It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date, and adapted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts with a children’s/YA focus. The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. These weekly roundups are a great way to discover new blogs and bloggers, share some of the titles you’ve been enjoying, and add to your ever-growing to-read list.
I had a chance to review a new title from Margarita Engle, illustrated by Mike Curato, called All the Way to Havana. Be sure to check out the post if you haven’t already, I’m sure this one’s going to be a hit with young car enthusiasts in particular!
I tend to post a lot of picture book reviews largely because they’re what I read in my professional life as a librarian. Outside of work I tend to read quite a bit of nonfiction, and some of my favourite titles are the ones that tell the weird and wonderful stories of eccentric individuals. I’m currently reading a fascinating account of the art and science that is taxidermy.
Still Life is a celebration of taxidermy from its earliest beginnings to its current interpretations. Melissa Milgrom spends time with professional taxidermists, attends conferences and conventions, and even tries her hand at taxidermy (an experience not for the squeamish), while also investigating and exploring the roots and development of taxidermy as both an art and a science. Colourful characters, famous institutions and quirky settings round out this sensitive look at a profession and passion that has not always been treated with much respect.
I have long been fascinated by taxidermy. In the days before film, taxidermy allowed people to explore and experience far-away places and witness the incredible diversity and majesty of the natural world. Imagine exploring the Museum of Natural History as a young child and coming face to face with snarling tigers, trumpeting elephants or cheeky monkeys, all brought to life in highly-detailed, carefully researched and lovingly staged dioramas. It must’ve just been breathtaking, and the amount of passion and care that went into creating those mounts is staggering.
Still Life really is a delightfully engaging and at times downright hilarious exploration of a very unique industry, and a celebration of eccentrics from past and present. Definitely worth a read.
Now, this picture book contains within its sweetly illustrated pages several examples of very, very naughty behaviour, including car theft, speeding and reckless driving, destruction of police property, lying to a police officer, lying to an authority figure, and making false accusations.
If you have a sense of humour, though, this ridiculously adorable picture book may very well be right up your alley!
In Moo!, a very sneaky cow steals a farmer’s car and takes it on an ill-fated joy ride, with very comical results. I don’t want to spoil the ending, because it really is quite clever, but I’ll just say that our dear cow friend is as quick-witted as she is naughty!
What makes Moo! so much fun is that the text is limited to a single word – Moo! The word is printed in different fonts using different punctuation to express different emotions, which makes it a real hoot to real aloud!
I’ve used this one with school groups, and they find it absolutely hilarious, and often join in with me in my moo-ing! I recently tried it with a preschool group, and it was a blast, and we had a very nice discussion afterwards about giving the cow a time out in the thinking corner for her behaviour. 😉 Really, though, how could you be angry at that cow – just look at the joy on her face when she’s motoring around the in the car!
Have a great week everybody, and here’s hoping you don’t park your cars near any joyriding cows!
Thanks for the reviews. The book about the cow sounds like a lot of fun for small children.
It definitely is, and it’s also a good introduction to the power of punctuation and text, because the entire story is told with just that single word, written in different ways!
Moo sounds just delightful! I admit to a fascination for taxidermy myself. Many of my hunting friends have animals around their houses. It’s a fascinating art form. All the way to Havana looks good too. I’ve got friends who just returned from a visit to Cuba. I’ll have to show them this book.
BTW, when will the VPL have a copy of All the way to Havana?
Probably not for a while…it doesn’t come out until August, and then it takes us a little while to get things purchased and processed…so…yeah…probably not for a little bit! 😉
Moo does look great, as does Margarita’s new book, Jane. And that taxidermy book, wow! It sounds interesting. We look at so many animals who’ve been “saved” for museum through taxidermy. I think it will be fascinating. Thanks!
It really was fascinating – thanks to taxidermists we can still get up close and personal with some long lost species, like the extinct Labrador Duck. Plus I just love reading about eccentric and passionate individuals who live very unusual lives. 🙂
Moo sounds brilliant! I’m looking forward to All the Way to Havana. I remember reading good things about that taxidermy book. Not a topic I have any interest in, but I do love good nonfiction so I may check it out. Thanks!
Moo really is ingenious – I love stories that use text in unusual ways, it’s so inspiring and eye-opening for young readers to realize all the different ways that a story can be told.
Still LIfe sounds quite interesting. Not a subject I know much about! All the Way to Havana looks great!
Yes, I definitely recommend taking a look at All the Way to Havana when it comes out this summer!
I want to read all of these books. It was another busy week but I did manage to finish some books. Come see what I’m reading.
It’s so frustrating when life gets in the way of reading, isn’t it? 🙂
haha I will admit I’ve always been creeped out by taxidermy- but I’m glad you liked it. Moo sounds (and looks) like such fun!! Awesome post 😀
Thanks so much! I’m always amazed by how creative and imaginative kids’ book authors can be! 🙂
Moo looks hilarious. I almost always love Engle’s books so I’m excited to read All the Way to Havana. I have a small screech owl that has been gifted to our library that makes the taxidermy book look interesting.
I only discovered Engle recently, and she’s so prolific, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do! 🙂
Still Life isn’t my kind of read, but it definitely sounds like it could be an interesting and insightful title. Happy reading!
Sometimes you just never know until you crack the cover, right? Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Still Life sounds interesting. You never know what topics will turn into great nonfiction books. Have you read Stiff by Mary Roach (all about cadavers)? It was fascinating!
I love Mary Roach!! I’ve read a couple of her books, she definitely knows how to pick some pretty strange and fascinating topics.
Oh wow, the illustration on the Havana book is gorgeous! And a children’s book about car theft, haha, that’s just cracking me up. It does sound like a fun book though!
A picture book about a car-stealing, joy-riding cow – what will they think of next?? 😉
my kids would have LOVED this one when they were younger! That last illustration with the cop is so funny!
It’s pretty darn hilarious, such a naughty cow! 🙂
I loved Tia Isa Wants a Car, and All the Way to Havana looks like a good companion book to it!
I think it really would be a lovely companion. It’s a wonderful picture book!
Margarita Engle is one of my favorite lyrical writers. Her books are so beautiful!
Moo is HILARIOUS! I forgot that I own it–I had to go find it after reading your post.
Happy reading this week 🙂
Isn’t Moo just awesome?! I used it with a group of school-aged kids, and then we went and created our own versions of the story using different animals and their noises, so much fun!!
Moo mooMOO moo moo MOO! Just kidding :). That book sounds hilarious!
I’ve been seeing reviews for All the Way to Havana and I can’t wait to see and read it for myself!
I love everything that Margarita Engle writes, so I am sure All the Way To Havana won’t be an exception. Looking forward to finding it in our libraries here in Singapore.