May Reads Part 2

Hooray for Kids! by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang (picture book)

Another great book celebrating the differences and similarities we share with one another. Some of the ideas were pretty silly. A Herman convention? Really? The illustrations are hilarious and super unique - hand-drawn and painted animals interacting in a photographed environment.

199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die by Loren Rhoads (adult nonfiction)

This is nicely organized by region within the U.S. and then by country as well. Each featured cemetery includes its history, art, architecture, unusual monuments and headstones, and natural elements. Many of the photographs are gorgeous, such as the sun peeking through the tombstones at the Friedhof Judischer Chernivtsi cemetery in Ukraine. The cemeteries I have added to my must-see list are Highgate Cemetery in London, England (which is just as much a park as it is a cemetery), Behavior Cemetery on Sapelo Island in Georgia (descendants still practice centuries-old customs), and the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York (which is, indeed, a pet cemetery with both famous and ordinary pets and monuments and headstones occasionally reflecting those pets).

Old Hat by Emily Gravett (picture book)

The message in Old Hat just goes to show if you be yourself and embrace what makes you different, it will save you a lot of embarrassment, trouble, and time. But it's so tough to be yourself! Especially when the other animals and dinosaur are rocking cool hats. I like the surprise ending and the animals'/dinosaur's reaction to the cool thing Harbet's been hiding.

Who Is in the Garden? by Vera Rosenberry (picture book)

I like how interactive this is! With nearly every turn of the page there is an opportunity for children to find garden critters hidden away in the beautiful illustrations. The language is rich and detailed but also simple and minimal, and, therefore, perfect for storytime. My favorite line is, "On a silk-tassled ear sticking out of that stalk, a dainty, brown field mouse sits, nibbling corn." 

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague (picture book)

Seeing your bad behavior manifested in the actions of a large and rather ridiculous-looking dinosaur definitely makes you rethink what you're doing. This is an adult perspective but I think kids feel the same way. I also think this book helps us talk about the negative emotions we all feel sometimes. It's tough to say it out loud, but I will. The illustrations make me sick with jealousy. It's not just the concept of everyday moms and dads (and a variety of mom and dads at that) interacting with their dinosaur kids, but also the amount of emotion and detail packed into each page. The feelings of not just the dinosaur children, but also their parents, is just so evident and easy to interpret. For the moment, this is my favorite of the series.

The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett (picture book)

The illustrations are pretty clever and funny. The flip pages where all the eggs hatch (except ducks) are exciting to lift and reveal some interesting (and mathematical) noises. My favorite moment is when the thing in duck's egg hatches, what it does when it comes out of the egg, and how Gravett illustrates that action. Also, I thought the duck was going to be a goner, or chased away, and because of this, I was surprised and delighted by the ending.