Entries Categorized as 'Picture Books'

Blueberries for Sal

Our rating: ****½

One morning, Little Sal and her mother go to Blueberry Hill, in order to pick lots of berries to can for the winter. Mother picks steadily, but Little Sal is more interested in sitting and eating the blueberries. And meanwhile, Little Bear and Little Bear’s mother are coming up the other side of the hill. It’s not long before Little Bear begins to lag behind… A mix-up of mothers is bound to ensue.

Such a fun book, and definitely a classic. It’s a simple but delightful story, with very nice pictures that are plenty big. And I think readers of Blueberries for Sal will find it hard to ever pick blueberries without remembering the book and how Sal drops her berries into her pail: Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.

Where The Wild Things Are

Our rating: ***

When Max is sent to bed with no supper (he was being far too wild) he wiles the time away pretending he is on a voyage. He sails away for almost a year and comes to the place where the Wild Things are. After a wonderful time playing with the Wild Things, Max smells supper cooking and sails for home.

This is one of those odd little books that seem to have no reason, and no structure, but is thoroughly enjoyable. It’s just a little boy imagining, and it’s fun to imagine with him. Some fuss could be made over Max’s being sent to bed with no supper as punishment and then having a fun time, but imaginations are very wild things. And I guess you have to do something while you’re sitting there, waiting.

Pancakes, Pancakes!

Our rating: ****

Jack wakes up one morning and decides that he wants a pancake for breakfast. His mother is busy so Jack has to make the pancake himself while his mother tells him what he needs to do.

I like this book because Jack has to go through the processes used to make the ingredients used in his pancake instead of having all the ingredients in the form they are needed in.

If You Give A Moose A Muffin

Our rating: ****

One day a moose comes to visit and the little boy gives him a muffin, starting a whole chain of events including puppet shows, sweaters, and more.

The “if you” books are so much fun! The illustrations for this one are great. There is one reference to Halloween, which we usually skip over, but it’s still a great book.

Ira Sleeps Over

Our rating: ***½

Ira has been given permission to sleep over at his friend’s house. He’s very excited until his sister asks him if he will take his teddy bear along. Ira wants to take the teddy bear, but he’s afraid that his friend will laugh at him.

Ira Sleeps Over is a simple story with a seemingly simple dilemma. After all, how hard can it be to decide whether or not you are going to do something? As this book shows, it can be very hard to make a decision, especially if you risk looking silly. But, as Ira finds out, sometimes we really have nothing to worry about in the first place.