Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Children’s Book Corner: April 2009

by Stephanie Dethlefs3/30/2009 12:10:16 PM

Welcome to the Neighborhood-Kids Children’s Book Corner! Each month I offer one title each for four different age groups. These recommendations are based on my experience as the parent of a bookworm, an elementary teacher, and a voracious reader of children’s literature. Happy Reading!

For Baby Bookworms (Birth to 2)
Binky or Blankie by Linda Patricelli (2005, Candlewick)

The big-headed, single-haired baby of Linda Patricelli’s books is here to talk about his two most precious possessions. In Binky, he looks all over the house for the beloved pacifier, only to find that it’s been in his crib all along. In Blankie, he explains that “Blankie comes everywhere with me,” including the store and time-out. Blankie is especially important at night, when it bravely faces the dark. Babies and toddlers will love the visual simplicity of these books, while adults can view a special object through the eyes of a child.

For Preschool Power Readers (3-5)
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (2003, Hyperion)

That pigeon…he’ll get away with anything if you let him. That’s why the bus driver tells the reader right away, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” The reader is then begged, pleaded with, whined to, and bargained with by the mischievous bird. Kids will enjoy being the one who gets to say “No!” and parents will get a chuckle out of the pigeon’s entertaining tactics. (Don’t miss the other Pigeon books, including The Pigeon Wants a Puppy and The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!)

For School-age Scholars (6-8)
Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
by Megan McDonald (2006, Candlewick)

Stink Moody is tired of being the shortest kid in 2nd grade. Not only is he short, but now he appears to be shrinking! He tries everything he can to make himself taller, including spiking his hair and eating large quantities of vegetables, all to no avail. Finally, he finds himself a short role model and realizes that he will grow in time. This book is the first of the entertaining series about Judy Moody’s younger brother, and will surely appeal to boys and girls, short or tall.

For Independent Intermediates (9-12)
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (2001, HarperCollins)

Love That Dog tells its story through an evolution of poetry. In the beginning, Jack’s assignment by his teacher to write a poem results in this: “I tried. Can’t do it. Brain’s empty.” Over the course of the school year, Jack’s teacher feeds him inspiration and he finds that he really does have a lot to say. Jack becomes interested in a poem entitled “Love That Boy,” and it inspires him to write about his beloved dog. As Jack experiments with writing and lets his emotions spill onto the page, the reader will connect with his feelings as well as his frustrations and successes with writing. Sharon Creech is the author of so many fantastic books it is truly difficult to choose just one. Love That Dog is a great book for all kids, but perhaps especially for those who feel like they never have anything to write.

A Note About the Author: Stephanie Dethlefs

Stephanie Dethlefs is the mom of two children who writes, teaches, and runs the Young Writers Studio in her spare time. Originally from Seattle, she arrived in Bellingham in 1996. A perfect day would include playing outside with her husband and kids and getting lost in a book.