Children’s Book Review: Chicken Big

Chicken Big, the latest picture book by Keith Graves, arrived at our house yesterday and it was a huge hit. My son was super excited to take a bath since I promised him we’d read the book as soon as he was done. It was the quickest bath in our history of bath-taking…

He grabbed the book as soon as his pajamas were on (another record for him) and immediately informed me that it wasn’t so much a book as it was a comic strip. The layout of the back cover and many of the interior pages were set up in boxes with big, fun fonts that made it easy for him to follow along and even read on his own.

He laughed out loud and repeated the phrase, “This is getting ridiculous,” as the characters tried to figure out what Chicken Big actually was (spoiler alert: he really is a chicken).

We love reading time in our house and last night was especially fun since he asked if we could read Chicken Big again. He laughed in all the same places the second time around, although he couldn’t quite figure out how the characters knew they were in a book (you’ll have to see the title pages to understand his inquiry).

As a picture book aficionado, I adored the illustrations, the twist to the Chicken Little tale as well as the layout of the  entire book. Not a single page was wasted!

Keith Graves is the author of many hilarious books for kids, including Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance. Chicken Big was sent to me through the Chronicle Books’ Gold Review Panel program.

Friday Night Delights

I’ve been busy the last few days; traveling to Reno, reading magazines (dated months ago), watching the World Series, networking with school librarians, sharing books with kidlit blogsters, discussing picture books with reviewers, getting caught up online and reviewing websites to share. I’ve discovered several and there are quite a few more I’ll include another time.

zaba kids boutique

Rice and Beans Vintage

the cocoa monkey:
distinctive gear for the curious

KIOSK:
Interesting things from interesting countries

rose and lula:
rebellious, sophisticated, vintage-inspired, casual, bohemian, contemporary

The Curiosity Shoppe:
if I haven’t mentioned this before, I should have

Vigilant:
leather goods

modern mommy:
innovative design for the few few years of life

babyzone‘s most embarrassing parenting moments

I have more reading to do, packing (back to San Diego tomorrow), relaxing before my vacation ends and getting ready for the final day exhibiting for Kane/Miller at the AASL conference here in Nevada.

By the way, today was Nevada Day. I have no idea what the celebration is all about, other than what I assume would be the history of the state. Schools were closed, parades and festivities were held and yet, I was working inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. More on that later…

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Java Mama Story Time

I had an opportunity to promote and sell Kane/Miller picture books through the Working Moms with Toddlers Meetup Group that I’m a member of here in San Diego. One of the moms in the group suggested that I host a story time at Java Mama in La Mesa.

It turned out to be a fantastic event although I couldn’t tell you how many moms and kids were there (I was too busy reading a counting book to count the number of heads).

The counting book that I read, with the help of my page-turning assistant and son, was One Woolly Wombat, from Australia. Written and illustrated by Rod Trinca and Kerry Argent, this picture book features Australian birds, reptiles and other creatures along with rhyming text and the numbers 1-14.

Afterwards, I read a second book from Australia, Bobbie Dazzler. By Margaret Wild and Janine Dawson, this one features a red-necked Wallaby who amazes her friends with the acrobatic – gymnastic abilities she has, although sadly, the list doesn’t include the splits. Bobbie’s friends Koala, Possum and Wombat don’t mind, but Bobbie certainly does.

After much practice Bobbie finally manages to do the splits, although she’s not quite sure how she’s going to get back up to a standing position! Her friends help Bobbie, encourage her and even participate in these activities that also kept the children jumping, hopping, whirling and twirling.

I sold a few books this morning, made some new friends and discovered a wonderful place to take my son and enjoy my daily caffeine requirement at the same time. I can’t wait to go back and possibly host another story time event before the holidays.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Selznick, Frazee & A Big Box of Books

The SCIBA Trade Show and Authors Feast was last night. It took us nearly three hours to get to the Biltmore with an accident, road construction and typical Saturday evening traffic holding us back but we finally arrived!

We had enough time to walk the floor of the Trade Show, visit with many wonderful Sales Representatives and page through several fall books which I had not had a chance to see prior, and we still had time to mingle, enjoy a cocktail and wander through the beautiful hotel to see what other events were taking place that evening.

I was joined by two of my colleagues for dinner: Lynn, who most SCIBA members recall from her previous position as manager of The White Rabbit; and Christina, from The Book Works in Del Mar.

Also at our table was a member of the Harcourt children’s division (also located in San Diego), along with four booksellers representing Russo’s Books and Newsboy Books & Video.

The highlight of my night was meeting two of the award nominees (the two that I would’ve asked to meet if I was able to choose). Marla Frazee, whose work I absolutely adore, sat down at Table #12 just before dessert was served (what was that, by the way?). I nearly leaped across the table to shake her hand and gush over her work. She took me by surprise when she mentioned that some of her favorite picture books were Kane/Miller titles and I couldn’t even begin to think of what to say to her after that, especially since we had to practically yell at one another to be heard.

Lynn was able to introduce me to Brian Selznick after the event and I was able to congratulate him after he received his much-anticipated award for his children’s novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Other award-winners were: Lisa See (Peony in Love), Wendy Werris (An Alphabetical Life), Denise Hamilton (Los Angeles Noir), and Robin Preiss Glasser (Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy), who admitted on-stage that she had a little too much to drink.

It was a wonderful event and I was so pleased to be able to attend and very grateful for the big box of books that I opened early this morning with my son, who insisted that I read him Bossy Bear and Merry Christmas, Mouse! immediately. (This of course, after he asked me why his babysitter had to leave.) Welcome home, Mom!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home