Books We Love

On Market Street

2010-10-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

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!

The Mitten

2008-01-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

This traditional folktale is a classic. One by one, the animals of the forest squeeze into a lost mitten to take shelter from the snow.

I prefer Alvin Tresselt's version of this story. Perhaps because it's the one that I read when I was a child. Perhaps it's because Jan Brett's illustrations are too busy and don't particularly appeal to me. You can decide for yourself, of course. Either way, the story is a great read on a cold winter's day.

Santa Claus: The World's Number One Toy Expert

2007-12-01T23:57:00.000-08:00

This book by Marla Frazee is by far our favorite Christmas book.
No one knows more about toys, kids and gifts than Santa. He is definitely the expert. Get an inside look at how hard Santa works to match each particular toy to each particular child. How does he do it? He knows and loves each child so well.

He spends the whole year studying each child, takes lots of notes and compiles all his research. Then he finds (not makes) the best toys in the whole world. He makes sure they are fun to play with. And after changing his mind many times, he chooses the one toy that is sure to make each child the happiest.

The illustrations are playful and very humorous. And, I found it refreshing to see Santa depicted as a thoughtful giver rather than a boss of toymakers. So whether you're falling in love with Santa for the first time or all over again, you'll enjoy this read. Check it out.

What Grandmas/Grandpas Do Best

2007-11-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

We live in a whole different state than our grandparents. We miss them. I think that's why we love this book by Laura Numeroff so much. But who doesn't love their grandparents?

Our grandad tells stories about knights and dragons; Nana can turn any chore into play. Grandpa has fun dogs to play with, and Grandma buys us toys and takes us to McDonalds. But best of all they give Collin and Luke "lots and lots of love."

November is a time we often gather with extended family. Read this book with your special grand parents and reflect on all the fun memories you have made.

Big Pumpkin

2007-10-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

This book by Erica Silverman is our favorite Halloween read. It's perfect for preschoolers because it's not scary, yet it still introduces the fun personalities of the season. A witch cares for a pumpkin in her garden, anticipating pumpkin pie for Halloween. When it grows too big to lift along come a ghost, a vampire and a mummy boasting of their size and strength. Each pulls and tugs but ultimately fails to snap the pumpkin from the vine.

And then a small bat flies by who really wants to help. He declares that he may not be the biggest or the strongest but he does have a good idea. So the bat pulls the mummy, the mummy pulls the vampire, the vampire pulls the ghost, the ghost pulls the witch, and the witch pulls the pumpkin. Wouldn't you know it. When they all work together, the pumpkin snaps off the vine and rolls down the hill right to the witches doorstep. The witch invites her new found friends to stay for a Halloween party, and they all enjoy the pumpkin pie together.

The author's use of repetition makes this a fun read aloud. The illustrations by S.D. Schindler are fabulous at depicting the motion, emotion and commotion in this story. It's a great way to introduce your child to the holiday or to the pleasure of a pumpkin pie. Check it out.

Red, Red, Red

2007-09-01T22:55:00.000-07:00

I happened upon this Valeri Gorbachev book at the library. It caught my eye merely because my son's favorite color is red. He only colors with red crayons. He wants red cups and bowls at meal time. And if it were up to him, he'd wear red shirts every day. So this delightful book quickly became a favorite of mine and his.

All the animal neighbors are perplexed when they see Turtle in a hurry. He's looking for something red and he can't be late. Is it Rabbit’s red roses? Or Goat’s red socks? Their curiosity gets the best of them and they all follow him to the edge of town. They reach the top of a hill just as the sun is setting and much to the animals' delight- it's the sky that turns red. This book will make you want to slow down your busy life, and not just smell the red roses but catch a sunset too.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

2007-08-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

A magician introduced me to this book. He was drawing pictures with a magic purple crayon and they appeared to come alive. When he recommended this book (and my husband said it used to be a favorite), I had to check it out. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed.

Inspired by the moonshine in his bedroom window, a little boy (who can't sleep) decides to take a walk. With his purple crayon and a little imagination, he defeats a dragon, climbs a mountain, traverses an ocean and ultimately makes his way back to the city. But to his dismay, all the buildings and windows look the same. Luckily, he remembers that his window always had a view of the moon. When he finds the moon, he knows he is home. He "draws" up the covers and falls fast asleep. So next time you tuck your child into bed, make sure he can feel the moonlight on his face. You never know where it might take him.