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Summer is on the horizon, visible in the not-to-distant future, so it's time to stock up on books to carry your kids through the season. These books are all lighthearted and funny - as bright as the season we're about to enjoy. All ages “If Roast Beef Could Fly” Written by Jay Leno; illustrated by S.B. Whitehead (Simon & Schuster, 32 pages, hardcover, $17.95) "Tonight" show host Jay Leno grew up in a big, loving Italian-American family. Much of his humor arises from the comedy of everyday life, and this, his first children's book, is based on a true-life episode from his childhood. Leno's dad decided he was going to build a big, fancy barbecue in the back yard. His mother fretted that the project was too costly. After an entire summer of building, the big debut of the rotisserie barbecue was unveiled for friends and family. What happens to the poor roast beef is best left to readers of the book, but rest assured it is hilarious. The illustrations are bright and cartoonish, and capture with charm what the young, big-chinned Leno must have looked like. Not that it was all pretty. For ages 3-5 “Annie Rose Is My Little Sister” Written and illustrated by Shirley Hughes (Candlewick Press, 30 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Annie Rose and her big brother play lots of games together like store and hide-and-seek. Of course, little sisters can be annoying, like when they want to get into the middle of a game of cars and trains. But when Annie Rose is tired and out of sorts, there's only one person who can make her smile, and that is her brother. This lovely story, with paintings done in gouache and oil pastels, captures the pleasures of siblings and the promise of lifelong friendship. For ages 5-9 “Just Like Josh Gibson” Written by Angela Johnson; illustrated by Beth Peck (Simon & Schuster, 32 pages, hardcover, $15.95) The story goes that Grandmama could play baseball as well as any boy. Her hero was Negro League star Josh Gibson. But being a girl - much less a black girl in the 1940s - she had to be content with playing ball with her dad and watching the boys play. Then her cousin is injured, leaving the team with only 8 players. Grandmama is called into action; for one day she gets to experience the thrill of a crowd's cheers on a warm summer day. This lovingly written and illustrated book, with pictures done in dreamy pastels, is an homage to days gone by, the dreams of little girls, and the pure pleasure of baseball. “Penguin and Little Blue” Written by Megan McDonald; illustrated by Katherine Tillotson (Simon & Schuster, 30 pages, hardcover, $15.95) For Penguin and Little Blue, Antarctica is home and far away. They are in show business, performing for patrons at Water World in San Francisco. Sure, it's glamorous, but it's not home. The pair of penguins get sent on a airplane to perform, and then spend a hilarious night in a hotel, filling the room with ice and ordering krill from room service. But will they ever find a way to return to their frigid and happy home? The story and pictures, rendered in oil, are charming, with winning characterizations of the 2 penguin partners. “Eleanor, Ellatony, Ellencake and Me” Written by C.M. Rubin; illustrated by Christopher Fowler (McGraw Hill, 30 pages, hardcover, $14.95) Eleanor has a problem. No one ever calls her by her given name. It's either Elle or Eleanora or Ellencakes or Punch. She keeps trying to live up to all the expectations that the names carry with them, but she is getting mighty fed up with the situation. In this lighthearted book, the author writes in verse about a subject many children can relate to - a search for their identity. The illustrations are humorous, and little Eleanor is rendered with a lot of personality. For ages 6-8 “Hush! A Fantasy in Verse” Written and illustrated by Dominic Catalano (McGraw Hill, 32 pages, hardcover, $14.95) After a little girl has a nightmare, her father tries to calm her down with the familiar lullaby, "Hush Little Baby." But the father tries to cheer his daughter up, and makes the lyrics to the simple lullaby more outlandish. This creates a fantastic virtual journey, though he forgets that a simple hug can sometimes be the most comforting thing of all to a child. The author-illustrator has created a dreamlike world with his drawings, and carries the gentle reminder to parents that sometimes simple things are the best. “The Jungle of Utt: Mystery of the Lake” Written by Cameron Thomas; illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski (MGT Publishing; 40 pages, hardcover, $16.95) In the Jungle of Utt on the Island of Skree lives a cast of animal characters that are part of author Cameron Thomas' new series. A shipwrecked young adventurer named Barnaby is the group's unofficial mayor, and helps the animals with whatever dilemma they are facing. In this rhyming story, it's a mysterious monster in a lake. Barnaby takes matters into his own hands and gets to the bottom of the mystery, which isn't nearly so scary in the light of day. The watercolor illustrations are vibrant, making the jungle a nice place for a young reader to visit. 100 best books An author gives us required reading for every child Unlike some best-of lists that focus on a particular viewpoint, author Anita Silvey has attempted to create a literary library for the child. The former editor and publisher - she says she has read 125,000 children's books - at the very least lays the groundwork for other writers to aspire. Her newly released book: "100 Best Books for Children" (Houghton Mifflin Co.). It is divided into chapters by ages. We'll look at one (or more) book from each age category. Many of the 100 have been reviewed in OC Family Magazine. Birth to 2: "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown is an essential for this age group. Published in 1947, it is an interesting, if strange, trip. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle is an imaginative, instructive story; I read it to one of my 6-year-old twins the other night. Ages 2-8: "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton is another oldie that holds up well. It defines perseverance. Ages 5-7: "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss is a must-read for any family's library. Ages 7-9: "Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs" was written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and made famous by Walt Disney in his first full-length animated movie. This version was illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert ("James and the Giant Peach") and published in 1972. Ages 8-11: "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is another classic. Ages 11-12: "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl" is, in my mind, required reading for anyone of any age. "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien is another choice, as is "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Forbes. While this brief review points to the highlights, Silvey provides wonderful anecdotes behind the stories, writers, and artists/illustrators. An additional chapter has great value: "Beyond the 100 Best." Keep building up your child's library, and add this book to your own for reference. Information on Silvey: www.anitasilvey.com. |
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