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Hugging puppies and other snuggly things Children are naturally drawn to animals: to their looks, their antics, their unconditional love. Here we take a look at books that use animals as their subject matter. All are wonderfully illustrated or photographed, and all will have a special appeal to youngsters. For ages 2-5 Please, Puppy, Please Written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee; illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 30 pages, $16.95) Film director Spike Lee and his wife Tonya have collaborated on their second children’s book, this time with award-winning illustrator Kadir Nelson. The book follows two toddlers who meet their match when they try to control their new, high-energy puppy. The text is simple, but funny. We follow the trio around the back yard as the children try to get their puppy to fetch, come and stay out of the mud. The pictures, rendered in oil, are bursting with bold, vivid colors and cute depictions of the children and raucous pooch. What We Do By Reg Cartwright (Hutchinson Books, hardcover, 26 pages, $5.99) Author-illustrator Reg Cartwright has created some stunning pictures and simple, winning text in this charming book, which follows different animals as they declare what they do. “I’m a moth and I flutter; I’m a mouse and I scurry. We are ants and we march. We are always in a hurry.” The vivid images will appeal to the youngest of children, yet slightly older children will enjoy them as well. Bears Written by Ruth Krauss; illustrated by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, hardcover, 20 pages, $14.95) Maurice Sendak, of “Where the Wild Things Are” fame, collaborated with writer Ruth Krauss on several classic projects in the 1950s and ’60s, including “A Hole Is to Dig.” But he says he jumped at the recent chance to illustrate Krauss’s amusing poem “Bears,” originally published in 1948. Sendak used crayons to draw the charming pictures, giving them a simplistic, childlike look. He resurrects “Wild Things” protagonist Max, the young boy in the wolf suit. The project has a warm and sentimental tone because of the history between the two authors, and children will love it for its simple words and sweet, funny pictures. For ages 3-8 Chicks and Salsa Written by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Paulette Bogan (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) There were grumblings at Nuthatcher Farm, when the chickens decided they were tired of the same old feed. The rooster, watching TV cooking shows through the window, decided to liven things up by making some salsa, thereby unleashing a lust for Southwestern cuisine among the entire barnyard. The bright, lively watercolor illustrations are hilarious, as is the text. This is a dynamic book that kids will gravitate to, like, well, partygoers to the chips and salsa. Wish You Were Here Written by Moritz Petz; illustrated by Quentin Greban (North-South Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) Hedgehog has to go away, and Mouse has to stay home alone. In alternating scenes, the two count down the days until they will see each other again. This sweet book, with colorful watercolor illustrations, shows that absence indeed makes the heart grows fonder. Clara and Asha By Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press, hardcover, 34 pages. $16.95) It’s clear that Clara would rather play with her fishy, imaginary friend, Asha, than settle down to sleep. As her mother calls her to bed, Clara’s imagination runs wild as she and Asha float on a bubble across the night sky. The gentle story, which celebrates the power of imagination, is perfectly accompanied by the sweeping acrylic illustrations. Kate, the Cat and the Moon Written by David Almond; illustrated by Stephen Lambert Doubleday, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) In this magical story, young Kate awakens in the night to the “meow” of a white cat. As she takes a closer look, she finds herself becoming transformed into a cat and entering a wondrous nighttime world. Her imagination ends up touching every member of her family. The wonderful illustrations perfectly capture the little girl’s magical world. This is a nice book to use in encouraging other children to use their imaginations. Silly Horse Written by Vadim Levin; illustrated by Eveny Antonenkov (Pumpkin House, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) The silly, charming poems here, translated from their original Russian, make a wonderful introduction to that literary form for children. The wordplay is simple but funny, with titles like “Wicky-Wacky-Wocky Mouse” and “A Sad Song About a Baby Elephant That I Don’t Have.” The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. Elephants Can Paint Too! Pictures and text by Katya Arnold (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 28 pages, $16.95) Author-artist Katya Arnold teaches art to children in New York, as well as to Asian elephants in Thailand, the latter as part of a project dedicated to helping the world’s diminishing pachyderm population. In this charming book, which is illustrated with colorful photographs, Arnold shows how she teaches elephants to hold brushes, touch the paint, and then the canvas. Some elephants paint with the expected abstract lines and forms, but others, amazingly, can paint flowers and trees. Any animal-loving child will be captivated by this book, as will their parents. |
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