Picture Book Friday

 

The Only Way to Make Bread by Cristina Quintero with illustrations by Sarah Gonzales

Oh, good times! Every once in a while, I come across a book that strikes a personal note—as a life-long bread baker—this was one.

 

Quintero’s celebration of all kinds of bread is also a celebration of cultures. Built on a framework of the process, the narrative unfolds from selecting a work space to breaking bread with a friend. There’s a delicious variety: Challah, Focaccia, Shokupan, Canadian Dinner Buns, Arepas, Puri—eleven in all described at the end. What’s your favorite?

And just in case this enticing list triggers a sudden need from some fresh, warm bread, recipes for Arepas and Pandesal are included, too.

Gonzales’s warm, soft-edged drawings pull the reader in to explore the rich depth of detail and create an intimacy paired with a sense of fun.

Loaves, rolls, buns—baked, steamed, or fried—hearty or delicate—stuffed or sliced…

Whatever your preference, make it your way.  And always add a pinch of love!

Here’s a wonderful story to share with young readers, introduce them to the language of food, and explore worldwide cultures.

Highly recommended for home and school libraries.

 

Picture Book Friday

 

If I Was a Horse by Sophie Blackall is a delightful romp.

 

Giddy-up and go along on this charming fantasy adventure as a child imagines being a horse for a day. The fun combines horsey nonsense with fanciful human activities. Galloping across meadows, rolling in rainy puddles, and giving rides are contrasted with relatable human activities. The true scale of silliness becomes boldly apparent once this massive creature moves indoors—helping itself to lunch, refusing to bathe in the cramped bathroom, and sleeping standing up on a too-small bed.

Blackall, a two-time Caldecott Medalist, lets her illustrations tell the story supported by a clean simple text of one or two short sentences on each double-page spread.

A personal favorite is the center spread with the horse, in a ruffled tutu and polka dot party hat, parading in circles in the living room led by the family’s youngest child. The detail in each page encourages a second look and a third.

Like every talented storyteller, Blackall surprises the reader with a charming twist on the very last page.

Recommended for home and school libraries.

 

 

Picture Book Friday

 Fox Has a Problem (My First I Can Read) by author/illustrator Corey R. Tabor

Follow Fox as he tries devise a plan to get his kite out of a tree. In the process, Fox’s problems go from bad to worse. Not only do his solutions fail, they create bigger problems for his friends—until at last, they all band together to save the kite!

Short, three-to-five-word sentences and simple vocabulary paired with action-packed illustrations makes this an appealing first reader.

Recommended for beginning readers.