2015 Picture Book Challenge: Roundup

Firstly, sorry for the lateness of this roundup of my Picture Book Challenge 2015. I wanted to squeeze in as many books read and reviewed as possible, but toward the end of December I was in a position where I just needed to catch up with myself. The one benefit of the delay in getting to publish this is that I was able to add three extra titles to my recommendations, but more on that later.

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Her Idea

I had hoped to post at least a couple more updates before year's end, but unfortunately I ran out of time. This will be the last post in the 2015 Picture Book Challenge, apart from a summary and recommendations from among the books I have read which is to follow soon. I have three more book reviews in this last update, and will finish with a list of other books I read but won't comment on.

Her Idea by Rilla Alexander

2015 Picture Book Challenge: The Zoomers' Handbook

The Zoomers' Handbook by Anna & Thiago de Moraes

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Terry Perkins and his Upside Down Frown

A bit of a bumper edition for this post, so let's start at the top:

Terry Perkins and his Upside Down Frown by Felix Massie

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Steve Antony quadruple bill

There's every chance Steve Antony will be the most prolific author & illustrator I'll review in this challenge with an impressive four books published this year. He's also a new kid on the block; find out more at his website. I've saved my post till the publication of Green Lizards vs Red Rectangles, so I can compile thoughts on all four. But, to begin:

Please, Mr Panda

2015 Picture Book Challenge: The Whopper

The Whopper by Rebecca Ashdown

The Whopper is the best book I've read from Templar this year.

2015 Picture Book Challenge: The Nonsense Show

The Nonsense Show by Eric Carle

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)

Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) by Keith Negley

2015 Picture Book Challenge: The Princess and the Pony

The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Two sun stories

By coincidence, or perhaps intuition, I picked up two books to read concerning the arrival of the sunrise. They make such a good pair, and offer some interesting things to discuss by comparison, that I'm going to dedicate this post to the two of them. First:

How the Sun Got to Coco's House by Bob Graham

2015 Picture Book Challenge: A Great Big Cuddle

A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young

by Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Footpath Flowers

Footpath Flowers by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith

Published by Walker Books. A fascinating wordless book, and probably one for older readers as it uses detail and palette change as an intrinsic part of its meaning, consisting only of small, subtle actions and touching on sensitive issues.

2015 Picture Book Challenge! : Whatever Happened to my Sister?

I've set myself the challenge of reading as many of this year's new picture books as I can get hold of (through the public library), with the aim of having a list of recommendations by the end. This seemed less ambitious in July, but here I go... I think I'll post updates featuring a book that really impressed me and run down the other titles I have read. To start, the impressive:

Whatever Happened to my Sister? by Simona Ciraolo