Wrong Way by Mark Macleod, illustrated by Judith Rossell

A delightfully naughty duckling persists in going his own way. His siblings, Right Way and Your Way, do just what mother duck wants, but Wrong Way insists on marching to his own drummer. Whether his legs are bored with walking or he insists on eating snails when everyone else is going for a swim, he does things his own way. Eventually, his mother and siblings agree that it's not the wrong way - it's just different.

The story is a bit light and a little too heavy-handed in its moral in places, but the real appeal of this picture book is the pictures. The ducklings are adorably fluffy and Rossell has perfectly captured their gawky awkwardness and long legs. Their mother is comfortably fluffy and agreeably indulgent. The soft pastels and delicate details of the ducks and landscape are extremely appealing.

Verdict: A delightfully calming book for toddlers and well worth the extra effort to purchase it - Kane Miller titles can be purchased here as well as through independent bookstores and Barnes and Noble.

ISBN: 9781610670777; Published March 2012 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher; Added to the library's wishlist

Cybils Awards Announced!

The Cybils Awards have been announced! If, like me, you are planning to do a huge display of award-winning books in March (after everything has finally been ordered...maybe April) check out this list!

You can see all my Cybils fun this year here, including my thoughts on the finalists and nonfiction picture book reviews.

Now to start squirreling away nominations for Cybils 2012!

Nonfiction Monday: Recycling

One of our circulation staff brought it to my attention that we had only one very outdated book on recycling. So I requested a selection from other libraries and I'm going to look through them today.

Recycling Step by Step by Jean M. Lundquist

This is an entry in Capstone's Step by Step series. It walks the reader through the basics of recycling and then what happens to four types of recyclables, plastic, metal, glass, and paper. We're shown how each one is sorted, crushed or melted, and reformed into something new. A little girl named Erica is pictured in most of the photographs and the book is loosely framed with her as the first step in recycling. The book includes additional resources

Verdict: Clear, plentiful photographs, and good basic information on the different ways materials are recycled. There's much more text in this volume than in Capstone's Pebble series, but it's still only available in a pricey library bound addition.

ISBN: 9781429660266; Published July 2011 by Capstone; Borrowed from the library

Recycling Earth's Resources by Barbara L. Webb

This book has large type and simple sentences, suitable for a beginning reader. It begins with an explanation of how people use earth's resources and the importance of recycling instead of throwing away so we don't use the resources too fast. The description of how things are recycled is very brief, but does include composting. There's a project to recycle paper and additional bibliographic resources. The glossary definition of resources is "natural things we can use" which bugged me as that's not the correct definition of the word resource, although it fits the context.

Verdict: This would be an acceptable choice if you need recycling books suitable for beginning readers to read on their own. It's available as a paperback, library bound, and bound by my vendor, which is about the cost of a trade hardcover.

ISBN: 9781615902996; Published August 2010 by Rourke; Borrowed from the library; Added to the library's wishlist

Remake it: Recycling projects from the stuff you usually scrap by Tiffany Threadgould

I have a couple recycling craft books, the best of which is Jane Bull's Make It, but I could always use another. There's a huge variety of projects, but I'm a little doubtful about the audience for this. Many of the projects - like making a bank out of an ice cream container or a play desk out of a cardboard box - are best for younger children. However, the directions are text-heavy and the illustrations small and sometimes difficult to follow. There's something for everyone here, but it would be best for teens and adults making things with or for smaller children. And, of course the one drawback with making recycled projects is you have to have the recyclables first!

Verdict: I've used some of Threadgould's projects before and they generally are best for adults or children with extensive adult supervision and help. If you already have a good selection of craft and recycled craft books and need more, this is a good additional purchase. It's only available in paperback, but Sterling's paperback bindings are usually decent.

ISBN: 9781402771941; Published March 2011 by Sterling; Borrowed from the library; Added to the library's wishlist

Green Matters: Making good choices about recycling and reuse by Stephanie Watson

This title would be useful both for students doing a research project and for those wanting to read about the topic. There's a basic introduction to how trash is collected and disposed of, including how landfills work, the importance of recycling, and various recycling programs. It ends with some of the arguments against recycling. Chapter 2 describes what items can be recycled and how they are sorted. Chapter 3 covers the history of recycling, various programs, and how recycling occurs around the world. Chapter 4 gives advice on how kids can be involved in recycling. The book has a glossary, further information, bibliography, and sources.

Verdict: This is a good choice if you're looking for an accessible book for middle grade and older students.

ISBN: 9781435853126; Published August 2009 by Rosen; Borrowed from the library

Hot Topics: Garbage and Recycling by Debra A. Miller


This title is directed towards older students, probably those doing a project or research paper. It's very text-heavy and deals with a variety of issues related to waste management. Issues with sending trash to developing countries, pros and cons of recycling, and more are included, as well as many additional resources.

Verdict: Unless you have a large number of middle school and high school students coming to the library for homework help (I don't) this is a purchase for a school library.

ISBN: 9781420501476; Published October 2009 by Lucent; Borrowed from the library

Can the earth survive? Waste and recycling challenges by Louise Silsbury


This easier book from Rosen talks about the growth of waste, both in the US and globally, as well as e-waste, pollution, sewage, and more. It covers how waste affects people's lives all over the world, ways it is broken down including landfills, and a variety of "sustainable solutions." There are lots of photographs, charts, graphs, and other documentation as well as further resources.

Verdict: This book is probably the best overall coverage of the topic. It includes a wide variety of solutions, pros and cons, and breaks down the complex issues of recycling and waste in a way that kids can understand. The layout does a good job of breaking up the text with lots of charts and other information. It's available in paperback as well as the expensive library bound edition. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781435853553; Published July 2009 by Rosen; Borrowed from the library; Added to the library's wishlist

Helping our planet: Waste and recycling by Sally Morgan


This book tries to make recycling simple for kids, focusing on a "what you can do" approach, but many of the recycling issues, like recycling e-waste and cars, are completely out of kids' control. The large size type makes the layout look confused and crowded.

Verdict: Tries to cover too much and oversimplifies. It's also only available as an expensive library bound edition. Not recommended.

ISBN: 9781842346082; Published January 2011 by Cherrytree; Borrowed from the library

This week at the library; or, what happened to my peaceful February?

This always happens. Every time I think "oh, I can do all those projects in my off time" my to-do list magically expands and fills the time. I was thinking February would be slow. Blizzards! Freezing weather! No big programs (other than running two booths at the Family Resource Fair, Open Storyhour and Sewing Workshop on the no school day, and a couple school visits)! But things keep HAPPENING!!

Monday - crazy busy morning, as always. Staff meeting. Secondary staff meeting with fewer people to talk about summer reading. Third (thirdly?) staff meeting with one person to divvy up prize sources. In our town, this basically means deciding who gets what bank. Realized after I got home that if other staff members didn't immediately "get" the new summer reading program that it needed a LOT more tweaking, or parents and kids really won't "get" it. Thought about it most of the evening. Dreamed about it (better than my dreams of shelving, not as fun as my dream libraries).

Tuesday - Still thinking about summer reading. Sent a lengthy email at 7am of summer reading thoughts. When I got to work (on time despite lengthy emailing) I prepped for tomorrow's storytime and went full steam ahead on the new signage for the massive series project and changes in the children's area. Must remember to do before and after pictures...left early at 3pm for an appointment. Inspired by Kelly, I spent most of the evening finally using my Pintrest account and filling up boards with all the ideas that were clogging up my email (I also made a quick trip downtown for toffee. I earned it!)

Had a BRILLIANT idea about how to organize my storytime extras - songs, rhymes, etc., around midnight. Of course, all my ideas are brilliant, but this one is extra sparkly. More on that later!

Wednesday - 7:00am Just couldn't resist playing with my brilliant idea - my new blog for rhymes, songs, movement, and more Storytime Extras! Just a few things so far but I will add more soon...

So, Wednesday, always the highlight of the week! HUGE group for Preschool Interactive, 47!! Makes me wonder if my other groups were actually this big, I haven't been able to count but I made sure I did it today and it felt as big as my other ones that I've been estimating at 35.

Next group - the primary class from Lakeland School, the special education school. They're coming every month and we're having fun! It's a small group, 6-8 kids and two teachers. Today we...

• read Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby
• read How do you hug a porcupine by Laurie Isop
• read Cupcake: a journey to special by Cherise Mericle Harper
• sang Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell
• made valentine cards with paper, stickers, markers and crayons

it was a little shorter visit because they had a basketball game to go to!

Final program - Lego Club! I did a whole new room set up, you can check out the pictures in the library photos slideshow to the left. We had a big group today. I always tell people that Lego Club is easy, a quick and stress-free program. But...I've been thinking about that and it's not true. Of course, it depends on how you do your club, how many people come, who comes, etc. Today was a typical Lego Club and this is how it went:

• 2:30pm start breaking down last week's creations, recycling paper labels the kids wrote and sorting out the minifigures into their tub (suspiciously, there seem to be fewer every week...)
• lug the giant tub, stacks of books, and misc. stuff including newsletters, sign-up sheets for upcoming programs, donation jar, etc. over to the Community Room. This involves several trips across the library.
• Chris, one of my 7th graders, shows up. I invite him in to help and he agrees. We move tables. We move more tables. My new set up is cool but it involves moving four heavy tables to the other end of the room and taking out and setting up another four heavy tables from the storage closet.
• 3:00pm my aide, Melissa, arrives. She sets up chairs, all of which are at the wrong end of the room. Chris goes back to my office to collect the rest of the Legos. I set up Legos and arrange the display tables. I suddenly remember I forgot the large whiteboard arrow sign and set it up.
• 3:25pm Everything set up! I take pictures so we can remember how the set-up goes next time and Chris does a little building before taking off for the computers and Melissa goes off to shelve.
• 3:35pm Kids arrive...and arrive...and arrive. A steady stream of parents and kids come between 3:30 and 4:30. This week was slightly unusual in that we had an unusually large number of new families - 5 I think? Overall, we had about 45 people. Oldest kids (not counting Chris) were 5th graders, younger kids were a couple preschoolers (not counting babies and toddlers hauled along by older siblings).
• I talk to parents about upcoming programs, their favorite books, concerns about children, and what's going on at school. In between (and sometimes at the same time) as these conversations I help kids find Legos, tell new people how the program works and about our other programs, remind as many people as possible that next week is Messy Art Club, and keep an eye on several kids whose parents leave them at Lego Club while retrieving and redistributing other children (this is done with my permission and the parents - and kids - are really good about it, the kids know the rules and how to behave and are comfortable with the other families in the room. I'm glad to do this for the parents, who are all very nice about the arrangement and always want me to tell them if for some reason it doesn't work anymore. But it is another consideration - I need to keep an eye on these kids while I'm doing everything else) I also smooth down various disagreements and make sure the transition to our new arrangement goes smoothly.
• 4:30pm kids start finishing up their creations. I escort kids over to display their creations (in the children's area at the other end of the library) for various reasons - they've made something so big they can't carry it, this is their first time and they don't know where it goes, and I always go with younger kids if their parent is busy with another sibling so they're not walking over by themselves. Once I've started doing this, the Lego Club group starts shifting over to the children's area. In between ferrying Legos and kids back and forth I do a lot of reader's advisory and help with questions about library services in the children's area. I also collect any families I see in the children's area who often don't realize there's a program going on at the other end of the library (yes, there's a whiteboard in their face when they walk in. People don't read signs.) This time I netted a couple teens who were babysitting and two more families.
• 4:55 Everyone has finished and today everybody did a really good job cleaning up the room - sometimes there are a LOT more Legos to pick up. I clean up the last few bits of Legos, help the last couple families with coats, say goodbye, collect all the Lego tubs, display books, donation jar, etc. etc. This is usually 2-3 trips. Put everything away, reshelve books, and make a new Lego Club sign to let people know when the next meeting will be.
• 5:15pm Done! I finished early b/c everybody did so good a job cleaning up. I didn't put the tables back and we'll see if there's repercussions about that, but there's no way I can lift them by myself and there's no one left to help by that time.

So, it's not "just" a program - it's networking, reader's advisory, reference, etc. etc.

Home and working on my new blog...does anybody know how to record a song? I want to put the tune of a storytime song I use and can't find it anywhere - I don't think I made the tune up, it goes to something else but I can't think what! Anyways, I am ready to sacrifice myself and sing it for posterity, but how do I record this?

Thursday - Was planning to do a whole slew of things and got roped into running errands for everybody instead. Oh well. Decided no time like the present and cleaned out the Storyroom storage closet, which is also the puppet theater. Kids were falling over stuff last time we did Elephant and Piggie. So, today's Elephant and Piggie Kids' Club...at 3:35 a girl showed up. A few minutes later a boy showed up. Two more kids at 3:45. We ended up with only about 15 people total. Alas! I am afraid that not doing it every week is going to severely limit the attendance, but I simply cannot handle a third weekly program. Twice a month is all I can do. Anyways, I kinda mixed it up because of the people drifting in. So, we:

• read Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
• read Pigs make me sneeze by Mo Willems (with the help of my stuffed Gerald and Piggie and the kids who put in the sneezes)
• read Beetle McGrady eats bugs by Megan McDonald
• Sang Anansi by Raffi
• read Anansi and the Magic Stick by Eric Kimmel (the kids all got a tongue depressor to be their "magic stick" and chanted the magic words)
• read One cool friend by Toni Buzzeo
• made spider puppets - the basic idea came from The Best of Dr. Jean and then I tweaked it. We stapled together paper plates with a hole at each end, crunkled and stapled on strips of paper for legs, drew on eyes with markers, and then decorated them with bleeding art tissue paper.
• played with the puppet theater.

Then I did my evening on the desk and it was Daisy night! Which means tons of questions, lots of excitement, and lots of kids!

Friday Got to work around 8:30 and until 5:30 pm, in between putting together an Amazon order, endless questions on and off the desk, and other miscellaneous distractions, almost completed my big shift/reorganization. Pictures will soon be posted to the slideshow on the left. I took down the nonfiction display, shifted the shelves, and moved all the juvenile Spanish (noting that the call numbers are awful and should someday be changed). I took down the new picture books and easy readers and put them on display above their shelves, then shifted all three ranges turning it into the new nonfiction display. I put together new shelving and replaced all the old Spanish shelves, cannibalized more shelves from other spots, and then shifted the juvenile graphic novels onto those shelves. My aide came in around this point and went to work scraping off the old labels. Sadly, we discovered that some came off and some...didn't. She'll work more on this on Monday. I moved all the new juvenile series and beginning chapter books to a separate display area and added a place on it for suggestions. I cut the juvenile chapter book display down to one range of shelves and shifted the shelves. My aide started shifting the juvenile fiction back into the extra spaces. I put the extra shelves left over from Spanish into the places missing shelves (two different types of shelves, which is why all the moving around). I reorganized the displays on top of the picture book, juvenile series, and easy reader shelves, including moving a bunch of the Lego creations. I put up new signage everywhere. We still have to get the rest of the sticky residue off the series shelves, shift the series and easy readers, and finish shifting the juvenile fiction. My feet hurt.

Animal Masquerade by Marianne Dubuc

I earlier reviewed Marianne Dubuc's In Front of My House and loved the unique sequential storyline.

Dubuc has a similar structure in her new story, but it's even more storytime-friendly, if that was possible.

The animals are going to a masquerade, starting with the lion, who, after much thought, decides to as an elephant. Of course that means the elephant will have to go as something else, say...a parrot! Then the parrot needs a disguise, and so on.

Dubuc's pencil crayon drawings are colorful set against stark white backgrounds. The text is oversized, perfect for beginning readers to try out their reading skills.

This title is longer than the average picture book, but it zips by fast, flicking from animal to animal. The natural breaks keep the progression from bogging down or getting too repetitive. There's a hilarious episode several pages long with Little Red Riding Hood and a bear, we learn that flowers don't wear disguises, and there are occasional interjections and humorous asides. The story isn't just animals either, familiar fairy tale characters and a few other surprises pop up along the way.

There are so many ways to use this book in programs and storytimes! Have children guess the coming animal, have them read the names of the animals if you're practicing print awareness, have them draw their own disguised animals, make masks and/or costumes, make your own progressive books, pass out pictures of various animals and have them draw disguises and make up their own stories to go along with the pictures, the list goes on and on!

Verdict: A unique and lovely little book. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781554537822; Published March 2012 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates; Purchased for the library

Captain America: The fighting Avenger by Brian Clevinger, illustrated by Gurihiru

I asked the kids what superheroes they'd like more of in the juvenile graphic novel section and they said Captain America. But it's not easy to find Captain America (or most other superheroes) appropriate for the under 12s, other than buying the expensive library bound ABDO editions, and not even all of those are appropriate for the kids. I have a lot of 6-8 year olds who love superheroes. What to give them?

I saw a preview of Captain America Fighting Avenger...somewhere, I think maybe in another comic, and it looked like one that would be both fun and appropriate so I got a copy to preview from inter-library loan.

Yes! It's great! The picture I uploaded here shows an individual comic, but I got a collection with four stories. The first is Captain America The Fighting Avenger. It's a story of Captain America's first mission as a soldier in World War II. He doesn't even have an official code name yet, he's never been on a mission, and the commandos who get to babysit him aren't happy with a green newbie. But when their mission to destroy a bridge goes wrong fast, Captain America learns fast and his companions decide they're glad he's along after all.

There was plenty of action and adventure, lots of little comic insider notes, like the creation of the Red Skull and Captain America throwing his shield for the first time, and plenty of yelling, fighting, explosions, etc. but no gore, bad language, or angst. Perfect! The art looks like an animated cartoon and the text is nicely clear and readable with lots of comic-style action words.

The other stories included are from Marvel Adventures. Marvel Adventures Super Heroes Captain America issue 5 has a tougher, more muscled Captain America going on a mission to rescue...a baby rhino. Instead, he finds himself stuck in a town of Hydra agents with an unreliable ally. This isn't completely stand-alone, as it helps to know a little about Hydra, but it's easy to pick up that they're the bad guys.

Marvel Adventures Avengers issue 3 features several Avengers cracking jokes at an awards ceremony for Cap...with an unexpected guest, the original Baron Zemo! Or is he? Working together, the team rescues Cap and defeats the Baron, who turns out to be the son of Cap's old enemy. The art here is typical of most of the Marvel Adventures, depending heavily on recognizable costumes and without much fine detail and packing lots of explosions and jokes - just the thing kids (and myself) like.

The final story, Marvel Adventures Avengers 37 has a more old-school feel to the art, as is appropriate for a story featuring old superhero companions of Cap, time travel, and the Puppet Master. It's a little difficult to follow if you don't know all the characters and the events are more than a little unbelievable, but there's plenty of jokes, mostly from Wolverine, so who could complain?

Verdict: While I'd prefer a complete collection with issues in order, that's not how Marvel does things. I don't know if there will be more issues of Captain America Fighting Avenger. Meanwhile, this is a fun and age-appropriate collection. Only available in paperback, so it won't last forever, but by the time it falls apart Captain America probably won't be popular anymore so it's worth the money.

ISBN: 0785151982; Published June 2011 by Marvel; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

Nonfiction Monday: Iceberg, right ahead! The Tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie McPherson

Some say there's no way you need another book on the Titanic. Some say you can never have too many Titanic books.

Some of us don't care. That would be me. Titanic fever totally passed me by (yes, I thought the 1997 movie was dumb. No, I didn't not have a lot of friends as a teenager)

However! I would have to agree with the you can never have too many Titanic books crowd. At least once a month I get earnest seekers after shipwreck books, specifically the Titanic. Inevitably, the fever gets them all at once (or else it's a class project nobody has ever informed me of) and everything vanishes for weeks.

So, with the anniversary coming up and all, I thought I'd look into some additional titles to our shipwreck section. Now, not being a Titanic person, as I said, I can't speak to whether or not this book brings anything new or just retreads old ground, but it seemed to me an excellent overview of the disaster and aftermath.

It starts with a dramatic introduction to the disaster, even I, non-expert that I am, know that this is required of all Titanic books. However, it then spins out into the history of Titanic - and of the shipping line that built it, details of the disaster, and the effects on history and individual passengers. Along the way, sections are included on the famous staircase, the use of the new SOS call, survival statistics, and more. Photographs and artwork from all periods of history are also included. The story ends in the final chapters with accounts of the enduring effects of the disaster, including the films and books it inspired and the various attempts to recover the ship and the controversies surrounding the salvage.

The book ends with a timeline, glossary of nautical terms, history of ships associated with the Titanic, source notes, bibliography, further information, and index. My only quibbles on this title were the two typos that popped up and whapped me in the eye, "sever" for "seven" on page 26 and a second one closer to the end of the book, which I couldn't find again, but which I remember thinking would have been caught by the most basic spell checker. Severance or something like that.

Verdict: Despite the typos, this is an excellently researched book and seems like a good, general coverage of the Titanic disaster with a few new nuggets of information. You'll need this on your library shelf for the increased interest due to the anniversary of the disaster.

ISBN: 9780761367567; Published November 2011 by Twenty-First Century Books; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

This week at the library; or, I have a cold

Monday I have a cold. *Insert rant about tax forms here*

Tuesday I still have a cold. I also had a youth services committee meeting in the morning, errands to buy supplies, and an evening workshop on child abuse.

Wednesday The cold continues. Resisted the urge to go back to bed with my antihistamines and decongestants this morning and sniffled my way to work, where I croaked my way through Preschool Interactive (trying not to breathe on any of the kids), moved furniture, had a meeting about summer reading, and did Messy Art Club for a smaller group than usual, about 25 - beading, which seemed nice and mess-free and the kids were very enthusiastic, although there was some initial disappointment from some of my new friends who came to Elephant and Piggie and had thought Messy Art was going to be painting, so had changed into their old clothes. Sorry guys, we'll do decoupage next time. *cough*

Thursday Cancelled my dentist appointment so I could sleep in on my morning off. It is faintly possible that I will not die after all. Took all the publicity to 7 schools and visited Step Ahead Preschool, where I have a remote collection set up. Did as much planning as the cold medicines would allow, worked the evening, and then back to my beautiful bed at 8:30.

Friday Usually when I'm working a half day it's either 10-1 or 2-6, but today I was scheduled on the desk from 12-3. Which let me sleep in a little. Happy happy! New books from Kids Can Press - and a publisher has finally heeded my plea and provided middle grade chapter books that are NOT 400 pages long! They are an absolutely adorable small square size. Yay!

Saturday Almost all better (or as better as I ever get with chronic allergies) last bit of feeling sorry for myself, I promise. After I worked 10-2, I drove out to Milwaukee as I needed some program supplies. But I went out to dinner with Sara the Librarian too. Where we discussed my series project. We really should clock in for these meetings... (Yes, I know I haven't actually had Saturday yet, but what could go wrong?) (It turned out to be a very mathematical day...had an elderly gentleman asking me to explain Roman numerals...and then another guy wanting books on theoretical physics)

Wild Boars Cook by Meg Rosoff, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The best picture books are about food and naughty animals. They just are. And if you can add a large mollusk, it's even better.

This book has it all. Food? Massive pudding! Naughty animals? Horrible wild boars. Large mollusk? That is one big squid.

Boris, Morris, Horace, and Doris, despite their clothes and apparently having a house, are undeniably wild boars. They have long skinny snouts, spindly legs, plump bodies, and wicked little eyes. Boris, Morris, Horace and Doris are nasty and stinky and rude. They are absolutely wild boars.

And they're hungry! After discovering (and partially devouring) a cookbook, they set out to bake a massive pudding, complete with chocolates, doughnuts, butter, puddles, and a squid (but no broccoli). Their creation is gorgeous, although the squid looks rather startled, and it's gone in seconds flat, because wild boars have no table manners. But don't worry, Doris still has the cookbook...

To get the full flavor of this book, heh, heh, heh, you have to read it with tons of expression. If you can wave your hands around a little bit too, that helps. Plus a little Southern accent on the "wiiiiiild boars!" and lots of yelling and excitement over the ingredients.

Verdict: Rosoff and Blackall have another Wild Boars title, Meet Wild Boars, but Wild Boars Cook is the one you really need, plus an extra copy for your storytime collection, to be pulled out in emergencies.

ISBN: 9780805072536; Published September 2008; Reviewed from my personal collection; Purchased for the library; Purchased for my personal collection

Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingram

I have a cold so I am pulling out some of my favorite storytime books as significant portions of my brain are no longer functioning.

I am not, in general, a fan of Ahlberg's work. Put away the pitchforks, please! We are all entitled to our own opinion! It just never grabbed me and I've felt generally unenthusiastic about the various illustrators he's teamed up with.

But when I discovered this book on our library shelves several years ago, I fell in love with it. It's now one of my favorite stories, although it doesn't always work well in storytime.

Banjo, a little boy, sits down to eat his dinner. But the dinner, a nice sausage, has other ideas and runs away. Soon there's a gingerbread-boy-parade of food, furniture, cutlery, and people running through the city. One by one things drop out of the race; the carrots escape, the peas are eaten, the chair gets sat on, the plate becomes a frisbee, until finally Banjo catches the sausage and...well, you'll have to read the story to find out Melvin's fate.

Ingram's illustrations depend on broad swatches of color, against which the food and utensils trot briskly on spindly legs. Background people and details are sketched in outline, focusing the story on the various animated objects as they have their adventures.

The real draw for this story is Ahlberg's text. He perfectly creates a flowing rhythm that draws the listener and reader through the story. Repetition and exclamation blend smoothly together creating a sing-song poetry of the quirky story. "Well, he was a little boy, this boy, lived in a house, slept in a bed, wore all the usual sorts of clothes, socks and scarves and such."

This story is a little long for the average storytime, but it has that special quality that catches children's interest and holds it throughout a longer tale. I've found it works best if you read it quickly in a good storytelling voice. Expression depends on the audience; younger kids need guidance to catch the jokes, while you can read it completely deadpan to older, say 4s and 5s, and get howls of laughter.

Verdict: This is one of my personal and storytime favorites and if your library doesn't own it I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 076361426; Published August 2006 by Candlewick; Reviewed from my personal copy; Purchased for the library; Purchased for my personal library