Pages

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

10 For 10 Inspiration

Okay, I have to admit that the 10 for 10 Picture Books event also had something to do with starting a blog. Cathy from the blog Reflect and Refine and Mandy from the blog Embrace Learning want to know which ten picture books we cannot live without.  I started thinking about my list about a week ago and it keeps changing.  It is quite a challenge to narrow the list down to just 10 because there are so many fabulous books for children, but I will give it a shot.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - this book is the earliest book I can remember as a child.  It seems to delight children over and over again.  With the little holes to play with and the bright beautiful illustrations, this book is always a winner.



2. The Happy Hocky Family by Lane Smith - no matter how many times I read this book, I howl and so do the kids.  Lane Smith's humor is quite cracked and sometimes I am not even sure why we are rolling on the floor, but there we are.





3. Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton - who can resist this great competition between these tough guys?



4. Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell - this biography is fantastic.  The illustrations are gentle like Jane and the mix of real drawing and photographs with the illustrator's work is perfect.



5. Here's a Little Poem by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters - it is stretching definitions to consider this a picture book since it has a few too many pages, but I just wouldn't survive without some poetry.  Children love the No-No Bird (a child stomping his feet and throwing a tantrum) because they have all seen or done the very same thing and the poem about ice cream is a winner too.



6. Sitti's Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye - is a truly beautiful story of family and place.  This explores the relationship of a young girl with her Palestinian grandmother.  They don't speak the same verbal language, but the language of love does the job.




7. No David! by David Shannon - absolutely hilarious - enough said.





8. We are in a Book! by Mo Willems - Elephant and Piggie may be simple characters, but they are sly and silly too.  I love this book about books and reading and so does almost every child that has the good fortune to meet this book.



9. Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco - we have a heartwarming and beautiful tearjerker here.  It is a great way to see some parallels with the Jewish and African American experiences.  Beyond that, it is a fantastic example of community.




10. My People by Langston Hughes and Charles R. Smith Jr. - the photographs are fantastic and of course the poetry is too.  I love seeing the beauty and joy in the faces of his people.  You can't help but smile in response.

8 comments:

  1. Wow, so many new fun books I am adding to my list of must-reads after this event! I love Lane Smith, so my first on the list will be The Happy Hocky family. It sounds great. I also want to read Here's a Little Poem--I love Jane Yolen too. Thanks for joining in on the #PB10for10 event. I'll look forward to reading more of your new blog!

    Denise

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have We Are In a Book in common! I adore that book! Very fun list. :) What a great reason to start a blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like sharing these favorites reads. The posts give my lots of good ideas. No, David! is on lots of lists. My class loves to choral read that one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My kids love The Very Hungry Caterpillar. such a great classic. I love that you included some poetry on your list. I'm always looking for good collections!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the comments. This has been a lot of fun. I am really enjoying the exchange of ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haven't had a visit with the Happy Hocky family for a while - I'll do so very soon.
    I too listed My People. What's not to like?
    I'm not familiar with Here's a Little Poem but will look it up.
    Thanks for the list.
    Tammy
    Apples with Many Seeds

    ReplyDelete
  7. Welcome and thanks for joining us today. I just love Here's a Little Poem and My People, so glad you put them on your list because I didn't.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great list! Me Jane is on my wish list, and I just added Here's a Little Poem. Happy Blogging, I just started also :).

    ReplyDelete