Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon
Caldecott Award, 1976
Ages : 5 to 8
This would be an interesting question to ponder on, isn't it? And one that has a very interesting answer too, revealed by this very cute, award winning book!
The story starts with a mosquito telling the iguana who comes to the waterhole, a little something...about a farmer digging yams that were almost as big as the mosquito was!!! The iguana, for his part, is mighty annoyed at being told such tall tales and sticks a couple of sticks in his ears to avoid hearing such nonsense and walks off mek mek mek mek, looking pretty grumpy.
Calabash Cat and his Amazing Journey by James Rumford
Ages : 4 - 7
"Good children's literature appeals, not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child!" So goes a quote by an anonymous but obviously wise person, who has summed up the universal appeal that good kid literature has. And I can't help but second that. A book is completely about the shared enjoyment, and the little bits that everyone takes away from it. And Calabash Cat from the West African country of Chad, falls exactly into this genre!
Read the rest of this review over at Saffron Tree as part of CROCUS 2009! And don't forget to leave a comment! :)
Saffron Tree turns 3 today. And its been almost as long of my association with it. The beautiful thing about ST is that, we have all gotten together to go right deep into the heart of a world that we have all grazed the periphery of in our own lives with our children....the world of children's literature.
This world of children's literature is not to be taken lightly. Because it is not just for kids. Our kids are the pretext we can use to get ourselves a passport into a world that can delight and entertain the child within us. So if you've made the mistake of dismissing Saffron Tree because it has to do with only "children's books", then think again.
And take the opportunity of its 3rd birthday to pause by this space, and give it a hello. And while you're there, you can challenge yourself with a little crossword game based on the books that we have read at ST so far! Whatever your compulsions, do break your silence and give us all a pat on the back!
I've traveled the world twice over, Met the famous; saints and sinners, Poets and artists, kings and queens, Old stars and hopeful beginners, I've been where no-one's been before, Learned secrets from writers and cooks All with one library ticket. - Anonymous
And this is exactly what CROCUS 2009 is about. A sort of time travel Around the world in 7 days, touching upon the culture of every continent along the way, delving into its richness and complexity, and coming away, perhaps a little more wonderous about how truly diverse we are, and yet truly one, beneath it all. And all this, without even leaving our chairs! That is our hope, as we at Saffron Team mark our 3rd anniversary by beginning our official book festival called CROCUS...a Celebration of Reading Other Culturally Unique Stories!
Its going to be 7 days of back to back reviews, at every stop that we make along our route...our very own Silk Route, in addition to a fun crossword with an even more fun prize and personal author interviews. So mark your calendars and join us for this gala book festival. All relevant details are available on the flier. Click to view it large. And pass on the info to other children's book lovers. On my sidebar is a badge announcing this festival. Please do make use of it to display on your own sidebars to help spread the word over the next one week!
What would it be like, if a well known animation artist who has brought famous characters to life, such as The Little Mermaid, Alladin, The Lion King, Finding Nemoand The Incrediblescreated a picture book for children??? It makes you wonder, doesn't it??
It was entirely by accident that I came across this book, in my online search for multicultural titles at our library's website. The very title of it, that beautiful uplifting white background and those two very interesting looking characters on the front cover, just arrested my interest and I placed an immediate hold, not caring to read more into it.
When I went to the library to pick it up, among many others, I had a few minutes of wait, so I started thumbing through the pages...unable to contain my curiosity of what a book about 'nothing' could be all about! And it was all I could do to keep from guffawing out loud right there, right then. I am not exaggerating!! I literally had to clamp a hand over my mouth to stop the chortles from escaping. That is just what this book does to you...just from the pictures alone! I got in the car and fished out the book again to read it through before putting my key in the ignition. I haven't been **this** happy to read a children's book in a loooo...oong time. And I couldn't wait for Winkie to come back from school.
But I'm not going to wait that long to keep you in suspense either....so let me share a bit more. Concept wise, this story is brilliant. For here are two boys Frankie & Sal, who've done it all. Read books, done puzzles, finished colouring, played boardgames, played every sport invented (no kidding!) and just about every activity under the sun...you name it, they've done it. So now...what do they do???
Read the rest of this review over at Saffron Tree!
Writing is my heartbeat. Reading, my passion. God, my life force. My children, my hope. My friends, my cheer. My husband, the wind beneath my wings! The rest of my interests flow from this fountain of inspiration! This space is a reminiscence of the growing years of my boys, Winkie and Thambi, and my own evolution as a spiritual parent!
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
