Archive for February, 2009
“Little Rabbit” Books by Harry Horse
Move over Beatrix Potter because Little Rabbit is one cute bunny. I just finished Little Rabbit Goes to School (Peachtree, 2004) and really for me, it’s all about the illustrations. The story’s cute, yes, but this is a book I’d get for the illustrations. The Little Rabbit books tell about typical joys and fears of childhood: the excitement of a birthday, getting lost at “Rabbit World,” not wanting to share, the desire to be...
Online Audio Books
In an ideal world, we’d all have hours to sit on the couch reading books to our children. In an ideal world, we’d also have children who are always cheerful and obedient and never have problems with sleeping through the night, toilet-training, wrecking the car, or getting a full-ride scholarship to college either. But since we don’t live in an ideal world (it sounds a bit Orwellian anyway), here’s a website I just...
Hail to the Chief
So now that Barak Obama has been elected president, I bet your kids are asking you, “So, what does the President do all day?” (besides talk on TV, of course) Ok, maybe not. But if your kids were to ask you, what would you say? Lane Smith answers this profound question in Madame President (Hyperion, 2008). A president is a very important person, especially if the president happens to be a kid. “There are...
Slavery in America: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Like historical fiction? Then try Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Simon & Schuster, 2008). It looks at slavery from a different vantage point, that of the American Revolutionary War. With their mother dead and their father sold long ago, thirteen year old Isabel and her younger sister Ruth are slaves at the mercy of their mistress in Rhode Island. Although she promised to free the children after her death, their mistress’ greedy relative sells...
Babies Who Love Trains: Freight Train by Donald Crews
First, let me hasten to say that this book isn’t just for babies. However, Freight Train (HarperCollins, 1978) is a great picture book for babies. It’s also a book that can grow with your baby. Donald Crews won a Caldecott Medal for Freight Train. It’s got a sleek, graphic arts feel as page by page it moves us along the tracks from railroad car to railroad car: ”Red caboose at the back, Orange tank...
Learning to Read with Mo Willems
There is something magical about a child learning to read. It’s like that first smile, those first words, those first steps. A child can’t read at all and then one day . . . some of the words make sense. And then a few more. And then a few more. And next thing you know, the kid can read! Author Mo Willems is probably best known for his “Pigeon” books. Don’t Let...
Books Reviewed:
2012 Children’s Choice Awards
