The Secret Life of Walter Kitty

Like his near-namesake, James Thurber’s Walter Mitty of short story fame, Walter Kitty has glorious dreams in which he is not Walter Kitty and especially not “Snookums.” He is transformed into Fang, a cat of derring-do, who is mighty and fierce—certainly not a tame housecat named Walter. Told from Walter’s viewpoint, this hilarious fantasy hits me where I live. Love cats. Love humor. Love fantasy! The writing is terrific, too.

17 Things I’m Not Allowed To Do Anymore

Either this will suit you or it won’t. The narrator is a holy terror of a child who uses all household items with destructive (though creative!) intent, staples her brother’s hair to the pillow, and so on. Some adults freak out when reading this, but most children are horrified at what this little girl does and wouldn’t dream of repeating any of her imaginative ideas—all of which lead to trouble and a promise not to do it ever again! Kids get the message here, delivered with obvious humor, but not all adults get it.

The Runaway Dinner

When hungry Banjo sits down to eat his dinner, he gets a bad surprise. The dinner, lead by a sausage named Melvin, decides that it doesn’t want to be eaten. Melvin jumps off the plate and runs out the door, accompanied by the cutlery, plate, peas, carrots, Banjo’s parents, and the dining room furniture. Banjo finally does catch the sausage, but his mother hollers that it’s been on the ground and Banjo can’t eat it. Are you giggling yet? I hope so, because the kids certainly do. You’ll love the artwork and this child-size chase.

All The Colors of The Rainbow

This is one of several titles in the Rookie Read-About Science series that are fine sources of factual information for children. The art is excellent photographs and the text simple and direct. Because all people are fascinated by rainbows, this book is a good place to start your child on a fact-finding journey. Some youngsters, often boys, are interested only in books about actual, factual stuff.

Waking Up Wendell

With the ta-ta-ta-tweet of a little bird, the waking begins on Fish Street, where a series of animals and their noises wake up a series of pig “people”—finally waking the groggy-looking Darjeeling family—all 7 of them—who sleep in a large bed together. Their cat is the one who wakes them up, by slamming the door repeatedly. This hilarious, starred-review book is sure to grow in popularity. The writing is outstanding! Onomatopoeia, unexpected twists. Superb book!

Whistling Thorn

Let’s trek to Africa where acacia bushes thrive and giraffes and rhinos enjoy the tiny acacia buds. This lovely, fact-filled book makes learning enjoyable. Readers see the galls on the thorny acacia bushes and learn about them as the ants tumble out. Stinging ants! The world around us is an amazing place, and young children love learning about it.

Elvis The Rooster Almost Goes To Heaven

Poor rooster indeed who cannot crow. When Elvis gets a bug stuck in his throat and can’t crow, the sun comes up anyway, much to his dismay. First he faints, then he retreats to the chicken coop, ready to die because he feels purposeless. The hens try to help in a series of zany ways—to give their rooster back his pluck…or is it truck…or maybe cluck? The hens aren’t sure. This wacko, hilarious book full of puns will amuse everyone in the family.

An Egg is Quiet

While we’re on the subject of chickens, here’s a factual book about eggs, with egg characteristics, descriptions, etc. With over 100 illustrations of eggs and many of the adults that lay them—excellent by the way—this is really an interesting and visually beautiful title. Mostly the eggs are from birds, but insects, fish, reptiles, crustaceans, and amphibian eggs are here, too. With this much information, this book can act as a field guide to take along on a trip outdoors. It’s a super book for both your local or home library. (Winner of many awards)

Flotsam

Hey! We guessed this outcome several months ago. Scroll down to read our review of this outstanding book.

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet

Back to black and white illustrations for a dramatic presentation that is contemporary in feel. The reviews tout the elegant imagery in this title and I am itching to get my hands on a copy.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Powerful illustrations match well with this powerful story of a woman whose unshakable belief in God drives her to achieve great things. As a slave, she is owned, not free, yet she escapes and eventually leads other African-Americans to freedom also. The illustrations are often dark, because so much of the “escape business” must be conducted in the dark! In my opinion, this book is suitable for readers in grades 5 and up, where it can be the basis for rich discussions on many themes.

The Moffats

Two old pros at work here, famous for good reasons. Because this series about the Moffat family came out in the 1940s, it’s “historical fiction” for today’s readers. The Moffat children—Jane (9), Sylvie(15), Joey(12),and Rufus (5 ½)—are entirely believable, warm, and funny—a cast of new friends, in fact. Mrs. Moffat bakes pies and supervises her children, at least when they’re home. But these kids had the run of their neighborhood and no TV. How did they stand it??!! And what will they do when their beloved house goes on the market and may be sold??

You can read the Moffat series aloud to children 6 and 7, and as soon as they can read, they’ll re-read on their own.
Like Little House on the Prairie Series and The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, this set of books has enduring appeal for kids. These are classics.

My Life as a Chicken

Chickens make great fodder for story books, picture books, even adult books. In this funny, funny story book, Pauline Poulet comes to life as a chicken with big ambitions. She hopes to be a triathlete: running, swimming, soaring. But life is not simple, even for a chicken, and Pauline has big hurdles to overcome. You’ll love the art, too—the facial expressions on the chickens are a delight. Have fun!

Bats at the Beach

You don’t need summer weather to enjoy this story, just memories of a day at the beach. Now pretend you’re a bat, who goes to the beach at night. You’ll put on your moonglow lotion and eat special beach food: skeeter crisps and toasted bug marshmallows. Children typically haven’t thought about bats or the beach in this context before, so they revel in this imaginative reversal. Perhaps this story will make this fascinating species more appealing.

Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth

For ages 5 and up, this hilarious book is about being new in first-grade. A mischievous second-grader warns our heroine that the first grade teacher is an alien who collects the teeth of earthlings. Our girl keeps her mouth shut all day, because SHE has a very loose tooth! Everyone laughs at the difficulties here, making for a humorous read that still conveys some healthy hints about how to be a first-grader.

Does A Camel Cook?

Toddlers have a natural interest in food, which is the subject here. Where does our food come from? Does a camel grow a garden? Young children are presented with different animals and alternative choices, all revolving around food, how we get it, how our pets get it, and what we do with it once we’ve got it. What do we ALL like to eat? This is one more example of factual literature with a solid appeal for young children.

Building with Dad

Starred in Publishers Weekly, this realistic book introduces kids to building construction. Getting the school built and ready for the first day is a project involving specialized machines and workers, each of which is beautifully illustrated by Thomson. All youngsters will be interested as the backhoe goes to work, the cement truck brings its load, and the school grows foot by foot. For any child who loves trucks, this book is like gold. Some of the proceeds from its sales go the Hurricane Katrina fund established by the American Library Association.

Good Boy, Fergus

Fergus is an adventurous West Highland terrier, whose owner loves him and praises him…no matter what! The pictures are dog’s-eye view, and therefore, more imaginative than other dog books. Despite the title, Fergus is NOT a good boy, and the humor in this story is more apt to be appreciated by a child at least 3 or 4 years old. An enjoyable, light-hearted book!

John, Paul, George, and Ben

Best for age 5 and over, this slightly-cracked history lesson is just as much fun as all of Lane Smith’s books. (Illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Time Warp Trio series, etc.). The famous four here are John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, with a few extra tidbits about Thomas Jefferson. Kids and adults will enjoy reading anecdotes about these men as kids, along with their later accomplishments as adults. This is a brilliant book from all angles. (Listed in NY Times as one of the 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2006.)

A Good Day

Of course, all of Kevin Henkes’s books are terrific. His newest one shows us that even a crummy day will eventually turn around and the world will appear all right again. Very uplifting. A good thing for all of us to contemplate, I believe. The characters include a yellow bird, a white dog, an orange fox, and a brown squirrel that appear almost like woodcuts. This is another great read-aloud.

Also, you’ll enjoy Lilly's Big Day, because everyone loves Lilly, the little girl with the purple plastic purse. This time around she has her sights set on being a flower girl in a wedding.

Kindergarten Kids: Riddles, Rebuses, Wiggles, Giggles, and More!

Reading this book is akin to spending a day in the best kindergarten classroom in the world. A variety of poems and illustrations keep the mood upbeat. At the end is a poem that would be ideal for reading at meetings, for an assembly… well, for many places. Kindergarten teachers will think this is a must-have book.

Also, check out Calmenson’s The Frog Principal, a tale about a principal who was turned into a frog by a less-than-perfect magician.

Detective Donut and The Wild Goose Chase

Kids just love this funny book with mystery and puns galore. They read it, then want to re-read and re-read. I can’t think of a better test of a book. Please go online to read children’s reviews of this book to get their comments firsthand. When everyone of every age enjoys a book, then it’s a success.

The Hello, Goodbye Window

“In this sunny portrait of familial love, a little girl tells us about her everyday experiences visiting her grandparents’ house.” (Of course, it is Chris Raschka’s art that we should focus on here.) - CALDECOTT WINNER, 2006

Rosa

This book, “with Giovanni’s spare, elegant prose and Collier’s iconic illustrations, celebrates the quiet courage of Rosa Parks.” (Picture book biographies are outstanding additions to this genre.) - CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK 2006

Zen Shorts

A perfect blend of text and pictures. This is a charming book, but I would offer it only to children 8 or 9 and over, as there is so much to discuss here! “Muth’s story of inquisitive siblings befriending a wise panda is told through luminous watercolors interwoven with three lessons.” - CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK 2006

Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride

“An aerial adventure over 18th-century France”…”three animals swept up in the winds of history.” Good! More non-fiction (basically) with terrific illustrations. - CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK 2006

Song of The Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems

“Eleven joyful songs of everyday pond life throughout the seasons” …”a combination of visual drama, poetry, and scientific facts.” Wow. Sounds super. - CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK 2006

Wild Fibonacci: Nature's Secret Code Revealed

I haven't been this excited about a book in a l-o-o-o-n-g time. I may be rushing things here with the age, but just start with your six and seven year-olds, please, and see how engrossed everyone becomes.
First, look at this string of numbers: 1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55…. Have you figured out the pattern? Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers before it. This is known as the Fibonacci sequence, and "its code determines the curve of a tiger's claws, a ram's horn, even your own teeth!"
Okay, now it's up to you to treat your own family to this amazing book. Remember, this author and illustrator also collaborated on Sea Sums and Sea Squares. Highly recommended.

Roar Of A Snore

Jack Huffle and his family are asleep until Jack hears a "roar of a snore" and gets Old Hound Blue (who is snoring, by the way) to help him find the culprit. They hunt all the family members, even the baby, and end up with a homeless kitten who's making a very respectable snore all on its own. Family and farm animals fall asleep around the kitten, for a warm, fuzzy ending. The art is unique and the energy of this story pulls everyone in.

Flotsam

If it's by David Weisner, like Tuesday, then I'm going to like it, and I really did enjoy this beautiful book. Like Tuesday, it is wordless, but you and your children will see a big story here. In the beginning, a beachcoming boy finds items washed up on the shore, in particular a camera with film inside. When he gets the film developed he sees intriguing pictures-an octupus in an armchair deep beneath the sea; wee little aliens examining sea horses; photos of youngsters from around the world. If this seems disconnected, begin again and you will see the story emerge. A unique story-telling experience!

Frankenstein Makes A Sandwich

In a collection of hilarious poems, kids become acquainted with the most famous "monsters" in literature. Poor Frankenstein is just trying to find food when he is pelted with garbage by his neighbors. Yet there on the ground is a mound of…food! The Phantom of the Opera finds he's no longer good at composing arias because he can't get catchy tunes out of his head: "It's a small world after all/ Angry cursing fills the hall/ Now he's crawling up the wall/ It's a small, small world." Count Dracula's teeth are pocked with spinach, but of course no one dares to tell him! This book is just right for kids 5 or 6 and up…like me!

Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day?

Don't you love it when someone knows exactly what he is doing?? This author does, and he's been doing it for decades. In this wonderful book, kids follow different workers through their days: Farmer Alfalfa; Building a New Hous; Mailing a Letter; Firemen To The Rescue; A Voyage on a Ship; Where Bread Comes From (flour mill)-well, you get the picture, and of course it's the pictures that give us so many smiles in the Richard Scarry books. This one belongs in every home where there are children. Remember to find Lowly Worm doing his tiny bit for each essay.

1, 2, 3 Moose-A Pacific Northwest Counting Book

This is a different counting book, with outstanding photography and a fair amount of science. In it, the author counts eagles in Alaska, owls in British Columbia, etc., which gives an interesting dimension to the idea of counting. The text is brief and clear. Helman also wrote O Is for Orca, an alphabet book for which Art Wolfe again did the photography. Like her counting book, it capitalizes on what is unique in the Pacific Northwest. Both of these books widen horizons and pique curiosity. Lovely!

A Friend for Minerva Louise

You may already be a fan of the nutsy chicken named Minerva Louise, but in case you haven’t met her, she’s the star of several books that kids love, partly because they’re always ahead of poor Minerva Louise. In this 4th adventure of our dimwitted hen, she is having trouble understanding some new items in the house: a diaper bag, a crib, and so on. Minerva Louise believes there’s a new bunny somewhere. Well, there IS something new!

The Magic Schoolbus and The Electric Field Trip

I like all of the Magic Schoolbus books. Sometimes I run into parents who think they’re “just a series.” Not so. They form a series, yes, but only because each one is successful in its own right. In this episode, the indomitable Ms. Frizzle has taken her students to a power plant so they can learn about electricity. Few subjects are more important in our lives, yet most kids know absolutely nothing about electricity! This title makes a critical subject highly interesting and understandable for young readers.

The Mud Flat Mystery

When Duncan gets a box—and isn’t home to open it—the other critters in Mud Flat get busy examining the box. So curious are they that the box—somehow—breaks open to reveal a special something. (Can’t tell. It’s the mystery.) This easy-to-read book is fun for anyone to read, something that can’t be said about most books on this reading level, and the art is just perfect. If James Stevenson could turn out one of these Mud Flat books a year, we’d all be deighted. Check out the earlier titles: The Mud Flat Olympics and Heat Wave at Mud Flat.

Buddy, The First Seeing Eye Dog

For all those readers who prefer “true stuff,” this is a fine book about the German shepherd named Buddy, who was trained in Switzerland, then came to New Jersey as Morris Frank’s guide dog. Frank and Buddy made a memorable team, as Frank went on to found the first Seeing Eye Dog establishment in America, in the 1930s. This is a sure-fire story, told well, for readers on Level 4. I wish the illustrations were better, but they can’t diminish this super reading experience.

Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving and Muktuk Story

         In this story of Irving and Muktuk, the bears from the Arctic North arrive in Bayonne, New Jersey. (First book is Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears) With them comes the note that “they are not to be trusted.” Now, the Bayonne Zoo is next to a muffin factory, and these polar bears adore muffins. Somehow…some way…they just have to get closer to all those muffins! When they ask their mentor, the zoo’s veteran polar bear named Roy, he says they have little freedom to roam because the zoo director fears they “might eat people.” Intrigued, the bears query, “You can eat people?”
         “Don’t even think about it,” Roy replies.
         The prose is vintage Pinkwater and the outstanding pen and ink illustrations add to the fun. You’ll have to read to find out how the bears find those delectable muffins. (Works well with ages 4 to 8.)

            Facklam is one of the best writers of factual literature, and this book joins a long line of her successful titles.  The illustrations by Sylvia Long are outstanding and accurate.  HOWEVER…bugs do eat other bugs, and some very young children might not appreciate all this truth.  Likewise some protein-deprived people eat bugs, something you may have to explain further.  But if your child is fascinated by insects, spiders, etc., he or she will LOVE this book. 

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, A Poem

            Here’s an old, classic poem that lulls any child (and all his brothers and sisters) to sleep.  I grew up listening to this poem and others by Eugene Field, one being “The Dinky Bird,” who sang in “roulades and appogiaturas, with robustos so complete.”  And “The Gingham Dog and The Calico Cat,” who “side by side on the mantel sat.”  And “The Sugar Plum Tree.”  I urge you to find these poems which you will never tire of reading, and all children will love hearing.

            Learning to love poetry starts in childhood.

Russell The Sheep

            I may have to buy this one for myself.  Memorable, witty illustrations paired with just-right text.  This book inspires lots of laughter as it takes an original look at dropping off to sleep, something Russell can’t do along with thousands of our own children!  Kids will want to look at the whimsical details in this book over and over.  Enjoy!

A Re-Run on Some Classic Golden Books.

            Golden has reprinted its classics, and my grandchildren love them just as much as my kids did.  In particular, check out  The Poky Little Puppy; Baby Animals with art by Garth Williams; Gerald McBoing Boing) and The Little Red Hen, a story that ALL children and husbands should hear frequently.

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate The Wash, by Trinka Hakes Noble, Ill. by Steven Kellogg.
You won't mind reading this many, many times because both story and art are so full of hilarious, lifelike details. This is the tale of a school trip to a farm that went completely bananas. Jimmy's boa, an adorable pet snake, really should NOT have come on the field trip, but…the result is a classic. You and your listeners can spend many happy hours poring over the detailed pictures that Kellogg gives his readers. This farm bursts into life!

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day In the Life of a Pilgrim Girl; Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy; and On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship's Apprentice and a Passenger Girl by Kate Waters
All three of these books are big favorites with teachers and students. The author, Kate Waters, features real kids in authentic costumes and the photographer, Russ Kendall, shows them going through an actual day in Colonial times. These books paint an accurate portrait of the era, and perhaps that's why they're so very popular. Everyone can "feel" the authenticity of these books.

The Popcorn Dragon, by Jane Thayer. Illustrations by Lisa McCue.
Great fantasy that is still around after 50 years, a real tribute to its many literary strengths. The new art by McCue is just right for this story about young Dexter dragon, who is quite carried away by his ability to blow smoke. He's so pleased with himself that pretty soon his friends--zebra, giraffe, and elephant--want nothing to do with him. Dexter is alone. He must ACT, and what he does delights everyone. [This tale makes the point that showing off is obnoxious.]

Ralph's Secret Weapon, Story and Pictures by Steven Kellogg.
Steven Kellogg, one of the "greats" in children's literature, scored another home run with this book about Ralph, who visits his aunt Georgiana for the summer on her wacky estate populated by lovable Great Danes. She "greets him with a banana-spinach cream cake and the news that he will spend the summer learning to play the bassoon." Well…sort of. What becomes of Ralph, his bassoon, and the dreadful cake makes great family reading. (An oldie, so you may have to haunt the library for this one.)

The Monster at the End of This Book, Starring Loveable Furry Old Grover, by Jon Stone.
Still happily in print, this witty book makes even two year-olds giggle. My own kids loved this one, and yours will, too. It belongs in every home library.

Dylan, the Eagle Hearted Chicken

I’m a fan of anything by David Harrison, a charming, witty, warm-hearted man who creates books that mirror his personality. Even funnier than usual is this tale of the egg named Dylan whose mother “had big plans for him.” He ends up in an eagle’s nest where, after hatching, he smelled A LOT like a chicken. His eaglet “brothers and sisters” wanted to eat him. You need to read the story to see how all is resolved. Enjoy!

Jack's Garden, by Henry Cole.

Fashioned after the old nursery rhyme about “the house that Jack built,” this tale is full of actual gardening facts. On the first page, we see Jack with his tools. “This is the soil that made up the garden that Jack planted.” And there in the soil are all the worms, bugs, fly pupa, snails, slugs, cicadas, and larvae that kids love to learn about. On the last page, there’s Jack with his cat, all his flowers, birds, etcetera. Great book!

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans.

Bemelmans was many things, first a famous chef, then a food critic, and always an artist with a fey, sometimes Bohemian, definitely European flair that marked his life and work. His Madeleine books are proved winners with girls. (Maybe boys, too, but I can’t prove that.) These delightful stories introduce children to Paris, a fine place to know about. (The more places our children can become interested in, the better, or so I believe.)

Winner of a Parents' Choice Award, this delightful book appeals to all ages. Barbour's illustrations are vivid, witty, exotic--everything art should be. She uses gouache paints, an opaque watercolor, often in several layers. The poems are by a variety of outstanding poets, all about arithmetic, fractions, etc. See also Wonderful Words : Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, also by the same author-illustrator pair. Two gifts for readers!

A fine read-aloud for ages 2 and up, this book belongs in everyone's home library. It's so beautiful it always makes me teary. Munsch is beloved throughout Canada (his home), and for good reason. This one stands up to zillions of re-readings.  

Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores, by James Howe, Ill. by A Walrod.

Horace, Morris, and Dolores are three mice friends--for all of eternity, they think. Except…the boys join an all-boys club, so Dolores is left out. Miffed, she joins an all-girls club that excludes boys. That would seem to settle the matter, except what's the matter is their friendship, and it is suffering. They miss their trio. Stimulating thoughts here about what constitutes friendship. Remember that James Howe is the author of the hilarious vampire bunny series, Bunnicula, and also author of the Pinky And Rex series.

Kitten's First Full Moon , by Kevin Henkes (author of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse , etc.) won the Caldecott for best illustration. You can count on this being wonderful, too.

This title for listeners age 4 and over focuses on race, which is only one aspect of your life and the life of our world. But it's one that has brought trouble and misunderstanding that we all wish could be cleared up. Julius Lester is trying to help. He says, "I write because our lives are stories. If enough of those stories are told, then perhaps we will begin to see that our lives are the same story." Barbour's dramatic art combines well with Lester's thoughtful words to make this a book well worth your time.

Under The Sea, a marine science series for the very young, by C.K. Lundeen with G. Saunders-Smith, PhD and J. Rake.

Ten titles include Clown Fish ; Corals; Dolphins; Jellyfish; Octopuses; Sea Horses; Seals; Sea Turtles; Sharks; and Whales. Each book is concise (150 words or fewer) and the photography is "stunning" according to my reviewer-buddy, Judy Crowder. She says, "The text is clear, spare, and technically correct, generally dealing with body parts that help the animals to swim, find food, and avoid enemies. For instance, the amazing Octopus pictures are accompanied by sentences about the creature's eyes, which see very well. Pictures also show the relative size of a human diver next to an octopus, while others depict an octopus squirting ink in defense, as camouflage."

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, Ill. by Blair Lent.

One of our family's favorites, this old title is still around-of course-because it is so very good. "Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, it was the custom of all the fathers and mothers in China to give their first and honored sons great long names. But second sons were given any name at all." In this story, the first son is Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, which meant "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world." The second son was named Chang, which meant "little or nothing." The brothers are close, but one of them almost doesn't make it…because of his name! (I can't count the number of times I read this, yet I have never tired of it.)

Borreguita and the Coyote, by Verna Aardema, Ill. by P. Mathers.

A Mexican folk tale comes alive here, thanks to Aardema's witty words and the winning illustrations of Petra Mathers. Borreguita (Spanish for little lamb) must outwit the hungry, wily coyote to save her life. How she does it will have everyone chuckling. A charming book!

Two real pros in children's literature have made this rhythmic book a visual and auditory treat.

"He coughed on the Cookies with the chocolate bits.
He drove the Dog nearly out of his wits.
Shoo fly! Shoo fly! Shooo."

This alphabet book is one of my treasured possessions and it'll be yours the minute you read it even once, because it is just irresistible.

You can occasionally find this title in stores, but for sure online. All of my children (now adults) say you MUST get it. And I remember reading it aloud--a charming book, and one of many that should never go out of print.

Yes, we see it on TV every year, but having this wonderfully wacky prose available all year long is a fine thing. Anything by Seuss is recommended for this age level--heck, for any age level! My family is especially partial to Horton Hears a Who; The Pale Green Pants; The Lorax; well, to be honest, we love them all.

Illustrations by Leonard Weisgard. Another family favorite by a dear family friend, Jan Wahl, who's written over 100 books for young people. His spare, eloquent text is excellent for younger kids who can't sit still for long. This Christmas story revolves around the animals' woodland celebration, lavishly illustrated by the famous Weisgard.

This is my favorite of all the Christmas story books published in recent years. The story is appealing, and the art is some of the finest in books on any level. In this tale, a down-at-heart woodcarver teaches a young boy to carve the manger scene--but there's SO much more to this story that you'll just have to read it aloud to your family, who will all enjoy it. (May be OP-may have to get it at the library)

Here's another great experience for readers and listeners-a parody of C. Clement Moore's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. Told in rhyme, and sparked by Pilkey's quirky sense of humor, this book adds to the holiday spirit as you read to find out how kids on a school trip saved the lives of some turkeys.

The Firefighters' Thanksgiving, by M. Boelts, Ill. by T. Widener.

It sounds sexist, but I honestly think boys will like this book more than girls will. The art is wonderfully bold and colorful, and while some parts may not be clear to very young kids, the story is a fine thank-you to our firefighters.

Thanks for Thanksgiving, by J Markes, Ill. by. D Barrette.

A charming, gentle book with warm, nostalgic art that lets us all reflect on the many things for which we can be thankful, chief among them being with our families.

Time for Bed, by Mem Fox. All of Mem Fox's books are wonderful. In this title, all of the baby animals are being reminded to settle for the night, and the last pair is a mother with a curly-headed child nestled on the pillow.

Officer Buckle and Gloria; Ruby the Copycat; and Goodnight, Gorilla, by P. Rathmann. An award-winning author that kids and adults love. These are my personal favorites. The humor is laugh-aloud; the art is enchanting.

When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry; and Goose; et. al., by Molly Bang. Another author who knows how to reach kids…and their parents.

The Nonsense Alphabet, by Edward Lear. Wacky rhymes for each letter, out in a spanking new edition. This was a favorite of my kids.

The Stupids Step Out; The Stupids Take Off ; et.al. H. Allard. More laugh- aloud humor that tickles everyone, at all ages. These books make kids feel very smart!

The Magic School Bus In The Time of Dinosaurs, by J. Cole and B. Degen. The set of Magic School Bus books are deservedly famous. Lots of fascinating facts along with delicious fantasy. Kids do know the difference, so don't worry about the flying bus!