Synopses & Reviews
When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldnt she? Jeanne Birdsalls utterly charming picture book debut takes flight in Matt Phelans twisting, twirling watercolors, brimming with wit and whimsy. The imaginative story is told in a classic style and with a clever humor that shows sibling relationships in a funny, realistic, and unsentimental way.
Review
"The story's sense and wit are most fully expressed in the text, but the character's actions and emotions are most memorably portrayed in the artwork... A fine picture book with a fierce, bold, and (deep down) compassionate heroine."and#8212;Booklist
"Emotionally true from cover to cover."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
"Birdsall's crisp and delightful first picture book....believable characters, a tightly constructed story line, and a nod to past children's literature."and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere."and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"Princess power saves the day in a humorous antidote to pretty in pink."
and#8212;Kirkus
"A good choice for a 'be-true-to-yourself'-themed storytime or for anyone looking for a fun read."
and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
and#147;Mabel blows a bubble that envelops her baby brother, gently wafting him all over the village, causing shock and excitement among the population. Chrysta and Greville Gribble, Tybal and his mother Sybil, the crabby Copples, feeble Mrs. Treeble and Canon Dapple come up with an improbable plan to catch the bubbled baby. Meanwhile, mischievous rebel Abel bursts the bubble with his slingshot and the villagers gallantly come to the rescue by catching him in a quilt. The action moves with breathless frenzy. Mahy is a master at creating verse that is as light and airy as the babyand#8217;s bubble. Filled with lovely Briticisms, alliterative nonsense words, double, triple and internal rhymes, itand#8217;s meant to be read aloudand#151;and#145;Again!and#8217;and#151;and will lead both breathless readers and listeners to delighted giggles. The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbarand#8217;s joyous watercolor-andand#150;cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift.and#8221;and#151;Kirkus Reviews, STARRED reviewand#147;Bubble, bubble, tongue-twisting trouble! When Mabel blows a bubble, it causes a bit of troubleand#151;in the inimitable Mahy way. The rhythm and rhyme of her newest exuberant offering has echoes of the and#145;bibble-bubble-babbleand#8217; of her older 17 Kings and 42 Elephants (rev. 9/87) with added tongue-stumbling internal rhymes to keep even the most accomplished storyteller on her toes. Little Mabeland#8217;s bubble surrounds Baby and takes him on an adventure of amazing heights. The whole town is alarmed as the bobbling bubble floats farther astray, but happy Baby is comfortably enthralled with his birdand#8217;s-eye view of the commotion. Dunbarand#8217;s cut-paper and watercolor full-page illustrations are entirely faithful to the lively tale. Every little detail of this raucous story is depicted in the dramatic spreadsand#151;a good thing, as the words are a pleasant stretch for lap listeners. Who wouldnand#8217;t love the sound of nefarious, cavorting, grapple, and the like tripping off the readerand#8217;s tongue? The suspense builds in both words and pictures, and little onesand#8217; eyes will be as round as the bubble. Read this aloud and expect a lot of giggles and calls for a repeat performance. It will take a few readings to get through without stumbling, but that only adds to the fun.and#8221;and#151;Horn Book, STARRED reviewand#160;and#147;A truckload of trouble and mountains of mayhem ensue when young Mabel blows a bubble that enfolds her baby brother and carries him aloft. He is pursued by his frantic mother and sister,and#145;crumpled Mr. Copple and his wife,and#8217; and#145;feeble Mrs. Threeble,and#8217; and#145;Greville Gribble,and#8217; the chapel choir, and other townsfolk. The text floats in waves along with the bouncing baby across the energetic watercolor and cut-paper spreads. Dressed in stripes and plaids, nightshirts and jogging suits, the crowd sprints along through backyards and gardens, gesticulating wildly as the smiling infant floats by. Eventually, the rescuers form a human ladder to reach him. But Abel, and#145;a rascal and a rebel,and#8217; performs a dastardly deed with his slingshot and the people watch in horror as the baby plummets through the air. It takes three page turns for readers to reach the delightful resolution of this perilous predicament. There is no mistaking the babyand#8217;s happy landing as his smiling face and waving arms and feet fill the spread. This tale, with its over-the-top silliness, is a storyhour gem. And with some practice, the rhyme, alliterative phrases, and names will fall trippingly off the tongue. Fabulous fun!and#8221;and#151;School Library Journal, STARRED reviewand#160;and#147;Mahy is clearly in love with language here, as she offers a text that flounces and bounces like the baby in the bubble. . . . Children will find their ears perking up at the tongue-twisting text, and they may become word lovers, too, after listening to this.and#8221;and#151;Booklist and#160;and#147;An ebullient cocktail of sweetness and absurdity. . . . Readers-aloud will have as much fun as listeners with this frothy confection, so get ready to let that baby bounce.and#8221;and#151;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"The winning duo Lester and Munsinger have done it again. The snappy text is laugh-aloud funny and incorporates a message that the intended audience often needs to hear."--Booklist, starred review "Team Lester/Munsinger are a success because they are simple, direct and elementally charming."--Kirkus "Lester's prose is dashed with humor throughout, as is Munsinger's characteristically emotive artwork."--Publishers Weekly "The message is forthright, but the delivery, as always, is subtle and nuanced, and loads of fun."--School Library Journal "This playful approach to important lessons in sharing and listening is a sure winner for classrooms and families alike."--Bulletin
Synopsis
Heartwarming picture bookand#160;charmingly depicts the topsy-turvy feelings a big sisterand#160;has for herand#160;toddlerand#160; brother.and#160;An emotionally true tale by award-winning author Jeanne Birdsall, with whimsical illustrations byand#160;celebrated artist Matt Phelan. and#160; and#160; and#160;
Synopsis
"This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere." --School Library Journal When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldn't she?
Synopsis
"This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere."and#160;--School Library Journal and#160; Whenand#160;Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, sheand#160;gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldnand#8217;t she?and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
On a wagon trail west with Mama and Papa,and#160;a youngand#160;girl faces down fears ofand#160;stormy weather and moving to a new place thanks to the wisdom, love, and grit instilled byand#160;herand#160;beloved grandmother back home.and#160;
Synopsis
Hallie isn't afraid of anythingand#8212;that is, anything but storms, which she braves along with her grandmother, huddled beneath a special quilt. When her familyand#160;joins a wagon train headed west, leaving her grandmotherand#8212;and everything Hallie has ever knownand#8212;behind, Hallie knows she will have to be braver than she's ever been before. But can she summonand#160;the courage to helpand#160;a young buffaloand#160;stuck on a rocky ridge duringand#160;a wild storm?and#160;The Newbery medalistand#160;Katherine Applegate has pairedand#160;lyrical textand#160;with gorgeous watercolors throughout.and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
Princess Viola aims to trade her feisty moves for frilly princess skills in this picture book that zip-zup-zooms!
Synopsis
andquot;Princess power saves the day in a humorous antidote to pretty in pink.andquot; andmdash;
Kirkus Reviews Princess Viola is great at skateboarding and karate-chopping, but sheandrsquo;s lousy at the royal wave, walk, and waltz. The king and queen are not pleased. Whatandrsquo;s a princess to do? Attend the skill-polishing Camp Princess, of course. In the end, itandrsquo;s a good thing Viola is made of tougher stuff. Who else will save the day when the green dragon comes along?
Synopsis
Another hilarious rhyming romp from the team who brought us the popular DOWN THE BACK OF THE CHAIR.
When little Mabeland#8217;s bubble gets away from her, itand#8217;s her baby brother who gets into trouble. Soon heand#8217;s floating out of the house, above the fence, and all over town! And itand#8217;s up to Mabel, Mother, and the rest of the townspeople to get him safely back down. Who knew that so much trouble could come from one little bubble?
Synopsis
In this hilarious picture book, best-selling author/illustratorand#160;team Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger (Tacky the Penguin)and#160;teach Greedy Gruntly that sharing just might have its own rewards!
About the Author
Margaret Mahy lived in New Zealand and was internationally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding childrenand#8217;s writers of her day. She was the author of more than two hundred books for children of all ages, two of which receivedandnbsp;England's Carnegie Medal and others of which have garnered numerous citations from the American Library Association. She was also the recipient of an Order of New Zealand, the highest honor a citizen can receive. In 2006 she receivd the Hans Christian Andersen award for her contributions to international children's literature. Polly Dunbar is the author and illustrator of Penguin, Dogandnbsp;Blue, and Flyaway Katie (all published by Candlewick). She is also the illustrator of Margaret Mahy's Down the Back of the Chair.andnbsp;She studied illustration at Brightandnbsp;Art School and now lives and works in Brighton, England.andnbsp;