MORE 'PICTURE-BOOK' POSTS

Review: The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas

Travis Jonker, April 8, 2012 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



The Easter Bunny’s Assistant By Jan Thomas Harper (HarperCollins) ISBN: 9780061692864 $12.99 Grades PreK-2 In Stores *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library In terms of consistency, few picture book creators in the world are operating at the level of Jan Thomas right now. Since her debut in 2007, What Will […]

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Review: Kali’s Song by Jeanette Winter

Travis Jonker, March 18, 2012 | Reviews



Kali’s Song By Jeanette Winter Schwartz & Wade (Random House) ISBN: 9780375870224 $16.99 Grades PreK-2 In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Gentle gets a bad rap. Books that scream and shout get a lot of attention, but often it is a classic case of sound and fury signifying nothing. Jeanette Winter […]

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Review: Another Brother by Matthew Cordell

Travis Jonker, March 15, 2012 | Reviews



Another Brother By Matthew Cordell Feiwel and Friends ISBN: 9780312643249 $16.99 Grades K-2 In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library The arrival of a new sibling can be a stressful event. Sure, parents have their hands full, but big brother or big sister also have to cope with a lot of change. […]

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Review: One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo

Travis Jonker, March 1, 2012 | Reviews



One Cool Friend By Toni Buzzeo Illustrated by David Small Dial (Penguin) ISBN: 9780803734135 $16.99 Grades K-3 In Stores Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Local Library Oblivious parents are a staple in children’s lit. Kids are so used to being micro-managed that the thought of being able to pull one over on the […]

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Review: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Travis Jonker, January 24, 2012 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Extra Yarn By Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins) ISBN: 9780061953385 $16.99 Grades K-2 In Stores *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library I’ve never knitted anything in my life (or is it just “knit”?). Not a thing. The extent of my self-crafted wardrobe is limited to […]

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10 Fiction Picture Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2012

Travis Jonker, January 17, 2012 | Articles



2012 may go down as the year of the picture book sequel. Aside from the Mo Willems offering I mention below, expect sequels to The Dunderheads, I Must Have Bobo, LMNO Peas, Say Hello to Zorro, Oh No!, Dinotrux, A Pet for Petunia and a whole bunch more. Borrowing heavily (see: stealing) from A Fuse […]

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Jerry Pinkney and Erin E. Stead: A Caldecott Conversation

Travis Jonker, December 6, 2011 | Articles, Authors



How better to understand the Caldecott than by chatting with an artist who has won the prestigious award? Today we’re lucky enough to have two. Jerry Pinkney and Erin E. Stead (the 2010 and 2011 winner, respectively) agreed to do just that. One a living legend, the other a newcomer with a bright future; both […]

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Podcast Review: You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown

Travis Jonker, November 29, 2011 | Podcast Reviews, Reviews



This week on the Brain Burps About Books podcast I review Peter Brown’s exuberant You Will Be My Friend. Host Katie Davis also chats with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, mastermind behind a bunch of books, including the Lunch Lady graphic novel series and my daughter’s favorite book of the moment, Punk Farm. Click here to listen. […]

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Review: I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs

Travis Jonker, November 15, 2011 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



I Spy with My Little Eye By Edward Gibbs Templar Books (Candlewick Press) ISBN: 9780763652845 $14.99 Grades PreK-1 In Stores *Best New Book* *2011 Cybils Nominee* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library When form meets function, it’s a beautiful thing. This can be tricky with books that feature die cuts. We’ve all seen […]

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Link Du Jour: Stereotypin’ Since 1988

Travis Jonker, November 13, 2011 | Link Du Jour



I tend to focus on the humorous and/or odd in these pages, but today we have something truly maddening. I recently came across Oranges, a picture book published in 1988, and I couldn’t let it pass without comment. And my comment is “Are you kidding me!?”. It’s a veritable who’s who of cultural stereotypes. While […]

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