tamerawillwissinger - The Writer's Whimsy

This is a day of celebration - I have two Hamline MFAC friends who are celebrating book releases: Jamie A. Swenson is welcoming IF YOU WERE A DOG, illustrated by Chris Raschka; and Miriam Busch is welcoming LION LION, illustrated by Larry Day. This news makes me very happy. CONGRATULATIONS, JAMIE AND MIRIAM!

Here is information on both via Amazon:

IF YOU WERE A DOG by Jamie A. Swenson, Illustrations by Chris Raschka

If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be? Would you be a dog that goes ARRRROOOOOOO? Or maybe you would be a sharp-toothed dinosaur that can CHOMP, STOMP, ROAR! Perhaps you might want to be a hopping frog that goes BOING, BOING, RIBBET! But maybe you would want to be the best kind of animal of all: a child!

With joyful, impressionistic illustrations from Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator Chris Raschka and spare, rhythmic text from author Jamie A. Swenson that invites playful interaction, If You Were a Dog is the perfect read-aloud for your favorite little animal.

What reviewers are saying:

"Raschka brings movement, energy, and personality to his vibrantly colored art . . . A fun way to get readers to use their imaginations in the natural world." - School Library Journal

"Addressing both a winsome girl character and child readers, Swenson invites kids to speculate what sort of dog, cat, fish, bird, bug, frog and dinosaur they might want to be . . . Swenson's rhythmic cadences coupled with Raschka's wry, upbeat illustrations yield a title that's a cheery picker-upper." - Kirkus Reviews

“Swenson’s playful language and Raschka’s amiable cartoons lend a welcome unpredictability to this animal game.” -Publisher's Weekly

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Lion, Lion by Miriam Busch, illustrated by Larry Day

For fans of Ezra Jack Keats, this perfect read-aloud is a timeless story featuring plenty of animals!

A little boy is looking for Lion. Lion is looking for lunch.

And so our story begins. But look closely. . . . In this tale, nothing is quite as it seems!

Children will delight in this classic picture book with a mischievous twist.

What reviewers are saying:

“Beautiful pencil and watercolor illustrations give this book an old-fashioned feel…the story will keep readers on the edge of their seat. With a trick up his sleeve, our brave hero outwits a…hungry lion. With sophisticated humor and an ingenious twist, this story begs to be read and reread.” (Erin Barker, Hooray for Books!, Alexandria, VA for the Autumn 2014 Indie Next Picks)

“Sly, dark humor for little ones—at its best.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“With plenty of chuckle-worthy illustrations and a simple but enjoyable story, this should work well in storytimes or for one-on-one reading.” (School Library Journal)

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What fun it is to welcome new books into the world!

9.30.2014