Funny Friday

 

National Library Week: Picture Books

As a former children's librarian, I knew there were many, many picture books about libraries.  Having been out of the "business" for a while, I searched for books other than the ones I've used over and over for story times.  

I found myself going into a rabbit warren full of lists, and got a little dizzy, so decided to just share some lists.

From Brightly - Libraries Gone Wild!: 10 imaginative picture books about libraries

From Imagination Soup - Picture Books that Celebrate the Library (and Librarians)

From Flashlight Worthy - Picture Books About Libraries

From A Mighty Girl - 35 Books Celebrating Reading, Libraries, and Literacy

From The Multi-taskin' Mom - 30 Picture Books About Libraries

One Big Happy, by Rick Detorie   8/4/2017

Lists for the little ones!

From Book Riot - 16 New Picture Books from Caldecott Award Winners 

                          - Great resources for free ebooks and audiobooks

                          - 6 Books for children about yoga and mindfulness

                          - 21 Bilingual books for kids

From CBC Canada - Canadian children's writers and illustrators read to kids

                                   - 46 Canadian picture books being released this spring

From BuzzFeed - Celebrities read children's books during the COVID quarantine

                              - 17 Funny & thoughtful books for kids under 5 

From Brightly - The Most exciting picture books of 2019

                       - 10 Books you won't mind reading over & over

                       - Dr. Seuss printables and activities

                       - Eric Carle printables and activities

Special request : Books About Dragons

This is but a sampling of the plethora of dragon-themed fiction (and non-fiction!) available for every age and reading level.  Please share your favorite dragon books in the comments.

Picture books 

Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1990).  Suitable for ages 4-8.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko (Annick Press hardcover, 1992). Suitable for ages 3-7.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated  by Daniel Salmieri (Dial Books hardcover, 2012).  Suitable for ages 3-7.

For early readers

Warren & Dragon: 100 Friends (Warren & Dragon Book 1) by Ariel Bernstein (Viking BFYR, 2018).  Ages 5-8.

The Dragonling (The Dragonling series Book 1) by Jackie French Koller (Aladdin paperback, 2018). Ages 7-10.

Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters series Book 1 of 14) by Tracey West (Scholastic paperback, 2014).  Ages 6-8.

For Middle Grades

Dragon Rider (Dragon Rider Trilogy Book 1) by Cornelia Funke (Chicken House Books paperback, 2011).  Ages 8-12.

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder (Penguin paperback, 2016).  Ages 8-12.

Dealing with Dragons (The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Book 1 of 4) by Patricia C. Wrede (HMH paperback, reprinted 2015.).  Ages 9-12.

For Teens and Adults

Seraphina (Seraphina Duology Book 1) by Rachel Hartman (Penguin Teen paperback, 2014).

Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern Book 1 of 23) by Anne McCaffrey (Random House paperback, reprinted 2005).  

Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle Book 1) by Christopher Paolini (Knopf paperback, 2005). 

Banned & Challenged Picture Books

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss.
Challenged, but retained, despite a patron’s concern that the book “encourages children to use violence against their fathers.”

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle.

Challenged due to “a stylized naked man and woman shown as Adam & Eve.”

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig.

This Caldecott winner raised controversy among several school districts and organizations for its portrayal of the police as pigs (although anthropomorphic pigs were shown in other professions), and as a result was banned in parts of the United States.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Another Caldecott winner, this has been challenged due to the fact that it promotes “witchcraft and supernatural events.”

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf.

Released nine months before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, this book was seen by many as a pacifist book. It was banned in many countries, including in Spain. Adolf Hitler ordered the book burned, while India's leader Mahatma Gandhi called it his favorite book.

Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam and Lane Smith.

This children’s picture book offers a Halloween-themed poem that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet and has been criticized for being book is frightening, violent, anti-Christian, and generally unsuitable for children.

Picture Books for the Holidays

One of my favorite things when I was a children's librarian (lo, these many years ago...), was doing storytimes during the holidays.  Here are some of the books I loved to read.


A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore

There are many illustrated versions of this story, more commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Pick your favorite.  If you can find one with the original text (click on title, above), even better!

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The Huron Carol by Jean de Brebeuf

My favorite edition is this one illustrated by Frances Tyrell, which is now out of print and may be difficult to find.  This one, illustrated by Ian Wallace, is still available.  More points to you if you sing the story.

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Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo. Illustrated by Joe Lasker.

This story is based on an old German folktale. Try to find the original (1982) edition if you can; apparently the 2001 publication (illustrated by Jane Manning), though lovely,  omits some text.

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Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida.

Out of print now, but still available as an e-book, this charming story of girl's first posada and pinata won the 1960 Caldecott Medal.

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Tomie de Paola has written and illustrated a number of great read-alouds with a Christmas theme.  These two are my favorites:

The Legend of the Poinsettia, based on a Mexican legend of how the poinsettia came to be.

The Legend of Old Befana, about the old woman who brings presents to children in the Italian tradition.

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