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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
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Books that bridge the gap from parent to child There’s nothing quite like the feeling of reading a book to a young child or if they’re a little older, reading a book with them. It’s comforting for the child, and it’s a quiet and soothing time for a parent time to wind down from the busy day and have a quality 20 minutes with your little one. Here is a nice selection of books that are beautifully illustrated, and perfect for sharing together. [For ages 1-4] I’ll See You in the Morning Written by Mike Jolley; illustrated by Mique Mariuchi (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 30 pages, $12.95) Gentle rhyming text and bright acrylic illustrations will help soothe little ones to sleep, as a parent reassures her child: “Don’t be afraid of darkness; don’t be afraid, my sweet. The night is just a blanket that helps the Earth to sleep.” This is the perfect book for kids to snuggle up with at bedtime. Later, when they are forming their reading abilities, this is a good text to pull out once again. Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure Written by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin (Atheneum, hardcover, 32 pages, $12.95) One poor old farmer sleeps, while his crafty duck creeps around. She is arranging a barnyard fishing trip, with the help of the chicken, the cows and the goats. This funny counting story, with sharp watercolor illustrations, has nice rhyming text that will keep the little ones interested. This is a good book for the beginning reader to pair numbers with words. [For ages 2-7] The Big Ball of String Written by Ross Meuller; illustrated by Craig Smith (Allen & Unwin, hardcover, 32 pages, $10.95) Lovely, whimsical pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the story of George, a little boy who wants to play soccer. The only problem is, he doesn’t have a soccer ball. What he does have is a big ball of string, which he decides to use as his soccer ball. He carries it down the street, all the way to the park, where he kicks it all over. But the ball of string starts to unwind. What will he do then? This is a nicely told story that shows a little boy’s ingenuity and imagination. The beginning reader may have trouble with the winding text, but will love to recount the story. Little Critter Storybook Collection By Mercer Mayer (HarperCollins, hardcover, 176 pages, $9.99) This 30th anniversary edition celebrates the character Little Critter, the little guy who has been featured for three decades in Mercer Mayer’s funny, truthful books about growing up. This collection features seven stories, including “Bye-Bye, Mom and Dad,” “Good for Me and You” and “Just a School Project.” In them, Little Critter learns to spend a weekend with grandma and grandpa, trains for a big race, and enters the school science fair. All normal, everyday activities for kids, but when infused with Mayer’s humorous twists and hilarious pictures, they become something special. Save this book for the beginning reader; he or she will need help with some of the big words. [For ages 4-8] The Postman’s Dog Written by Lisa Shanahan; illustrated by Wayne Harris (Allen & Unwin, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) Charlie the mailman is everyone’s favorite. He always takes the time to talk to folks on the way, and give their dogs a pat. But one day, Charlie’s wife dies, and all the sadness he feels takes all the spark out of him. Everyone tells him he should get a dog to cheer himself up, and he does. He finds Lucy at the dog pound, and she is as sweet and quiet as a dog can be. But when Charlie puts on his mailman clothing, Lucy changes. She growls and barks: it turns out she hates mailmen! What is Charlie to do? This story covers many themes, including loss, companionship and community, and would make a good starting point for discussions with children. The colorful illustrations were digitally created. Money, Money, Honey Bunny Written by Marilyn Sadler; illustrated by Roger Bollen (Random House Books for Young Readers, hardcover, 36 pages, $8.99) Honey Bunny is a little rabbit who loves money. She loves to save it and she loves to spend it. But when she spends it, she buys special gifts for all her friends and family: a wig for the pig, a coat for the goat; some clay for brother P.J., some candy for little Andy. This lively, rhyming text with colorful illustrations is released under the Bright and Early Books for Beginning Readers series. It will make a nice addition to a budding reader’s library. The Flower Ball Written by Sigrid Laube; illustrated by Silke Leffler (Pumpkin House, hardcover, 30 pages, $15.95) When Cauliflower and Carrot announce that they are going to attend the Flower Ball, the other vegetables warn them that they should stick to their own kind. The fragrant but snobby flowers are horrified at the notion, with Marigold declaring that they’re “nothing but tedious soup-wallowers.” But Carrot and Cauliflower don’t let the nay-sayers spoil their fun. In fact, they are so charming and dance so well, the flowers can’t help but be impressed. This is a charming story that introduces notions of acceptance to young children. The illustrations, a combination of watercolor and collage, are whimsical and delightful. Aesop’s Fables Compiled by Saviour Pirotta; illustrated by Richard Johnson (Kingfisher, hardcover, 80 pages, $12.95) The most famous of storytellers reaches out to a new generation of readers. Author Saviour Pirotta has chosen eight of Aesop’s fables including the timeless “The Tortoise and the Hare.” This and the other stories have masterful introductions. For example, Aesop comes upon two young men working in a vineyard, one who is taking his time and the other who is such a hurry that his work is counterproductive. That introduces the story, and the lesson, from “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The others stories are: “The Cat’s Bell,” “The Lion and the Mouse,” “The Wolf and the Dog,” “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs,” “The Fox and the Stork,” “The Frogs That Wanted a King,” and “The Jay and the Peacocks.” Illustrator Richard Johnson will keep young children transfixed while mom or dad eagerly read each story. Many 8-year-olds will be able to read this to a parent. |
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