five fun fiction books for friday

Happy Friday!  Oh, the Cybils books are keeping me busy, but oh so happy!!  Honestly, there are some truly amazing books on this list, and this week's five have been very much enjoyed by both Red and Pudge.  (And me, the reader!)  Check with your local library for these fabulous recent picture books:

1.  Dogs Don't Do Ballet by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie -- Guess who loves this book the most in our house??  (Hint: she'll be wearing her own ballet shoes soon enough, I predict.)  The sketchy pictures are happy, and the idea of a dog just pining away to dance ballet is just plain fun.   Constantly being told "dogs don't do ballet" could certainly get a pup down, but Biff is strong and he perseveres until the delightful opportunity at the end. 

2.  My Father Knows the Names of Things by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Stephane Jorisch -- My hubby looked at this book before I did, and he said he didn't really care for it.  From his explanation, I think he was looking for more of a traditional story arc, which isn't necessarily here.  But personally, I love this book.  I love what the story hints at without being explicit about-- cool words!  The idea is clear in the title, and throughout the book, a child is extolling all the things that her father knows- the names of "every kind of cloud," "seven words that all mean blue," and "a dozen other words for night."  Oh, as a lover of words, I love the opportunity that this book allows for during a read-aloud-- I'm not sure that I could come up with seven words for blue, but I'm going to try!

3.  The Boys by Jeff Newman -- Oh, the joy that wordless picture books can bring.  This one is adorable, and the pictures definitely are worth a thousand words.  The little boy depicted on the cover just wants to play baseball with the neighborhood kids, but he doesn't join them... maybe he's too shy, maybe he's nervous about not being good enough.  Instead, he finds himself sitting on a park bench with four older gentlemen.  Over the next few days, he tries to fit in with these guys, only to find that they might not be exactly as he expected.  The opportunities for storytelling are great with this wordless book, and it's nice to see inter-generational interactions in a story!

4.  The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Marcellus Hall -- Rhymes and repetition make this a fun read-aloud that encourages young listener participation, as Farmer feeds his various animals what they love best, be it hay, chicken feed, or slop.  But what about cow?  Well, she's sneaking her fave here and there, and she gets a treat every day during her special snack time with Farmer.  This one is cute and fun, just what I've come to expect from Karma Wilson, and is well-suited for the preschool set.

5.  Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers -- How exciting can a diary entry written by a goldfish in a bowl really be?  Well, two weeks in the life of this goldfish make for a delightfully funny read!  His trials and tribulations go from loneliness to the opposite extreme when he finds his bowl way too cramped.  Thankfully, that unseen owner must get some sense by the end, because the finale of the book finds happiness all around.  While my preschoolers enjoy this one, I really imagine it going over perfectly in a kindergarten or first grade class.

For more fun picks, check out the list of picture books that have been nominated for the 2010 Cybils Award.


Let me know if any of these are a hit with you and yours,