There's a Pest in the Garden and What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas

Today's post is from Paige Bentley-Flannery. Paige is a Community Librarian at Deschutes Public Library. She is a former Chair of the ALSC Notable Children’s Book Committee and ALSC Digital Content Task Force. Twitter @chapterpaigeone

Did you know that ducks eat turnips? Jan Thomas's favorite characters from A Birthday for Cow, The Doghouse, and more are back in a beginning reader format with There's a Pest in the Garden and What Is Chasing Duck? Both books offer creativity and humor that will engage readers.

In There's a Pest in the Garden, Duck, Sheep, Dog, and Donkey are trying to get rid of the "PEST" that's eating up their garden. How will they stop it -- and who is the PEST? Children will be drawn to the animals' wacky facial expressions, which could serve as conversation starters. What is each animal thinking? For example, Donkey says, "Yippee! He ate ALL the PEAS!" Here, Donkey is happy yet the rest of the animals look sad and surprised. On the next page, Donkey explains that he doesn't like peas. Details in each of Thomas' illustrations lead to the next action or question in the story -- making for a great fit with the Geisel Award criteria.

In What Is Chasing Duck?, Sheep is asking the titular question. Children will appreciate Duck saying only one word in different ways so they understand whether "Quack" is an exclamation or a question. The illustrations match the spare words, letting the reader's imagination fill in, for instance, what is both wild and hairy. The story continues with Sheep and Duck running and Donkey trying to guess what is chasing them. Phrases like "BIG TEETH!" in bold, capital letters add emphasis. When Dog makes them face their fears, will they continue to run, or will they work together to figure out what is chasing them?

These two books feature fun and joyful illustrations with a sheep wearing garden gloves and a dog wearing overalls. The words are perfect for readers pre-K through grade 2. Although both titles may pull towards the younger reader, the subjects are fun and engaging for a 1st and 2nd grader to practice reading while laughing, answering questions, and solving problems. Children will appreciate the use of big fonts in speech bubbles, and bold letters that highlight excitement, such as "YIPPEE! A PLAN!" or action: "QUACK!" in bold red letters.

Are the cleverness, writing style, and illustrations distinguished enough for the Geisel committee to view either of these books as a contender? Both offer a strong reading experience filled with a wonderful "rhythm that can carry the child along from start to finish." Also, both feature main characters with problems to solve, and simple messages which will appeal to young readers.

Although There's a Pest in the Garden might be a stronger contender, it will be fun to see what the committee selects. The silliness and humor might lead Geisel committee members to view it as more of a favorite story time or programming book, but overall it does achieve the literary and artistic quality called for in the award criteria guidelines.

Keep an eye out for My Friends Make Me Happy and My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas coming out in January 2018.