The Great Picture Book Culling: Day 13

Finally! Jo finally got to a Charlie and Lola book in the teetering pile. Last night she read But Excuse Me That Is My Book - I would say it's my favorite but they are all equally awesome. I love the voices, the interplay between the brother and sister, the fun read-aloudability, and the terrific art by Lauren Child.

In this one, Charlie and Lola are visiting the library and Lola is upset because she can't find HER book - Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies - the one she checks out every time they go to the library. We all love this spread where Lola explains just why Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies is the best book ever.She loves the part where the beetles get stuck on their back with all their little legs waving around - just the scene that would appeal to Jo too. That image is echoed in this two-page spread later in the book, when Lola spots a girl checking out her book, but can't get out of the beanbag chair to stop her.

Pure genius! Charlie - the most amazingly patient older brother ever - eventually helps her find a new book that is just as good as her favorite, so all ends well. Jo and I both picked this one as our favorite of the night.

Alan was torn, but eventually chose Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott. I love all of his books, but I think this is my favorite. It's a great story with the perfect rhythm for reading aloud - and also terrific art. Look at the milky way in this scene!Jo also read Jazzy in the Jungle - a non-Maisy book by Lucy Cousins. The art is this book is terrific - and lots of fun for kids. All the pages are die-cut around the edges and have die-cut holes. The row of red flowers and the three palm fronds are the top edge of the next page to turn. When you turn the page that blue dot is revealed as a parrot's eyeball, and the back of that page builds a new composition on the left side of the book. It's really a marvel of engineering and so much fun for kids to pore over, but it's hard to describe - so just find a copy of the book and see for yourself.

Jo also read Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson with art by Jane Chapman - a lovely book, especially for springtime, and Alice the Fairy by David Shannon.

Read-a-thon total so far: 51 books read
Books culled so far: 9