[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

What are your favorite PB's that have beautiful lyrical rhythmic language? Not poetry. One of my favorites is Poor Doreen; A Fishy Tale by Sally Lloyd Jones.

Can you explain why a particular PB  touched you? I need to study them.

Thank you very much

:reading 

[stephanie-lucianovic Posts: 114 Status: Offline Stand picky, stand proud. WWW]

"and then it's spring" by Julie Fogliano, also "If You Want to See a Whale" by Fogliano.

I love "and then it's spring" so much. It's quite possibly my favorite pb and one of the children's books that inspired me to try writing pbs after writing non-fiction for years. When I wrote about it at Avidly/LA Review of Books, I said: "I really can’t put my finger on a single best thing other than I feel it to my toes that this book has the ideal beat and softness of verse that communicates wonderful peace..."

http://avidly.lareviewofbooks.org/2015/05/19/secret-gardens-discovering-new-childrens-books/

[ButterflyGirl Posts: 490 Status: Offline @kidlitSarah sarahfloydbooks.com]

My son and I loved TIME FOR BED by Mem Fox. It was one of the staples of our three books at bedtime routine. It's a soothing, beautiful book. Somehow we ended up with two copies, a full size hardcover and a board book. He liked to read his own copy, taking turns, with me reading a page from mine and him "reading" the next page from his.

[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

Thank you, stephanie-lucianovic and Butterflygirl.

I'm going to look them up and study them!! 

[JulieM Posts: 814 Status: Offline WWW]

I just read The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard - it is amazing in many ways, one of which is its gorgeous lyrical text.

[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

How exciting!! I will get that one also!!

[JFriday Posts: 553 Status: Offline]

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. The poetic flow, the language, the story, the pictures. Pretty much everything about it.  Um, that probably doesn't help much.

[DianaM Posts: 968 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

I immediately thought of OWL MOON, as well. But I would consider that free verse poetry, though.

Are you only looking for prose? Or did you just mean no rhyme?

Another one is BEACH FEET.  Not sure if it's considered free verse, though it feels like it. I think it's a translation from Japanese.

ETA: Just wanted to add that the reason BEACH FEET touched me is that it is very much written from the child's perspective.

[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

Yes, thank you JFriday. I forgot about that one. This helps a lot!!

[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

OH, thank you DiannM. Actually, I'll read and study everything.

[ButterflyGirl Posts: 490 Status: Offline @kidlitSarah sarahfloydbooks.com]

The one I suggested (TIME FOR BED) is told in rhyme, but it has a gentle, rhythmic quality that feels more "lyrical" than "rhyming."

I'm taking notes and adding to my library request list--so many great suggestions! 
 

[DianaM Posts: 968 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

I agree that TIME FOR BED is lyrical, even though it's in rhyme. And my kids both loved that one, too!

No reason rhyme can't be lyrical. I assume the OP prefers to write in prose? But it's still nice to get a feel for different types of books.

[stephanie-lucianovic Posts: 114 Status: Offline Stand picky, stand proud. WWW]

I also think that Oliver Jeffers' "Lost and Found" and "How to Catch a Star" have the lyrical voice.

Ooh, and definitely "Moonplane" and "Fabian Escapes" by Peter McCarty and "Wish" by Matthew Cordell.

[JulieM Posts: 814 Status: Offline WWW]

Tanglewood by Margaret Wild is lovely too.

[jojocookie Posts: 320 Status: Offline WWW]

Thank you everyone. I ordered them all. My library is going to hate me. They always give me strange looks when I walk in.

I love having all this material to drink in!!!!!

Thank you so much! 

[Trine Posts: 111 Status: Offline WWW]

Your library should love you! I think we keep them in business.

[Vijaya Posts: 6,643 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

I love Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes because it is so simply and beautifully told. Also Farfallina and Marcel by Holly Keller for writing about friendship.
Vijaya

[Carol Samuelson-Woodson Posts: 47 Status: Offline Rhymers will be readers!]

Play With Me. Maybe my favorite PB.

[janae-stubbs Posts: 32 Status: Offline]

I love Berkeley Breathed's "Mars Needs Moms" and "Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big". Reading those out loud is a treat.