EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
KID
QUIPS
“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
Books
|
||||
|
The lazy, crazy days of summer are upon us. And while it’s always fun to hit the beach, play at friends’ homes and generally goof off, kids need to keep up with their reading skills, too. You don’t want a reader in June who comes back without any confidence in September. Here are some books to put into your children’s hands, a few of which have a summer theme, but all of which are a pleasure to read. Just the ticket for when they need to spend a little time out of the summer sun to exercise their brains. Selections include books to be read aloud. For hot days, some cool reading choices [For ages 1-5] Emily’s Balloon By Komako Sakai (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $14.95) Little Emily is given a bright yellow balloon. She takes it everywhere, when she is playing inside and out. But when the balloon blows away and is caught in a tree, she is brokenhearted. Will she be able to get her beloved balloon back? The writing is straightforward and simple, but the glorious illustrations, by acclaimed Japanese illustrator Kamako Sakai, are the real reason to buy this book. They are exquisitely drawn and subtly beautiful.. [For ages 3-8] At the Beach: Postcards From Crabby Spit By Roland Harvey (Allen & Unwin, hardcover, 32 pages, $14.95) Young Penny, Henry and Frankie, in a series of delightful postcards to their grandmother, tell all about their summer vacation with their parents at a seashore called Crabby Spit. They tell about the mundane stuff: “At the Sand Sculpture Competition today, Mrs. Thomas made Mr. Thomas into a mermaid and won!” as well as all the minor tragedies: “Mum is helping me write this postcard because she is very sunburnt and has to stay in the shade.” The postcards are accompanied by fine pen-and-watercolor drawings, in which, “Where’s Waldo?” style, kids can find the pictures discussed in the text. The Adventures of Old Bo Bear Written by Alice Schertle; illustrated by David Parkins (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) Old Bo Bear is one messy stuffed animal. His little-boy owner loves him and takes him everywhere, but mom finally says enough. Old Bo has to have a bath. When he is put through the washer, he comes out clean but also missing an ear. The little boy dreams of all of the adventures he can go on with his bear in which a missing ear would lend a glamorous touch: as bloodthirsty pirates, as cowboys in the Wild West, as private eyes. The rhyming text has a nice rhythm, and the illustrations, in acrylic and alkyd paints and pencils, are colorful and imaginative. A Frog Thing Written by Eric Drachman; illustrated by James Muscarello (Kidwick Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $18.95) Frank’s parents have told him that he can do anything in life. Frank, who is a frog, just wants to fly. Sorry, his parents say, we mean you can do any “frog” thing you want in life. Frank feels dejected. But one day a baby bird falls into the water, and Frank quickly jumps in to save her. The bird mother is so grateful, she finds a way to take Frank for a flight in the air. But will Frank be satisfied with that? This charming tale, rendered in gouache, colored pencil and pastel, inspires everyone to find that one thing in life that is special to them. The book is accompanied by a CD, with the story told by the author and a cast of voices. Duck & Goose By Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade Books, hardcover, 40 pages, $14.95) Quarreling isn’t just restricted to humans, as we discover in this funny book. Duck and Goose find a big polka-dotted ball, but they think it’s an egg. “I saw it first,” says Duck. “But I touched it first,” says Goose. Then a little bluebird enters the picture. Duck and Goose soon learn more about cooperation and friendship – and humor. The expressive illustrations are done in oil. A Mother’s Wish Written by Kathy-Jo Wargin; illustrated by Irena Roman (HarperCollins, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.99) Young Ella loves to work in the garden with her mother. When a butterfly lands on the flowers, her mother tells her about the legend of the butterfly: Just tell your wish to a butterfly, and it will carry it on its wings up to the sky and your wish will come true. Ella wishes that she will always have her mother with her to love, and her mother makes a wish, too. Only when Ella is a young woman does she find out her mother’s wish. The beautiful watercolor illustrations are heartfelt, and the story of a mother and daughter’s love for one another is sweet and satisfying. [For ages 8-12] Rotten School: The Big Blueberry Barf-Off Rotten School: The Great Smelling Bee Written by R.L. Stine; illustrations by Trip Park (HarperCollins, hardcover, 109 pages, $6.99) Prolific children’s author R.L. Stine, creator of the popular Goose Bumps series, is back with another series. This time it’s about the Rotten School, an elite boarding school, run by Headmaster Upchuck, where popular Bernie Bridges and rich and rotten Sherman Oaks square off. The characters’ names say it all: Feenman and Crench are buddies to Bernie, Gassy is Bernie’s dog, and Jennifer Ecch has a crush on Bernie. The plots are secondary to the funny writing and nonsense humor. The black-and-white illustrations are appropriately gross and hilarious. Any young readers who love this type of humor would probably get a kick out of the series. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
