Stick

I'm always checking the library shelves for wordless picture books that my 3-year-old can "read" to me. She was reading this one to me while her older siblings were sitting at the table doing homework, but they were distracted by the story and then they each wanted a turn looking at the book themselves. The expressions on the character's faces had my little one narrating, "He's saying, 'uh-oh,' and that man's saying, 'Aaaghh!'" It's a great book for getting a child to read with expression. I think this is one of those rare books that we'll have to buy for our own collection even though the library has it. It would be a great supplement for a school unit on swamps or marshlands, or for a lesson on asking for help when you need it. Ironically the frog asks for help from a heron--he'd be eaten if this were a real life story.

We love this book. It's really great and the kids make up stories which happen on each page. The part where the frog lands on the motorcycle guy is especially great.

My 5 and 7 year old normally prefer that I read them chapter books or reference books that are a bit more wordy. But my son spotted this at the library and so we brought home a copy - and have checked it back out again multiple times. The pictures are just hysterical, as poor Stick goes from one misadventure to another. We've also used it to talk about New Orleans and the surrounding swampland. Delightful!

Steve Bresen's STICK tells of a young frog to likes to do things on his own with no help from Mom - until he gets carried away by a big, strong dragonfly and is pulled from his swamp home into a busy city. A near-wordless picture book documents a series of zany mishaps in this fun story.

Steve Breen, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, has entered the world of children's books with flair. His first picture book is called Stick and tells the story of an all-too-confident young frog who likes to do things on his own. This little frog is in for the adventure of a lifetime when his tongue "sticks" to an enormous dragonfly, and he is taken for a ride through the Deep South. The theme of this story will ring true for all those with little ones who sometimes find themselves in over their heads while trying to discover the world. The simple story line of Stick is enjoyable, but the real appeal of this books lies in its beautiful illustrations. Each page is covered in vibrant color. From the bayou to the French Quarter, the illustrations are engaging and certainly show a slice of life from the Deep South. The book is targeted for children ages four and up. The words are few, and the engaging graphics plentiful. I think the young ones in your life will find this story truly delightful and will want to look at the pictures over and over again. If you're not already convinced to pick up a copy of this book for a child that you know, you may be interested in knowing that author Breen will be donating a portion of his royalties to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. Here is a children's book that is visually appealing, geographically informative, and contributing to the rebuilding of a great city. Armchair Interviews says: What a gift to give a child!