A couple Salina Yoon children's books: Opposnakes and Penguin on Vacation

Title: Opposnakes: A Lift-the-Flap Book About Opposites

Author: Salina Yoon

Publisher: Little Simon

ISBN: 9781416978756

Obtained: Library ILL book

Why this book?:

I like Salina Yoon's work, and I was curious about this one.

Comments:

This is a cute book.  There's a straightforward opposites aspect.  But there's an underlying humor as well for the observant (kid or adult).  i.e. The "Straight Snake" is straight of course.  But he's also a sheriff and "straight-shooter" while the "Tangled Snake" is a burglar tangled up in his prison stripes.  And there are others humorous touches.  The "Quiet Snake" that is reading all about music.  The "Slow Snake" that even a snail is outpacing - with a lead.  Just a quick, cute picture book.

Title: Penguin on Vacation

Author: Salina Yoon

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780802733962

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I read and enjoyed the first Penguin book, Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story

Comments: 

Penguin does the same activities all the time.  So he decides he's going to go somewhere warm.  He finds out that he can't do all those same activities on the sand (though you can sandboard which is similar to sledding - one of the things penguin finds he cannot do on the sand - I've done it).  Anyway he makes a new friend (Yea for new friends!) learns what he is able to do while on vacation in a tropical location, and experiences new things.  I though Penguin and Pinecone was better, but this one was still cute.

Christmas / Winter books read in 2012

Title: Merry Christmas, Splat

Author: Rob Scotton

Publisher: Harper

Series: Splat the Cat, Bk 3

ISBN: 9780060831608

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I've seen plenty of Splat books, but I haven't really read them until this one.  I found myself charmed.  Splat is so eager to get a very big present from Santa that he makes extra attempts to be good and helpful.  He makes a mess of it, but he's just so excited.  So excited, in fact, that he stays up listening for Santa.  But he doesn't hear anything.  Wasn't he good enough?  I'll definitely be trying more of the Splat books in the future...and there are quite a few to choose from.

Title: The Dog Who Saved Santa

Author: True Kelley

Publisher: Holiday House

ISBN: 9780823421206

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

Santa is lazy.  He's also beardless (I point this point out because my niece asked about it the moment she saw the first picture).  Everyone else has to pick up the slack, especially his dog Rodney.  But that Christmas goes horribly, with lots of complaints (I would have complained too).  So Rodney decides since Santa obviously isn't going to take action, he will.  This is a cute story.  It's definitely a different perspective of Santa, though...

Title: Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story

Author: Salina Yoon

Publisher: Walker & Company

Series: Penguin, Bk 1 (I think)

ISBN: 9780802728449

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I really enjoyed this book.  It's such a sweet story.  The illustrations are simple and yet adorable.  And even though Penguin and Pinecone must part, I love the ending.  It looks like two new Penguin books are due out this 2013, Penguin on Vacation and Penguin on Holiday; I look forward to reading them.  Salina also has a book titled Penguin's Snowy Day that came out in 2009.  I'm not sure if it's the same Penguin or not (he's illustrated differently), but if so, this is book 2.

Kids Books: Stawberry Shortcake, Christmas, Trucks, and Animals

Title: Best Friends Forever 
Author: Samantha Brooke; Illus. by Marci Beighley, MJ Illustrations, Laura Thomas, Lisa Workman, and Terry Workman
Publisher: Grosset&Dunlap
Series: Strawberry Shortcake
ISBN: 9780448462691
Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I didn't choose this; either one of the kiddos or my sister did.  But I ended up reading it to my niece, so here it is.  I read that Blueberry Muffin loves to read and opened a bookstore and promptly announced that she is my favorite (who wouldn't?).  My sister was quick to inform me that she is horrible on the show.  =(   Anyway, you meet the friends, they hang out together, and that's about it as far as the story goes.

Title: Fa La La
Author: Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763632472
Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

This is a book my sister checked out because I bought another by this author for my oldest nephew when he was younger, No No Yes Yes, that is an awesome book (despite just being the words No No and Yes Yes over and over).  It not a bad book, covering various Christmastime activities such as caroling, visiting Santa, making presents.   But it doesn't compare to No No Yes Yes.  Just sayin'.

Title: Red Truck
Author: Kersten Hamilton; Illus. Valeria Petrone
Publisher: Viking
ISBN: 9780670014675
Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I chose this with my youngest nephew (1 almost 2 yo) in mind as he currently loves vehicles of all kinds.  It's a cute story in which Red Truck (a tow truck) is a hero.  It gets through the poor weather and road conditions and saves the day.  If you're looking for a cute, quick, warm-feeling book during the cooler months, this fits the bill.

Title: Do Crocs Kiss?
Author: Salina Yoon
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Series: Lift-the-Flap Book
ISBN: 9781402789557
Obtained: Library copy

Does this animal do this?
Does this animal do that?
All I know is this animal goes...
(lift animal's mouth flap)
Some word that rhymes and fits this animal.

I thought this was cute.  I read it to my niece and my younger nephew with good response.  My nephew especially loved the monkey.  And my niece tried "reading" it to herself afterwards (she can't actually read yet, but she memorizes bits of books, especially if the part is predictable).  Any book that inspires attempts to read is a positive in my book.