9 picture books from the 90s

picture books for pairing
08.07.2014

 

This is my latest installment of picture books by the decade. How great was the 90s for picture books? Seriously great. At least I think so. (Notice I’ve used bubble writing for the years in each picture!)

roxaboxen

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, illustrated by Barbara Cooney was on my PBs for summer list as well because it’s quintessentially summer and captures the magic of childhood at the same time. Ah, this book. A favorite. A classic. Perfection.

 

thewidow'sbroom
The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg is dark and clever and deals with (this is Chris Van Allsburg!) magic. A woman, a witch, a broom, what the neighbors think, and the meaning of evil.

 
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Pumpkins: A Story for a Field by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Barry Root. I’ve sung this one’s praises here before too. But really it just blows me away. Early Mary Lyn Ray is so so good. (As is later and current!)

 

 

grandfather'sjourney

Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say is a dear to my heart book about immigration, family, and having two homes. It’s one of the first picture books I loved as an adult.

 

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The Library by Sarah Stewart, pictures by David Small is a tribute to books and libraries and this lovable nose-in-a-book-character, Elizabeth Brown, who embodies both.

 

 

aspecialkindoflove
A Special Kind of Love by Stephen Michael King is quite an unusual book. It’s about a father who can’t say the words, “I love you,” to his son, so he shows him through the stuff he makes with his hands.

 

 

nightdriving

Night Driving by John Coy, illustrated by Peter McCarthy is another father/son book. It’s slow and quiet like a road trip and full of details for soaking up.

 

 

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A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart by David A. Adler, illustrated by Jeff Fisher. I do love a heroic  historical lady biography.

 

 
weslandia

Weslandia by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes is one of my favorite books, period. Wesley is a bullied boy. He’s also an ingenious one. Over summer vacation, he turns his backyard into a veritable civilization by growing one staple crop. It’s strange and brilliant and empowering.

 

 

Looking at this list of my faves from the 90s, I’m not sure what conclusions to draw exactly. But I would note the magical realism threaded through this list. Relationships with family members figure into this bunch too, as well as relationships to special places.

Okay, your turn! Please tell me any of your favorite 90s picture books in the comments!

And check out 8 picture books from the 80s too!

 

 

 

 

 

hooray for hat + super festive hat giveaway

Picture Book Crafts
08.05.2014

 

hoorayforhatHooray for Hat! by Brian Won (2014).

 

Ever been grumpy? This book will address that. It’s practically the definition of joy.

 

Each animal character starts out in a grumpy mood, signified by a black scribble above his head. What helps every single one dump the grumps? A hat! From a friend!

 

 

 

 

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click image(s) to enlarge

 

I love this picture book for its pops of color. For its wild hat(s). For the way it celebrates the true uplift of friendship and kindness. For its perfect design and beautiful type. For the way that original stacked-up-amazing hat appears in a box at elephant’s door without explanation.

 

 

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It’s not exactly the hat that solves everything (though hats are awesome). It’s the gift part and the giving.

 

Seriously good, right?! HOORAY FOR HAT!

 

 

 Thanks to Brian Won for images!

 

+

I was inspired to make a crazy fun whimsical hat to hooray for after reading Hooray For Hat! So with major help from my guy, davishandmade, we did! And we’re giving it away to one reader of This Picture Book Life!

I recently won a fabulous party supply giveaway from Meri Meri through Design Mom, so we invented ways to use those supplies, gathered stuff from around our apartment, and took one quick trip to the 99Cents store.

And …TA DA!

hatone

It’s one giant hat. Or three separate hats. With lots of little details hidden around! Come see.

hattwo

We were inspired by the cup holder sticking out of elephant’s hat and the bird cuckoo-ing from the other side. So we kind of combined them and stuck a straw and bird on ours.

hatnest

Yup, there’s a bird’s nest hidden inside and you can only see it if you peep through the hole on one side. The nest is raffia and the eggs are felt balls. As this project’s been sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks, I’ve peered in on that nest a number of times to peek at those pretty eggs.

hatcraftsurprise!

And another hat surprise! Say hello to panda underneath the coned shaped hat! She’s queen of that stripes on stripes cap.

conepartyhat_merimeri

The top cone-shaped party hat is straight from Meri Meri, only we added a feather to the top.

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superfestivhat

We had so much fun with the little details: ribbon, cut paper, washi tape, and twine.

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It’s vaguely child-sized; the top hat opening measures about six inches across.

Comment on this post and tell us who you’d give this hat to wear for a chance to win!

A birthday girl or boy? A classroom helper? Do tell!

I’ll contact the randomly chosen winner by email for your mailing address.

(Enter until Monday, August 11 at midnight; open to North American residents only—sorry about that, far flung international readers!)

And if you want to make your own party hats, Brian Won’s got an activity page on his website with hat instructions; the sky’s the limit with what you can round up for supplies! And you must see Brian’s recent book party where incredible replicas of hats from the book were worn by all!

the bathing costume or the worst vacation of my life

picture books for the older set
07.29.2014

thebathingcostumeThe Bathing Costume: Or the Worst Vacation of My Life by Charlotte Moundlic and Olivier Tallec.

 

This comes from the pair that created The Scar, a beautiful, brilliant book (which I’ve featured here). But that one’s a sad book. This one is also beautiful but without the sadness. Instead, you might say it has a dose of melancholy. But it’s also funny. Quirky. Charming. Real.

 

 

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click image(s) to enlarge

It’s for the older set because the main character is eight and the text is lengthier than most. But also because a kid, a growing up kid, will really relate to this diary of a failed (then won!) summer vacation.

(See how those brilliant summer blues and yellows gleam from the pages?)

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The whole book is written matter of factly. The way Myron might really narrate things.

Myron’s a bit behind. He hasn’t lost a baby tooth yet and he’s ripe for teasing. His vacation will be without his parents and brother, at his grandparents’ house with cousins.

 

“Grandma asked me if I was happy and I muttered, ‘Yes…Yeah, sure…’ What else could I say? I didn’t want to tell her that I was about to have the worst vacation of my whole life.”

And then there’s the bathing costume of the title. (That’s what Myron’s grandmother calls it.)

“This summer I’m eight. And in the family, the summer when you’re eight is the summer when you have to jump off the 10-foot diving board.”

BathingCostume22

The poor kid only has his older brother’s yellow bathing suit, so the thing hangs off him like crazy at the city pool. He has to hold it up and there’s a moment when his bare bottom’s in the air.  And that high dive? So not happening. What child (or grown up) can’t relate to this story?

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Not to worry though. There’s change ahead. (Sadly, not in the form of a new bathing suit.) The power goes out one night and relationships shift. The family heads back to the swimming pool. One of Myron’s teeth gets very, very loose! And he walks up the ladder to the high dive. I’ll let you guess what happens next.

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The last diary-like entry is the opposite of the first one. The way some camp or vacation diary-entries really are about-faces. The lucky ones. When worst vacations turn into the best.

seek and find picture books

picture books for pairing
07.22.2014

seekandfindpicturebooks

These two are perfect summer activity books. Imagine the hours that could be spent combing each for all the details. All the stories and characters and subplots.  They’re like Where’s Waldo but with intricate stories to follow and discover. (I’m super jealous of anyone who can enjoy these while riding in a car. They are well-suited for those not afflicted with motion sickness during road trips.)

 

The Bear’s Sea Escape by Benjamin Chaud (2014), follow up to The Bear’s Song (2011).

 

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 click image(s) to enlarge

We follow a papa bear searching for his baby bear as we look for him too. All the way from the opera house of the first installment through the cold streets to a cruise ship that sails to a tropical island.

 

bearsseaescapetwo

 

The search is the fun of the book, spotting big bear and little bear in every spread, wanting so badly for them to find one other like we’ve found them!

 

bearsseaescapethree
Chaud’s lavish illustrations are outrageously delightful throughout. And you can almost hear what’s going on in every spread: the hustle and bustle, the music. Always, the music.

 

 Thanks to Chronicle Books for images!

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Welcome To Mamoko by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński (2013).

In Mamoko, we’re introduced to a few kooky characters on the first page. Then, we follow one or two or all of those creatures on a wordless adventure.

mamoko-intro

You can pick an animal and basically discover a different story on every read through! My favorite character might be the cow in red heels, but it’s a tough call. I do love a romantic roller-skater!

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Images via Big Picture Press.

 

This video will show you how it’s done:

 

I hope you know some kids who can have fun with these activity/story books this summer. And if you and yours are able to read them in a moving vehicle, then I super salute you!

 

I received a review copy of The Bear’s Sea Escape; opinions are my own. 

 

 

it’s been one year!!

DISPATCH FROM DANIELLE
07.17.2014

oneyearanniversary!

 

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