19-22. Library Haul

19. Hot Dog, Cold Dog by Rookie Toddler
20. Baby Penguins Everywhere! by Melissa Guion
21. Quick Duck! by Mary Murphy
22. Pancakes! An Interactive Recipe Book illustrated by Lotta Nieminen

A lot of great finds at the Sugar Grove Library this past week. We attend baby story time every other Monday with Miss Eli, and we also try to pick up some new books to take home.

Hot Dog, Cold Dog is a book of opposites as illustrated with dogs. Unfortunately, no chihuahuas. My favorite page is "Empty & Full" because the bulldog looks so pissed. This was a hit with Jenny, as it ended up in her mouth.

Baby Penguins Everywhere is a story about how a mama penguin is lonely, but finds a hat filled with many, many baby penguins. MANY baby penguins. Jenny and I counted, and on the middle spread, there are 40 baby penguins. Eventually the mama penguin just needs some peace and quiet, alone time. But eventually gets engulfed with baby penguins again as it's "a lot more fun!" This is a very accurate depiction of what it's like to have kids and to stay at home with the kids. They're great, we love them, but sometimes mama needs to unplug and be alone. We love penguins in this house, so right off the bat I knew we'd love this book. The watercolors are beautiful, and the little pops of color are a nice touch.

Quick Duck, of course, is great because tell me a Mary Murphy book that isn't great? Oh, you can't. In the book we're directing the duck to move quickly either out of the mud, or around the flowers, or over the stones. Eventually the duck reaches its mama and siblings with a big SPLASH. I love, love the splatter paint affect they went for there. Bold colors, bright and contrasting, thick outlines. Typical Mary Murphy, but it works so well with kids.

Pancakes is such a cool interactive board book. It's not just a story about making pancakes, it's an hands-on recipe book. A little over Jenny's head. Okay, a lot over Jenny's head, but the idea and execution is done so well. You pull tabs to pour the milk, and turn wheels to whisk the wet ingredients. The publishers are coming out with a similar book soon about making a pizza, and I know it will be a hit.