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Animators had spent years with the small creatures, where they could be poofed up by imagination, or changed by the stroke of a pen. And that is how it is with small life in books – they are given a voice and then promoted by the imagination of the child. You will find this timeless magic in this month’s selections. As the Disney song says, “It’s a small world, after all.” It’s a small world As the little squirrel would say, it is indeed (For ages 1-5) The Busy Little Squirrel Written and illustrated by Nancy Tafuri (Simon & Schuster, hardback, 32 pages, $15.99, available Aug. 28) Veteran children’s book author Nancy Tafuri is back with an energetic tale about a busy squirrel getting ready for winter. All of his friends ask him to stop and play, but he is too busy. They ask him to nibble a pumpkin, but he is too busy. They ask him to watch the moon, but no, he has too much to do. Tafuri’s trademark style – with brush pen, watercolor pencils and ink – are highly detailed, down to practically every strand of fur on squirrel’s back. The colors are wonderfully muted and reflective of the coming fall season. Piglet and Papa Written by Margaret Wild; illustrated by Stephen Michael King (Abrams Books for Young Readers, hardback, 32 pages, $14.95) Little Piglet is the apple of her Papa’s eye, and she loves to play with him. But one day she nibbles on his tail a little too hard, and Papa turns his back on her. Piglet goes to all of her friends in the barnyard seeking reassurance. “Do you love me?” she asks each animal she meets. They all say something about her they like, but that there’s “someone who loves you ten times more.” When Piglet is reunited with her papa, she realizes that he loves her best, no matter what happens. The illustrations are sweet and simple, done in a sweep of watercolors and fine ink lines. Small children will enjoy the tale of unconditional parental love. I’m Big Enough Written by Amber Stewart; illustrated by Layn Marlow (Orchard Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $12.99) Bean, a little bunny, is finding that she is getting big enough to do many things. She can hop around the pond without stopping, she can pick dandelions by herself, and she can swing the highest of all her friends. But she can’t do without her blankie – not yet. Her parents and brother encourage her, and she finally decides to place it very carefully in a hollow log, where she can find it any time she wants. The only problem is, she forgets which log she puts it in. How will she ever do life without her blanket? This is a nicely told story about giving up the things we outgrow that young children will be able to relate to. The illustrations are finely rendered in pen and ink, and the animals have sweetly expressive faces. Who Stole My House? Written by Barbara Veit; illustrated by Anna Laura Cantone (NorthSouth Books, hardback, 32 pages, $15.95) Little Snail decides it’s time to take a bath, and she takes off her shell so she can luxuriate in the water. But when she gets out, she can’t find her shell anywhere. She goes up to every animal she sees – squirrel, dog, cow, spider – and asks if they stole her beautiful house. All answer no, they have their own concerns. But where could her beautiful house be? The pictures are quite amusing, done in acrylics in a cartoon-like style, and showing lots of expression on the animals’ faces. A Mama for Owen Written by Marion Dane Butler; illustrated by John Butler (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 32 pages, $15.99) Owen is a young African hippo who lives happily with his mother and other hippos on the banks of the Sabaki River. But torrential rains fall and a huge wave sweeps Owen away from his mother. When he is washed back ashore, he can’t find his mother anywhere. He staggers around until he sees a gray and brown creature and snuggles next to it. The creature turns out to be a giant tortoise named Mzee, who patiently agrees to play mother to the baby hippo. This heartwarming tale is based on the true story of a baby hippo who was orphaned in a 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Children will love Owen’s survival instincts and Mzee’s kindness. The lovely illustrations are rendered in acrylic paint and colored pencils with soft hues of lavender, gold and light browns. (For ages 4-7) Firefly Mountain Written by Patricia Thomas; illustrated by Peter Sylvada (Peachtree Publishers, hardback, 32 pages, $16.95) A firefly mountain is a phenomenon found in the southern region of the U.S., where a hillside is covered with blinking, flickering fireflies. The author says she saw it once in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. This story, which is accompanied by fine oil paintings done in bold and moody colors, follows a young girl and her family as they troop into the darkness in search of a firefly mountain. When they finally find one, it is a wonder to behold. The text is lovingly written in a poetic style by the veteran children’s author. Old Mother Bear Written by Victoria Miles; illustrated by Molly Bang (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 32 pages, $16.95) This winning book is a poignant tale of the circle of life, as told from the perspective of an aging mother grizzly bear. We follow her as she digs a den for winter, where she will give birth to three cubs, the last of many offspring. She teaches her cubs how to hunt for food; she fends off an aggressive male bear; and she raises her cubs for three years until they are ready to go off on their own. Then her old body gives way to nature, and death takes over. But not without her knowing about the imprint she has left on the beautiful land around her. The bold, vibrant illustrations by Molly Bang, a three-time Caldecott Honor winner, are done with a strong emphasis on golds, greens and browns, and were rendered in oils and chalk on Bristol board. Never Tease a Weasel Written by Jean Conder Soule; illustrated by George Booth (Random House, hardcover, 40 pages, $15.99) Jean Condor Soule’s 1964 picture book has been updated with crafty and clever new illustrations by New Yorker artist George Booth, and the result is a winning combination. The funny rhyming text suggests that you can do all kinds of nice things to animals, and they will like it. “You can knit a kitten mittens, and perhaps the cat would purr,” she writes. But never tease a weasel, “because it isn’t nice.” Children will love the clever wordplay along with the funny, finely detailed pictures. River Song: With the Banana Slug String Band Written by Steve Van Zandt; illustrated by Katherine Zecca (Dawn Publications, paperback, 32 pages, $9.95) This gentle, rhyming story follows the lifespan of a river – from its inception high in the snowy mountains down to its entry into the sea. Along the way, the water trips merrily over rocks, tumbles over fallen logs, nourishes the forest it flows through, plays host to splashing children, and gives sustaining moisture to hundreds of animals. The illustrations are nicely rendered in oils and show a wide variety of wildlife, all fed by the life-giving river. The book is accompanied by a CD that sets the words in the book to music. |
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