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PIRATES DON'T CHANGE DIAPERS
written by Melinda Long, illus. by David Shannon, (Harcourt
Children's Books, $16.00, ISBN 978-0-15-205353-6), 44p, Ages
3-7.
A motley crew of pirates turn up at Jeremy Jacob's house and
accidentally wake up his baby sister. In a follow-up to How
I Became a Pirate, Jeremy refuses to allow Captain Braid Beard
and his men to dig up the treasure that they buried in his backyard,
until they calm his crying sister. Soothing Bonnie Anne presents
problems, as the pirates are unfamiliar with dirty diapers,
green baby food, and lullabies. Things get interesting when
Bonnie Anne eats off the X-marks-the-spot on the treasure map.
However, all ends well when the treasure is found and Jeremy
is rewarded with a nice present for his mom's birthday. |
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FANCY NANCY AND THE POSH PUPPY
written by Jane O'Connor, illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser, (HarperCollins,
$16.99, ISBN 978-0-06-054213-9), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Fancy Nancy is excited about her family's decision to acquire
a new puppy. Nancy, of course, wants a fancy puppy, but she
discovers while puppysitting a neighbor's dog (a papillon),
that a small, delicate, and easily frightened dog is not always
the best choice. Her family convinces Nancy that a dog from
the animal shelter can be just as special. Of course, answering
to the name of "Frenchy" helps. |
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THE PERFECT NEST
written by Catherine Friend, illus. by John Manders, (Candlewick
Press, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-2430-9), 40p, Ages 4-7.
Jack, the cat, is hungry and decides to build a perfect nest
to attract the perfect chicken that will lay the perfect egg
for his omelet. The nest, complete with Christmas lights, pillows,
and a welcome mat, attracts not only a Spanish-speaking chicken,
but a French-speaking duck and an American-speaking goose. The
poultry began to bicker over the nest, but Jack convinces them
to leave his nest and take up residence in another nest down
the street. Unfortunately, their eggs hatch, and Jack is stuck
with three chicks who think he's their mother. As he snuggles
down with the three tired chicks, Jack realizes his calling
in life, raising three chicks in the most perfect nest of all.
This humorous tale becomes more amusing when the chicks hatch
with French, American, and Spanish accents. |
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FIVE NICE MICE
written/illus. by Chisato Tashiro, translated by Sayako Uchida,
adapted by Kate Westerlund, (minedition, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-698-40058-0),
32p, Ages 4-7.
"One night when the moon was full five little mice heard the
sound of music carried by the wind." They followed the sounds
and soon discovered a frog concert beyond the gates of a park.
Unfortunately, this is a concert for frogs only, and they are
told to leave. The music had been so lovely that they decide
to produce their own show with no frogs allowed. With scraps
of metal, instruments are built and practices begin. Their efforts
reap success; but on opening night, the audience not only contains
their friends and neighbors, but frogs in disguise. It seems
that everyone loves good music. The next time the moon was full,
mice and frogs made music together, proving that the enjoyment
of common interests can override barriers of any size, shape,
or color. |
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MILLIE WAITS FOR THE MAIL
written/illus. by Alexander Steffensmeier, (Walker Books, $16.95,
ISBN 978-0-8027-9662-2), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Millie loves to scare the mailman senseless with a loud "MOO".
She waits beneath the water pump, lurks behind the shed, hides
in the mud with the pigs, and generally plunks her massive bulk
in every conceivable place to hide. The mail carrier decides
that enough is enough and comes up with a plan to stop her.
He gives Millie her own package, which she accidentally destroys
along with the mailman's bicycle. Feeling guilty about her pranks,
Millie decides to help deliver the mail every morning, right
after the milking. Children will enjoy the expressive illustrations,
especially the page showing Millie running down the road with
the mailbags strapped to her back and the chickens in the mailbag
sorting the mail. |
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