Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Over in the Ocean in the Coral Reef by Marianne Berks, illustrated by Jeanette Canyon (Dawn Publications, 2021) imitates the “Somewhere in the Meadow” song using the Great Barrier Reef as a setting.The subtitle is “A beach baby animal habitat book.” It follows a counting pattern, mentions a variety of animals, and is available in
Sometimes when I finish a book that I loved I can’t wait to sit down and gush about how great it is. Other times, I love it but I just know I won’t be able to give it proper credit: I struggle to explain just why it is so incredible. Shapes in Math, Science, and
Tom Lichtenheld is on a role with the letters and numbers books this year! Zero the Hero by Joan Holub and Tom Lichtenheld (Henry Holt, 2012) is another story of writing coming to life: this time, it is the numerals that have personalities! Zero feels left out from the counting games that numbers 1, 2,
The mind-boggling question of what infinity is provides the focus of Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford and Gai Swiatkowska (Carolrhoda, 2012). As a young girl stares at the sky, she wonders about the concept. Over the next day, she asks friends, family members, and teachers what they think infinity is. Inspired by the author’s
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin (HarperCollins, 2012) is one of those sequels that may be better than the original (well, maybe; the original is fantastic too!). In this story about the cool cat, Pete loves his buttons, but they keep getting lost. With subtraction problems to
Dinosaur Dig by Penny Dale (Candlewick/Nosy Crow, 2011) combines two things my little boy loves: construction trucks and dinosaurs! In a typical counting book style, on each page, a number of dinosaurs (from one to ten) dig, shovel, dump, mix, and so forth as they build themselves a pool to relax in. The inside front cover lists
Over in the Meadow illustrated by Jill McDonald (Barefoot Books, April 2011) comes with a singalong CD (sung by Susan Reed) so of course, my son loved it! In the past, we have checked out a different version of the “Over in the Meadow” folk song. I loved this illustrated version, which is a digital collage
Bear’s Birthday by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Debbie Harter (Barefoot Books, June 2011) lets us celebrate Bear’s birthday with all of his friends. Apparently, this is part of a series about Bear and his bear friends; I’ll be first to admit this is the first I’ve found. I’ll have to keep an eye out
My Caldecott challenge: Although these Caldecott winner and honor books are not, for the most part, books I’ve read aloud to my son, I still found them interesting. A few I had strong negative opinions of; they show that even books that earned the Caldecott award do become dated! 1 is One by Tasha Tudor
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