A Couple of Picture Books*

Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake

by Thomas Taylor, illustrated by Jill Barton

Boxer Books, 2010

This book just came in at my library and I can't wait to try it out in a storytime. The pictures are big enough for a large group to see, and with great eating noises like slurp, yum and chomp, it should be lots of fun.

Little Mouse finds a cupcake - a yummy looking chocolate-chip, raspberry-cream cupcake. But it's too big for him to carry home. As his friends come by, they all say it is too big for them to carry as well, but everyone wants to taste it. Being a kind and generous mouse, Little Mouse lets everyone have a bite. Or two. And it's cute, because he's so generous and happy to share, but if you look closely in the next scene, he's often got a slight look of worry and disbelief on his face as the cupcake gets smaller. Will there be enough for him? Will he be able to carry it home?

Who Said Coo?

by Deborah Ruddell, illustrated by Robin Luebs (They are twin sisters!)

Beach Lane Books, 2010

This is another title from the 2x2 Reading List. It's nighttime, and cozy and quiet, and Lulu is ready for bed...until, her two mischievous friends, Pigeon and Owl, start making noises. Lulu hears a coo, and a whoo, and even a moo! And, again with the too-cute animal faces - when Lulu asks who makes the noises, the others have these little "not me" looks on their faces. I'm amazed at Luebs's ability to communicate that with the reader through a few slight changes in the animals eyes.

The rhymes in this book flow perfectly (and the book may actually be found in the poetry section instead of the picture book section at your library). I read this in just a regular storytime, but it's a perfect pick for bedtime story.

Reviewed from library copies

*I have got to work on coming up with cuter post titles!