Books by Murray McCain & Illus by John Alcorn

This book is outrageously colorful. A toy shop we were in near Philiadelphia had five copies of this on top of the bookshelves to announce the book area and believe you mean, it was rather powerful! 

This book is a joyous celebration of all things books! 

Glancing through this I was amazed how completely the illustrator nailed that weird 1960s-70s Monty Python vibe. Then I checked the publication date and realized it WAS published in the 1960's. Hence the vintage feel. 

This book celebrates all the things we love about books.

Look at that dust jacket

Most books are just right for holding.

Look at the font variations and the coloring. 

A list of things books can be about.

These illustrations! The insane pink eyed lion! 

Books can be for coloring (or is that colouring?) or singing. 

Then we get into the words in the books. Here are some hard words

Some happy words. 

I think every person would have a different list of happy words. But I love reading other peoples! 

Funny words! 

All the different potential fonts

This Is My Book by Mark Pett

This book speaks to the inner control freak in me. 

This is my book. I get to make the rules!!

Mark Pett describes what he does as the author and illustrator of the book. 

I am the author, 

and that means I get to write

all of the words.

I am also the illustrator,

so I get to make all of the pictures, too.

Here, I'll draw something. 

The panda he draws takes on a life of his own. 

Mark Pett gets a little short with the reader for scribbling on the pages. Although we know who is doing the scribbling. 

Little kids love knowing something the author doesn't. 

Finally he figures out what his creation is up to

Pett starts making rules to keep everything shipshape.

As quickly as he makes the rules, this unruly panda breaks them. 

Kids love misbehaving characters. 

Optimistically, he keeps making rules. 

Obstinately, the panda keeps breaking them. 

He adds some characters.

Book flaps!!

We love pull tabs!!

I feel like this when I am trying to get kids to clean their rooms. 

Pop-ups!

Finally everyone stops to listen. 

Which is boring. 

And finally he concedes that the characters are allowed to help. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is that it includes a little blank book for the reader to make their own book. What kid wouldn't love to have a little blank book?!

This part of the book is lost a little in a library, since not every kid that checks out the book can have a little blank book. But this is a fun book to discuss author/illustrator with young kids. And little blank books are easy enough to make. 

Blue Chicken Deborah Freedman

This is a fun and artsy little book. All that splashy blue!

The story begins in an artist's studio

  

....on a day just perfect for painting the barn. 

A bit of a mixup

Blue is a sneaky color. It is going everywhere!

Everyone else is getting blue! 

This is not a book that gets  right up amongst you because it is so lovely, but it is fun. I mean how is splashing in blue paint not fun? 

Things are not going well for that paint spilling chicken. Apparently not everyone thinks splashing in blue paint is fun. 

The world has turned blue and hostile. 

Poor, misunderstood chicken.

Can we get rid of the blue? 

These like ducks are so adorable!

Things are looking less blue.

And then we see the artist outside her studio, painting her barn. 

And the animals want to help....

How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett & Illus by Adam Rex

This is a crazy, kid friendly look at the world of book publishing! 

It makes me laugh.

Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are both big names in the kids book world and this collaboration did not disappoint. 

How does a book begin? As an idea!

Ideas can come even when you are arm wrestling a tiger!

His editor always eats fancy lunches. Which apparently include nibbling on roses. 

I get a big kick out of this editor.

The editor sends back his first draft. He sends a second draft. The editor asks why didn't you do what I told you? And this conversation ensues. 

And I said well let's agree to disagree. 

And she said let's agree with me. 

And I said you're not the boss of me. 

 This is one of my favorite parts. I would imagine this is how a lot of writers feel about their editors. Although at the end of the book, they are always thanking their "fabulous editors" so maybe not. 

The script crossed the country a lot. 

Until most of the United States of America was crossed out. 

Many Americans were not happy about this. 

And then the illustrator comes into play. An illustrator who was taking naps and throwing cards in a hat instead of drawing the book.

I love how outrageous this book is, while also giving kids a real perspective on the publishing world. 

Some of the illustrations are photographs of illustrations, which is fun.

The silliness of sending the boook to Malaysia to be printed.

Dumping in the content. 

The book is seen by astronauts, left behind by plundering pirates who do not read, lost by a truck driver and a poker playing grandmother before it finally gets to the shelf in a bookstore where it waits...

...for you, the reader.