Read Aloud Thursday

Last week, I highlighted a wordless picture book for Read Aloud Thursday.  This week’s books include an almost wordless picture book.  Actually, that’s not true.  Hug by Jez Alborough contains twenty-nine words, and twenty-five of them are the word hug. Three year old Louise loved this book.  Bobo, the sweet little monkey in this story, is lost and forlorn among all the other jungle and grassland mother and baby pairs because he has no one to “hug.”  Of course, the story has a happy ending when Bobo is reunited with his mommy.  Louise got a kick out of the repetition in this story, and the sweet expressions on the animals’ faces make this a real winner.

Based on my affinity for books about artists and art, I’ve decided I must harbor a secret desire to explore my own creative side.  Actually, it’s not so secret; the older I get, the more I value art and creativity.  This is something I really hope to foster in my children; hence, I read them beautifully illustrated stories about artists.  What caught my eye about Painting the Wind, though, is the author.  I positively love Patricia MacLachlan, so I figured any book by her and another author whom I presume to be her daughter would have to be good, and it is.  This is the story of a little boy who lives on an unnamed island which is the seasonal home of all kinds of artists.  The beautiful (WHAT?  oil paintings?  watercolors?  see–I’m no expert, just a fan) illustrations by Katy Schneider contribute to the gentle feel of life on this island.
I’m pretty sure that Frances deserves her own post, but I couldn’t resist posting a teaser for this Read Aloud Thursday.  If you haven’t read any of this spunky little badger’s stories, run, don’t walk to your nearest library and check them out.  I have such fond memories of Frances which go all the way back to not my own childhood, but one semester of graduate library school.  I can still remember my children’s literature professor reading Bread and Jam for Frances and positively singing Frances’  little made up songs.  I was hooked.  I’m just glad my children like to go along for the ride.  Seriously, these little I Can Read gems by the husband and wife team of Russell and Lillian Hoban are not to be missed.

What’s in your family’s read aloud basket this week?  Link here or leave me a comment!  Oh, and be sure to check out yesterday’s post if you want to be introduced to a very prolific author whose books make great read-alouds!

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