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Come to Me, My Chickadee! by Carol Thompson

A celebration of all of the pet names we use for our children, this book compiles names from around the world and from different cultures.  Thompson melds these names into verses that have a lilting rhyme that is ideal for the youngest listeners.  The end pages start the mood with the flowering and fruiting branches surrounded by endearments from around the world.  Thompson’s friendly children of all different races make for inviting characters.

Thompson’s verse has a wonderful rhythm and rhyme that make reading it aloud great fun.  There will be foreign words and endearments, but nicely Thompson uses most of them in rhymes so that readers can figure out how to pronounce them.  Her illustrations are done in mixed media and capture the enthusiasm and energy of toddlers.

This one could become a favorite at bedtime and will lend itself to multiple readings.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.

Reviewed from copy received from Child’s Play.

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Where Is Tippy Toes? by Betsy Lewin

In the morning, everyone knows where Tippy Toes the cat is.  Even the mouse is aware Tippy Toes is right outside his mouse hole.  But once night falls, Tippy Toes sneaks around, blending in.  In fact, only one person knows where Tippy Toes disappears to late at night, but readers are invited to find out!  A very child-friendly format with cut-outs on the heavy pages that will have children engaged immediately, this book is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Spot.

Lewin keeps the words to a minimum here, using just enough rhyme to be enjoyable and just enough verse to keep the story moving.  It is an ideal amount of text for toddlers who will love the rhythm of the verse, they rhymes, and the game of turning the pages to find Tippy Toes.  Lewin’s illustrations are done in strong lines and bright colors that will work well with a group of children.  The pages are heavy enough and sturdy enough to withstand checkouts at a public library too.

Add this one to your collection of books to pull out when the toddlers get squirmy.  It is sure to get them settled again and ready to listen.  Appropriate for ages 1-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Atheneum.

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Watch this site –  http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/2010/06/w-writing-contest-coming-soon.html

While you are there, have a peek at  the interview – http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/search?q=Poulter  Check out the links too, including one to a FREE  press release posting site!

The interview features info on my new book, coming out with PicPocket Books on iphone in August. It was created in collaboration with Monica Rondino, Andrea Pucci and my youngest daughter, Estelle Poulter. Parents and others – do you have teething babies  or toddlers who bite and have older siblings who object to being bitten?  You might just find some help to be had reading this humorous story with a rhyming element!

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Red Green Blue: A First Book of Colors by Alison Jay

On a rainy day, a little boy escapes into a world of nursery rhymes that is filled with a rainbow of colors.  He moves past icons of nursery rhymes like Little Boy Blue, Miss Muffet and her big black spider, Bo Peep’s white sheep, and five pink piggies.  Keep a sharp eye out for other nursery rhyme characters in the background, because there’s a list at the end of the book to see if you spotted them.  Told in a style that only Alison Jay could achieve with her vintage, crackling illustrations that maintain a modern energy, this book is sure to be a winner with preschoolers.

Jay has such a distinct and unique style that you can spot her books from afar.  Just as she has with counting books and alphabet books, Jay has once again captured the timelessness of childhood here.  Her exceptional illustrations bring energy and fun to the simple text which focuses on colors and characters.  It is in the illustrations that the world comes to life and there is a depth that makes exploring them ever so much fun.

Make room for this one in your section on colors and in your section on nursery rhymes.  Combining the two is a brilliantly colorful idea.  Appropriate for ages 2-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Dutton.

Also reviewed by On My Bookshelf.

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Preschool Day Hooray! by Linda Leopold Strauss, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

This friendly, bouncy book offers a glimpse at a preschool day that is perfect for children heading to preschool for the first time.  The book follows the course of a day in preschool.  It begins at the breakfast table, moves through arrival and drop off, crafts and playground play, snack and naptime, dancing and toys, to parents picking up the children.  Strauss’ verse is just right for small children with a happy cadence that is easy to read aloud. 

Nakata’s illustrations add to the friendly appeal of the book with their rosy-cheeked children who are often doing their own thing rather than acting as a group.  The illustrations are very child-focused and reveal the mess and exploration of preschool. 

My only issue in the book, which is filled with children of different colors, is that at the end of the book only Mommy is mentioned as picking children up after school even though the illustrations also show a father.  I’d rather have had Mommy changed to parents in the verse to show that Daddy is just as involved.

A very positive view of preschool, get this into the hands of new preschoolers!  It is printed on heavy pages with a sturdy binding, ideal for little eager hands.  Appropriate for ages 1-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.

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Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig, illustrated by Marc Brown

This bright, fun book is sure to have toddler toes tapping in no time.  In alternating double-page spreads, children see the feet of an animal and then get to guess what it is.  When the page is turned, the answer is revealed.  The rhyme and rhythm here are great, adding to the dancing theme.  Each set of animal feet make a noise from Tippity! Tippity! to Thumpity! Thumpity!  This engaging picture book is ideal for toddler story time where children need to get their wiggles out.

Craig’s verses are filled with infectious rhythms.  The sound words she has selected make for book that will get kids moving and enjoying the guessing game.  Brown’s collage is filled with vibrant color made even more interesting with textures.  The illustrations are large and will project well to a group of children.

Toddlers who are wiggly will enjoy doing movements to this book, making animal noises and even using instruments to follow the rhythm of each type of foot step.  With so many animals inside, it is sure to find a place on your go-to shelf for toddler storytimes.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.

Reviewed from copy received from Knopf.

Also reviewed by:

• BooksForKidsBlog

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Please Take Me for a Walk by Susan Gal

One look into the begging eyes of this white and black puppy, and you will eagerly agree to take him for a walk.  The puppy explains throughout the book why he needs to go for a walk.  There are cats to chase, birds to bark at, squirrels to keep in the trees.  There are people to greet, games to watch, and games to play.  Best of all, there are other dogs to meet too!

This is a simple book with a simple premise, which is a large part of its appeal.  Gal uses only a handful of words per page, stretching sentences over the course of several pages to show just what the dog has in mind for his walk.  This means lots of pictures for the number of words, making it very toddler friendly. 

It is Gal’s art that really elevates the title.  As you can see from the cover art, the dog is a winning character with shining eyes, plenty of energy, and lots of friends.  Done in charcoal on paper and digital collage, Gal’s art ranges from simple close-ups of the dog on a plain background to busy city streets with dogs and people coming and going. 

Get ready to go on a merry walk with this dog tale, which will fit easily into a toddler storytime about pets or dogs.  Appropriate for ages 2-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

Also reviewed by Young Readers.

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Where Is Catkin? by Janet Lord, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Catkin heads out to hunt in the garden.  He sees and hears different animals in the garden but he can’t catch them.  There is a cricket, a frog, a mouse, a snake, and a bird.  After Catkin pounces them they disappear from view.  But sharp-eyed readers will be able to spy them hiding.  Finally, Catkin climbs a tree to catch a bird, but goes too high.  Now it is Amy’s job to find Catkin in the garden and rescue him!

The first thing you will notice about this book is its amazing illustrations.  Done in an almost Slavic motif, they are rich, deep colored and stylized.  As Catkin pounces an animal it appears in the yellow and red border, adding another layer to this book.  Lord’s text is brief and invites young readers to participate in the seeking and finding of the animals.  Readers will enjoy spotting not only the animals in the text, but also insects and other animals. 

A richly illustrated seek-and-find book that is perfect for the youngest listeners.  I would suggest using this with only a very small group, because the pleasure of the book is to look closely at the illustrations and talk about them. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

Also reviewed by Beth Fish Reads, 7 Imp, and We Love Children’s Books.

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Boom Boom Go Away! by Laura Geringer, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Vintage toys combine with noise and mayhem to create a fabulous bedtime read!

When a small boy is asked to go to bed, he responds by starting up his toys one by one in response.  The little gnome is at the heart of it all as he bangs the drum with a “Go away, boom boom.  Go away!”  An elf dings on a gong, a prince screeches on his bassoon, a knight plays his bells, more and more toys join in, creating a great rhythm and song as they do.  But in the end, the noise is not enough to keep the little boy awake and they all wind down with a “Go away! Hush, hush… boom boom. Go away.”

Reading this book is great fun.  Geringer has created just the right mix of noises and sounds to make reading this book aloud a treat.  The rhythm makes it easier, the sounds are different enough to be interesting, and her framing of the story is done with a gentle touch.  Ibatoulline’s illustrations are beautifully done in a soft yet bright palette that really reinforces the vintage feel of the toys.  The writing, the fonts and the illustrations all work together to create a charmer of a book.

Highly recommended for pajama story times or a bedtime read, this book may become one of those books that is asked for again and again.  If you are going to use this with a group, consider handing out instruments or assigning noises to kids.  They are sure to love adding to the rhythm.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from book received from Atheneum Publishers (Simon & Schuster)

Also reviewed by The Excelsior File and Young Books.

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Boom Bah! by Phil Cummings, illustrated by Nina Rycroft

Break out the noise makers, drums, and kazoos and start your own band after you share this one. 

It all starts with a mouse tinging a spoon against a teacup.  Then the cat gets involved by banging a spoon on a can.  Pig grabs two pot lids to bash together as cymbals.  And soon a line of animals are marching and dancing to the beat.  What could that be coming over the hill?  A real  marching band with real drums, a tuba, trombones and more.  Everyone starts to play music together with a happy “Hey ho!”  A jolly book filled with rhythm, music and merriment, this is a winner of a book for toddlers. 

Cummings text is kept to a minimum, just carrying the noises and the beat along with it.  The words are simple and great fun to read aloud because they are so jaunty.  Rycroft’s art is silly and warm toned.  I love that she included diving insects on most of the pages.  If you look closely you can even see beetles in the grass who also get caught up in the music.  Her attention to the small but delightful details is clever and adds to the fun. 

Highly recommended when you want a story time about music and you don’t mind the kids getting loud with their own marching band.  Appropriate for very small children through preschool, this book will work for ages 1-4.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

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Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre

When Ted woke up one morning, he smelled smoke.  He knew that he needed a firefighter!  Unable to find a firefighter anywhere in his room, he become one.  He did have to make his own fire extinguisher our of whipped cream and an air tube from the fish tank.  Firefighter Ted started the day by putting out a breakfast fire, much to his mother’s dismay.  He then rescued a kitten from the hot sidewalk.  This made him late to school.  Met at the door by the principal, Ted became alarmed that the principal was overheating, so he wrapped him in hazard tape and used his fire extinguisher on him.  When the class went to the science fair, Ted had to leap into action again to make it all safe.  In the end, there was a real fire and you know who came to the rescue!

This second Ted book follows Doctor Ted.  Done with the same humor and spunk as the first, readers will be very happy to have a second adventure that hints at a third.  Ted is a great character who takes imaginative play to an entirely different level.  He combines ingenuity with courage, never paying attention to what others have to say about his costumes or what he does to help.  The illustrations are done with thick black lines and bright colors.  They are inviting, fun and fresh.

Recommended for all public libraries, this series will fly off of the shelves.  It will also make a welcome addition to fire safety story times and units.  Appropriate for toddlers through preschoolers, this series will be enjoyed by ages 2-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara

The author of Ghosts in the House returns with another great seasonal title.  A lonely boy who hates winter discovers frosty patterns on his windows and then Jack Frost himself.  Jack Frost playfully runs away from the boy, telling him that he can’t jump over the pond.  But the boy had ice skates and he and his dog twirl across the ice.  When Jack Frost runs over a hill, the boy and his dog use a sled.  After a rousing snowball fight, Jack Frost agrees to stay with the boy as long as he never mentions anything warm.  So they build snowmen, ski, and play.  Until one day, there are signs of spring.

The story here is charming, filled with all of the classic winter ways to play.  Kohara’s prose is clear and simple.  It is the illustrations that really make the book soar with their bright whites and blues that range from icy to midnight.  Without any spangles or sparkles, this book gleams with cold.  Prickly Jack Frost with his sharp lines contrasts beautifully with the boy in his rounded hat and coat. 

A marvelous choice for snowy story times, this book is ideal for toddlers.  Read it at home with plenty of blankets and a mug of cocoa to keep cuddly.  Appropriate for ages 2-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by A Year of Reading.

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Pouch! by David Ezra Stein

Joey had lived in his mother’s pouch his whole life, until one day he decided he wanted to hop.  Two hops later, he meets a bee in the tall grass and with a yell of “Pouch!” returns to his mother’s pouch.  Three hops onto the hill, he meets a rabbit and once again returns to his mother’s pouch.  Four hops into the sandy hollow, he meets a bird and flees back again.  Five hops to the pasture fence, and he meets another baby kangaroo!  Now what to do!

This is a delightful story of a youngster who wants to explore but just isn’t quite ready to leave his mother’s side yet.  Stein’s art here is childlike and simple, done in fluid watercolors and deep colors.  His text is also simple, with great repeating phrases and a rhythm that is natural and fun. 

Ideal for the youngest listeners, this book would be super for a toddler story time where the youngsters could hop the right number of hops and run back.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

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The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book by Nancy Tafuri

As the storm starts to blow, animals take shelter in the hill hollow.  Young readers will get to count one-by-one as the animals squeeze in together and out of the rain.  The thunder rumbles over their heads, but they soon realize that they are hearing another rumble that is coming from the back of the cave.  Readers then get to quickly count backwards from 10 to 1 as the animals run out into the newly sunny fall day.

Tafuri excels at creating concept books for the youngest of readers that are filled with great art and a basic story with a fun twist.  Her art is done in concentrated watercolor inks, pigma micron pens, and watercolor pencils.  There is a great depth to the colors paired with a delicacy of line.  The animals are all bright-eyed and friendly with the drama of the story coming from the storm and the discovery in the back of the cave!  Tafuri’s pacing is perfect for the twist with steady counting leading up to 10 animals, a reveling of the storm, and then the reveal. 

A perfect choice for stormy toddler story times, autumn reading, and a nice addition to so many specific animals story times thanks to the rabbit, squirrel, skunk and more.  Appropriate for ages 1-4.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

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Hush, Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beatty, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre.

It’s morning, so it’s time for Baby Ghostling to head to bed in their castle tower.  Mother ghost tucks him in and urges him to think about monsters, owls, bats, and more.  She leaves the darkness on in the hall, because he is scared of the light.  And finally, she reassures him that the blonde boy he sees in his dreams is not there because “childlings” are make-believe. 

This is a clever twist on the bedtime story.  I especially like the part about leaving the darkness on in the hall.  Beatty’s text is rhyming and has a nice lilting rhythm.  It is a lullaby of a book where the rhymes work well.  Lemaitre’s illustrations nicely combine a softness of background and light with characters drawn in thick lines.  The parts about the different monsters, bats and owls are illustrated with a variety of beasts, but they appear playing in playgrounds, blowing bubbles, and doing other silly, everyday things.

This is perfect for a Halloween story time with smaller children because it isn’t scary at all.  In fact, children will enjoy being seen as the frightening ones.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

Also reviewed by Anastasia Suen.

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Acorns Everywhere! by Kevin Sherry

The author of I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean returns with a new character that toddlers are sure to adore. 

Squirrels are running around gathering acorns as quickly as they can and this orange squirrel is doing the same.  Surrounded by so many acorns, he realizes that he has to hide them, gather them, dig and bury them.  He does, taking them right out of the paws of mice and the beaks of birds.  He almost gets in the way of a bear reaching for berries.  Then his stomach starts to growl.  But… where did he put all of the acorns? 

Done in Sherry’s signature wide-lined illustrations and large blocks of color, the pictures have a child-like feeling and cartoony style.   Sherry mixes in photographs of acorns and berries to great effect.  His words are simple and even sparse, allowing the bulk of the story to be told through the pictures. 

Toddlers will be drawn to the illustrations and will find a book that they themselves can “read” after only a few readings with adults.  This orange squirrel is sure to become a beloved fall fixture in story times for toddlers.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

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Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert

A new Ehlert picture book is always cause for celebration, a Halloween celebration in this case. 

The mice are in the garden preparing for their harvest party.  But then the cat shows up, making them very nervous.  The mice continue to decorate, creating jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins and other vegetables.  When the cat appears in the middle of the party, the mice have found a way to defend themselves with very funny results.

Ehlert excels at simplicity.  Her books have a minimal number of words, but still have a storyline, action, and humor.  Perfection to share with toddlers and preschoolers with shorter attention spans.  Ehlert’s illustrations are always wonderful.  Here she works with paper combined with garden objects and photographs of squash and vegetables.  She perfectly captures the feel of late autumn with seeds, pods, and twine.  Her collages are great fun to pore over and try to figure out what they are made out of.  She uses pumpkin seeds as teeth to great effect!  Children will want to talk about the illustrations, touch them to see if they can feel them, and just linger for awhile in Ehlert’s world.

Highly recommended, this is a great Halloween book for little children.  It has no witches, monsters, or anything frightening.  Just mice, a cat, and lots of squash.  Appropriate for ages 2-5.

Reviewed from copy received from publisher.

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We really lucked out with our first born, nicknamed Cuddle-Bear. He is an easy tempered child who tends to be fairly content with life as it rolls along. Cuddle-Bear started sleeping thru the night at 3 weeks and has always had a healthy appetite. He didn’t spit up very much and at the worst, he was difficult to burp. Even the beginning of the ‘Terrible Twos’ hasn’t been all that difficult. His temper-tantrums, while quite loud, are generally non-violent and infrequent.

If how things are going right now with Snuggle-Bug (the new baby) is any indication of how the next 18 years are going to be, I think I should either invest in a wig or get ready for having a headful of grey hair before I am 50. In the baby’s defense, part of the problem is he is somewhat colicky. Colic, which sounds like some quaint expression for something akin to uncontrollable hiccoughs to the uninitiated, is the bane of my efforts to get some sleep. As soon as the sun sets, Snuggle-Bug starts getting fussy. It just gets more intense as the night goes on.

Fortunately, he doesn’t scream his way thru feedings, though I feel like he’s trying to make me deaf when it’s time to burp him. (If you want to really offend your colicky baby, take that bottle away mid-feeding to burp the child. They’ll scream almost as loud as a toddler in their fury and make you need to change that clean diaper in the process. If you’re a masochist, try it out for fun. Your child will reward you with punishing cries everytime.) It seems as though there are only two ways to calm Snuggle-Bug during the night. One is to swaddle him tightly in a receiving blanket. The other is to rock with him in the rocking chair and sing myself hoarse while making sure the pacifier is securely in place.

Sometimes, the two need to be combined. This is fine and dandy, except for the fact that I have a toddler that I need to be up with during the day. Snuggle-Bug’s temper during the day is just as intense as it is during the night. I don’t claim to understand it, but I’m fairly certain that small children have some form of self-sustaining power source of an arcane nature within them. It is the only explanation as to how they can be up all night screaming their little lungs out and then proceed to be up screaming most of the day if they’re not in your arms or getting fed. Toddlers are not quite as bad, but that’s because they will sleep somewhat. In their case, the power source is used less for producing ear splitting decibels of noise and more for perpetual motion.

I find myself hoping and praying that Snuggle-Bug will sleep thru the night soon. I really don’t want the colic to last for 3 to 6 months, which the books claim is usually the longest time it takes for it to pass. I am pretty sure that I’ll be a zombie by 3 months with out a few decent nights of sleep and I’m afraid to think about how I’ll be if it takes 6 months or longer for this to pass. The thing I have to admit I really hate is not the fact that Snuggle-Bug is colicky. It’s the fact that out of everyone in my home, I am the only one who is awakened by it. My husband and Cuddle-Bear sleep right thru the screaming fits just as if they don’t happen.

I would find it a little easier to bear if I wasn’t the only one who was awakened by this. Sure, I suppose I could say that Snuggle-Bug is awakened by it, but I don’t know if that counts. After all, he is the one waking me up. All that effort the baby puts into his screaming, however, makes me feel a bit wary about the next 18 years. He has a temper that just might be worse then mine on a bad day along with a stubborn streak like his father. I suspect that Snuggle-Bug’s temper-tantrums are going to approach legendary status and I’m going to be wishing for the bouts of colic. Am I a fool for dreading this even as I wish the colic would end soon?

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We really lucked out with our first born, nicknamed Cuddle-Bear. He is an easy tempered child who tends to be fairly content with life as it rolls along. Cuddle-Bear started sleeping thru the night at 3 weeks and has always had a healthy appetite. He didn’t spit up very much and at the worst, he was difficult to burp. Even the beginning of the ‘Terrible Twos’ hasn’t been all that difficult. His temper-tantrums, while quite loud, are generally non-violent and infrequent.

If how things are going right now with Snuggle-Bug (the new baby) is any indication of how the next 18 years are going to be, I think I should either invest in a wig or get ready for having a headful of grey hair before I am 50. In the baby’s defense, part of the problem is he is somewhat colicky. Colic, which sounds like some quaint expression for something akin to uncontrollable hiccoughs to the uninitiated, is the bane of my efforts to get some sleep. As soon as the sun sets, Snuggle-Bug starts getting fussy. It just gets more intense as the night goes on.

Fortunately, he doesn’t scream his way thru feedings, though I feel like he’s trying to make me deaf when it’s time to burp him. (If you want to really offend your colicky baby, take that bottle away mid-feeding to burp the child. They’ll scream almost as loud as a toddler in their fury and make you need to change that clean diaper in the process. If you’re a masochist, try it out for fun. Your child will reward you with punishing cries everytime.) It seems as though there are only two ways to calm Snuggle-Bug during the night. One is to swaddle him tightly in a receiving blanket. The other is to rock with him in the rocking chair and sing myself hoarse while making sure the pacifier is securely in place.

Sometimes, the two need to be combined. This is fine and dandy, except for the fact that I have a toddler that I need to be up with during the day. Snuggle-Bug’s temper during the day is just as intense as it is during the night. I don’t claim to understand it, but I’m fairly certain that small children have some form of self-sustaining power source of an arcane nature within them. It is the only explanation as to how they can be up all night screaming their little lungs out and then proceed to be up screaming most of the day if they’re not in your arms or getting fed. Toddlers are not quite as bad, but that’s because they will sleep somewhat. In their case, the power source is used less for producing ear splitting decibels of noise and more for perpetual motion.

I find myself hoping and praying that Snuggle-Bug will sleep thru the night soon. I really don’t want the colic to last for 3 to 6 months, which the books claim is usually the longest time it takes for it to pass. I am pretty sure that I’ll be a zombie by 3 months with out a few decent nights of sleep and I’m afraid to think about how I’ll be if it takes 6 months or longer for this to pass. The thing I have to admit I really hate is not the fact that Snuggle-Bug is colicky. It’s the fact that out of everyone in my home, I am the only one who is awakened by it. My husband and Cuddle-Bear sleep right thru the screaming fits just as if they don’t happen.

I would find it a little easier to bear if I wasn’t the only one who was awakened by this. Sure, I suppose I could say that Snuggle-Bug is awakened by it, but I don’t know if that counts. After all, he is the one waking me up. All that effort the baby puts into his screaming, however, makes me feel a bit wary about the next 18 years. He has a temper that just might be worse then mine on a bad day along with a stubborn streak like his father. I suspect that Snuggle-Bug’s temper-tantrums are going to approach legendary status and I’m going to be wishing for the bouts of colic. Am I a fool for dreading this even as I wish the colic would end soon?

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All of Baby, Nose to Toes by Victoria Adler, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

This delightful little picture book combines charming art work with an engaging rhyme.  From eyes to toes, this book moves from one body part to the next, stopping for giggles at the tummy.  Each body part is given its own little rhyme that moves to a chorus of “Who loves baby’s ears?  Me! I do.” 

Adler has a knack for simple rhymes, a bouncy rhythm and sweetness that is not saccharine.  Nakata’s watercolor and gouache artwork is also sweet.  It features a rosy-cheeked baby with just the right amount of plumpness who goes through life with great glee. 

Perfect for babies and toddlers, this book’s rhyme and art will have everyone enjoying it.  Expect to read it time and again once the bouncy rhythm is in your ears and toes.

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A Very Curious Bear by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Paul Howard.

From the moment he wakes up to when he dozes off at night, a little bear is asking questions of a big bear.  The questions and answers create a dance of a poem that is charming and graceful.  Howard’s illustrations show a similar grace and charm, filled with plush, fuzzy bears, the wonder of a woods, and the thrill of the wind.  The little bear asks about all sorts of natural interests, wind blowing, stream gurgling, daisies growing, rain falling. And to each the big bear answers with poetic responses that show no exasperation but a respect for each question.

The spirit of the verse and the illustrations is so nicely matched here.  As the poem shows a caring adult, the illustrations show a caring large bear who guides and looks after the smaller.  Filled with a sweetness and gentleness, this book is great for bedtime reads or for any toddler who spends their day asking questions about the world.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

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Hello, Baby! by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

Take two amazing children’s book creators and put them together and you get a treat like this book.  The book starts with a simple question, “Hello, baby!  Who are you?”  It moves from one animal guess to the next with each animal doing an action that children will love to imitate.  Fox has created a joyous bouncing verse that romps from one animal to the next with great merriment.  Paired with the amazing paperwork art of Jenkins, the book is taken to another level. 

As I read this book, my mind immediately heard the chorus of preschoolers pretending to be yawning hippos.  I also saw groups of children rolling their eyes like geckos.  Jenkin’s art is realistic and vivid.  The colors shout from the page and children will enjoy looking closely at the art even though it will project perfectly to a group.  Fox’s words are brief and lovely, perfect for sharing with toddlers.  At the same time there is a sophistication about the art and the verse that will make it of interest to older preschoolers as well.  This is most definitely not solely a toddler title.

Highly recommended as a great pick for toddlers and preschoolers.  But expect lots of animal actions and silliness along the way.  Appropriate for 2-5 year olds.

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A Garden of Opposites by Nancy Davis

This bright, graphically-interesting and fun book offers pairs of opposites in a garden setting.  The opposites are very basic such as open/closed, long/short, and asleep/awake.  Davis’ illustrations are big and bold, filled with bright colors that will shout out to a group easily.  Equally likeable is the font and text size which will work well for reading aloud but also for new readers just figuring things out.

Recommended as a cheery spring opposite book, this one is perfect for toddlers ages 1-3.

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Author: Bob Graham (illus.)
Rating:
Reading Level: toddler to 3rd grade

Publisher: Candlewick
Edition:Hardcover, 2008


Since I am not one who usually loves books with strong and obvious messages, I surprised myself for really liking this one. Why? First and foremost, I think it is because that there is a real plot and emotional arc in the telling of this gentle and simple story of hope. Hope in healing the wounds of the world (a page with the TV screen showing the current War in contrast with the family's loving care of the bird); hope in having our next generations to have compassion for the world around them; and hope for the inter-generational "collaboration" in finding ways to heal.

Graham's cartoon illustrations do not reduce the emotional impact of the story -- the varied composition, perspectives, page layouts, all contribute beautifully to accentuate the events and the interior motions of the characters. That one spread where you only see Will and the bird with broken wing (as an extreme close-up from the spot on the cover) is superb! The more and more closely I examine this work, the more I appreciate it. (So, just changed from 4 to 5 stars!)


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From an Early Childhood Educator:

Today at circle time we talked about love. I asked the children, "What is love?" Here are some of their answers.
Love is....

• when you love a girl and you buy her a Sleeping Beauty dress.
• when you buy the boy you love shaving cream.
• when you kiss a bunch.
• when you put on a ring and kiss.
• when Mommy and Daddy watch Monsters Inc. with me.
• a sleepover with my brother.
• a snuggle with my mommy.
• love is when your heart gets happy.

I also asked, "What does love feel like?"

• It feels good...really good!
• It feels like a happy heart that is smiling.

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