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.

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.

Tut, Tut #6 (Time Warp Trio)

Lane Smith (Illustrator). Puffin 2004, Paperback, 80 pages, $0.95

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Candy caramels are made with nutritious ingredients mixed with equal parts sugar.  They are tasty, enjoyable, and have virtually no nutritional value.  They are very like this pleasantly written, irreverent and forgettable time-travel story, part of a longer series by the same author.  In Tut Tut, three friends are accidentally whisked into the time of ancient Egypt by a pesky younger sister, who is befriended by the goddess Isis.  They, in turn, impress the boy-pharaoh with their sneakers and basketball skills, with a little additional help from scientific tricks that they pass off as magic.

Amidst the lighthearted, fast-moving plot the author mixes in quite a bit of trivia about ancient Egyptian culture, with quite a bit of juvenile humor but without any real sense of the cultural gravity of that great society.  This is a fairly unobjectionable library read.  While its accessibility makes it a good choice for a reluctant reader, I don’t recommend it as part of a permanent home library.

Ginger Pye (Young Classic)

Eleanor Estes. Sandpiper 2000, Paperback, 320 pages, $0.55

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jerry and Rachel Pye make a companionable team, from their cheerful “Boombernickles” word game and outdoor explorations, to their acquisition of their family’s new puppy, Ginger.  But when the puppy disappears on Thanksgiving Day, the heartbroken children work together to solve the mystery of who could have stolen him.

Ginger Pye combines a warmly written, empathetic, and often funny portrayal of a loving family with an engaging mystery to be solved, and concludes with a quite satisfying resolution.  The story abounds in engaging portraits of interesting characters in the Pye’s small-town community, but Estes’ character development of Jerry and Rachel is where her writing really shines.  She perceptively captures the way children think about their world, and anchors these ordinary (but quite likable) children in a believable 1950’s American town.  This is a very enjoyable story.

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 Reluctant Dragon

Michael Hague (Illustrator). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 1988, Paperback, 48 pages, $3.98

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Reluctant Dragon is a mild-mannered specimen of his breed who, unlike the “active and earnest” fellows who used to charge around battling knights, has survived long enough to develop his passion for poetry.  He is befriended by an intelligent young shepherd boy, who is placed in an awkward position when the villagers discover the dragon’s presence.  Although the dragon has harmed no one, the villagers are so aroused that they call on Saint George to battle this “pestilential scourge.”  When Saint George arrives the dragon flatly refuses to fight, and the boy is left to find a solution to the impasse.

This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with.  The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults.  The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers.  Some of the humor will be above young readers’ heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages.

The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing.  There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame’s marvelous prose.  The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.

A free audio recording of the story is available on Librivox.org.

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.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Quentin Blake (Illustrator). Puffin 2007, Paperback, 176 pages, $3.28

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a lighthearted Cinderella fantasy about a sweet little poor boy who is one of five lucky children chosen to tour Mr. Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory. This factory is the topic of much speculation, since no humans are ever seen going in or out, but it remains the source of the most delectable confections known to man.

The children and their parents discover that the factory is populated by funny dwarfs called Oompa-Loompas, and each room is filled with candy more delicious than the last.  Throughout the tour, Charlie’s good character (an effect of good upbringing by a loving family) strikes a contrast against the four spoiled, unpleasant children, who continually get themselves into hilarious trouble by misbehaving.

The story is wonderfully well written, and although it is lighthearted in tone it is a true moral tale — probably too moralistic for some readers.  Charlie, like the traditional Cinderella, is almost too sweet, and the four bad children are ludicrously obnoxious.  There are some intense moments: Charlie’s family lives in danger of starvation, and in a few episodes the reader is left to wonder whether the bad children will come to real harm.  Parents ought to use discernment when introducing the story to sensitive readers.  And, of course, candy is a central theme, highlighted by Charlie’s real hunger.  Those who are sensitive to sugar or given to gluttony may want to avoid the story for this reason.

Aside from these points, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a rollicking, lighthearted fantasy, full of humor and imagination, which is a delight to read aloud.  If parents decide to let their children watch either of the movie versions, I recommend they read the book first, because the movie interpretations are quite different from the spirit of the original story.

The Mitten

Jan Brett. Putnam Juvenile 1989, Hardcover, 32 pages, $4.54

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In this Ukranian folktale Nicki, a young boy, asks his grandmother Baba for snow-white mittens.  She protests that he will lose them in the snow, but because he wants them so badly she complies and knits some for him.  When he goes out to play, he does lose one, and it is found by a chilly mole who cosies up inside to get warm.  When a rabbit happens by, he crowds into the mitten, followed by a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, a fox, and a bear.  Finally a tiny mouse comes along and, perching on top of the great bear’s nose, causes him to sneeze, and all the animals tumble back out.  The mitten is thrown into the air and Nicki, on his way home, finds it.

The story is told with well-paced, pleasant repetition and a funny, dramatic climax with a visual joke at the end, as Baba inspects the mysteriously enlarged mitten.  Nicki is a likable and energetic child with a nurturing, sensible adult caretaker, and the animals are rendered in their animal characters, with only a shade of human personality.  But it is the gorgeous illustrations that really make this story: each scene is rendered beautifully, enclosed in elaborate borders that include the traditional folk art of the region, with “peek-ahead” sights of Nicki’s activities as well as the next animal that will be introduced.  This story will surprise and delight children from a wide range of ages, from toddlers (there is a simplified board book version just for them) to readers.