Hootin' Hollerin' Fun

My youngest son wants to be a cowboy--at least for now. We happened upon this book at the library awhile back, and liked it so much, we had to buy a copy. Way Out West With a Baby, by Mike Brownlow, is full of thigh-slappin', rope twirlin' good times. The book is written much like a square dance is called: rhyming couplets with a definite rhythm that is lots of fun. 3 cowboys find themselves the unexpected caretakers of a lost baby out on the cattle drive. Dom, Deke and Dan bumble around figuring out when the baby needs fed, comforted and of course, re-diapered. Dom, the burly, grumpy leader of the 3, takes charge and is later softened a bit by the little bundle. The baby is safely returned to his parents, who are grateful to the trio for taking care of their little one.
Why we like this book: The rhyme and rhythm lend themselves to using your best cowboy voice while reading to your little cowpokes. I like that while the plot is predictable to a grown-up, kids will find it funny that at least one cowboy thinks that feeding a baby beans and steak is a good idea; or that another cowboy falls into a cactus while making the baby laugh. The story has it all: Comical main characters; a problem to be solved; impending drama when a thunderstorm blows in; a happy ending and a moral epilogue that is simple and to the point: appreciate your parents and love your babies. The cartooned cowboys are portrayed just as you would think, with Dom looking a bit scraggly and dark, Dan, young and spry, and Deke, tall and gangly and awkward. Of course, my personal favorite illustrations occur in the thunderstorm, where the lightning flashes on the men's faces as a cow is struck out in the distance (don't worry--it's done very humorously). Pick this book up at the library and have yourself a rip-roaring good time!

Two stories that leave you out of breath!

Can you tell I like Allan Ahlberg books? These making a total of 3 in this young blog's life. But, if I find an author that I think is a consistent producer of the best children's books out there, I tend to go overboard on it. These two are part of a trilogy of books about the Gaskitt family that are absolutely wonderful to read and share out loud.
As with The Runaway Dinner, The Children Who Smelled a Rat (TCWSAR) and The Cat Who Got Carried Away ( TCWGCA) are stories that leave you breathless as your mouth tries to keep up with the super-fast plot laid out before you. The Gaskitt family finds themselves tied up in a series of events that eventually come together at the end of the books. TCWSAR follows Mr. Gaskitt, who has lost the baby in a runaway grocery cart, at the same time, the children are trying to figure out what has happened to their beloved teacher whose behavior has mysteriously changed. Meanwhile, the family pets are also embroiled in fascination, and Mrs. Gaskitt meets the most interesting people on her taxi route. The pace of the story becomes more and more intense as we close in on the fabulous ending. TCWGCA proceeds TCWSAR in that there are only 2 Gaskitt children at the beginning of the story, and ends with a joyful addition. This story follows the frenetic journey of the Mr. and Mrs. as they try to get to the hospital in time. Of course, all the while, the Gaskitt children are part of their own adventure with yet another unusual teacher and her unusual teaching methods, all the while the Gaskitt family cat has gone missing. The third book, The Man Who Wore All of His Clothes is also worth reading, but at this entry, was back in the library waiting for the next lucky person to check it out.

Why we like these books: Two words: Wonderful Storytelling. Period. Mr. Ahlberg can spin a yarn that looks incredibly tangled, but in the end is woven into the finest cloth. Everything about the books lends to it's readability and fun: The illustrations by Katharine McEwen detailing the city layout and the individual expressions of the people as well as the typeface itself--looking more handwritten and flows like it is straight from a person's mouth. Mr. Ahlberg has fun with this, too, because as the stories inch closer and closer to the climax, he tends to break the tension periodically with interjections that have to do with other things entirely or other characters. He also runs the words together to add to the sensation of the speed of thought. How he manages to bring all the subplots together at the end of each story is a gift Mr. Ahlberg has as a master storyteller. And it always ends well--family reunited, happy, safe and together--the way a good story should.

Neighborhood Fun

Ezra Jack Keats lives in a neighborhood where there is always something going on. This time, it's a pet show. The book begins, "Everyone was talking about the pet show...," which gives you the impression of a bunch of kids, all different ages, sitting on the steps to their home, talking about what each one would bring to the neighborhood pet show. Pet Show is about just that--each kid bringing their pet to be inspected and judged. Each pet is unique, and everyone gets an award. Archie, our hero, initially plans to bring his cat; however, the story takes an interesting turn and Archie creatively solves the problem.

Why we like this book: The language of Pet Show is simple and easy to read and understand. Mr. Keats was gifted in his ability to tell a story in a very efficient manner that was still descriptive and interesting to hear and read. Pet Show features Mr. Keat's famous character, Peter, from The Snowy Day and Peter's Chair (among other stories), and Peter is now more grown up compared to the thoughtful and young Archie, his neighbor and friend. This is a neat quality to some of Keat's books--the kids all live in the neighborhood, and we get to know them through one story or another, so the names of several of the kids become familiar as you read each Keat's book. The artwork, also by Mr. Keats, uses lots of warm colors, which I liken to the feel of brick buildings in a city neighborhood. Splashes of color may indicate hidden alleys or bits of trash in the street, but an inviting city nonetheless, with lots of kids and an activity or two to interrupt the usual routine~like a neighborhood Pet Show.