Pomelo's Opposites

Enchanted Lion 

Ramona Badescu; Benjamin Chaud 

We love Pomelo! I'm very pleased to see more unique perspectives from my favorite pink elephant. Ramona Badescu covers these expected basic subjects, but her versions are just so smart and clever, that they end up being anything but expected. Pomelo demonstrating opposites is as refreshing as Pomelo Explores Color.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a funny opposites book before, but now that I have, the others seem even more ordinary. This one goes way beyond the traditional in/out, over/under opposite pairings. Badescu covers the lesser known opposites, such as convex/concave, fleeting/permanent, evident/unimaginable, and heartless/kind. One was so obscure, that I actually had to look up the definition. I love a children's book that makes you think.

But even her less outlandish pairs are far from boring. A carrot is ordinary. A carrot in a shape of an elephant is extraordinary. A dream is Pomelo with a lush head of head, while reality is bald Pomelo. She even makes in/out and real/pretend very amusing. Absolutely the very best, most enjoyable book of opposites we have found. 

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Bear Despair

Enchanted Lion 

Gaëtan Dorémus

Another wordless treasure from Enchanted Lion, who seems to be the king of finding the really great ones. 

 
Bear is peacefully snoozing away with his teddy tucked under his arm, when Wolf happens past. And wouldn't it be a funny joke to pluck out that teddy bear and fling it away as far as he can? Not to Bear. Turns out to be not so funny for Wolf either, after Bear gobbles him up as penance. With a scowl on his face, and Wolf safely tucked away in his belly, Bear starts to hunt for his teddy. He smiles when he sees that Lion has picked up the toy. Apparently Lion shares Wolf's sense of humor, because instead of returning the stuffed animal, he mocks Bear and tosses his toy over a steep cliff. For that, Lion gets gobbled up and finds himself right next to Wolf.  

The really brilliant part of this book is that Dorémus allows us to see the goings on inside of Bear's tummy. In no time at all, Wolf and Lion are joined by a pair of eggs (soon to hatch) gulped down as retribution from a teddy snatching bird. By the time an elephant find his way inside, Bear is quite large, his head balancing atop his mammoth body like a tiny pea. Possibly it is his fearsome size that persuades the Octopus to return his teddy. As soon as Bear is pacified, those who were eaten are now released and Bear returns to his nap.  

This is indeed clever, and deftly proves you don't always need to have words to understand the story being told. Just how brilliant are these illustrations? Brilliant enough to have won a spot on the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2012.

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

The Velveteen Rabbit

Enchanted Lion 

Komako Sakai, based on the story of Margery Williams 

The Velveteen Rabbit written by Margery Williams is a touching story and widely considered a children's classic. She wrote twenty-nine books that followed this, but none were as well loved or achieved such great noteriety. The Velveteen Rabbit has been republished and retold many times over since Margery's original in 1922, but this is a particularly beautiful copy from one of the most popular author-illustrators in Japan. 

This version is a little bit more condensed than the original. Sakai's illustrations were created using acrylic paint and oil pencils, which gives them an old world, dreamy feel. The slightly reduced text is barely noticeable, as the illustrations tell such a huge part of the story. Although all of them are gorgeous, my favorites are where the velveteen rabbit interacts with the real rabbits in the yard. It's fascinating how she was able to make the velveteen rabbit look like an old fashioned stuffed animal, while the others look as alive as can be.
 

Kudos to Enchanted Lion for choosing this classic, and for writing that they thought long and hard before deciding in favor of publishing a retelling of this classic, only because they wanted to give due consideration to the original. This book does not diminish the original at all, and only serves to introduce the tale to a whole new generation.

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Pomelo Explores Color

 

Enchanted Lion

Ramona Badescu; Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud 

We were first introduced to the delightful pink elephant last year in Pomelo Begins to Grow, which I liked very much. Now we are treated to his clever and humorous observations on color. It turns out that I think I like Pomelo's second book even more than his first.

Ramona Badescu does one of the best jobs describing colors in a children's book that I have ever seen. Her approach is brilliant, going beyond the appearance of color, using objects and events to describe the way the certain colors can make a person feel or the memories colors can represent. On top of that, her sense of humor shines through.

I typically prefer large picture books over small ones, but this one is an exception: 6.5" by 6.5" is just right for Pomelo and his colors. The right side of each page presents the illustration and the left offers a one sentence description. I had expected one page for each color, but it's so much more interesting to have a couple. The swirling blue of the sky is quite different than the icy blue of winter, and the messy brown of mud is a completely different color from the shiny brown of chestnuts.     

I laughed at the revealing purple of blueberries both because of the guilty look on Pomelo's face put there by the ring of blueberry juice around his mouth and because she's right, those berries are far more purple than blue. We also liked the green-gray of rot and the tiny insects who were clustered around, immensely enjoying that moldy lemon. We laughed ourselves silly to see Pomelo lying face down among the dangerous gray of stones.  

Altogether very smart and clever. Wonderful for a fairly large age range; smaller kids will enjoy the colors and illustrations, while older kids will understand the humor. I hope Pomelo comes through with a third book.  

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion.

My Dad is Big and Strong, But ....

 

Enchanted Lion 

Coralie Saudo; Illustrated by Kris DiGiacomo

The first thing I noticed about this book is the size and heft. Not only do the front and back covers seem extra thick and sturdy, but the pages are printed on cardstock, which is fairly unusual for a children's book. This book is no shrinking violet - it's every bit as big and strong as the illustrated dad it features.

Bedtime at this house seems very much like a million other houses. The whining and crying to stay up a bit later, the pleading for just one more book, the stubborn unwillingness to stay in bed. But in this case ... the culprit putting up some a fuss is the father. The sweet little boy is charged with corralling his dad into bed and making sure he gets a solid night's rest. It's no easy task.

He starts off with reasoning, but it's hard to reason with a guy who is turning cartwheels though the house, yelling "No, no, no!" The plan is to turn the lights out after one book, but those pleading puppy dog eyes are impossible to resist. Two books and one teddy bear later, his dad is snuggled up in bed (still wearing his hat) insisting that the light be left on. Dads are big and tough, but they can still be a little bit afraid of the dark. 

This is an adorable bedtime story. Kids and parents alike will appreciate and enjoy the little twist to the classic nightly resistance routine. The little sidekick dog is very funny, watching from the sidelines in most of the illustrations, but also offering some amusing canine body language. I really like how spare the backgrounds are - lots of neutrals with just a few key elements draw in.

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Fish On A Walk

Enchanted Lion 

Eva Muggenthaler 

This type of book is one of my favorite sorts. It is short on words, but long on possibilities. There are details hidden in so many places, just waiting for little eyes to seek them out. These sorts of books often lead to the very best discussions with your children, when you are treated to (sometimes surprising) thoughts from developing brains.   

Each page is allotted just two words, a pair of opposites, printed on the thin, white band that runs along the very bottom of the pages. Readers can use these as cues to understand the direction of the illustrations. I like that they are not the typical opposites you find in children's books. Here we have rude/friendly, jealous/accepting, and lazy/hardworking. I think my favorite page is wild/polite where a group of refined pigs seated in a restaurant is absolutely horrified by an adjoining table of wild monkeys. Inexplicable, a banana serves as their waiter. Maybe that's why the monkeys are so excited.

At times, it take a moment to realize how odd some of the details are. It is immediately obvious on the scared/brave page that one half of that duo is the rabbit cowering behind the his instrument, while his parents stand slightly offstage. I searched about before I realized his counterpart was the tiny frog sitting up top, singing away. Only after that did it dawn on me that the entire audience was vegetables. On another page, a white owl wearing glasses and a feathered headband perches on a trash can, reading the paper. A foot from his trash can lies three crushed cigarettes and a spilled bottle of water. I would swear there is a tiny shark's fin rising up from the puddle.

I do believe this is the type of book you could show to ten different children, and get ten different observations and explanations on the actions of each page. I also think a reader could spend a very long time looking at these pages and still miss plenty of interesting bits. Oh, I just spotted a potted plant with facial expressions and a knitted scarf. Interesting indeed .... 

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion.

Kangaroo for Christmas

 

Enchanted Lion

James Flora

Another lovely James Flora reprint by Enchanted Lion. The first, The Day the Cow Sneezed, was re-released last year, with the announcement that two books per year would follow, depending on the success of the first. I think the appearance of this kangaroo is a very good sign for Floraphiles.

It's Christmas time, the snow is softly falling, and sweet Kathryn has just received a rather large delivery from her Uncle Dingo. When her daddy carries that box into their house, an exuberant kangaroo hops out and starts knocking over furniture. Kathryn names her Adelaide and gives her a good brushing while her dad calmly sits down to read his paper. Either this gift is less alarming than I would have thought or Kathryn's dad has had one too many eggnogs. 

Kathryn and Adelaide are happily skipping through town on the way to Grandmother's house when a ferocious dog erupts with loud barks. Alarmed, Adelaide starts hopping faster and faster, weaving into traffic, through the Zwickys' apartment, and into the grocery store. Sausages flying, they bounce into the bakery and careen through the toy shop, where those big kangaroo feet mistakenly slide into a pair of roller skates. With one giant leap, the pair leap high above the houses, skating along telephone wires through the falling flakes. At least from there, they are able to spot Grandma's house.

Grandma does not seem surprised at all by the appearance of her granddaughter riding a kangaroo. On the way down, Adelaide skips through a batch of taffy that was cooling on her front porch, and is now stuck firmly to the roof of Grandma's car. No problem, she'll just drive her home that way. Although Adelaide is stuck fast, she hops with enough power to lift the whole car. One eventful, but accident free ride and they arrive home safely. Santa Claus brings soft boots for Adelaide's aching feet and they finish up the holidays quietly.           

This book is very much in the same style as Flora's first book. The pages again alternate between black and white, and vibrant colors - though the color scheme here is turquoise, salmon pink, and tan. And just as in The Day the Cow Sneezed.the story is a tumultuous series of events. All the commotion makes for an exciting read, plus there are tons of background details to pore over.

I adore the ferocious barking dog, the expression of bewilderment on the faces of the drivers, Mr. Zwicky's interrupted bath, and the bevy of doughnuts wrapped round Adelaide's tail as they emerge from the bakery. I like that she named her kangaroo Adelaide, that pink and turquoise are the main colors in a book that takes place at Christmas time, and the family's willingness to welcome a kangaroo into their home with no fuss. Such a fun book!
      
Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion.

Big Wolf and Little Wolf: Such a Beautiful Orange

 

Enchanted Lion

Nadine Brun-Cosme; Illustrated by Olivier Tallec

This is the third and final book in what is most likely my all time favorite picture book series. If you are not familiar with The Little Leaf That Wouldn't Fall and the original Big Wolf and Little Wolf, you must check them out. 

The two wolves awake one morning, both spying a beautiful orange hanging above their heads. It looks so sweet and so bright, that piece of fruit is all they can think about. Big Wolf climbs up and picks it, discovering it to be even brighter and more round in his paw than he had imagined it would be. Although Big Wolf very desperately wants that sweet orange for himself, he casually tosses it to his small blue friend. The orange globe sails over his head and rolls down the hill. One glimpse of Big Wolf's dejected face is all Little Wolf needs, to know he must retrieve the orange.

Big Wolf waits for a very long time, but there is no sight of his friend. Alarmed, knowing it will be getting dark soon, he ventures after Little Wolf, right into the city. Big Wolf soon finds the sweet orange lying on the street, but there is no blue wolf in sight, and he is terribly worried. When night sets, Big Wolf does not know what to do. He wants nothing more than to be under their tree, safe and sound. Instead, he is alone in a strange place: no grass, no trees, only silence. Not knowing what else to do, he lets out a long howl. And in that instant, he knows Little Wolf is near.

Big Wolf makes it through the night, and things look more promising in the morning. Eventually, he finds a hill very much like his hill, with a tree that looks similar to his old tree. And under that tree .... a tiny blue wolf! Upon closer inspection, this new area is nicer than the old, with a sandy beach and a very large body of water. Best of all, the smile on Little Wolf's face seems a bit brighter. Big Wolf forgets how scared and cross he was, and tosses the sweet orange to his friend, without a word. The two friends live happily ever after, on this new patch of land, under their new tree.

Although I loved this book, I thought it was quite different from the first two books in the series. It seemed deeper and darker, a few of the pages were almost desolate. And I found myself feeling a bit angry with Little Wolf, who seemed to be happily cavorting on the beach while his larger friend was roaming the streets, worried to death while searching for him. But Big Wolf holds no grudge, so nor will I. Again, the phrasing here is just as perfect as in the other books and the illustrations are just as dreamy. A bit darker, yes, but I wouldn't miss this one for the world.  

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion.

Pomelo Begins to Grow

 

Enchanted Lion 

Ramona Badescu; Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

Pomelo is a tiny, pink baby elephant. He used to be the size of a radish, but his favorite dandelion suddenly seems rather small. Could it be that he has grown? Pomelo thinks it’s time to do a little measuring. Yes! He has definitely grown. The young elephant is ecstatic, shrieking as he flips his tiny, pink body into the air. 

    

Pomelo’s growth spurt makes him start thinking very hard about himself and his path. He has a lot of unanswered questions about growing up. What has to happen on the inside for him to grow on the outside? Will he grow at the same speed as his friends? Will he change color? It isn’t just physical growth that Pomelo is worried about. He also wonders if his mind will mature to match his body’s pace. Will he lose interest in clowning around and start to like different things? Pomelo has so many unanswered questions, but he feels big enough to take on whatever new adventures come his way. 

I love how the illustrations range from ordinary to fantastical. Pomelo pictures his body parts growing at different speeds, with six funny drawings. One of my favorite pages is the one where he is imagining the inside of his body being controlled by tiny men working gears and levers. But then I also like his reaction to trying new experiences (spicy pepper!) and his little totem pole of how all creatures are connected to one another.

 Pomelo’s thoughts about growth are varied – probably not too far off from what a child would come up with.  He is a bit nervous and has some crazy ideas about what could possibly happen. Exactly why this book is such a great way to discuss physical, mental and emotional growth with your children! They will certainly identify with Pomelo who simultaneously cannot wait to grow up and yet wants to remain a carefree child. 

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Fox and Hen Together

Enchanted Lion

Beatrice Rodriguez

When we last saw Fox and Hen, they were happily resting after a frantic escape in The Chicken Thief. It's a possibility that this sequel will find these two living peacefully without incident ... but Beatrice Rodriguez comes through with a heck of a lot more fun than that. This book offers every bit as much excitement as the last, with another fun, unexpected ending.

And now Fox and Hen are blissfully co-habitating in an adorable house carved into the base of a tree. This is a happy house, as evidenced by a series of framed photographs of the embracing couple. The unlikely pair may be  long on love but they are short on food. With a kiss, Hen entrusts her egg to Fox (ha! See the twisted humor there?) and sets off with her fishing pole to snare lunch. Just as Hen catches a rather large fish, an enormous bird swoops from the sky, latching firming onto her fish. And the adventure begins!

Sure, Hen could let go, but she has a hungry family at home to feed. She clenches her beak and tightens her grip on her pole. For her efforts, she is deposited neatly into a nest of hungry baby birds who would like nothing better than a tasty chicken lunch. Hen quickly dives into the sea, only to be lustily pursued by a terrifying large sea monster. Brave Hen puts up quite the fight, besting the creature and landing on the beach directly in front of her own cottage. She dashes inside, only to find empty eggshells lying right next to a frying pan. You can't trust a fox!         

But it isn't a full-bellied animal who sits in front of the fire. Fox gently rocks a tiny bundle, the baby who hatched while Hen was away. Good thing this is a wordless picture book, because I can only imagine what would have come out of Hen's beak when she was jumping to her conclusions. It sure looks to us like this new arrival has the ears of a fox and the wings of a chicken. Should be a very interesting offspring, indeed.  

If you have not tried wordless picture books, I strongly recommend Beatrice Rodriguez. She includes action and adventure, terrific character expressions and plenty of fun-to-read body language. Plus, her books have a way of ending with a wonderful twist. I am delighted to report that we will be treated to one more Fox and Hen adventure, with Rooster's Revenge.     

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

The Day the Cow Sneezed

Enchanted Lion Books
James Flora

Originally written and illustrated in 1957, this book had officially been tagged "hard to find" by Flora lovers. Thanks to a fresh reprinting by Enchanted Lion, more of us can be introduced to this great author and illustrator, who we otherwise may have missed out on. James Flora was a commercial artist renowned for creating amazing illustrated record covers in the 1940s and 50s. He created his first children's book, The Fabulous Firework Family in 1955, when his first baby was born. He wrote this one to prove the first one wasn't just a fluke, and many more successes followed. 

Fletcher's morning routine includes taking his cow, Floss, down to the creek for a drink of water. Distracted by a bunny rabbit one cool day, Fletcher runs off, leaving Floss to stand knee deep in that chilly creek water.  Shaking and shivering, she lets out a powerful sneeze: KA-CHOW.  That sneeze sets off a series of unfortunate events that results in an impromptu fireworks show and the release of an entire zoo. That's quite a sneeze!

Of course, there are many steps in between the cow sneeze and the big fireworks show. There happens to be a billy goat driving a policeman's motorcyle with a cat on his back, a huge hole in the side of the schoolhouse wall and a flattened out fire truck.  Not enough?  Throw in some angry townspeople and see how zoo animals fare after tangling with a steamroller.  Now that's a story!

You can see the genius of James Flora's illustrations in the photos here.  Half the pages in the book are black and white, while the other half shout with vibrant pinks and blues. James Flora is very well known for his illustrations but they are not the only wonderful thing on these pages. I like his habit of calling attention to certain words by putting them in all caps, nearly on every page: POW! WHAMBO! and my personal favorite KA-BLOWIE-BLAM! I also enjoy the language he uses, specific phrases such as "scrunched as flat as corn flakes." It's just plain good reading paired with some spellbinding illustrations that make this a book you won't want to miss.   

Publisher Claudia Zoe Bedrick is a Floraphile, and depending on the success of the first reprint, Enchanted Lion will continue to republish two Flora titles a year.  This is much needed news as only a handful of Flora books are currrently available on Amazon. I can't wait to hear what other books will be offered!  The dedication on the inside cover of this one reads "For Caroline Flora: An early-mooing non-sneezer." Based on this book, I think I could easily become a Floraphile myself.   

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Daydreams of a Solitary Hamster

Enchanted Lion

Astrid Desbordes; Illustrations by Pauline Martin

This is a very unusual book that takes a little getting used to. Initially, I wasn't quite sure what I thought because the format is just so different from other children's books.  But the illustrations drew me in and the character attitudes and dialogues kept me engaged and entertained.  It definitely is a different sort of book, but it is also an interesting one that gets the readers thinking.

I would describe the set up as similar to a comic book or strip, with white lines forming boxes that separate the actions. Each vignette lasts only one or two pages, featuring a mix of the animals and their everyday life. A cast of six characters, each of whom bring their own unique personality to the table, are named simply as Hamster, Mole, Snail, Hedgehog, Rabbit and Squirrel. They may have simple forest names, but they are actually very complex animals. Hamster is remarkably egotistical, and unabashedly so. The comments that come out of his mouth are in direct contrast to his small, fuzzy exterior. Mole is sensitive and thoughtful, writing poetry and doing kind favors for his friends.  Rabbit is one of those all around good guys, whom others just seem to flock around. 

I thought some of the funniest bits in the whole book are those of Hamster and his birthday presents. He has a strict list of approved gifts (specific in both type and quantity) and shows absolutely no appreciation whatsoever for those which deviate from list. When presented with an unauthorized offering, he flatly states "Yuck. That smells bad. But thanks anyway." 

The book's content seems slightly more adult to me, and I was not surprised to read that the author has a background in philosophy. The press release reads "Philosophical, thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny ... the author infuses the book with a joyful spirit, while meditating on friendship, selfishness and the power of dreams."  You know, they really nailed it.  

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion. 

Coppernickel: The Invention

Enchanted Lion

Wouter van Reek

A friend sent me this book when I was having trouble coming up with gift ideas for my five year old.  He really enjoys arts and crafts, but gets frustrated while trying to come up with things to make.  I mentioned he needed a boost in the creative department and she said she knew just the right book to jump start his imagination.  Boy, was she right!

Coppernickel is delighted to discover his very favorite great big book of inventions has a blank page at the  back of the book.  Although his dog Tungsten wants to go outside and play, Coppernickel insists they must fill that last page with an invention of their own - something useful that has never been thought of before. Inspired by the other terrific inventions, he immediately starts doodling. He draws levers and pulleys, hooks and gears that will form the most amazing machine for picking high hanging elderberries.

Coppernickel's creation is so massive that it encroaches onto Tungsten's page,. Nudging it off, his faithful companion accidentally sets the machine in motion.  With a crunching and hissing of gears, Coppernickel is swiftly swept up into his own creation. This machine doesn't seem to realize that he's not a high hanging elderberry!  After he extricates himself, Coppernickel decides maybe a simpler approach would be better - which is exactly what Tungsten has drawn on his half of the paper.      

As soon as we finished this book, we went straight to the bin of markers and colored pencils to come up with a few inventions of our own.  My conclusion: if you are looking for some creative inspiration for your own children, seek the help of Coppernickel and Tungsten.  And most definitely watch the video below; the creator in our house liked it so much, we watched in three times.

The Chicken Thief

Enchanted Lion Books

Beatrice Rodriguez

There have always been wordless picture books on the market, but I have never really understood their appeal.  I like the words in a story. I find it soothing to know exactly what to say for each picture, and the comfort of having that cue to turn the page. I'm the narrator for a wordless book? Mmm ... what if I'm not saying the right things?  Many times I don't feel terribly imaginative and prefer to just coast along on the creativity of others.  

When Enchanted Lion came out with The Chicken Thief, I had barely glanced at the cover illustration and immediately knew it was a book I wanted to read.  A fox sprinting along with a chicken tucked tightly under his arm? Yeah, I'm going to need to know exactly what that fox has in mind. It wasn't until I took a closer look that I realized the description read "In this wordless story that is both funny and sweet ..." Grrr. I would have dismissed the whole idea, except that Enchanted Lion has a habit of putting out terribly good books. Maybe I could be persuaded to give wordless a try just this once ...

A handful of friends are enjoying a sunny day at their cottage, when a fox leaps from the bushes and swoops up unsuspecting Hen.  Clamping her beak shut with one paw, he dashes into the forest.  Bear, Rabbit and Rooster give chase, with angry scowls on their faces. Although the trio is is determined, they soon become fatigued, hardly able to keep up. Even Hen (who hasn't exerted one bit of energy) is nestled into Fox's arms, fast asleep. The other animals follow Hen's lead and find perches in trees to break for night-time, taking chase again in the morning.

In the morning, the animals are up and running, with scowls square on their faces. Fox knows his territory well, and leads the others on a merry chase. At one point, he makes his way through a series of tunnels, in which Bear gets stuck fast.  Fox and Chicken take the opportunity to play a leisurely game of chess while Rabbit works at twisting Bear free.

The animals chase on and on, over hills and across a lake. When they finally do catch up with Fox and Hen, things as not as they seem on the surface.  Fox has a fire stoked up in his sweet cottage, but it has not been built with the intent of roasting a chicken. Rather, the two friends are enjoying a hot drink in front of the fire. Explanations are hastily made to Bear, Rabbit and Rooster and the group relaxes.  

It turns out that wordless picture books are quite different from the regular sort, but they do offer their own advantages. We enjoyed the creative aspect of imagining what the animals might be saying on each page, and it sure is fun to hear what kids will come up with. The Chicken Thief is particularly good because of the great chase and the expressive illustrations. The body language and facial expressions of the animals convey so much that it is easy to forget about the lack of words on the pages.  I think in the world of wordless picture books, this may be the cream of the crop. I'm really glad I gave this book a chance!

Review copy provided by Enchanted Lion Books.

Seasons Book Trailer

Enchanted Lion has just released the trailer for Seasons by Blexbolex. This is a visually stunning book that invites the mind to remember and reflect, spurring it on to imaginative play through its strongly evocative images.  I have not yet leafed through a physical copy of Seasons, but this little video sure makes it look appealing!

I love that books have taken their cue from the film industry and begun making trailers.  It's a terrific way to virtually open the cover, flip the pages and see if it's the book for you, without setting foot in a bookstore.  Not that you should be proud of avoiding bookstores, but sometimes we can all appreciate the convenience of my friend, the Internet.  I adore that 'Look Inside This Book' feature that Amazon frequently offers, but these trailers are waaaaay better. 

The accompanying music is by Luna, which seems to be the perfect choice for the book. Just watching this makes me realize how ready I am to welcome Spring. 

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn't Fall

Enchanted Lion Books
Nadine Brun-Cosme; Illustrated by Olivier Tallec

When Big Wolf & Little Wolf was published last year, I was blown away by both the story and the illustrations. It was quite simply a very magical, beautiful book from start to finish. While I was terribly excited to discover there was a sequel written about those very same wolves, I was also a bit apprehensive that it would not live up to the initial book. I can now say this one is every bit as exquisite as the first. Same sweet wolves, more spellbinding illustrations, plus a brand new tale. Win, win, win for the readers!!

The two wolf friends are enjoying a warm spring day together when Little Wolf spies the most perfect sweet green leaf high up on their tree. He asks Big Wolf to fetch it for him, but Big Wolf replies that he should be patient and wait for the leaf to fall. Summer and fall arrive in turn, and still Big Wolf asks his smaller companion for patience.


It isn't until the winter winds bluster in, that Big Wolf suddenly announces, for no reason at all "I'm going up!" As good as his word, he climbs straight up into the heart of that big tree. The snow and ice make for a terribly slippery ascent, but he knows that leaf is meant for Little Wolf and he is determined to retrieve it. Far down on the ground, Little Wolf is rooted to the ground, wide-eyed and and feeling bit regretful he has asked for so much.

Little Wolf does not say a word until Big Wolf has both feet safely on the ground. And only then does he tell his friend what a beautiful thing he had done. Both wolves smile and tuck in (with appropriately sized fluffy white pillows and blankets) for the night. It is wonderful to see the great lengths one true friend will go for another.

The loveliness of the images are easy to prove, as you can see by the photos above. As for the perfect phrasing, I have chosen a few of my favorites to give you a feel for the writing: "He said it just like that, for no reason at all. Just to see Little Wolf's eyes sparkle." I also love "Little Wolf looked up into this rain of gentle stars." Sadly, presenting fragments is not as compelling as reading this tale in its entirety and you don't get a true sense of the magic.

I can confidently say that this book is as much of a must-read as the first. If you are not familiar with these wolves, I really think you are missing out on something special. Both books make my list of absolute favorites!

Pigeon and Pigeonette

Enchanted Lion Books
Dirk Derom; Illustrations by Sarah Verroken

I think this is a lovely book, although maybe just a tiny bit unusual. From the author's website "A delightful story about a beautiful friendship, Pigeon and Pigeonette is also about trial and error, believing in yourself, falling out of huge trees again and again, and never giving up. In other words, it's about the two coolest pigeons in the entire universe." Their summation is so beautifully worded and just the perfect introduction for such a wonderfully unique book.

When winter arrives, all the other birds have flown south for warmer weather except for the diminutive Pigeonette. Her tiny wings are too weak to support her, which makes flight impossible. As a result, Pigeonette is left feeling very lonely, scuffling along forlornly through the forest.


One morning Pigeonette is rudely awoken by a clatter in the trees above. She is faced with an enormous bird who is also having trouble flying, making great thwacking noises as he crashes through the branches. Pigeon's wings are large, but his eyes are dark, which makes navigation impossible. The two outcasts become friends and both dream of taking flight, soaring like eagles and reaching the clouds.

It occurs to the duo that they could form a flight team. Pigeon will handle the wing flapping while Pigeonette provides the verbal directions. Naturally, there are a few mishaps, but eventually their mission is successful. Relying on Pigeon's strong wings and Pigeonette's bright eyes, they can actually fly! When winter rears its ugly head, these birds are able to realize their dream of flying off together into the sky.

The illustrations are hand carved and hand printed. Isn't that amazing in this day and age? Even the font was carefully chosen to "reflect the clumsiness and learning process of our pigeon friends." Holding this book in your hands is like having a durable piece of art that you can share with your children. The illustrator herself personally watched over the printing of this book at a small family owned Belgian printer. Knowing all the thought and care that went into this book makes me love it that much more.

Big Wolf & Little Wolf

Enchanted Lion Books
Nadine Brun-Cosme; Illustrations by Olivier Tallec

I just can't say enough good things about this book. I fell in love immediately and found myself wanting more at the end. The illustrations, the story - lovely, wonderful, excellent! A stunning book with a simple message reminding us of the beauty of friendship.

Big Wolf quite contentedly lives alone under his tree at the top of a grassy hill. Each morning, he climbs the tree to perform his exercises, which is followed by freshly picked fruit for breakfast. After eating, he takes a long walk and enjoys the solitude. When darkness approaches, he snuggles up under his leaf blanket and settles in for the night. It has always been this way and Big Wolf has always felt satisfied.

Until one day, Big Wolf spots a blue wolf coming towards him in the distance, looking no bigger than a dot. He worries that this wolf will be bigger than him, but is reassured to discover this new wolf is indeed very small (and very blue). The wolves do not speak to each other, but are certainly aware of each other, sneaking sidelong glances. When night time approaches,Little Wolf remains, and Big Wolf shares a teeny tiny corner of his leaf blanket.


In the morning, Big Wolf resumes his typical morning routine, this time with Little Wolf copying his every move. He is careful to pick extra fruit to share for breakfast and finds himself enjoying the company. But when Big Wolf returns from his daily walk, there is no sign of his new friend. Immediately, Big Wolf feels uneasy and searches everywhere. When he can't find Little Wolf, he feels very sad. How is it possible that small a small wolf has taken up so much room in his heart?

When Little Wolf does return, Big Wolf's heart nearly leaps from his body with happiness. Both Little Wolf and Big Wolf realize how lonely they were without the other. They mutually decide that from that moment on, they will live together under the tree. And that's how it will always be.


It's all the small details that make this book so wonderful. On the page where they meet, the wolves are trying so hard to look casual, but you can see the sideways glances they cast. Gorgeous illustrations convey real emotion, with just a tiny bit of humor. It is terribly difficult to explain what a perfect match the writing style and illustrations are. Really and truly, this is one of my very favorite books of the year.

Another little detail that makes us terribly happy? The sequel Big Wolf & Little Wolf, The Leaf That Wouldn't Fall will be coming out this October! The same great wolves, this time wearing winter gear ....