Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
I hope you are all staying warm!
It seems like Winter, after goofing around for a decade, has decided to show off her power to make sure we haven’t forgotten what she can really do!
It is -7 at my house this morning and deep snow is still everywhere because it’s been too cold for any of it to melt!
Thank you, Winter. Your power has been duly noted. And I appreciate your importance in the grand scheme of things. But that will be quite sufficient. Go back to goofing off so we can all come out of our houses without body parts freezing off!
While we’re waiting for Winter to loosen her grip a little, grab yourself a hot cocoa and a cozy fleece blanket and snuggle up on the couch all nice and warm for the fabulous book I’ve chosen for today that was written by – get ready for it – Anne WYNTER 🤣
Title: Everybody In The Red Brick Building
Written By: Anne Wynter
Illustrated By: Oge Mora
Publisher: Clarion Books, October 19, 2021
Suitable For Ages: 3-6
Themes/Topics: bedtime, urban setting, onomatopoeia/sounds
text copyright Anne Wynter 2021, illustration copyright Oge Mora 2021, Clarion Books
Opening:
“Everybody in the red brick building was asleep.
Until. . .
Baby Izzie sat up in her crib and howled
WaaaAAH!”
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “A fresh, urban take on bedtime stories in the spirit of The House That Jack Built and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, a chain reaction of noises wakes up several children (and a cat) living in an apartment building. But it’s late in the night, so despite the disturbances, one by one, the building’s inhabitants return to their beds—this time with a new set of sounds to lull them to sleep.”
text copyright Anne Wynter 2021, illustration copyright Oge Mora 2021, Clarion Books
Links To Resources: Classroom Onomatopoeia Activities for Kids; Onomatopoeia Writing Activities Kids Will Love; Onomatopoeia A-Z List
text copyright Anne Wynter 2021, illustration copyright Oge Mora 2021, Clarion Books
Why I Like This Book: First, it’s hard to decide what to love more – the text or the art! I have to call it a tie! The art reminds me of The Snowy Day. The colors are so beautiful, and the collage style provides so much visual interest. I especially love the cat 😊. The story takes place in an urban setting. It’s a bedtime story about being woken by noises in the middle of the night and then trying to settle down and get back to sleep. It is full of onomatopoeia which makes it very fun to read aloud, and it’s a cumulative tale so it really allows the reader to experience the escalation of sound. Then, at the climactic noisy moment, it turns around and takes readers back down from all the disruptive, middle-of-the-night noise, through one soothing, quiet, calming sound at a time until everyone is asleep again. The ending is so sweet that I have to tell you about it, so, SPOILER ALERT STOP READING IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING! The last soft sound, the one that puts the baby back to sleep, is the sound of her mother’s heart beat. 🥰 Parents and grandparents, I see you tearing up 😊
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
This sounds like an adorable story! I am so envious of authors like Anne who can effectively use the cumulative structure! Great share!🥰
There is so much to love about this book, Kim! I really admire Anne as a writer – she has so many fantastic books. I reviewed Nell Plants A Tree here a while ago, and that is one of my favorites of hers.
That sounds like a fun book! I love books that build on themselves!
I especially love this one, Lisa, because it build up and then winds back down – so cleverly and beautifully done!
That sounds amazing! I need to check it out for sure!
I smiled when I saw the wonderful book you chose for today. It’s one I love so much for both the heart-tugging ending and the illustrations, which also remind me of The Snowy Day. Such a great choice. I’m also hoping for warmer weather. Two days ago, when we were at 7 below, our furnace decided it had had enough.
Oh, no, Leslie! I hope you’re doing okay now!
So glad you love this one, too, Leslie! And OH NO! What a time for your furnace to quit! I hope you’re okay! Did you have somewhere warm to go?
Great Book for the day! The artwork is wonderful… and works perfectly with the story. Thanks for sharing it – now I’ll have to read it again!
I’m glad to remind you of it, Sue! It’s such a good one, and I know, a few years old at this point. But I didn’t see it on the master PPBF list, so I thought I’d take a chance 🙂
I LOVE this book so much! I’ll bet you’re reading it to a certain sweet potato!
How could you possibly have guessed that, Jilanne???!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Love the concept and especially the setting. Not many stories out there that take place in an apartment building.
That is so true, Armineh! I think about that often because one of my grandchildren lived in a city apartment for a while and it was surprisingly hard to find good books for that, although we are fans of Cat’s First Baby which appears to be in an apartment 🙂
All books Anne Wynter are great! Luv this one too. Can’t wait to read it to my granddaughter.
I TOTALLY agree, Marie! I love her books! And I reviewed Nell Plants A Tree here a while back.
Great for PJ storytimes!
Yes 🙂
It does remind me of an Ezra Jack Keats story! (One of my favorite authors!) I know I will be getting this PB! 🙂
I think you’ll like it, Susan! It’s fun and also sweet 🙂
This looks like so much fun. Fortunately, my library has it, and I was able to put it on hold. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the heads up.
It’s a fun one, Rosi! But also such a sweet ending 🙂
What a lovely introduction of this book. My kids live in Brooklyn so I know the feeling. Thank you for the suggestion – my library has it
I hope you like it! 🙂
This book looks wonderful. Adding it to my tbr list. Thanks for sharing it!
My pleasure, Rebecca! I hope you enjoy it!