Some authors / illustrators have a special talent for creating stories perfect for storytime, for audience participation, and plenty of belly laughs. Today we will talk about one of them: Jan Thomas and her deceptively simple but masterfully written and illustrated books for toddlers and the preschool crowd.
It all started when Jan attended a Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators event in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After submitting her draft for What Will Fat Cat Sit On? to one of the presenters, she had a two-book deal!
Check out some of her books and read them together with your little ones for a good time (and lots of laugh!)
What Will Fat Cat Sit On?
What will Fat Cat sit on? The pig? (Oink!) The chicken? (Cluck!) How about the dog? (Grrrr.). Everyone in this bumbling animal gang (understandably) hopes the victim will be someone else! Leave it to Mouse to come up with a brilliant solution that satisfies everyone, even Fat Cat himself. Filled with hilarious asides and an interactive question-answer format, this irreverent young picture book will delight toddlers who love to shout "NO!"
A Birthday for Cow
Pig and Mouse are hard at work baking the best birthday cake EVER for Cow. But it would be a lot easier if Duck weren't hanging around, yammering on about turnips or some nonsense. (Sheesh!) With all this silliness going on, how will they manage to throw Cow a spectacular birthday party? Well, as it turns out, crazy Duck just might have had the right idea all along!
The Doghouse
Mouse, Pig, Cow, and Duck are playing a carefree game of ball when (horror of horrors!) their ball gets kicked into . . . the doghouse. Who will risk a run-in with scary Dog to get it back? Hysterical high anxiety ensues as Mouse volunteers each animal to do the dirty-work—but you’ll never believe what’s really going on in the doghouse!
Bug! Rug! Mug! Hug! These dust bunnies love to rhyme. Well, except for Bob. Much to the other bunnies’ frustration, Bob can never get the rhythm right. Then he saves everyone from a big, scary monster wielding—gasp!—a broom, and they all breathe a sigh of relief. But can Bob save them from the big, scary monster’s next attack? Vrrrrrroooommm . . .
The dust bunnies are back for another round of rhyming fun. But this time a big MEAN dust bunny wants to play—and run and chase and grab! Can the four little dust bunnies get that bully to play nice?
Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!
Cow and Pig are helping Mouse make a delicious soup, but Pig keeps trying to add ingredients that don’t make sense! Mouse is making a yummy pot of soup and Cow and Pig are helping add ingredients. Mouse adds four tomatoes, Cow adds five potatoes, and Pig adds…six galoshes?! Is that wise, Pig? Young readers will be so busy giggling at Pig’s antics, they won’t even realize they are counting, too. A twist ending and irresistible characters will make this a favorite read-aloud.
Be sure to check Overdrive Kids eReading Room, for these titles and many more being added!
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