Grandma, Bikes and Skunks: New kids’ books, June 2015 edition
Toronto Public Library is constantly receiving new kids’ books. Some stand out as exceptional reads for both you and your children. For June, I’d like to highlight three amazing new picture books (in my humble opinion!):
Grandma in Blue with Red Hat
Words by Scott Menchin, Pictures by Harry Bliss
In a celebration of art and creativity this picture book tells the story of a little boy who loves his Grandma. During art class he learns that art can be anything. It can be beautiful, different or it can'tell a story. It sometimes comes from far away. It can be funny and unique. Most of all art can make you feel good. The young boy realizes that his Grandma is all those things and so decides to show his appreciation for her by holding an art exhibition filled with his work dedicated to her. Sprinkled with some art history, children will learn to appreciate the beauty and creativity in art as well as those they love.
In a Cloud of Dust
Alma Fullerton, art by Brian Deines
June is Bike Month here in Toronto! We celebrate by riding our bikes to work and school, brushing up on bike safety in the city and maybe getting a tune-up. In some places around the world bicycles are essential forms of transportation, especially for young children to get to school, which can be kilometres from home. Some villages in Africa have started programs called a Bicycle Library. Children can borrow bicycles from the back of a truck and return them, just like library books! In a Tanzanian village young Anna’s home is far from school. She is thrilled when the Bicycle Library pulls up. Anna and her friends borrow bikes to take to and from school. Beautifully illustrated and simply told, this is a joyful account of what it might be like for the children who benefit from bicycle libraries around the world.
The Skunk
Story by Mac Barnett, Art by Patrick McDonnell
What would you do if a skunk mysteriously started following you everywhere you went? One man desperately tries to get away from an extremely persistent skunk, who even follows him to the opera. The man is so fed up that he decides to move to a new house just to get away from the skunk. He successfully shakes the skunk only to realize that he is quite lonely without him. He starts a quest to find the skunk and begins some following of his own. This is a fun and silly story about a man and a skunk who are unexplainably drawn to each other. An unlikely friendship indeed!
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