Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer illustrated by Troy Cummings

Image credit Amazon.com

Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer illustrated by Troy Cummings (2017)

by AHK

When you've ordered a new pet kitten and a lion is delivered instead, surely some adjustments need to be made. Never fear, your new lion comes with some handy-dandy IKEA-inspired do-it-yourself instructions. In fourteen easy steps, learn to appreciate your ferocious new pet. This is a title where the illustrations add a great amount of subtext--sometimes adding to the text and other times subverting the text. Fortunately, it can be read to a group without needing a lot of interpretation, making it a good option for storytimes and class visits.

Themes/topics: Lions, pets, making do, funny, school visits

Sample text from two spreads: 

Step 10: At bath time, fill the tub with equal parts water and lion.  Then add a smidge of bubble bath. Be sure to have your camera ready for some adorable photos [illos. show boy and lion cooperating on getting the bath ready, then both in the bath with bubbles]

Step 11:  Post-bath, your lion is half his normal size. Do. Not. Panic. Simply grab a blow dryer and get busy. (Expect a teensy big of shedding). [illos. show lion going from small and bedgraggled to a huge "Fwoof!" of mane with fur shedding everywhere].

What’s a Banana? & What’s an Apple?

What’s a Banana? and What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli  (2016)

Who doesn’t love a good food themed storytime? These are  very silly rhyming odes to specific fruits—either apples or bananas per the title. Both titles are as much fun to read out loud Sayre’s “Rah Rah Radishes” but a little shorter (smaller trim size too). Both titles present real and imagined uses for each fruit, and will fit right into storytime.

Themes/topics: Fruit, food, eating, health, imagination, funny

Sample text from two spreads:

You can tote it. You can float it. Dress like one for Halloween.

You can grow it. Try to blow it—just pretend that it’s a flute. 

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant (2016)

An adorably expressive cat forms a complicated friendship with a ball of yarn. When Cat’s transforms Yarn by knitting it into a cat sweater, Cat feels betrayed by his friend. Since snow/cold features predominately in this title, it will work with those themes as well. With large, clear illustrations and just a few words on a page, this title should fit well into most storytimes. Note: Jacob Grant is also the author of Scaredy Kate, another Everyday Diversity favorite of mine.

Themes/topics: cats, clothing, yarn/knitting, friendship, funny, mix-ups, snow

Sample text from first two spreads:

Cat and Girl had always been good friends.

One day, Girl brought home a colorfull new guest. His name was Yarn. 

Let Me Finish!

 

Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê illustrated by Isabel Roxas (2016) #ownvoices

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure this one would work for storytime, but I know full well that what works for me is different than what works for you, so I try and give you enough information to make your own decisions. It might work great for those of you who do voices! This title has really grown on me with multiple readings. All the kid wants to do is finish a book in peace, but is constantly beset by animals just *dying* to deliver spoilers. With a giggle-worthy twist—or two—at the end, this title will resonate with book-lovers of all ages.

Themes/topics: reading, funny, dinosaurs, books

Sample text from three spreads, which switch between text and dialogue bubbles.

[kid] Here we go. I can’t wait to dive in.

[giraffe] “Ooh, I’m in the middle of that book too! That’s my favorite part”

[birds, bear and giraffe] “Don’t you love it when he reaches the top of the mountain—“

[kid  ]No! Not this time! This time I’m making it to the end! JUST LET ME FINISH!