Precious Little

Reader’s Annotations: Gaye Chapman's artwork is unquestionably precious in this picture book, but the story is lacking and may leave young readers unsatisfied. The artistic quality of both plot and visual aids is a better fit for older age groups who are able to get something out of an unresolved storyline involving a whimsical dreamer with somewhat creepy carnival friends.

Author: Julie Hunt and Sue Moss

Illustrator: Gaye Chapman
Age: 3 - 5 years
genre/subject: Children's picture book
Plot Summary: Precious Little is a circus-hand who dreams of being a trapeze artist. While practicing, her two friends who operate the "Lucky Dip" let her take a try on the tight rope above the dip. Precious Little falls from the rope and instead of falling to the bottom, somehow flies up to the sky. She returns after the winter buries the circus, yet her friends are still waiting for her. 
Evaluation: This book is visually stunning, but that is all. There is no real redemptive qualities, from a storytelling standpoint. For instance, there is no explanation as to how Precious Little does not fall to her death. There is also no explanation as to how she returns. There is no closure to the story. Does she become a trapeze artist with her newfound skill of flying? Does she become some amazing new stunk on the Lucky Dip? It is all just confusing, and to add insult to injury, the text changes orientation on the page. It is not a great book for a group story time, due to upside-down and sideways text.
Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness: Multi-medium artiwork. Visually pleasant.
Readalikes:
Awards/Lists: none
Links: none
Hook: Precious Little wanted to fly. It seems she did, but we'll never really know!
Ideas, Uses: I am not a fan of this book, so I wouldn't really advise to use it for a storybook time. I can see some young readers, on the older side of the age spectrum, appreciating the story coupled with the artwork. Those who appreciate carnival-themes may enjoy reading it. For younger audiences, I just really feel that it lacks value.
ISBN: 978-1741751475
Page Count: 32
Format: hardcover
Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Pub Date:September 1, 2011

Bluebird

Reader’s Annotations: No words necessary for this story about friendship. The bluebird notices a lonely boy and befriends him, ultimately sacrificing his life for the boy, who then personally delivers him to heaven. 

Author: Bob Staake

Illustrator: Bob StaakeAge: 4 - 8 yearsgenre/subject: children's picture book, children's graphic novelPlot Summary: With only images, Staake is able to weave the story of a young boy struggling through the monotony of life alone: in school, walking home, on his free time. However, this very boy is followed and observed by a radiant bluebird. Soon the boy notices his winged friend and together they embark the things that happy young boys should experience, like sailing paper boats in the pond and exploring nature. However, the bliss comes to an end when some bullies encounter the two. When a stick is thrown at the boy, bluebird comes to his rescue and swoops in the path of the stick. The bluebird dies. The bullies scatter. And the blow is left holding his lifeless, little friend. In the end, other birds come to his aid, lifting the boy (holding the bluebird) to the heavens where he releases him. Evaluation: Wonderful story to teach about bullying. Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness: One of a rare few sequential artworks for children this age. Artwork is gorgeous!Readalikes:
Awards/Lists: NoneLinks:
Hook: Bluebird sees all.
Ideas, Uses: Use book to teach about the outcome of bullying.
ISBN: 978-0375870378
Page Count:40
Format: hardcover
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

NYTimes

Pub Date: April 9, 2013

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

Reader’s Annotations: A tongue and cheek retelling of the common fairytale, The Three Little Pigs, is for children who can understand the ugly reality of nature's food chain. Although Scieszka will definitely make parents chuckle, this title is an eye-opener for his target audience, since the narrator is the misunderstood, "Big, Bad Wolf." 

Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Age: 5 - 8 years
genre/subject: Children's literature, children's picture book, children's fairytale retelling
Plot Summary: Alexander T. Wolf 
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Tuesday

Reader’s Annotations: Something absolutely bonkers happened on Tuesday! Wiesner gives no explanation for a legion of flying toads on lily pads that Tuesday night, and readers simply get to delight in the absurdity of it all! Especially when pigs fly, the next Tuesday night!

Author: David Wiesner 

Illustrator: David Wiesner
Age: 5 - 8 years
genre/subject: children's picture book, children's fantasy
Plot Summary: The readers are first given the date and time and then taken to a peaceful pond with unsuspecting toads sitting on lily pads. Then, things take a turn for the bizarre, when the toads begin to fly over the pond and through the fields, through a village with sleepy people. The next morning, citizens awake to find lily pads littered throughout the town. Officers tower over the evidence, rubbing their chins. But that is not all, the story ends on the following tuesday, when pigs fly through the night sky. 
Evaluation: Wonderful fiction for children. There is no real moral or lesson to be learned in this story, simply something silly to observe. Great for sparking the imagination in young readers.
Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness:
Readalikes: Other picture books with minimal text. 
Awards/Lists: 

• Caldecott Medal (1992)
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award for K-3 (1993)
• Young Hoosier Book Award for K-3 (1993)

Links:

Publishers Weekly
Hook: When Frogs Fly!
Ideas, Uses: Great way to start a creative writing or drawing period for k-3rd graders.
ISBN: 978-0395870822
Page Count: 32
Format: Hardback
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: 1991

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Reader’s Annotations: Human parents and dinosaur children teacher a lovely lesson in manners in this perfectly apt bedtime story for young, budding archeologists. This book is bound to make little dinosaurs laugh, as it is read aloud to them!

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: Mark Teague
Age: 4 - 8 years
genre/subject: Children's picture book, children's fiction
Plot Summary: Story follows several fathers and mothers telling their young dinosaur children that it is bedtime. The first half runs through a hypothetical response the the dinosaurs may have when they are told it is time to go to bed: pouting, shouting, roaring, demanding another piggyback ride. Then the narrator changes the tone by first saying, of course little dinosaurs don't act that way. The remainder of the story, the pages display different reactions from the dinosaurs, including: kisses, hugs and tucking their tails into covers.
Evaluation: Wonderful for modeling positive behaviors to children when they are instructed to do something that they may not enjoy, but they certainly need. I chose this book because my daughter who was a huge fan of dinosaurs since the age of 2 had received a couple of these books from friends and family. This author/illustrator team has paired up to create several of these books. The series is brilliant, in my opinion. I had never read this particular title in the series. My favorite feature to these stories is that somewhere on every page there is the name of the illustrated dinosaur. Sometimes the names are difficult to find. My daughter and I always make a point to search and find each name, and also to say each name out loud. She has learned several names of dinosaurs this way!
Significance & Bibliographic Usefulness:
Readalikes: Any from 
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Hook: Child behaviors portrayed by great, big dinosaurs.
Ideas, Uses: Teaching "good manners."
ISBN: 978-0590316811
Page Count: 40
Format: Hard cover
Publisher: Blue Sky Press

Pub Date: April 1, 2000