Ever since my daughter Tory was about 8 months old, we have visited the library on average every 3 weeks, taking out about 15 to 20 children's books per visit. Sometimes gray-haired people in line would cluck at me and shake their heads, as if they could not believe it possible that one child were to be "spoiled" with so many books. I only got out as many as my daughter would read or handle. I have only kept it to 20 because I am not a pack mule!
Tory is now reading simple words on her own, but we still read many books to her each day, at her request, and at bedtime. After 3 weeks, those 20 books have been well-worn. And so it goes that - get this, my young daughter just turned five, has been read more than 1,500 library books in her short life! This is library books alone. We own shelves of children's books, as well. My son, Marlon, who is 18 months old, is following his bookworm sister's suit, and himself wants a book read to him at least 5 times a day, as well as paging through on his own. I am only too happy to comply! Mom even squeezes in time for reading, as does Daddy. Are we missing out on life, noses buried in books? No way! We walk, bike, hike, dance, play, garden, compute and yes - even watch TV! Give your child the gift of reading!
5 = ***** mega excellent
4= **** awesome
3= *** pretty cool, man
2= ** kind of a sneeze
1= * what? a tree gave it's life for this??
The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein ****
Simple childlike line drawings link page to page, as a circular fellow goes off in search of his "missing piece." Children like this book because of its simple story (there is a message under there folks, not heavy-handed, but it's basically "accept your lot in life."). Don't let the thickness fool you, it's a relatively fast read. We recommend for ages 4 to 7.
Princess Stinky-toes and the Brave Frog Robert by Leslie Elizabeth Watts *****
All the classic "fairytale" elements are here - a witch, a princess, a kingdom, a frog - but with a whimsical modern twist. A witch saves a king from death, and is promised their firstborn in return. When Princess Lunetta comes of age (10), she is to be fed to the witch's hungry dragon. With the help of a bewitched frog, she refuses to bath for a year, hoping to become so unappetizing as to spare herself. The illustrations are soft and detailed. We recommend for 5 to 8.
Leah's Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich ***
This depression-era tale is about a young girl's struggle with the failure of her father's farm, and the difficult decision to give up her pony for the good of the family. Her brave and generous gesture with the pony's proceeds at the auction touch everybody in her town, and a happy ending is had for Leah's family. Oil painting illustrations vividly depict this time.
First Snow by Kim Lewis ****
A small girl ventures out one blustery morning to feed the farm sheep with her mother. She loses her beloved teddybear in the beginnings of a snowstorm. A simple story whose colorfully-rendered soft-pencil illustrations do much to enhance its impact. Other Kim Lewis books are also highly recommended. We recommend for ages 3 to 5.
Heckedy Peg by Don and Audrey Wood *****
Two of our favorite author/illustrators! Heckedy Peg is a wonderfully wicked tale of a family of disobedient children who end up being turned into different kinds of foods by a horrible witch. Their mother must guess which child is which in order to save them from the witch's supper table. The brilliantly-artistic oil-painting illustrations are rendered in medieval-like hues. It's a bit scary for the wee ones, so gauge how yours can handle it. We recommend for ages 4 to 8.
