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

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
PRESCHOOL
NOTABLE BOOKS 2007

Preschool

Best of Year 2010
Best of Year 2009
Best of Year 2008
Notables from 2006
Notables from 2005

    Animals
    Bears
    Bedtime
    Classics
    Concept Books
    Families
    Friendship
    Humor & Nonsense
    Recordings
    Rhythm & Rhyme

Toddlers
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third-Fifth Grades
Middle Grades
Upper Grades

NOT A BOX
written/illus. by Antoinette Portis, (HarperCollins, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-06-112322-1), 32p, Ages 2+.
Pretending is a lot of fun, especially for a young rabbit with only a box for company. Through a series of questions and answers, the rabbit is asked why he is sitting in, standing on, spraying, and wearing a box. He answers, "It's not a Box!" Instead, he pretends it's a racecar, a mountain, a burning building, and a robot. Simple line drawings and repetition of words are also perfect for preschoolers who are learning word recognition.

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
written by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram, narrated by Dan Russell, (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-3503-9), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Originally published in 1994, this lovely book is now available with an animated storytime DVD. The unconditional love between father and son is captured in a charming bedtime game. Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare demonstrate their love for each other by how wide and long their arms can reach and how high their legs can hop. As he settles the young rabbit into a nest of leaves, the father gently tells his son, "I love you right up to the moon".

WHO'S HIDING?
written/illus. by Saturo Onishi, (Kane/Miller Books, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-933605-24-1), 32p, Ages 2-6.
This clever concept book from Japan introduces eighteen animals that are lined up in rows on each double spread page and always in the same order. To the questions of "Who's hiding?", "Who's crying?", "Who's angry?", "Who has horns?", "Who's backwards?", "Who's sleeping?", and "Who's who?", children must choose the correct animal(s) to answer the question. One double spread shows several faces, and children must then find the answer to, "Who's hiding?" On another double page spread, only eighteen pairs of eyes are shown. The children must answer "Who's who?". The animals are easy to identify, but for young children and the zoologically challenged, an answer key is located in the back of the book.

GOSSIE
written/illus. by Olivier Dunrea, (Houghton Mifflin Co., $6.95, ISBN 978-0-618-74791-7), 32p, Ages 3-5.
"This is Gossie. Gossie is a gosling. A small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots. Every day." Whether walking uphill or downhill, forward or backward, in rain or snow, Gossie is never without her boots. One morning she awakes to find them missing. Heartbroken, she spies them on her best friend's feet. Both Gossie and Gertie love the boots, so they decide to share–one boot apiece. Now in board format, the use of bright illustrations, simple words, and repetitive sentences are perfect for small listeners.

GOSSIE & GERTIE
written/illus. by Olivier Dunrea, (Houghton Mifflin Co., $6.95, ISBN 978-0-618-74793-1), 32p, Ages 3-5.
Best friends Gossie and Gertie are inseparable companions. Gossie in her red boots and Gertie in her blue boots splash in the rain, play hide-and-seek, dive in the pond, and watch the night. Gertie is a follower, except when she is sidetracked by a small beetle or a trail of grain. Gossie is annoyed, but circumstances change when Gertie leads the way to the food bowl and their differences are forgotten. This board book format will please younger as well as older preschoolers. Along with simple line drawings, each page contains details that more observant children will enjoy.

SEVEN LITTLE RABBITS
written by John Becker, illus. by Barbara Cooney, (Walker Books, $9.95, ISBN 0-8027-9634-6), 32p, Ages 2-6.
Repetition and rhyme invite children to count their way to sleep. Seven rabbits walk down the road to visit their friend who is a toad. One by one, they become tired, turn around, and take a nap at mole's hole. "Then/The seventh little rabbit/Went to sleep-/Shh, don't say 'Peep"-/He's tucked in bed/And now, instead,/There are . . ./Six little rabbits/Walkin' down the road/Walkin' down the road/Six little rabbits/Walkin' down the road/To call on old friend toad." Originally published in 1973, the repetitive verses may please young children; however, adults may find themselves nodding off before the children.

GO TO SLEEP, RUSSELL THE SHEEP
written/illus. by Rob Scotton, (HarperFestival, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-06-128434-2), 16p, Ages 2-5.
In this comical tale of animal insomnia, Russell tries everything that he can think of to fall asleep. Nothing works. In desperation, he decides to count sheep. By the time he counts to ten (ten being himself), "Russell felt a tickle, then a twitch, and then . . . sound asleep." Abridged from Russell the Sheep and now in board book format, young children will love this fluffy-looking sheep with his wide eyes, long, blue and white striped hat, toothpick legs, hilarious expressions, as well as the snoring sounds when the last page is turned.

TREASURE
written/illus. by Suzanne Bloom, (Boyds Mills Press, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-59078-457-0), 32p, Ages 2-6.
In a follow-up to A Splendid Friend, Indeed, Goose talks Bear into hunting for hidden treasure. Goose is positive that they will find treasure, because the "X" on Bear's paper (the beginning of a tic-tac-toe game) is a treasure map. After digging and diving, their search proves fruitless, but they realize that their friendship is treasure enough for both of them. This warmhearted story ends with Bear and Goose finishing the game.

BOBBIE DAZZLER
written by Margaret Wild, illus. by Janine Dawson, (Kane/Miller, $15.95, ISBN 978-1-933605-46-3), 32p, Ages 2-6.
From Australia comes the story of an energetic and gymnastic wallaby, Bobbie, who loves to jump, bounce, skip, and hop (on one leg). However, she cannot perform the splits. Her friends Koala, Wombat, and Possum say, "Never mind", but Bobbie does mind and perseveres until one day, she finally succeeds. With themes of not giving up and following one's dreams, children will enjoy the cheerful and exuberant illustrations depicting Australian vegetation. This award-winning book is a 2007 Notable Australian Children's Book.

LITTLE BITTY MOUSIE
written by Jim Aylesworth, illus. by Michael Hague, (Walker Books, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-8027-9637-0), 32p, Ages 3-6.
In a delightful alphabet and rhyming book, a mischievous little mouse scampers, sniffs, nibbles, peeks, and climbs around a house, curious about everything she encounters. "Tip tippy tippy tippy/Went her little mousie toes./Sniff sniffy sniffy sniffy/Went her little mousie nose." She sneaks through the house and enjoys many fascinating and tasty objects until she meets one very scary, sleeping cat. From "She saw a shiny Apple" to "She heard the sound of Z'ing-/Soft, soft breathing, like a snore." Children will enjoy this blend of adventure and concept.

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