Papá and Me

by Arthur Dorros
illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
*Notable Children's Book 2009
*Pura Belpre Honors Book 2008

Summary
This short picture book describes a boy’s day with his father, focusing on their relationship. The book uses short Spanish phrases in a way to relate to the readers of the book and connect to another culture. The boy sings with his father, walks across the street (holding his hand of course), spends time at the park, and finally ends up with his grandparents on the other side, showing the importance of family and love. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous, as seen below, and they truly succeed in making this book successful and well loved.

Discussion
I was very pleased with this book, both for its multiculturalism and the focus on the relationship of a boy and his father, instead of a boy and his mother. Many books focus on the mother/child relationship instead of the father/child. This book encourages the child to reach for their dreams, and be independent while using their parents’ guidance and help to grow (by way of scaffolding). The Spanish throughout the book could allow a parent to read this book to their child, even if they do not speak English, by allowing their child to read the English parts and they could read the Spanish parts. This book is a perfect at home book, as it is a story about a father and son.

Dorros, A. (2008). Papa and Me. New York: HarperCollins.

I Stink!

by Kate and Jim McMullan

*ALA Notable Children's Book 2002

*Boston Globe/Horn Book Honors Award 2002

* Nevada State Award

*New Hampshire State Award

*School Library Journal Best Books 2002

Summary
Narrated by the neighborhood garbage truck, this colorful book with just as colorful and engaging language immediately attracts the interest of children. The garbage truck narrates what he does at night while all the children are sleeping: "Eat your TRASH, that's what. See those bags? I SMELL BREAKFAST!" He uses alliteration and car terms to describe his movements throughout the night while picking up trash, acknowledging the loudness of the trucks: "Did I wake you? Too bad!" In the middle of the book he explains his "alphabet soup", filled with grimy things such as Dirty Diapers, Fishheads, Moldy Meatballs, and Ugly Underpants. On the last two pages he asks, "What's that? You think I STINK? WHOOOOO-WHEE! Do I ever!....But think about it-WITHOUT ME? You're on Mount Trash-o-rama!"

Discussion
This book will leave kids giggling and talking about gross smells. Though obviously fictional, it could open the gate to talking about the necessity of garbage collectors, and it makes the garbage truck less scary, and perhaps more comical. The illustrations paired with the language in this book make it engaging for both adults and children. This was definitely a favorite in my household growing up, and I believe that it will withstand the test of time. Below is a video of a the book being read aloud paired with the wonderful illustrations.

McMullan, J., & McMullan, K. (2002). I Stink!. New York: HarperCollins.

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr
illustrated by Eric Carle

Summary
This book cycles through different colored animals, beginning with a brown bear. The reader asks "Brown bear brown bear what do you see?" and the brown bear fills in "I see a red bird looking at me." Each page of the book has a new animal, sometimes an odd color (blue horse), and the literacy is constructed in a participation friendly way: "______ _______ what do you see? I see a ______ looking at me." Ultimately, the goldfish sees a teacher looking at him, and the teacher sees children. When the children are asked what they see, they go through all of the animals, thus giving children the opportunity to recall all of the animals they saw during the read aloud.

Discussion
This repetitive entertaining book is a favorite in classrooms and among most young children. When I was in preschool I can remember loving to chant this book with my teachers. The foreshadowing on each age about the upcoming animal allows children to "predict" what animal picture is coming next. This book is perfect for a real aloud, and tests children's memory, imagination, and sequencing ability. The illustrations by Eric Carle are inviting for children, and the odd colored animals provide humor for children (purple cat, blue horse). Children are able to see their own participation in the book as the children on the penultimate page. One could springboard off of this book with felt animals for each animal represented in the book, making puppets, or helping children to construct their own book about things they see.

By clicking on the picture above you can listen to a child reading Brown Bear Brown Bear.

Carle, B., & Martin, E. (. (1992). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. New York: Henry Holt & Co.

Cat's Colors

Cat's Colors
by Jane Cabrera

Summary
This book chronicles a cat, named Cat, when he tries to get readers to guess his favorite color. He asks about green first, noting that it is the color of the grass. Next he asks about pink, the petals of his favorite flowers. Black is explained as the color of the night. Each set of pages is dominated by that color, and the cat is present as well as another animal (cow, bee, bat etc). On the red page the cat is sleeping by the fire in a pose most children recognize as a sleeping kitten. Yellow is described as the sand on the beach. As cats usually get their claws stuck on many things, the purple page is used to address purple yarn. Brown is the color of the earth, where the cat dig holes among worms. Blue is the sky, and white are the clouds. The cat says his favorite color is orange because it is the color of his mother.




Discussion
For children, this book is very helpful when working on color recognition. It can also be used when talking about animals. Since Cat turns out to be a kitten, parents can discuss with their children how Cat is just like them, because cats snuggle just like humans snuggle. Parents can also address the different animals present on each page, and ask their children if they know a bee, a cow, a mouse etc. These animals are seen in a naturally comfortable place for them, so the parents are able to acknowledge an animal's natural habitat. This book could be used for read aloud, but would be much better in a family setting. It should be read to younger children to establish acknowledgment of colors and animals. There is no rhyming in the book, but the bright pages are very attractive to the younger eye.



Cabrera, J. (1997). Cat's Colors. New York: Dial.