City by Numbers

Stephen T. Johnson (Illustrator). Puffin 2003, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.52

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

City by Numbers is another volume in the spirit of Alphabet City.  Conceived at the same time as a natural outgrowth of the alphabet book (which won a Caldecott Honor in 1996), this is an excellent companion to it.  It’s also an excellent choice both for prereaders, aspiring artists, or just those who enjoy a chance to see the world from a new perspective.

Alphabet City

Stephen T. Johnson (Illustrator). Puffin 1999, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.00

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Artistic alphabet books have become very common, but this original work is quite out of the ordinary.  Stephen Johnson has captured alphabet shapes in ordinary places around a bustling city: an I in an old neon sign, an N in the iron supports of a bridge, an O in the circled armrests of a park bench.  These are reproduced in paintings that are so realistic that at first glance they might be taken for photographs.

This book will provide enjoyment both for pre-readers practicing their alphabet, and older readers who are interested in seeing the world in a different way.  It’s an excellent addition to a home library.

Curious George Takes a Job

H. A. Rey. HMH Books 1974, Paperback, 48 pages, $0.01

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is another of the Reys’ gleeful books of monkey business.  In this one, George escapes from the zoo, wanders into a restaurant and gets caught eating the pasta, takes a job as a window-washer (and gets distracted painting a jungle-scape in someone’s apartment), and takes a fall from the fire escape, landing himself in the hospital, where the man with the yellow hat comes to rescue him.

The book is characterized by the excellent writing of the classic Curious George series, with fast-moving action and a lovable, mischievous character all children love to vicariously enjoy.  It’s appropriate for preschool through elementary school ages.

A Day’s Work

Ronald Himler (Illustrator). Sandpiper 1997, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.11

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

On Saturday morning, young Francisco waits with his abuelo (grandfather) with other day laborers, hoping for a day’s work.  In order to persuade a potential employer to choose them, Francisco claims his grandfather is a gardener, even though he is actually a carpenter.  It is only at the end of the day that the lie is found out.  Then Abuelo shows Francisco the value of integrity, admonishing, “We do not lie for work,” and taking steps to make restitution.

Bunting’s understated text, written from the child’s perspective, expresses the raw desperation that the most poverty-stricken people experience daily, helping the reader understand why Francisco would tell such a lie.  But his grandfather’s personal honor proves that, regardless of circumstances, even the lowest labor carries dignity and worth when it is carried out with self-respect.

This is a serious story, and even illustrated with Himler’s wonderful paintings it retains a somber mood that might not draw readers in as easily as more lighthearted books.  But it provides a vital, sympathetic glimpse into the world of immigrant day laborers while demonstrating the moral importance of honesty.  It’s a beautifully moving book which will help cultivate compassion for others.

Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day

Richard Scarry. Random House Books for Young Readers 1968, Hardcover, 64 pages, $7.46

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Richard Scarry had a tremendous gift for telling stories that, while simple in plot, are rich in visual detail so that, having been read aloud once, they provide hours of entertainment for prereaders to enjoy at their leisure. His lively, fill-up-the-page artwork and classic sense of humor have endeared him to children for over fifty years.

In this book, Scarry introduces individual citizens of Busytown, then tells short stories about specific projects they are involved in: building a house, mailing a letter, putting out a fire, visiting the hospital, riding a train, growing a crop, lumberjacking and processing wood, building a road, taking an ocean voyage, and making bread.  By interweaving these individual stories, he shows how greater social process work together in industrial society.  Each story demonstrates the value of work, both for the individuals who perform it and those who enjoy its effects.  It’s a wonderfully orienting book, helping even very young children understand the interworkings of their society.

This abridged edition is easy to find, but disappointingly, the unabridged version (which includes a stay-at-home mom, policeman, water treatment processes, and electric plant) has become a collector’s item.

The Matchlock Gun

Walter D. Edmonds. Putnam Juvenile 1998, Paperback, 80 pages, $1.98

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Teunis and Gertrude Van Alstyne are Dutch homesteaders caught in the middle of the French and Indian War, and one night Teunis is called away to fight.  He leaves Gertrude, ten-year-old Edward, and six-year-old Trudy alone in their cabin, admonishing her to go to his mother’s house if Indians come their way.  But when Teunis sends word that Indians are coming, Gertrude decides to stay in the cabin out of dislike for her mother-in-law.  Although she rationalizes the decision by telling herself their enemies will leave them alone, she realizes too late that she and Edward must defend themselves.  The only weapon in the home is an antique matchlock gun, used as decoration above the door.

Throughout the text, Gertrude responds to fearful circumstances with calm fortitude, thinking through their plan and carrying out her role in it — but it is Edward on whom she depends to take the action that will save their lives.  There are few stories in which a child is given such an important and difficult task, and his courage and responsibility are awe-inspiring.

This true story starts out slowly, but steadily builds to reach a tremendous climax.  It is splendidly written, and illustrated with lithographic drawings that are impressive given technological limitations at the time of publication.  It is a good read-aloud for pre-readers, but because of the suspenseful nature of the story, sensitive children may need to wait until they are a little older to engage the story without being frightened.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Brown Bear and Friends)

Eric Carle (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 1997, Board book, 32 pages, $4.07

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is a pleasant follow-up to Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with the rhythmic refrain changed by one word.  This volume focuses on animals found in the zoo and the sounds they make: Polar bear, lion, hippo, flamingo, zebra, boa constrictor, elephant, leopard, peacock, walrus, finishing with the zookeeper and children, who playfully imitate the animals.  It’s characterized by pleasant, predictable repetition and Eric Carle’s wonderfully playful collage illustrations.

Like Brown Bear, this book is well suited to the preschool crowd and could make a confidence-building practice reader.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Eric Carle (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 1996, Board book, 32 pages, $4.32

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This immensely popular toddler book features a procession of animals, introduced by the same chant addressed to the preceding animal: “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?” The animal answers, “I see a red bird looking at me.”  Then the page is turned to reveal a red bird, who is asked the same question, and answers that a yellow duck is looking at her.  In this way a blue horse, green frog, purple cat, black sheep, and gold fish are introduced, who finally mention the teacher and children who are looking at them (presumably from outside the book, as well as being pictured in its pages.)

The predictable format, rhymic repetition, pleasing collage illustrations, and systematic introduction of colors with animal names have endeared this book to children and those who teach them since its publication 40 years ago.  It has been translated into many languages and is read around the world.  It is well suited to toddlers, and can also work as a confidence-building early beginning reader.

Crash! Bang! Boom!

Peter Spier. Doubleday 1972, Hardcover, $11.95

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Crash! Bang! Boom! is an unusual picture book which, rather than telling a story, provides an auditory and visual experience of the world.  Each two-page spread contains about twenty actions which are related to one another in some way, with a written-out sound effect — a boiling coffeepot sounding “glub-blub-glubglub” and then being poured, “luck-luck-luck,” a chain-saw sounding “rrrooaarrrrr” and an axe hitting a thumb with a “thack.”

The book is characterized by Spier’s lively, intricately detailed drawings and has a very appealing mood.  It ought to provide wonderful phonetic practice for beginning readers, and will also be enjoyable for confident readers.  Preschoolers will enjoy having it read to them, but adults may find it wearying to read aloud, so I recommend it primarily for self-reading.

Like many of Spier’s wonderful books, this one is out of print, but is available on the used market.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bruce Whatley (Illustrator). HarperCollins 2001, Hardcover, 32 pages, $10.51

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bruce Whatley’s paintings bring new life to the beautiful old hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander, originally written to help children understand the opening of the Apostle’s Creed.  The illustrations follow a girl on a country ramble, experiencing the created things described in the hymn, then returning home to tell her family about it.  This makes for a joyous read and is an excellent supplement to a child’s Christian training.  The musical score is provided in the endnotes.