Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Have you ever noticed an animal that doesn't seem to realize what animal it actually is? Or perhaps you have noticed an animal that seems the wrong size for the type it is. Animals just like people have personalities. They show up in so many different ways. I know I see it in my pets. Today we are sharing two newly released picture books about animals who are uniquely themselves. The first book is Gigantic by Rob Biddulph. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
About the Book:
A tiny whale with a BIG heart will capture the hearts of readers in this underwater adventure with positive messages about teamwork and believing in yourself.Meet Gigantic, the smallest blue whale in the Atlantic. Overshadowed by all the others in the pod, Gigantic is teased by the bigger whales and keeps to himself. But one day, when Gigantic’s brother gets stuck on the sand, it’s down to Gigantic and his smallest sea creature friends to save the day. Can they show it’s possible to be both tiny and brave?
This swimmingly good story about little fins and big hearts is a sweet and funny read-aloud with a positive lesson about teamwork, courage, and embracing what makes us unique. It's a whale of a tale!
From Me:
A book that shows size truly doesn't matter. Or maybe it does. Gigantic is the smallest blue whale in the pod. His parents hope he will grow to match his name, but his big brother, Titan, likes to tease him about his size. Gigantic finds smaller animals to play with and enjoys himself. When Titan's friends comment at how good Gigantic is at flips and tailspins, Titan tries to prove he is better, but the tide is changing and he gets himself beached. Titan and his small friends work hard to get him unbeached and Titan learns a lesson that being small is not a bad thing and being kind is even better!
I love this book. It has a wonderful message about finding joy and happiness no matter your size. Gigantic accepted being small and found someone his size to play with in the water. Yet when his big brother gets into trouble, it is the small ocean creatures that come to save him. The illustrations are colorful and beautiful. Plus there are five hidden objects to find in the book. On the bottom of the copyright page there is a list of five things Rob Biddulph hid in the illustrations for readers to find. I love this activity because it can make kids want to reread the book and keep looking for the hidden objects. I also love how Gigantic seems fine with his size and just accepts who he is. He finds others who are fine with who he is as well. This book is a fun book for any story time or to share during a unit on oceanlife.
Our second book is about a cat who seems to think he is a dog or bird or ... anything except a cat. I have definitely had a cat who thought he was a dog. The book is The Rare Bird by Elisha Cooper. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
About the Book:
Caldecott Honoree Elisha Cooper returns with a unique and playful tale about an imaginative house cat who dreams of all the wild things it can be.The imagination of one housecat takes him to unexpected adventures as he dreams of spreading his wings as a "Rare Bird".
A Rare Bird can do anything!
Fly fast through the forest,
or splash in the bird baths,
or meet animals from faraway lands.....
Readers will fall head over heels for this extraordinary tale of dreaming, the power of imagination, and the freedom of creativity.
From Me:
This book is so fun and creative. It takes things cats do and imagines them pretending to be different animals. It starts with the cat as a bird. The cat runs through the house thinking he is a bird flying in a forest. He is knocking things down. He climbs on a boulder also known as a dog and does all sorts of different activities that Elisha has made bird actions like eating at a bird feeder and having a nest. It ends with the cat listening to a story about other animals and he picks one to try out for the next day.
As a pet owner and animal lover, I always like to imagine what the animals are thinking or what they would say. This book is perfect for that. It is creative and fun. The actions of the "Rare Bird" are such typical cat actions but described as a bird. It will get readers thinking about behavior in different ways. It reminds me a bit of I Am Not Sophie except Sophie is a human pretending to be different animals. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful! At times the cat is drawn as a bird but with the cat's coloring. It adds so much to the story. I love how the cat is allowed to dream and just be. It is a message we want our kids to learn. They can imagine and be creative on their own. They don't need the technology to create.
This book is perfect for any story time. It is a great introduction to imagination and creative play. To go with the book it would be fun to act like different animals. The book Howl Like a Wolf would provide some fun activities, but really acting like animals kids know--cat, dog, bird, etc. could be great. It is also just a great book to get imaginations going. Ask the child what animal they would want to be and then act like it! Enjoy!
