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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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As if this issue’s Cover Story wasn’t enough of a hint about which books you might want to place in the family’s library, here is a lineup for the very youngest members of the household. These choices are particularly good for reading to the inquisitive child – that future and emerging reader who can’t get enough of a great story. Because that’s what we’ve found – these are terrific stories. Like the characters in “The Forever Dog,” you and your child will want the stories in this book to live on and on. Small readers. Turn these pages with the little ones. [For ages newborn-5] Goodnight Moon 123 Based on Margaret Wise Brown’s book (HarperCollins Children’s Books, 32 pages, hardcover, $16.99) This is a numbers’ play taken from the pages of the classic book (see our Cover Story). Timeless scenes become counting sequences. That’s all well and good, but you might want to first familiarize your child with the original. [For ages 3-7] Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School By Ian Whybrow; illustrations by Adrian Reynolds (Random House, 32 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Harry is about to start school, which he is excited about except for one thing – he never goes anywhere without his bucket of plastic dinosaurs. But is it too babyish to take them to school? He takes them anyway, though shyness keeps them in the cloakroom. He’s not so sure about this school thing – nothing seems too interesting without his dinosaur buddies nearby. But he notices another boy struggling, too. He helps him out and gets the courage to bring his dinosaurs out. It turns out his teacher doesn’t mind them at all, and he gets the new boy to talk. This is a nice addition to Ian Whybrow’s series about Harry, and is a sweetly reassuring tale for young ones as they think about heading to school. The Forever Dog By Bill Cochran; illustrated by Dan Andreasen (HarperCollins, 32 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Mike and his dog, Corky, are inseparable. They sleep together, play together, go on walks together. They make a deal Mike calls the Forever Plan, in which they would be buddies forever. But one day, Corky gets sick and doesn’t make it back home from the vet’s office, despite his best efforts. Mike is heartbroken, then becomes angry that Corky didn’t keep up his end of the Forever Plan. His mom helps Mike realize that it’s his love for dear Corky that is forever, as well as his memories. This is a loving and very compassionate book that may help children going through a loss of their own. The Police Cloud By Christophe Niemann (Schwartz & Wade Books, 32 pages, hardcover, $15.99) A puffy cloud has always had the dream of being a police officer. One day the chief gives him a chance. But nothing seems to work out for the police cloud – a burglar runs right through him when he attempts to apprehend him; he can’t control traffic when he is assigned to the streets; and he rains when he is on park duty. He is so disappointed in himself that he cries buckets – but fortunately, he cries on a burning building. He is a hero to the fire department. The computer-generated illustrations are bold and striking, created by an illustrator for the New Yorker magazine. The story will strike a chord with children, who love to dream big dreams about the future – and shows that even if one dream doesn’t work out, maybe another one will. Bad Dog, Marley! By John Grogan; illustrated by Richard Cowdrey (HarperCollins, 32 pages, hardcover, $16.99) Mommy, Daddy, Cassie and Baby Louie welcome an adorable lab puppy to their family. Everybody thinks he’s adorable, but it doesn’t last. Marley poops, pees, tears things up and gets into more trouble the bigger he gets. It finally gets to the point – after Marley rips up the sofa – where Mommy says they will have to give Marley away. But when Baby Louie gets in a dangerous situation, who is the first one there to save him? Marley, of course. Author John Grogan, expanding on the phenomenal success of his “Marley and Me” book, reaches out to young readers with this effort. The story is cute, but the strongest selling point is the colorful art, filled with pictures of the adorable lab. Cock-a-Doodle Quack Quack! By Ivor Baddiel and Sophie Jubb; illustrated by Ailie Busby (David Fickling Books, 32 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Baby Rooster is having a hard time figuring out just what it is he is supposed to be crowing about in the morning. He asks all the barnyard inhabitants and gets a different answer from each one. The rooster tries cock-a-doodle-moo-moo; cock-a-doodle-oink-oink, all to no avail. The wise owl tells him to go to the barn and listen very carefully to all the other roosters, and he will find his answer. When he finally uses his listening skills, his question is at last answered. This is a bright and colorful book, filled with charming images. Children will be able to relate to baby rooster, as kids themselves are often searching for answers that are there if they will just listen. Matilda’s Humdinger By Lynn Downey; illustrated by Tim Bowers (Alfred A. Knopf, 40 pages, hardcover, $15.95) Matilda the cat could be the worst waitress ever in the history of Burt’s Diner – maybe in the history of waitressing. But the customers really don’t complain too much about her service because, while her food-serving skills aren’t much, she is an expert at serving up great stories with her feverish imagination. Customers wait wide-eyed while she spins tales about the Wild West, or some such thing. A food inspector steps in and tells Matilda she has to work on her on-job cleanliness or he will shut the diner down. But when stick-up men try to rob the diner, who puts them in their place? This story is funny, vividly told, and kids will get a kick out of an entertaining character who may not always be focused on the task at hand. Hurry, Hurry! By Eve Bunting; illustrated by Jeff Mack (Harcourt, 32 pages, hardcover, $16) “Hurry, hurry,” shouts an excited rooster to his farm friends in this cheerful book by prolific children’s author Eve Bunting. Animals respond in turn to the happy rooster: “Coming, coming,” says the goat, leaping over a fence. In a flurry, all the animals scamper to the barn, and they make it in time to witness the hatching of a little chick. The illustrations are full of color and movement. Not a Box By Antoinette Portis (HarperCollins, 32 pages, hardcover, $12.99) Remember as a child how the simplest of objects could become wondrous things? Author-illustrator Antoinette Portis remembers when she and her brother could spend hours playing with a simple cardboard box. With her bold drawings of a rabbit and a box, we see through a series of paired questions and answers about how the box can be many things: a mountain peak, a robot, a boat, whatever you can imagine. The packaging on this book is catchy, too – plain brown wrapping, not unlike a box. |
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