Children's Book Roundup: Week of February 6

This is a roundup of children's books and apps mentioned this week on my Facebook page, Author Bridget Heos.

1. App
Bobo Explores Light
Game Collage, LLC



Bobo should be the poster robot for nonfiction book apps. Under the theme of light, he explores everything from photosynthesis to auroras. Pull down screens provide additional info like sidebars in a standard nonfiction book, although in this case they include videos. The main screens are interactive. You can shoot lasers, for instance. There are a couple typos, but I'm certainly one to talk, say my proofreaders. J.J. opened the app to tell Bobo goodnight. That is the true measure of the story.

2. Nonfiction Picture Book
Groundhog Gets a Say (Puffin, 2007)
by Pamela Curtis Swallow, ill. by Denise Bunkus



Ii...iit's Groundhog's Day! Which means 1. The movie is on at 8 p.m. CMT. 2. Your middle grader could start 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass, in which a girl must relive her 11th birthday until she gets it right, and 3. Groundhog finally gets a say in this funny nonfiction picture book. By the way, we have 6 weeks left of winter, which, our meteorologist said, you could also learn by looking at the calendar. Oh, come on! Let the Groundhog get his say!

3. Board Book
We Belong Together (Cartwheel, 2011)
Joyce Wan



Continuing our week of Valentine's Day books...This board book reminded me of a gift book. As it turns out, the author/illustrator owns her own greeting card company and has been designing cards since she was a little girl. I guess it is a gift book in a way...for little ones. I love the art and design.

4. Picture Book
Zombie in Love (Atheneum, 2011)
by Kelly DiPucchio, ill. by Scott Campbell



I never knew how much I liked Valentine's Day until I joined Pinterest. As it turns out, I LOVE Valentine's Day. It's the pastels. As a boy mom and boy sister, I've never been exposed to many pastels and therefore have never built up immunity. Like Vizzini in Princess Pride, I fall over dead every time I see a pastel, such as the lilac on this book cover for Zombie in Love, which by the way is a great book to read to boys on Valentine's Day.

5. Picture Book
Who Will Be My Valentine this Year? (Cartwheel, 2011)
by Jerry Pallotta, ill. by David Biedrzycki



Look no further. I will be your Valentine. I LOVE this hippo. Though the rest of the book doesn't match the hilarity of the cover, it is a sweet story about one hippo's quest for friendship on Valentine's Day.

6. Picture Book
Pierre in Love (Orchard, 2007)
by Sara Pennypacker



Now for a love story. Pierre, a fisherman, dresses in disguise to leave gifts for Catherine, a ballet teacher. Little does he know that Catherine is in love with a fisherman she's seen from afar. Some critics say the love story will go over children's heads. I don't think so. Remember, kids=shorter than adults, not dumber than adults.

7. Nonfiction Picture Book
Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan (Philomel, 2004)
by Floyd Cooper



Just returned from my 3rd grade son's wax museum. You press a "button" on each kid's hand, and he or she speaks as a famous person. I loved seeing who the kids chose. My son was Michael Jordan. There was also an Amelia Earhart, Davy Crockett, Princess Diana, Thomas Edison, Martin Luther King, Jr., Salvador Dali, Anne Frank, and more. They prepared by reading biographies like this one. So, for writers, the wax museum is also good for business!