friday's five, back where we started

While I've been reviewing books over at 5 Minutes for Books since late 2008, I didn't come up with the idea to highlight five picture books over here until November 2010, and it started as "five fun fiction books for Friday". I haven't been able to get to the library to scope out the new picture book selection in a couple weeks, so I thought I'd go for a throwback kind of post today instead. Let's take a look back at the five books I first chose to share together on that 2010 Friday, shall we? I'm sharing my original blurb about them, along with an updated thought or two.

1. Gracias / Thanks written by Pat Mora and 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.
(This is still one of my favorites, and I do adore these illustrations, so full of life and energy. This is a lovely book to share with young children to explore the idea of gratitude!)

2. Goal! written by Mina Javaherbin and 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.
(While I've never personally experienced joy from sports, this book clearly shows that many children do, and regardless of culture or circumstances, this joy is celebrated in this awesome picture book.)

3. Ladybug Girl at the Beach written and illustrated 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!
(Nine years ago when I first wrote this blurb, our two younger kids were four and two years old, and this book was just perfect for them. Grab this before a family trip to the beach!)

4. Kindergarten Diary written and illustrated 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!
(I have to admit that I don't really remember this book, and it's not one that is in my collection, so I can't go take a quick peek. I do know that I love using books to help kids with real-life experiences, so I imagine that if I liked this nine years ago, I'd still love it for kids about to make the transition to kindergarten!)

5. Please Take Me for a Walk written and illustrated 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.
(Well, a few years after this review first ran, my kids did come to know the joys of pet ownership, and now, a few more years later, there are times I have to beg some of them to please take the dogs for a walk! Perhaps we should all read this one again to remind ourselves just how much the doggies get out of these walks, huh?)


Happy (throwback!) reading!