EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
KID
QUIPS
During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
Books
|
||||
|
Rhymes are a playful, wonderful way for children to learn to have fun with literature, whether it’s a simple nursery rhyme or a longer narrative poem. Children can learn that language is meant to be a joy, not a chore, and that reading wonderful words that bounce off a page is one of life’s real joys. Introduce a child to rhymes and poetry, and you’ll open a whole new side to their imagination. For ages 3-6 John Denver’s Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby Adapted and illustrated by Christopher Canyon (Dawn Publications, paperback, 30 pages, $8.95) The late singer-songwriter John Denver had a well-known love of nature, including a love of the sea and swimming with dolphins. He wrote this lovely lullaby as an ode to the endearing mammals. It has been beautifully illustrated in shades of blue and aqua, giving the impression of being underwater. 1, 2 I Love You Written by Alice Schertle; illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 24 pages, $16.95) Playing off on the traditional favorite, author Alice Schertle has crafted a charming rhyming book capturing the tender love and playfulness between a parent and child. Caldecott-winning artist Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolors have clever touches, such as the little elephant’s baseball cap flying off as his dad pushes him on a swing. Mother, Mother, I Want Another Written by Maria Polushkin Robbins; illustrated by Jon Goodell (Alfred A. Knopf Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $14.95) Maria Polushkin Robbins originally published her text in 1976; it has been given a wonderful breath of new life with the colorful and buoyant illustrations by Jon Goodell. In a classic case of misunderstanding, Baby Mouse asks for “another, Mother” when his mom kisses him in bed one night. Mrs. Mouse is panicked where will she find another mother to put her baby to bed? Parents will enjoy sharing this charming comedy of errors with their little ones who can’t bear to go to bed. Mary Had a Little Jam Written by Bruce Lansky; illustrated by Stephen Carpenter (Meadowbrook Press, hardcover, 32 pages, $9.95) Like Fractured Fairy Tales of days gone by, this book takes classic nursery rhymes, like “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and gives them a humorous twist. Children will love the funny takes on familiar rhymes, (and who knows, may even grow to prefer them). The colorful illustrations are just as amusing. Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today? Written by Tish Rabe; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz (Random House, hardcover, 32 pages, $8.99) Children love to learn about weather. It is a science they can see, feel and touch, so it is very real to them. The author and illustrator, in honor of Dr. Seuss’s 100th birthday, have created a rhyming weather discovery book that uses the Cat in the Hat as one of the main characters. The friends travel in a hot air balloon to learn about thunderstorms, cloud formations, thermometers and how to stay safe in lightning. The familiar Seuss-like artwork and text will make an immediate connection with kids. Silly Horse Written by Vadim Levin; illustrated by Evgeny Antonenkov (Pumpkin House Ltd., hardcover, 32 pages, $15.95) With its lively language and silly characters, this collection of rhymes makes a great introductory volume of poems for children. Originally written in Russian and translated into English, the poems, like “A Really Scary Midnight Tale With a Telescope,” are just wacky enough to capture a child’s attention and funny bone. The unique illustrations are the perfect accompaniments. Doodler Doodling Written by Rita Golden Gelman; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky (Greenwillow Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.99) This is a wonderful book for all the daydreamers and classroom doodlers out there, both child and adult. Caldecott-winning artist Paul O. Zelinsky has taken 21 words, combined them in funny ways, and come up with charming and fanciful illustrations to accompany them. Done in a combination of techniques, using watercolor and black pen, then scanning the drawings into the computer for further manipulation, it’s a unique book that ponders the mysteries and possibilities of language and art. For ages 6 and up Barron’s Rhyming Dictionary Compiled by Sue Graves and Brian Moses; illustrated by Tim Archbold (HarperCollins Publisher, paperback, 192 pages, $9.95) What a boon to the budding poet this rhyming dictionary is. It is easy to read, scattered with amusing illustrations and organized both alphabetically and by rhyming sounds. It also discusses different types of rhymes and rhythms, how to tell when a poem sounds and feels right, and includes various poem-writing activities. FOR TEENS Chicken Boy Written by Frances O’Roark Dowell (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, $15.95 paperback, 202 pages) Fights in school over the smallest reason, the dread of dressing out for gym in a locker room full of peers, and dealing with comments that are chucked around classrooms are only a few of seventh-grader Tobin McCauley’s worries. At home, Tobin is stuck in the middle of a family feud between his father, whom he barely sees, and his offbeat grandmother. He hangs out with his one and only friend, Henry, who believes chickens hold the meaning to life. The book, although it has a slow start, later grasped my attention through situations and challenges I was once faced with in and out of a middle and high school environment. Teens are able to relate to this book, not only because of the trials Tobin faces, but because it is written the way a teen speaks: incomplete sentences and a vocabulary consisting of the words “huh” and “ain’t.” While the book does hit on the tough obstacles of being a teen, the positive side and outcomes to those challenges, such as triumph over fear and growth in relationships, are revealed. By Tracy Bennett |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
