Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it is a funny story with a great message.
Punk Skunks
Written by Trisha Speed Shaskan
Illustrated by Stephen Shaskan
40 pages – ages 5+
Will be published by HarperCollins on February 9th, 2016
Theme- Friendship/Argument/Disagreement
Genre- Fiction
Opening and Synopsis- Opening Lines: “Kit and Buzz were BSFs- best skunks forever. Each day, Kit banged on Buzz’s door.”
Synopsis from GoodReads: “Join two rockin’ punk skunks in a fun story about friendship.
Kit and Buzz are BSFs—Best Skunks Forever. Every day they rock out together. But when Kit wants to sing a song about skating and Buzz wants to sing a song about painting, the BSFs get into a HUGE fight!
They try to hum, drum, and strum on their own, but it’s all wrong. Will Kit and Buzz find a way to make up?”
What I Thought- I liked this book. Kit and Buzz are great characters. I laughed at the “parodies” of bands and whatnot in the illustrations – Kit wears an “ABCD” shirt, which I’m 95% sure is an AC/DC reference; Buzz has a “Ratmoans” poster. That was funny, and I bet adults would get the jokes. The book is a great story about how friends can disagree/fight with each other, but can make up and still be friends. Mr. Shaskan’s illustrations use bold colors and dark lines, looking like a cartoon or comic character. Kids will love them. Ms. Shaskan has written a fun book that kids will connect with.
Activities and Resources- You could write a poem/song, and then play an “instrument” to it (anything works – pots and pans, milk jug, etc). Even better – make it about friendship or your best friend! Over on the How Wee Learn blog, there is a great article on how to make a bunch of different homemade instruments. Click HERE.
Check out a couple of the Punk Skunks songs!
Check out more about the book at the HarperCollins website! Click HERE!
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!
Categories: Age 1-5, Perfect Picture Book Friday
I’ve heard so many wonderful things about these skunks. I can’t wait to read the book. Great review, Erik!
It’s a great book! 😀 Thank you!
I have been watching and waiting for this rollicking skunk book. So glad you reviewed it.
It’s a fun story! You’ll love it! 😀
Looking forward to this!
You’d like it! 😀
I am not allowed to play with skunks, for some reason… but if I could, I would join their band immediately.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I… am sure that your mom would love that… 😉
Oh yay…a brand new book! Great review as always, Erik!
It’s a fun story! 😀
Punk Skunks . . . what an interesting idea. It looks like the skunks misrepresent some good punk bands. I bet this is really funny and I would love to read it.
It’s a great book! 😀
Sounds just as good as Punk Farm, a PB about farm animals playing a punk version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Skunks and punk, though, are a natural pairing. Will have to check this one out!
That sounds great! I’ll check it out!
So glad to read your review about this book! Sounds likes great fun!
It’s a fun book! 😀
You’re lucky to have read this! I’ve been looking forward to it! Thanks for the review.
It’s a fun book! You’ll like it.! 😀
The title alone is enough to make anyone pull this off the shelf. I must read this book.
You’ll like it! 😀
Those skunks and ROCK! I haven’t heard music this good since Chipmunk Punk (and, yes, that really was a thing).
Was Chipmunk Punk like Disco Duck? 😉
Yes, but worse.
Haaa! Thank you! Chipmunk Punk? I need to look that up!
It’s an oldie but a not-so-goodie. Alvin and the Chipmunks cover singles from Queen, Billy Joel, and…um…well, I think I’ve blocked the rest of the album out.