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

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
KINDERGARTEN
NOTABLE BOOKS 2006

Kindergarten

Best of Year 2010
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Notables from 2007
Notables from 2005
Notables from 2004
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Anthologies
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Wordless Books

Toddlers
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Third-Fifth Grades
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NUTMEG AND BARLEY: A BUDDING FRIENDSHIP
written/illus. by Janie Bynum, (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ISBN 0-7636-2011-4), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Two neighbors, who believe that they have nothing in common, discover that friendship may have more to do with kindness than interests. Nutmeg is an exuberant squirrel who loves everyone, while Barley is quite shy and unsociable. When Barley becomes ill, Nutmeg nurses him back to health. They even discover a common interest - music.

HARRY THE DIRTY DOG: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
written by Gene Zion, illus. by Margaret Bloy Graham, (HarperCollins, $15.99, ISBN 0-06-026865-4), 32p, Ages 3-7.
What Harry won't do to stay out of the bathtub. He buries his brush and runs away, but get so dirty even his family doesn't recognize him. Once he is scrubbed clean, Harry is finally content and realizes that there's no place like home. Originally published in 1956, this charming tale is perfect for other grime-loving, bath-hating children.

NUTS
written/illus. by Paula Gerritsen, (Front Street/Lemniscaat, $15.95, ISBN 1-932425-66-7), 32p, Ages 2-6.
A funny faced little blue mouse sets out on a blustery day to gather nuts from a far away tree, heedless of her friends' warning about the dangers. Upon finding no nuts, as they've all blown away, she slowly walks home only to discover a surprise awaiting her beneath her own tree. Sometimes good fortune comes around unexpectedly.

ON MARKET STREET: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
written by Arnold Lobel, illus. by Anita Lobel, (Greenwillow Books, $6.99, ISBN 0-688-08745-0), 40p, Ages 3-7.
A small child stops at the stores on Market Street and purchases items that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Whether its apples, noodles, or wigs, each letter and word is represented by a vendor dressed completely in each product for sale. This is a treat among alphabet books and received the Caldecott Honor Book award in 1981.

FLY, LITTLE BIRD
written/illus. by Tina Burke, (Kane-Miller Books, $14.95, ISBN 9781-933605-02-9), 32p, Ages 4-7.
In an almost wordless story, a little girl and her dog discover a baby bird that has fallen from its nest. They take him home, feed him, read to him, and make him one of the family. One morning they discover that their little bird has flown through an open window and joined a beautiful flock of parrots. A charming, almost wordless book from Australia on caring for others.

BRAVE BEN
written by Mathilde Stein, illus. by Mies van Hout, (Front Street, $15.95, ISBN 1-932425-64-0), 32p, Ages 2-6.
From the Netherlands comes the story of a small boy who is afraid of everything. Determined to overcome this problem, Ben searches the yellow pages "Help for Cowards" section. The "Magic Tree" ad guarantees success; but, to reach the tree, Ben and his trusty cat must walk through a dark, creepy forest. When Ben encounters weird creatures, he remembers the tree's instructions that they may look scary, but are harmless. By the time he reaches the tree, Ben discovers that he is braver than he thought.

MILO THE REALLY BIG BUNNY
written by Stephen Krensky, illus. by Melissa Suber, (Simon & Schuster, $14.95, ISBN 978-0-689-87345-4), 32p, Ages 4-6.
Milo is a little different. Actually, being huge and purple, he is a misfit in the world of bunnies. When the Easter Bunny announces that he needs a new helper, Milo is first in line, tool belt ready for egg dying and basket weaving. Alas, he looses to a smaller bunny. However, on Easter morning when a storm comes in, only Milo can help the Easter Bunny and finally discovers his true calling in life.

THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
written by B. G. Hennessy, illus. by Boris Kulikov, (Simon & Schuster, $15.95, ISBN 978-0-689-87433-8), 40p, Ages 3-7.
Parents have warned children for years about the consequences of "crying wolf." In this new version, a young shepherd is bored and decides to trick the townspeople into believing that wolves are after his sheep. The townspeople are fooled twice, but the third time when the wolves actually show up, they ignore the shepherd. All ends well. The sheep seek shelter up in a tree, the wolves go without a tasty dinner, and the dishonest shepherd hopefully learns his lesson. This one begs to be read aloud.

RHYMES FOR ANNIE ROSE
written/illus. by Shirley Hughes, (Candlewick, $16.99, ISBN 0-7636-2940-5), 48p, Ages 3-7.
Shirley Hughes' words and illustrations turn the ordinary lives of two children into charming, simple, and lovable verses. Twenty-seven poems, action rhymes, and lullabies portray toddler Annie Rose and big brother Alfie coloring together, splashing in the rain, playing house, pretending, helping mom with the laundry, and winding down for the night. A great read-aloud for children.

THE ADVENTURES OF OLD BO BEAR
written by Alice Schertle, illus. by David Parkins, (Chronicle Books, $16.95, ISBN 0-8118-3476-X), 32p, Ages 3-7.
For a little boy and his toy bear, getting dirty is all part of having fun. Cleaning up is an entirely different matter. When Bo Bear has an unfortunate encounter with the washing machine, he comes out with one ear missing and not smelling right. Returning outside, they have fun getting dirty again by fighting off pirates, riding bucking horses, and capturing varmints until Bo Bear looks and smells familiar again.

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Clarion Books, $9.95, ISBN 0-618-73277-2), 40p, Ages 3-6.
"Once upon a time there was an old sow with three little pigs. She had no money to keep them, so she sent them off to seek their fortune." Thus begins the classic tale of three small pigs and their comic and tragic adventures with the big bad wolf. Underneath is a cautionary tale about growing up and fighting battles with wisdom and cleverness. A CD accompanies this story.

WILFRED TO THE RESCUE: STORIES FROM BRAMBLY HEDGE
written by Alan MacDonald, illus. by Lizzie Sanders, (Atheneum Books, $15.95, ISBN 1-4169-0901-X), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Across the stream, over the field, and hidden under tangled tree roots is Brambly Hedge, home to many mice families. When the river floods Brambly Hedge, many are temporarily without homes. Wilfred's family provides shelter for their friends, the Vole family, while the children play, little Sissy Vole disappears on the river. It is up to Wilfred to make a daring rescue. With everyone home safe and sound, Wilfred declares, "The thing about rescuing is it makes you very hungry." Based on Jill Barklem's 1980 Brambly Hedge stories.

HIT THE BALL DUCK
written/illus. by Jez Alborough, (Kane/Miller, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-929132-96-4), 32p, Ages 4-8.
It's spring and baseball is in the air. Duck, Goat, Sheep, and Frog travel to the park to play, but with Duck nothing turns out as planned. In a comical twist when Duck hits the ball, it ends up in a tree. He tosses the bat and hurls the glove up to loosen the ball but, of course, they become stuck too. Working as a team, the friends manage to knock the equipment free. Much to Duck's chagrin as the ball falls, Frog catches it and calls Duck out. Told in rhyme it is a fun read-aloud for young children.

AUGUSTUS AND HIS SMILE
written/illus. by Catherine Rayner, (Good Books, $16.00, ISBN 1-56148-510-1), 28p, Ages 4-7.
Augustus sets out to find his smile. He searches trees, climbs mountains, swims oceans, and roams deserts; until, during a rainstorm, he glazes at a puddle, and sure enough, ". . . there, under his nose . . . his smile!" Children should love the quirky but stunning illustrations.

BIG BROWN BEAR'S UP AND DOWN DAY
written/illus. David McPhail, (Voyager Books, $6.00, ISBN 0-15-205684-X), 48p, Ages 3-7.
In a short three-chapter book Bear wakes up to see one of his slippers moving across the floor. It seems that Rat needs a bed. After a heated discussion, Rat relinquishes his claim and scurries back to his hole. In chapter two, Rat shows up again, dressed in a top hat and carrying a briefcase, declaring that Bear has won a trip to anywhere in the world, but there are absolutely no slippers allowed. Bear decides not to go, but invites Rat to breakfast. In chapter three when Bear searches for his baseball and mitt, he finds one old worn slipper, perfect for a new bed for Rat. A simple story about friendship and sharing.

RUSSELL AND THE LOST TREASURE
written/illus. by Rob Scotton, (HarperCollins, $15.99, ISBN 0-06-059851-4), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Russell and his long blue-striped hat from "Russell the Sheep" are back, this time searching for hidden treasure in Frogsbottom. With his Super-Duper Treasure Seeker, Russell and his frog-friend Frankie find a buried chest of old stuff, including a working camera. Upon viewing pictures of his extended family, Russell realizes that the treasure he has found is priceless. Clever little details in some of the illustrations are a delight.

LOST AND FOUND
written/illus. by Oliver Jeffers, (Philomel Books, $15.99, ISBN 0-399-24503-0), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Upon opening his front door, a little boy discovers a forlorn looking penguin. Assuming that he is lost, the child decides to return the penguin home. Discovering that home is the South Pole, the boy uses his small boat to row the penguin home, telling him many stories along the way. Reaching their destination, the boy helps the penguin ashore, gives him a hug, and rows away. When loneliness sets in, the boy realizes his mistake, turns around, and returns for him. A gentle story of friendship and helping others.

THE MAGIC HAT
written by Mem Fox, illus. by Tricia Tusa, (Voyager Books, $7.00, ISBN 0-15-205715-3), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Written in fun, repetitive rhyming, "The Magic Hat" tells the story of a blue hat that whirls into a park one day. As it plops on each adult's head, each is instantly transformed into an animal. "Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat!/ It moved like this, it moved like that!/ It spun through the air/Like a bouncing balloon/And sat on the head of a hairy . . . baboon!" Adults may notice the clever details of a banana-juggling vendor who becomes a baboon when the hat alights on him. A huge wizard restores everyone to normal, puts the hat on, and bounces out of town as a fun-loving boy.

MAX'S ABC
written/illus. by Rosemary Wells, (Viking Children's Books, $15.99, ISBN 0-670-06074-7), 32p, Ages 4+.
Max's ants escape from their ant farm and enjoy taking bites of his birthday cake, while Max pours a cup of cranberry juice. Those ants are busy little critters, marching through the alphabet in search of food. Sister Ruby tries to help round up them up, even using the vacuum on the busy insects. Nothing works, until the ants become weary and return to their ant farm for some ZZZ's.

WIDGET
written by Lyn Rossiter McFarland, illus. by Jim McFarland, (Farrar Straus Giroux, $5.95, ISBN 0-374-48386-8), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Now in paperback, "Widget" tells a story of a little stray dog who stumbles through a flap door into the warm and loving home of Mrs. Digs, a cat lover. To become accepted, Widget meows, purrs, and uses the litter box. One day Mrs. Digs need help, but it's canine Widget who comes to the rescue.

BIG BROWN BEAR GOES TO TOWN
written/illus. David McPhail, (Harcourt, Inc., $16.00, ISBN 0-15-205317-4), 40p, Ages 3-7.
A simple act of kindness by Bear makes this story a wonderful read aloud for children. One morning when Bear collects his mail, he realizes that Rat's little yellow car is full of rainwater. Bear removes the water, goes to town, and purchases a mailbox for Rat's little car. Rat is so touched by Bear's generosity that he shares his special oatmeal and brown sugar meal.

PIG LITTLE
written by Mike Thaler, illus. by Paige Miglio, (Henry Holt Books, $16.95, ISBN 0-8050-6977-1), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Pig Little looks forward to spending a summer day at the beach. He thoroughly enjoys the drive, the castle-building sand, the feet-splashing waves, the fluffy animal-shaped clouds, the sandy peanut butter sandwich, ice cream cones shared with the sun, the blue shovel made for digging holes and hills, and pretending to be a pirate in search of lost treasure. With a day full of memories, Pig Little returns home to realize that part of the beach came back with him, just enough to make a small sand hill.

HENNY PENNY
written by Vivian French, illus. by Sophie Windham, (Bloomsbury Publishing, $16.95, ISBN 1-58234-706-9), 32p, Ages 4-8.
According to Henny Penny, this is the real story of what happened when an acorn fell on her head. On the way to tell the king, she met Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey, who decided to come along. However, they soon encountered Foxy Loxy who convinced them that he knew the way (right into the boiling pot for dinner.) She saved the day by volunteering to clean his dirty house, and while Foxy napped, they all snuck away. An excellent retelling of a favorite tale.

I'LL PROTECT YOU FROM THE JUNGLE BEASTS
written/illus. by Martha Alexander, (Charlesbridge Publishing, $9.95, ISBN 1-57091-677-2), 32p, Ages 3-6.
While walking through a forest, a young boy promises to protect his small teddy from the lions, snakes, and hyenas. When the boy becomes lost and his courage wanes, Teddy assures him that his special built-in home finder stuffing will lead them home. By the time they arrive home, a much larger Teddy is carrying the little boy. When asked about her success in publishing, the late Martha Alexander said, "I steal ideas from children." This classic was originally published in 1973.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SAM?
written/illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, (Groundwood Books, $14.95, ISBN 0-88899-734-5), 32p, Ages 2-5.
Whether snorkeling in the bathtub, teaching his dog, Fred, to read with Grandma's glasses, or making peanut butter and banana pancakes, Sam answers his sister's questions and asks a few of his own. Stella joins in the fun, patiently commenting on swim lessons for Fred, glasses for him, and teaching tricks to a sleeping dog. This is a fine addition to the series surrounding two siblings and their loving relationship.

THE MIXED-UP ROOSTER
written by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illus. by Megan Lloyd, (HarperCollins, $15.99, ISBN 0-06-028999-6), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Rather than doing his job of waking up the chickens, Ned, clutching his teddy and wearing purple slippers, snoozes the morning away. Disgusted with him, head hen, Daisy Mae, calls the head office for a replacement. Leaving in a huff, Ned enjoys the company of friends that night, until he spies a snake slithering into the hen house. Sounding the alarm gets Ned reinstated as Head of Night Security. A subtle message about being different with special talents is appealing as well as the amusing artwork.

ALPHABET RESCUE
written by Audrey Wood, illus. by Bruce Wood, (The Blue Sky Press, $15.99, ISBN 0-439-85316-8), 40p, Ages 3+.
When Charley visits his grandparents for the summer, his lowercase letters decide to visit Alphabet City, where they were made. They repair an old-broken down fire truck, help letters M, U, and D wash a dirty car, rescue a C-a-t from a tree, and help the big letters put out a fire at the letter-making factory. Along with "Alphabet Adventure" and "Alphabet Mystery", these stories are great tools for helping children with their alphabet.

BLUE BURT AND WIGGLES
written/illus. by Derek Anderson, (Simon & Schuster, $14.95, ISBN 1-4169-0593-6), 32p, Ages 3-6 yrs.
As fall sneaks in, inseparable friends, Blue Burt and Wiggles, are determined to keep summer around. They gather up the fallen leaves and tape them back on the trees, paint the grass green again, and draw flowers to glue around the woods. Realizing that they can no longer hold back Mother Nature, Blue Burt packs his suitcase and flies south. They still keep in touch by phone and letter, because "nothing could keep true friends apart forever."

LITTLE CHICKEN & LITTLE FOX
written by Brigitte Sidjanski, illus. by Sarah Emmanuelle Burg, (minedition, $16.99, ISBN 0-698-40044-5), 32p, Ages 4+.
When Little Chicken rescues lost Little Fox from freezing in the snow, the two become instant friends. Searching for Little Fox's parents, the two come across many animals who caution about mismatched friendships (foxes eat chickens), but they pay no attention. When little fox's parents are finally located, they view Little Chicken as a delicious meal but soon realize that this friendship is special. This is a sweet story of an innocent and unlikely friendship, in spite of circumstances.

BOO AND BAA HAVE COMPANY
written/illus. by Lena and Olof Landström, translated by Joan Sandin, (R&S Books, $15.00, ISBN 91-29-66546-9), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Two small sheep think it is strange that their wheelbarrow is meowing. They soon realize that there is a cat high above them sitting on a tree limb. Working together, they devise several plans to help the cat down, (tempting it with sardines, a plank to the second-story window, and propping up a ladder, which breaks) but nothing works. Boo even gets stuck in the tree for a while. They finally leave an escape route for the cat and go to bed. Final pages show Boo and Baa asleep in their beds, while the cat is sleeping on the rug. Translated from Swedish, the illustrations are clever and humorous, reminiscent of the silent film comedies.

J. A. TEDDY
written/illus. by John A. Rowe, (minedition, $16.99, ISBN 0-698-40043-7), 32p, Ages 4-7.
"Once upon a time there was a fearless Pirate called Captain Scallywag, who lived at number 14 Smith Street with his Mom and Dad." Armed with his faithful sword and trusty bear, J. A. Teddy, the young dreamer sails around the world in search of adventure. When attacked by pirates, J. A. Teddy falls overboard. Hearing all the cries for help, the Queen of Fairies tells of a far away castle, where all lost teddy bears are guarded by a giant ogre. What they find is a room full of every lost teddy bear in the world, each with a tag marked "LOST". Of course, any self-respecting scallywag would set them free. The next morning, the young boy awakes to find a small tag attached to Teddy's leg.

THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN
written by June Sobel, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith, (Harcourt, Inc., $16.00, ISBN 0-15-205436-7), 32p, Ages 3-6.
After scrubbing up children with their teddies and slippers, find a sleeping-car bed aboard The Goodnight Train. The train chugs up hills, rocks around corners, flies through tunnels, whizzes over bridges, and finally arrives at the Dreamland Station with the sleeping children. Soothing words and fun illustrations, including a sign that indicates, "Dreamland 20 winks ahead," make this great bedtime story.

FARLEY FOUND IT!
written/illus. by Bruce Van Patter, (Boyds Mills Press, $16.95, ISBN 1-59078-351-4), 32p, Ages 4-6.
Farley loves being a sheep, but he dislikes the scary meadow at night. He looks for new sleeping lodgings, he discovers Edna's doghouse. Now, Edna must change the location of the dog house every day, in order to keep Farley from sleeping in her house. She tries the haystack, the henhouse, and an oak tree, but Farley always finds the doghouse. Edna finally decides to build another doghouse, and the problem seems solved, except the other sheep are eyeing the new doghouse.

MY LITTLE YELLOW TAXI
written/illus. by Stephen T. Johnson, (Red Wagon Books, $19.95, ISBN 0-15-216465-0), 14p, Ages 3-7.
Sixteen interactive features will delight young children as they sit in the driver's seat of a yellow taxi and fill the gas tank, check the oil, test the tires for air, put snacks into the glove compartment, insert a key into the ignition, put the gearshift into drive, adjust the rearview mirror, check the windshield wipers, turn on the taxi light and meter, and fasten a seatbelt. A clock on every page shows the minutes needed to make all these adjustments. Many fun parts and activities make this a great novelty book for eager young drivers.

MILLIONS OF CATS
written/illus. by Wanda Gág, (Puffin Books, $7.99 PB, ISBN 0-14-240708-9), 32p, Ages 4+.
First published in 1928, this 1929 Newbery Honor Book tells the story of a lonely, old man and his wife who desire a "sweet little fluffy cat". As the man searches for a kitty, he finds millions of them. Unable to decide on just one, he brings them all home. Find out how they make the trip home and decide on one to keep, or rather the cats decide. The black and white illustrations are wonderful.

EPOSSUMONDAS SAVES THE DAY
written by Coleen Salley, illus. by Janet Stevens, (Harcourt Children's Books, $16.00, ISBN 0-15-205701-3), 48p, Ages 4-7.
Down by the sugarcane fields on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, Mama bakes Epossumondas's favorite dessert for his birthday. With no sallyraytus (baking soda) left to make the fluffy biscuits, Mama enlists the guests to trot down to the local store and buy some. One by one, they meet with a hungry "GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISIANA SNAPPING TURTLE". It's Epossumondas who saves the day by using sallyraytus to rescue everyone. Lovable characters and a frightening villain, together with colorful, expressive illustrations, make this a delightful read.

WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING
written/illus. by Alexis Deacon, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.50, ISBN 0-374-38330-8), 36p, Ages 3-6.
A little girl's toys explain their job of keeping her safe at night: check under the bed for monsters, keep her covered with blankets, squish the bedbugs, scare the nightmares away, keep her from falling out of bed, and more. It's a hard night of work, but when the sun comes up, they scurry back to their places beside the bed. The soft artwork and gentle text is sure to comfort children who wonder about their stuffed animals coming alive at night.

I AM PANGOO THE PENGUIN
written/illus. by Satomi Ichikawa, (Philomel Books, $16.99, ISBN 0-399-23313-X), 40p, Ages 4+.
From infancy Danny and his beloved penguin, Pangoo, were inseparable. When Danny receives new toys for his birthday, little Pangoo feels threatened and runs away to the Central Park Zoo where the real penguins live. Pangoo soon realizes that he doesn't belong with the fish-eating, cold-loving penguins that swim. Danny is worried about Pangoo's disappearance, but his wise Grandma knows better. This is a sweet story about friendship and belonging.

A BALL FOR ALL
written by Brigitte Weninger, translated by Kathryn Bishop, illus. by Eve Tharlet, (minedition, $16.99, ISBN 0-698-40049-6), 32p, Ages 4+.
Learning to share sometimes can be difficult, as Max, the mouse, and his friends discover. When the local bully, Rico, seizes their ball, the friends form a plan to get it back; but Max has another idea that includes inviting Rico to play with them. Originally published in German, this delightful book reminds children that sharing can be the best form of fun.

MARY ENGELBREIT'S A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS: CELEBRATE FROM A TO Z
written/illus. by Mary Engelbreit, (HarperCollins, $16.99, ISBN 0-06-074158-9), 40p, Ages 3-6.
Children will enjoy pouring over the tiniest of details from this latest holiday alphabet book. From "A is for Angel atop a tall tree ..." to "Z is the zillion ways Christmas brings cheer...", the simple, uncomplicated joys of singing, skating, baking, and decorating should leave children yearning for the holidays. As always, the illustrations are a visual delight.

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