Made by: http://llevoelinvierno.blogspot.com/2011/03/make-alitas.html

Could a book designed entirely using computer software still be organic and elegant? Surprisingly, yes!

You may recognize the work of graphic designer Frank Viva who occasionally does covers for The New Yorker. If not, meet Along a Long Road whose title does nothing to mislead.

Inside, one seamless (pre-binding, 35 foot long!) scene is divided for readers into a panoramic glimpse of a two wheeled journey. A striking yellow bike trail courses throughout right alongside a lovely blue body of water. Both are accompanied by simple encouraging text. We meet towns and cities, pass through tunnels and go up hills, from day to shimmering moonlit night. We hit a bump in the road and fall off our bikes. Kids will see that it’s easy to get back on and continue your adventure.

See http://alongalongroad.com/

you should buy it for me.  it’s on etsy

via: http://bkids.typepad.com

by http://www.raw-edges.com/ via http://www.lmnop.com.au

 Alimrose Rag Doll available at http://www.peanutgallery.com.au

She would make a good companion while reading this fantastic take on the classic written by Melissa Sweet.

One, Two, Tree

Excuse me, is this India?

What can you hide in, blow your nose on, make a hammock out of, and still look beautiful in? A Sari, as demonstrated by Sandhya Rao in My Mother’s Sari. And lastly, a Benjali trickster tale, The Ghost Catcher by Martha Hamilton in which an altruistic barber encounters a couple of ghosts after his wife gives him an ultimatum.

 Spoon

by Amy Krauss Rosenthal

Hyperion 2009

“All my friends have it so much better than me.” Who hasn’t sang that song at least once or twice?

 This feeling of incompleteness is at the center of our story, where young Spoon is in desperate need of someone to polish his ego. The illustrator provides a glimpse of the exciting times  had by the other folks that share the cutlery drawer. We’re shown forks lassoing spaghetti, chopsticks that tango among the sushi rolls with precision, and knives happily spreading jam on bread. All culinary feats never, ever achieved with a spoon.

 Lucky for him, Mama Spoon is around to reassure her boy that life is indeed grand for their kind. She helps Spoon work through his envy of the other utensils by pointing out what makes him special.  “Your friends will never be able to twirl around in a mug or relax in a hot cup of tea.” And she’s right, you can’t eat ice cream with a knife.

 Mama Spoon ponders to her son, “I wonder if you realize just how lucky you are?” Everyone needs someone to remind them of this time to time, and Rosenthal’s Spoon aims to tell parents that their children need to be tenderly polished not unlike little Spoon.

 And of course, the book doesn’t end without some spooning.

Spork

by Kyo Maclear

Kids Can Press 2010

Spork stuck out.  His mother a spoon, his father a fork, which made him one of a kind in the kitchen drawer they called home. He routinely gets asked, “What are you anyway?”  an experience taken from multiracial author Kyo Maclear’s own life.

A sweet faced little guy. Too round for some, too pointy for others, but perfect in circumstances where nothing else would do. He’s like the kid who never gets picked at kickball. That is, until a new and very messy customer comes to the table giving Spork a chance to prove his utility.

With very similar messages and formats, it would be easy to confuse Rosenthal’s Spoon with Maclear’s Spork. Both books have style and endearing cartoonish leads, but the lovely mixed media illustrations in Spork make it my favorite to look through.

            Baby’s first tugboat from Green Toys

And I looked and looked for a cute teddy bear, after reminiscing about my own childhood teddies, Brown Bear and Eggy. But upon finding Jeremy Fisher, a creation of Beatrix Potter I decided C might have a dandy froggie instead.

You are at the mercy of your newborn. There is no doubt who is in charge.  It’s the baby.

Last year, Maria Frazee illustrated All the World, which although everyone else seemed to adore, it only made me want to vomit up three decade old shards of my We Are the World cassette.  The sap wasn’t her fault, she just drew the pictures- and got a big fat Caldecott Honor medal for it.

But man, The Boss Baby is spot on. It’s got new parents pegged. And once you’ve figured out the mystery that is your new bundle, you will find it funny too.

Love the executive onesie and adorable ending.