Rain! by Linda Ashman

Rain! by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Rating: 5 stars

At first glance, you might think, "See?  Picture books are so easy to write."  This is a simple book--a simple idea, written with sparse words; a picture book written with, well, pictures.

It's raining.  And from a tall apartment, two characters get ready for a little walk to a little bakery.  One is a young boy, happily dressed in a hoppy frog outfit, a smile on his face, boots made for splashing in puddles on his feet.  Frog-Boy is celebrating the rain, and his excitement is contagious.  Every person with whom he interacts soon has a smile on his face.

The other character is a grumpy old man whose furrowed brow dives down deeper at the sign of the blasted rain.  "Nasty galoshes.  Blasted overcoat. Dang puddle." he complains.  His grumpiness is contagious.  Every person with whom Old Grumps interacts sobers up and gets serious.

The first page says it all...

The two meet at the Rain or Shine Cafe.  Frog-Boy bumps into Old Grumps, who spits down at him, "Watch out!"  He alone is immune to the cuteness of the boy.  But then Old Grumps forgets his hat, so the Frog-Boy runs after him.  He puts on Old Grumps' hat and mimics him.  Old Grumps realizes right then and there what he looks like.  So he takes the Frog-Boy's hat, squeezes it on his big bald head, smiles, and says, "Ribbit!"

Cheerfulness wins the day!  Hooray!

Linda Ashman was wise to write such a simple, perfect little book about something we parents rant about all the time: attitude.  Have a good one, and not only will you be light and happy, but you'll have a good effect on those you touch during the day.

A simple, sweet book that my kids and I just love.

Creaky Old House by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Michael Chesworth

Creaky Old House: A Topsy-Turvy Tale of a Real Fixer-Upper by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Michael Chesworth

Rating: 5 stars

I'm a make-it-work girl married to a make-it-better guy; a little tension between those two approaches sometimes...just sometimes!...exists.  I'm happy to say that in this book, my way wins out.  Hooray!

I'd heard that Creaky Old House had a good, rollicking rhyme and it was about fixing up a home--something that happens all the time in our wonderful sorta-old home.  (It's hard to say that a house built in the '80s is old.)  There is always a project going on in our house--sometimes it's just a massive reorganizing effort, but often it's a renovation project that will take months to plan, and then months to occur.  Progress is good, I know, but when the status quo is mighty fine, it's hard to buy into progress.

But, as I type, Kiefer is walking around with a drill, "fixing things."  It's a toy drill, in case you're concerned about my wisdom in handing out real drills to a toddler.

Perhaps we have hoarders here?

In this VERY fun book, nine people live in an actual old home that has creaky stairs and quirky problems, a nook or cranny for everyone, and one problematic doorknob.  When that doorknob breaks and a new doorknob that fits can't be found, they look to replace the door.  But there is no door that fits perfectly.  So they'll have to adjust the door frame...and then move the chair...and then relocate the staircase...  As you probably guessed, the house-dwellers erupt with ideas and suggestions and pretty soon a brand-spankin'-new house is designed, complete with a roller coaster (my kids would love that!).

But just as the new house design is complete (it only took a few pages...not so realistic if you've ever been through that process!), they realize the youngest kiddo is missing.  Uh-oh!  Oh, wait.  She's just on the porch.  And looky there!  Lizzie has a triumphant look on her face.  She's gone and fixed the doorknob.  With her pacifier.

My kind of girl!  Although I'd have used duct tape.

Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christine Davenier

Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Christine Davenier

Rating: 4 stars

Samantha wants to learn how to skate, but her mom doesn't have time for her...not today.  What's a girl to do? Put the skates on and (augh!) skate around the house, teaching herself by going up and down the hall and around furniture.  And while her mom's not looking she (gasp!) heads outside by herself!  She skates all around town while her mom's looking after the baby (note to self: keep an eye on the others while changing the baby's diaper).  Whisking down Hawthorn Hill is where the adventure really begins...

Will is chasing butterflies.
Sammy takes him by surprise.
Flying by him like a jet,
Carries off his insect net.

"Now she's heading into town. / Tries to brake but can't slow down."

Matt and Molly, playing ball,
Miss the frantic warning call.
Sammy stumbles, bumping Matt--
Winds up with his baseball bat.

Toward the park now, swerving right,
Snags the strings of Katie's kite.
Katie hollers, "Come back NOW!"
Sammy cries, "I don't know how!"

As you can see, it's pretty fun to read.  As Samantha gains momentum and gathers collateral from her adventure, I gain momentum as I read it out loud to Lorelei and Ben (and Kiefer!).  It gets more and more exciting, especially if I get more and more into it.  (And what kid doesn't like their parent getting into a fun story?!)

The pictures are really fun, showing the crazy ride Samantha is on, showing Samantha's excited, now worried, now frantic, now happy, now proud face as she skates around town, and finally back to her house...where her mother now has time to show her how to skate.  Wouldn't you know it?  Samantha isn't interested anymore.  She'd rather just read a book quietly.