On Market Street

If anyone has not yet discovered this delightful alphabet book by Arnold and Anita Lobel, it's time you did. The vendors are each made of the wares they are selling, including doughnuts, umbrellas, toys, ice-cream and noodles to name a few. The illustrations are quite entertaining. It's my new favorite alphabet book. It was the 1982 Caldecott Honor book. Tell me if you like it.

The Little Engine That Could

My son is obsessed with trains right now. I stumbled across this classic at the library and knew he would love it. I had read it as a child, and likely my parents and grandparents had to. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper was first published in 1930!

We first read the original version and later found this one with updated illustrations by Loren Long. My son loved them both. But I ended up purchasing the book with Loren Long's illustrations. I gave it to my son for his third birthday. He had a train party, of course, so it was very appropriate.

Now he makes me read this book to him almost every day. And why not. It has a great message, reminiscent of the Biblical good Samaritan story. It's one he'll hopefully remember the rest of his life...help others and climb those mountains one puff at at time. I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...

Llama, Llama, Red Pajama

Moms will love the lesson that this book teaches. Patience. Little llama is tucked into bed but decides he needs a drink of water. When his mama doesn't come right away he fears perhaps she is gone. Over time his fears escalate and his "llama drama" becomes quite entertaining to the kids. They laugh probably because they know they've done it too.

Of course, the problem is resolved and mama reassures him that she is "always near, even if she's not right here". Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney is one of our favorite bedtime or anytime reads. The author subsequently wrote more Llama books. But her first one is still my favorite. Check it out!

The Big Hungry Bear

Who wouldn't love to pick a red, ripe strawberry? Little mouse does. But an unseen narrator puts words in the reader's mouth and together you try to persuade him to share. Will little mouse share his strawberry with you? He just may...if you tell him there is a big hungry bear out there. Maybe he'll hide with you and cut it in two.

I've never met a child that didn't like this book. Don and Audrey Wood have become one of my favorite literary teams. I've loved every book I've ever read that was written and illustrated by them. Start your youngest reader out with The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. Then move onto Silly Sally, Alphabet Mystery, and more!

The Puddle

One of our favorite things to do is go puddle jumping. It rains a lot where we live so my boys and I have learned to make the most of it. We have rain coats, umbrellas, and rain boots (which they love to wear even when it's not raining). So puddle adventures are commonplace around here. Not surprisingly, our favorite rainy day book is The Puddle by David McPhail.

A little boy takes his boat outside to look for puddles and ends up having a very imaginative adventure. At one particularly inviting puddle, he meets a turtle, an alligator, a frog, etc., who each contribute to this fanciful story. When he returns home, he is greeted by his mother and a nice warm bath where his sailing adventures can continue.

This book is a fun read after spending a day splashing in puddles. The use of water color for the illustrations really helps to establish that rainy day feeling. The kids will want to craft a sail boat and try it themselves!

Caps for Sale

I only post books here that my kids ask me to read to them again and again. This book by Esphyr Slobodkina is one of those. Some mischievous monkeys steal a peddler's caps while he rests beneath a tree. When he awakes the pesky monkeys begin to imitate everything the peddler does.

He grows more and more furious with the pesky thieves until in his frustration he throws his own cap to the ground. And wouldn't you know it? The monkeys imitate that too. Unknowingly, the peddler outsmarts those monkeys, gathers his caps atop his head, and carries on his merry way. Personalize the reading with your own monkey noises and this book becomes a hilarious favorite.

The Day It Rained Hearts

Felicia Bond, illustrator of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, has written and illustrated our favorite February read. When it starts to rain hearts, a little girl decides Valentine's Day must be getting close. She catches as many hearts as she can in her raincoat then sets to work making Valentines. Each heart is different and she must carefully choose the right one for each of her friends.

She threads some hearts on a string, glues a cotton ball onto another, cuts circles from one, and makes a picture from the rest. After finishing her four curious Valentines, she adds a stamp and puts them in the mail. Dog, rabbit, mouse and turtle are all delighted with the homemade Valentine suited perfectly for them. And although it never rains hearts again, you'll discover that little Cornelia Augusta soon finds other ways to make Valentine's...If only hearts really did grow on trees!