 Paul the goldfish swims in circles every day until Bernadette literally drops into his fish bowl. She shows Paul a whole new world beyond the curved glass of his bowl. A banana-shaped boat. A blue teapot mother elephant. A green alarm clock cactus. And a milk carton, orange juice bottle Milwaukee skyline. As Paul examines the intriguing world outside, he becomes equally captured by his new companion. Vibrant oil paintings bring this story about love, friendship, and an active imagination to life. mjw |
| Title: Paul Meets Bernadette Author: Rosy Lamb Illustrator: Rosy Lamb Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0763661304 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book Author’s residence: France Subjects: Europe, Fishes, France, Friendship, Western Europe |
Paul Meets Bernadette
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When Noah discovers a mammoth in the refrigerator, his horrified mother quickly calls the fire department. The sly mammoth evades escape, runs through the streets, and finds safe haven in a tree. Much to the firefighters’ dismay, the ice age mammal refuses to come down and he is left in the tree until nighttime when Noah’s little sister, Elsa returns to stealthily lure her friend back into her bedroom with a bunch of carrots. With a last warning to her rebellious mammoth, Elsa climbs into bed surrounded by all of her secret far-fetched pets. Simple text and four-color, 1960’s era illustrations lead to a wildly humorous and clever conclusion. cc
Weasels do not eat nuts and berries or frolic in the leaves all day. What they really do is secretly plot to take over the world. The illustrations really make this book. Lively mixed-media cartoons fill each page with machines, maps, a vast high-tech laboratory, and hilarious, cute-faced weasels. Visual and verbal jokes about coffee obsessions, computer geeks, and bureaucracy jam-pack the pages and provide clues for solving the mystery of the computer malfunction. mjw
This beautifully illustrated picture book brings the lyrics of the 1969 Beatles song to life. Five children go on a magical journey through the playful octopus’s garden. They ride on the backs of turtles, play pirates in an undersea city, swim with a blue whale, and hide in giant whelk shells. The underwater action expresses the joy of discovery and the comfort of friendship. The book comes with a CD that features Ringo reading the story, a new recording of the song, and an instrumental version for children to sing along to. mjw
Eleven-year-old outspoken and likeable Billie Templar lives in a military town called Merchant Stanton. Her dad is serving with the army in Afghanistan and Billie desperately wants him home so they can defend their four-year record of winning the three-legged race at the school carnival. She plans to ask the Queen to give him permission to return home, but getting to see the Queen is tougher than she thinks. With the help of sweet, crazy friends and old age pensioners, she stages a military tattoo to get the Queen to visit during the Jubilee celebrations. The story is heart-wrenching, hilarious, and has a feel-good surprise ending.mjw
This narrative scrapbook, art journal, and mini graphic novel tells the story of a teenage girl from northern England. Three central themes in her life are illustrated with bits of old diaries, energetic and quirky doodles, witty pieces of wisdom, references to TV shows and music, photographs, and even ticket stubs. The themes/chapter headings are ME; FRIENDS, OTHERS, COLLEGE, AND ART; and LOVE. This portrait of teen life is solid, frank, and adorable. The author is 18 years-old. mjw
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The negotiation between teacher and student begins as the narrator tries to convince his teacher that his incomplete homework is not his fault. Subsequently more and more absurd, humorous homework excuses are revealed on each page. Giant lizards invaded the neighborhood, there was a problem with carnivorous plants, and elves hid all of the student’s pencils. But the teacher cannot be outsmarted: she’s read the same book. Detailed pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the hilarious text, exemplifying the great lengths students will go to in hopes of avoiding homework. cc
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Lottie keeps her found treasures and secrets locked in a battered brown leather suitcase that was a gift from her grandfather. Sometimes she wishes there was someone with whom she could share her secrets. But the other children find Lottie odd and her suitcase ugly. Leon, the boy next door, sits alone every day in his back garden playing his tuba to Mozart, his cat. One day, the cat disappears and the music stops. These two different children become friends. Lovely drawings with old photos and collage support this delicate story of acceptance and understanding. mjw
