More Giggles and Goodies in the New Year

 The first post of 2022 invited readers to enjoy some picture book laughs. If you missed it, click HERE. I'll wrap up the week with even more recommendations for picture books/early readers that will have kids giggling and running to tell someone else they should "Read this book!"

Candlewick, 2020

If you don't already know the work of author/illustrator David LaRochelle it's a pleasure and an honor to introduce you to a man who is as entertaining in person as he is in his books for kids. This latest pair of books are each "three-chapter" early readers that will hook young and old with their word play, wry wit, and comical illustrations. The first, SEE THE CAT: Three Stories About a Dog, was a Geisel Award winner in it's release year, followed now with SEE THE DOG: Three Stories About a Cat. In these creations, LaRochelle opted to contribute the words while illustrator Mike Wohnoutka provides the expressive interpretations that will have you looking back again and again from page to page. These characters are slyly observant, unwilling to take things at face value, and very skilled at expressing themselves with familiar words used in cleverly fresh ways.

From this Kirkus starred review, you'll get the idea of what these books are about.

"In a running argument with the author, Max the dog feels he must rectify each narrative statement as he perceives it applies to him. Story No. 1 begins, “See the cat.” There is no cat in the illustration, only the dog, who states with certitude, “I am not a cat. I am a dog.”  (Kirkus)

I wasn't the least surprised that this hugely successful book would spawn a companion, one that is equally appealing and distinct enough to stand on its own.

Candlewick, 2021

There is no better hook for beeginning readers and growing book-lovers than HUMOR! 

With three simple stories (chapters) and a perfect blend of illustration and text, this second book also invites repeated readings while building essential concepts of books, color, semantics, meaning, and voice. It's a delight for reading aloud to pre-readers and an enticing invitation to early readers who will WANT to read to someone else!

If that hasn't fully convinced you of the talents of David LaRochelle, I urge you to gather up some kids ]and digitally visit his website, where you will find even more about his books, HERE, and then tour his "pumpkins" tab where you'll view some amazing carved pumpkins. There you can also click on a video of an interview in which you can see for yourselves that he is a wry and  light-hearted fellow.

Philomel, 2021

Then shuffle on over to a word-twister, visual convolution of a picture book with the title: OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? If you've ever tried to convey the importance of punctuation in making meaning of words, or of illustrations in making meaning in picture books, this is the choice for you. Written by Julie Hedlund and illustrated by Michael Slack, this little beauty demands the full attention of everyone involved, including the characters on the pages. OVER (can you guess who that is?) and UNDER (look closely at the cover) are the best of friends and have the tenderest of hearts. The laughs will be spontaneous, the satisfaction from the first read is guaranteed, then sit back and enjoy how often and how curiously the young ones return to this again and again, each time developing even more appreciation of the layers of clever fun.

The energetic opening pages name two friends by their life patterns: OVER (bird) and UNDER (mole). That lively launch introduces their shared caring, curiosity, and conceptual word twists, all of which will captivate young audiences and their adult readers, having them chime in together after a few "read it again" requests. There's no better way to launch your new year in reading that with humor, and no better humor than these offerings. Aren't we all overdue to let loose with some chuckles, guffaws, and outright belly laughs?

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Tammi Sauer's Picture Book Success

In my last post I mentioned some popular picture book trends and some timeless topics. In addition, franchise potential and multimedia characters are likely to generate success in this highly competitive publishing field. Examples spring to mind, many of which are high quality,  although some tilt more toward pop culture than toward timeless treasures.

It's particularly noteworthy, then, when a picture book author can achieve the degree of success demonstrated by TAMMI SAUERin recent years. (Check out her lively website here.) Notice the variety of publishers and illustrators listed with each cover photo. Tammi's success has not been assured by a predictable illustrator pairing, a single dedicated editor, an ongoing character, or even a specialty topic. The books featured in this post range from a grumpy duck, to a cowboy and a princess each at training camp, a stone-age boy, some wacky chipmunks, unlikely friends (shark and fish), and two titles with rockin'n'rolling chickens. How's that for variety?

Let's take a quick look at a partial list of her titles, in chronological order:

Sterling Publishing, 2005

(2005) COWBOY CAMP is illustrated by Mike Reed.


Kids love stories in which a character's bumbling difficulties somehow save the day. This little cowboy wannabe surprises the villainous interloper enough to make him give up and pursue his nefarious ways elsewhere.

Sterling Publishing, 2009

(2009)  CHICKEN DANCE, illustrated by Dan Santat.

Talent shows and dance competitions are the current rage on reality television programing, but contests of this type have been around for centuries. But, in the barn? Featuring Elvis Poultry and the dancing chickens? Why not?

Simon & Schuster/
Paula Wiseman Books, 2011

(2011)  MR. DUCK MEANS BUSINESS, illustrated by Jeff Mack.

Sometimes, as in the lyrics to the song, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." Duck's isolated way of life felt perfect, until unexpected visitors intruded. Only after restoring his "peace" did he decide it would be better still with a bit of a compromise.

(2012) BAWK & ROLL, illustrated b y Dan Santat.

This sequel to Chicken Dance is fun in much the same way- a wacky premise with a pair of "chicken" chickens who suffer stage fright without the support of their friends. Fun and frantic.

Simon&Schuster/
Paula Wiseman Books, 2012

(2012) ME WANT PET!  illustrated by Bob Shea.

This cave boy twist on the familiar boy-wants-pet story involves a wooly mammoth, saber-toothed tiger, and do-do chick. Despite the unusual circumstances and language, kids recognize the familiar parental objections to his requests and root for him all the way to the end.

Harcourt Children's Books, 2012

(2012) PRINCESS IN TRAINING, illustrated by Joe Berger. 

What do you do with a princess who doesn't act like a princess? Send her to Princess Camp, natch, then count yourself extremely lucky when her natural tendencies shine through to save the day.

Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2012

(2012) OH, NUTS!  illustrated by Dan Krall.


A fun story, with plenty of exaggeration in characterization. Cartoonish antics lead to the eventual conclusion that the spotlight may not be all that it is cracked up to be.

Harcourt Children's Books, 2013

(2013) NUGGET AND FANG, illustrated by Michael Slack.


This hits the sweet spot for its target age when spontaneous and utterly sincere friendships can be threatened by peer input as young children move into social settings and learn about stereotyping and expectations.
The humor and loyalty of Fang will appeal. I love the subtle humor of naming shark's bite-sized minnow friend  "Nugget".

So what do these diverse titles have in common? How do we account for Tammi's remarkable success with picture books, minus any gimmicks or shortcuts?  

• Her language is well-paced and lively, even without  rhymed or repetitive text. 
• Each of her stories involves animals. 
• Humor (in words, image, and concept) have appeal for the young reader/listener and the adult who shares the book.
• Each features exaggerations and unexpected twists.
• Most of all, she displays a genuine understanding of her target audience. 

This is a winning combination, to be sure, and accounts for her success across several publishing houses and illustration pairings. 

For those unfamiliar with the business side of things, the string of recent publication dates does not suggest that she wrote them all in a year or two. It's highly likely that these titles represent a decade or more of dedicated effort, including revision and rejection, ending in the refinement necessary to produce winning stories.

For anyone looking to choose powerful picture books, or to write them, Tammi Sauer's work is worth a very close look.

Tammi just tweeted that four of her upcoming picture book releases DO NOT have animals! Can't wait to see them, can you?