Catching Up

Here are the picture books for the four days I missed.

The Serpent Slayer, and Other Stories of Strong Women,
by Trina Schart Hyman and Katrin Tchana



Here's another Trina Schart Hyman book that I just adore. Here, she collaborates with her daughter, Katrin Tchana, who collected a variety of world folktales that feature women in strong, capable roles. The illustrations are, of course, gorgeous, and very respectful of the different cultures and races portrayed. I have a copy of this set aside to read to my children one day.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
by Judi and Ron Barrett



I remember just loving the whimsy of this book as a small child. What's more fun than food raining from the sky? I loved poring over the illustrations as a child, and frankly, I wouldn't mind a shower of cupcakes every once in awhile.

Chester's Way
by Kevin Henkes



Kevin Henkes' picture books about anthropomorphic mice are just plain adorable. He captures the spirits of children very well and makes his mice both appealing and realistic. This particular book is about two boys learning to be friends with the new mouse in the neighborhood, a girl.

Katy and the Big Snow
by Virginia Lee Burton



This is another early favorite of mine, at first because I had the same name. But the story of the little Snowplow that could still warms my heart every time I read it, and this is my favorite of Virginia Lee Burton's many incredible books for children.

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Today's Picture Book of the Day is:

Tikki Tikki Tembo,
by Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent



I don't remember if this was a book my parents ever read me, or if I was already old enough to read it to myself when I discovered it. At any rate, this would be a fun book to read to children.

Tikki Tikki Tembo is a fable-like story (no idea if there's any basis in reality) that tries to explain why Chinese names are very short compared to Western names. As the story goes, two young brothers, the elder of whom is named Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sa Rembo Chari Bari Buchi Pi Peri Pembo (I just typed that from memory, aren't you impressed?), are out for a walk. The elder brother falls into a well, and the younger boy, whose name is probably Ping (all Western books about Chinese boys seem to have a Ping in them), goes running for help. He meets a variety of people, and to each one he has to say "Help! My brother, Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sa Rembo Chari Bari Buchi Pi Peri Pembo, has fallen into a well!" By the time the poor boy has reached his mother, he's so out of breath that he can't speak.

There are definitely imperialist overtones to this book, so that's worth taking into consideration when reading it to your children. But all in all it's just a fun story, and it's so memorable that 20 years later I still remember Tikki Tikki Tembo's name.