#LIBLOOT - Picture Book Graphic Novels

I’ve been reading lots of picture books, both picture books and picture book-graphic novels. Here’s some of my #libraryloot.

Stop That Yawn! by Caron Levis and LeUyen Pham. Levis’ text is spunky and fun. Pham’s character design is superb.

Gabby Wild has had enough of bedtime. Yawn, curl, snuggle, snore—what a bore!

So instead of tucking in, she jets out—with poor Granny in tow—to a place where beds are for bouncing, hushes are shushed, and it’s never too late for ice cream. But sometimes, even when you grit your teeth and seal your lips, it’s impossible to stop that…YAWN!

There’s a yawn on the loose! Can Gabby stop that yawn from spreading the snooze, or will it be lights out for Never Sleeping City?
48 pages, 4-8 years, Trim: 9 x 12 inches, October 2018, ISBN 978-1481441797

Lost & Found, by Shaun Tan
A collection of three jaw-dropping stories: The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, and The Rabbits, by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Shaun Tan
128 pages, 12 years and up, Trim: 9 x 11.75, March 2011, ISBN 978-0545229241

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man, by Michael Chabon and Jake Parker
Awesome Man can shoot positronic rays out of his eyeballs, fly as straight as an arrow, and hug mutant Jell-O! Even villains like Professor Von Evil and the Flaming Eyeball are no match for this caped crusader. But Awesome Man also has a secret. . . . Can you guess what it is?
40 pages, 3-6 years, Trim: 8.5 x 11 inches, Sept. 2011, ISBN 978-0061914621

Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World, Mac Barnett and Dan Santat
Some kids are too smart for their own good...and maybe for everybody else's good. When an overly ambitious little girl builds a humongous robot for her science fair, she fully expects to win first place. What she doesn't expect is the chaos that follows! "I probably shouldn't have given it a superclaw, or a laser eye, or the power to control dogs' minds," she laments. Kids, don't try this at home!
40 pages, 3-7 years, Trim: 10.4 x 11.85, June 2010, ISBN 978-1423123125

Reading Wednesdays

February is Black History Month. The theme this year is “Black Health and Wellness”. What are you reading? This beautifully written and illustrated book is very inspiring. I support #FReadom (pushing back against book banning).

All Because You Matter by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier. “In a beautiful ode to generations of Black sacrifice, happiness, and love, a family tells the story that brought a young boy into being and emphasizes his inherent worth.”

American Library Association Notable Children’s Book of 2021 https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb

All Because You Matter, by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier

Reading Wednesdays

I’m reading for research. Look at the #libraryloot I’ve been hauling to the studio!

One Trick Pony, by Nathan Hale

Look Out, Leonard, by Jessie James and Tamara Anegon

Mr Brown’s Bad Day, by Lou Peacock and Alison Friend

I Will Not Eat You, by Adam Lehraupt and Scott Magoon

Dinosaurs Don’t Have Bedtimes! Timothy Knapman and Nikki Dyson

Dogosaurus Rex, by Anna Staniszewski and Kevin Hawkes

My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon, Angie Lucas and Brigitta Sif

Got To Get To Bear’s! by Brian Lies

That’s Not a Hippopotamus! By Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis

If Kids Ruled The World, by Linda Bailey and David Huyck

Begin With A Bee, by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Phyllis Root, and Claudia McGehee

Steger Mukluk Encore Book launch

 We are so pleased to be going back to Steger Mukluk store in Ely, MN February 9th, 2019 at 11 am! Author Katherine Johnson and I will whoop it up with our fans in Ely, MN this weekend. In the bold north, not only are we not afraid of winter we celebrate it. There will be lots of activities in the region celebrating the Winter Festival. On February 16th, there will be a Mukluk Ball at the Grand Ely Lodge. And on February 9th, there will be a Mukluk Ball at the Hygge Festival in Grand Marais, MN. Come read, dance and get a signed book at our book party, Steger Mukluks, 33 East Sheridan St., Ely, MN 55731



Dance Like Nobody Is Watching


On October 27th, 2018 Katharine Johnson, her husband Dale and I drove up to Ely from their home near Duluth, MN. We went to our picture book launch for THE MUKLUK BALL at Steger Mukuluks in Ely.

After a warm welcome we held our book event and had so much fun. Katharine read the story to the children and I got the kids to dance!

In the book, during the Mukluk Ball, Karhu the bear and Millie the do-si-do champion made up a new dance called The Bear Hug Twist. I showed the kids some dance moves and then I had them make up three dance moves to combine into our very own Bear Hug Twist. We twizzled and hopped, some in shoes and others in boots. The kids were great and now they are ready to dance with Karhu the bear.

The Mukluk Store is featured in THE MUKLUK BALL, Karhu the bear wants his own pair of Mukluks to wear to the Mukluk Ball. Karhu picks blueberries and sells them with bear hugs at the blueberry festival to earn money for his new boots. We were astounded by our own good fortune. Steger's was very generous and gave Katharine and I each a pair of boots! I have never had such nice, comfortable boots. And they were very supportive of our book. What a wonderful way to begin the long cold season with beautiful, warm mukluks!