A Trip to the Bookstore!

Today I went to the bookstore (One of my favorite places, by the way) and read The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle!  It absolutely made my day! Carle has always been a favorite author of mine, and I am so happy that I get to read a book of his for an assignment.  The things I noticed about the book after not having read it for many years is the repetition he uses and the layout of the book.  Of course, Eric Carle's illustrations are always amazing, too.  The grouchy ladybug encounters an animal every hour asking "Hey you, want to fight?"  The response is always "If you insist."  This repetition has the effect a children's book should have, one of simple, rather blunt words that are still intriguing.  Also, the pages gradually get larger so that you can see part of each animal's page before you turn the page.  On the part that is showing there is a sun that rises corresponding to the time of day.  The idea is genius, and obviously works for a children's book!  My favorite part of the book is the last page after the Grouchy Lady Bug finally gets to eat the aphids.  "Thank you," says the leaf, and both lady bugs simply answer "You are welcome."  What a story!