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What an unexpected treasure this was! Kate Bernheimer has selected an extraordinary mix of stories inspired by traditional fairy tales. The styles range broadly, from very traditional, to modern takes on familiar themes, to very unique approaches. There's something for everyone here, all of it beautifully written and thought provoking.

Logorrhea is a clever and unexpected collection of stories sure to appeal to any word lover out there. Challenged with writing stories inspired by Scripps Spelling Bee-winning words--from "pococurante" to "psoriasis"--each of the authors John Klima has gathered here have risen to that challenge in incredibly creative and inspired ways. Some of the stories are straightforwardly modern, others reminiscent of folktales, and every one of them entertains.

What an extraordinary collection of stories this is! Kate Bernheimer has accomplished something truly special, gathering amazing stories--some by authors we know and love, others by lesser-known writers--inspired by the fairytales that enchanted us as children, but taking them in unique and clever new directions. There is something here for everyone, some stories written in the classic fairytale mode, others modern and more subtly magical, all of them riveting reads. I've been reading a lot of short stories lately, but "My Mother She Killed Me" is by far one of the most special books I've encountered in a long, long time.

As is obvious from the list of baby & toddler books that I have recommended on this web site, it takes a great deal for a board book to leave enough of an impression on me that I would include it on that list. They are, by their very nature, often bereft of any real story at all, and it is a rare exception to the rule that includes vocabulary or art that is worth overlooking that lack of narrative. Over Under not only left an impression on me, it actually went so far as to prove me wrong in thinking that narrative flow was something one could not reasonably expect from an infant board book. Despite being limited to a word or three per page, Marthe Jocelyn somehow manages to make the text flow, both in a rhythmic sense and in that it feels like a story is being told, if only in the sparest, bare bones sort of way. First published as a regular, full-sized picture book, the back of Over Under describes it as: ?A first opposites book, a first art book.? This is not an exaggeration, and my feeling is that Tom Slaughter?s stark, brightly-coloured pictures serve the book even better in its new board book format than they did in the previous edition, simply because they are clear, simple, and colourful enough to catch and keep the interest of even an infant who picks up this little cardboard gem to chew on or flip through by him- or herself.

At first glance, Mem Fox?s "Where is the Green Sheep?" seems deceptively simple, little different from every other baby book about that storybook farmyard staple, the woolly sheep. The pictures are bright and cheery, the sentences spare and straightforward, as one would expect in a book for toddlers. But there is also something enchantingly irreverent about the text here. It is in the references to ?bath sheep? and ?bed sheep,? for example--both ideas common to baby books, but presented here in a slightly offbeat context. "Where is the Green Sheep?" is a lovely, fun book, simple enough for the youngest children but a little different from the usual farmyard fare--as much for your sake as for the child?s.

Here is another story about royalty that will stand out like a shining, laugh-inducing beacon from the standard cutesy princess and brave knight stories of which most adults have grown tired. Any child will relate to the difficulties of Queen Daisy, whose feet just won?t seem to stay still or do what they are supposed to. Queen Daisy?s feet don?t want to wear proper, elegant shoes or step daintily about the dance floor at royal balls. Instead, they want to wear cozy slippers, or the sort of boots that are particularly good for stomping in mud puddles; they want to dance wildly and occasionally give a bit of a kick to someone who is particularly mean. Luckily, Queen Daisy?s problem is resolved without too much difficulty, and in a manner that both parents and children can appreciate, which recognizes that there are times when one must behave properly even when it?s no fun at all, but that it is equally important to make time to kick off one?s shoes (pardon the pun) and let off a little steam. Du?an Petričić?s drawings are eloquent in their own right, and the ideal complement to this story, showing only the queen?s legs and feet in their various predicaments for most of the story, only revealing her whole self at the end, showing her integration as a whole person just as the story wraps up in similar fashion.

As any parent?or, frankly, anyone who has ever been around siblings at all?knows, sibling rivalry is one of those things you can always count on. And sibling rivalry is equally reliable as a story theme; there are few things that kids love to hear about more than the familiar screeches and squawks of brothers and sisters squabbling. Even only children can relate to the constant squabbles that are equally common among young friends. Rotten and Rascal is a fabulous tale of sibling rivalry?spot-on accurate in its depiction of a pair of brothers who squabble over anything and everything. It is funny, a bit pointed, but not overly didactic in the way it delivers a neat lesson about the consequences of this sort of thoughtless rivalry. This is a great book for impatient little ones, who are very likely to recognize themselves in the antics of the young dinosaurs.

As any parent?or, frankly, anyone who has ever been around siblings at all?knows, sibling rivalry is one of those things you can always count on. And sibling rivalry is equally reliable as a story theme; there are few things that kids love to hear about more than the familiar screeches and squawks of brothers and sisters squabbling. Even only children can relate to the constant squabbles that are equally common among young friends. Rotten and Rascal is a fabulous tale of sibling rivalry?spot-on accurate in its depiction of a pair of brothers who squabble over anything and everything. It is funny, a bit pointed, but not overly didactic in the way it delivers a neat lesson about the consequences of this sort of thoughtless rivalry. This is a great book for impatient little ones, who are very likely to recognize themselves in the antics of the young dinosaurs.

If you wanted to bake an apple pie, but found the store closed when you went to buy the ingredients, what would you do? Why, travel the world to gather them from their original sources, of course! In a story that charmingly brings to mind current gourmet trends promoting the use of local ingredients and food prepared lovingly from scratch, the protagonist of How to Make an Apple Pie literally travels the globe, gathering each of the ingredients for her pie. Priceman has managed to create a story that is not only entertaining, but provides a simple-yet-vivid lesson on geography and the origins and preparation of the foods we eat, in language simple enough for a preschooler to enjoy and understand

If you wanted to bake an apple pie, but found the store closed when you went to buy the ingredients, what would you do? Why, travel the world to gather them from their original sources, of course! In a story that charmingly brings to mind current gourmet trends promoting the use of local ingredients and food prepared lovingly from scratch, the protagonist of How to Make an Apple Pie literally travels the globe, gathering each of the ingredients for her pie. Priceman has managed to create a story that is not only entertaining, but provides a simple-yet-vivid lesson on geography and the origins and preparation of the foods we eat, in language simple enough for a preschooler to enjoy and understand

If you wanted to bake an apple pie, but found the store closed when you went to buy the ingredients, what would you do? Why, travel the world to gather them from their original sources, of course! In a story that charmingly brings to mind current gourmet trends promoting the use of local ingredients and food prepared lovingly from scratch, the protagonist of How to Make an Apple Pie literally travels the globe, gathering each of the ingredients for her pie. Priceman has managed to create a story that is not only entertaining, but provides a simple-yet-vivid lesson on geography and the origins and preparation of the foods we eat, in language simple enough for a preschooler to enjoy and understand

When it comes to read-aloud stories I generally tend towards the wordier ones, in order to expose the kids I?m reading to to as much new vocabulary and language as possible. Catherine Rayner?s Augustus and His Smile, however, is an exception to that rule. With few but well-chosen words and broad strokes of the paintbrush, Rayner creates gorgeous landscapes to compliment the tiger Augustus? journey to find his missing smile. Richly coloured but not overly detailed, these illustrations are evocative rather than clearly delineated, designed as much to spark a child?s imagination of this world as they are to display it as an already-formed image. The text of the story is sparing, but not at all simplistic or lacking. Rather, Rayner chooses her words selectively, using them in much the same manner as the illustrations to describe Augustus? journey while still leaving room for young listeners to stretch their imaginations. I rarely use the world ?classic,? but I would be remiss in NOT using it here. Augustus and His Smile really is the sort of classic, timeless book that deserves a place among those books beloved of children, generation after generation.

When it comes to read-aloud stories I generally tend towards the wordier ones, in order to expose my young audience to as much new vocabulary and language as possible. Catherine Rayner?s Augustus and His Smile, however, is an exception to that rule. With few but well-chosen words and broad strokes of the paintbrush, Rayner creates gorgeous landscapes to compliment the tiger Augustus? journey to find his missing smile. Richly coloured but not overly detailed, these illustrations are evocative rather than clearly delineated, designed as much to spark a child?s imagination of this world as they are to display it as an already-formed image. The text of the story is sparing, but not at all simplistic or lacking. Rather, Rayner chooses her words selectively, using them in much the same manner as the illustrations to describe Augustus? journey while still leaving room for young listeners to stretch their imaginations. I rarely use the world ?classic,? but I would be remiss in NOT using it here. Augustus and His Smile really is the sort of classic, timeless book that deserves a place among those books beloved of children, generation after generation.

This sweet, heartfelt story is one that every child will relate to. After all, doesn?t every child with a common name at some point long for a more unusual appellation and vice versa? Little Chrysanthemum the mouse adores her name. She loves the way it sounds and looks, and thinks it is absolutely perfect. But when Chrysanthemum starts school, she finds that having an unusual name can be a burden as well as a blessing, when some of the other children start to tease her. Chrysanthemum is a wonderful story about names and identity, self-confidence and self-image. It is written in a way that really speaks to kids, and delivers its message with a minimum of sermonizing and a neat, cheerful little twist at the end.

This sweet, heartfelt story is one that every child will relate to. After all, doesn?t every child with a common name at some point long for a more unusual appellation and vice versa? Little Chrysanthemum the mouse adores her name. She loves the way it sounds and looks, and thinks it is absolutely perfect. But when Chrysanthemum starts school, she finds that having an unusual name can be a burden as well as a blessing, when some of the other children start to tease her. Chrysanthemum is a wonderful story about names and identity, self-confidence and self-image. It is written in a way that really speaks to kids, and delivers its message with a minimum of sermonizing and a neat, cheerful little twist at the end.

This sweet, heartfelt story is one that every child will relate to. After all, doesn?t every child with a common name at some point long for a more unusual appellation and vice versa? Little Chrysanthemum the mouse adores her name. She loves the way it sounds and looks, and thinks it is absolutely perfect. But when Chrysanthemum starts school, she finds that having an unusual name can be a burden as well as a blessing, when some of the other children start to tease her. Chrysanthemum is a wonderful story about names and identity, self-confidence and self-image. It is written in a way that really speaks to kids, and delivers its message with a minimum of sermonizing and a neat, cheerful little twist at the end.

This sweet, heartfelt story is one that every child will relate to. After all, doesn?t every child with a common name at some point long for a more unusual appellation and vice versa? Little Chrysanthemum the mouse adores her name. She loves the way it sounds and looks, and thinks it is absolutely perfect. But when Chrysanthemum starts school, she finds that having an unusual name can be a burden as well as a blessing, when some of the other children start to tease her. Chrysanthemum is a wonderful story about names and identity, self-confidence and self-image. It is written in a way that really speaks to kids, and delivers its message with a minimum of sermonizing and a neat, cheerful little twist at the end.

The potential pitfalls for a picture book about the joys of reading are plentiful. If the story is overly preachy or patronizing, the author risks doing the opposite of what is intended and turning kids off of books. If too many other books are referenced, or books that are too old or complicated, with which young children are unlikely to be familiar, the sly humor that makes those references so much fun may go right over kids? heads. Michael Garland?s colourful pictures have a lovely, almost three-dimensional aspect to them. They allude not only to classics like The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, but hint as well at nursery rhymes and simple stories?such as Humpty Dumpty and Goldilocks and the Three Bears?that even the youngest listeners will be aware of, including them in the delight of unexpected recognizing something familiar in a new context. "Miss Smith?s Incredible Storybook" manages to neatly sidestep that potential, making for a great read that is sure to have kids engrossed from start to finish, while reminding them what it is that they love most about reading and being read to.

The potential pitfalls for a picture book about the joys of reading are plentiful. If the story is overly preachy or patronizing, the author risks doing the opposite of what is intended and turning kids off of books. If too many other books are referenced, or books that are too old or complicated, with which young children are unlikely to be familiar, the sly humor that makes those references so much fun may go right over kids? heads. Michael Garland?s colourful pictures have a lovely, almost three-dimensional aspect to them. They allude not only to classics like The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, but hint as well at nursery rhymes and simple stories?such as Humpty Dumpty and Goldilocks and the Three Bears?that even the youngest listeners will be aware of, including them in the delight of unexpected recognizing something familiar in a new context. "Miss Smith?s Incredible Storybook" manages to neatly sidestep that potential, making for a great read that is sure to have kids engrossed from start to finish, while reminding them what it is that they love most about reading and being read to.

This over-the-top story about arguing and making up again starts slowly, with an all-too-familiar fight between siblings, and builds to a joyous, crashing crescendo as friends, family, neighbours and complete strangers annoy and irk each other, learn to overcome and even appreciate their differences, and band together in a rollicking, ever-moving parade of friendship-building. Utterly without platitudes or corniness, "And to Think That We Thought That We?d Never Be Friends" is a grand tale of the joys of friendship that reminds kids how negligible our petty disagreements are in the greater scheme of things, presented in a highly enjoyable story for reading aloud.

This over-the-top story about arguing and making up again starts slowly, with an all-too-familiar fight between siblings, and builds to a joyous, crashing crescendo as friends, family, neighbours and complete strangers annoy and irk each other, learn to overcome and even appreciate their differences, and band together in a rollicking, ever-moving parade of friendship-building. Utterly without platitudes or corniness, "And to Think That We Thought That We?d Never Be Friends" is a grand tale of the joys of friendship that reminds kids how negligible our petty disagreements are in the greater scheme of things, presented in a highly enjoyable story for reading aloud.

This over-the-top story about arguing and making up again starts slowly, with an all-too-familiar fight between siblings, and builds to a joyous, crashing crescendo as friends, family, neighbours and complete strangers annoy and irk each other, learn to overcome and even appreciate their differences, and band together in a rollicking, ever-moving parade of friendship-building. Utterly without platitudes or corniness, "And to Think That We Thought That We?d Never Be Friends" is a grand tale of the joys of friendship that reminds kids how negligible our petty disagreements are in the greater scheme of things, presented in a highly enjoyable story for reading aloud.

Laura Leuck?s My Monster Mama Loves Me So is an engaging little story about the joys of the mother-child relationship, told from an unusual point of view: that of a little monster listing all of the ways that his ?monster mama? shows her love for him. While a few of the monster references may be too abstract for some children (e.g. an allusion to the monsters sleeping during the day and waking up at night), the vast majority of them will be very familiar to even the youngest kids. Probably the greatest recommendation for this book, though, is that the preschoolers I have read it to have LOVED it, getting a real kick out of seeing so many familiar routines turned on their head and ?monsterized.? Not to mention the fact that they seem to particularly delight in the idea that they are ?brave enough? for a ?scary monster story??one that, thankfully for parents who don?t feel like dealing with nightmares, is not actually the least bit frightening at all.

Laura Leuck?s My Monster Mama Loves Me So is an engaging little story about the joys of the mother-child relationship, told from an unusual point of view: that of a little monster listing all of the ways that his ?monster mama? shows her love for him. While a few of the monster references may be too abstract for some children (e.g. an allusion to the monsters sleeping during the day and waking up at night), the vast majority of them will be very familiar to even the youngest kids. Probably the greatest recommendation for this book, though, is that the preschoolers I have read it to have LOVED it, getting a real kick out of seeing so many familiar routines turned on their head and ?monsterized.? Not to mention the fact that they seem to particularly delight in the idea that they are ?brave enough? for a ?scary monster story??one that, thankfully for parents who don?t feel like dealing with nightmares, is not actually the least bit frightening at all.

Laura Leuck?s My Monster Mama Loves Me So is an engaging little story about the joys of the mother-child relationship, told from an unusual point of view: that of a little monster listing all of the ways that his ?monster mama? shows her love for him. While a few of the monster references may be too abstract for some children (e.g. an allusion to the monsters sleeping during the day and waking up at night), the vast majority of them will be very familiar to even the youngest kids. Probably the greatest recommendation for this book, though, is that the preschoolers I have read it to have LOVED it, getting a real kick out of seeing so many familiar routines turned on their head and ?monsterized.? Not to mention the fact that they seem to particularly delight in the idea that they are ?brave enough? for a ?scary monster story??one that, thankfully for parents who don?t feel like dealing with nightmares, is not actually the least bit frightening at all.

From the writing duo that brought us the infectious Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands is another wonderful book for parents to share with babies and toddlers. Simple rhymes about parts of the body are easy to turn into a game parents can play with babies, or that toddlers can act out as they listen. Here Are My Hands also stands out in that, unlike some other books with a similar ?body parts? theme, Martin and Archambault include a few more thought-provoking ideas that will still speak to the experiences of very young children (?Here is my head for thinking and knowing,? ?Here are my eyes for seeing and crying?). Ted Rand?s densely coloured, smudgy drawings of different children demonstrating the rhymes, done in watercolour but reminiscent of crayons or pastels, make this a beautiful book for sharing with the youngest members of your family.

From the writing duo that brought us the infectious Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands is another wonderful book for parents to share with babies and toddlers. Simple rhymes about parts of the body are easy to turn into a game parents can play with babies, or that toddlers can act out as they listen. Here Are My Hands also stands out in that, unlike some other books with a similar ?body parts? theme, Martin and Archambault include a few more thought-provoking ideas that will still speak to the experiences of very young children (?Here is my head for thinking and knowing,? ?Here are my eyes for seeing and crying?). Ted Rand?s densely coloured, smudgy drawings of different children demonstrating the rhymes, done in watercolour but reminiscent of crayons or pastels, make this a beautiful book for sharing with the youngest members of your family.

From the writing duo that brought us the infectious Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands is another wonderful book for parents to share with babies and toddlers. Simple rhymes about parts of the body are easy to turn into a game parents can play with babies, or that toddlers can act out as they listen. Here Are My Hands also stands out in that, unlike some other books with a similar ?body parts? theme, Martin and Archambault include a few more thought-provoking ideas that will still speak to the experiences of very young children (?Here is my head for thinking and knowing,? ?Here are my eyes for seeing and crying?). Ted Rand?s densely coloured, smudgy drawings of different children demonstrating the rhymes, done in watercolour but reminiscent of crayons or pastels, make this a beautiful book for sharing with the youngest members of your family.

From the writing duo that brought us the infectious Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands is another wonderful book for parents to share with babies and toddlers. Simple rhymes about parts of the body are easy to turn into a game parents can play with babies, or that toddlers can act out as they listen. Here Are My Hands also stands out in that, unlike some other books with a similar ?body parts? theme, Martin and Archambault include a few more thought-provoking ideas that will still speak to the experiences of very young children (?Here is my head for thinking and knowing,? ?Here are my eyes for seeing and crying?). Ted Rand?s densely coloured, smudgy drawings of different children demonstrating the rhymes, done in watercolour but reminiscent of crayons or pastels, make this a beautiful book for sharing with the youngest members of your family.

From the writing duo that brought us the infectious Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Here Are My Hands is another wonderful book for parents to share with babies and toddlers. Simple rhymes about parts of the body are easy to turn into a game parents can play with babies, or that toddlers can act out as they listen. Here Are My Hands also stands out in that, unlike some other books with a similar ?body parts? theme, Martin and Archambault include a few more thought-provoking ideas that will still speak to the experiences of very young children (?Here is my head for thinking and knowing,? ?Here are my eyes for seeing and crying?). Ted Rand?s densely coloured, smudgy drawings of different children demonstrating the rhymes, done in watercolour but reminiscent of crayons or pastels, make this a beautiful book for sharing with the youngest members of your family.

With rare exceptions such as the incomparable Sandra Boynton?s small works of genius, or the endlessly entertaining board book versions of some Dr. Seuss favourites, it?s pretty unusual for me to find a board book that I really like. While I love the idea of books sturdy enough for infants and toddlers to handle by themselves, most board books are thoroughly uninspired. Far too many of them are written in the sort of sickly-sweet, patronizing tone that suggests that our youngest children cannot appreciate or benefit from a sense of humour, a bit of interesting word play, or an idea more complex than ?Cow says, ?Moo.?? Given all of the above, it was with great glee that I first encountered the works of author/illustrator Todd Parr. Some parents may already be familiar with Parr and his quirky, colourful style from the children?s cartoon television show ?Toddworld?. His board books reflect a similarly offbeat, cheery sensibility, with bold, primary-coloured, childlike illustrations, and themes which manage to be simultaneously irreverent and heart-warming. Do?s and Don?ts is a great example of what makes Parr?s books stand out from the crowd. In an ?advice? book for the diapered set, the author puts forth a set of suggestions that are both silly and surprisingly sensible. From ?Do smile at people. Don?t stick your tongue out at them,? to ?Do eat lunch with a monkey. Don?t eat his bananas,? Do?s and Don?ts is full of a gentle humour that even the smallest children can enjoy, in a format that both babies and parents can appreciate.

I?m not sure that I can even begin to explain all of the things that make Thelonius Monster?s Sky-High Fly Pie a fantastic book, there are so very many of them, and they so defy simple description. This is more just a book, it is an animated, dynamic reading experience. The story itself, about a monster?s attempts to bake a delicious fly pie and invite all of his friends and family over to partake of it, is highly entertaining, and Edward Koren?s illustrations are fun and offbeat; but it is the way the story is told that really takes it above and beyond your average picture book. Judy Sierra folds fabulous, evocative, challenging (but not TOO confusing) vocabulary into fabulous rhymes in a rhythm that is just off-kilter enough to keep the story dramatic and funny without tripping up the tongue of an adult reading it aloud. Add to this a text design that includes variously sized and spaced words for emphasis, and the occasional text page where the colour has been inverted just to keep things interesting, and you?ve got a recipe for a Fly Pie that is truly extraordinary.

I?m not sure that I can even begin to explain all of the things that make Thelonius Monster?s Sky-High Fly Pie a fantastic book, there are so very many of them, and they so defy simple description. This is more just a book, it is an animated, dynamic reading experience. The story itself, about a monster?s attempts to bake a delicious fly pie and invite all of his friends and family over to partake of it, is highly entertaining, and Edward Koren?s illustrations are fun and offbeat; but it is the way the story is told that really takes it above and beyond your average picture book. Judy Sierra folds fabulous, evocative, challenging (but not TOO confusing) vocabulary into fabulous rhymes in a rhythm that is just off-kilter enough to keep the story dramatic and funny without tripping up the tongue of an adult reading it aloud. Add to this a text design that includes variously sized and spaced words for emphasis, and the occasional text page where the colour has been inverted just to keep things interesting, and you?ve got a recipe for a Fly Pie that is truly extraordinary.

Storybooks about picky eaters seem to be a dime a dozen, but there is no question that The Seven Silly Eaters stands out in that crowd. Instead of a tale of grumpy complaints, this rhyming story of a pack of wee food critics is upbeat and fun. One of the ways the author maintains that sense of jolliness is by emphasizing the positive rather than the negative. It seems like such a little thing, but in the overall scheme of things I have found that it makes a huge difference that instead of the usual gripes about not wanting to eat ones vegetables/liver/etc., Hoberman focuses on the single food or beverage that each child does want to eat?at every meal, day after day after day, much to their mother?s frustration. Again, it seems like a small thing, but children pick up on the small things. I think most parents would rather have their child hearing about something that a character finds particularly tasty (especially when those foods include such healthy things as milk, oatmeal, and applesauce), rather than having the idea put in their head that a certain vegetable or other good food is ?yucky.? I also really like the way the story is resolved, for two reasons. First of all, because it celebrates the mother and acknowledges the hard work that she has done. Secondly, I like that instead of the usual ending to such stories, which generally features the unlikely scenario of a child suddenly discovering that peas/liver/brussels sprouts are his new favourite food, this story ends with a culinary resolution that is, if not true-to-life, then at least logical, and which involves a neatly presented example of what cooperation can accomplish.

Storybooks about picky eaters seem to be a dime a dozen, but there is no question that The Seven Silly Eaters stands out in that crowd. Instead of a tale of grumpy complaints, this rhyming story of a pack of wee food critics is upbeat and fun. One of the ways the author maintains that sense of jolliness is by emphasizing the positive rather than the negative. It seems like such a little thing, but in the overall scheme of things I have found that it makes a huge difference that instead of the usual gripes about not wanting to eat ones vegetables/liver/etc., Hoberman focuses on the single food or beverage that each child does want to eat?at every meal, day after day after day, much to their mother?s frustration. Again, it seems like a small thing, but children pick up on the small things. I think most parents would rather have their child hearing about something that a character finds particularly tasty (especially when those foods include such healthy things as milk, oatmeal, and applesauce), rather than having the idea put in their head that a certain vegetable or other good food is ?yucky.? I also really like the way the story is resolved, for two reasons. First of all, because it celebrates the mother and acknowledges the hard work that she has done. Secondly, I like that instead of the usual ending to such stories, which generally features the unlikely scenario of a child suddenly discovering that peas/liver/brussels sprouts are his new favourite food, this story ends with a culinary resolution that is, if not true-to-life, then at least logical, and which involves a neatly presented example of what cooperation can accomplish.

Storybooks about picky eaters seem to be a dime a dozen, but there is no question that The Seven Silly Eaters stands out in that crowd. Instead of a tale of grumpy complaints, this rhyming story of a pack of wee food critics is upbeat and fun. One of the ways the author maintains that sense of jolliness is by emphasizing the positive rather than the negative. It seems like such a little thing, but in the overall scheme of things I have found that it makes a huge difference that instead of the usual gripes about not wanting to eat ones vegetables/liver/etc., Hoberman focuses on the single food or beverage that each child does want to eat?at every meal, day after day after day, much to their mother?s frustration. Again, it seems like a small thing, but children pick up on the small things. I think most parents would rather have their child hearing about something that a character finds particularly tasty (especially when those foods include such healthy things as milk, oatmeal, and applesauce), rather than having the idea put in their head that a certain vegetable or other good food is ?yucky.? I also really like the way the story is resolved, for two reasons. First of all, because it celebrates the mother and acknowledges the hard work that she has done. Secondly, I like that instead of the usual ending to such stories, which generally features the unlikely scenario of a child suddenly discovering that peas/liver/brussels sprouts are his new favourite food, this story ends with a culinary resolution that is, if not true-to-life, then at least logical, and which involves a neatly presented example of what cooperation can accomplish.

Bark, George is a fantastic little story sure to induce giggles in any toddler who has just discovered the exciting new world of animal sounds. One of the first things many babies learn is the sounds that different animals make: ?Doggie says, ?Ruff, ruff!? Kitty says, ?Meow,?? etc. Thus, this story of a little dog who comes out with every sound except the expected one really tickles the toddler sense of humour. Little ones will get a great kick out of playing along, identifying which animals George?s sounds really belong to as he meows and quacks, moos and oinks, but cannot seem to bark like the dog that he is. Even more entertaining is the unexpected resolution to George?s problem: an absurd and ridiculous answer that is both surprising and sure to delight toddlers who have yet to be encumbered by a need for realism or sensible explanations for things. This book had me laughing right along with the kids, simply because both the 2- and 4-year-olds that I was reading to took such obvious joy in it. I think that says it all.

Bark, George is a fantastic little story sure to induce giggles in any toddler who has just discovered the exciting new world of animal sounds. One of the first things many babies learn is the sounds that different animals make: ?Doggie says, ?Ruff, ruff!? Kitty says, ?Meow,?? etc. Thus, this story of a little dog who comes out with every sound except the expected one really tickles the toddler sense of humour. Little ones will get a great kick out of playing along, identifying which animals George?s sounds really belong to as he meows and quacks, moos and oinks, but cannot seem to bark like the dog that he is. Even more entertaining is the unexpected resolution to George?s problem: an absurd and ridiculous answer that is both surprising and sure to delight toddlers who have yet to be encumbered by a need for realism or sensible explanations for things. This book had me laughing right along with the kids, simply because both the 2- and 4-year-olds that I was reading to took such obvious joy in it. I think that says it all.

This rollicking tale has a great deal going for it: the nonsensical verse reads like a song, galloping along at a sprightly pace, line after line of snowballing rhymes provoking giggles at every turn with their over-the-top descriptions of the consequences for all of the other animals nearby when the elephant lets go with an enormous sneeze. This is a book that was made for reading aloud. Even the least drama-prone adult will have trouble NOT getting carried away and hamming it up while reading these lines aloud. But perhaps what makes ?Stand back,? Said the Elephant stand out, in particular, is the unexpected twist in the story. It?s rare to find a book for young children with a ?twist? that isn?t utterly predictable, much less one that will take even adults by surprise. In this case, the surprise proves delightful for both kids and grownups, adding even more laughs to a story that is already giggle-inducing.

Sometimes a book is just so straightforwardly appealing that it needs few additional words to recommend it. Doggie in the Window is just such a book. A sweet, uncomplicated story about a very small dog with very big dreams, Doggie in the Window is definitely a keeper--funny and charming, and beautifully illustrated in warm, inviting colours.

I was going to start this review by saying that Barney Bipple?s Magic Dandelions is a classic that reminded me of the books I grew up with 30 years ago, until I realized that the book itself is in fact almost 30 years old. That will teach me. Still, my point remains: Barney Bipple is a sweet, gentle, but entertaining look at self-reflection, and about learning to appreciate and enjoy the little things that we might otherwise overlook. If this sounds a bit trite or precious, do not be fooled. I have never been shy about admitting that I have an extreme bias against sickly sweet, overly didactic children?s books, and while this one does convey some nice ideas to kids in a gentle manner, it is done in a way that is not at all irritating to adults.

Kids aside, I dare any parent to get through this book without a snicker and a snort--or five. A fabulous story about that eternal, indefinable bond between small children and the elderly, Are You Going to be Good? is also side-splittingly funny, due in particular to its accuracy in depicting a child?s-eye view of parental warnings and lectures. Further, Are You Going to be Good? is enchanting in the way it defines that unspoken understanding between kids and seniors, not as a bond between the not-yet-able and the no-longer-able, but as a tacit understanding between the only two generations who seem to truly understand what is important in life, being either young enough, or old enough, not to let social mores and expectations get in the way of savouring each and every moment. If you?re looking for a book that will entertain your children, and continue to entertain YOU through multiple readings, this is it.

Bad Cat--evil feline genius, or just a well-intentioned but misunderstood kitty? Either way, Bad Cat (the book) is a wildly entertaining tale of mischief and misunderstanding that I highly recommend. The story of a grinning cat with a twinkle in his eye, who is constantly stirring up excitement, Bad Cat is a fun book that teaches both kids and parents a great lesson?that misbehaving occasionally doesn?t make you ?bad?, and getting into scrapes isn?t the end of the world, as long as your intentions are good and your heart is in the right place. At first I wasn?t sure about about including Bad Cat among my book recommendations. Although I was crazy about the book from the very first page, and impressed throughout by so many different aspects of the story?the madcap pace, the irreverent tone, the gorgeous, colourful, cartoony drawings?there were things that made me think twice. I was concerned that some of the word play would go over the heads of the young audience (?Bad cat lived in a huge, dirty city. He called it the Big Stinky.?), or that parents might think that Bad Cat?s bad behaviour would influence kids in a negative way. In the end, two things made me put aside my reservations about recommending this book: One, the children to whom I read the story adored it, clamouring for more and insisting that I read it several times in a row, despite the fact that they did not grasp every nuance of the story. They loved the language and the pictures and the rhythm of it. Piquing a child?s interest in new things is the ultimate goal of reading to them, and Bad Cat did that several times over. And two, I was reminded once again that it is always preferable to choose a book that is a little bit difficult, as long as it keeps the child?s interest, over a book that is overly simple, as that is the way children learn. The kids that I read to will be able to enjoy this book for a long time, because beyond the enjoyment they already get from it, they will continue to derive new pleasure from it as they come to understand more of the vocabulary, word play, etc. over time. Bad Cat is challenging, but well-paced and not overlong, so that even fairly young kids can sit through it without losing their patience. This is most definitely a book that would make a great addition to any home?s library.

How does one even begin to describe the best things about the story of the silliest boy in the world and one of his silly adventures? Perhaps the best way to explain what is so great about Pecorino?s First Concert is to avoid bothering with the details of its most obvious appeal altogether?that being the simple fact that a book about the silliest boy in the world is likely by its very nature to be amusing, which this story most definitely is?and focus on its additional, less predictable benefits. For one thing, aside from the funny bits of the narrative itself, author Alan Madison has a wonderful way with language, using interesting words (both real and invented) and descriptive phrases in a manner that gives the story the sort of depth and texture that is difficult to describe but makes for a captivating reading experience. Another nice surprise is the artwork. AnnaLaura Cantone?s illustrations are distinctive and offbeat?colourful, childlike, wildly exaggerated, and (best of all) brimming with a feeling of movement that carries you through the story without ever slowing the flow of its hilarity. Pecorino?s First Concert is a special book, one of those few whose elements all come together to create something more than just a story. This is the sort of book that becomes a childhood favourite, and that adults and children can enjoy together again and again.

"Personally, I never ever laugh or smile. Ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever . . . Nothing could possibly make me." Of course, while Mr. Frimdimpny, the oh-so-serious narrator of James Stevenson?s Don?t Make Me Laugh may be able to maintain his solemn disposition at all times, adults and children alike will find that they have an extraordinarily difficult time doing the same while reading this book. Don?t Make Me Laugh is not so much a story as it is an excuse for parents, grandparents, etc. to be silly with their kids, to laugh and giggle and play along with the book?s assortment of oddball characters. The book consists of three major parts. The first is the preface by Mr. Frimdimpny, the grim alligator narrator, warning readers of the rules of the book: that they must neither laugh, nor smile, nor provoke such silliness in others, under threat of the ?punishment? of having to start back at the beginning of the book again. The second part is made up of several funny mini-stories (interspersed with appearances by the admonishing narrator) which encourage the reader to do all sorts of silly things that go against ?the rules?. Finally, there is a ?test? given by Mr. Frimdimpny to see if the reader really has managed to make it through the book without smiling. To give you an idea of how impossible this task is, I can tell you that even the adults I?ve seen flipping through the book have never managed to get past the first page or two without a silly grin or a snicker. But of course, that?s the fun of the book. Don?t Make Me Laugh may not exactly be cerebrally stimulating, but it?s a great excuse to have a laugh with your kids, and that?s more than enough recommendation for it as far as I?m concerned.

"Personally, I never ever laugh or smile. Ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever . . . Nothing could possibly make me." Of course, while Mr. Frimdimpny, the oh-so-serious narrator of James Stevenson?s Don?t Make Me Laugh may be able to maintain his solemn disposition at all times, adults and children alike will find that they have an extraordinarily difficult time doing the same while reading this book. Don?t Make Me Laugh is not so much a story as it is an excuse for parents, grandparents, etc. to be silly with their kids, to laugh and giggle and play along with the book?s assortment of oddball characters. The book consists of three major parts. The first is the preface by Mr. Frimdimpny, the grim alligator narrator, warning readers of the rules of the book: that they must neither laugh, nor smile, nor provoke such silliness in others, under threat of the ?punishment? of having to start back at the beginning of the book again. The second part is made up of several funny mini-stories (interspersed with appearances by the admonishing narrator) which encourage the reader to do all sorts of silly things that go against ?the rules?. Finally, there is a ?test? given by Mr. Frimdimpny to see if the reader really has managed to make it through the book without smiling. To give you an idea of how impossible this task is, I can tell you that even the adults I?ve seen flipping through the book have never managed to get past the first page or two without a silly grin or a snicker. But of course, that?s the fun of the book. Don?t Make Me Laugh may not exactly be cerebrally stimulating, but it?s a great excuse to have a laugh with your kids, and that?s more than enough recommendation for it as far as I?m concerned.

In Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch we are presented with the disconcerting notion of what life would have been like in the household of this painter of notoriously peculiar works of art if the bizarre creatures in his paintings were quite real?and living in his home?rather than just figments of his slightly skewed imagination. At the centre of the tale, not surprisingly, is Bosch?s harried and harassed housekeeper, who has finally had enough, once and for all, of dealing with these odd beasts. Presented in a very readable, well-metered rhyme scheme, and full of wonderful, detailed paintings (in the style of Bosch, of course) that will get young imaginations going, Pish, Posh is not a long story, but it is densely packed with challenging (and sometimes archaic) language and abstract ideas. Because of this, I was tempted to recommend the book for children aged 5 and over. However, after reading the book to a very enthusiastic 3-year-old, who was interested enough in what was going on to ask questions about the pictures, and who informed me afterwards that she had enjoyed it very much, I?ve changed my mind. My young tester?s enthusiasm reminded me that sometimes the most important thing is that a child?s imagination is engaged, and that they find the book entertaining, than that they understand every detail of what is going on in the story, so I encourage adults to try this book with younger children, even if it seems a bit more complicated than what you would normally read to them.

A grumpy old bachelor meets a jealous, thieving old lady via the reluctant gifts of an irritable imp. Yes, it?s true, The Bachelor and the Bean is hardly your typical boy-meets-girl love story. Nor does it bear any resemblance to what many of us automatically think of when we hear the words ?folk tale?--the sometimes dreary or melancholy tradition of European folk tales such as those of Hans Christian Andersen. What this uproarious retelling of a traditional Jewish Moroccan folk story is, is an absolute hoot to read. Shelley Fowles? writing is straightforward and simple but lyrical, and her gloriously bright, colour-saturated illustrations do a spectacular job of reinforcing the hilarity and melodrama of an unusual story about finding love in unexpected places.

A grumpy old bachelor meets a jealous, thieving old lady via the reluctant gifts of an irritable imp. Yes, it?s true, The Bachelor and the Bean is hardly your typical boy-meets-girl love story. Nor does it bear any resemblance to what many of us automatically think of when we hear the words ?folk tale?--the sometimes dreary or melancholy tradition of European folk tales such as those of Hans Christian Andersen. What this uproarious retelling of a traditional Jewish Moroccan folk story is, is an absolute hoot to read. Shelley Fowles? writing is straightforward and simple but lyrical, and her gloriously bright, colour-saturated illustrations do a spectacular job of reinforcing the hilarity and melodrama of an unusual story about finding love in unexpected places.

Both my two- and three-year-old nieces and I loved this book from the moment we opened it. It?s that simple: Bus-a-saurus Bop is the sort of book that you just can?t help but love. It?s also (and this is most definitely related to its charm) a book that cannot be read slowly. Positively danceable in its bouncy rhythms, with intermittent pauses for the sort of giggle-inducing sound effects that just seem to egg the reader on, this book is about as close to being a song as one can get without actual music. The story itself describes the he daily rounds of a school bus, re-imagined by one of the little boys who rides it, as a friendly but student-gobbling dinosaur. It is uncomplicated enough for even the youngest children to enjoy but familiar enough, with its going-to-school theme, to appeal as well to older siblings, making it a great choice for a shared storytime.

Uncle Andy?s is a rare find?a non-fiction children?s book that reads like a weird and wonderful fictional tale. This is the first book written by Andy Warhol?s nephew, James Warhola, an artist in his own right who has illustrated a number of other popular children?s books. The story takes the reader right into the middle of the day-to-day life of one of the most famous artists of modern times, allowing us to see him not just at arm?s length, but from the perspective of a little boy for whom Warhol was just his always-amusing ?Uncle Andy?. The tale of visits to Uncle Andy?s is bookended with descriptions of the author?s home life in New Jersey with his father (a sometime junkman who, like his often use things he found in the junkyards to create ?works of art? in his yard at home), mother, and six siblings. Juxtaposed with this, and interspersed with comments about the very traditional, family-oriented paternal grandmother who lived with Warhol in his famous New York City ?Factory,? Uncle Andy?s provides children with a great view not only of Warhol the famous artist, but of his roots and the family which produced this enigmatic artist. The story is a little bit long for very young children, but is written in a very straightforward, easy-to-understand style, with lots of amusing detail, and great, colourful illustrations (many of them covering entire two-page spreads from) which greatly enhance the story. The exhaustively detailed pictures can also serve to help younger children follow what is going on, as was the case with one preschooler I know who was thrilled to be able to follow along visually as she listened to the story. Uncle Andy?s is a great introduction to art & artists for children who are still a little bit too young for the drier prose of most non-fiction picture books on these subjects.

Uncle Andy?s is a rare find?a non-fiction children?s book that reads like a weird and wonderful fictional tale. This is the first book written by Andy Warhol?s nephew, James Warhola, an artist in his own right who has illustrated a number of other popular children?s books. The story takes the reader right into the middle of the day-to-day life of one of the most famous artists of modern times, allowing us to see him not just at arm?s length, but from the perspective of a little boy for whom Warhol was just his always-amusing ?Uncle Andy?. The tale of visits to Uncle Andy?s is bookended with descriptions of the author?s home life in New Jersey with his father (a sometime junkman who, like his often use things he found in the junkyards to create ?works of art? in his yard at home), mother, and six siblings. Juxtaposed with this, and interspersed with comments about the very traditional, family-oriented paternal grandmother who lived with Warhol in his famous New York City ?Factory,? Uncle Andy?s provides children with a great view not only of Warhol the famous artist, but of his roots and the family which produced this enigmatic artist. The story is a little bit long for very young children, but is written in a very straightforward, easy-to-understand style, with lots of amusing detail, and great, colourful illustrations (many of them covering entire two-page spreads from) which greatly enhance the story. The exhaustively detailed pictures can also serve to help younger children follow what is going on, as was the case with one preschooler I know who was thrilled to be able to follow along visually as she listened to the story. Uncle Andy?s is a great introduction to art & artists for children who are still a little bit too young for the drier prose of most non-fiction picture books on these subjects.

When Hilda Mae Heifer gets conked on the head, she wakes up with no memory of what kind of an animal she is or what sort of noise she ought to be making. This hilariously funny story follows Hilda Mae as she roams the farmyard, trying on identities for size despite the grumblings of the other animals trying to steer (no pun intended) her in the right direction. Yet no matter how many times it is suggested, moo-ing just doesn?t seem right to her, until she finally encounters a cat who convinces her that a great, lowing moo is indeed the voice she has been looking for. With ample opportunity for adults to use funny voices and make silly animal noises, ongoing repetition of giggle-inducing phrases, fabulous use of language (??My dear,? said the pig. ?You?re no swine. You?re bovine.??) and adorable, exaggerated illustrations, Moo Who? is one of the best read-aloud books I?ve seen in years, getting hearty laughter even from toddlers.

When Hilda Mae Heifer gets conked on the head, she wakes up with no memory of what kind of an animal she is or what sort of noise she ought to be making. This hilariously funny story follows Hilda Mae as she roams the farmyard, trying on identities for size despite the grumblings of the other animals trying to steer (no pun intended) her in the right direction. Yet no matter how many times it is suggested, moo-ing just doesn?t seem right to her, until she finally encounters a cat who convinces her that a great, lowing moo is indeed the voice she has been looking for. With ample opportunity for adults to use funny voices and make silly animal noises, ongoing repetition of giggle-inducing phrases, fabulous use of language (??My dear,? said the pig. ?You?re no swine. You?re bovine.??) and adorable, exaggerated illustrations, Moo Who? is one of the best read-aloud books I?ve seen in years, getting hearty laughter even from toddlers.

When Hilda Mae Heifer gets conked on the head, she wakes up with no memory of what kind of an animal she is or what sort of noise she ought to be making. This hilariously funny story follows Hilda Mae as she roams the farmyard, trying on identities for size despite the grumblings of the other animals trying to steer (no pun intended) her in the right direction. Yet no matter how many times it is suggested, moo-ing just doesn?t seem right to her, until she finally encounters a cat who convinces her that a great, lowing moo is indeed the voice she has been looking for. With ample opportunity for adults to use funny voices and make silly animal noises, ongoing repetition of giggle-inducing phrases, fabulous use of language (??My dear,? said the pig. ?You?re no swine. You?re bovine.??) and adorable, exaggerated illustrations, Moo Who? is one of the best read-aloud books I?ve seen in years, getting hearty laughter even from toddlers.

In a kingdom where everything is the reverse of our world, Princess Fred seems to always be doing things the wrong way. When doing things her way results in the princess saving the kingdom, however, her subjects learn the valuable lesson that being different isn?t necessarily a bad thing, and can in fact be very useful. I learned (or at least re-learned) a lesson of my own as well, in considering Princess Backwards for recommendation?that while it never hurts to guide kids towards great books with which they might not be familiar, as an adult choosing books for children you sometimes have to let go of your own preconceptions and preferences and just go with the instincts of the kids the books are meant for. In the case of Princess Backwards, I was initially unimpressed with the book. While the idea of the story was a great one, I found the ending a bit bluntly preachy, and the fairly traditional folk-style drawings weren?t to my taste. My young niece, however, quickly reminded me, with actions even more than words, that my preferences in the artwork and voice of an otherwise great story are far less important than those of the kids I?m reading to. When presented, during a visit to my house, with a stack of nearly twenty picture books on some of her favourite subjects from which to choose, she consistently insisted that she only wanted to hear Princess Backwards?over, and over, and over again. It was at that point that the realization struck me, that her devoted insistence of repeated readings of the book was sign enough that this was one I ought to be recommending for other children as well.

As a little girl walks to the park with her teacher and classmates, all in a row, a squiggle of ribbon on the sidewalk sparks her imagination. Originally written as a wordless picture book, the words of this story were added by the author only after she was inspired by a trip to China, two decades after it first appeared. Perhaps because of this, the story has a twofold impact on the reader?the stunning, brightly coloured, Asian-inspired illustrations by Pierr Morgan leading us through the little girl?s flight of fancy, while Carole Lexa Schaefer?s simple words, which evoke the sounds and feelings associated with each new idea, add an extra dimension that helps the reader really feel like a participant in the story. The Squiggle is a wonderful book to help spark the imagination and creative instincts of even the youngest child.

As a little girl walks to the park with her teacher and classmates, all in a row, a squiggle of ribbon on the sidewalk sparks her imagination. Originally written as a wordless picture book, the words of this story were added by the author only after she was inspired by a trip to China, two decades after it first appeared. Perhaps because of this, the story has a twofold impact on the reader?the stunning, brightly coloured, Asian-inspired illustrations by Pierr Morgan leading us through the little girl?s flight of fancy, while Carole Lexa Schaefer?s simple words, which evoke the sounds and feelings associated with each new idea, add an extra dimension that helps the reader really feel like a participant in the story. The Squiggle is a wonderful book to help spark the imagination and creative instincts of even the youngest child.

As a little girl walks to the park with her teacher and classmates, all in a row, a squiggle of ribbon on the sidewalk sparks her imagination. Originally written as a wordless picture book, the words of this story were added by the author only after she was inspired by a trip to China, two decades after it first appeared. Perhaps because of this, the story has a twofold impact on the reader?the stunning, brightly coloured, Asian-inspired illustrations by Pierr Morgan leading us through the little girl?s flight of fancy, while Carole Lexa Schaefer?s simple words, which evoke the sounds and feelings associated with each new idea, add an extra dimension that helps the reader really feel like a participant in the story. The Squiggle is a wonderful book to help spark the imagination and creative instincts of even the youngest child.

In Ish, we meet Ramon, who is in many ways Vashti?s opposite: a little boy who would happily draw all the time, making pictures of anything and everything that he encounters. In Ramon?s case, the problems start when his older brother laughs at one of Ramon?s drawings, insisting that it looks nothing like what it is supposed to be. Ramon?s pride and confidence wane, and dissatisfaction sets in. It takes the wisdom of a younger sister who sees the real value of Ramon?s pictures to inspire him to pick up his coloured pencils once again.

In Ish, we meet Ramon, who is in many ways Vashti?s opposite: a little boy who would happily draw all the time, making pictures of anything and everything that he encounters. In Ramon?s case, the problems start when his older brother laughs at one of Ramon?s drawings, insisting that it looks nothing like what it is supposed to be. Ramon?s pride and confidence wane, and dissatisfaction sets in. It takes the wisdom of a younger sister who sees the real value of Ramon?s pictures to inspire him to pick up his coloured pencils once again.

When it comes to art class, Vashti is one very frustrated little girl. Whether because of a lack of inspiration, or a feeling that she just isn?t talented enough, she cannot seem to draw anything. With the help of a wise teacher, though, Vashti is about to find out that she really is an artist after all. Peter H. Reynolds? The Dot is a beautiful, sparely written story about putting our worries & self-consciousness aside and relying on our instincts.

John Lithgow may be most familiar to adults as a comedian and television and movie actor, but as far as I?m concerned, his greatest talent lies in his amazing stories for children, Micawber being an excellent example. Micawber is the story of an artistically inclined squirrel who lives in the Central Park Carousel, and his journey from admiring fine art to becoming an artist in his own right. While the story itself is imaginative and entertaining, what makes it truly special?like all of Lithgow?s books?is the author?s fantastic use of rhythm and language. One of the things I love most about Lithgow is that he?s not afraid to use big, challenging words, not just for the sake of intellectualism, but because he seems to recognize the beauty of words themselves, and the fact that the right word, well-placed (in this case, those words include such gems as ?peregrination,? ?abode,? ?beguiler,? and ?vermilion?), can transform a simple story into something extra-special. A beautifully-paced rhyming rhythm makes Micawber a great book for reading aloud, and one that adults are sure to enjoy right along with their kids.

John Lithgow may be most familiar to adults as a comedian and television and movie actor, but as far as I'm concerned, his greatest talent lies in his amazing stories for children, Micawber being an excellent example. Micawber is the story of an artistically inclined squirrel who lives in the Central Park Carousel, and his journey from admiring fine art to becoming an artist in his own right. While the story itself is imaginative and entertaining, what makes it truly special -- like all of Lithgow's books -- is the author's fantastic use of rhythm and language. One of the things I love most about Lithgow is that he's not afraid to use big, challenging words, not just for the sake of intellectualism, but because he seems to recognize the beauty of words themselves, and the fact that the right word, well-placed (in this case, those words include such gems as "peregrination," "abode," "beguiler," and "vermilion"), can transform a simple story into something extra-special. A beautifully-paced rhyming rhythm makes Micawber a great book for reading aloud, and one that adults are sure to enjoy right along with their kids.

John Lithgow may be most familiar to adults as a comedian and television and movie actor, but as far as I?m concerned, his greatest talent lies in his amazing stories for children, Micawber being an excellent example. Micawber is the story of an artistically inclined squirrel who lives in the Central Park Carousel, and his journey from admiring fine art to becoming an artist in his own right. While the story itself is imaginative and entertaining, what makes it truly special?like all of Lithgow?s books?is the author?s fantastic use of rhythm and language. One of the things I love most about Lithgow is that he?s not afraid to use big, challenging words, not just for the sake of intellectualism, but because he seems to recognize the beauty of words themselves, and the fact that the right word, well-placed (in this case, those words include such gems as ?peregrination,? ?abode,? ?beguiler,? and ?vermilion?), can transform a simple story into something extra-special. A beautifully-paced rhyming rhythm makes Micawber a great book for reading aloud, and one that adults are sure to enjoy right along with their kids.

There?s no question that Jack Prelutsky has a nose for what kids like. Although known as well for collecting and editing some great anthologies of other authors? poems for children, Prelutsky is clearly most in his element when he?s churning out the verse himself. Much like the late, beloved Shel Silverstein, Prelutsky?s poems are both clever and irreverent. He doesn?t patronize children, nor simplify his language?he?s not afraid to use big words when they?re called for, recognizing that this is how children learn new things; and it is more important for the poem to flow right than for it to be too-easily digested. With over 100 poems with names such as ?Her Highness Zookeepoo? and ?Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork,? illustrated with James Stevenson?s zany line drawings, this is a book filled with verses sure to capture any child?s imagination. A further bonus is that while many of these poems are probably best suited to slightly older children, there are several that even an interested two- or three-year-old can enjoy, whether for the subject matter (my young niece was particularly taken with the idea of ?Virtual Chicken?) or just the lovely way the words sound when strung together.

There?s no question that Jack Prelutsky has a nose for what kids like. Although known as well for collecting and editing some great anthologies of other authors? poems for children, Prelutsky is clearly most in his element when he?s churning out the verse himself. Much like the late, beloved Shel Silverstein, Prelutsky?s poems are both clever and irreverent. He doesn?t patronize children, nor simplify his language?he?s not afraid to use big words when they?re called for, recognizing that this is how children learn new things; and it is more important for the poem to flow right than for it to be too-easily digested. With over 100 poems with names such as ?Her Highness Zookeepoo? and ?Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork,? illustrated with James Stevenson?s zany line drawings, this is a book filled with verses sure to capture any child?s imagination. A further bonus is that while many of these poems are probably best suited to slightly older children, there are several that even an interested two- or three-year-old can enjoy, whether for the subject matter (my young niece was particularly taken with the idea of ?Virtual Chicken?) or just the lovely way the words sound when strung together.

There?s no question that Jack Prelutsky has a nose for what kids like. Although known as well for collecting and editing some great anthologies of other authors? poems for children, Prelutsky is clearly most in his element when he?s churning out the verse himself. Much like the late, beloved Shel Silverstein, Prelutsky?s poems are both clever and irreverent. He doesn?t patronize children, nor simplify his language?he?s not afraid to use big words when they?re called for, recognizing that this is how children learn new things; and it is more important for the poem to flow right than for it to be too-easily digested. With over 100 poems with names such as ?Her Highness Zookeepoo? and ?Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork,? illustrated with James Stevenson?s zany line drawings, this is a book filled with verses sure to capture any child?s imagination. A further bonus is that while many of these poems are probably best suited to slightly older children, there are several that even an interested two- or three-year-old can enjoy, whether for the subject matter (my young niece was particularly taken with the idea of ?Virtual Chicken?) or just the lovely way the words sound when strung together.

There?s no question that Jack Prelutsky has a nose for what kids like. Although known as well for collecting and editing some great anthologies of other authors? poems for children, Prelutsky is clearly most in his element when he?s churning out the verse himself. Much like the late, beloved Shel Silverstein, Prelutsky?s poems are both clever and irreverent. He doesn?t patronize children, nor simplify his language?he?s not afraid to use big words when they?re called for, recognizing that this is how children learn new things; and it is more important for the poem to flow right than for it to be too-easily digested. With over 100 poems with names such as ?Her Highness Zookeepoo? and ?Never Poke Your Uncle With a Fork,? illustrated with James Stevenson?s zany line drawings, this is a book filled with verses sure to capture any child?s imagination. A further bonus is that while many of these poems are probably best suited to slightly older children, there are several that even an interested two- or three-year-old can enjoy, whether for the subject matter (my young niece was particularly taken with the idea of ?Virtual Chicken?) or just the lovely way the words sound when strung together.

With Barbie ? , Disney Princesses? , and their branded cohorts all the rage among the preschool set, it can be more difficult than ever to get many little girls to pay attention to anything that isn?t pink, glittery, and branded within an inch of its long, long corporate life. Not that there?s anything wrong with the occasional Barbie Mermaidia? DVD or Ariel the Mermaid is My Best Friend? picture book; but occasionally it starts to grate on parents that their little princesses aren?t being exposed to something with a little more substance. Fear not, concerned parents! Just introduce your daughter, granddaughter, niece, etc. to the one and only Fancy Nancy. Heck, even the dress-up-addicted and imaginative among little boys may even get a kick out of it. Yes, in Nancy?s world everything is still fuschia, glittery, spangled, and otherwise completely over-the-top?in other words, perfect for grabbing the attention of princess-crazed preschoolers. But there?s more to this story than that?there are the people with whom Nancy chooses to share her fancy proclivities. Her generosity, and their reactions to her ministrations, are what really make this book great. When Nancy decides that her family--mother, father, and younger sister?are just not ?fancy? (read: heavily adorned with sequins, tiaras, feather boas, etc.) enough for her tastes, she resolves to do something to rectify the situation. Nancy?s Fancy Lessons follow, with a resulting ending that will remind you what is so great about family; and all this done with a light touch, and none of the sugary-sweet smarminess that is such a turnoff in many other ?girls?? books.

With Barbie ? , Disney Princesses? , and their branded cohorts all the rage among the preschool set, it can be more difficult than ever to get many little girls to pay attention to anything that isn?t pink, glittery, and branded within an inch of its long, long corporate life. Not that there?s anything wrong with the occasional Barbie Mermaidia? DVD or Ariel the Mermaid is My Best Friend? picture book; but occasionally it starts to grate on parents that their little princesses aren?t being exposed to something with a little more substance. Fear not, concerned parents! Just introduce your daughter, granddaughter, niece, etc. to the one and only Fancy Nancy. Heck, even the dress-up-addicted and imaginative among little boys may even get a kick out of it. Yes, in Nancy?s world everything is still fuschia, glittery, spangled, and otherwise completely over-the-top?in other words, perfect for grabbing the attention of princess-crazed preschoolers. But there?s more to this story than that?there are the people with whom Nancy chooses to share her fancy proclivities. Her generosity, and their reactions to her ministrations, are what really make this book great. When Nancy decides that her family--mother, father, and younger sister?are just not ?fancy? (read: heavily adorned with sequins, tiaras, feather boas, etc.) enough for her tastes, she resolves to do something to rectify the situation. Nancy?s Fancy Lessons follow, with a resulting ending that will remind you what is so great about family; and all this done with a light touch, and none of the sugary-sweet smarminess that is such a turnoff in many other ?girls?? books.

When the Queen of Trouble?s insomnia pushes her to her breaking point, will anyone in the kingdom have a solution so she can finally get a good night?s sleep? Despite their best efforts, neither the King, nor the courtiers, nor any of the subjects seem to know how to cure her insomnia . . . until, that is, Isabella Abnormella Pinkerton McPugh, Keeper of the Royal Cats, comes along with a novel idea. This zany story, with its catchy rhymes, will stand up well to repeated readings, and kids will get a kick out of the semi-surprise ending.

This highly entertaining story will be familiar to any small child frustrated by parents? rules and regulations. In it, a little girl expounds on her belief that her current, dreary life couldn?t possibly be the one she was destined for, and regales the reader with fanciful descriptions of what her life ought to be like, and would be like if she lived with her ?real? parents, the king and queen. Paul Meisel?s illustrations mirror her imaginative meanderings impeccably. As the ?princess? dreamily depicts her ideal, indulgent lifestyle, with weekday sleepovers, a pet pony (which she is allowed, of course, to keep in her bedroom), and her royal parents? permission to be as loud and raucous as she likes, even around a sleeping infant sibling, the pictures get busier and busier, filled with the messes left behind by the little girl?s exuberant activities. As the story comes to a close, though (and we see the real parents taking the little girl off to bed at the end of the day), she comes to realize that perhaps the extravagant life of a princess isn?t quite as appealing as the good, old-fashioned tickles and snuggles of her parents, overly familiar for a princess, but just right for a regular little girl. As an interesting aside, I found that when I last read this story to a 4-year-old little girl who is much enamoured of princesses, she actually caught on very early (thanks in part to Meisel?s evocative illustrations) to the down side of the princess?s carefree and careless life, commenting on what a mess the princess made and how inconsiderate she was of others. It was a great example of how much insight even the youngest children can have when given cues that resonate with them.

This highly entertaining story will be familiar to any small child frustrated by parents? rules and regulations. In it, a little girl expounds on her belief that her current, dreary life couldn?t possibly be the one she was destined for, and regales the reader with fanciful descriptions of what her life ought to be like, and would be like if she lived with her ?real? parents, the king and queen. Paul Meisel?s illustrations mirror her imaginative meanderings impeccably. As the ?princess? dreamily depicts her ideal, indulgent lifestyle, with weekday sleepovers, a pet pony (which she is allowed, of course, to keep in her bedroom), and her royal parents? permission to be as loud and raucous as she likes, even around a sleeping infant sibling, the pictures get busier and busier, filled with the messes left behind by the little girl?s exuberant activities. As the story comes to a close, though (and we see the real parents taking the little girl off to bed at the end of the day), she comes to realize that perhaps the extravagant life of a princess isn?t quite as appealing as the good, old-fashioned tickles and snuggles of her parents, overly familiar for a princess, but just right for a regular little girl. As an interesting aside, I found that when I last read this story to a 4-year-old little girl who is much enamoured of princesses, she actually caught on very early (thanks in part to Meisel?s evocative illustrations) to the down side of the princess?s carefree and careless life, commenting on what a mess the princess made and how inconsiderate she was of others. It was a great example of how much insight even the youngest children can have when given cues that resonate with them.

So begins the sweet, funny, lighthearted story of a little boy who each day brings a different animal friend to visit with his pals, the King and Queen, and the inevitable antics which ensue. It?s strange to me how so many fairly mediocre stories are prized as ?classics? of children?s literature, when truly wonderful stories such as May I Bring A Friend?, which have stood the test of time so beautifully, are never really promoted the way they ought to be. Beatrice De Regnier writes with a wonderful, slightly off-kilter rhyme scheme perfectly designed for the pauses and emphases that make a story great for reading aloud, and Beni Montresor?s minutely detailed and varied illustrations (some black-and-white, some black on a single-coloured background, and some saturated with a handful of rich, complementary colours) will have children poring over them to see every little bit of what is going on in the story. May I Bring A Friend? is a true classic?a book which never feels dated or tired, but has continued to provide laughs to children and for over 30 years.

So begins the sweet, funny, lighthearted story of a little boy who each day brings a different animal friend to visit with his pals, the King and Queen, and the inevitable antics which ensue. It?s strange to me how so many fairly mediocre stories are prized as ?classics? of children?s literature, when truly wonderful stories such as May I Bring A Friend?, which have stood the test of time so beautifully, are never really promoted the way they ought to be. Beatrice De Regnier writes with a wonderful, slightly off-kilter rhyme scheme perfectly designed for the pauses and emphases that make a story great for reading aloud, and Beni Montresor?s minutely detailed and varied illustrations (some black-and-white, some black on a single-coloured background, and some saturated with a handful of rich, complementary colours) will have children poring over them to see every little bit of what is going on in the story. May I Bring A Friend? is a true classic?a book which never feels dated or tired, but has continued to provide laughs to children and for over 30 years.

So begins the sweet, funny, lighthearted story of a little boy who each day brings a different animal friend to visit with his pals, the King and Queen, and the inevitable antics which ensue. It?s strange to me how so many fairly mediocre stories are prized as ?classics? of children?s literature, when truly wonderful stories such as May I Bring A Friend?, which have stood the test of time so beautifully, are never really promoted the way they ought to be. Beatrice De Regnier writes with a wonderful, slightly off-kilter rhyme scheme perfectly designed for the pauses and emphases that make a story great for reading aloud, and Beni Montresor?s minutely detailed and varied illustrations (some black-and-white, some black on a single-coloured background, and some saturated with a handful of rich, complementary colours) will have children poring over them to see every little bit of what is going on in the story. May I Bring A Friend? is a true classic?a book which never feels dated or tired, but has continued to provide laughs to children and for over 30 years.

Okay, I admit it: I?m biased. Where The Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is my absolute, all-time favourite book of poetry, even as an adult. And really, it?s no wonder. After all, even after a lifetime of readings, this book?both its poems and riotous line drawings?is guaranteed to have you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. Silverstein?s poems run the gamut from utter inanity of the most hilarious sort, to a spot-on insight into the impish workings of a mischievous child?s mind. And yet somehow, he also provides comfort to kids through his familiarity and obvious empathy with the unique quirks of childhood (his Thumbs and Afraid of the Dark were always particular favourites of mine when I was very small). Where The Sidewalk Ends is a crucial addition to every family?s library.

Okay, I admit it: I?m biased. Where The Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is my absolute, all-time favourite book of poetry, even as an adult. And really, it?s no wonder. After all, even after a lifetime of readings, this book?both its poems and riotous line drawings?is guaranteed to have you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. Silverstein?s poems run the gamut from utter inanity of the most hilarious sort, to a spot-on insight into the impish workings of a mischievous child?s mind. And yet somehow, he also provides comfort to kids through his familiarity and obvious empathy with the unique quirks of childhood (his Thumbs and Afraid of the Dark were always particular favourites of mine when I was very small). Where The Sidewalk Ends is a crucial addition to every family?s library.

Okay, I admit it: I?m biased. Where The Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is my absolute, all-time favourite book of poetry, even as an adult. And really, it?s no wonder. After all, even after a lifetime of readings, this book?both its poems and riotous line drawings?is guaranteed to have you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. Silverstein?s poems run the gamut from utter inanity of the most hilarious sort, to a spot-on insight into the impish workings of a mischievous child?s mind. And yet somehow, he also provides comfort to kids through his familiarity and obvious empathy with the unique quirks of childhood (his Thumbs and Afraid of the Dark were always particular favourites of mine when I was very small). Where The Sidewalk Ends is a crucial addition to every family?s library.

The tongue-twisting wordplay of Bruce Degen?s Daddy Is a Doodlebug makes for a uniquely entertaining book about the relationship between father and child, without any of the syrupy preciousness which is all too common in picture books about families. The silly-sounding transformation of familiar words (?We walk our poodlebug down the lane/We ride the caboodle car on the train?) are guaranteed to have kids in fits of giggles; parents may want to have a quick run-through before trying to read this one aloud to their children, as more than one adult has found him- or herself stumbling over these tongue twisters?although often this just adds to the laughs. The rhythm of the story also lends itself to replacing the narrator?s ?I? with the name of the child you?re reading to, making the story that much more fun and personal. Degen?s colourful, cartoony illustrations are fantastic, with loads of details that enhance the story (e.g. a little doodlebug swingset constructed of pencils, a ?zoo? full of insects such as a rhinoceros beetle and an ant lion) and give parents lots of opportunities to talk to their kids, as they read, about all the different things going on in the doodlebug world.

The tongue-twisting wordplay of Bruce Degen?s Daddy Is a Doodlebug makes for a uniquely entertaining book about the relationship between father and child, without any of the syrupy preciousness which is all too common in picture books about families. The silly-sounding transformation of familiar words (?We walk our poodlebug down the lane/We ride the caboodle car on the train?) are guaranteed to have kids in fits of giggles; parents may want to have a quick run-through before trying to read this one aloud to their children, as more than one adult has found him- or herself stumbling over these tongue twisters?although often this just adds to the laughs. The rhythm of the story also lends itself to replacing the narrator?s ?I? with the name of the child you?re reading to, making the story that much more fun and personal. Degen?s colourful, cartoony illustrations are fantastic, with loads of details that enhance the story (e.g. a little doodlebug swingset constructed of pencils, a ?zoo? full of insects such as a rhinoceros beetle and an ant lion) and give parents lots of opportunities to talk to their kids, as they read, about all the different things going on in the doodlebug world.

In My Little Sister Hugged An Ape, a little boy laments his younger sister?s penchant for enthusiastically embracing creatures large and small, furry and slimy. As he details her refusal to stop hugging all these animals, we?re introduced to an alphabetical menagerie quite different from the usual dogs, cats, and baby chicks found in most kids? books?including flattened rats, umbrella birds, and a bug that ?hangs from her nose like a big glob of snot.? Before you let that potentially parent-offending word turn you off of the book, though, consider this: there are a lot worse things that your kid could be hearing in this day and age than a humorous reference to something icky in a book which is otherwise chock full of great vocabulary and new animals to learn about. Bill Grossman?s droll sense of humour--and Kevin Hawkes? exaggerated, cartoony drawings--will keep you giggling right along with your kids even after they?ve insisted that you read it to them for the 30th time. Kids with siblings (who will find the little sister?s antics all too familiar) and only children (who may be glad that they don?t have a sibling like this to watch out for) are all guaranteed to go nuts for this phenomenal ABC book. In fact, it?s so great that it is one of the few alphabet books I?ve come across that even older children who have long since outgrown most of their ABC books continue to request, because the story itself is so much fun.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is , without a doubt, one of the best ABC books I have ever come across. As the letters dance their way up the coconut tree and come flying down again, the rollicking rhymes will have both adults and kids laughing at the antics of a normally inanimate alphabet, and the parent-child relationship alluded to between capital and lower-case letters adds a note of sweetness without being overly sappy. The little details in Lois Ehlert?s cutout-style illustrations are great for helping kids identify individual letters (?skinned-knee h,? for example, has a bandage on its ?knee?). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a highly-recommended addition (both by me and by my young ?testers?) to any early-childhood library.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is , without a doubt, one of the best ABC books I have ever come across. As the letters dance their way up the coconut tree and come flying down again, the rollicking rhymes will have both adults and kids laughing at the antics of a normally inanimate alphabet, and the parent-child relationship alluded to between capital and lower-case letters adds a note of sweetness without being overly sappy. The little details in Lois Ehlert?s cutout-style illustrations are great for helping kids identify individual letters (?skinned-knee h,? for example, has a bandage on its ?knee?). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a highly-recommended addition (both by me and by my young ?testers?) to any early-childhood library.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is , without a doubt, one of the best ABC books I have ever come across. As the letters dance their way up the coconut tree and come flying down again, the rollicking rhymes will have both adults and kids laughing at the antics of a normally inanimate alphabet, and the parent-child relationship alluded to between capital and lower-case letters adds a note of sweetness without being overly sappy. The little details in Lois Ehlert?s cutout-style illustrations are great for helping kids identify individual letters (?skinned-knee h,? for example, has a bandage on its ?knee?). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a highly-recommended addition (both by me and by my young ?testers?) to any early-childhood library.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is , without a doubt, one of the best ABC books I have ever come across. As the letters dance their way up the coconut tree and come flying down again, the rollicking rhymes will have both adults and kids laughing at the antics of a normally inanimate alphabet, and the parent-child relationship alluded to between capital and lower-case letters adds a note of sweetness without being overly sappy. The little details in Lois Ehlert?s cutout-style illustrations are great for helping kids identify individual letters (?skinned-knee h,? for example, has a bandage on its ?knee?). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a highly-recommended addition (both by me and by my young ?testers?) to any early-childhood library.

Okay, I admit it: I?m biased. Where The Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is my absolute, all-time favourite book of poetry, even as an adult. And really, it?s no wonder. After all, even after a lifetime of readings, this book?both its poems and riotous line drawings?is guaranteed to have you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. Silverstein?s poems run the gamut from utter inanity of the most hilarious sort, to a spot-on insight into the impish workings of a mischievous child?s mind. And yet somehow, he also provides comfort to kids through his familiarity and obvious empathy with the unique quirks of childhood (his Thumbs and Afraid of the Dark were always particular favourites of mine when I was very small). Where The Sidewalk Ends is a crucial addition to every family?s library.

The tongue-twisting wordplay of Bruce Degen?s Daddy Is a Doodlebug makes for a uniquely entertaining book about the relationship between father and child, without any of the syrupy preciousness which is all too common in picture books about families. The silly-sounding transformation of familiar words (?We walk our poodlebug down the lane/We ride the caboodle car on the train?) are guaranteed to have kids in fits of giggles; parents may want to have a quick run-through before trying to read this one aloud to their children, as more than one adult has found him- or herself stumbling over these tongue twisters?although often this just adds to the laughs. The rhythm of the story also lends itself to replacing the narrator?s ?I? with the name of the child you?re reading to, making the story that much more fun and personal. Degen?s colourful, cartoony illustrations are fantastic, with loads of details that enhance the story (e.g. a little doodlebug swingset constructed of pencils, a ?zoo? full of insects such as a rhinoceros beetle and an ant lion) and give parents lots of opportunities to talk to their kids, as they read, about all the different things going on in the doodlebug world.

The Going to Bed Book might be described as the gentler of Boynton's two bedtime stories (the other being "Pajama Time"). Although the illustrations are equally amusing, and the rhythms just as catchy, The Going to Bed Book has a quieter, settling-in-for-the-night feel to it, in contrast to Pajama Time?s more raucous, party-like atmosphere. Animals on an ark-like boat make their way down below, following their nighttime routines together companionably as they get ready for bed.

"Get yourself set to pajama-dee-bop?it?s PAJAMA TIME!? One word. That?s all it takes to illustrate the incomparable appeal of Sandra Boynton?s Pajama Time. Granted, it?s really three words in one, but you get my point: I defy anyone, of any age, to resist falling head-over-heels for a book that includes the word ?pajama-dee-bop?. Animals dance and preen, partying their way to dreamland, as the author describes their wide variety of favourite ?jammies?. Boynton?s irreverent wordplay and bouncy rhymes are so entertaining that you?ll be giggling right along with your children.

In My Little Sister Hugged An Ape, a little boy laments his younger sister?s penchant for enthusiastically embracing creatures large and small, furry and slimy. As he details her refusal to stop hugging all these animals, we?re introduced to an alphabetical menagerie quite different from the usual dogs, cats, and baby chicks found in most kids? books?including flattened rats, umbrella birds, and a bug that ?hangs from her nose like a big glob of snot.? Before you let that potentially parent-offending word turn you off of the book, though, consider this: there are a lot worse things that your kid could be hearing in this day and age than a humorous reference to something icky in a book which is otherwise chock full of great vocabulary and new animals to learn about. Bill Grossman?s droll sense of humour--and Kevin Hawkes? exaggerated, cartoony drawings--will keep you giggling right along with your kids even after they?ve insisted that you read it to them for the 30th time. Kids with siblings (who will find the little sister?s antics all too familiar) and only children (who may be glad that they don?t have a sibling like this to watch out for) are all guaranteed to go nuts for this phenomenal ABC book. In fact, it?s so great that it is one of the few alphabet books I?ve come across that even older children who have long since outgrown most of their ABC books continue to request, because the story itself is so much fun.