five fun fiction books for friday

Guess what?  Have you heard?  I'm swimming in picture books over here, thanks to my fabulous, fantastic, fun fun fun gig as a round one panelist for the Cybils Awards in the fiction picture book category!  Woo-hoo!  With 263 nominated titles in this category, the kids and I have been in reading heaven, finding lots of new books that we love.  I'd like to highlight a handful of books each week, because there are some seriously cool books here!

1.  Gracias Thanks by Pat Mora, illustrated by John Parra -- Each two-page spread depicts a unique and fun thing for which a young boy is thankful, with the text on one page in Spanish and the other in English- things like the sun waking him in the morning "so I don't sleep for years and years and grow a long, white beard."  The ultra-colorful illustrations evoke happy feelings, and this mama enjoys trying out her Spanish pronunciation skills that haven't been used since college, while the kids have liked trying out the new words.  At its heart, this is a book that emphasizes the need to be grateful for the little things in our lives. 

2.  Goal! by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by A.G. Ford -- A picture book for the older end of the spectrum, Goal tells the story of a group of boys in South Africa for whom the game of soccer (known as "football" in the vast majority of the world) is a wonderful escape from the harsh realities of daily life.  Although the streets aren't always safe, the boys need to play, especially since Ajani now owns a real, federation-sized football as opposed to the plastic ones they're accustomed to using.  Even a close-call with a gang of bullies can't stop their spirit and the joy that they experience from the game of soccer.

3.  Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman and Jacky Davis -- A good friend of mine told me about Ladybug Girl and how much her kids love her.  Now I know why- she's adorable!  Her first trip to the beach excites her, but she is a bit overwhelmed by the sheer size, sound and strength of the ocean.  Instead of going in right away, she finds other ways to entertain herself.  Soon enough though, Ladybug Girl's rescue services are needed when her pail gets in the water, and she finds that being in the shallow parts of the water is actually quite fun!

4.  Kindergarten Diary by Antoinette Portis -- Going off to school for the first time is a universal experience for kids, and for some it may be filled with an even mixture of excitement and anxiety.  This book of "diary" entries for the first month of a little girl's kindergarten year is filled with spot-on worries and joys.  As Red will be going to school for the first time next fall, I have a feeling that this book will be read again and again in the coming months as we get closer to that big first in her life!

5.  Please Take Me for a Walk by Susan Gal -- Look at those eyes!  Wouldn't you want to take the leash from his slobbery doggy mouth and go out for a walk with this adorable guy?  This simple story features the pleas from this cutie for a trip outdoors so he can chase the squirrels, see the neighborhood sights and hang out with his other canine pals.  This book is perfect for young dog owners, and yet still quite appealing for kids like my own who have never known the joys of pet ownership.


Seriously, these are just five fabulous books from a HUGE list of interesting, captivating and FUN picture books that have been nominated for the 2010 Cybils Award. 


Happy reading,