New picture books on apologies, music, vacations – and farts – Twin Cities


Picture books offer an amazing array of fiction and non-fiction for the little ones. Today we explore the excuses, how and why all creatures fart, the importance of music for children with autism, and a happy holiday party.

“How to apologize” by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (Candlewick Press, $ 16.99).

They are back!. LaRochelle and Wohnoutka, winners of the American Library Association‘s Geisel Prize for Fiction for their book “See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog,” offer fun, yet useful and sweet lessons for kids who want to make things right when things go wrong. .

“… when you’ve made a mistake that has hurt someone or something, the right thing to do is apologize”, begins the book, illustrated by a cartoon animal standing near a broken pot and a “Do not touch” sign.

An example of a partner’s sense of humor is the admission that it can be hard to apologize, especially if the other person is crazy, exemplified by three furry Somethings playing pinning the tail on the donkey on the side of a huge angry purple rhino. Readers are told that it is important to apologize even if someone owes you an apology as well: “Your apologies can be simple: tell the other person that you are sorry for what you did. The accompanying illustration shows a giraffe bending down to say to a little cutworm, “I’m sorry I borrowed your socks without permission. “

Other suggestions include how to be sincere in an apology, how to say you’re sorry when the mistake has long passed, and most importantly, realizing that apologizing will help you and the other person feel better. .

Reviewers love this book, which offers advice adults should remember too. Kirkus’ star review said: “The perfect balance between humor and seriousness conveys the message in an engaging way …”

(LaRochelle will be signing copies of “How to Apologize” at 10 a.m. on August 13 at Lake Country Booksellers, 4766 Washington Square, White Bear Lake.)

“Let it tear: the art of fart” by Amy Nystrom, illustrated by Stacey Combs (Wise Ink, $ 21.99).

We all fart or, as a previous generation would say, “cut the wind”. Author Nystrom, who lives near Lonsdale, and Minneapolis-based illustrator Combs gave their book a funny name, but this hardcover book is really about science, teaching about gas as it relates to our diet. and climate change.

“THERE IS NO SHAME IN FASTING,” proclaims one page, illustrated with children in all kinds of clothes, including a guy in a spacesuit. But – the text urges it – never forget to say “excuse me” if it is loud.

Even Mother Nature farts. When the ocean does, it is called a “gas eruption”. The farts of the sun are called solar flares. Two pages show all the farting animals, including sharks, caterpillars and elephants. And here’s one thing you’ve probably never thought about: the air in a spaceship is different from that on Earth. This causes the fart in the gut to expand, so the astronauts seem to fart more. Who knew?

Kids who are at the stage where they think bodily functions are hilarious will love this book. But elementary school students and adults will also learn a lot.

“Daniel finds his voiceBy Sheletta Brundidge and Lily Coyle, photos by Darcy Bell-Myers (Beaver’s Pond Press, $ 14.95)

Daniel is the youngest of four children of Sheletta and Shawn Brundidge, who live in Cottage Grove. Daniel was autistic and non-verbal until rapper Lil Nas X’s hit country song “Old Town Road” allowed him to use words.

Brundidge’s book, which was featured on “CBS This Morning,” recounts that the family was on a road trip, when suddenly 4-year-old Daniel started humming the song and talking.

Brundidge says she wrote the book two years later to help educate parents who have children with special needs about the power of music and how it can impact children’s ability to communicate.

Brundidge is an award-winning comedian, television producer and podcaster. She wrote her first book, “Cameron Goes to School,” after her daughter, who was also autistic, told her she wanted to be white like the characters in all of her books.

“Monkey with a tool belt and the smartest Christmas ever!” by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda Books, $ 17.99).

It’s three days before Chico Bon Bon’s Christmas party, and he has to make gifts for all of his friends. Where will he find material? From the big snowy garbage heap that he and his friend Clark found at the bottom of toboggan hill. But Chico must first buckle up his special holiday tool belt, which comes with 18 items, including a confetti blaster, a pile of batteries, glitter spray, gift clips and favorite scissors. The story ends with a happy New Year’s Eve party with Chico’s friends, who love all of their gifts. This is Duluth-based Chico de Monroe’s seventh adventure, and now this clever monkey is the inspiration for a Netflix series.


About Karren Campbell

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