Hot Off The Press! New Picture Books (9)

This is a feature that I do weekly called Hot Off The Press!  based on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore and checking out their wall of new picture books. However, this is going to be a slightly unusual "Hot Off The Press!" post.  I realized that I never did a post on new books of poetry for children and National Poetry Month is almost over.  So I am going to compromise - two new releases (from the new release wall) and three new poetry books released in 2011 (featured on Vroman's National Poetry Month table). 

The Umbrella
Illustrators: Ingrid Schubert, Deiter Schubert
Publisher: Lemniscaat USA (April 1, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 and older

This wordless picture book is beautifully illustrated by husband and wife team Deiter & Ingrid Schubert. It is a simple story of a small dog who finds an umbrella and thanks to the wind, ends up going on an adventure around the world. It is important to pay attention to the end pages as well or the reader will miss some important information.  I was so hoping that there would be a book trailer for this one, but alas, I couldn't find one.  

Meow Said The Cow
Author/Illustrator: Emma Dodd
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (May 1, 2011)
Audience: Ages 3 to 6 

A barnyard cat is tired of the noise in the morning by all of the other animals on the farm.  With a swish of his tail and a little spell, cat causes the animals to make different sounds.  Rather than experiencing the peace and quite that cat was hoping for, there is utter chaos.  Soon the animals know just who is to blame and cat returns their voices but not without getting a taste of his own magic.  Young children will enjoy the rhyming text and the silliness of all the animals making different sounds.  

A Dazzling Display of Dogs
Author: Betsy Franco
Illustrator: Michael Wertz
Publisher: Tricycle Books (January 25, 2011)
Audience: 

In 2009, Franco released A Curious Collection of Cats - a book of poetry for children and cat lovers about just that - cats.  Her newest release is for the dog lovers out there. Each poem captures the experience and all of the emotions of owning and loving dogs.  For more wonderful books on poetry for children, including one about cats, check out Betsy Franco's website.  For a fun experience, you can watch the video posted on YouTube by illustrator Michael Wertz who performs the poems to music.  

Lemonade: And Other Poems Squeezed From A Single Word
Author: Bob Raczka
Illustrator: Nancy Doninger
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (March 15, 2011)
Audience: Grades 2nd to 6th

When I picked this book up, I sat down with my 10 year old niece and we started reading it together.  Bob Raczka did an amazing job creating poems from just the letters in a single word.  The reader has the challenge of viewing the artistic arrangement of the words/letters and discovering the poem.  On the back side of the page, the poem is written out in a more straightforward manner.  I have shared this book with teachers and students.  I admire Raczka's ability to make something look so easy when I know with certainty that it isn't easy.

There isn't a book trailer that I could find for this book, but here is a link were you can take a peek inside the book.  Click here. 

Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace
Author/Illustrator: Anna Grossnickle Hines
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (March 29, 2011)
Audience: Grades 2nd to 6th

Anna Grossnickle Hines gets my praise on two levels.  One - this is a remarkable book of poetry, both serious and at times fun, centered around the topic of peace.  Peace both globally and in ourselves and our communities.  She also gets my praise for the quilted illustrations.  In another life and times, I would love to come back both as a poet and a quilter.  Rather than tell you about this book, I want to encourage you to watch the book trailer.  You will see why this book is so amazing.