Little Crooked Bookshelf

IMAGINE A CITY

by Elise Hurst

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about ...
Imagine a city where lions read books, bunnies and bears ride bicycles, and the world has no edges. Join two children as they embark on an adventure of imagination and possibility.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …
It's almost impossible not to get lost in Elise Hurst's rich, dreamy illustrations. Readers will find lots of stories and surprises on every page.

My favorite lines …

Where buses are fish
and the fish fly the sky

My favorite illustration …

From IMAGINE A CITY. Illustration copyright 2016 by Elise Hurst.

Why kids will like it …

Imagine a City is an open invitation to daydream, and it's fun to find favorite creatures hidden in its pages.

Why parents will like it …
The perfect book for sharing. Parents and children can take turns finding stories in the illustrations and telling them.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . . and a GIVEAWAY!*

THEY ALL SAW A CAT
by Brendan Wenzel

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about . . .

We all know what a cat looks like. . . . Or do we? Brendan Wenzel shows us how humans see a cat and then how many different animals--such as a fox, mouse, bird, and flea--perceive it.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Because wow. Just WOW. This stunningly illustrated book is the cat's meow. The brilliant concept is original and the execution is purrfect. (OK, I'll stop with the cat puns now.)

My favorite lines . . .

YES, THEY ALL SAW A CAT!

My favorite illustrations . . . 
 

From THEY ALL SAW A CAT. Illustration copyright 2016 by Brendan Wenzel.

From THEY ALL SAW A CAT. Illustration copyright 2016 by Brendan Wenzel.

Why kids will love it . . . 

They'll delight in the unexpected, and often humorous, view revealed with each page turn. This surprising and satisfying read-aloud will elicit giggles and lots of questions about perception. 

Why grown-ups will love it . . .

The pawsitively brilliant illustrations! (Sorry. Couldn't help myself.)

* GIVEAWAY! Interested in winning a copy of THEY ALL SAW A CAT? Leave a comment below or tweet about this review to enter our giveaway!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

When Green Becomes Tomatoes
Poems for All Seasons
by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Julie Morstad 

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about ...
A celebration of the seasons -- from the "tiny, blue hello" of a crocus blooming in the snow to "berry hands and berry knees," from "waiting for sweaters" to cozy, snowy days when "the house sounds like slippers."

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf … 
Because it's a swoon-worthy picture book. Julie Fogliano's spare, child-friendly poems are sprinkled with gentle humor and pair perfectly with Julie Morstad's inviting art. You'll want to linger on every page.

My favorite lines …
and if a firefly
should one night appear
suddenly in your bedroom
flickering you out of awake
and well into dreaming
don't forget 
that even small things
lost but still glowing
love a small, whispered thank you

My favorite illustrations …

From WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES by Julie Fogliano. Illustration copyright 2016 by Julie Morstad.

From WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES by Julie Fogliano. Illustration copyright 2016 by Julie Morstad.

Why kids will love it …
They'll recognize themselves in every poem and find lots to look forward to all year long.

Why grown-ups will love it …
The poems celebrate nature and the joy of simple moments. They're also organized by date, so you can read aloud one at a time according to the calendar, if you're the organized sort -- or all in one sitting. Perhaps at the beach with plums and peanut butter sandwiches a "bit salty and warm from the sun?"

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

This week's pick is by Cottager Kristen Tracy.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds 

illustrated by Peter Brown

What it's all about . . .
This is the hilarious story about a rabbit that loves carrots. But when the carrots start following him, the book gets pretty creepy.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
It’s a quirky and inventive book about confronting your fears, whether they’re real or imagined or a combination of the two.

Our favorite lines . . .
Jasper was about to help himself to a victory snack . . . when he heard it. The soft . . . sinister . . . tunktunktunk of carrots creeping.

Our favorite illustration . . .

From CREEPY CARROTS! by Aaron Reynolds. Illustration copyright 2012 by Peter Brown.

Why kids will love it . . .
It plays really well with perspective. A scene that looks like creepy carrots at one angle, becomes innocent garden tools in the next. Kids will enjoy the tension as the story uncovers what’s real and what’s imagined.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
It’s fun to watch the young rabbit’s paranoia take hold. It’s a relatable tale that puts carrots in a whole new light.