The Children's Hour - Children's Book Reviews - Kindergarten

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
KINDERGARTEN
NOTABLE BOOKS 2004

Kindergarten

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10 Fat Turkeys
written by Tony Johnston, illus. by Rich Deas, (Scholastic, Inc., $3.50), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Children will enjoy the antics of ten goofy turkeys as one by one they swing, roller skate, balance, and dive off a wooden fence. This crazy rhyming story also helps children count backyard.

10 Minutes Till Bedtime
written & illus. by Peggy Rathman, (Puffin Books © 2004, $6.99), 32p, Ages 3-7.
A little boy's pet hamster has advertised a special 10-minute bedtime tour directing carloads and busloads of vacationing hamsters into the kitchen for a snack, the bathroom for tooth brushing, and to the bedroom for a story. When dad finally announces "Bedtime!" , the group clears out, except for a family of hamsters who decide to stay.

A Small Christmas
written & illus. by Wong Herbert Yee, (Houghton Mifflin © 2004, $12.95), 32p, Ages 4-7.
On Christmas Eve, Fireman Small is exhausted after helping decorate the town Christmas tree. All he wants is a good night's sleep, but a crash and a ho-ho-ho creates a big problem. Fireman Small decides to rescue Christmas the best way he knows how.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas
written by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman, (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.95), 40p, Ages 3-7.
On the day before Christmas, a sleepy bear is awakened by his friends to prepare for the holiday. Busy with baking, decorating and tree trimming, the others fall asleep from exhaustion, but bear stays awake to finish the preparations, and discovers that the best gift is giving to others.

The Camel's Lament
written by Charles Edward Carryl, illus. by Charles Santore, (Random House © 2004, $16.95), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Poor camel compares his life to others in the animal kingdom and concludes that many of the animals are held in higher esteem. This 19th century poem is a comical take off on the theme of "the grass is greener." Santore's illustrations are as usual outstanding.

Chicka Chicka 1 2 3
written by Bill Martin Jr. / Michael Sampson, illus. by Lois Ehlert, (Simon & Schuster, $15.95), 40p, Ages 3-7.
In a sequel to the classic "Chica Chica Boom Boom," numbers from one to one hundred race to the top of the apple tree, pile up, are threatened by bumblebees, and rescued by Zero. An absolute read aloud for every young child.

Cat Skidoo
written by Bethany Roberts, illus. by R. W. Alley, (Henry Holt & Co., $16.95), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Written in rhyme, two mischievous kittens romp, tumble, tangle, scritch, scratch, leap and pounce through the house and garden. Tired, they finally stumble into bed for a well-deserved nap.

Farmer Dale's Red Pickup Truck
written by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Ivan Bates, (Harcourt Children's Books © 2004, $16.00),40p, Ages 3-7.
There is always room for one more when kindly Farmer Dale picks up a cow, sheep, pig, and goat that need a lift into town. Due to the overload, the rickety truck breaks down, and the animals argue over who should get off. When they get over their differences, they pull together to get the truck moving.

Harold at the North Pole
written & illus. by Crockett Johnson, (Harper Trophy © 2004, $5.99), 48p, Ages 3-7.
First published over fifty years ago, Harold and his purple crayon search for a Christmas Tree and find themselves at the North Pole, just in time to rescue Santa who is snowed in. As always, the purple crayon comes to the rescue.

Guess How Much I Love You: Sweetheart Ed.
written by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram, (Candlewick Press, $12.00), 32p, Ages 3-7.
First published in 1995, this simple story of unconditional love has become a classic and is reissued as a sweetheart edition for Valentine's Day. Little Nutbrown Hare and his father demonstrate their love for each other in a charming bedtime game.

If Not for the Cat
written by Jack Prelutsky, illus. by Ted Rand, (Greenwillow © 2004, $16.99), 40p, Ages 3+.
Seventeen animals are portrayed in the ancient poetic form of haiku with words that form a riddle. "If not for the cat, And the scarcity of cheese, I could be content." The illustrations provide the answers.

Louie
written & illus. by Ezra Jack Keats, (Viking Children's Books, $16.99), 40p, Ages 4+.
This reissue of a Keats classic concerns a lonely inner city boy who falls in love with a puppet during a neighborhood show. Because of the generosity of two friends, Louie and Gussie, the puppet, become friends forever.

Math Fables: Lessons That Count
written by Greg Tank, illus. by Heather Cahoon, (Scholastic Press, $16.95), 40p, Ages 3-6.
Through charming fables, young children will enjoy an introduction to counting and grouping of numbers as well as learning about patience, cooperation, courage, friendship, and appreciation.

Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids
written & illus. by David Kirk (Scholastic Press, $14.95), 40p, Ages 3-6.
Miss Spider and Holly prove to be great parents when they follow one of their babies, Squirt, as he attempts to return a large egg to its mother. On his quest, Squirt finds help from several new friends who are also looking for mothers.

Mister Seahorse
written & illus. by Eric Carle, (Philomel Books, $16.99), 40p, Ages 4-7.
A beautiful introduction to underwater fathers who care for their babies. Using collage and overlays children will learn lessons in camouflage and marine life as well as devotion to the young.

Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo
written by Karma Wilson, illus. by Doug Cushman,(Little, Brown & Co., $15.95), 32p, Ages 3-6.
In this cautionary story a little girl's temper tantrum results in many animals escaping from their cages resulting in chaos. Does the little girl learn her lesson?

Over in the Ocean In a Coral Reef
written by Marianne Berkes, illus. by Jeanette Canyon, (Dawn Publications, $16.95, $8.95), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Illustrations from polymer clay feature sea creatures and their babies cavorting in and around a coral reef. Children will also have fun counting the ten different types of marine life. End pages give information on coral reefs, the various animals portrayed, and creative tips from the author and illustrator.

Over the Hills & Far Away
written /illus by Chris Conover, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux © 2004, $16.00), 40p, Ages 3-6.
Tom, an otter pup, plays his pipe throughout the seasons and charms everyone including Sweet Molly, who steals his heart. Beneath the verses are silhouettes of the characters who follow the piper.

Snow
written & illus. by Uri Shulevitz, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.00, $5.95), 32p, Ages 3+.
One small boy, the only one in town, predicts snow when he sees a snowflake. In spite of the pessimistic adults in town, he sticks to his prediction and eventually one snowflake becomes a snowstorm. A Caldecott Metal winner from 1998.

Stella, Princess of the Sky
written & illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, (Groundwood Books © 2004, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Stella and Sam are back in this charming adventure of exploring the nighttime sky. Sam has questions about the moon, stars, raccoons, fireflies, tree frogs, and bats, but Stella has all the answers, logical or not.

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Teddy Bear
written by Sara Swan Miller, illus. by True Kelly, (Houghton Mifflin Co., $15.00), 48p, Ages 4-7.
A bored teddy bear, tired of being left behind every day, decides to venture out and inadvertently creates trouble for the family's cat and dog. Read this chapter book aloud to your child with a teddy bear.

This Truck
written & illus. by Paul Collicutt, (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, $15.00), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Another great title in Collicutt's series about modes of transportation. Truck lovers will delight in everything from a simple pick up to the NASA Space Crawler. The endpapers feature labeled historic and modern trucks.

Toot & Puddle: The New Friend
written & illus by Holly Hobbie, (Little, Brown & Co., $16.99), 32p, Ages 3-7.
In a light-hearted story, Holly Hobbie addresses the subject of making new friends, discovering their imperfections, and learning that everyone is special.

Uncles and Antlers
written by Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Brian Floca, Antheneum Books, $15.95), 40p, Ages 3-6.
A holiday and counting book about a young reindeer's yearly visit from her seven special uncles, who gather together to pull Santa's sleigh.

What Eddie Can Do
written & illus. by Wilfried Gebhard, (Kane/Miller Publishers, $15.95), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Eddie can deep sea dive, tame tigers, and travel through outer space, but he can't rescue his friend from the double-tailed monster because he can't tie his shoes. Luckily, Mom comes to Eddie's rescue.

What Time Is It, PeterRabbit?
inspired by Beatrix Potter, (Frederick Warne & Co., $9.99), 18p, Ages 3+.
Kindergarteners will enjoy using the movable clock hands as well as learning to tell time with Beatrix Potter's lovable characters.

Widget & the Puppy
written by Lyn Rossiter McFarland, illus. by Jim McFarland, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux © 2004, $16.00), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Widget is back, along with the girls (Mrs. Diggs' six cats). When a stray puppy shows up, Mrs. Diggs instructs Widget to "watch" the puppy while she locates the owner. With endless energy, the puppy proceeds to eat the girls' food, drool on their beds, and chase them up a tree.

Wild About Books
written by Judy Sierra, illus. by Marc Brown, (Knopf Books © 2004, $16.95), 40p, Ages 4-8.
Librarian, Molly McGrew, accidentally drives her bookmobile into the zoo. Undaunted by her mistake, she begins to read aloud and introduces the animals to a new concept - reading. Giraffes receive tall books, pandas get Chinese books, and otters, of course, waterproof books.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Written by Eugene W. Field, illus. by David McPhail, (Scholastic, Inc., $15.95), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Children will enjoy this classical journey about three fisherman who ride into the night sky in a wooden shoe to capture stars in nets of silver and gold, and laugh with the moon.

You're All My Favorites
written by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram, (Candlewick Press © 2004, $15.99), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Three small cubs seek reassurance that they are loved, but question which one is loved the most. Their parents assure each that they are loved and perfect, whether born first, second or third.

Harry and the Dinosaurs Make a Christmas Wish
written by Ian Whybrow, Illus. by Adrian Reynolds, (Random House, $15.95), 32p, Ages 3-7.
After Harry and his dinosaurs visit Mr. Oakley's farm, they decide that a baby duckling would be the perfect Christmas present. They wish very hard for it, however, on Christmas morning it is not a duckling that they receive, but a very different kind of pet.

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