Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies

I fell in love with Brian Lies' artwork a few years ago when I reviewed his picture book,  Bats at the Library. Knowing that, the Youth Services Librarian at work brought me his most recent book, Bats at the Ballgame. If you think picture books are just for children, think again. This book is for anyone who loves baseball, bats, or a combination of them. Lies has given us another fun, gorgeous book.

Humans aren't the only ones who appreciate the beauty of a baseball field, the vivid green and brown colors. When bats get the chance to go to a ballgame at night, they find it to be an awesome sight. They watch the bats prepare the field for a game, with powdered sugar for baselines and a fork to rake the mound. Vendors sell Cricket Jacks, Mothdogs and Infield Flies. During the seventh-inning stretch the crowd of bats sing their own version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Grandbats tell little bats stories of baseball games and heroes of the past. And, when they think the umpire missed a call at home, they holler the ump is blind.

Each time I review one of Lies' picture books, I wish I could share the illustrations with you. You'll just have to examine the cover illustration to realize the pictures inside are just as detailed and beautiful. Lies places bats into ordinary circumstances; the beach, the library, or a baseball game, and brings them, and the setting, to life.  Bats at the Ballgame is a book to share with anyone who loves baseball, or has a sense of humor to appreciate the story of bats at at baseball game. I'm glad a librarian shared this one with me. Now, this librarian is passing it on to you.

Brian Lies' website is www.brianlies.com

Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ©2011. ISBN 9780547249704 (hardcover), 32p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library Book

The Last Train by Gordon Titcomb, paintings by Wendell Minor

Sometimes, a children's picture book tugs at your memories, as well as your heart.  The beautiful book, The Last Train does that for me.  Gordon Titcomb, a composer and musician wrote the words, and the paintings are by Wendell Minor.  And, if you're anything like me, The Last Train will take you back home.

The book tells the story of a small Midwestern town where the freight trains came through.  The story is told by the grandson of a railroad man, and the son of one, as he looks back on his childhood memories of the trains and the melancholy sounds.  That town lost the trains when the last freight train went through, and the narrator has a box full of memories.  It's a story of imagination and memory.

And, Minor's illustrations are gorgeous, capturing the trains, the Midwest, and the people who worked on those trains.  But, don't take my word for it.  If you love trains, take the time to watch the video trailer, hear the haunting music and song by Gordon Titcomb, and watch those illustrations come to life.

Does it bring back memories?  There was nothing I enjoyed more as a child than lying in bed in the upstairs bedroom at my grandparents', listening to the sound of the train at night.  And, now, when I return to my mother's in Ohio, I can hear the trains go through my hometown.  I showed the book to a co-worker, who said her grandfather worked in the depot, and she and her brother used to be able to go out on the rails on the small car with the men when they repaired the tracks.  Her face lit up when she talked about the depot.  I loved trains so much that a friend's family gave me an electric train when I was in high school.

The Last Train isn't just a picture book to share with small boys who like trains.  This is a trip through the past to share with anyone who remembers trains with longing, and love.  It's a trip back to our childhood.

Gordon Titcomb's website is http://www.gordontitcomb.com/

Wendell Minor's website is http://www.minorart.com/

The Last Train by Gordon Titcomb, paintings by Wendell Minor.  Roaring Brook Press, ©2010. ISBN 9781596431645 (hardcover), 32p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library book

What Cats Want for Christmas by Kandy Radzinski

I was pulling books at the library the other day and found such a charming book that I have to share it with you.  If you're looking for a Christmas book for the cat loving child or adult, it's hard to resist What Cats Want for Christmas by Kandy Radzinski. 

Fourteen enchanting cats write letters to Santa.  Radzinski's illustrations are beautiful, showing every detail of the fur of each cat.  And, each page is framed with Christmas decorations, ribbons or gingerbread figures, ivy and holly.  But, children and adults need to pay attention to those decorations.  For one cat, those gingerbread figures are gingerbread cats.  Snowcats, instead of snowmen, ring one page.   A gingerbread house has a mouse at the door. 

Children will love the letters as well.  Jade, a cat in a chef's hat, licking her lips, is surrounded by beribboned mice as she asks Santa for "A book on how to cook mice, flamingo burritos, peacocks and rice, sparrow-spaghetti and pelican pie, woodpecker pizza and pigeons on rye."  I wish I could share all the illustrations, but look carefully at the cover.  That's Paws, a cat who writes, "Dear Santa, I'm tired of being all alone.  Can you find someone to love me and give me a home?"  The final pages, and that cover, show Paws on Santa's lap, in Santa's sleigh.  I think Paws may just find that home for Christmas.

As a cat lover, I fell in love with this book, but I don't want to disappoint dog lovers here, either.  Radzinski's companion book is What Dogs Want for Christmas.  I just didn't get to read that because it was the book I pulled for a patron's request.  But, What Cats Want for Christmas is my selection for a picture book for this year's Christmas.

Kandy Radzinski's website is http://www.kradzinski.com/

What Cats Want for Christmas by Kandy Radzinski.  Sleeping Bear Press, ©2007. ISBN 9781585363407 (hardcover), 31p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - Library book

It's a Book by Lane Smith

This book is a little controversial in the review for children's books.  It's designed for ages 4 to 8, but,  there's a comment about a jackass, one of the characters, that causes the controversy.   However, I have to say, as an adult watching the digital revolution, worrying about the future of books, I found Lane Smith's It's a Book wonderful. So, the best thing I can do for you is show you a clip from the book, and recommend it for adults. If you're a book reader, you should love it.

Let me know what you think, if you get a chance to see Lane Smith's It's a Book.  For me, it's a keeper.

Lane Smith's website is http://www.lanesmithbooks.com/

It's a Book by Lane Smith.  Roaring Brook Press, ©2010. ISBN 9781596436060 (hardcover), 32p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publicist sent me the book, hoping I would review it.