#365PictureBooks 68. Doggy Ditties from A to Z by Jo van Dam, illustrated by Myles Lawford

Van Dam, J., & Lawford, M. (2014). Doggy Ditties from A to Z. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775431886
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6 / Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Book / NZ Fiction / Poetry
Rating: 5 stars

---------------

Doggie ditties, rather witty,
about a kid's best friend;
a crazy collection, a silly selection,
from A through to Z at the end. 

When I first read this book I thought "Huh, that's dumb, the story doesn't rhyme!".  Then I thought about it, flicked through it again and realised "Doh!  They're not supposed rhyme in a continuous and equal way!".  That's because each page is it's own separate and catchy ditty moving through the alphabet from A to Z.  " What a doofus!"

This gorgeous collection of poems (or ditties) takes the reader through the alphabet in a flurry of dogs.  Starting with Alfie the Affenpinscher and Buddy the Boxer, all the way through to the noisy Yorkshire Terrier and poor Jim the Zuchon.  Did you know there is actually a dog that starts with the letter X?  Very sad there was no Shih Tzu like our Charlie, but the Shar-Pei in his too-big coat is a very cute addition.  You can tell that Jo van Dam has done her research on the various types of dogs and their quirks and foibles.  And her love of wordplay shines through in the variety of poems in this collection.

Myles Lawford's illustrations are a beautiful contrast to the witty ditties.  They depict the dogs in a very realistic and easily recognisable way, whilst bringing out the humorous touches as described in the poems.  And to finish off, the final two-page spread is a park scene with all the dogs from within the book, for you to spy.  There is just so much fun to be had looking at the illustrations, regardless of whether you read the poems or not.

What a great book for bed-time reading and for sharing with dog-lovers.  Also good to add to your collection to update your poetry section, and provide some shorter ditties for the Year 3 & 4 poetry competitions.  And of course, for use as an exemplar in classroom literacy sessions, showing a variety of poetry techniques, and promoting that language can be fun to play with.

And as an extra bonus ... Jo is one of us.  A school librarian in New Zealand ... at two primary schools!  I look forward to reading what you publish next Jo :-)

I got my copy of Doggie Ditties from A to Z from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 67. Purrs, Paws and Claws by Errol McLeary

McLeary, E. (2014). Purrs, Paws and Claws. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775432272
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6 / Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Book / NZ Fiction / Poetry
Rating: 4 stars

---------------

Erroll McLeary has presented us with a selection of nursery rhymes and limericks with a twist on the original.  They are all pussy-cat inspired! 

There's 'Pussycat Horner' (Little Jack Horner), 'The Cat and the Fiddle', 'Jittery-Tickery Tock' (Hickery Dickery Dock), and 'This little Kitty' (This Little Piggie) to name a few.

A hilarious collection that is a joy to read-aloud.  Children young and old will enjoy it, either for it's fun rhymes, or to see if they can match the original with the adaption.

McLeary's illustrations show the humour of the rhyme in the way they have been done.  Each image has it's own little quirks.  I didn't know whether I should look at the images first to see if I could figure out the rhyme, or read the ditty first and then see if the images matched.  Very cleverly done.

A fun rhyming book to add to your collection.  A nice change for bed-time read-alouds.  A book that cat-loving kids will really enjoy :-)

I got my copy of Purrs, Paws and Claws from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 66. Esau the Paw by Chris Gurney, illustrated by John Bennett

Gurney, C., & Bennett, J. (2014). Esau the Paw. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775431855
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6 / Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 4 stars

---------------

Esau the Paw was a VERY cool cat.
No cat was fluffier, be sure of that! 

OMG! Esau the Paw is the cutest fluffiest cat!  One of the descriptions of him is that he looks 'like a big bloated fur ball'.  And he does!  His facial expressions as he plays are fantastic.  And his looks of absolute disgust I'm sure I have seen on my own cat!!!

Esau the Paw has a beautiful fluffy coat that his owner grooms when he gets it tangled.  Until ... one day it is just so bad that he has to go to the vet ... where he gets a trim - Doh!

Chris Gurney's rhyming text is easy to follow.  He humorously tells the tale of poor Esau's catastrophic results from playing in the mud.  Something many a pet owner can relate to - especially those of us with long-haired darlings, be they cats or dogs ;-)

John Bennett's illustrations are bright and colourful and clearly show Esau's delight in life ... and his disgust once he has been shaved bald!  Predominantly full of full-page illustrations like this one,  children will be able to relate to their own pet's predicaments when they get messy in the winter.

A humorous and colourful read-aloud that will be enjoyed again and again.

I got my copy of Esau the Paw from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 64. Back-To-Front Bob by Belinda Ellis

Ellis, B. (2014). Back-To-Front Bob. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775431831
Pages: 32
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 4 stars

---------------

Bob flips out over words.
In fact, he's head-over-heels crazy about them.
Especially the ones that read the same forwards and backwards ... like BOB!

Belinda Ellis presents us with the first in a series of books about the joys of word games and the quirks that can be a (big) part of our language.  Told in a humorous way, they invite children to 'play' with the words themselves, and maybe come up with some of their own palindromes.

The illustrations in this book are predominantly focusing on the 'words'.  These large, sometimes colourful, words each have an image of Bob in various thoughtful poses, as well as the occasional extra illustration.  It's very well done, as it keeps your attention on the main focus of the story ... the words!

This is a great book to add to your collection.  We have a copy in our Picture Books for kids and parents to enjoy, and a copy in our Teacher Resources for staff to use during literacy lessons in class.  It is a great way of showing kids that they can have fun with words, and that 'language is a very wondrous thing'.

I got my copy of Back-To-Front Bob from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 49. Te Pakiwaitara O Cape Kidnappers: The story of Cape Kidnappers, story re-told by Patrick Sherratt, illustrations by Sophie Blokker

Sherratt, P., & Blokker, S. (2013). Te Pakiwaitara O Cape Kidnappers: The story of Cape Kidnappers. Napier, New Zealand: Te Mata Kidergarten.

ISBN: 9780473242343
Pages: 24
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction / Myths & Legends
Rating: 5 stars

---------------

Te Pakiwaitara O Cape Kidnappers tells the story of  an historical event that happened when Captain James Cook was exploring New Zealand in 1769.  It takes place at Rangiika, on the southern side of Cape Kidnappers, which is also know as the tip of Matau-o-Maui (the fish hook of Maui) who in Maori legend fished up the North Island of New Zealand.  Many years later this significant landmark continues to be called Cape Kidnappers and is a popular tourist attraction (Back Page). 

Patrick Sherratt's retelling of this local legend has been done simply enough for younger children to follow, and yet in a way that is very much like many traditional Maori Myths & Legends.


Each double-page spread has the legend on the left page with the beautifully depicted illustration to go with it on the right.

Sophie Blokker's illustrations are just freaking amazing!  Her computer generated graphical images depict the characters in a manga style.  Her coastal scenes although slightly cartoonish appear as if you are looking out at the scene yourself.  With the use of bright bold colours this book is a visual feast for the eyes.


This is a fantastic addition to your collection, whether it is as a read-aloud, part of your Maori Myths & Legends collection or in among the picture books collection.  A great local history book for those of us in Hawkes Bay.

This is the second book that Te Mata Kindergarten have published with artist Sophie Blokker.  The first book tells the the legend of Te Mata O Rongokako the Sleeping Giant which is a prominent land mark and Maori legend in Havelock North (Back Page). 

I got my copy of Te Pakiwaitara O Cape Kidnappers: The story of Cape Kidnappers from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

Find out more about Sophie Blokker's illustrations.

#365PictureBooks 29. Catch That Plane! by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Sylvie Currin Korankova

Sutton, S. (2014). Catch That Plane! Newton, Australia: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781921720680
Pages: 24
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction / Non-fiction Read-Aloud
Rating: 4 stars

---------------

Rushing to the

airport.

What do I see?

Plane at the gate,

a-ready and a-steady.

I hope it's going to wait.

We're late as late can be! 

Kiwi author, Sally Sutton, has presented us with a fantastic book about going on a plane trip for the first time and the hustle and bustle that you find in an airport.  It goes through all the aspects of departure, from arriving at the airport through to take-off.

Told in repetitive and simple text, it is aimed at young children - 3-6yrs.  There is a kind-of rhyme to it but I find it a bit disjointed.  Better to try not to rhyme it.  The first and last line rhyme, and the two lines in the middle rhyme.

Krankova's illustrations tell the story really well.  Done in muted colours with a bluey-grey background, they make the main point of each page stand out.  Many of the illustrations are very 'busy', however that is in keeping with the chaos that is often part and parcel of an airport.  You could tell the story by the illustrations alone which makes it a great book for children to read alone.

At the rear, there is a 'Facts' page with a glossary of terms asking children to see if they can spot each item in the book.  The information in this has also been worded at the same level making this a really good non-fiction narrative for young children, either to just enjoy because they like planes, and for those that are about to go on, or have just be on, and airplane.

This is a really good book to read to your child if they have never been on a plane before and you are about to head off overseas (or even within the country).  

This would also be a good book for using in class as a non-fiction narrative for a variety of reasons including sequencing, procedures, transportation, and story-starters - each page is a great place for children to start their own story, especially if they have been on a plane trip and they need a reminder to help them visualise their own trip.

I'm looking forward to sharing this book with our junior students and teachers this year. 

I got my copy of Catch That Plane! from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 20. Line Up, Please! by Tomoko Ohmura

Ohmura, T.. (2014). Line Up, Please! Wellington, New Zealand: Gecko Press.

ISBN: 9781877579998
Pages: 40 (incl 2 fold out pages)
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Book
Rating: 4 stars

---------------

Standing in line can be really dull and booooring!  Count down with these 50 different animals and find out why they are waiting in line.  Will it be worth the wait? 

Line Up, Please!  has been translated to English and published by Gecko Press.  It was originally published in Japan, in 2009, by POPLAR Publishing under the title Nanno Gyoretsu.

This is a fun picture book for young children.  There are 50 animals with their names so you can learn to identify them.  There is a number under each animal teaching children how to count down from 50.  As the animals wait (patiently) in line you can follow their comments ...  which are really quite 'human' and very humorous.  As an adult there are a number of comments we have heard, or even made, while waiting in line ourselves!!!  

The illustrations are bold and bright.  Each animal is drawn simply and is easy for children to recognise.  They have been given the cutest facial expressions, which are in keeping with their comments.  Each page has the tail of the animal on the following page, and makes for a good guessing game.

There is a great surprise towards the end when it is revealed just why the animals are all waiting in line.  There is a two page fold out spread so you can see all the animals.  Then there is the fun of the ride.  You can see the sheer joy on the animals faces!  See if you can recall all the animals names!

This is a great book to share with younger readers.  It will also make a great addition for maths sessions and learning what different animals look like, and are called.

I got my copy of Line Up, Please from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 16. A Deal's a Deal by Stephanie Blake

Blake, S. (2013). A Deal's a Deal. Wellington, New Zealand: Gecko Press.

ISBN: 9781877579844
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 3 stars

---------------

A deal's a deal,

to take back is to steal.

Meet Simon and his friend Ferdinand.  Today they are playing with their toy cars.  Simon really likes Ferdinand's amazing red car and eventually Ferdinand agrees to swap it for THREE of Simon's cars.  But when Simon gets it home it's not quite what he was made to believe.  How can Simon get back his three cars and pay Ferdinand back for the trick he played on him.


Stephanie Blake, originally from Minnesota, USA, lives in Paris where she writes and illustrates dozens of popular French children's books.  The series of 'Simon' books have been translated in New Zealand and published by Gecko Press.  The original title Donner c'est donner was published in 2007.

In this story Simon is back in his cute super-hero outfit and he has a little bit of car envy.  He's grown up a bit from his appearance in Stupid Baby which can be evidenced in his conversation with Ferdinand.  And like any good kids book, it's got to have a Yuck factor, which is all in the way he comes up with to pay Ferdinand back  The last page is just hilarious!  It might look like Simon is a bit of a sore looser, but I can see the way Ferdinand manipulates Simon into swapping three cars for one car.

The illustrations are vibrant, simple and funny.  They tie in beautifully with the story.  And the facial expressions although simple are quite easy to 'read', especially when Simon comes up with his terrible, horrible, brilliant idea.  Very sinister!

This is the third book in the adventures of Simon the Rabbit.  It's just as funny as the others - Poo Bum and Stupid Baby.  And keep your eye out for I Don't Want to Go to School.   

I got my copy of A Deal's a Deal from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 2. Marmaduke Duck on the Wide Blue Seas by Juliette MacIver, illustrated by Sarah Davis

MacIver, J. (2014). Marmaduke Duck on the Wide Blue Seas. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 9781775431251
Pages: 40
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 5 stars


---------------

Marmaduke Duck is back in his third rollicking adventure.  This time he is bold, he is brave, he is a Dare Devil Duck!  

He decides that life running his sweet shop with Bernadette Bear is a bit boring so he packs up his cart full of marmalade jam and leave for a life of adventure.  He buys a ship and sets sail with a crew made up of a rat, a dog, a cat, a llama, a lamb and a big black Bull.  What could possibly go wrong???

MacIver's (sometimes tongue twisting) rhyme follows a classic format with a catchy rhythm - dah dah dah DAH dah dah dah dah DAH (or something like that!)  It's a great read aloud and will cause much delight and laughter - especially when you trip over your tongue trying to keep to the rhythm ;-)

Davis's illustrations in a soft water colour palette add beautifully to MacIver's rhyme.  The expressions of the characters faces and their postures clearly capture Marmaduke Duck and his crew's adventures and enhance the story.  This is truly a case of the text and the illustrations combining to make the 'whole' book so much better than the 'individual components', which on their own are bloody marvelous!

Throughout the scenes of Marmaduke's adventure on the high seas you see glimpses of Bernadette Bear on her own journey to find Marmaduke.  They make for their own text-less story, which I must admit I completely missed on my first couple of readings (I was more interested in the rollicking rhyme and the main images!)

This is another great book by Juliette MacIver and well worth adding to your collection.

I got my copy of Marmaduke Duck on the Wide Blue Seas from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 1. Kiwi Corkers: A Kiwi Christmas Carol by Chris Gurney, illustrated by Philip Webb

Gurney, P., & Webb, P. (2010). Kiwi Corkers: A Kiwi Christmas Carol. Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic.

ISBN: 978775432555
Pages: 24
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 3 stars

---------------

Kiwi Corkers: Great New Zealand Yarns are jazzed-up, Kiwi'ised versions of classic tales. 

Gurney's retelling of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is told in a cleverly worded humorous rhyme, although at times it is difficult to keep the rhythm up.  I would recommend reading it to yourself a couple of times before attempting to read aloud.

It is in keeping with Dickens original tale with Jerry D. Miser depicted as a complete scrooge, and being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and future.  'Bah Humbug' has been exchanged for 'Codswallop', a saying very familiar to many kiwi parents I daresay.

Webb's illustrations, using scanned pencil line and Photoshop, add beautifully to the Gurney's retelling, and the use of bright bold artwork clearly matches the text on each page.  I love that his ghost of Christmas Past is a Maori warrior, and the expressions on Jerry's face are definitely that of a grumpy old man.  Each image has got many kiwi-isms to spot, from an opossum to the pohutokawa flower, the buzzy bee toy to the pavlova.

It is a great addition to your Christmas collection.  Kids will enjoy the humorous rhyme and illustrations, while parents will enjoy the trip down memory lane and spotting all the kiwi'isms they remember.  Even though it is a picture storybook I truly believe that older children will enjoy it more than the younger ones, hence I classified it as a Middle Childhood read.

I got my copy of Kiwi Corkers: A Kiwi Christmas Carol from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.