Laughing Out Loud: Z Is For Moose

For the past few weeks I’ve been working with Cheryl Ashley at the Verona Public Library talking about picture books. This week, she wrote to me about a book entitled, Z is for Moose that was also referenced on Susanna Hill’s site a couple of weeks ago. It sounded hysterical when I read that review, and what Ms. Ashley has to say is equally funny. She wrote to me: “It was a mistake to read this picture book in the still quiet of the Reference Department.  Patrons working at the computers nearly fell off their chairs when I burst out laughing loud enough to be heard in the main room. Zebra is producing an alphabet book, assembling the cast for their photos:  Apple for A, Ball for B, Cat for C but when we get to D, overzealous Moose has pushed Duck off the page and is mugging for the camera.  He just can’t help himself.  He makes cameo appearances on all the following alphabet pages until we reach his big moment – the letter M – only to find Mouse sitting on stage.   The way artist Zelinsky (Caldecott winner in 1998) has captured the impishness, eagerness, rage and heartbreak of Moose is uncanny.  Zebra is an endearing character, too.”

I read this book while visiting the library yesterday and was laughing out loud myself. On one page letters are spilled all over the floor and things get really messy. It’s a fabulous story and worth picking up from the library.

This week, Hill is showcasing Kiss the Cow!, a story about a girl who has a lesson to learn about being stubborn and not taking things for granted. There are some additional books from last week’s Perfect Picture Books series that are worth sharing as well:  The Quiltmaker’s Gift, The Pink Refrigerator, Squids Will Be Squids, and Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story. This week I have decided to share  The Sniffles for Bear with those readers.