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.

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.

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.

Most of All, Jesus Loves You!

Debby Anderson (Illustrator). Crossway Books 2004, Hardcover, 24 pages, $7.16

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This fun toddler book recounts a simple family ritual in which a parent reminds their young child of all the people in their life who love them, ending with “Most of all, Jesus loves you!”  It is well written with pleasant repetition, with a solid message that young children will easily understand.  It could make a good complement to Guess How Much I Love You, which expands on a similar theme without taking the final step between parental love and God’s love.

Its cheery illustrations are adequate to demonstrate the book’s message, but are fairly unimpressive.  This could be a classic if it were gorgeously illustrated.

Curious George Flies a Kite (Curious George – Level 1)

H. A. Rey. HMH Books 1977, Paperback, 80 pages, $1.13

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is another of the Reys’ wonderful Curious George series.  In this story, George goes from one adventure to another — losing and finding a baby bunny, learning how to fish, and naughtily flying a kite until he flies high above the town, only to be rescued by the Man with the Yellow Hat.  George has delighted children for generations, and this makes for an enjoyable read.  Unlike the later knock-off George series, this story is characterized by the Reys’ carefully crafted writing and wonderful classic illustrations.  It is appropriate for beginning readers.

The Trumpet of the Swan (full color)

Fred Marcellino (Illustrator). HarperCollins 2001, Paperback, 272 pages, $4.95

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Louis, a trumpeter swan, was hatched without a voice and so is unable to win a mate, even though with the help of his human friend Sam, he has learned to read and write.  Out of paternal love, Louis’ father breaks into a music store and steals a trumpet for Louis to use in courtship of the beautiful Serena.  But Louis is too honorable to simply accept the stolen instrument — he learns to play it, then hires out his musical ability until he can pay back the store owner.  Throughout his adventures are woven adventure, romance, absurdity, and White’s perceptive view of human nature.

The Trumpet of the Swan is an exceptionally creative work, reminiscent in different ways of Make Way for Ducklings, Charlotte’s Web, and Homer Price, but unique unto itself.  The reader will finish the book not only having had a good time, but appreciating the value of love and music, work and family, as well as knowing a little more about the habits of trumpeter swans.  It’s an outstanding choice for a read-aloud.

The Wind in the Willows

Michael Hague (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 2003, Hardcover, 216 pages, $16.64

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A lonely mole, exasperated with Spring cleaning, abandons his home and goes for a long jaunt ending at a river, where he meets a friendly river rat.  The rat invites him to an extended stay at his home, introducing him to all the local animals: the lively otter, stalwart badger, and reckless toad.  Thus follow some of the most implausible and wonderful adventures ever to enthrall a young reader.  The story delights with what C.S. Lewis calls “scandalous escapism,” yet within the animals’ adventures, dangers, and reveries, if you are looking for them, you will find timeless moral qualities: the value of friendship, the beauty of unblinking courage, and the consequences of foolishness.  It really should not be missed.

Parents will need to use discernment when considering whether to read chapter 7, in which Rat and Mole encounter and worship a “wood-god” who resembles the mythical Pan.  This chapter does provide a calming respite from Toad’s breakneck adventures, but some parents may choose to skip this chapter until their children can discern the difference between this creature and the God of their own faith.  In addition, parents may want to discuss a passing reference in chapter 10 to a gypsy (Roma) man as one accustomed to horse-stealing.  This stereotype of Roma, so prevalent in the past century and continuing into the present, has caused much persecution for this people.

Kenneth Grahame’s brilliant prose is full of unusual and enriching words, making it excellent as a read-aloud for early readers, and good as a read-alone for confident readers.  Precocious pre-readers will also be able to enjoy the story, although they will miss many of its complexities.

There are a great number of illustrated versions of the book, many of them abridged.  Michael Hague’s unabridged version depicts the story in exuberant oil paintings, with period costumes and architecture basically consistent with the book’s original publication in 1908.  There are three free audio versions of this book available at librivox.org.

The Story of Ferdinand (Puffin Storytime)

Robert Lawson (Illustrator). Puffin 2007, Paperback, $5.77

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Ferdinand is a mild-mannered Spanish bull who (unlike his peers) has no aspirations to be chosen for a big bullfight in Madrid.  Instead, “he like[s] to sit just quietly and smell the flowers.”  But one day, when five men come to his pasture to choose a bull for the bullfight, Ferdinand sits on a bee, provoking him to act so crazy that the men choose him for the next bullfight.  When he arrives in the arena, he has to decide whether he will give in to the pressure to perform.

The story is rendered in charming ink drawings and is exceptionally well written.  The author makes gentle fun of the strutting bravado displayed by of the bullfight’s participants, while Ferdinand’s gentle response displays a unique kind of courage.  Some parents will see this story as a treatise against the violence and cruelty of bullfights, while others will view it as an example of someone being true to himself.  However you interpret it, this is an undeniably hilarious story that has been loved by children since its first publication in 1936.

It is fairly accessible to older toddlers and will also be enjoyed by early readers.  Since its original printing, a color version has become available, but its blotchy quality obscures the detail in the ink drawings, so I prefer the black-and-white version.

Pronunciation for Spanish words may be heard and viewed by clicking the links: Matador, Picador, Banderillero.

Frog and Toad Book Set

Scholastic Books (Technical Editor). Scholastic Books 2002, Paperback, 256 pages, $999.98

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Frog and Toad are two friends whose similar appearance belies their distinctive personalities.  Toad is impulsive and emotional, and Frog easygoing and rational.  The two of them get into a number of scrapes and adventures together, most of which hinge on their unique character traits.  Lobel’s brief, easy-reader chapters spin out complex, suspenseful plots in a way that looks effortless but is quite rare.  Embedded in the stories are subtle moral implications relating to character qualities such as loyalty, wisdom, and self-control.  The books are interesting enough to use for read-aloud, but simple enough to introduce as a beginner’s read-alone.

Of all the easy-reader books in print, this series may be the best in writing quality, complexity, character development, and humor.  Lobel’s genius has earned, among other awards, a Caldecott Honor for Frog and Toad are Friends and a Newbery Honor for Frog and Toad Together.  Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad were both American Library Association Notable Children’s Books.

This fine collection is available in CD audiobook and mp3 format, but they do need the pictures as accompaniment.

Curious George Learns the Alphabet (Curious George – Level 1)

H. A. Rey. HMH Books 1973, Paperback, 80 pages, $1.98

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This book is different from the rest of the Curious George series, because it is primarily devoted to introducing each letter of the alphabet by transforming the letter into an animal or other object.  This clever device makes the letters memorable, and many of the letter-pictures are accompanied by sidebar-style scenes and commentary in the margin.  There is just enough humor to help retain interest, as George takes breaks to make up silly words, play football, and go out for doughnuts (mischievously changing the Man in the Yellow Hat’s note from “One dozen” to “ten dozen.”)  But this is really an alphabet lesson disguised as a story, and might not be a big hit with children who aren’t ready to learn the alphabet.

One nice feature is that the authors have made sure the letter in focus appears frequently in the explanatory text, and have used color to highlight each instance of it.  This makes the text a bit contrived, but it does help the fledgling reader see how the letters he or she is learning are used to create the words of the story.

While this book shouldn’t be the primary introduction to the letters of the alphabet, it is an excellent supplement for an alphabet lesson, especially for children who have enjoyed the other Curious George books.