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Bill Martin Jr
Reading Rockets recommends the following books by Bill Martin Jr.
With the cadence, format, and appeal of the creators' Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, animals found in North America are introduced. From a rattlesnake to a mountain goat, children will delight in the rhythm and predictability of the text and the cadence of the illustrations.
On a special, magical, moonlit evening, an old barn springs to life. The scarecrow picks up a fiddle and starts to play, signaling the beginning of the dance. Lively language and dramatic, animated illustrations together portray this thrilling occasion.
This modern classic imaginatively asks what a series of brightly colored animals see. The rhythm builds until we see a class of children and their teacher enjoying the sights. Readers delight in the predictability of the rhyme and the tempo of the language in this board book that launched the careers of Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle.
From one to one hundred, the numbers (differentiated by their vibrant colors) go up – and ultimately down – the apple tree in this lively and worthy counting companion to Chicka Chicka ABC. The role of zero (0) creates tension ("Will there be a place for me?") and finally a celebration!
The 26 characters in this rhythmic, rhyming baby book are the lowercase letters of the alphabet. Each has an attitude, as "a told b, and b told c, 'I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree'" – which probably would have been a good idea until the other 23 members of the gang decided to follow suit.
Children will repeat the lively, predictable, and engaging rhyme that fills this book. The text heightens awareness of the parts of the body, from head to toe, and what each can do. Crisp, realistic illustrations make this ideal for sharing and acting out with young children.
The many moods of rain – from angry thunderstorms to the quiet dripping that follows – are conveyed in alliterative, onomatopoeic, and captivating language. The poetic text is accompanied by evocative watercolor illustrations often extending over double pages.
A familiar cadence introduces ten animals that are all endangered. The book ends with a child dreaming of seeing all the animals "wild and free." This appealing book can be shared for its boldly illustrated rhyme or to launch awareness of a complex topic.
Large, richly colored illustrations accompany the jaunty text in the pattern of Brown Bear…. This book depicts a group that visits the zoo and listens to the sounds that different animals make. Young children will want to join in the fun and make the animal sounds, too.
Two children leave their cozy home to fetch milk on a cold and windy evening. When the brother loses his much-prized hat, it is his sister who returns to the spooky old ghost eye tree they pass. Light is effectively used in dramatic watercolor illustrations that accompany the lively text, which is ideal for reading aloud.
The animated adventure begins when a diverse group of children mount their trusty steeds and the merry-go-round begins to move. Language and illustrations swirl and shift rhythmically on this spirited jaunt.
This rollicking good tale of a boy who fears for his father’s safety as he prepares to ride the meanest bull in the whole United States is told in energetic language and illustrations that bounce across the pages. The rhythm of the text reads well aloud and the watercolors invite many close examinations.
Interested in wonderful interviews with tween and teen authors? Hop on over to our sister site, AdLit.org, and browse the library.
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