10 Beloved Board Books

Board books are a brilliant invention: bright and colorful; small; just a few pages with just a few words; sturdy to withstand baby teeth and drool; providing tactile experience via textures and buttons and flaps and cutouts; the ultimate toy.

 There are a few board books at home that both the kids find it hard to let go even after they have well-outgrown the reading level and subject matter.

 In the spirit of Children's Book Week 2014, I wanted to share these beloved board books here, some of which are just random impulse picks that were heavily marked down for sale. Despite wondering the reasons for the markdown, I am glad for those spur-of-the-moment decisions that brought these much-loved books home and are now deeply entrenched in the kids' minds and their bookshelves.


  1. Crazy Animals 
A Tap My Nose Book
by Kath Smith
illustrations by Katy Taggart
(Parragon Publishing)

"Squeak Squeak! Zebra's proud because he stands out in a crowd." "Squeak! Squeak! Hear lion roar. Eats his lunch and still wants more!"

This particular "Tap My Nose" book was a huge hit with both the kids. A giant soft black pushable button becomes an animal's nose on each page. Kids get to tap/push it to make a squeaking noise. And, each page has a simple rhyming couplet and large stark colorful image of the animal.


  2. Gwisgo i fyny pi-po! (Welsh)
Dress Up Peekaboo!
text by Charlie Gardner
pictures by Rachael Parfitt

Amser gwely pi-po! (Welsh)
Bedtime Peekaboo!
text by Dawn Sirett
pictures by Susan Calver

 DK Publishing

Ble mae'r mochyn pinc yn cuddio?

Ydy e tu ôl i'r glustog?

[Where is the pink pig hiding?
Is he behind the cushion?] 


This lift-the-flap book was/is a fond favorite with all of us.  Even if the kids are ready to give it away, I don't think I'll ever be.

"Where's the _(toy)__ hiding?" is the ongoing theme in Amser Gwely. Each page asks that questions. Lift the flap to reveal the hidden toy - possibly behind the cushion,  behind the curtain, behind the clock and so on. The last page is the best part in Bedtime Peekaboo: "Where have all the toys gone?" "Are they hiding under the blanket?" Lifting the blanket-flap reveals all the toys cuddling in bed, waiting for baby to join them for a night of restful sleep.

Amser gwely was the most favorite at bedtime, naturally; and Gwisgo i fyny was perfect for playtime. Gwysgo i fyny asks "Where is the baby hiding?" "Is he behind the red cape?" Shows a baby's features peeking out of a rich red cape a la superman's. Lift the flap to reveal the baby dressed up as Superman!


  3. See the Sea: A Book About Colors
by Allia Zobel-Nolan
illustrations by Michael Terry

 Winona Whale, Polly Pufferfish, Clark T. Shark,  Wally Fuss  et al help children learn about colors in the undersea habitat.

I am Winona Whale, and I have a big tail.
It helps me swim under the sea.
What's that up ahead? A red reef coral bed,
With sea horses in their nursery.

Along with Smile-o-saurus and Look At Me, we got this book, See the Sea, from grand aunt K. Short, crisp, rhyming verses, bright colorful full page spreads, plus the biggest attraction: Large Wiggly Eyes that form the eyes of the animals in each page with cut-outs to accommodate this feature.



  4. I Spy Little Animals, Little Numbers, Little Letters
by Jean Marzollo
photos by Walter Wick
From I Spy Little Animals:

I spy a bird and a small balloon;
I spy a turtle and a little spoon.
I spy a horse and a yellow duck;
I spy an elephant and a zebra truck.

I Spy books are hugely popular in our house. I like that the books challenge the children enough to spot the items but  is not too frustrating as some other similar books. These sturdy board books were chewed on and drooled over and yet stood up to the treatment.

One reason I liked them: some of the items in the pictures were vintage and rustic, evoking a slight nostalgia for a bygone era filled with solid wooden toys and an uncomplicated life.

A complaint I've heard from some parents is that the pictures are mostly toys and are not of real animals which can be confusing for the little ones.

Kids liked them for the rhyming couplets and the clear photographs that provide the clues for items to find: stark white background for the text along with a picture of the animal to find on one half; and the jumble of items on the other half cleverly concealing the current animal/object to find.

 [image source: Walter Wick website]


5. Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
illustrations by Stephanie McFetridge Britt

 Though I love Beatrix Potter's original watercolor illustrations, I happened upon this book by accident and read it to my toddler first.

Initially, I did rephrase in real time, mainly interpreting the pictures as I "read" the story out loud, but, over time, this book somehow became a firm favorite with both the kids at about pre-school age. Illustrations by Ms.Britt are quite charming and complement Ms. Potter's story well.

 [image source: abebooks.com]


  6. Go Girl Go Potty 
Lift the Flap Book (Sterling Publishers)
Drawings by Emily Bolam 

Am sure every parent has a potty-training/conditioning story to tell. Whether it worked or not, this was a favorite book with the toddler, along with Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi.

 A gentle book, with a very direct message, urging kids to eliminate in the allotted spot.

 [image source: amazon.com]



  7. Panda Bear, Panda Bear

 Polar Bear, Polar Bear
by Bill Martin
illustrated by Eric Carle


 Like the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear by the duo, these two books seem hard to part and has been on our bookshelf for about 7 years now, with at least another 7 years of stay reserved.

 Panda Bear book introduces a set of endangered animals, while the Polar Bear book deviates a bit form "What do you see?" format to ask, "What do you hear?" thus introducing the wild animal sounds to the kids.

 This is one of the books that the preschooler read to her toddler brother over and over much to both their glee. And, after 7 years of inspiring the kids, the book received its ultimate tribute when the 8 year old decided to make a bilingual English/Spanish version of this book - with lift-the-flap pages - featuring her own set of animals and event progression, as a present for her brother's 5th birthday.

 [image source: FAO Schwarz]


  8. Hop on Pop
by Dr. Seuss

I'd venture a wild guess that there is at least one Dr.Seuss book that every adult today, who grew up with Seuss, holds dear and would not part with.

 This brilliant book was one of the first that both the kids read independently at their respective readiness, thanks to the rhyme and repetition of sounds and characteristic pictures. The board book version, that is. It is shorter, crisper, and just the right level of interest and challenge for reading for preschoolers.

 "STOP you must not hop on Pop!" was the second favorite page/sentence in the whole book, whereas, no surprises, the first favorite was the last page:

  SAY SAY What does this say? 
see he me we pat pup pop 
he three tree bee  top hop stop 
Ask me tomorrow but not today. 

[image source: amazon.com]


  9. Geiriau 100 Cyntaf
First 100 Words in Welsh

original English version by Roger Priddy
published in Welsh by @ebol

Lliwiau (slewiyau) = colors
melyn cyw (melin cue) = yellow chick
clustog (klistock) = pillow

 Growing up fluent in a couple of different Indian languages, it seems natural for me to mix a few of my native words into English as I speak - to make up new words which is a wild amalgamation of words from 2 or 3 languages.

Wanting the same pleasure for my kids, we settled on this book to help us weave in some Welsh words into our English conversations. Though not quite the smallish board book, this rather heavy large hardcover has clear, colorful pictures of things/people/animals with the Welsh words for them grouped under Colors, Toys, Farm Animals, Mealtime, Bedtime,  and so on.

The toughest part was to figure out the pronunciation. But we had help: Papa speaks Welsh so we learnt to say the words correctly close enough.


  10. Vehicles 
Mini Board Book
Dreamland Publications(India)

 Another random purchase at a famous Mylapore store, this book has traveled to three countries with the younger child.

 The fascination is that, rather than the traditional construction vehicles in many books found in the U.S., this book has auto rickshaw and bullock cart and tram which seem rather unbelievable to the kid in today's context.

 [image source: unless otherwise indicated, the pictures of books are personal photos]

The Absent-minded Toad

The Absent-minded Toad
by Javier Rondón
illustrated by Marcela Cabrera
translated by Kathryn Corbett

Ages 2 and up

This book has been a firm favorite in our bookshelf (Thanks, Nana!) for the past three years or so and I realized I haven't shared it here.

Originally published in Spanish as El Sapo distraído, this English translation The Absent-minded Toad is pretty charming and simple with lilting text just under 200 words.

A toad, dressed for the market, armed with his list, sets out jauntily. He gets so caught up in the happenings around him that when he finally reaches back home he realizes he has not bought a single thing from his list.

What makes the book impressive for me are the gorgeous colorful illustrations. The sort of illustrations that kids at home pored over by themselves even if nobody was reading the book to them. The sort of deceptively simple and subtle yet humorous paintings that make me dream about picking up my brush and imitating the style even if I have no clue where to start.

There is a lot of action what with vendors at the busy market peddling their wares and the book manages to capture and present it all via soft but bright watercolors and mildly humorous lyrical text.

After many repeat reads over the years, with Ana and with Og, I am glad I didn't emulate the toad and completely forget to share this book here forever. This book is a keeper in our shelves.

Into the A, B, Sea: An Ocean Alphabet

Into the A, B, Sea: An Ocean Alphabet
by Deborah Lee Rose
illustrations by Steve Jenkins

Ages 0-4

Scholastic Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2000)

There are quite a few abecedary books featuring animals. Our all time favorite is Alphabeasts by master artist Wallace Edwards.

Steve Jenkins is no stranger in our house. His cut-paper collage work has inspired me enough to try a few with my kids. So, it was only a matter of time before I got down to sharing A, B, Sea here.

Swim the ocean waves with me
and dive into the A, B, Sea

Thus starts this oceanic adventure showcasing exquisite sea creatures using simple rhyming sentences. Not just large or cute creatures. There is the much-ignored Barnacles for B and the typically forgotten Zooplankton for Z, making this a useful book for discussing food chain and ecosystems of the sea.

Brief notes at the back of the book add some information about each of the animals.

There is always this irrepressible curiosity in me, even today, to see what is presented for some of my favorite letters - viz., Q, U, X and Z - especially X, in the alphabet books. I'll just have to leave it to you to find out what A, B, Sea offers. Suffice it to say I was eXpecting Xanthareel or even the ubiquitous X-ray fish and found something different.

One of the aspects that attracts me to animal books is the suggestion of movement, of dynamic activity and flux, without clobbering. A, B, Sea offers crisp and beautiful verbs for the animals: Manatees lumber, Rays swoop low, Dolphins spin. The spin part particularly caught our attention since we recently learnt about Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) from A Whale of a Tale!(Cat in the Hat's Learning Library).

The illustrations are breathtaking as we've come to expect from Steve Jenkins' books.

All in all a visually stimulating, informative, delightful book that has scored repeat reads from the pre-schooler every night for over a week now, and has inspired the kindergartner to explore further.

[image source: paperbackswap.com]

A Book of Sleep

A Book of Sleep (Hardcover)
Il Sung Na

Ages 4-8

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 8, 2009)

Since owls are the rage these days, we've been reading quite a few owl books. Not many resonated with us. Il Sung Na's A Book of Sleep, however, had me inspecting and admiring each double-page spread with wonder and delight that surpassed the resident 3-yr-old's.

The text is rather straightforward and simple. There is no real story that unfolds in the book. It reminded me of Taro Gomi's Everyone Poops. The pictures describe the text, or vice versa, not sure which came first for this book, first published in England under the title ZZzzz: A Book of Sleep (2007).

When the sky grows dark
and the moon glows bright
everyone goes to sleep...
except for the watchful owl.

The owl watches as the other animals get their night's rest. Some sleep standing up, some sleep with one eye open, some with both eyes open, some sleep alone, some huddle together...

However, when the sun comes up again in the morning, all the animals wake up... except for the tired owl. "Silly owl! Why does he do that, Mama? Why does he like to sleep in the morning and wake up at night?", has been Oggie's question for every owl book we've read so far that mention their nocturnal behavior. (Owl Babies, Good-night, Owl!, Stellaluna to name a few).

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Na's illustrations are incredibly beautiful and quite stunning! The colors, the design, the animals, everything about them makes my heart leap with joy. The kindergartner and the preschooler at home like this book, of course. But, I am the one gazing at the pages whenever I get a chance.

There is a board book version, which, while still gorgeous, somehow impairs the gratification I get from the full-sized hardcover.

Il Sung Na's page has samples of her sketches and some images from this book, along with information about her other books.


[image source: amazon.com]

I Broke My Trunk

I Broke My Trunk
by Mo Willems

When I heard, "Mama! You have to read this! This is so funny!", followed by "Can we take it home? I can read it to Og, he will find it very silly", there was no room for any counter-thoughts for me, and so we promptly borrowed it from the library.

Willems' Pigeon somehow did not hit off well with the kids. However, his Elephant and Piggie seem to tickle them silly. I Broke My Trunk happens to be the current favorite in the series.

With simple illustrations that convey not just the story but also the characters' feelings, along with spare text for early readers, Willems' books seem to resonate with the kids.

Gerald broke his trunk. Piggie wants to know how he broke it. Gerald says it's a long and crazy story. And shares it in the typical way that mimics how children usually communicate.

Gerald: Then, I had an idea! I wanted to lift Hippo onto my trunk!
Piggie: Why?
Gerald: Because!
Piggie: Okay.

But, no, it is not Hippo, or Hippo's big sister (really BIG sister), or Rhino, or all of them plus the piano that broke his trunk. It sure is a long and crazy story, and in the end, Piggie might have a long and crazy story of her own to share.

When the recently-turned-3 year old asked, "Mama, why is the Pigeon here in the Elephant book?", I was glad he noticed Pigeon's visit and made some sort of connection between them.

[image source: Pigeon Presents!]

Good-Night, Owl!

Good-Night, Owl!
by Pat Hutchins

Ages 1 - 4
Publisher: Aladdin

As the dawn breaks, an owl tries to settle in for his sleep.

But, one by one, the creatures stir and call in their own unique voices preparing for the bright and busy day. Can the poor owl get any sleep?

The repetitive animal noises, the addition of one new animal on each page with cumulative calls of these animals, the eye-catching illustrations all seem to have impressed the resident toddler. Rat-a-tat, Rat-a-tat says the woodpecker. Pip-pip says the robin. Caw, Caw says the crow. And so on.

And, in the end, Owl turns the table on these noisy, bothersome creatures: he screeches his loudest as he takes off for his nocturnal hunt, just as the rest of the animals are settling in for a quiet night.

We've been reading about nocturnal creatures on and off over the last year or so. Oggie probably understands that some creatures are awake at night and sleep during daytime, unlike us. Forest Night, Forest Bright (Jennifer Ward) shows this beautifully.

I loved the illustrations by Pat Hutchins, they are full of detail. Well defined shapes with distinctive color, along with the dots and lines and repetitive patterns that add interest make the illustrations quite inspiring.

The simple text that tells a cumulative story along with the attractive art work made this book an enjoyable read for me. And judging by repeat reads at bedtime for over a week, it seems like a favorite with Oggie as well.

[image source: paperbackswap.com]

Children's Books: Recent Reads List Ages (2-4)

This is a continuation of my previous post on recent books we've read and enjoyed. I wanted to separate the list by age group for easy reference.

The two year old seems to be developing a preference for certain types of books. Picture Books are still the top favorite. But, some of the I-Can-Read/Beginner-Reader Books of his sister's seem to have definitely caught his attention. Not that he can read them, but, he likes it when she reads them to him.

This again, is by no means a sorted list of favorite reads, just a small subset of the books we've read over the last couple of months that appealed to us.

1. Alphabet House / written and illustrated by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
   
   This instantly became my favorite as it came into my hands at the right time when I have just introduced the letter sounds to Og for a phonetic approach to reading.
   
   The book invites us into the Alphabet House to find the things that start with A to Z. Each page focuses on one letter. The cut-paper art work arranges a scene with some of the members of the rabbit family and objects usually familiar to a toddler - just objects around the house, fruits, toys, utensils and suchlike - in an uncluttered way so as to facilitate easy recognition.
   
   The simplicity of the cut-paper work, as well as the clever arrangement of the scene to pack as many things as possible that begin with that particular letter sound so that with subsequent reads the toddler confidently looks for more objects and thrills at discovering them, makes this book a valuable tool for learning.
   
   For example, for the letter P, as a small part of the scene, there is a Pan, Plate and Pie on the shelf. However, the Pan is Purple with a Peapod on it, Plate is Pink with a Pumpkin, and the pie is possibly Peach Pie or Pecan Pie. Now, whereas Og simply identified Pan, Plate, Pie in the first read, on subsequent reads with a little nudge like, "What color is the plate?" and so on, he could pick out the others. Another object on the bottom corner of the P page was a Pillow with Pink Plaid Pillowcase.
   
   I simply love this book as its deceptively simple presentation packs chockfull of learning fun. Of course, vowel sounds are tricky, and 'C' makes two sounds, which kids learn eventually as they sort it out in their heads. Judging by the 2 weeks of repeat requests, looks like Oggie likes this book as well.
   
   
2. Finn Throws a Fit! / by David Elliott ; illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
   
   For some reason, Ana and Og like this book way more than I expected. Thanks Mom for giving this book! I love the art work, love the style. The text is simple, easy for Ana to read to Og, which she likes to do.
   
   If we've ever had a bad day in our lives, a day when we simply cannot handle even the things we used to like, when every little thing sets us off, erupting like an instant volcano, then this book will be easy to relate to. I admit, I've had many days like that thanks to Oggie not sleeping at nights...
   
   Little boy Finn, comically rendered as an egg-like blob with limbs, is having one of those bad days. The book doesn't dwell on why he has a bad day as that is immaterial. It also doesn't say how the fit subsides, as that is rather immaterial. But, it focuses on how the environment looks when Finn is throwing this fit. He cries... the house floods.
   
   Initially, I was a bit skeptical, wondering why on earth would a parent read this to their child, focusing on the fit, as if encouraging it and even reveling in it. It didn't help that the parents in the book seem to be portrayed as poor saps. But, I guess from my side of the fence, I can see the positives of this book, as Ana easily recognized the silliness of it, and Oggie didn't care about the fit all.
   
   As a bystander, this book made the whole toddler tantrum thing seem amusing. Which is an attitude some of us parents find it hard to develop when in the middle of it.
   
   
3. Dancing feet! / by Lindsey Craig ; illustrations by Marc Brown
   
   I loved this book as soon as I laid eyes on the cover - the happy dancing elephant simply teased my craft-y side: my mind immediately assembled corrugated paper, paints, scissors and glue to affirm that Imitation Is The Best Form Of Flattery Adoration. Ana and I have done a couple of projects based on this book's art work - that has to be its own post some day soon.
   
   But, the hint of the animal on the page along with lilting rhythmic text that is hard to read without tapping one's feet, "Tippity, Tippity Little Black Feet / Who is dancing on tippity feet?"... leads to the next page which shows that, "Ladybugs are dancing on tippity feet / Tippity tippity happy feet"...
   
   Stompity, Clickity, Creepity, Stampity - the repetition along with pictures of happy creatures dancing makes this cheery little book a lot of fun to read aloud.
   
   
4. The Adventures of Polo by Régis Faller
   
   Polo is a spunky pup who likes to set off on an adventure armed with just his backpack, resourcefulness, sunny disposition, and curiosity. The vibrant colors, playful cartoon-like drawing, and dynamic easy-flowing panels make this wordless book a treat to "read".
   
   Wordless books are wonderful for all ages - we can choose to interpret it as our minds allow. I just let Oggie point to the picture and "talk" about what he sees. Sometimes it is "Uh-oh, he fall in the water", sometimes it is "He in the boat"... and even if it seems like Oggie is just describing the panels, he seems to have fun turning the pages to read to "the end". And then, looks at me expectantly to read it again, this time using my words and interpretation to keep up the flow.
   
   Originally published in France, Polo seems to have cultivated a universal following. The stories start out simple and sometimes can get quite complex, depending on who is "reading" it. It reminded me a bit of Harold and the Purple Crayon in that Polo finds a rope, which becomes stairs that he uses to climb up and then slides down the rope slide to land on a cloud... It gets from absurd to fantastic in no time.
   
   Through close-ups in some panels, sometimes stopping the flow with a full-page panel, along with subtle hints like punctuation marks, not to mention facial expressions, artist Faller makes it a delightful experience to follow Polo along in his adventures, silently.
   
   
5. A pair of socks / by Stuart J. Murphy ; illustrated by Lois Ehlert
   
   I like Lois Ehlert and I picked up this book before even knowing about the MathStart series. The text is short and easy to follow, and the pictures are in bright bold colors to catch the eye.
   
   A lone striped sock wants to find its partner. It looks in the hamper, washer, dryer, the usual places and fails. It finally finds it in the dog basket.
   
   Finding the matching pairs of socks in each page makes this a fun learning experience for the little ones while honing the pattern-recognition skills. Plus, there are suggested activities at the back if we want to take it a step further.
   
   Not really a top favorite of mine, but, since I had to read it a zillion time to Og, it managed to grow on me. I am yet to explore the other MathStart books, but I am in no hurry.
   
   
6. Zero is the leaves on the tree / by Betsy Franco ; illustrations by Shino Arihara
   
   Most of the toddler counting books introduce 1 through 9 easily. Introduction of the numeral '10' could potentially add a certain complexity, but, many counting books seem to do it consistently, so, kids learn to recognize the number ten.
   
   The concept of zero while simple, may not necessarily be easy to present. Zero is the Leaves on a Tree was a book I had earmarked for Ana, and was surprised to find that her teacher had already done a good job of introducing zero into her world.
   
   Since Oggie showed interest in the book, I started reading it to him casually. The changing seasons and outdoor scenes, along with soft colors and tones, and some dynamic movement makes it visually appealing.
   
   "No sound is Zero sound". And since I had recently introduced the concept of Opposites to Og through a few examples and he was beginning to like the word "Empty" ("empty plate", "sippy cup empty") I was debating adding Zero to the mix, but, it didn't stop me.
   
   I've been encouraging Ana, (and thereby myself, as I have to set a good example), to minimize the use of negatives, depending on the situation: "Amma, can I have ice cream?" is easy to answer with a "No, Ana, No ice cream before bedtime!"... but with this new self-imposed rule, it prompts me to not snap an irritated No, but to rephrase with, "You can have yogurt or buttermilk if you are hungry; choose." to which a quick, "Zero yogurt, zero buttermilk, Amma" brings an instant smile that dies at birth when I hear, "I am hungry and I choose ice cream"...
   
   But, I am digressing...
   
   
7. The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear / by Audrey and Don Wood (reviewed here earlier)
   
   What's the only thing a little hungry mouse can do with a red ripe strawberry when a big hungry bear is expected any minute? Why, eat it, of course!
   
   And that is what he does in this sweet book with huge eye-catching illustrations inviting requiring the reader to pull the narration forward. The text is simple even if it has a few words that are possibly not part of a toddler vocabulary, but the pictures easily explain the meaning without me having to. The mouse is incredibly adorable, and the strawberry seems like a mutant giant next to the mouse who scrambles to keep it from Bear's hungry paws.
   
   The book also talks about sharing. Of course, Bear is never in the pictures, even if he is in the picture. Just the anxiety of losing this ripe juicy meal to a large and strong Bear seems to drive the mouse as he tries to save the strawberry for himself, thanks to the reader. And, the relief and elation he feels in the end after having eaten it (and sharing half with the reader) is simply precious.
   
   I would have loved to dedicate a whole post to this book. Left to itself, the mouse probably would have been fine just picking the strawberry and enjoying it at its convenience. But, (no) thanks to the reader, it gets very exciting.
   
   Thanks for giving us this book, Mom, you know the kids love it!
   
   
8. Mama's kiss / by Jane Yolen ; illustrations by Daniel Baxter
   
   We've enjoyed a few of Jane Yolen's books before. The pink-ness and the girl made this "Naanaa's" (Ana's) book in Oggie's mind. But, when the three of us read it the first time, Oggie started liking it more than Ana.
   
   Mama throws many kisses, but one kiss misses. This kiss is presented as red lips with wings, flying around. We track the kiss through the pages as the text describes its journey. The story is simple and sweet.
   
   Not one of my favorites, but, I liked the concept - just like how a smile propagates itself until the whole world is smiling - "A kiss can go the world around, And come back where it should be found." That, and the fact that I kiss my kids a lot, (to the point where even Oggie has learnt to say, "Stop! No Kiss"), and that somehow will show them how much they mean to me...
   
   
9. Thumb Thumb Books (1-10)
   
   A surprise package from my parents from India recently included a bunch of books for the kids. One of them is this set of 10 Thumb Thumb books - just about 10 pages each, about the size of a 5x7 photo album, in paperback, packed with wonder.
   
   There is no discounting the appeal of simplicity and playfulness in reading to kids. Thumbprint makes up the art work, and a few simple sentences makes up the story, such as it is. Each book affirms 'I can read this book' at the end which is empowering for beginner readers.
   
   Even if it takes a couple of minutes for Oggie to assert with some clarity, "I love Tum Tum Tum-bee Tum Tum Tung-ee", I wait patiently grinning from ear to ear for him to finish making his statement - music to my ears :)
   
   
10. What do you do when a monster says boo? / by Hope Vestergaard ; pictures by Maggie Smith
    
    Since the cover is mostly on a blue background, and all things blue are naturally his, Oggie picked it out from the library shelf. I liked the book when we read it there, so i brought it home expecting repeat reads. I was not disappointed.
    
    The "monster" in the book is the little sister who throws tantrums, bites, pulls hair and can generally be annoying to her older brother. Rather than reacting militantly, in anger, the book suggests positive ways to deal with such situations: "What do you do when a monster pulls hair?/Show it your teeth and pretend that you'll bite?/Forget all your manners and start a big fight? No, no NO! The best thing to do when a monster pulls hair/Is find its soft tummy and tickle it there."
    
    The repetition and rhythm, plus the bold bright pictures makes this book a fun read. The book easily appealed to Ana, even if she doesn't remember to practice it with Og when he pulls her hair or throws his truck at her. Oggie, at two, possibly didn't quite get the whole picture, but, he seems to have caught on the fact that there is no "monster" in the book and that the little girl is pretending to be one :)
    
    
11. Five for a little one / Chris Raschka
    
    Five Senses - Smell, Hearing, Sight, Taste, Touch - are what this book talks about. In a simple way. I liked Chris Raschka's artwork that I encountered for the first time in A Kick In The Head (An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms), and A Poke in the I ( concrete poems collection) (Paul B. Janeczko), and that's how I found out about this book.
    
    We've been reading it for almost 10 nights in a row and Oggie hasn't gotten tired of it. There's a lot of white on the pages which gives it an uncluttered look even if there is a lot on each page. The colors are soft, the outlines are dark yet fuzzy, and the text flows well.
    
    However, the counting aspect of the book seemed incongruous - "Smell is 1" - for the little guy, but, the concept of the five senses is presented well enough for Oggie to grasp.
    
    
12. Because a little bug went ka-choo! / by Rosetta Stone (Dr.Seuss) ; illustrated by Michael Frith
    
    I love Dr. Seuss, even if by any other name.
    
    Chain stories are fun - something insignificant happens, which sets off another event, which sets off another, until it has snowballed into this chaotic scene.
    
    This is a fun book to read aloud, and the pictures are busy, complementing the text well, making it easy to follow along. Which makes it difficult to skip pages like I do with McElligot's Pool or even Cat In The Hat Comes Back without Oggie catching me and demanding that I read correctly.
    
    Each time I read it, something new about the picture comes into view as the eye glazes over the familiar. A master at his craft, Dr. Seuss, writing as Rosetta Stone, has made this book both silly and profound at the same time.
    
    

The Big Hungry Bear

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear / by Don and Audrey Wood

What's the only thing a little hungry mouse can do with a red ripe strawberry when a big hungry bear is expected any minute? Why, eat it, after sharing, of course!

And that is what he does in this sweet book with huge eye-catching illustrations inviting requiring the reader to participate and propel the narration forward.

The brilliance of it, to me, is that, left to its own devices, the mouse would have happily picked the strawberry and enjoyed it in its own leisure. But, us readers are obligated to play this sort of devil's advocate, egging the little Mouse on, leaving the threat of a (non-existent) Bear hanging, with the ulterior motive of getting a bite of that sweet juicy strawberry for ourselves.

The text is simple even if it has a few words that are possibly not part of a typical toddler vocabulary, but the pictures easily explain the meaning without me having to. The page showing the mouse and the strawberry in disguise never fails to elicit giggles every time we read it.

The mouse is incredibly adorable, and the strawberry seems like a mutant giant next to the tiny mouse who scrambles to keep it from Bear's hungry paws.

The book also talks about sharing. Of course, Bear is never in the pictures, even if he is in the picture. Just the anxiety of losing this ripe juicy meal to a large and strong Bear seems to drive the mouse as he tries to save the strawberry for himself. And, the relief and elation he feels in the end after having eaten it (and sharing half with the reader) is simply precious.

The illustrations are superb and imposing, and at the same time delightful and dreamy. Both my kids cannot turn the pages of this book in a hurry!

Rediscovering some old faves

Not that there is a dearth of excellent books, but, somehow the little mommy-brain of mine was curious to see how Og would take to some of Ana's favorite books at that age.

Sure enough, judging by the repeat read requests, rapt attention, poring over the details, trying to recite them back to me, quite a few old faves have exercised their magic once again... this time with Oggie.

	I Took the Moon for a Walk (review). Alison Jay's characteristic and unique crackle-finish illustrations make this one of my favorites. Oggie seems smitten with the moon - be it full or crescent or gibbous. He enjoys identifying the clock, owl, swing, swans, dogs, cat and such in each page. Besides the moon and the boy, of course.
	Who's Hiding? (review) I love this book. I love the concept, the presentation and the interactive fun aspect of the book. Looks like Og loves it way more than I remember Ana doing.
	Shoe Baby (review) Ana fell in love with it as she was in the shoe-obsession phase when we first read it. The vibrant colors and action-oriented illustrations make this a favorite with me too. Oggie seems to like just about everything in this book, even the pink cockatoo.
	Orange Pear Apple Bear (review) A simple yet simply mind-blowing book. One of the books I used early on to help Ana get confident with her reading skills. Oggie just points out the items, without regard to the nuance now. But, he just turned two, so I guess it's OK :)
	Bear Wants More (review) Rhyme, rhythm, meter is one of the best parts about reading books to kids, for me. This book has lovely illustrations and a delightfully simple story. Easy for kids to follow along and fairly easy for kids to recite from memory. Oggie seems intrigued by this book - he understands the individual words in the repeated refrain "Bear" "wants" "more" but is not quite sure what the bear wants more of :)
	Dr. Seuss' ABC's. One of the few abecedary books I fell in love with. Sure enough, Oggie has started requesting that he be picked up, just like Ana, and held up, upside down, so he can "walk" on the ceiling à la Camel on the Ceiling C..c...C. Dr.Seuss is much loved in our household, our bookshelves stocked with his amazing works.
	Alphabeasts (review) My favorite abecedary book on our bookshelf, thanks to Wallace Edwards' brilliant illustrations and choice of animals to portray in comical and incongruous settings. Just like Ana, Oggie likes to stare at the pictures, drink in the detail and not turn the pages in a hurry.
	Jamberry (review) A fun book to read aloud. Especially in summer - our berry-picking season. I just started reading this to Oggie and it looks like the rhymes and pictures appeal to him. Ana used to be able to recite cover-to-cover two years ago, but, now she tries to read it aloud and that makes it very rewarding for me.
	My Granny Went To Market (review) This is another of those books on our book shelves, non-hardcover, that is struggling to stay in shape thanks to frequent handling. In between waiting for our requests from the library, Ana likes to pick this up - the exotic images of countries and animals and things make this almost magical for her. Now, Oggie seems to like it for its counting exercise as well.
	Mouse Paint (review) Charming little book. Helped Ana start mixing colors on her own. Oggie just likes the playful mice and likes to point out the colors on each page: "boo", "o-ren", "yellow", "reth", "geen" and so on
	Everyone Poops I have no idea why kids like this book. Ana liked it a lot a couple of years ago when Nana got it for her, now Oggie likes it too. For some reason, my adult mind finds the illustrations a bit uncomfortable to look at. It is about bowel movement - the fact that every one poops - presented in a fairly child-friendly way. Elephant makes a big poop, Mouse makes a tiny ... it talks about how some animals poop and not pay attention while others clean up after themselves... I am still grappling with it, hoping it plays its part in potty training at least :)

Summer Book List

Being an SAHM for the last 6 months has given me a chance to spend a lot of time with my kids, some of which seem magical while others are best forgotten. I got a clear measure of my patience and stamina. I also got a surprisingly good inkling of how rewarding it can be - moments that just take my breath away.

Ana has asserted her creativity and stubbornness confidently over the last half-year, while Oggie has been hitting his milestones right under my watch. The humming bird that she is, our visits to the park several times a week has shown me the importance of expending the pent up energy in a 3-yr old in a constructive way. The cuddly-poo that he is, Oggie has shown me how relaxing it can be to lay him on my chest and enjoy our times on the rocker/glider without looking at the clock and worrying about not getting enough sleep to function in a coherent and professional manner at the office the next day :)

This change of pace also gave me an opportunity to make several library visits with Ana and Oggie. We read an average of 3-4 books every 10-12 days. Not all those books are worth writing individual reviews here or at Saffron Tree. Some were a big hit with Ana, although I couldn't see why, whereas others were quite a lot of fun to read with nothing special to offer, while still others made me wonder how they got published in the first place... but, every once in a while we hit upon some delightful and clever books, for which I have written individual reviews here and at Saffron Tree.

Just for my own records and perhaps to help fellow mommies, I am listing some of the recent books we read over this summer that warrant at least a brief mention since Ana enjoyed them.

	A Was an Apple Pie (Letters, Numbers and Colors) by Etienne Delessert. Creative Editions (2005), Hardcover, 32 pages
	The Absent-Minded Toad by Javier Rondon. Kane/Miller Book Publishers (2002), Paperback, 28 pages
	Alfred Digs by Lindsay Barrett George. Greenwillow (2008), Hardcover, 40 pages
	The Baker's Dozen: A Counting Book by Dan Andreasen. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (2007), Hardcover, 32 pages
	Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure by Doreen Cronin. Atheneum (2006), Hardcover, 24 pages
	Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. HarperCollins (2006), Hardcover, 40 pages
	Colors Everywhere: A Guess How Much I Love You Storybook (Guess How Much I Love You) by Sam Mcbratney. Candlewick (2007), Edition: Brdbk, Board book, 24 pages
	Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert. HarperCollins (1989), Edition: 1st ed, Hardcover, 40 pages
	Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. Harcourt Children's Books (2005), Hardcover, 40 pages
	Elmer by David McKee. Grupo Editorial Norma (2005), Paperback, 32 pages
	Flotsam (Caldecott Medal Book) by David Wiesner. Clarion Books (2006), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 40 pages
	Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book (Scanimation Books) by Rufus Butler Seder. Workman Publishing Company (2007), Hardcover, 12 pages
	Henny Penny by Vivian French. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (2007), Paperback, 32 pages
	How To be A Baby . . . By Me, The Big Sister by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Schwartz & Wade (2007), Hardcover, 40 pages
	Hurry! Hurry! by Eve Bunting. Harcourt Children's Books (2007), Edition: Library Binding, Hardcover, 40 pages
	In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck. Harcourt Children's Books (2008), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 32 pages
	Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. Viking Juvenile (2005), Hardcover, 40 pages
	Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont. Harcourt Children's Books (2006), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 40 pages
	Mouse Paint: Lap-Sized Board Book by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Red Wagon Books (2006), Edition: 1, Board book, 30 pages
	One More Bunny: Adding from One to Ten by Rick Walton. HarperCollins (2000), Hardcover, 24 pages
	Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell. Greenwillow (2008), Hardcover, 32 pages
	Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. Dial (2002), Hardcover, 32 pages
	Ten Little Sleepyheads by Elizabeth Provost. Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (2005), Hardcover, 32 pages
	Time Out, Buzzy by Harriet Ziefert. Blue Apple Books (2006), Hardcover, 32 pages
	When Sheep Sleep by Laura Numeroff. Abrams Books for Young Readers (2006), Edition: Library Binding, Hardcover, 32 pages