Children's Book Corner - January 2010
by Stephanie Dethlefs1/4/2010 11:10:03 AM
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Welcome to the Neighborhood-Kids Children’s Book Corner! Each month I offer one title each for five different age groups, although by no means should the books be limited to certain ages. These recommendations are based on my experience as the parent of a bookworm, a teacher, and a voracious reader of children’s literature. Happy Reading!
For Baby Bookworms (Birth to 2)
Little Boy by Alison McGee (Simon & Schuster, 2008)
For those with a little boy in their lives, this book will likely be a reflection of things they see on a daily basis. Little Boy sings the praises of the small things that matter, not the least of which is a good cardboard box. From "the wings on that astonishing bug" to "a Band-Aid for an ouch," every moment in a little boy’s day is important for growing, learning, and, most of all, playing as hard as possible. (And, for the record, my daughter loves this book.)
For Preschool Power Readers (3-5)
Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland (Kids Can Press, 2009)
Once there was a bear who loved every living thing so much that he couldn’t help but hug each and every one (much to their frequent surprise.) Yet when he came across a man with an axe, and realized that the man was planning to chop down a beautiful, tall tree, the bear had a sudden need to stop him. Realizing that attacking the man was not in his nature, he decided to do what he did best. This is an adorable book with a loving theme and an important message about the natural world.
For School-age Scholars (6-8)
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2005)
Mercy, the darling pet of Mr. and Mrs. Watson, longs for nothing more than "toast with a great deal of butter on it." When she heads out in search of a midnight snack, she sets a series of events in motion which culminate in the rescue of her owners, who are on the verge of crashing through a hole in their bedroom floor, elevating her status from simple pig to "porcine wonder." This book is the first in the Mercy Watson series, and with its loveably eccentric cast of characters and lively illustrations by Chris Van Dusen, it is sure to charm young readers and parents alike.
For Independent Intermediates (9-12)
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
(Aladdin, 1972)
Every year, new and wonderful books arrive on store and library shelves. Yet some books are destined to be read by generation after generation. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is just one of those books. When eleven-year-old Claudia decides she’s tired of the injustices of being the oldest child and the only girl, and of living the same life day after day, she begins to plan her temporary escape. She talks her second-youngest brother, Jamie, into joining her, and off they go…to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just as they are settling in to their new home, the two land in the middle of a headline-making mystery. This classic story is full of humor, touching moments, and extremely likeable characters.
For ‘Tweens and Teens (13-15)
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 2007)
Lady Saren has refused to marry the evil Lord Khasar. Furious, her father locks her in a tower along with her new yet entirely devoted maid, Dashti. As the two face seven long years of imprisonment, Dashti begins to write about their days and her thoughts in a journal. It is when the guards seem to have strangely disappeared (and their food is running low) that Dashti and Saren begin their real adventure, and Dashti records every step. Shannon Hale is a master of the Young Adult fantasy genre, and this book is no exception. This is a gripping tale of devotion, friendship, love, and war in the Middle Ages.