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Happy new year. Among the many hopes and dreams for 2005 may be the plan to upgrade your child's library. Here are several selections that bring back the past and upgrade the present. In total, they are a reading pleasure, for parent as well as for child. For all ages Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss Written and illustrated by Theodore Geisel (Random House, hardcover, 368 pages, $34.95) The 100th anniversary of the birth of Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, has resulted ina yearlong celebration of the iconic children's author and illustrator. This big volume includes some of his best-loved work, including “Horton Hears a Who,” “The Cat in the Hat” and “Oh, the Places You'll Go.” Geisel's work was special in that it contained simple rhyming text that was perfect for emerging readers, as well as wild and wacky story plots and illustrations that made the reading fun. This big book is a celebration of that gift. It also contains essays before each story by admirers such as Pete Seeger, John Lithgow and Stan and Jan Berenstain. For ages 3-7 Chicka Chicka 1-2-3 Written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson; illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 30 pages, $16.95) Just about anyone with a child 15 or younger will remember “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrator Lois Ehlert. The alphabet book with the rhyming text and cute attitude became a modern-day classic. Now “Chicka Chicka 1-2-3” is here to do for numbers what the original did for letters - make it fun to learn about them. As in the original book, the text is made up of silly rhymes as numbers follow one another up a tree. But when the bees who live in the tree come back to find it populated with little numbers, something has to give. The vivid illustrations by Ehlert are created in her trademark cut-paper style. This book is sure to follow its predecessor on the list of favorites. Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly True) Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains Written by Deborah Hopkinson; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter (Atheneum, hardcover, 30 pages, $15.95) Partly fable, partly true story, this is the charming tale of an Iowa farmer who sets out with his family to settle in Oregon. Not incidentally, he brings with him on the trail a wagon full of fruit trees that he intends to plant in his new home. The family (with a daughter irresistibly named Delicious) overcomes many obstacles on the journey west: crossing the wide and muddy Platte River; encountering hailstorms; running out of water. But all is well - including the fruit trees - when they reach their final destination. The pictures are beautifully rendered in oils. Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop's Fables Retold and illustrated by Helen Ward (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 60 pages, $18.95) Some say Aesop was a Greek slave who made up tales to amuse his master; others say that Aesop is a collective name under which the best and earliest fables were gathered. Whatever the case, the stories - among them “The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing,” “The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg” and “The Tortoise and the Hare” - are thoroughly ingrained in us all. This text retells the stories, complete with their moral endings, in simple, elegant language. The illustrations, done in ink and watercolor, are finely detailed and colored and beautifully capture the animals in the stories. Did I Tell You I Love You Today? Written by Deloris Jordan with Roslyn M. Jordan; illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 30 pages, $16.95) A mother expresses her love for her children in many ways every day, and in this touching book by Deloris and Roslyn M. Jordan, the mother and sister of basketball legend Michael Jordan, those facets of love are enumerated. When the mother helps the child get dressed and groomed in the morning, it's a gesture of love; when the mother makes food for the child, it's love; when the mother takes the time to play or read with her child, it's love in action. It's simple writing, but filled with wisdom. The illustrations are bright, bold and expressive. The Princess and the Pea Adapted by Francesc Boada; illustrated by Pau Estrada The Ugly Duckling Adapted by Merce Escardo I Bas; illustrated by Max (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 24 pages, $14.95) With these two bilingual fairy tale adaptations, publisher Chronicle Books hopes to capture some of the growing Latino market. Each page of text is written in both English and Spanish - a useful tool for a child learning English as a second language, or for one who would like to learn Spanish. The stories are familiar ones; the text is short and sweet. The drawings (both books are illustrated by Spanish artists) are bright and colorful. A Pocketful of Cricket Written by Rebecca Caudill; illustrated by Evaline Ness (Henry Holt and Co., hardcover, 40 pages, $18.95) Forty years after its original publication, this Caldecott Honor book still has the power to charm. The story centers on Jay, a country boy whose playthings are what he finds in the fields and forests. One day he finds a cricket, which becomes more than a plaything: It becomes a friend. When school starts, he slips the cricket in his pocket, where it chirps away. His teacher, instead of getting angry at the noise, lets him share the cricket at show and tell. The illustrations are wonderful, rendered in monotone shades of brown, black and gray, with an occasional shot of red running through. It perfectly captures the imagination of the child's world. What If? Written by Christopher Nicholas; illustrated by Francesco Legramandi (Random House, hardcover, 10 pages, $8.99) What if instead of eating the poisoned apple, Snow White made apple pie for the dwarfs? What if Cinderella had left the ball at 12:01? These fun and silly scenarios of familiar Disney plots define this book. The illustrations are lovely; the scenarios play out on fold-out pages. For ages 5 and older Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Written by Roald Dahl; illustrated by Quentin Blake (Alfred A. Knopf, hardcover, 160 pages, $22.95) “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is 40 years old now, but a Roald Dahl book never goes out of style. This reissue of the funny and critically praised modern-day classic contains all the original illustrations by Quentin Blake (the United Kingdom's first Children's Laureate) as well as some additional drawings. The story revolves around five children who uncover golden tickets inside their chocolate bars that win them a trip to see a candy factory like no other. The story is great for self-sufficient older readers, as well as a good read-to-me story for youngsters. Ivanhoe Adapted by Marianna Mayer; illustrated by John Rush (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 42 pages, $17.95) Sir Walter Scott's classic tale of chivalry and suspense in the Middle Ages is brought to life with this new edition. The oil illustrations, which reportedly took artist John Rush three years to create, are magnificent. The story has been simplified by Marianna Mayer, but not dumbeddown. books for 2005 Just for parents, for the new year Back to top Inevitably, the books that pour into the OC Family Magazine offices get backlogged over a long year. Out of the piles, editorial staff has set aside two that should be considered must-reads for parents during the new year. For mom Orange County's Lisa Espinoza Johnson has written a marvelously funny, witty and compelling book for moms who need a lift. “Days of Whine and Noses: Pep talks for tuckered-out moms” (Jossey-Bass, 2004) is heavy on the poop dribbling out of the diapers and onto the grocery cart. Thankfully, moms don't have to read statistics about stress or take a quiz to determine whether they are fit as a parent. No, this book sings with support, from one very funny mom to everyone out there. Johnson sets out “to encourage other moms in the trenches just like myself.” One of her best bits of advice? Everyone goes around as a first-time mom, so when you see, as an experienced parent, a first-timer doing quaint things, don't laugh. Be a friend. Johnson's own life with her four children qualifies as fun time. She recalls when the last binky was mislaid in a restaurant. Panicked, she sought the owner-manager's help. He announced: “We have a mom here who's lost a pacifier and it's bedtime.” You will find yourself swept away by like experiences as well as fine writing, such as this: “Our days and nights are often filled with the mundane - diapers, sticky messes, 2 a.m. feedings. Sometimes the mundane instantaneously morphs into chaos, as we rush to the ER with a feverish toddler or attempt to juggle a 6-year-old's birthday sleepover, a stopped-up sink, and a dog that just dove into the cake. Sometimes they make us laugh. Sometimes we laugh to keep from crying. But always, these Days of Whine and Noses offer us the richest lessons of life - a deeper meaning than meets the eye.” Listen, we've all been there; Johnson reminds us that tomorrow will come, and the sun will rise. Available at Barnes & Noble, Target, amazon.com and from her website: candykissesmuddyhugs.com For dad Armin A. Brott uses a variety of cartoons to bring some humor to balance his important book, “Father for Life A Journey of Joy, Challenge, and Change” (Abbeville Press Publishers, 2003). The book will remain on my bookshelf as a valuable tool for years to come. Chapters take men from “The Expectant Father” through “The Grandfather Years.” Rather than read the whole book, it is preferable to find chapters that relate to your situation, such as “The Confident Father: Easing into the school years.” Brott has found success with books, articles and a radio show about fatherhood, including “The Expectant Father.” It is nice to read pages where fathers aren't belittled, but rather praised and urged onward, once more into the breech. One of the best pieces of advice: “Hone your skills as a role model.” - By Craig Reem |
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