There are so many different collections of illustrated Mother Goose how do you choose just one to check out? Look no further. Scott Gustafson’s Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose is practically perfect in every way. The Nursery Rhymes are the classics, but Gustafson’s whimsical interpretation of the characters brings something sparkling and new to a much overdone subject. His pictures have some humans and some animals starring in the main roles. Jack be nimble is a wily cricket. Jack Sprat is a skinny lizard married to an enormous toad. Peter Pumpkin eater and his wife are squirrels who live quite comfortably inside a darling pumpkin house. The detail in Gustafson’s work is amazing and takes several repeat viewings to catch all the little things he has added to each picture. (An extremely tiny lady bug writes a letter with an even smaller quill pen in one picture. Tea pots, milk jugs and salt shakers have smiling faces in another.) The book is a slightly larger format than most picture books so the illustrations and words are big enough for viewing in a classroom setting. I was pleased to see some racial diversity among the children featured in the book as well.
Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
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