love it?
It's a story of passion and defiance, of belief in magic and the magical gifts we carry within us. This book will remind kids not to accept limitations set upon them by others.

After you read the book ...
Look at the the work of surrealist artists like Leonora Carrington, Salvador Dali, and Frida Kahlo. Make a surrealist drawing or painting.


Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!


About the Author
Michelle Markel loves writing narrative nonfiction. She’s the author of Brave Girl, which won the Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for Younger Children, and was also chosen as an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book. Her recent titles are Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead (on the Amelia Bloomer Project List of feminist literature) and Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books. She lives in Woodland Hills, California. You can visit her online at www.michellemarkel.com.

About the Illustrator
Amanda Hall is an international-award-winning British illustrator, particularly renowned for her many wonderfully decorative and colorful children’s picture book and educational illustrations. Out of This World is her second picture book about the life and work of a significant figure from art history. The first—also written by Michelle Markel—is The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau. Amanda exhibits her original illustrations at the Chris Beetles Gallery in St James’s, London. She can be found online at www.amandahall-illustration.com.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf and A GIVEAWAY!!!*

BIKES FOR SALE
by Carter Higgins

Illustrated by Zachariah OHora

(This week’s pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak, who once had a sparkly gold bike with a banana seat and misses it every day. -->)  

What it’s all about …
Maurice rides his bike to his lemonade shop every day. Lotta rides her bike to collect sticks every day. One day, a branch and a lemon peel leads to the end of their bikes. Or do they? BIKES FOR SALE is a sweet story about friends who were meant to meet.

Why I love it …
Maurice and Lotta's tale keeps the reader guessing, and the meet-cute ending is satisfying. OHora's art is as fresh and funny as ever.

Favorite illustration …

From BIKES FOR SALE by Carter Higgins. Illustration copyright 2019 by Zachariah OHora.

Favorite lines ...
Sid knew all about the bikes.
The satchel told stories of sugar.
The bell ding-a-linged of a ditch.
The sprocket remembered lemons, twigs, and mint.

Why will kids love it?

Higgins sees the world through a child's eyes, and offers a relatable experience. Plus, kids will spot lots of humorous details in OHora's exuberant art -- even the endpaper's map is engaging.

After you read the book . . .

Ask your child to describe and draw their dream bike. What does it look like? What makes it special? Where will they ride it?

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

ENTER WIN A COPY BY LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW! DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST BIKE?
Winner announced on twitter on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

About the Author
Carter Higgins is an elementary school librarian and the author of Everything You Need for a Treehouse and This Is Not a Valentine. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Visit her at Design of the Picture Book. 

About the Illustrator

Zachariah OHora is the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller Wolfie the Bunny, among many other beloved books for kids. He lives and works in Narberth, Pennsylvania. Visit him at his website.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

HUDSON AND THE PUPPY
LOST IN PARIS
by Jackie Clark Mancuso

(This week’s #ReviewsDay pick is from cottager Jamie Michalak.)

What it’s all about …
Hudson the Parisian pooch is back in another adventure! When Hudson has the sense he's being followed, he turns around to find a lost puppy. Determined to find the puppy's home, Hudson takes him on a whirlwind search through Paris.

Why I love it …

Jackie Clark Mancuso's passion for Paris is evident on every spread. Her illustrations perfectly capture the beautiful, bustling city, as seen through the eyes of its resident gourmet, cinephile dog.

Sample illustrations …

From HUDSON AND THE PUPPY: LOST IN PARIS. Copyright 2018 by Jackie Clark Mancuso.

From HUDSON AND THE PUPPY: LOST IN PARIS. Copyright 2018 by Jackie Clark Mancuso.

Why will kids love it?

Kids will enjoy Hudson's tour of Paris -- complete with a petit French lesson -- as he searches for the pup's home.

Why will grown-ups love it?
Perfect for Francophiles and dog lovers, Hudson and the Puppy: Lost in Paris is also a good choice for those seeking a picture book about kindness and responsibility. 

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author-Illustrator
Jackie Clark Mancuso is a painter and the author-illustrator of Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog and Hudson in Provence. Visit her website at jackiemancuso.com and find her on Instagram @jackieclarkmancuso

The Little Crooked Bookshelf on #ReviewsDay

DRAWN TOGETHER
by Minh Lê

Illustrated by Dan Santat

(This week’s #ReviewsDay pick is from cottager Jamie Michalak.)

What it’s all about …
When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to frustration and silence -- until they discover they share a love of drawing. 

Why I love it …

WOW. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. This book! I love this book! Drawn Together is a stirring picture book about the power of art and storytelling. The boy and his grandfather's struggle to communicate will tug at your heartstrings. But then you're quickly swept up in their epic and action-packed shared creation, breathtakingly illustrated by Dan Santat. 

Sample illustration …

From Drawing Together by Minh Lê. Illustration copyright 2018 by Dan Santat.

Why will kids love it?

Many children will relate to the initial silence between the boy and his grandfather, and the unexpected adventure will knock kids off their feet.

Why will grown-ups love it?

It's easy for both kids and grown-ups to get lost in Dan Santat's dazzling and imaginative illustrations. This cover will likely be wearing a shiny sticker one day.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

About the Author
Minh Lê is a writer, but like his grandfather, is a man of few words. He is the author of Let Me Finish! A first-generation Vietnamese-American, he went to Dartmouth College and has a master's in education from Harvard University. Visit Minh at minhlebooks.com or on Twitter @bottomshelfbks

About the Illustrator

Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Award-winning The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, as well as The Cookie Fiasco, After the Fall, and others. He is also the creator of Disney's animated hit, The Replacements. Visit him at dantat. com

The Little Crooked Bookshelf on #ReviewsDay

OFF & AWAY

by Cale Atkinson

(This week’s #ReviewsDay pick is from cottager Jamie Michalak.)

What it’s all about …
Jo lives on an island with her dad, who delivers every message in a bottle to its right home. But when he comes down with a severe sea cold, Jo must face her fear of the sea and cast off by herself to get the job done!

Why I love it …

The detailed, energetic illustrations alternate between warm, humorous, and just the right amount of scary that kids love. 

Sample illustration …

From OFF & AWAY. Illustration copyright 2018 by Cale Atkinson.

Why will kids love it?

Sure to elicit both giggles and gasps, this picture book adventure is a thrilling ride of a read-aloud.

Why will grown-ups love it?

Grown-ups can share this picture book about overcoming fears with their favorite littles who might need a boost of courage.

Where to find/buy …

Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Or at a school or library near you!

Author-Illustrator bio
Cale Atkinson is an author, illustrator, and animator whose picture books include To the Sea and Explorers of the Wild. He lives and works in Kelowna, British Columbia. Visit him online at www.cale.ca or on Twitter @2dCale.