A Healthy Serving of Picture Books

Two things I don't manage to do very often:

1) Write about the picture books I'm constantly reading aloud,

and

2) Actually take pictures of my kids reading them.

Today, for your viewing enjoyment, we have both.

Just, uh, don't get too used to it. :)

1.

I was SO excited to see My Dog's a Chicken hit the shelves, because I had already read it years ago in  manuscript form and loved it then. Susan Montanari was a critique partner of mine, and one fun day everyone in our group set aside our various novels and just critiqued each other's picture books. Every critique group should try this occasionally. My own picture book was terrible, but the exercise of writing one was very good for my novel writing. And made me very appreciative of picture books that worked... like Susan's!

My Dog's a Chicken is funny, full of heart and voice--and chickens. So what's not to love?

2.

Netgalley provided me with a review e-copy of Zap! Nicola Tesla Takes Charge, which will be released later this summer.

Generally, I suffer through reading e-books, much preferring the hard copy, but in this case, I couldn't help but appreciate the appropriateness of reading an electronic version of the man whose work revolutionized electricity. I already knew the story of Tesla, the unsung hero behind alternating current and robotics and radio and about a gazillion other scientific advancements, but it was great to share this picture book, which so gracefully condenses that story into a few pages, with my science-savvy nine-year-old. The illustrations are beautiful, but so full of fun and personality. (Isn't it a balance to find both?)

This one definitely belongs on the shelves of any other homeschooling families out there.

3.

The third picture book related item is in fact a link:

Where the Board Books Are

My friend Kelsey recently began writing her own picture books (again, I am so impressed with writers who can tackle that genre), and started a blog to share with the world her great insights into the overlooked world of board books. Kelsey is also an extremely talented and well-trained photographer, so her blog (unlike mine) has lots and lots of pretty pictures to go along with spot-on analysis, reviews, and praise for the unsung heroes of the baby book world.

Parents (or grandparents) of little ones will find it an invaluable resource--go check it out!

Of course I always approach things from a writerly standpoint as well as a motherly one, so I couldn't help thinking of what a wonderful spotlight this could be for authors who otherwise don't have many venues in which to promote their new books.

4.

Lastly, a picture book question for all of you readers and writers out there.

As I plan my 2016-2017 school year, I've been asking my girls to tell me what they're really passionate about learning this year so we can be sure to work that into our "curriculum" (for lack of a better word). Ginny, my almost-five-year-old, is apparently only passionately interested in one thing:

Mermaids.

So... naturally I thought we could study aquatic animals (particularly manatees) along with some good old folklore. Do you have any recommendations of books on this topic that might appeal to the girliest girl this side of the Mississippi?

(Note: This post contains affiliate links.)