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Books little kids will love
By Jennifer Hiller : July 12, 2012 : Updated: July 13, 2012 11:59am
Looking for something to hook the little ones on reading?
Here are some recent titles for young children worth a second (and third, and forth — because, hey, we're reading to kids here) look:
By Edward Gibbs
Little, Brown, $8.99
This board book takes readers on a speedy chase through the jungle as the bee runs from the frog, who runs from the snake, who runs from — you get the idea. “Little bee, little bee, why do you flee?” goes the repetitive rhyme that will have kids quickly reading along with this subtle nature lesson. It's a charming, well-illustrated romp reminiscent of Bill Martin Jr.'s classic “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” The clever surprise at the end, when you see who is chasing the hunter, is sure to elicit giggles.
Ages 3 and older
Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble
Illustrated by Joe Berger
Nosy Crow, $14.99
This little girl's granny has some delightfully embarrassing habits. She has pet bats, she flies a broom, she makes things disappear (including, oops, the teacher's clothes). “My granny's kind of different,” it begins, and goes on to details kids love. “She makes this gloopy soup from icky slim, sludgy sprinkles, and bits of froggy poop!” But after she convinces Granny to act normal, things get dull in a hurry. Sometimes, our wacky family members are most lovable just as they are.
Ages 5 and older
Illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino
A day in the life of mallard ducks becomes a marvel this story about “Ducks — just ducks, down on the river that flows through town.” A little girl notes how they quack in the morning, never seem to stop eating and “have a secret patch of blue on each wing.” The story teaches words such as “preening” and “upending” without sounding preachy, and the watery, impressionistic illustrations capture the wonder and detail of nature.
Ages 4 to 10
House Held Up By Trees
By Ted Kooser
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
The nation's former poet laureate weaves a lyrical story of a house and the land. When the house is new, the owner painstakingly mows the lawn to keep away the encroaching forest, where his children play. But as the children grow older and move away, their father, too, eventually leaves the house. The seedlings take back over. As they surround the house they start to lift it into the air. The evocative illustrations match the bittersweet tone of the words.