Another Great Pairing

Like chocolate and peanut butter or hammers and nails, some things are unbelievably wonderful in combination. The new picture book, City Dog, Country Frog, represents one of these wonderful combinations. Author Mo Willems is one of the most brilliant writers for children that I can think of. His picture books starring Pigeon and Knuffle Bunny are hilarious, and great read-alouds. Then he branched out into easy readers, which are actually the correct level of difficulty for beginning readers AND capture the logic and emotions of children that age. Illustrator Jon Muth creates the most beautiful watercolors (which is quite a compliment coming from someone who isn't overly fond of watercolors). Just look at the illustrations for I Will Hold You 'til You Sleep (written by Linda Zuckerman) and try not to fall in love with the gorgeous expanses of blue that populate the pictures. With two such brilliant men pairing up for City Dog, Country Frog, I think it can't help but be wonderful.

Haven't You Always Wanted a Monkey??!?

I know that I talk a lot about liking or disliking a book's main character--it would seem that I am, in large part, a character-driven reader. Well, my new favorite protagonist is pictured to the left . . . Chico Bon Bon! Chico is the titular hero of Monkey With a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe, and he is delightful. I mean, who doesn't love monkeys? Who doesn't love tool belts? Who doesn't want to see a cheeky little monkey have adventures and escape from scrapes using his well-stocked tool belt? There's already a second picture book starring Chico Bon Bon--Monkey With a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem--and I'm looking forward to many more.