Previous Picks
Babes in Bookland Previous Picks
This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers
A beautifully illustrated book about a little boy who decides that a moose is his pet. “Marcel” the moose is a very good pet for the most part, but things change. This is a gentle book about the idea of ownership, and the relationship between people and animals.
Perky the Pukeko by Michelle Osment
Pukeko is the Maori word for swamp hens, which are native to New Zealand. This book introduces an exotic animal and shares his adventures as he tries to find a way to fit in. There are four books in the series and each is a charming introduction to aspects of life in New Zealand.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Who doesn’t love funny dragons, especially if they fill the pages with gorgeous colours and are obsessed with tacos? A great read-aloud book that keeps grown-ups and little ones laughing all the way through to the end.
Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle
This book dates back to 1971 but the messages are universal. A little mouse keeps asking other animals whether or not they want to be his friend. There are very few words in this book, but the illustrations are masterful and they encourage little ones to tell the story themselves as you turn the pages.
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
A visual treat with line drawings that capture the movement of “Little Pea” as he struggles to avoid having to eat candy, when all he really wants is spinach! A touch of irony for grown-ups and lots of fun for young readers as they laugh and puzzle about why this legume has a hate-on for candy.
Don’t Bump the Glump! and other fantasies by Shel Silverstein
Funny creatures wander through this book of rhymes by one of America’s best poets for small children. While some of the poems pay homage to Dr. Seuss and Dennis Lee, the illustrations are magical and little ones are bound to be enthralled.
Sandra Boynton:
Sandra began writing and illustrating children’s books in the mid 1970s- her first hit book Hippos Go Berserk!, published in 1977, introduced kids of all ages to her whimsical illustrations of gentle, doe-eyed animals having very funny adventures.
She says she writes for kids and “peculiar adults”! Her delightful board books include Blue Hat, Green Hat, Doggies, and Moo, Baa, La La La! As Sandra puts it, they’re serious silliness for terrific kids!
Just a hint: select one Boynton book and keep it close to your wee one at all times – like their favourite plush toy, they will become very attached to it! If you’re like me, you’ll have chunks of it wrapped up carefully and stored in your little one’s memory chest…great fun to re-gift to them at high school graduation!
Frank Asch:
He’s a versatile children’s author with more than 50 books to his credit, including the popular Moonbear series – Moondance, Bread and Honey, and The Last Puppy – themes include being special versus being ordinary, being loved just the way you are, and how being last doesn’t mean being left out.
Jez Alborough:
His books are full of rhyming texts and exaggerated drawings of animals, especially bears and ducks. Check out Hug, about a baby monkey that needs a hug from his mommy, and Where’s my Teddy?, where teddies of all sizes are lost and found.
Alan Baker:
Known as much for his illustrations as for his text, Alan’s series of Little Rabbit books use beautifully drawn bunnies to help little ones explore the worlds of shapes and colour; explore Little Rabbit’s First Number Book and Brown Rabbit’s Shape Book.