Franklin's Thanksgiving

By Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark

A seasonal favorite, this story is helpful for children whose extended family does not live close by, or for those whose usual traditions are changing. Franklin deals with the disappointment of learning that his grandparents will not join them for Thanksgiving, and then he and his family discover that new traditions can be just as enjoyable as old ones and that friends and neighbors can be family too. The illustrations in the Franklin books are so full that they give parents something new to look at even after they have memorized the story from multiple readings.

One More Sheep

By Mij Kelly and Russell Ayto

With a witty rhyme this book tells the story of a shepherd who has trouble counting his sheep. It seems sheep counting puts him to sleep. When a wolf in sheep's clothing tries to capitalize on the shepherd's narcoleptic tendencies, the sheep are forced to extreme measures. Aside from the amusing puns, this book holds interest for both reader and audience and provides an entertaining counting practice for the young ones.

That Stripey Cat

By Norene Smiley and Tara Anderson

This book taught my daughter to say the word "persnickety" at age 18 months. That's really why I like it. Aside from that, it does have the repetitive story line that young children enjoy and it teaches about relationships.

Boo and Baa Have Company

The Boo and Baa books are quirky little tales of the adventures of two sheep. Boo and Baa are always getting themselves into scrapes of one kind or another and inexpertly getting themselves back out again. The text is translated from, I believe, Swedish. The translation seems to be a bit clunky, but this amuses me even more--the fact that they call a "board" a "plank" and say things like "now it dares go onto the plank!" all contribute to the wonky humor of the story. I also enjoy details in the illustrations which show the book is clearly not American (the kitchen, the presence of bubbly water, and the sandwiches prepared in this story are a dead giveaway on that point)--a refreshing change. Kids may miss out on or not care about these details, but they will enjoy this charming little seasonal story. Living in a place with four seasons, I always enjoy reading seasonal books with my children as it helps them to notice and appreciate the changes going on around them. Having grown up in New England, I will continue to read seasonal stories with my children even if we move at some point to a different climate. I'll want them to know what they're missing! :) I also think that an awareness of the changing times in a year helps to break up time and give reference points to small children--to whom even one rainy afternoon can seem like an eternity!

Blueberries for Sal

This is an excellent old classic which everyone has probably heard of. (Yes, I did just end a sentence with a preposition.) In this story, the ordinary adventure of blueberry picking undergoes a twist when a couple of bears are involved. Through patterns and repetition, children can see Sal solve the problem of suddenly finding herself with the wrong mother (something probably experienced by all children at one time or another in the supermarket...). As the repetitious reader out loud, I enjoy the details in this book's illustrations. I am amused to see Sal's mother traipsing up a hill through the blueberry bushes in a long skirt with her hair tidily done (thank goodness those days are over!) and I especially like the illustration on the hardcover's endpapers of the vintage kitchen with its wood stove and the old school canning jars (I'm also glad these technologies have been improved...). The car drawn at the beginning help to complete the visage of 1948, the year of the book's original publication--at least the quaint, picturesque parts. I suppose, though, it is difficult to enjoy the picturesque-ness without remembering the alarming inequalities and discrimination of the time, not to mention the ever-present political turmoil... . It is interesting to see the ways in which the media of a given time treats--or fails to treat--the ills of the contemporary society. Here we have a cute little story about mundane every-day things written in a year that sees the mistreatment of anyone not white and male, the Berlin Blockade, and the ongoing restructuring of Germany after WW II. Even children's books are not free from cultural context and can help one to better understand a time period. That was probably all very boring for normal people. Sorry. Even if you're not interested in things like cultural context, this is an enjoyable little time capsule with a timeless appeal.

How to Clean a Hippopotamus

Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

So how DO you clean a hippopotamus? It turns out that turtles make a snack of all the yucky stuff that collects on a hippo. Delicious. There are all sorts of other fascinating (if slightly icky at times) facts in this great book. The cut paper illustrations are surprisingly detailed and realistic. Another great nonfiction book from Jenkins and Page. Highly recommended!

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?

By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Barbara Firth

This book has won all sorts of awards, but it is actually my least favorite member of the Big Bear, Little Bear series. It is still quite good and I like it, I just like the others in the series much better. This one, after the 3rd or 4th reading, starts to get on my nerves a bit. Maybe it's because similar things have happened at our house... Little Bear is trying here to get over his fear of the dark. Big Bear, as usual, helps him out. I would NOT recommend reading this to your child if it has not yet occurred to him or her to be afraid of the dark--no need to go putting ideas in little heads before their time!

Let's Go Home, Little Bear

By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Barbara Firth

This is a good book to read with your little one on a snowy day. Big Bear and Little Bear are out for a wintery walk in the woods when little bear hears something... Sometimes things that are really quite ordinary can seem rather scary out of context. Big Bear helps to assuage Little Bear's fears and the end up cozily in the Bear Chair at the end of the day.

You and Me, Little Bear

By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Barbara Firth

I can't decide if this or Good Job, Little Bear is my favorite in the series. Here we see Big Bear balancing the need to do chores (and sleep...) with Little Bear's need for attention. Little Bear also learns to play well by himself while he waits his turn. Big Bear and Little Bear do a good job of showing a loving, nurturing relationship without being sappy or trite. Too often kids' books go over the top when trying to show love. In this series, Waddell finds just the right pitch. Firth's bear illustrations mirror this balance as Big Bear and Little Bear are endearing and manage to show emotion in their expressions without being the completely unrealistic, puffy looking things one often finds in children's books about bears.

Good Job, Little Bear

By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Barbara Firth

I absolutely love this series. Waddell has written many excellent children's books, but the Big Bear and Little Bear stories are my favorite. They each depict real concerns of small children--this one addresses the urge for independence, balanced with the need to feel safe and loved--and they model some really excellent parenting. The best thing of all, though, is that this excellent parenting is performed by a Dad bear for a change. It is certainly good for children to see loving Moms in their stories, but Dads often get short shrift. Kudos to Martin Waddell and Big Bear for giving the male parental unit part of his share of appreciation.

Hairdo!

By Ruth Freeman Swain

My 3-year-old loves nonfiction. From reading these sorts of books, she has an amazing number of random facts stored in her little head, which she brings out at interesting moments. This book is an engaging trot through the history of hair, filled with amusing (and sometimes icky--bugs, lard, etc.) facts and anecdotes. I learned as much from this book as my daughter did. I look forward to reading Freeman Swain's other books.

There Are Cats In This Book

By Viviane Schwarz

This interactive book is lots of fun for kids and parents--maybe not the best idea for grabby babies as there are lots of flips and flaps that could easily be torn off by eager chubby fingers--but very engaging for the slightly older child. The story starts on the front cover and doesn't end until you actually close the book. Each page has fun things to do with Moonpie, Tiny, and Andre, and I think the text is hilarious (I do have an odd sense of humor, though, so let me know what YOU think!). My favorite part is "mmm I feel fluffy!" You can even get knitting patterns for the characters: http://www.walker.co.uk/UserFiles/file/There%20are%20cats/catknitting%20small.pdf

The only problem with this book is that it is so much fun it will produce more laughs than yawns. Maybe it is more of a "good morning" book than a "good night" one.

Time For Bed

Mem Fox, Jane Dyer.

This is a great book to help establish that ever essential bedtime routine for even the smallest baby. The repetitive rhyming story and the soothing illustrations are a great way to signal to the little one that it is time to sleep. There is something cathartic, too, for a parent to read about the mundane daily acts of caring for a child. Perhaps it is that it helps one to reflect on the actual significance of the things that can seem so small...

I Met A Dinosaur

Jan Wahl & Chris Sheban.

Of all the dinosaur books I've had to read lately, this one is by far my favorite. First, I like the fact that the protagonist in the story is a girl. I don't want my daughter to feel like she can only like princesses and flowers so it's nice to see stories that depict girls who have a broader range of interest. I also enjoy the way famous paintings are suggested in the illustrations. I always appreciate it when authors and illustrators make an effort to amuse the parent as well as the child. There is also a little fact page in the back with some information on the dinosaurs mentioned in the story just to get in a little dose of science facts.

Old Bear

By Jane Hissey.
This is a very cute story about some stuffed animals who work together to solve a problem. Old Bear needs to be rescued from the attic and the toys try several different plans until they achieve success. The illustrations are charming. They remind me of something I would have seen in a PBS day time show in the early 90s--but I mean that in a friendly, nostalgic way. The "Old Bear and Friends" books were actually made into a TV series, so maybe I really did see them. The most endearing thing about Old Bear and his friends is that they are all modeled after actual toys the author and her children have in their home. Other books in the series include:




Little Bear's Trousers
This is an amusing story which chronicles Little Bear's search for his missing trousers. Aside from the fact that I like to say the word "trousers," this book has in it some quirky humor which can amuse both parent and child.








Hoot
I don't like this one quite as much as the other two but it is still worth reading. This story offers an interesting explanation for where all those missing socks might be.

Spring Thaw

By Steven Schnur. Illustrated by Stacey Schuett.
This is a great start of spring book that will help kids become aware of their environment and the changes going on around them. The text is simple and focuses on the details which announce the approach of spring--a change in the air, water dripping from the snow-covered roof, the appearance of mud under the snow. The illustrations are lovely and help to make alive the freshness and anticipation spring brings. Most are also painted with a unique perspective--helping the reader to focus on and appreciate anew the details of nature we too often take for granted.

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin

This is one of my favorite books. (Well...I guess most of the books I review here will qualify for that description...) I love the rhyme and meter--it flows so nicely, like music, which fits so well with the subject matter. It starts out very rhythmically and plodding, speeds up in tempo, crescendos, and then slows down for the finish just as if readers were really attending a concert. The illustrations are colorful and interesting, so parents and older children have something else to engage their attention after the words have been committed to memory. There is even a charming sub-plot tucked away in every illustration as you observe the shenanigans of two cats, a dog, and a mouse. My daughter would get very excited to find the cat on each page. This book introduces different instruments by providing a name, image, and personality for each. The personality part I found especially ingenious. It seems a good way to help young children work this new information about instruments into existing schema with references to clowns, angels, and other things likely to be encountered in childhood. All these elements together result in a very nice final package--well crafted text, engaging illustrations, and a little extra mental stimulation for both parent and child. Highly recommended.