Book Review: Boy + Bot

Author: Ame Dyckman
Illustrator:  Dan Yaccarino
Publisher:  Knopf (Released April 10, 2012)
Source: Personal Copy
Audience: Ages 3 to 7
Fiction * Friendship * Imagination

Description from publisher's page:
One day, a boy and a robot meet in the woods. They play. They have fun. But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he's sick. The usual remedies—applesauce, reading a story—don't help, so Boy tucks the sick Bot in, then falls asleep. Bot is worried when he powers on and finds his friend powered off. He takes Boy home with him and tries all his remedies: oil, reading an instruction manual. Nothing revives the malfunctioning Boy! Can the Inventor help fix him? Using the perfect blend of sweetness and humor, this story of an adorable duo will win the hearts of the very youngest readers.

My thoughts on the book:
Thanks to John Schu/Watch.Connect.Read & Colby Sharp/SharpRead for introducing me to Boy + Bot.  What a sweet, wonderful book about friendship and play and understanding one another.  If you haven't seen this book, it is a simple story about the friendship between a young boy and a robot.  Part of the charm in this book is how Dyckman captures perfectly a young child's response to another person's (or in this case a robot) needs.  When a young child sees a friend or an adult sad or hurt, the typical response is to do for them what they would want done for themselves.  This may include bringing over a favorite toy or blanket.  In the case of Boy + Bot, Boy is worried that his new friend may be sick and starts with feeding him applesauce, and reading him a story.  Bot, who is in some ways on the same level as the young boy, returns the favor when expressing his own concerns.  This sharing of concern can spark discussion between children and adults about what kinds of things we can do for friends.  And the end pages, where the Boy + Bot are playing together are some of my favorite images in the book.  

Boy + Bot also has straightforward text.  Though some of the vocabulary may be beyond the typical vocabulary of beginning readers, there are many lines in this story that are not.  The first thing my kinders noticed when I shared this book with them today: "Hey the words start with the same two letters." (referring to the title) Yes, they do.  Parents reading along with their child can encourage their young reader to read what they can.  I would anticipate that children will pick up on the text quickly and begin to *read* this one after a few readings with an adult.

Dan Yaccarino's illustrations are also important to the story.  They are simple and match the text in that manner, but there is more.  The illustrations are bright, colorful and capture the hearts of the readers.  This is certainly one of those times where text melds perfectly with illustrations.
    
My students' thoughts on the book:
I read this today to a kindergarten class and a first grade class.  Here is what they liked about the book:

I liked it. - Stephanie

My favorite part was when they put the pine cones in the wagon. - Kayla

I liked when the boy finds the robot. - Aidan

I liked when the boy and the robot walk away together at the end. - Destiny

I like when the family is reunited at the end. - Keven

I liked the photobooth pictures. - Jocelyn

I liked when Bot fed the Boy oil. - Ryan

I liked how Bot took care of the Boy his way. - Faith

I would say that Boy + Bot is a success with my students.  Look for this book at your local bookstore or school or public library.

Check out the book trailer for Boy + Bot:

For more information about debut picture book author, Ame Dyckman: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Press Here: The App

Last year, Chronicle Books released Press Here by Hervé Tullet.  A simple but brilliantly designed interactive book for young children that even adults couldn't keep for interacting with.  I still recommend it regularly.  Part of the brilliance was the way the book engaged readers like an iPad book app but in a low tech format.  But guess what...

Yes, you are seeing this correctly.  Chronicle has just announced that Press Here: The App is now here.  I have only just begun to explore this App and will share a review once my 5 year old niece and I have finished exploring it.  But until then, enjoy the trailer for the new Press Here: The App.



You can purchase Press Here: The App on iTunes.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday (11)

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews.

This weeks, Nonfiction Picture Books seem to be centered around a nature theme - beetles, frogs, and crocodiles.  Lots of fun reading for the boys in your class and those girls who would rather be chasing the frogs in the pond than kissing one in a play.

Frogs! Strange and Wonderful
Author: Laurence Pringle
Illustrator: Meryl Henderson
Publisher: Boyd Mill Press (April 1, 2012)
Audience: Ages 8 to 11

Interested in frogs? In this picture book geared for 2nd or 3rd grade and up, author Laurence Pringle looks at frogs, their behavior, habitats, life cycle, etc. Lots of text in a much more traditional nonfiction book format.  As schools move towards Common Core Standards and seek to incorporate more nonfiction texts to the curriculum, teachers will be interested in books just like this.  The illustrations provided quite a bit of detail and helped to highlight the text.

What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings: A Guide for Crocodilian Parents (And Curious Kids)
Author: Bridget Heos
Illustrator: Stephane Jorisch
Publisher: Millbrook Press (April 1, 2012)
Audience: Ages 7 to 10

Where as the book on Frogs! was done in a more traditional nonfiction format, Heos uses a more interactive and fun format in her book of What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings.  I haven't read the previous book in the series, but since they stand alone it isn't necessary. I loved the smart Q & A approach to talking about crocidilian parents and their hatchlings.  It made the book very readable and increased the chance of young readers staying with the text.  The colorful illustrations just accentuated the humor that was woven into the text. This would be great for kids who might be less enthusiastic to be reading non-fiction text.

The Beetle Book
Author/Illustrator: Steve Jenkins
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (April 3, 2012)
Audience: Ages 7 to 10

It must be spring. It seems my recent selection of new picture books have a running theme of insects and this one is no different. Steve Jenkins is amazing. His books are fascinating, and if you haven't read any of his other books, you should.  This isn't a text heavy book.  Instead, the book is filled with great illustrations and lots of little snippets of facts about beetles.  I probably learned more than I ever wanted to about beetles but it was a fascinating read.


Don't forget to add a link to your own nonfiction picture book reviews from this past week. Thanks for participating in the challenge.

Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

The Annual Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop will run from April 11th to 17th.  This hop is hosted by:

Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict: http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot.com/ 

Heather @ Fire and Ice: http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/ 

Pixie @ Page Turners: http://www.pageturnersblog.com/ 

Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/ 

April is Autism Awareness Month. To help spread the word about Autism, they are hosting this giveaway hop. Participating blogs are hosting giveaways related to Autism Awareness. You will find lots of variety among the prizes. Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.  Don't forget to check out the Mr. Linky to find all of the blogs.

This month I am attending a workshop put on by the Children's Literature Council of Southern California.  If you live near Pasadena, CA and are free on Saturday, April 28, 2012, why don't you consider attending the CLCSC Spring Workshop.  The topic:  Serving Children with Autism:  Literature, Libraries and Learning.  

Participants will get to hear some great guest speakers including:

Dr. Ricki Robinson is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine and co-director at the La Canada Descanso Medical Center for Development and Learning. Author of Autism Solutions: How To Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life For Your Child, she presented her work at the recent ALA New Orleans 2011 Conference.

Barbara Klipper is a Youth Services Librarian at The Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT. She is actively involved with the library’s Special Needs Center, conducts trainings for Connecticut librarians on Autism Spectrum Disorders, disability awareness and has designed the library's Sensory Storytime program. Active in ALA, she was a presenter at the 2011 conference, served on ALSC and the Schneider Family Book Award jury.

Beth Wagner Brust, an award-winning author of children's books and several articles, is a graduate of Stanford University, college instructor of creative writing, and parent of a son, now attending Santa Monica College, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in third grade.

I am giving away a signed copy of one of the two books featured at the conference.

Rules for the giveaway:
1. Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (including your email, website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, your comment will not be posted.
2. You must complete the entry form to official enter the giveaway.
3. The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 11th to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on April 17th.
4. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
5. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6. International Participants - please note that this is an update from the Linky.

What I have learned about myself as a reader? Part I

I seriously can't recall writing a reflection post.  Interviews - check.  Book reviews - plenty. Posts about book releases - yep.  Guest posts where others reflect - most definitely.  But don't think I have written a reflection piece here on my blog.  You may be wondering why (or maybe not which is okay too)?  Basically, they take a really long time to write and I never feel like I have anything I want to say in such a public forum.  However, recently, I have been pondering about myself as a reader. And this is what I have learned...

* I am really influenced by characters more than plot.  If I like a character or the characters in the book, I can live with plot holes.  

* The converse is true.  If I don't like the characters, the writing could be great or the plot brilliant but I won't like the book.

* If I have to read something, I probably don't want to read it any more.

* If I think I am going to like something, I can't start it unless I have enough hours to read it from start to finish. I have trouble stopping after just a few chapters.  I actually cleared my schedule when books like Harry Potter 5, 6, and 7 came out.  Same when Mockingjay was released.

* Additionally, if I can walk away from a book and not pick it up for days or weeks, it likely isn't connecting with me. It doesn't mean that I won't finish it, just that I haven't connected with it.

* Sometimes, I have to be in just the right mood to read a book.  I purchased The Hunger Games when it was first released, but it took me three months before I could convince myself to read it.  And it took me nearly a year before I was able to read City of Fallen Angels which I also purchased when it was released. I knew that I was going to read the books, but I just needed to be in the right space. 

* I really like short chapters.  Two books can have the same size font and number of pages, but the book with shorter chapters will seem like it flies by.

* Yes, I have been known to flip to the end of the book to find out the ending.  Once I have done that I can go back and finish the book without feeling panicked.  

* And even if I know how the book will end, there are times when I know that the character will have to go through something hard and I will have to stop reading until I can emotionally face it with them. 

* I can easily read a stack of picture books or graphic novels in one sitting.  However, once I finish a full length novel, I can't typically pick up another novel for a day or two.   And if I really liked the character and world, then it might take weeks before I can really move onto another book unless it is part of a series.  When I read The Time Traveler's Wife, it took me six months before I could read another novel.  I just kept reading The Time Traveler's Wife over and over again.

* As a child, my family didn't always understand my connections to a book.  I found it hard to admit the feelings I had for a book, especially one that I loved.  Even now as an adult, I still hate admitting to how much I love a book unless I know the other person loves the book or that the other person understands how connected you can become to a book.

* Though I don't need a happily ever after ending, I do appreciate one that fits. 

* Finally, though I enjoy the familiarity and comfort associated with a series, authors, please don't go beyond 3 books.  I hate watching characters I love fall prey to more and more conflict and challenges as the series progresses.  

In the comments section, I would love to know what you have learned about yourself as a reader.