Interrupt This Blog

It is not every book (or even the majority of them) that leads me to rant and rave.  If there is such a thing as literary love at first sight, it may describe my reaction to this wonderful picture book:  Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein.

In this story, Papa Chicken tries very hard to read a bedtime story to his little girl chicken.  However, she knows all the stories by heart and jumps into each telling just in time to prevent disaster or discomfort for the characters.  The warm interaction between father and daughter and genuine presentation of goal vs.obstacle make this book a natural for read-alouds.  I found it almost impossible NOT to do the voices.  (I am biased.  I always do character voices.  Still, this text begged for it).

I used this book in Summer Reading presentations for kindergarten through second grades, and it held the attention of the each class.  Then, I read it at home with my almost-four-year-old daughter.  She was involved for the entire telling, too.

I hope you interrupted your reading of this blog to procure and read this book.  If not, what are you waiting for?

Horn Book Hits The Nail on the Head

Sometimes, someone else encapsulates your thoughts and feelings so succinctly and accurately that you don't feel the need to reiterate.  That is the case for me after reading this fantastic article from Horn Book Magazine:
Why We're Still in Love with Picture Books (Even Though They're Supposed to Be Dead) by Allyn Johnston and Marla Frazee.

Please read and enjoy.