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 LOVE LETTER sneak peek!!!

ICYMI, librarian extraordinaire Margie Myers-Culver recently revealed the cover of THE LOVE LETTER (HarperCollins, October 2019) by our very own Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins!

Check out the full interview on Margie's booktastic blog Librarian's Quest!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

THE FOX WISH

by Kimiko Aman, illustrated by Komako Sakai

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about . . .
What's a little girl to do when she finds a family of foxes playing with her jump rope? Teach them how to use it, of course. But when one of the foxes says she wished for a jump rope of her own, the girl must make a tough decision.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Kindness wins in this magical tale, beautifully rendered by the talented Komako Sakai. 

My favorite illustration . . .

From THE FOX WISH by Kimiko Aman. Illustration copyright 2003 by Komako Sakai.

Why kids will love it . . .

Because it feels like anything can happen in this sweet story about talking, jump-roping foxes. 

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
THE FOX WISH imparts a gentle lesson about the joy found in helping others and making their wishes come true.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf -- AND A GIVEAWAY!**

BOB, NOT BOB!
by Liz Garton Scanlon
illustrated by Matthew Cordell

This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.

What it's all about ...
Little Louie has the worst cold ever. All he wants is his mom, but every time he calls for her, slobbery Bob the dog comes running instead!

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …
Because of the clever, funny, I-wish-I-thought-of-it concept: read this story as though you have the worst cold ever.

Favorite line(s) ...
"I doan wan by bedicine. I doan wanda bubba bat. And I doan wanda dap." *

Favorite illustration ...

From BOB, NOT BOB! by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick. Illustration copyright 2016 by Matthew Cordell. 

Why kids will love it …
Hearing the name "Bob" will get them every time.

Why grown-ups will love it …
BOB, NOT BOB! is the go-to book for any time children with a cold need a little comfort and giggles through the sniffles. And parents will surely relate to how realistically the doting, but tired, "Bob" is portrayed.

* (I don't want my medicine. I don't want a bubble bath. And I don't want a nap.)

** WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF BOB, NOT BOB! Leave a comment below to enter to win. The winner will be announced on Monday, Feb. 6th. 

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!

Behind the Book . . . with Henry Herz (and a GIVEAWAY!*)

Well, look who's in the Cottage today . . it's Henry Herz, author of the picture books Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes, Mabel and the Queen of Dreams, and the brand-new Little Red Cuttlefish, which really tickled our cuttlebone!

Hey, Henry, we have to know . . . how did you end up writing a picture book starring a  cuttlefish?

***

"I love writing the same genres I enjoy reading, which includes the unlikely pair, fantasy and science. While taking a picture book writing class, I decided to write a fractured fairy tale. For those unfamiliar with the concept, a fractured fairy tale is a new spin on an old classic, like Deborah Underwood's INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA.

I selected LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD as my fairy tale, but then had to decide how to change the story. How would I blend fantasy and science? How about using a fascinating animal as a protagonist? One day, the idea of using a cuttlefish came to mind. Cuttlefish are awesome! And using a sea creature would enable me to tell the story in a noticeably different setting than the original.

LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH is thus an aquatic retelling of the classic fairy tale. In the original, the gullible Little Red Riding Hood is swallowed whole by the wolf — not a very savory outcome (for the girl, anyway). In LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH, the plucky cephalopod protagonist uses her wits and natural defense mechanisms to thwart a hungry tiger shark.

Aside from a more positive outcome and theme (they were called the Brothers Grimm, after all), the aquatic version is intended to spark young readers' interest in learning about sea creatures, zoology, and science in general. Toward that end, the story showcases the superhero-like abilities of cuttlefish, and an author's note serves up fascinating facts about cuttlefish and tiger sharks, an excerpt of which is below.

Cuttlefish aren’t fish at all. They are members of a class of animals that includes squids, octopuses, and nautiluses. They have a porous shell inside their bodies, called a cuttlebone, which is used to control their buoyancy.

Male cuttlefish have eight arms and two tentacles. Female cuttlefish have only six arms and two tentacles. The arms and tentacles have suckers for grabbing prey. And if that isn't strange enough, their blood is greenish blue.

Cuttlefish have an amazing ability to quickly change the color, pattern, and texture of their skin. Cuttlefish can use this camouflage to sneak up on their prey, which consists mostly of crabs and fish. 

The cuttlefish's ability to quickly change color also helps it avoid being hunted by sharks, dolphins, seals, and other predators. If camouflage doesn't work and it is spotted by a predator, a cuttlefish can squirt out a cloud of brown ink to help it hide.

Now, what kid wouldn't want the superpowers of changing color, squirting ink, and multiple sucker-covered arms? None! Thus, we have used a fractured fairy tale to make science more interesting to young readers. And they lived happily ever after."

* And now for the GIVEAWAY!!! Henry is kindly sending a copy of his fantasy picture book, If You Give an Imp a Penny, to one lucky reader! To enter to win, simply leave a comment below! 

 “I hope an imp never asks me for a penny and comes into my studio! He is kind of cute in a 'Cat in the Hat comes and messes up your house' kind of way. His little grin makes it hard to stay mad at him. Mr. Herz must have a few imps at home because he captures that childlike ability to wreak havoc and still be likable. The illustrations by Abigail Larson help convey the innocent—ok, not so innocent, but certainly not intentional—way the little guy keeps making things worse!” —Kelly Light, author and illustrator of LOUISE LOVES ART!

*** 

About the Book

LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH

by Henry, Josh, & Harrison Herz

illustrated by Kate Gotfredson

Pelican (September 2016)

ISBN 978-1455621460

“Heroic Little Red makes such a splash that even though no one gets eaten or cut open, even the most ghoulish among young readers won’t be disappointed. Along with silly bits, this buoyant benthic variant includes lots of authentic marine detail.” — Kirkus

Little Red jets off to take fresh crab cakes to her grandmother. Everything goes swimmingly—until a big, bad tiger shark attacks! Little Red has to use her cuttlefish defenses—camouflage, quick reflexes, and squirting an ink cloud—to outwit the shark, combining science and spunk. Gorgeous illustrations depict the reef and its adorable main character with lively detail. The authors include information about cuttlefish and tiger sharks, addressing Common Core standards, as well as resources for further reading. After reading, remember to sleep tight—and don’t let the copepods bite!

About the Author

Henry Herz is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Henry participates in literature panels at a variety of conventions, including San Diego Comic-Con and WonderCon. 

Henry created KidLit Creature Week (www.birchtreepub.com/kcw/), an annual online gallery of monsters, creatures, and other imaginary beasts from children’s books. He reviews children’s books for the San Francisco Book Review and the San Diego Book ReviewFor more info about Henry's books, visit his website.