Joseph KueflerReseñas

First sentence: It was spring, and the big trucks were busy. Working. Building. Transforming.

Premise/plot: Digger makes friends, in a way, with a caterpillar/butterfly.

My thoughts: I'm not quite sure what to think of this one! Digger gets a chance to SLOW down and relax when the caterpillar makes its cocoon literally ON him. His construction buddies continue to do the work, Digger not so much.

This one is cute enough, I suppose. It stars construction vehicles (talking ones of course) but also celebrates nature and the natural world. This is definitely an interesting combination. It is part of a series, apparently. I have not read the other books.

I think the sole reason this is a CLEL Bell Shortlist award.....for Play....is because it's all about the things you can do with pillows. Play most definitely. But did I enjoy the text. I hate to admit but not particularly.

cute story

parent child story

Two young boys enjoy a sleepover party in this sweetly engaging picture-book from author/illustrator Joseph Kuefler. Using the pillows in the house, from couch cushions to bed pillows, they create any number of imaginary worlds, and enjoy their games of make believe, until finally it is time for bed, and the pillows serve another function...

Having been an admirer of Kuefler's work since the publication of his debut picture-book, Beyond the Pond, back in 2015, I picked up Pillow Places with some anticipation. Although not the equal of that earlier book in my estimation, it is nevertheless an engaging title, exploring the friendship and imaginative play of young children. The text is simple and spare, but also poetic, and the artwork expressive. I particularly loved the little black cat which can be seen on every two-page spread, joining in the boys' fun. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for heartwarming bedtime books featuring imaginative play.

Love the style... and the statement.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it had a hopeful message (plus I really love the illustrations). However I know my nephews would be very distraught at the flower dying.½

Used in Storytime 4/26/18

Cute. The illustrations are lovely.
I do wonder how the book would have turned out if our two rulers had tried their best to rule benevolently instead of just grasping for power!

This story contains bold graphic illustrations and a wonderful message about the environment.

Digger works with Crane and Dozer, making buildings, roads, and bridges. In the middle of all the construction, Digger finds a flower, which he protects for as long as he can. When the flower is inevitably cut down, Digger takes its seeds to "a place no big truck had ever been" and plants them so new flowers can grow.

Beautiful illustrations help enhance the adventures of a little boy who decides he needs some adventure and so he explores the depths of his pond. He discovers a world of all things unimaginable that's just for him. When he returns home, everything is a little bit more exciting. Teaches that all you need is one good thing in life to make you see the positive in other aspects.

This book is about kids on the playground who all like to do different things but learn to share and play together creating friendships. This book is perfect for teaching how to play nicely on the playground with other kids. Ages 3-5. Source: Personal Library.

Delightful environmental take on a children’s construction book.

A story about protecting nature.

This is such a sweet little story about caring for nature and slowing down to see where beauty lives. It is excellent for sharing with children from infancy on up, my eleven year old even enjoyed it. Themes include: nature, kindness, beauty, work and love. I loved the way the story mimicked the love a parent has for a child.

A great book expressing a range of emotions to young readers through the use of big machines.
In a classroom I may talk about the machine's facial expressions and what emotion the machine may be feeling.

The digger truck discovers something growing one day and cares for the seed when nobody else cares. The other trucks just go about doing their job that they are supposed to do but not digger. I would use this book to discuss caring for nature and standing up for something when nobody else will.

Author/illustrator Joseph Kuefler, who made his debut with Beyond the Pond, one of my favorite picture-books of 2015, returns with this third foray into the genre. Like the other construction vehicles, Digger likes to work, building the infrastructure of the city. But when he finds a beautiful blue flower in the rubble, he attempts to protect and nurture this delicate being, only to see it destroyed by Dozer. Is it the end, or can he do something constructive with the seeds...?

A sweet story about urban development, and the importance of conserving green spaces, The Digger and the Flower imagines a world in which green growing things must retreat from the city. In this sense, it struck me as being somewhat different from titles like Peter Brown's The Curious Garden, in which the hero manages to carve out green spaces within the city itself. Here, the digger must replant the sees outside the city, in order to preserve them. I think, all told, that I prefer Brown's approach to Kuefler's, although this one had its heart in the right place, and featured lovely artwork. Recommended to anyone looking for vehicle/construction books with a slightly different focus than your run-of-the-mill example of the genre.

When Jonah lays claim to the local playground, declaring himself king, the other children all swear loyalty to him. All, that is, save Lennox, who declares herself queen. So begins a royal war, as the two children each strive for dominance over the playground, and all their peers. Eventually they are left to their own devices, as their "subjects" desert them in favor of more amusing play. Then Jonah and Lennox make peace, and all is happy again. Until Augustine decides she must be queen...

An amusing picture-book examination of playground politics amongst young children, Rulers of the Playground is the second children's book from author/artist Joseph Kuefler, who made his debut with Beyond the Pond. All in all, I found the story here amusing, and suspect that young children, who are no doubt quite familiar with "king of the hill" type games, will as well. I also enjoyed the illustrations, which capture the humor of the story quite well, especially in the depiction of the growing discontent of the other children. I don't know that I loved this quite as much as Keufler's debut, which was really quite magical, but it is nevertheless an engaging tale. Recommended to anyone looking for entertaining playground stories that explore the social dynamics of the kindergarten and primary school set.

Jonah wanted to become ruler of the playground. Everyone competes to become the ruler and who makes the rules. They decide the playground is much more fun when there is no ruler.
Ages- 3-5
Source- Pierce County Library Systems

Jonah and Lennox always fight over who will be the boss and rule over the playground. But, the other kids would not want to play with them because they were both too bossy. Later, they both learned that it is not good to boss around each other.
Ages: 4-8
Source: DuPont Pierce County Library System

Beyond the Pond was written and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler. The book tells the story of a little boy named Ernest who decides to dive into a pond by his house. With his dog, he ventures past different sea creatures such as; sharks, fish, and a squid. He finally comes out o f the cave into a new world filled with some weird creatures. He makes his way back home with the knowledge that there is wonder surrounding him that he will now be aware of. This book will give the students idea of adventure and to want to explore the world to see all of its beauty.

I read this for the Visual Literacy Assignment.

A brief summary:
One day, Ernest D. decides to explore the pond behind his "ordinary" house. Ernest D. discovers that his pond is endless and gathers his explorer supplies in order to set off on a journey into the unknown. As Ernest D. and his dog dive into the pond, they discover that there is something on the other side. They discover a world filled with unimaginable creatures both big and small and it appears to be filled with endless wonder. When Ernest D. returns to his home, he sees his house and town with a new perspective, realizing that his world is not so ordinary after all.

My personal reaction:
This book is perfect for a young audience as it plays with the natural imaginative and creative nature of children. I enjoy how this book uses words that may be more challenging for younger readers, such as "ghastly" and "raucous" and gives the reader a chance to expand their vocabulary.

A couple of uses:
- Have students imagine a world that is "just for them" and describe what it would be like. Have students illustrate what their world would be like and share it with the class.
- Have students explore the use of the challenging words in this book and add them to their personal dictionary.

Genre:
This book qualifies as fantasy because it features a world where Ernest D. and his dog encounter creatures that are not found in the real world.

Media:
combination of mixed media, photographed textures, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator