One
of my favorite picture book author-illustrators is Jan Thomas. I first discovered her work when I came
across The Doghouse. I loved it so much, I sought out her other
available titles at my local library. Afterwards, I did an Author Spotlight covering
some of her books, such as Rhyming Dust
Bunnies, Can You Make a Scary Face?,
and Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave
Cowboy.
Thomas’
books are ideal for emerging and early readers. Suspense and questions
encourage reader and listener interaction. Unexpected reversals and ironic
situations bring humor and liveliness to the reading experience.
She
appeals to children’s proclivity toward cute animals. Her reoccurring characters
include Duck, Cow, Dog, Mouse, Chicken and Pig. Bunnies and other animals also have made appearances. Her energetic characters are endearing.
One
of the most remarkable aspects of her writing is its simplicity. She uses sight words and simple vocabulary,
often repetitively, which allows for early readers to master the reading
experience and to gain confidence.
Every
book is a delight! For anyone who
interacts with children ages 0-8, I recommend having some (or all) of her books
on your shelf.
Here
are the books I read since her last Author Spotlight…
Mouse and Pig
want to make Cow’s birthday special.
They work together to make a cake for him. Duck tries to help out with a special
ingredient! Mouse and Pig do not agree
with Duck. Which friend knows Cow best?
Some unexpected
guests show up at Chicken’s house. They
are ready for some fun, but Chicken isn’t so enthused about their rambunctious
behavior—jumping, dancing, and wiggling—on his tiny couch.
Something is
chasing Duck. What is wild, hairy, and
big-toothed? Duck and his friends are
afraid to find out. Who will protect
them? What exactly is chasing Duck?
When a pest
begins eating up all the vegetables in the garden, Duck figures out a way to
get rid of him. Unfortunately, it does
not turn out the way he expects.
Cow and Pig help
Mouse make some soup. They each bring
items, such as one onion, two cabbages, and so forth. When Pig tries to add some of his items (like
three umbrellas), the others question if it is a good idea for the soup. In an unexpected and hilarious reversal, Pig
ends up being wise after all. This
selection is one of my favorites!
Duck is excited
to carve a jack-o-lantern. A little
mishap, though, sets off a series of silly misunderstandings. This fun fall read aloud can be enjoyed all
year long, just beware of the pumpkin monster!
Jan Thomas has
two additional books that debuted in January 2018…
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