14th May International Chihuahua Appreciation Day

It is International Chihuahua Appreciation Day on 14th May. It celebrates the smallest dog breed, which was named after the state in Mexico, where it was first observed in the 19th century.

In the children's literature stratosphere when you think chihuahua, you think of Skippyjon Jones, but Skippyjon is not actually a chihuahua, but a Siamese cat who pretends he is a chihuahua. He has a group of imaginary Chihuahua friends, Los Chimichangos. The picture books about Skippyjon Jones are fun and have a loyal following in the library.

Skippyjon Jones  is a children's picture book series, written and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner. The first book was published in 2003, but there are more than ten titles now. The books are notable for their popularity amongst children, use of mock Spanish, and controversy over their representation of Latinos. Some states of America have tried to ban these books, but like all banned books I think it is better to discuss why they are banned and address the issue with my student readers. See the web page.

There are a few nonfiction books about chihuahuas,

and a few stories to search out in the library.

I never thought of myself as a fan of these tiny dogs, but occasionally my son minds one for a mate and he comes to visit us. He is very well behaved, very personable and a big personality so I have warmed to chihuahuas somewhat.

6th April Siamese Cat Day

        Do we really need a day to celebrate just one kind of cat? Siamese Cat Day celebrates these elegant royal cats which originated in Siam which is now known as Thailand.

Siamese cats are intelligent, extremely talkative and affectionate, form strong bonds with their owners and enjoying human company. They’re also known for following their owners around wherever they go so many people think they are quite demanding.

There are multitudes of picture books about cats, but often the cat is a moggy of unknown origin. In our library, though we have a series of picture books about a quirky Siamese kitten called Skippyjon Jones.

Inspired by her own beloved Siamese cat, named Skippy, author Judy Schachner created Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese kitten with big ears who believes he is a Chihuahua. The roguish rhymes she uses in her stories are utterly addictive. This is from the first book in a series. 

My name is Skippito Friskito.

I fear not a single bandito.

My manners are mellow,
I'm sweet like the Jell-O,

I get the job done, yes indeed-o.

Look for: 

• Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse

• Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble

• Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones

• Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice

• Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole

• Skippyjon Jones Snow What

• Skippyjon Jones Class Action

Many of the library's copies have a CD included which helps with the pronunciation of all of the Spanish words. Unfortunately most families no longer have a CD player so they will miss these wonderful readings.

Another book in the library that features a Siamese cat is The Sunshine Cat by Miriam Moss and Lisa Flather. If you can find this book be prepared to feel sad. Sunny the cat is loved by all his human family, but one day there is a knock at the door - Sunny has been killed in an accident. A sensitive story which aims to help children come to terms with death, it is told with great feeling and beautiful illustrations. 

A third book in our library with a Siamese Cat as the main character is Minou  by Mindy Bingham. It too, is out of print as it is old. With her every need attended to by her human companion, Minou's life was one of ease and contentment. Her only job was to be "cute, cuddly and attentive." But then one terrible day, Madame Violette died, and the little Siamese cat found herself on the streets of Paris, fending for herself for the first time. With no survival skills to speak of - no notion of how to find food or shelter - things soon went from bad to worse for Minou, until a chance encounter with sophisticated street-cat Celeste.

Then here's some books with cats on the front cover that look like Siamese, but which might not be.

                  

6th January Bean Day (Part 1)

The 6th January is Bean Day.  I was surprised to find that such a day existed. Websites say it is a day to celebrate beans of every sort in any way you want or can think of. So obviously I thought about books and then realised that I could think of four different 'bean' ways to do this:
1. Look at books, fiction and non fiction books that are about the vegetable, beans.
2. Look at all the books where a character has 'Bean' as a name.
3. Look at stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk where beans or beanstalks appear. There are so many versions of and spoofs of this story, and
4. Look at the books by author/illustrator Jonathan Bean.

See I told you. I could have fun with 'beans' for  a whole week and I haven't even looked at jellybeans. I would also want to grow some beans because they are so easy to grow and children love watching the changes. You might have Amanda Graham's Five Beans big book in your school and be able to put the procedural text into reality. This book, part of the Wings series of books for young readers is ideal for 5-6 year olds. Otherwise there are quite a few very good expository texts about the lifecycle of a bean that you could follow. My school also has a big book of Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen's  Jasper's Beanstalk and the children love laughing at Jasper's antics as he waits for his beanseed to grow.

Other than growing beans, there is always cooking with beans, say Mexican-inspired wonders or soup, craft with beans or just reading good stories such as the very funny Bean Thirteen by Matthew McElligott or Mice and Beans by Joe Cepeda and Pam Munoz Ryan. Skippyjon Jones has quite a cult following in my library too so this title could be fun too.

Tomorrow Part Two will cover all the book characters who have Bean as a name.

20th August Judy Schachner (1951)

Today the copy of Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice that I had ordered arrived and I thought Judy Schachner's birthday is one we haven't celebrated at school, I wonder when it is. On searching I found out it is today! What a coincidence. Skippyjon Jones is newly discovered by the children quite regularly and he was again recently. We didn't have Lost in Spice  and it fits in well with my Book Week display of aliens, reading and space to accompany the Book Week theme Read Across the Universe, so I ordered it. I got the one with a CD because I am not good at the Spanish accent and the kids love it on CD. Judy Schachner is so clever being able to combine writing and illustrating and at the same time as extending readers' horizons. She even does the reading for the CD. The wordplay is an added bonus in her stories too. We will be celebrating tomorrow and I will look out for other titles of Judy's. We have none of her non-Skippyjon Jones titles.

20th August Judy Schachner (1951) Melanie Watt (1975)

Two very special birthdays today in the world of early childhood library borrowing! Skippyjon Jones and Scaredy Squirrel both hit the limelight!

There is a lot on the web about American author/illustrator Judy Schachner, including author study lesson plans, which is quite ironic given the fact that she says she was a very shy child. In Australia she does not have a high profile, but the children in my library like her kitten tales of Skippyjon Jones. The three year olds like the stories and want to take the accompanying toy. The older children can appreciate her rollicking wordplay.

"My name is Skippito Friskito.

I fear not a single bandito.

My manners are mellow,

I’m sweet like the Jell-O,

I get the job done, yes indeed-o."

In Mummy Trouble, Skippyjon visits Egypt and King Rootin-Tootin-Kitten-Kabootin. Anyone who knows anything about Egypt will enjoy a giggle.

Canadian author/illustrator Melanie Watt , like Judy Schachner is popular because she too has created very special characters who resonate with young readers. She is the creator of Scaredy Squirrel and that megalomaniac cat, Chester. Both characters are very endearing. The Scaredy Squirrell books and puppet are never in the library. One Kindergarten child has such a love for the squirrell that he comes to the library nearly every day to see if any of the books are in and if so he borrows one, even though he has had them many times before. He is obviously coming to terms with fears of his own but what a nice way to do it.