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[CCBC-Net] Tom & Pippo/board books
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From: Robin L. Gibson <gibsonr>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:06:30 -0400
I'm a huge fan of Helen Oxenbury's baby books, most especially Tom and Pippo. I loved the original ones (beginning around 1989, I think) -- large size, simple white background, short story that is a perfect length for toddlers -- and long out of print. Four of these were reissued & are available in board book form, with bright colored backgrounds instead of white for the cover art (that's ok) and a smaller size. The smaller size works for small hands, but the larger original ones were perfect for sharing in baby/toddler storytime. And I miss the other titles not reissued: Tom and Pippo Make a Mess, Tom and Pippo See the Moon, Tom and Pippo in the Garden (and several more) . . . so for me the original format, and more stories were the best.
I don't like the trend of making so many existing stories into board books. It does work for Tom and Pippo, and it's okay for Goodnight Moon (though the mouse is much harder to find . . . they've barely kept him, but they did keep him! near the edge of one page). The latter is so well used in our house that the board book version is soft around the edges. I'm glad to have it so my picture book version will still be sharable for some time to come! But some books . . . like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom . . . don't fare as well. In this case, only half the book is there. Stick with the original! So it is always good to look closely at board books that were originally published as picture books to see what has been left out . . . because usually something is missing.
I'm glad Kevin Henkes created new stories for his board books, using his familiar characters, rather than having someone slice up/compact Owen or Sheila Rae the Brave. These picture books are perfect the way they are . . . and would not make good board books. Owen's Marshallow Chick and Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick are just right.
Robin
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:06:30 -0400
I'm a huge fan of Helen Oxenbury's baby books, most especially Tom and Pippo. I loved the original ones (beginning around 1989, I think) -- large size, simple white background, short story that is a perfect length for toddlers -- and long out of print. Four of these were reissued & are available in board book form, with bright colored backgrounds instead of white for the cover art (that's ok) and a smaller size. The smaller size works for small hands, but the larger original ones were perfect for sharing in baby/toddler storytime. And I miss the other titles not reissued: Tom and Pippo Make a Mess, Tom and Pippo See the Moon, Tom and Pippo in the Garden (and several more) . . . so for me the original format, and more stories were the best.
I don't like the trend of making so many existing stories into board books. It does work for Tom and Pippo, and it's okay for Goodnight Moon (though the mouse is much harder to find . . . they've barely kept him, but they did keep him! near the edge of one page). The latter is so well used in our house that the board book version is soft around the edges. I'm glad to have it so my picture book version will still be sharable for some time to come! But some books . . . like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom . . . don't fare as well. In this case, only half the book is there. Stick with the original! So it is always good to look closely at board books that were originally published as picture books to see what has been left out . . . because usually something is missing.
I'm glad Kevin Henkes created new stories for his board books, using his familiar characters, rather than having someone slice up/compact Owen or Sheila Rae the Brave. These picture books are perfect the way they are . . . and would not make good board books. Owen's Marshallow Chick and Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick are just right.
Robin
-- Robin L. Gibson 55 Old Farm Road Granville, Ohio 43023 gibsonr at denison.eduReceived on Thu 27 Jul 2006 10:06:30 PM CDT
