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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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This month brings a mixed bag of beautiful picture books and early reader books. We are taken out to sea, into the forest and, most fun of all, into the imaginations of some pretty fine authors and illustrators. This potpourri of choices should fill every occasion as well as most children through 8 years old. As the holidays approach, reading takes on more family meaning. To be read to: A book in the hand for November’s family [For ages 1-5] How to Be By Lisa Brown (HarperCollins, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.99) Artist Lisa Brown, known for her sophisticated graphic design, has published her first children’s book – and it’s a winner. It combines simple text with charming pictures, showing how to be a bear, a spider or a monkey, and concludes with how to be a person. Brown makes spare use of color, sticking mostly to black, white and red. The technique makes the splashes of color at the end all the more effective. [For ages 3-5] Baby Bear’s Books Written by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Harcourt, hardcover, 40 pages, $16) Baby Bear just loves to be read to. It doesn’t matter if it’s morning, noon or night; it doesn’t matter if they are outdoors or in. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wild “wake-up” book or a more cozy bedtime book. He just loves books. With the amusing, rhyming text by award-winning author Jane Yolen, other youngsters might become encouraged to be as enthusiastic about books as cute little Baby Bear is. Melissa Sweet’s illustrations, done in mixed media and collage on watercolor paper, are adorable, and capture Baby Bear’s innocent charm. [For ages 4-8] Down the Back of the Chair By Margaret Mahy; illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Clarion Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $16) Dad has lost his keys, and he is in despair. If he can’t find his keys, then he can’t get to work. And if he can’t get to work, then he won’t get paid. What will he do? One of the children suggests that he look down the back of the chair, because one never knows what one will find there. And what an idea that is: Down the back of the chair lurks “a string of pearls, a lion with curls…a bandicoot and a bumblebee,” and oh, so much more. This delightful rhyming story is by the much-honored Margaret Mahy, New Zealand’s leading children’s author. The illustrations by Polly Dunbar are hilarious, colorful and wild. Bear’s New Friend Written by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jane Chapman (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman continue their series of Bear books with this latest entry. Dear old Bear, with his cute, expressive face, is out walking in the woods one day when he hears a clatter in the trees. He can’t figure out what it is. One by one his friends – Mouse, Hare, Badger, Gopher and Mole – all join in to find out who is making the noise and following them throughout the forest. The answer may surprise children, but it will be a delightful surprise, and one that many young readers will relate to. The Show-and-Tell Lion Written by Barbara Abercrombie; illustrated by Lynne Avril Cravath (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) It’s show-and-tell day at school, but nothing exciting has happened to Matthew recently. So he tells the class that he has a baby lion living at home. Of course, the other kids are quite impressed, and ask him all sorts of questions. As they do, Matthew keeps making things up about his lion, Larry. With every story that he tells, the make-believe lion becomes more real in Matthew’s mind. But the kids want to see Larry for themselves. What will Matthew tell them? Other children might find Matthew’s propensity for tall tales quite familiar in this well-done book. And the solution Matthew comes up with in the end of the book to solve his dilemma is just as imaginative as any of the stories he told. Once Upon a Tide Written by Tony Mitton; illustrated by Selina Young (David Fickling Books, hardcover, 40 pages, $16.95) In this charming book by prolific British author Tony Mitton, a young boy and girl visit the seashore and industriously go about making a boat, stitching a sail and setting off on the sea for some wondrous adventures. Selina Young’s charming watercolors are a perfect complement to the story, which involves spotting a whale at sea, getting chased by pirates and finding buried treasure on a beautiful island. The rhyming text will appeal to young readers, as will the ingenuity of the kids. I’m Not a Baby! By Jill McElmurry (Schwartz & Wade Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) From the time he was born, it seems, Leo Leotardi didn’t want to be a baby. But seeing as he was the youngest in his family, he had no choice. When he was little, he said he wanted to wear big-boy pants as he was being stuffed into his romper. He wanted to go to school with his brother and sister, but he had to stay home in the playpen. And even when he grew up and graduated from school, he was still the family’s baby, no matter how much he protested. Jill McElmurry’s beautiful gouache paintings set Leo and his family in Victorian times, giving her plenty of opportunity for visual gags. The funny story will appeal to kids. Mrs. Wow Never Wanted a Cow Written by Martha Freeman; illustrated by Steven Salerno (Random House, hardcover, 48 pages, $8.99) Industrious Mrs. Wow is out mowing the grass one day when a cow unexpectedly turns up. Her lazy, crazy dog and cat get an idea: Maybe they can teach the cow to do their chores. They try, but all the cow can do is say moo and eat grass and give milk. That gives Mrs. Wow an even better idea – the cow can eat the grass for her so she doesn’t have to mow, and then she can make ice cream from the cow’s milk. The clever, retro-style illustrations are fun to look at, and emerging readers will enjoy the wacky story. |
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