The Great Picture Book Culling: Day 3

Jo picked some really good ones last night.

Guji Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen - This is a fabulous book and Alan and I were both really sad to see that NO other Library Thing users own a copy. It's about a crocodile born into a duck family because his egg rolled into their nest. His loyalty (and sense of identity) are challenged when a group of bad crocodiles try to convince him to betray his duck family. Yes - it's about big issues like loyalty, identity, family - it could even be about adoption and signle parenthood - but it's never preachy or heavy-handed. It's simply a great story with great art. I especially love the spreads where Guji Guji's reflection in water looks like a that of a duck.
Jo (and other kids) always notice the little duck pull toy that Guji Guji drags around - a toy that the crocodiles break. Why don't more people own this book?Continuing with the crocodile theme, Jo also read I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio with art by Dorothee de Monfried. Great story. Great art. Great twist at the end.

Unrelated to the crocodile theme, Jo also read Wemberly Worried by the always wonderful Kevin Henkes and Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild by Mem Fox, with art by Marla Frazee - one of my favorite illustrators.

Read-a-thon status so far: 13 books