Indie Crushes - October 14, 2018
A fable. A celebration. A ukulele. And the 14 standard punctuation marks (But not the interrobang‽).
Here's what I've been crushing on this week from small, independent publishers, often responsible for delivering to us the unique, the unconventional, and the memorable. Those beloved stories meant just for you. Request them from your local library or independent bookstore and let me know what you think!
Check out previous Indie Crushes HERE.
INDIE CRUSHES - October 14th, 2018
CRUSHING ON THE GOOD COMPANY OF OTHERS AND NOT ALLOWING OURSELVES TO BE SWALLOWED UP BY THE DARKNESS
The Dog that Ate The World by Sandra Dieckmann (FLYING EYE BOOKS)
Discover the importance of friendship and community in this stunning picture book by the creator of Leaf.
Down in the valley, all the animals live in peace among their own kind, happy but not quite united until the day the enormous dog appeared. The animals run as fast as they can, but the big dog is so terrible and so greedy that he swallows them all one by one! With their whole world in darkness, they have no choice but to band together to rebuild their lives, and in the process they discover value in each other. The Dog That Ate the World is the second picture book by Sandra Dieckmann, whose debut Leaf, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2017.
CRUSHING ON THE CLOSENESS OF A FAMILY GATHERED IN ANTICIPATION
First Laugh--Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe, Nancy Bo Flood, and Jonathan Nelson (CHARLESBRIDGE)
In Navajo families, the first person to make a new baby laugh hosts the child's First Laugh Ceremony. Who will earn the honor in this story?
The First Laugh Ceremony is a celebration held to welcome a new member of the community. As everyone--from Baby's nima (mom) to nadi (big sister) to cheii (grandfather)--tries to elicit the joyous sound from Baby, readers are introduced to details about Navajo life and the Navajo names for family members. Back matter includes information about other cultural ceremonies that welcome new babies and children, including man yue celebration (China), sanskaras (Hindu) and aquiqa (Muslim).
CRUSHING ON PLAYFUL POEMS THAT CELEBRATE THE USE (AND MISUSE) OF PUNCTUATION
A Bunch of Punctuation selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins with illustrations by Serge Bloch (WORDSONG)
In this land of punctuation, the exclamation mark is a superhero who tells a story chock-full of bops and bams, the comma lets you pause to enjoy the weather, and the period is where you must come to a full stop--or else the Grammar Police will get you. With humor and imagination, A Bunch of Punctuation makes it easy to remember the jobs of the various punctuation marks. Award-winning poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins has compiled a unique collection of poems featuring brand-new works by well-known poets, accompanied by inventive artwork by illustrator Serge Bloch.
CRUSHING ON THE PERSONIFIED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTHOR AND CHARACTER
Scribble & Author by Miri Leshem-Pelly (KANE MILLER BOOKS)
In Scribble & Author, Scribble's journey starts on a peaceful shore called THE BEGINNING, continues to the rough, adventurous MIDDLE, and leads finally to the gate of THE ENDING, but it's not at all what Scribble expected… Scribble is a scribble and Author is an author, but who really gets to tell the tale?
An innovative picture book about finding your own voice, making your own decisions, and writing your own story.
CRUSHING ON THE LIFELONG BOND BETWEEN MUSICIAN AND INSTRUMENT
Paul and His Ukulele by Robert Broder and Jenn Kocsmiersky (RIPPLE GROVE PRESS)
Not all who wander are lost, sometimes they’re just searching for a new song.
Paul was given a present. “A guitar?” said Paul. “It’s a ukulele.” said his parents.
Paul loved his ukulele and spent all his time crafting his own song. As he got older, Paul knew it was time to head out in search of something new.
When his travels took him to one small town, the unexpected happened. But from unexpected circumstances can come new friendships and new experiences. And maybe that new song he’s been looking for.
CRUSHING ON DADS BEING EXACTLY WHO THEY NEED TO BE FOR THEIR KIDS
My Papa is a Princess by Doug Cenko (BLUE MANATEE PRESS)
Cuddle up with Dad for this sweet book about a father as seen through his daughter’s eyes. When Papa braids her hair, he’s a hairdresser; when he hangs her drawings on the wall, he’s an art collector. But no matter what happens, he is always her papa, and that’s the most important thing of all!
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