Showing posts with label G. Brian Karas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G. Brian Karas. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2015

PPBF: Tap Tap Boom Boom

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

TAP TAP BOOM BOOM,
by Elizabeth Bluemle
and G. Brain Karas

Tap Tap Boom Boom
Written by Elizabeth Bluemle
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Candlewick, 2014
Preschool-2nd grade, 263 words

Themes:
Poetry, city life, humanity

Opening:
Tap TAP, dark clouds.
Tap TAP, damp air.
Tap TAP, cold drops
of raindot hair.

Street carts appear: "Umbrellas here!"
Tap TAP Tap TAP BOOM BOOM
Tap TAP Tap TAP BOOM BOOM Crackle-Boom


Synopsis:
A rainstorm pelts the people of the city. They congregate in the subway tunnel for shelter. Based on a real event, the author records her observations and sensations in poetic style, showing that people of every race, creed, and walk of life can come together in a time of crisis.


What I Love:
I love how the author turns an ordinary rainstorm into a rhythmic picture book. The message she shares about the kindness she witnessed, a woman giving away her umbrella to a stranger, a man buying pizza for the crowd, people singing together to pass the time and calm the fears. These observations make this a book to treasure.
I wish I could share every line of this outstanding picture book poem! I can't believe I haven't heard of it before. The rhymes are so much fun, like

Feet wetter? / You'd better / go down / underground . . .

This is one of those books to read aloud over and over. My kids would've memorized and recited it in the car or during a thunderstorm.
The design of the book, the use of display fonts, and the collage-y illustrations make the reader want to notice all the details just like the author did during the real event.


Milk carton city craft
Courtesy Maria Victrix
Bonus:
1. Read more poetry during National Poetry Month!
2. Write your own poetic impressions of a storm, rain, snow, or hail. Here are some photos to inspire you further, via Tewee on Pinterest.
3. Make a cardboard city or other crafts, gathered by Laine Van.
4. Bake and decorate simple umbrella cookies from Land O Lakes. And don't forget to share them with friends, neighbors, maybe even strangers, like the characters in the book.
5. Check out these and more Perfect Picture Books at your local library.



Reviewed by Wendy
Reviewed by Joanna


Reviewed by Rhythm
Reviewed by Joanne


Reviewed by Susanna
Reviewed by Vivian


Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!






Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for April 3, 2015 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

Friday, November 7, 2014

PPBF: Clever Jack Takes the Cake

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

Clever Jack Takes the Cake,
by Candace Fleming and G. Brian Karas

Clever Jack Takes the Cake
Written by Candace Fleming
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Schwartz & Wade, 2010
Grades 1-3, Reading Level AD600L
40 pp, 1384 words



Themes:
Friendship, Folk Tale, Birthday





Opening:
One summer morning long ago, a poor boy named Jack found an invitation slipped beneath his cottage door. It read:

His Majesty the King 
cordially invites 
all the children of the Realm
 to 
the Princess's Tenth Birthday 
Party
tomorrow afternoon
in the Castle Courtyard


Synopsis:
Lowly Jack is invited to the princess's birthday, but he has no present to bring. Selling his few possessions, resourceful Jack gathers the ingredients he needs to make the perfect birthday cake. On his way to the castle, poor Jack and his cake are menaced by an assortment of characters, from four-and-twenty blackbirds to a greedy troll. Disappointed Jack must eventually face the princess empty-handed. It will take all his cleverness to keep the party from being a total loss.

What I Love:
What can Candy write that we will not adore? Not much. Here is a new tale, traditionally told, which satisfies the ache for fairy tales in a refreshing way. The author twists in the familiar in this subtractive tale (the opposite of cumulative?), but she ends up with a story which is anything but ordinary: A story about resourcefulness and the charming ability children have to bear up under adversity and to build friendship in unlikely ways.

Brian proves he is a superlative illustrator with his deceptively simple art. He transports us to a time and place with the sparest of details. He captures the characters emotions with a flick of the pen. From Jack to the dancing bear, I just want to hug them all! Adorable, without being cutesy!

Bonus:
1. I hope you don't have to sell your possessions to cook up Paula Deen's Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake.
2. TeachingBooks lists some lesson plan ideas for this book on their site.
3. The sound quality on this you tube clip is poor, but this young man's performance of Clever Jack is almost as much fun as reading the book!
4. Jules interviews Candace about Clever Jack right after its initial publication, and an gives an overview of Brian's career on 7 Imp.
5. I recently learned about the Appalachian Jack Tales heritage from E Dulemba. Learn more about Jack in traditional folklore or read the Dance Among Thorns, the original Jack tale. Candy's book has a more European flavor, but it definitely carries on the Jack Tale tradition.
6. Color a traditional Jack and the Beanstalk coloring page from Super Coloring Pages.
7. Here's an  eclectic mix of Perfect Picture Books which would be fun to read together. Find them at your local library.

A resourceful heroine
Reviewed by Jennifer

Elizabeth O. Dulemba's
bilingual Jack Tale
Reviewed by Julie

Crazy folktale adaptations
Reviewed by Clarike


Another birthday story
Reviewed by Beth





A journey book
Reviewed by Miss Marple







Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for November 7, 2014, available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.