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Daffodil, Crocodile – Emily Jenkins

Daffodil has two sisters, Rose and Violet. The three of them look exactly the same, down to the clothing they wear. Everyone calls them a sweet bouquet of flowers, but no one can tell them apart. Daffodil wants to be appreciated for her own individuality. In school, when Daffodil raises her hand to say something, her teacher invariably calls her by one of her sisters’ names instead of her own. By the time the teacher has corrected her mistake, Daffodil has forgotten what she wanted to say. Her classmates get her confused with her sisters too. Mommy was taking an … Continue reading →

Lizzy’s Do’s and Don’ts – Jessica Harper

The writing/illustration team of Jessica Harper and her sister Lindsay Harper duPont brings us “Lizzy’s Do’s and Don’ts,” a cute story about a girl named Lizzie who is a little frustrated. She feels like all her mother ever says is “Don’t.” Don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t do this other thing, and above all else, don’t argue. It’s hard to keep track of all those don’ts. She’s not allowed to stack all the kitchen chairs on top of each other so she can reach the top shelf. She’s not supposed to bring home containers of sand from the beach. … Continue reading →

While Shepherds Watched – Jenni Fleetwood

“While Shepherds Watched” is a children’s picture book written to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. Today Matthias turns eight, and he gets to go out into the fields to take care of the sheep tonight. He’s looked forward to this for a long time. As he heads out to take his place, it gets dark quickly, and he’s a little bit nervous. As he watches the sheep huddle together for warmth, he notices that one of the ewes is standing apart from the rest. John, who is four years older than Matthias, explains that the ewe will deliver … Continue reading →

My Friend the Piano – Catherine Cowan

The children’s picture book “My Friend the Piano” uses rich language to convey a young girl’s feelings about music and composition. But while she is riding on waves of music, her mother is cringing from the sound of noise. Amazing how two perspectives can be so different. On the day Mother announces it’s time for piano lessons, her daughter is upset, insisting that she already knows how to play. Mother’s not convinced. The lessons didn’t go well. She couldn’t make the piano play for her. Mother can do it, and she can’t understand why the piano won’t play for her … Continue reading →

Stella LouElla’s Runaway Book – Lisa Campbell Ernst

This book is slightly ironic to me – I have a children’s book on a claim return at the library right now. I know I returned it, but they haven’t found it yet. Amazing how those books just run away! In “Stella LouElla’s Runaway Book,” we read about her experiences with a frisky book. Just like magic, her book disappears, and it’s due by five o’clock. She races through the house, looking everywhere she can think. It’s not in the tub, or by the cereal boxes, or in her toy box. Her dad suggests that she look the last place … Continue reading →

The Little Cat Baby – Allan Ahlberg

There once was a time when children thought that babies were brought by the stork or found in the parsley patch. In “The Little Cat Baby,” babies were obtained at the baby shop, which was run by a woman named Nurse Doodle. Whenever a man and a woman wanted a baby, they would head off to the shop to get one. One day, a particular man and woman headed in to the shop. They looked at lots of babies of every size and shape. There was a cry-baby, a flower-pot-throwing baby, and even a baby robot in a box, ready … Continue reading →

Dear Fish – Chris Gall

“Dear Fish” is a great children’s picture book written by Chris Gall and illustrated by the same, in a style that reminds me quite a bit of wood cuts. Peter Alan and his family have been at the seashore all day, and are having a wonderful time. Peter Alan is playing down by the water, wondering what kinds of creatures might live in the ocean. He has an idea, and writes a note to the fish, inviting them to come for a visit at his house, including the most tempting detail – his mom makes good pies. He puts the … Continue reading →

Halfway Hank – Joe Fallon and Ken Scarborough

“Halfway Hank” is a cute picture book that tells us the story of Hank A. Mezzomezzo, a boy who lives halfway to the edge of town, halfway down the street, with a yard that’s only half-mowed. His nickname is Halfway Hank, and I think we’re starting to see why. Half his room is clean, and the other half is messy. The half of his head that is on the clean side has combed hair, but the hair on the other half of his head is standing straight up. He never washes his feet, but his face is always shiny. Whenever … Continue reading →

The Kettles Get New Clothes – Dayle Ann Dodds

The Kettles are a cute little family of dogs who go clothes shopping for themselves once a year. They like their clothes very plain and simple – no need for lots of fancy floofs for them, thank you very much. But one day, when they made their pilgrimage, they discovered something unsettling. The store they usually went to was different. It had a shiny glass door, instead of the plain wooden one it always had before. The owner, Pip by name, rushed forward and took all their measurements, then hustled them off to the dressing rooms. He outfitted them all … Continue reading →