Synopses & Reviews
In this endearing bedtime story, Willa's big brother helps her get to sleep by reminding her about all of the happy things around her. Willa is afraid of bad dreams. "Think of something happy," suggests her big brother, Willoughby. But Willa needs his help. So together they think of all the happy things that await her in the morning--cozy slippers to warm her little feet, a yummy breakfast, and the morning itself, which loves to gently nudge her awake. But for Willa, the happiest thing of all is knowing that Willoughby will be there in the morning, too, just like always. This reassuring bedtime book will quickly become a cherished addition to family libraries--favorite for grown-ups and little ones to share for years to come.
Review
"Warm, funny, generous, this is a book that belongs in every library, and every lap."--
The Horn Book (starred review)
"The text and pictures make beautiful music together, and like babies themselves, this composition is irresistible."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Should be in every preschool collection."--School Library Journal (starred review)
and#160; "A joyful ode to the everyday miracle of babies."--The New York Times Book Review
Review
"This gently lilting read-aloud is just right for bedtime, or anytime your child could use a little extra comfort. Youand#8217;ll go ga-ga yourself over the adorable watercolors of babies around the world." --Parenting , September 2008
"Put two titans of kids' books together for the first time, and what do you get (besides the urge to shout, "What took you so long?")? The answer: an instant classic . . . there's real magic at work here."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes gently presents--but never preaches--a satisfying lesson about humanity and international harmony."--BookPage
"A standout for its beautiful simplicity, this picture-book collaboration between Fox and Oxenbury aims a message of diversity and tolerance at very young children. . . . Clusters of adorable mulitcultural babies from around the world toddle across the pages until just one child receives three kisses on the nose from her loving mom, a sweet gesture that parents will want to act out with their own children. A gentle, joyous offering."--Booklist, starred review
"Fox's lilting verse just has to be read aloud, and preschoolers will quickly pick up on and join in on the anticipated refrain. Oxenbury's spacious illustrations, featuring her irresistible round-headed tots (and, of course, plenty of chubby baby digits), emphasize the babies' differences and will engage even the youngest listeners in the on-page action."--The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
"In 'Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes,' two beloved picture-book creators and#151; the storyteller Mem Fox and the artist Helen Oxenbury and#151; merge their talents in a winsome look at babies around the world."and#151;The New York Times Book Review
"A witty and winsome look at babies around the world that has a toe-tapping refrain: the words sound easy and familiar, as though they have been handed down to children forever. And the story ends with a pitch-perfect moment: one little baby who is 'mine, all mine.' "--The New York Times Book Review, Notable Children's Books of 2008
"'Light as air and sweet as honey' might be a way to describe this delectable confection about babies, here, there and everywhere."--The Globe and Mail
Wichita Eagle, Great Gift Recommendations 2008
and#160;
Review
"The prose is tender, and the illustrations are wondrous depictions of gentle woodland life and domestic burrows. Cross the style of William Steig with that of E. H. Shepard, and you'll have a feel for these precise, sweet drawings. Even in a market crowded with bunny books, this one will be successful." —Booklist
Review
Winner of the 2009 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the Picture Book category!
2009 Horn Book Fanfare List
2010 USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List
Nominated for a 2009 Cybil Award in the Fiction Picture Books Category
A CCBC Choice 2010
Publishers Weekly 2009 "Cuffies" List: "Hottest Book to Go Out of Stock," Honorable Mention
and#8220;Mabel blows a bubble that envelops her baby brother, gently wafting him all over the village, causing shock and excitement among the population. Chrysta and Greville Gribble, Tybal and his mother Sybil, the crabby Copples, feeble Mrs. Treeble and Canon Dapple come up with an improbable plan to catch the bubbled baby. Meanwhile, mischievous rebel Abel bursts the bubble with his slingshot and the villagers gallantly come to the rescue by catching him in a quilt. The action moves with breathless frenzy. Mahy is a master at creating verse that is as light and airy as the babyand#8217;s bubble. Filled with lovely Briticisms, alliterative nonsense words, double, triple and internal rhymes, itand#8217;s meant to be read aloudand#8212;and#8216;Again!and#8217;and#8212;and will lead both breathless readers and listeners to delighted giggles. The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbarand#8217;s joyous watercolor-andand#8211;cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
and#8220;Bubble, bubble, tongue-twisting trouble! When Mabel blows a bubble, it causes a bit of troubleand#8212;in the inimitable Mahy way. The rhythm and rhyme of her newest exuberant offering has echoes of the and#8216;bibble-bubble-babbleand#8217; of her older 17 Kings and 42 Elephants (rev. 9/87) with added tongue-stumbling internal rhymes to keep even the most accomplished storyteller on her toes. Little Mabeland#8217;s bubble surrounds Baby and takes him on an adventure of amazing heights. The whole town is alarmed as the bobbling bubble floats farther astray, but happy Baby is comfortably enthralled with his birdand#8217;s-eye view of the commotion. Dunbarand#8217;s cut-paper and watercolor full-page illustrations are entirely faithful to the lively tale. Every little detail of this raucous story is depicted in the dramatic spreadsand#8212;a good thing, as the words are a pleasant stretch for lap listeners. Who wouldnand#8217;t love the sound of nefarious, cavorting, grapple, and the like tripping off the readerand#8217;s tongue? The suspense builds in both words and pictures, and little onesand#8217; eyes will be as round as the bubble. Read this aloud and expect a lot of giggles and calls for a repeat performance. It will take a few readings to get through without stumbling, but that only adds to the fun.and#8221;and#8212;Horn Book, STARRED review and#160; and#8220;A truckload of trouble and mountains of mayhem ensue when young Mabel blows a bubble that enfolds her baby brother and carries him aloft. He is pursued by his frantic mother and sister, and#8216;crumpled Mr. Copple and his wife,and#8217; and#8216;feeble Mrs. Threeble,and#8217; and#8216;Greville Gribble,and#8217; the chapel choir, and other townsfolk. The text floats in waves along with the bouncing baby across the energetic watercolor and cut-paper spreads. Dressed in stripes and plaids, nightshirts and jogging suits, the crowd sprints along through backyards and gardens, gesticulating wildly as the smiling infant floats by. Eventually, the rescuers form a human ladder to reach him. But Abel, and#8216;a rascal and a rebel,and#8217; performs a dastardly deed with his slingshot and the people watch in horror as the baby plummets through the air. It takes three page turns for readers to reach the delightful resolution of this perilous predicament. There is no mistaking the babyand#8217;s happy landing as his smiling face and waving arms and feet fill the spread. This tale, with its over-the-top silliness, is a storyhour gem. And with some practice, the rhyme, alliterative phrases, and names will fall trippingly off the tongue. Fabulous fun!and#8221;and#8212;School Library Journal, STARRED review and#160; and#8220;Mahy is clearly in love with language here, as she offers a text that flounces and bounces like the baby in the bubble. . . . Children will find their ears perking up at the tongue-twisting text, and they may become word lovers, too, after listening to this.and#8221;and#8212;Booklist and#160; and#8220;An ebullient cocktail of sweetness and absurdity. . . . Readers-aloud will have as much fun as listeners with this frothy confection, so get ready to let that baby bounce.and#8221;and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
A charming bedtime story about sibling love, nightime fears, and all the good things preschoolers have to look forward to in the morning--in an oversized board book embellished with sparkly silver stars.
Synopsis
Bedtime isn't so scary when you have such a nice morning to look forward to. When little bunny Willa can't sleep, big brother Willoughby helps her think of all the happy things that await her when the sun comes up--cozy slippers, a yummy breakfast, and the morning itself, which loves to gently nudge her awake. For Willa, the happiest thing of all is knowing that Willoughby will be there in the morning, too, just like always. With soothing text, sweet illustrations, and cuddly bunny characters, this lap-sized board book is a comforting way to say goodnight and sweet dreams. Features shiny foil stars on the cover and sturdy, oversized pages.
Synopsis
Bedtime isn't so scary when you have such a nice morning to look forward to. Whenand#160;little bunny Willaand#160;can't sleep, big brother Willoughby helpsand#160;her think of all the happy things that await her when the sun comes upand#8212;cozy slippers, a yummy breakfast, and the morning itself, which loves to gently nudge her awake. For Willa, the happiest thing of all is knowing that Willoughby will be there in the morning, too, just like always. With soothing text, sweet illustrations, and cuddlyand#160;bunny characters, this lap-sized board book is a comforting way to say goodnight and sweet dreams. Features shiny foil stars on the cover andand#160;sturdy, oversizedand#160;pages.
Synopsis
Every day, everywhere, babies are born. They're kissed and dressed and rocked and fed--and completely adored by the families who love them. With an irresistible rhyming text and delightfully endearing illustrations, here is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best.
Synopsis
A modern nursery rhyme about the things babies everywhere have in common
Synopsis
A global celebration of adorable baby fingers and baby toesand#8212;now available in a lap board book edition. Born in the hills or in a town, in a tent or on the ice, these babies from across the globe all have one thing in commonand#8212;adorable fingers and toes. But one little baby has something only its mother can give.
Synopsis
The tender story of Smudge and his dream to have a brother or sister will appeal to any child awaiting the birth of a new sibling Smudge is the only rabbit in the woods without a brother or sister. His mother tells him to wait for spring, but that is a long way off. In autumn, Smudge builds a leaf-and-twig brother, but he blows away. He builds a snow sister in the winter, but she melts. Will Smudge's wish for a sibling ever come true? This touching tale of the arrival of a new baby is perfectly complemented by gentle illustrations.
Synopsis
Little Mabel blew a bubble, and it caused a lot of trouble . . . When little Mabeland#8217;s bubble gets away from her, itand#8217;s her baby brother who gets into trouble. Soon heand#8217;s floating out of the house, above the fence, and all over town! Itand#8217;s up to Mabel, Mother, and the rest of the townspeople to get him safely back down. Who knew that so much trouble could come from one little bubble?
Synopsis
A sweet board book edition of a heartwarming story
Synopsis
Iand#8217;m grim and grumpy,and#8221; says Small to Large, and#8220;and I donand#8217;t think you love me at all.and#8221; But nothing could be further from the truth--and Large knows just how to reassure Small in this warm and tender story about a childand#8217;s biggest worry and a parentand#8217;s endless capacity for love.
Synopsis
Ten mischievous mice play happily outside until, one by one, the mice tire of their adventures and scurry home. Joyce Dunbarand#8217;s charmingly illustrated reverse counting book will delight young readers and teach them a clever lesson.
About the Author
Margaret Mahy lived in New Zealand and was internationally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding childrenand#8217;s writers of her day. She was the author of more than two hundred books for children of all ages, two of which receivedandnbsp;England's Carnegie Medal and others of which have garnered numerous citations from the American Library Association. She was also the recipient of an Order of New Zealand, the highest honor a citizen can receive. In 2006 she receivd the Hans Christian Andersen award for her contributions to international children's literature. Polly Dunbar is the author and illustrator of Penguin, Dogandnbsp;Blue, and Flyaway Katie (all published by Candlewick). She is also the illustrator of Margaret Mahy's Down the Back of the Chair.andnbsp;She studied illustration at Brightandnbsp;Art School and now lives and works in Brighton, England.andnbsp;