Family Reads

Not a Stick

Not a Stick

by Antoinette Portis
© 2008, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Learn More on Amazon

 

When a child finds a good stick, there's plenty of entertainment ahead. Not a Stick shows us the magic that happens when such a simple object finds itself in the hands of someone filled with imagination.

In this case, a little pig wields the stick on each page, as an unseen grownup tosses out warnings to "be careful with that stick," and "watch where you point that stick." The pig corrects the speaker with each admonishment, countering, "This is not a stick." And we see exactly what he's talking about, as the same line drawing from the previous page is incorporated into a fantasy scene like leading a parade, riding a horse, and slaying a dragon.

Not a Stick is the followup to Antoinette Portis' award-winning book, Not a Box. Bet you can guess what that one's about ;) Her simple drawings and subtle usage of color capture the essence of these objects, as well as the imaginary adventures. This book reminds me of Harold and the Purple Crayon, in every good way. Highly recommended!

Quick Pick: Squirrel is Hungry

Squirrel is Hungry

by Satoshi Kitamura © 1996, 14 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

One of our favorite books when Ben was young was the delightful Squirrel is Hungry. It's a lovely, simple board book with just a few short words on each page. We read it again and again and again, until all of us had it memorized. It's a bit hard to find now, but worth tracking down if you know of a young one who loves backyard friends.
The reason this book came to mind recently is we've had quite a few squirrel visitors of late. In the spring, five baby squirrels were born in our backyard and lived for a couple of months in one of our trees. Watching them slowly explore the world, and then quickly get on with the task of playing and chasing one another was incredibly fun for all of us.

The heat of the summer has brought us another squirrel friend, this one in our front yard. It likes to nap in the afternoon on one of our branches. As we come and go, it watches us carefully and we finally decided to offer it a little food. Though it's still deciding whether we can be trusted, it certainly enjoys our pecans.

Enjoy our own Squirrel is Hungry tale through these photos!

Quick Pick: How to Be

How to Be

by Lisa Brown
© 2006, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

How to Be is a simple picture book that highlights the unique qualities of several different animals. For example, if you want to be a snake: "Shed your skin. Slither. Dance in a basket. Be charming." The illustrations are a cheerful mix of watercolor and line drawings that show a boy and a girl acting out the traits. This  isn't a bedtime book, but it's a perfect pick for an active storytime. I could picture reading this to a toddler right before it's time for mom to make dinner...there's plenty to set the imagination in motion as the wee one imitates animals all through food prep. How to Be would make a fantastic gift for a child turning one.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

by Michael Rosen
© 1989, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels) Learn More on Amazon Reviewed by Emily Morgan

 

When Father sets out with his four children to hunt a bear, they conquer all sorts of obstacles on the way. Together they walk through long grass, a cold river, thick mud, a dark forest, and a snowstorm. They do all of this before they reach the gloomy cave where the bear lives. When they reach their destination, they decide that they'd rather be safe at home. 

This book is full of the following repetition, which is perfect for little ones to follow along:

We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared. 

Oh-oh!  A (cave, river, etc.)
A (narrow, deep, etc.)
We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.
Oh, No!
We've got to go through it!

I love the pattern of black and white then color illustrations as well as the creative use of onomatopoeia in the adventure. The family sticks together through it all and builds great memories as they hunt the bear.

This book is a classic that every family should own. I would recommend buying it for really young children as a board book. It should be read with lots of action and expressive voice. Maybe it's not the best bedtime book, but it would be a great addition to a home collection.

The Napping House

The Napping House

by Audrey Wood
© 2004, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Learn More on Amazon

 

The Napping House, by Audrey Wood,  is a delightfully predictable story about what might happen on a lazy, rainy day.  The illustrations by Don Wood take the reader from the sleepiness of afternoon rain showers to promising sunshine and a rainbow in the end.  The granny, the boy, and the household critters share in nap time and, one by one, are awakened feeling refreshed and ready for outside play.  This book is an easy one to engage little ones before bed time.  Sleeping is essential, but naps on rainy days are pure joy!

» Our thanks to Emily Morgan for sharing this terrific review!

Full Previews of Picture Books

Sometimes the goodness to be found on the web amazes me. It's like a little fairy godmother flits around the internets granting information wishes. For example, as I was researching a picture book for Family Reads the other day, I thought, "I wish they would let you see a complete picture book online when you're evaluating it. It's not like you're going to cozy up with your child and your laptop when it's time to read a story, squinting at some small preview window." Days later, Praaang!, my wish was granted! I found a link to Lookybook, a site where you can "view entire books, from cover to back in all their splendor." I love it—an open source approach to picture books which is confident that the power of a book in your hands is irreplaceable!

Time to Get Up, Time to Go

Time to Get Up, Time to Go

by David Milgrim
© 2006, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

 

Time to Get Up, Time to Go follows a little boy through his busy day. He has so many things to do in taking care of his blue doll! There's feeding, going out for a walk, playing at the park, teaching him to swim, reading him a book, patching up a small wound and much more.

This is a straightforward story about a toddler at play, and it perfectly captures the sense of urgency with which little ones approach the serious business of having fun. The illustrations are bright and happy, featuring sweet domestic scenes throughout. (My favorite is the boy's grocery-shopping trip that takes place in the family kitchen.) From one page to the next, the boy is smiling and satisfied with his important work. The pleasant, rhyming text is made up of short phrases, and I can almost hear a toddler repeating them after just a few times through.

Time to Get Up, Time to Go could very well be one of those deceptively simple stories that works its way into your heart and on to your reading list night after night.

Little One Step

Little One Step

by Simon James
© 2003, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

 

In the hands of another author/illustrator, Little One Step could have become a trite tribute to self-help cliches, especially considering the quote on the back cover, "Every journey begins with Little One Step." But one glance at the subtly expressive watercolor illustrations (all in warm shades of yellow) washed away any cynicism that was lurking within me.

When three duckling brothers are lost in the forest, the youngest of them gets scared and begins to wonder if he can go on. "My legs feel all wobbly." That's when his oldest brother shows him the One Step. By concentrating on lifting one foot, putting it down, and then starting again with the next foot, the little duckling masters this new skill so well that his brother dubs him "Little One Step." Each time he gets distracted by the tallness of the trees or the distance they must travel, his brother reminds him about the One Step. And he learns that keeping his focus on the very small thing he feels confident doing allows him to accomplish more than he ever thought he could.

Yes, this is another picture book about a lost duck. But while Come Along, Daisy and Little One Step are both charming and warm, they are distinctly unique. If you are reading to older and younger children at the same time, it might be fun to read the books back-to-back and chat with the older child about the similarities and differences. (It's never too early to compare and contrast, right?) Meanwhile, the younger child can take this opportunity to waddle around the house practicing his quacking skills.

Knuffle Bunny

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

by Mo Willems
© 2004, 32 pages Level 1 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

 

Knuffle Bunny is just what you want in a book you're going to read over and over again—a great sense of humor, artwork that's engaging on the first look as well as the 20th, lots of fun words, a warm story, and the perfect rhythm for reading aloud.

The first time I opened this book, I was captivated by the unique blend of cartoon art and  photography, featuring black and white shots of Brooklyn. The drawings are pitch-perfect, including a priceless depiction of a toddler "going boneless," as well as hilariously telling facial expressions. A second time through, I began to appreciate the clever words and pacing. On further readings, I fell in love with the story.

As Trixie and her daddy head off to the laundromat, all is right with the world. Mom is waving happily from the steps outside their front door, joggers and bikers are enjoying a beautiful day, and Trixie has her faithful furry companion, Knuffle Bunny, along for the journey. But on the way home, Trixie realizes that something is terribly wrong and tries to let her daddy know using every method available to a toddler without words in her communication arsenal. The family pulls together during this time of crisis and sets off on a rescue mission with colossal implications.

Note: Knuffle Bunny's sequel, Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, just won the Caldecott Honor this week! You can find a full list of winning children's literature for 2008 here.

 

Come Along Daisy

Come Along Daisy

by Jane Simmons © 1997, 32 pages Level 1 (tell me about levels)

 

It's hard to keep up. With so much in the world to explore and play with, sometimes it's darn near impossible to stay close to Mama.

That's the story for Daisy, and most likely your little ones too. We loved this book and I found myself quoting it often to Ben, especially as we wandered through Target (now it's more likely Ben quoting it to me as I get distracted by all the retail goodness).

When Daisy dawdles just a little too long, she loses sight of Mama and the world suddenly becomes a much scarier place. With just the right amount of suspense (for toddlers it will rank a few notches above hide and seek), we shiver with Daisy as she hears something coming. "If only Mama were here!" In the happy ending of this gently cautionary tale, Daisy adds a little wisdom to her perpetually playful nature.

This is such a fun book to read aloud, with great opportunities for expressiveness as Daisy quacks, bounces, splashes, bongs, and plops through the pages. The illustrations are gorgeous and envelop you in their warmth and richness. Get ready to read this one again and again!