fresh books

Our latest library haul includes several books published in 2009.  We're still working through the sack, but here are some of our favorites so far:

Otis by Loren Long.  A "vintage" tractor gives long and faithful service on a farm, only to be replaced by a bigger, yellow tractor.  The little tractor had served as security blanket for an orphan calf, which takes comfort in the soft purring noise the tractor makes when it sleeps in the barn next stall over from the calf.  The yellow tractor scares the calf.  When the little calf goes missing, Otis the vintage tractor purrs to the rescue.  The illustrations are captivating, and my lads have asked for repeated readings of this book -- as in, we get to the end and they say "let's read it again!"  That's what I call "a ringing endorsement."

I am a space program junkie -- at least, early space program.   I plowed through Apollo 13 (and have the movie memorized), read The Right Stuff (but found the movie a little less captivating than Apollo 13), and speed-read James Michener's Space for a book report in senior year English (though I wouldn't recommend that).  Imagine, then, my delight at Moonshot by Brian Floca, which chronicles the Apollo 11 space mission -- the one in which they actually land on the moon.  Densely (but wonderfully) illustrated and scripted, this one handily holds my four-and-a-half year old's attention.  Floca is also author/illustrator of Five Trucks, which my lads liked very much, among others.

Martin Waddell's The Super Hungry Dinosaur is a silly little story.  We are in the throes of dinosaur mania here, to the point where I of all people can distinguish among a triceratops, a brontosaurus, and a stegosaurus.  (This is another area of skill-building I never foresaw -- one that parallels the vast knowledge and quick recall I have of various breeds of dually trucks and other big rigs).  Anyhow:  A Tyrannosaurus Rex threatens to devour young Billy's dog, mother, and father, but quick-witted Billy and his willing four-legged sidekick forestall the dinosaur's intended destruction by some quick work with a garden hose.  Not to be a spoiler here, but no children, parents, dogs, or dinosaurs are harmed in the devouring of this book.  It's a fun one.  Leonie Lord's illustrations bring it all to life.  I daresay my lads envision themselves fending off dinosaurs in the backyard with a garden hose and that dog they keep asking for. 

Harry and Horsie by Katie Van Camp is another fun, whimsical story.  Horsie is Harry's ever-present sidekick and cohort.  When they break out the Super Duper Bubble Blooper one night, Horsie is caught up in a bubble and swept out the window!  Harry rushes to the rescue, blasting off into space after his raggedy friend.  Lincoln Agnew's comic book-like illustrations really serve the story well, giving it a vintage vibe with a modern day twist.

And one that's been out for about five years now but fresh in my mind is Halibut Jackson by David Lucas.  Halibut is a shy but crafty lad (as in, skilled with needle and thread), so he fashions outfits for himself that allow him to blend into the background of whatever environment he's in.  Finding him among the various settings is part of the fun -- he goes to the library, the market, and the park.  When he's invited to a party at the palace, he decides to craft for himself a suit evoking the palace itself.  He doesn't know, though, that the party is going to be out on the palace grounds, so he is anything but inconspicuous come party time.   These illustrations are so intriguing to me.  I could sit and stare at each page for untold lengths of time (hypothetically-speaking, of course).