Jamie Michalak's Blog

Lucky reader, behold! You're the first to feast your eyes on the cover of THE INFAMOUS RATSOS ARE NOT AFRAID! 
In this follow-up to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book The Infamous Ratsos, written by our very own Kara LaReau and illustrated by Matt Myers, Louie and Ralphie Ratso set out to transform a cluttered lot into an arcade, they end up conquering a few surprising fears along the way.


Creeping your way September 2017!
Louie and Ralphie Ratso have a genius idea: if they clear out the lot down the street, they can use all the junk lying around to build makeshift games for a Big City FunTime Arcade! With their friends to help, they’ll be able to recycle all the old abandoned stuff into whack-a-mouse, a high-striker, a fortune-telling booth, and more. Everyone says the house next to the lot is haunted, but if Louie just pretends it’s not there, maybe he can ignore the goose bumps he gets every time he looks at it. Ralphie’s head’s not exactly in the game, either, because of some rumors that have been swirling around school. But they’re Ratsos, and like their dad, Big Lou, Ratsos aren’t afraid of anything — right? 
Kara LaReau and Matt Myers team up for a second surprisingly touching chapter book proving that sometimes the things you fear the most aren’t at all what you thought — and might be exactly what you need to feel better.

Today, we have the honor of revealing the cover of a follow-up to one our favorite books of 2016, RACE CAR DREAMS by Sharon Chriscoe.

Make way for BULLDOZER DREAMS (illustrated by John Joven), coming October 3, 2017 from Running Press!




Sharon stopped by the Cottage to tell us a bit more about the book — and generously offered a signed copy of RACE CAR DREAMS, to one lucky reader!


Leave a comment below to enter to win. Winner will be announced next week!

What it's all about...
“After a day at the construction site, pushing and piling dirt, a bulldozer is tired and ready for sleep. He scrubs clean his track, sips up some supper, and chooses a book to read with his cone. Underneath the stars, he drifts off to sleep, he lowers his blade . . . and dreams of finishing his important work!”

My favorite line(s)…
Of course, as the author of each line, I love them all. But I think my favorite lines are “He pulls in the station, sipping each slurp. His belly pan swells, and up comes a burp.” The idea of a bulldozer’s belly pan swelling until he lets out a burp is simply hilarious. And the illustration for those lines is equally funny and cute.

A sneak peek inside the book...

(c) 2017 John Joven;  from Bulldozer Dreams published by Running Press
Why kids will love it…
Kids will love how bulldozer is just like a kid. From his friendly smile to his funny burps and sleepy yawns, kids will understand that even bulldozers need a little shut eye.

Why grown-ups will love it…
Grown-ups will love the gentle, rhythmic text and vivid illustrations as they snuggle with their little ones to enjoy this special bedtime story.

Sharon Chriscoe never saw a bulldozer clearing the way for a new playground, but she did enjoy doing a little dozing of her own in the sandbox. She is the author of Race Car Dreams and forthcoming Fire Truck Dreams, both illustrated by Dave Mottram, and The Sparrow and the Trees, illustrated by Susan Detwiler. Sharon and her husband live in Pilot Mountain, NC. They have three children and one grandchild, and a large variety of pets. In addition to her books, she has been published in Highlights High Five, Highlights Hello, The Old Farmers Almanac for Kids, The Mailbox, and more. She is represented by Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. Please visit her online at sharonchriscoebooks.com.
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Pre-order Bulldozer Dreams online.At an indie book store near you. 
Comment below to enter to win a signed copy of Race Car Dreams, race flag swag and bookmark! 
Race Car Dreams
by Sharon Chriscoe
illustrated by Dave Mottram
(Running Press, 2016)

"The story unfolds in rhythmic four-line stanzas and is composed with a calm, soothing tone that makes this perfect for reading aloud before bed. Largely bathed in a cool nighttime palette of greens, blues, and violets, Mottram's colorful cartoon illustrations bring charming expressions to anthropomorphized vehicles and tools. VERDICT This sweet bedtime offering is ideal for vehicle and auto-racing enthusiasts." —School Library Journal

"Chriscoe's crisply rhyming text is enlivened by lots of punny expressions and colorful language...All in all, clever, bouncy fun." —Kirkus

WORDSby Christoph Niemann





This week's pick is from cottager Kara LaReau.


What it's all about
More than three hundred words are brilliantly (and wryly) portrayed in this book by master illustrator, designer, animator, and author Christoph Niemann.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf…
My almost-four-year-old is OBSESSED with letters and words. And my husband and I recently (and gleefully) binged on the new Netflix series, Abstract: The Art of Design, which features Mr. Niemann, among other renowned designers. So this is a book we can all enjoy!

A sample illustration…




Why kids will love it…
It's a world of words to pore over, in a style that's colorful, graphic, and fun.

Why grown-ups will love it…
Niemann's word and image pairings convey both the simple and the complex, and encourage readers of all ages to take the time to consider (and celebrate) our language.

HELLO, MY NAME IS OCTICORN
by Kevin Diller and Justin Lowe
additional illustrations buy Binny Talib


This week's pick is from Cottager Anika Denise .

What it's all about ...
Octi is an Octicorn: half octopus, half unicorn. Being the only Octicorn in the world — it's sometimes hard for Octi to fit in.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …
Because it's deliciously silly. I can practically hear the creators giggling as I turn the pages. Somehow, this quirky little gem of a picture book escaped my notice, but when I spotted it on the shelves at our local independent bookstore, I knew I HAD to have it. Now my daughters and I can't stop reading it.
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Favorite lines... 


Favorite illustrations ...


Illustration from Hello, My Name is Octicorn; Balzar + Bray (An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)
Illustration from Hello, My Name is Octicorn; Balzar + Bray (An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)
Why kids will love it …
Kids will dig the oddball humor in both the text and illustrations.

Why grown-ups will love it …
The jokes hold up for adults, too. Bonus: it offers a nice message to reassure kids that it's okay to be different. (And to want good friends. And cupcakes. And a jet ski.)

The Gumazing Gum Girl: GUM LUCK
by Rhode Montijo, with Luke Reynolds
Illustrated by Rhode Montijo


This week's pick is from Cottager Jamie Michalak.



What it's all about ...
When Gabby Gomez chews gum, something gumazing happens. She turns into a super-stretchy, super-sticky superhero--Gum Girl! A new villain in town is cooking up revenge. Will Gum Girl be able to save the day? And will Gabby keep her sugary identity from her dentist dad?

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …
It's a snappy graphic novel with bold, flavor-packed illustrations. And the cover smells like bubble gum! 

Our favorite illustration ...


From The Gumazing Gum Girl: GUM LUCK by Rhode Montijo, with Luke  Reynolds. Illustration copyright  2017 by Rhode Montijo.
Why kids will love it …
They'll be cheering for this bubbly superhero and looking forward to her next adventure. And did we mention the cover smells like bubble gum???

Why grown-ups will love it …
GUM GIRL is a fun choice for reluctant and emerging readers, and it offers a little lesson about never giving up.

bunny slopesby Claudia Rueda 





This week's pick is from cottager Kara LaReau.


What it's all about
Want to join Bunny for a ski day? You'll just have to shake the book to make it snow, tilt the book to make him go downhill, and turn the book to keep him from falling. With a little help, skiing can be as easy as carrot cake!

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf…
Catia Rueda's winsome illustrations and interactive text make for a super-fun day on the slopes.

A sample illustration…




Why kids will love it…
Readers are part of the action, as they help Bunny navigate the twists and turns and hills and holes  on the trail!

Why grown-ups will love it…
This fun read-aloud ends on a sweet, warm note — just like a cup of Mama Bunny's hot cocoa.

I HEART YOU
by Meg Fleming
illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

This week's pick is from cottager Anika Denise!
What it's all about ...A gentle meditation on the love between parent and child.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf …The world feels mad and intense right now, and if we big people are feeling it, you can bet our little people feel it, too. This book is a quiet snuggle before bedtime; a way to connect, express love, and reassure. After listening to Fleming's spare, lyrical text — and taking in each lovely detail of Wright's delicate watercolor illustrations — my pajama-clad daughter deep sighed, and whispered: "Read it again, Mama." Need I say more?
My favorite line(s) ..."I chase you.I slow you.
I lift you.I grow you."
also... 
"I sway you.I swing you.
I snug you.I sing you."
and best of all...
"I hear you.I let you.
I know you.I get you."

Most swoon-worthy illustrations ...(They are all gorgeous. Here are two examples...)
(c) 2016 Sarah Jane Wright
(c) 2016 Sarah Jane Wright
Why kids will love it …For its gentle, loving message and sweet illustrations.

Why grown-ups will love it …It gets a 11 out of 10 on the snuggle scale. A perfect bedtime selection.