Just got word from HMHCo last week that Good Night Engines,
my first picture book, will be re-released as Buenas Noches Motores/Good Night
Engines, a bi-lingual board book. It will hit the stands on October 12, 2015, almost 12 years to the day
since it first came out. I’m beginning to think this book is becoming “The Little
Picture Book That Could” as it chugs up another hill and into bookstores, yet
again! I can already think of several little friends who will be getting their very own
signed copies for the holidays this year! Can you?
HMH Books for Young Readers, (1974) $6.99 paperback
Age range: 4-8 years
It’s been snowing here for an
eternity. I’m beginning to think I’ll never see the green grass again. Today’s
latest snowstorm is the biggest one yet, with more than a foot and a coating of
ice expected before it’s over. And while it’s magical to look at while it’s coming
down, the thought of shoveling tons of snow makes my muscles quiver. I’d rather
have a root canal.
So today, to pay tribute of all of
those back-saving, snow-clearing vehicles and machines out there, I thought it
would be fun to honor a classic, all-time favorite snow-day picture book in our
house: Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton. I've read it a million times
to my kids and all of them, (especially my daughter Katie) loved
it. Even if it never snows where you are, I think your kids will love this book too.
The plot goes like this: Katy is a
big red bulldozer who repairs the roads of Geopolis during the summer. When a
blizzard hits and the town trucks can’t clear the roads, Katy is taken out of
storage and turned into a mighty snowplow. With her grit and determination, she
saves the day by clearing the blocked roads throughout Geopolis. Ultimately, she saves lives and property and is honored for her hard work.
I love this book because Katy is a
strong female character who never gives up in the face of adversity. She won't rest until her job is done. And while she uses her might to clear the streets of Geopolis, she also clears up any stereotypes about
what girls can do.
Burton’s illustrations are
captivating. There are detailed maps that follow Katy’s winding course through
town. You and your children will want to stop and trace your fingers over her
path.
Your kids will also love how Burton
uses repetitive phrases such as, “ ‘Follow me,’ said Katie” that make reading
this book fun and predictable.
So if you need a good excuse to
delay shoveling (or, if you just want to read an enchanting book to your kids),
grab a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket, a copy of Katy and the Big Snow, and
cuddle up with your kiddos for one warm, fuzzy read.
Here's a link to some fun
activities you might want to do!
Opening Sentence: “It was in the summer of the year when the relatives came.”
Synopsis: When the relatives come for a long visit, they bring carloads of
food and armloads of hugs. It is a perfect reunion, where everyone eats,
sleeps, plays and laughs together, forming deep, lasting bonds.
Of the thousands of books I’ve read
to my five kids (over what seemed like a thousand years of bedtime stories)
this was one of our all-time favorites. Cynthia Rylant’s words are spare and
elegant, yet rich with imagery. Stephen Gammell’s illustrations are
downright hilarious, especially the spread that includes the many family
members snoring and sleeping all over each other with the words, “It was
different, going to sleep with all that new breathing in the house.” My kids
could totally relate. My husband and I both come from insanely large families.
Hence, any family gathering in our small house resulted in mass sleepovers, the
likes of which are depicted on those two pages. My kids were always quick to
point out the quirky resemblances to their own army of relatives. What sweet
memories they have of all those nights with all that new breathing in our house.
I hope The Relatives Came brings as
many smiles to your family as it did to mine. Thank you, Cynthia Rylant
and Stephen Gammell, for creating such a timeless, tender, perfect picture
book.
