Currently my daughter's school is having a Scholastic Book Fair, and I don't want to be a complete downer when it comes to Scholastic (it's totally important to encourage kids to read), but most of the books they are selling aren't very good. They just seem like a really gross and obvious way advertise whatever movie or cartoon the book is about. The writing is rarely passable in those "movie" books and I just can't bring myself to let them in the house, let alone read them to my 4 and 6 year old. I guess you could call me a "children's book snob," which is totally and completely true. But because of my snobbishness I have found some truly fantastic books for kids; the distinguishing factors usually being great artwork and witty writing, both of which Calef Brown has by the bucket load. Plus I'm always a sucker for nonsense rhymes.
"The Polkabats are on the loose,
a flapping flock of flying fury.
All the spotted bats are out
(except the ones of jury duty).
Loudly screeching nasty words
like "Stroganoff"
to scare the birds
while dropping smelly polka-turds
on people down below."
My two favorite books by Calef Brown are Polkabats and Octopus Slacks and Ductch Sneakers and Flea Keepers. My kids' favorite poem is Polkabats, and I'm sure you can figure out why...