It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

 

Summer time - an the readin' is easy! It's so nice to have time to relax a bit and read! Most mornings I can sit out on my deck and make new friends in New York, Louisville, or Colby, North Carolina! It's getting hotter and there's sudden rainstorms, but then I just take the reading indoors!

 

 

Whether on your patio, or by the pool, or at the beach, or on your sofa - I hope you've had some time to unwind and relax with a good book.  Here's what I've been reading this past week: 

Middle Grade Novels

Rookie of the Year (Rip and Red #2) by Phil Bildner 

 

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this review. I really enjoyed the first book in the Rip and Red series, so I was excited to get a chance to read the second book. Rookie of the Year did not disappoint, it was just as awesome as the first book.

This book picks up right where the first one left off. But, even though this is the continuation of a series, the book would be a fine stand-alone book for someone who hasn't read the first one. Bildner does a nice job of bringing readers up to speed on the characters, Mr. Acevedo's fifth grade classroom, and then moves the story forward smoothly.

There's a new student in the classroom, Tiki. Her family is from Egypt, and because her father has a job that requires him to move frequently, this is her fourteenth school. Rip has a rough time getting used to her outspoken style, especially when she becomes a starter on the school basketball team.

Rip is used to being the leader of the team, but when Tiki becomes the starter and Rip becomes a member of the "Bench Mob", there's a bit of tension. For readers who love sports, there is a lot of great basketball action. I know that I'll have several students who will love this book because of that.

The book, like the first one, has lots of great ideas for teachers as well. Lots of good book suggestions and project ideas. It would be so much fun to teach on a team with Mr. Acevedo!  

 

 

 

The Thing About Leftovers by C. C. Payne

 

 

 

 

Wish by Barbara O'Connor 

 

 

 

 

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Eleanor #1) by Julie Sternberg, Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)  

 

This is a nice fiction novel in verse for readers who are just beginning to read chapter books. Eight year old Eleanor's first babysitter, Bibi, is moving away. Eleanor is heartbroken and has to learn to accept a new babysitter. The illustrations, by Matt Cordell, really help support the text and lend a comfortable feel to this book.

 

 

 

Picture Books

 

 

 

 

The Sword in the Stove by Frank W. Dormer  

 

Kind of dark humor, I'm not sure I would share this with very young or sensitive children. But the humorous text and illustrations are in line with books like A Hungry Lion by Lucy Ruth Cummins. This might be a good book to use when talking about inferencing skills and drawing conclusions.

 

 

 

 

Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt, Shahar Kober (Illustrator)  

 

This is a cute picture book about, Zoey, a barnyard chicken with a big imagination. She's determined to go into outer space and she convinces her friend, Sam (a pig), to go with her. Even though there are plenty of obstacles, including not having a spaceship, Zoey refuses to give up her dream. The digital illustrations are colorful and humorously detailed, so that young readers will enjoy reading this one. 

 

 

 

Douglas, You Need Glasses! by Ged Adamson

 

This is a terrific picture book for all readers, whether you need glasses or not. Douglas is a nearsighted dog, whose eyesight is getting worse. Finally his owner takes him to an eye doctor. Lots of kids need glasses and this book uses humor to show that things will look amazing once they get the right lenses.

 

 

 

 

More-igami by Dori Kleber, G. Brian Karas (Illustrations)  

 

This is a wonderful picture book that has a great message about patience, practice and perseverance. The little boy in the story wants to become an origami master after one of his classmates' mother showed him how to fold a paper crane. But he had to practice and practice (with many failures) before he got the hang of it. The author has included directions on how to fold a paper ladybug.  

 

 

 

 

Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, Don Tate

This is a terrific picture book biography of Lonnie Johnson, the man who invented the Super Soaker water gun. This inspiring story tells about Lonnie's attempts to invent things, including a robot that won awards at a science fair, as a youngster. Then he went on to be an engineer for NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But it was his invention of his water gun that will probably draw the most interest from young readers. I love the message of hard work, creativity, problem solving and perseverance in this book. I definitely need to get my own copy of this book for my classroom library!

Dump Truck Duck by Megan E Bryant, Jo de Ruiter (Illustrations)  

This is a cute picture book that shows kids a busy construction site with big pieces of equipment operated by ducks. The ducks are building a playground and working together as a team. The illustrations are adorable.

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat  

This is a fun picture book that will have readers turning the book upside down and looking around for a barcode scanner. The long car trip to Grandma's house seems like it's taking a million years. With a little imagination, you can travel backwards and forwards through time. Anyone who hates long car trips (including my husband) will certainly be able to relate to the young man in this book. The illustrations, rendered in pencil, crayon, watercolor, ink, and Adobe Photoshop, are boldly and humorously detailed. I need to get a copy of this book for my classroom library, for sure!

The Best Days Are Dog Days by Aaron Meshon  

This is a cute picture book about a day in the life of a French bulldog and his human companion. The story is told from the dog's point of view. According to the title page, "This book was dictated by Chubu the French bulldog to Aaron, while he sat on Aaron's lap. Aaron first sketched the story with pencil and painted the scenes with Liquitex acrylic paint. The hand lettering is first created on paper with pen and ink and then scanned, colored, and layered into the final art digitally."  

Dorothea's Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth by Barb Rosenstock, Gerard DuBois (Illustrations)  

This picture book biography is a fascinating account of the life and work of Dorothea Lange, the famous photographer of the Depression. Dorothea had her own struggles after a bout of polio left here with severe mobility difficulties. Written in the present tense, the author offers readers a glimpse of how Dorothea viewed the world, especially those who suffered from lack of employment, food, or homes. This is definitely a book I would like to have in my classroom library.

Glow: Animals with Their Own Night-Lights by W.H. Beck 

This fascinating nonfiction picture book uses photography to show us animals that use bioluminescence to survive. There is enough information about each animal and a bibliography to make this book a great starting point for further research. 

Friend or Foe: The Whole Truth about Animals That People Love to Hate by Etta Kaner, David Anderson (Illustrations)  

I love this nonfiction picture book! It takes all of the animals that either scare us or gross us out and lays out the good and the bad facts about them. The humorous illustrations will make this a hugely popular book in my classroom library.   

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel 

This is a lovely picture book that might be a good starting point for research or discussion about totems. 

One Day On Our Blue Planet . . . in the Savannah by Ella Bailey  

This is a lovely nonfiction picture book that shows the interdependence of the animals living in the African savannah. The focus of the book is on a lion cub, and the author takes us through a typical day for this animal. The colorful illustrations and narrative style text make this a good starting point for young readers who want to learn more about animals of the savannah.

Mogie: The Heart of the House by Kathi Appelt 

This is a nice picture book to teach young readers about service dogs and how they help kids in places like the Ronald McDonald House. In a world where we work to teach children about empathy and kindness, this is a book that will touch even very young readers. The illustrations, rendered in pencil and charcoal and digitally, do an awesome job of showing readers what the Ronald McDonald House is and what it's like.  

Detective Blue by Steve Metzger, Tedd Arnold (Illustrator)  

This picture book is so much fun! Readers of all ages will spend a lot of time staring at the pictures, picking up on all of the clues and cameos from their favorite nursery rhymes. Little Boy Blue quit his job blowing his horn and now is working as a detective. Little Miss Muffet is missing, and it's up to him to figure out what happened. The illustrations, created using pencil sketches and Photoshop, are crammed with characters from a long list of Mother Goose rhymes.  

A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black, Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)  

This funny picture book listing the reasons not to have a pig parade will surely get a lot of laughs with young readers. There's a lot to consider when planning a parade, and the hilarious text and illustrations will convince you (if you needed convincing). 

 

 

 

  

 

Book Review: Wish by Barbara O'Connor

Wish by Barbara O'Connor

 ... a stone, a leaf, an unfound door; of a stone, a leave, a door. And of all the forgotten faces.

     Naked and alone we came into exile. In her dark womb we did not know our mother's face; from the prison of her flesh have we come into the unspeakable and incommunicable prison of this earth. 

     Which of us has known his brother? Which of us has looked into his father's heart? Which of us has not remained forever prison-pent? Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone?

     O waste of loss, in the hot mazes, lost, among bright stars on this most weary unbright cinder, lost! Remembering speechlessly we seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, and unfound door. Where? When?

     O lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again.

Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel (1929)

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Wish by Barbara O'Connor in exchange for this review. This is also a book that is being read by my #bookrelays group. I included the above quote because as I read this wonderful story, with its rich, fleshed-out characters living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, I was reminded of Wolfe's novel. Look Homeward, Angel is a coming of age novel whose main character, Eugene Gant experienced the ups and downs of living in a family that lacked stability and the ability to stay on their feet. Gant constantly felt out of place and like a stranger in his own family.

Charlemagne Reese, who prefers to be called Charlie, has been sent from her home in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina to live with her aunt and uncle in the mountain town of Colby. Her father, Scrappy, is in jail because of his involvement in a fight. Her mother, Carla, has been deemed unfit to care for her children. Her older sister, Jackie, is old enough to stay at a friend's house in Raleigh.

Charlie is dreading her stay in Colby. She's been told by a friend that she would hate it; 'There's just red dirt roads and hillbilly kids there' and they probably 'eat squirrels.'

As time goes on, Charlie becomes accustomed to life at her aunt Bertha and uncle Gus' house and becomes friends with Howard Odom and his family. She takes in a stray dog and names him Wishbone.

Charlie is constantly wishing. She has a long list of things you can wish on, like four leaf clovers and the first star at night. But she has only one wish and she's been wishing for it ever since fourth grade.

Charlie is like so many of the students that I teach. Many of these kids have parents who are incarcerated and/or experience instability in their homes. Many of them have anger management difficulties and get themselves into trouble due to their inability to control their impulsive behavior. This is definitely a book in which kids will be able to recognize themselves.

But at the same time, this is a book in which I recognize myself and my own summertime experiences. Reading this book took me back to the days when I waded in cold creek water, sold garden vegetables out of a wagon, and froze Kool-Aid in paper cups.

I love that, because kids and grown-ups will be able to relate to this book, there will be terrific opportunities for all readers to develop relationships with each other. Relationship-building leads to empathy. When we understand each other, we can begin to get along and help fix problems. We certainly need more of that!

O'Connor has done such a wonderful job creating characters that are awesome role models. As Bertha, Gus, and the Odoms show Charlie the love and acceptance that make a family, we are inspired to be a little more patient and kind to our own families, friends, and schoolmates. As Charlie's friends and family constantly look for the best in their circumstances, Charlie wants to be more like that (and so do I). Even the dog sets a good example of learning to trust others.

I absolutely loved this book! It's one of those books that I enjoyed so much, I was kind of sad to reach the end. I was very reluctant to leave the world of this book! I so wish that I could sit on the porch overlooking the mountains, drink sweet tea with Bertha, Gus, and Charlie, and pet Wishbone with my feet!

Hardcover, 240 pages

Expected publication: August 30th 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) 

    

Book Review: The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne

I am participating in a group of Twitter friends that are reading, sharing and responding to recent middle grade novels. Hopefully, we will be able to find books that will excite the young readers in our classrooms and help us to teach important literacy skills and concepts in the coming year. Our group's handle is #BookRelays if you would like to see what we're reading and how we respond to these books.

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of the middle grade novel, The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne, and I am so happy that I did. This book tells the story of Elizabeth "Fizzy" Russo, a sixth grader who is trying to navigate the treacherous waters of middle school, while at the same time adjusting to the ever-changing rules of two families.  Fizzy lives with her mom, who has gone from being a stay-at-home mom to a full-time sales associate for the Courier-Journal, the newspaper of Louisville. She spends every other weekend at her dad's house, becoming acquainted with his new wife, Suzanne.

C.C. Payne does an awesome job showing readers what it is like to cope with the divorce of your parents and try to figure out just what it means to be a part of a family and what makes a place "home". Many of my students come from very difficult family situations, and I like to think that I do my best to understand what they're feeling and help them to make sense out of their circumstances. And while I myself have not experienced these issues, I am so glad that I've read this book that brings me a bit closer to understanding. This is such a helpful books, not only for students who might be experiencing this, but for teachers and other caregivers as well!

One aspect of living in two different families that I've never considered is the constant packing and unpacking that the child has to do:

"Every other Friday, I have to pack and unpack, because Dad won't let me live out of my suitcase. Then, every other Sunday, I have to pack and unpack again, because Mom won't let me live out of my suitcase either. This means I am either packing or unpacking about a hundred times a year. Since I'm only twelve, I have six and a half more years of this, so I'll be packing or unpacking six hundred and fifty more times..."

One of the things that made this book such a wonderful experience, is Fizzy's sense of humor. Payne has given such an authentic voice to this character, middle grade students will certainly be able to relate to her. Fizzy also has friends, Zach Mabry and Miyoko Hoshi that make her time in school tolerable as they deal with mean girls and mean teachers. Payne also brings her experiences growing up in Kentucky to include the importance of sweet tea, manners, and preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

Be prepared to get hungry while you read this. Fizzy loves to cook whenever she gets the chance. She cooks dinner for her mom, she spends time in her Aunt Liz's kitchen most days after school, and she dreams of one day attending culinary school so she can become a famous television chef one day. Fizzy's descriptions of her cooking will make your mouth water, like her Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich:

"I was thinking of making us Kentucky Hot Browns - country ham and turkey on top of Texas toast covered in a heavy cream sauce, topped with bacon and tomato, and smothered in melted cheese - because Aunt Liz had recently given me the original recipe from the Brown Hotel."

Fizzy gathers up her courage and her recipes and enters Southern Living Magazine's Cook-Off. The more that she feels her family doesn't believe in her, the more determined she is to win. And it's in the context of food and cooking that Fizzy shares her metaphor of leftovers as a description of the way she believes her families view her:

"Here's the thing about leftovers: Nobody is ever excited about them; they're just something you have to deal with. No matter how hard you try, leftovers are never exactly what they used to be - and I'm not either. If you ignore them or forget about them, they start to stink, and if you try to serve them alongside a freshly made meal, they never fit in quite right - do you want leftover spaghetti with your fajitas?"

Ultimately, Fizzy learns to change her perception of leftovers and comes to realize that some leftovers only get better with time, like lasagna. I really liked that through this well-written, funny, emotional story, there are some wonderful messages about families, love, and adapting to changing circumstances.  Among them:

"Families don't keep score. They accept each other, flaws, mistakes, and all. They love and care for each other, not because they're perfect - nobody's perfect - but just because they're family."

This is definitely a book I want to share with my students and to have in my classroom library. I only wish the author had included recipes, because now I need to search Google, Pinterest, and the Food Network for all of these dishes that Fizzy creates!

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: July 19th 2016 by Nancy Paulsen Books

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

With all of the book shopping I've been doing lately, along with my huge pile of library books to read, I've been doing A LOT of reading this week. I love summer, and I've taken this week to start getting caught up on my reading. Here's what I've been reading:

 

 

 

The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner

 You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this from NetGalley. While the subject matter is too mature for me to use in my 5th grade classroom, I would totally recommend this book for high school students.

The book's chapters alternate between the points of view of Mark and Kate. They've been sitting next to each other in their high school calculus class all year long. They only meet during the last week of school before they graduate from high school. Mark is gay and Kate is a lesbian and both are experiencing the insecurity and confusion that comes from complicated teenage love, not being ready to be who you're supposed to be, and growing up.

The events all take place during Pride Week in San Francisco. And so much happens in this week, it seems that Mark and Kate have known each other all their lives.

I think books like these are important, because they help young people understand their own circumstances and the feeling of others. Understanding other people's struggles and feelings leads to empathy, and it seems like our world needs a lot more of that, for sure.

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and I was just blown away by how well written it was. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I have not really read any of the YA novels that deal with transgender issues. I know that there are more and more books being written that address this, and I think that it's really important. Books like these help all of us to understand each other better and that can only help make a world where everyone feels valued and included.

Lisa Williamson has done an excellent job of helping readers begin to understand what it is like to be grappling with this on top of all the other difficult circumstances that teenagers face today. This book tells the story of Leo and David, with alternating chapters from each characters' point of view. The book was originally written in Great Britain, and so a lot of the cultural references and school circumstances are written for those readers, but I think the concepts and the issues transfer very well.

I also think the character development and plot development are excellent. I was swept up into these characters' lives and really ached for them. This book might be really good for people that enjoy books like All the Bright Places by Lisa Niven.

The book, while showing how difficult it can be to be transgender, also has a lot of encouragement for anyone concerned about these issues. I think that this is going to be a popular and important book to read this year.

It's worth noting, however, that because of the mature themes and language in this novel, I would recommend it for high school aged readers. I don't think it would be appropriate for my elementary school classroom.

Zoe in Wonderland by Brenda Woods

Circle by Jeannie Baker

This is a beautifully written and illustrated nonfiction picture book. Jeannie Baker explores the annual migration of the godwit. The godwit is a shorebird that migrates every year from Australia and New Zealand to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Using collage techniques to illustrate this book along with notes and resources in the back, Baker has created a treasure for classroom libraries.

Mr. Particular: The World’s Choosiest Champion! by Jason Kirschner 

This book is a fun graphic novel style picture book about a little boy that is just too fussy. All of his peculiar hang-ups about squishy things, and green things, and humming, and a bunch of other irritants get in the way of the fun his friends want to have. So, they ditch him for another playmate. Finally he gets a chance to step up and rescue one of his friends when he really needs help. I love the social message this sends to picky kids. I'd like to get a copy of this in my classroom library.

Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Abigail Halpin (Illustrations) 

This picture book uses lovely illustrations and poetic text to inspire readers to look closely for and appreciate the wild, natural area that exist within cities and communities. The illustrations were created using watercolor, and colored pencil, and finished digitally.

Hippopotamister by John Green

This is a fun graphic novel that's sure to tickle young readers. Hippo and his friend, Red Panda are tired of living in the run-down zoo. They leave to go find other jobs. Through a series of "perfect jobs" these two run into all sorts of trouble. Kids will have fun reading to find out if Hippo ever finds something to do where he'll be successful. This would be fun to have in my classroom library.

I Love Cake!: Starring Rabbit, Porcupine, and Moose by Tammi Sauer, Angie Rozelaar (Illustrations) 

I laughed when I read this book. I love cake, as well. And so I was very sympathetic toward Moose, even though it was very naughty of him to eat Rabbit's birthday cake. Young readers will get a kick out of reading to find out how Moose is going to make it up to Rabbit and Porcupine. The illustrations are hilarious. I especially love the one in which Moose denies eating the cake, even while he had cake crumbs all over the front of his sweater. This would be a fun book to have in my classroom library.

My Old Pal, Oscar by Amy Hest, Amy Bates (Illustrations) 

This book is absolutely lovely, but have a tissue handy. For those who've ever loved and lost a pet, this book will speak to that grief. A little boy, who is still mourning the loss of his beloved dog, Oscar, finds a stray dog on the beach. The boy does what he can to discourage the dog, because he can't imagine replacing Oscar. Eventually, the stray wins and we can see the start of a wonderful new relationship. The watercolor illustrations will just melt your heart. This would be great in a classroom library as a resource for those who have experienced this kind of loss.

Samanthasaurus Rex by B. B. Mandell, Suzanne Kaufman (Illustrations) 

This is a cute picture book that has a great message for young readers. Everyone has unique qualities that can be used to help others. Samanthasaurus Rex has her own special way of doing things, and this appears to be at odds with the way the rest of her family goes along. Suddenly there's a crisis that has everyone counting on Samanthasaurus Rex. The illustrations are perfect for this story.

Wolf Camp by Andrea Zuill 

This picture book is hilarious! I love it! When Homer finds a flyer for Wolf Camp. He begs his owners to let him go. When he goes, he learns all the ins and outs of being a wolf. The illustrations, along with the text, are so funny; sprinkled with little jokes all throughout. I found myself going back several times and finding new things to laugh at each time.

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer 

This is a cute story about a penguin who's in a grumpy mood. Young readers will enjoy finding out how he snaps out of it. The illustrations are wonderful. The author used linoleum printing to create these awesome pictures.  

Fresh Delicious by Irene Latham, Mique Moriuchi (Illustrations) 

Just in time for summer fruit and vegetable season, the poems will make your mouth water and you'll start looking around for the closest farmers' market. Short, simple poems tell the pleasures of so many yummy items: cucumbers, blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, corn, onions, and so much more. The collage illustrations are fantastic!

Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine by Heather Lang, Raúl Colón (Illustrations) 

This is an inspirational picture book biography about a woman who defied the social customs of the day and all of the doubters to become the first pilot to fly from Chicago to New York in one day. Heather Lang tells an exciting and fascinating story of the difficulties and dangers faced by this brave and persistent woman. Beautiful illustrations by Raul Colon and well researched notes and photographs at the end make this a book that I really want to have in my classroom library.

How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom by Steve Jenkins, Robin Page 

This is an awesome nonfiction picture book that is packed with fascinating information about the animal kingdom. I love how the authors present the information as step-by-step directions on various topics like the title, How To Swallow a Pig, to describe how Python eats a wildebeest. This would be a great mentor text for informational writing and a great starting point for research on the various animals presented. Definitely getting this one into my classroom library!

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor, Jean Jullien (Illustrations) 

This is a fun picture book that tells the story of a hungry hoot owl trying to catch something to eat. Even though Hoot Owl is a master of disguise, young readers will have fun watching as this bird fails at most of his attempts to catch dinner. The illustrations are quite funny and really support the text well.  

Bugs in My Hair! by David Shannon 

This is a cute book that explains to young readers what lice are, what they do, how to get rid of them, etc. I'm glad there's a book like this, because it's a big problem in our school. And upper elementary students are especially embarrassed by this problem. I'd like to get a copy of this for my classroom library.

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

This is a charming picture book with a terrific message about stretching yourself and not being afraid to try new things. Snail is quite content to stay in the same book all the time. He has no interest in leaving. Fish comes along and tells Snail about an exciting new book. It's got pirates and oceans and adventure. Snail doesn't want to leave and fish says it's boring to stay in the same place doing the same things all the time. I can totally relate to Snail, as I am often very reluctant to try new things. I get too comfortable and don't realize I'm in a rut. Thank goodness for friends like Fish, to help me out. I have to get my own copy of this book!

 
Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman

The author of this book does a great job of removing the barrier between the book and its readers. The little chicken wants to help paint the page. She accidentally knocks over the blue paint and there's one big mess. Young readers will feel like they're in the middle of the chaos as the barnyard animals try to deal with the paint and clean it up. This book is lots of fun!