Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse

When I read, Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Blanca Gómez, I was reminded of how many varied categories picture books fall into. A plethora of needs and uses that a slight-worded book for tiny hands can fulfill.

Red House Tree House is a cheeringly rhyming journey across the world. Brimming with fun, clever, teaching tools along the way. The reader is asked questions on several pages,

“Yellow fruit

Pink fruit

Orange fruit

Green.

Do you know the color of the berries in between?”

This engages the reader with the book both visually through the illustrations, as well as conversationally in the text. We also get to seek and find and search for the little brown mouse on each spread (which I have and always will love doing!).

The rhymes and the vocabulary pulses and builds as we travel across the world using various means of transportation,

“Pink shoes

Blue shoes

Green shoes

Red.

Shoes go on your feet. What goes on your head?”

This is such a witty and fun read aloud and I can just hear children shouting out their answers. Very interactive and engaging.

The illustrations by Gómez are happy and joyful. Simple shapes play off complex patterns in a delightful way.

The colorful end pages are printed with illustrated travel stickers along with a note encouraging an observant reader to match them with their places throughout the book. Yet another way the reader can interact with the book.

As I mentioned earlier, there are many purposes for a picture book: sometimes it’s to teach a life lesson, sometimes it’s to introduce a character with whom a child can relate, it can be mostly informative, or just make the reader laugh.

In the end, when thoughtful illustrations and lilting rhymes engage the reader to turn the page and continue on an exciting journey— it’s destined to be a successful classic that will be read and enjoyed,

again,

and again.

Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Jennifer is the illustrator and author of several acclaimed picture books. Most recently is Always by My Side, 'A Stuffie Story', which she wrote and illustrated. She also is both the author and illustrator of Playing Possum, and Blue Ethel. Jennifer illustrated Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winner Linda Sue Park. As well as, Sometimes You Fly, by Newbery medalist, Katherine Applegate. She illustrated Yaks Yak, Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor's Secret, What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford, by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz.

43 Comments:

  1. What a delightful book! Everything about it makes me happy. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing—I hadn’t even heard of this little gem before.

  2. Wow, the rhymes alone make me want to run to a bookstore and get a copy of my own to share with our littles! But then, the illustrations pull me right in, too! Going on my list. Thanks, Jen!

  3. Sue Lowell Gallion

    This one is new to me, and it sounds so thoughtfully constructed — AND in rhyme! Thanks for spotlighting it, I’m requesting it now.

  4. I LOVE this book, Jennifer! Bright and colorful with fun, playful rhymes, and the questions were a surprise. Thoroughly engaging!!

  5. This is so engaging. So much to like with the rhyme and rhythm and finding the little mouse. Thanks for sharing!

  6. This is the first I’ve heard of this book and there is so much to like! Looking forward to reading this one!

  7. What a charming book! I can’t wait to read this one to my grandchildren! Thank you for sharing it.

  8. Our copy is being processed now and I can’t wait to see it – this will be perfect for our “Wee Read” program!

  9. Lovely!!

  10. Quite charming! I am intrigued by your mention of the endpapers. Adding to my TBR!

  11. I can just hear little ones shouting out the answers and asking to hear it “one more time!” Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!

  12. Really cute! I love the colors and shapes in these illustrations.

  13. What a charming book. I can’t wait to read the whole thing. Thanks for the heads up.

  14. Oh, man. This looks like a perfect pairing, and just right for little ones. And I LOVE Blanca Gomez’s art. Just reserved it at the library. Thanks, Jennifer!!

  15. What a fun and sweet read aloud book. Thanks so much for sharing it.

  16. Isn’t this a delicious little book!

  17. This is the perfect match of text + illustrations. Can’t wait to read and share this darling book.

  18. Simple and fun. What a terrific book.

  19. This book is so cute I want to pinch its cheeks!

  20. What a lovely book, thanks for recommending it.

  21. Sareen, I hope you enjoy the book!

  22. What a delight! I’m finally catching up on PBB after Christmas holidays.

  23. A book that engages the reader on many different levels–isn’t that what we all hope to create?! Sounds like a book deserving closer study. Thanks for the recommendation, Jennifer.

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