My Favorite Read-Aloud Picture Books of 2008

2008 offered many great read-aloud picture books. I read to large groups of children, so what I look for are books with large pictures, plenty of action, and/or phrases that invite audience participation.

In addition to the titles in this post, I would like to give a special shout out to three books I discussed in an earlier post: The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill, Mr. Pusskins & Little Whiskers by Sam Lloyd, and Roadwork by Sally Sutton.

Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime. Written and illustrated by Bob Shea.

A very boastful and entertaining red dinosaur brags that s/he can take on anything and win. With captivating crowd-pleasing roars, the dinosaur triumphs over a pile of leaves, a bowl of spaghetti, and even blahblahing talking grown-ups! But can s/he beat the mightiest opponent of all...bedtime???? Dinosaur leaps from page to page, roaring all the while. Children love to roar along. This book is perfect for children who love Mo Willems' slapstick packed mini-epics.

Harriet Dancing. Written by Ruth Symes. Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church.

This simple yet sweet story introduces the titular character, a happy-go-lucky hedgehog who decides to visit her buddy Ivor. Along the way she meets some butterflies who inspire her to dance. However, these winged creatures turn out to be a bunch of snobs. They tell her hedgehogs are not allowed to do the butterfly dance, and this causes Harriet great distress. Luckily her friends come along to help her out. Symes offers a resolution that's nice without seeming treacly. Church's drawings delight. This book is a perfect companion to Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae.

Old Bear. Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes.

A hibernating bear dreams and dreams while snow falls outside his cave. The slumbering animal's surrealistic dream transports young readers through the seasons as the bear sees himself resting in a giant pink crocus in the spring, eating raining blueberries in the summer, and chasing after fish the colors of leaves in autumn. I love Henkes' pared down yet magical story that ends with the bear thinking no time has passed at all as he wakes up and enters a beautiful spring day.

What Pet to Get. Written and Illustrated by Emma Dodd.

A boy asks his preoccupied mother if they can get a pet as long as he takes care of it. Sure, she replies. The imaginative child and his mom then discuss the pros and cons of owning a pet shark, elephant, bison, rhino, and others. I love surprise endings, and this book offers one that never fails to get a big laugh in storytime--a fold-out page that reveals a lovely baby animal that is huge beyond words. Dodd's playful artwork tickles the funnybone, and I dig the deadpan exchanges between mother and child. Great for storytimes.

Wild Boars Cook. Written by Meg Rosoff. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall.

This team had two fun 2008 picture books, the hilarious "monster under the bed" spoof Jumpy Jack & Googily being the other. This tasty sequel to the rather gross Meet Wild Boars reintroduces the four greedy, stinky, and perpetually hungry wild boars who eat everything. When Doris starts eating a cookbook, she discovers a rather disgusting recipe for a Massive Pudding that includes such ingredients as chocolate-covered chocolates, donuts, squid, and...broccoli (yeech!!!). Rosoff's lively text and Blackall's energetic art go together perfectly, creating a fun manners book that doesn't quite seem like a manners book.