Yes, I usually love books in translation because they take risks that those published in the U.S. often don't. Case in point is this book from 2021 that you may have missed. Here we have a frazzled, overworked father who's pulling his hair out, while his child just wants to go to the lake, as … Continue reading Seahorses Are Sold Out – Perfect Picture Book Friday
When I was in college, I lived in the second floor apartment of an old wooden house at the edge of the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. Cockroaches were ubiquitous. As I spent a lot of time chasing them into the cracks of the woodwork, it wasn't surprising that I developed asthma. When our … Continue reading Your Birthday Was the Best! – Perfect Picture Book Friday
In 2013, Andrea Zuill made a big splash in our region by winning the "Best Portfolio" award at the SCBWI Golden Gate Conference. The honor was well-deserved. In Sweety, every line of Andrea's work is so expressive, I found myself laughing and crying over a naked mole rat who wears clothes. In other words, Sweety … Continue reading Sweety – Perfect Picture Book Friday
I don't often review wordless picture books, but I was smitten by this book: Why? The huge humor and heart factor. Those who are "only" writers (like me) must infuse the text with heart, and then leave it to illustrators to fulfill what is promised in the text by adding their own form of magic. … Continue reading Pip & Pup – Perfect Picture Book Friday
Ready for a new take on JAWS? Well, a picture book take filled with dark humor, that is... So here we are watching Underwater World with our host, Bob the jelly, when— Luckily, shark finds out that the cameras are rolling and changes tacks to save his image, saying "...showing him my new tooth!" While … Continue reading Misunderstood Shark – Perfect Picture Book Friday
It doesn't matter that they're wearing their jammies. It doesn't matter that they've taken a bath and are then brushing their teeth on the dedication page. No, none of that matters. Penguin and Tiny Shrimp want you to know: And so the great anti-bedtime saga begins. Penguin and Tiny Shrimp tell us a bold-faced fib … Continue reading Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime! – Perfect Picture Book Friday
Jilanne Hoffmann 