Wordless Picture Book: Treasure Bath

I love wordless picture books, and this one is a great example of the genre. After helping his mom bake a cake, a little boy is marched off to the bathtub for a scrub. He's rather despondent at first (not at all anxious to wash off the chocolate stains!) but the he sees that there are fish in his bath! And suddenly, the bath is the ocean, and he finds a map that leads him to a treasure chest.

Uh oh...just soap and shampoo in the chest. An octopus (mom?) grabs him, and scrubs him from top to toe. When he's released from the sea creature's grasp, he finds that he's back in the tub, clean and bright. Into pajamas, and then...cake!

Wordless picture books really give kids room to exercise their imagination. This one is rather simple (they could have done so much more with the pictures of the ocean and treasure!) but all the same, it's a great way to encourage kids to pretend.

Wordless Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Itty Bitty

This is a sweet, light tale that will appeal to kids who love baby animals or tiny things. Itty Bitty is a tiny, tiny little dog. He is pleased when he finds a bone that he can chew on, and he gnaws it until he's made a nice little house!

The bone is a bit roomy, though, and Itty Bitty needs some furniture. This sparks a journey to the furniture department in town, where kids will recognize Itty Bitty's problem: everything is much too large!

Fortunately, the store has a Teeny Weeny Department, where Itty Bitty finds the perfect sofa, rug and table. His house furnished, Itty Bitty settles in with - you guessed it - a teeny tiny book!

Clear and attractive art is a selling point for this book, but mostly it's a cute story that will appeal to kids who are used to navigating an adult world.

Ages 2-4
Picture Book

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Picture Book: Moon Rabbit

This picture book tackles the unusual idea of *not* living happily ever after! little rabbit lives in the city, where she is very happy on her own. She has a favourite cafe, a nice place to stay, and she likes how the city has so many things to see and do. But sometimes, she wishes there was someone else, jsut like her, that she could be friends with.

Cue Brown Rabbit! When little white rabbit goes for a picnic in the country, she meets Brown Rabbit. Together they spend many happy days, playing and frolicking in the park. But one dark night, white rabbit is reminded of her beloved city when she sees the bright lights glowing in the distance. Nothing Brown Rabbit tries makes the little rabbit happy, so she decides to go back to the city; back to her home. I found this a little sad, but sure enough, little rabbit makes certain that her new friend will stay close...she invites him to visit her the very next day!

A touching tale about how friendship doesn't need to mean ownership, and one that emphasizes the importance of listening to our own feelings and preferences.

Picture book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Crictor

This classic picturebook was out of print for several years, and we're very glad it's back! Crictor is the story of Madame Louise Boodot, a french schoolteacher who receives a surprising present from her Herpetologist son!

Of course, Crictor is a giant boa constrictor, and he becomes Madame's special friend and pet. Kids will love how Crictor goes to school with Madame, and learns how to make letters and numbers with his body! But there's a robber in town, and Crictor might just have to do something heroic to keep Madame safe.

This book makes a lovely tell-aloud tale, as well as being a fantastic picture book. A fun read for older kids too.

Picture book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: All Kinds of Families

This interesting concept book explains the idea that objects, animals and other things have families...just like we do! Using concrete examples and whimsical pictures, the authors shows how things can be grouped into families by use (forks, spoons knives), genealogy (human families), location (stuff in your fridge), and likeness (eggs in a carton). There are many fun examples, and the book's clever rhyming refrains reinforce the idea that human families are changed when someone is born. Here's an example:

As soon as you're born, you make a new grandma

or maybe a grandpa, that's what you might do,

You might make a cousin, you might be a cousin,

An uncle or aunt might be made just by you!

What a great way to start the explanation of how families are made, and why we call the people in our families (aunts, grandmas) special names! A useful and unique title.

Picture book

Ages 4-6

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Picture Book: Big, Bigger, Biggest!

This is the second book I've reviewed with this title, and I'm pleased to say it's as appealing as the first one! Author Nancy Coffelt has written a great book about comparisons, synonyms and antonyms. The best part is that you won't know you're learning when you read it, because it's so fun!

Clear, cartoon pictures of animals are feature on each page, with a bright contrasting background. Each animals makes a statement: the hippopotamus says, "I'm big." The dinosaur says, "I'm biggest!". The bunny says, "I'm small". And so on! Each group (big, small, fast, slow, hungry, slimy, sleepy) has three animals, each with their own statement. (big, bigger, biggest, etc.)

Underneath each animals' statement, there are three synonyms that give kids other ways to say the word. For example, the hippo ("I'm big!") is also large, huge, and jumbo. The tortoise ("I'm slow!") is also plodding, languid, and ponderous. What a wonderful way to learn new words! The pictures give kids a concrete sense of each word, so that they really make sense. Parents can encourage kids to use these words for fun! Kids will get a kick out of a parent saying, "Don't be so ponderous" when they send kids off to bed. A great pick for vocabulary building.

Picture Book

Ages 4-8

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Poetry: Button Up!

What a fun book of rhymes! This poetry collection, by Alice Schertle, is all about the clothes we wear. The fun and quirky rhymes are written from the point of view of kids' clothes. My personal favourite? Bob's helmet! Here's a sample:

Bob's on his bike

and i'm on Bob.

I'm Bob's helmet.

I'm on the job.

Bob burns rubber.

Bob climbs hills.

Bob does wheelies.

Bob takes spills.

Jack's Soccer Jersey is also a winner, as is Bill's Blue Jacket. These are wonderful poems, great for a read aloud, and sure to make you giggle. Lots of boy appeal too, which is rare with poetry! These poems would be great for classroom use as well as at home; reading poetry together is a great way to support kids' literacy learning. A fun book for those who thought they didn't like poetry!

Poetry

Ages 4-8

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Nonfiction: Join In and Play

This book is extremely useful for any parent or caregiver of a preschool or young elementary child. It tackles the difficult subject of playing with friends.

It's hard for young children to know how to join a group of other kids who are already playing. Asking to join in is a learned skill, and a very important one! This book makes suggestions about these situations in language that kids will understand.

Suggestions include, "When I see someone I'd like to play with, I can walk up and smile as I say hello." or, "I can invite someone to play with me." It sounds simple, but these play skills are learned behaviours that many kids have trouble mastering!

The book uses clear, friendly and multicultural artwork that can also help kids identify what to do when a situation doesn't go their way. For example, "Sometimes I lose a game, or get picked last, or don't get a turn. I can still have fun. And things might go better next time". The author also shows kids how to help others who are having a hard time: "When things don't go well for someone else, I can say something kind.".

This book is a very useful and accessible title for many kids, and would be great as a shared read in daycares and preschools as well.

Nonfiction

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: The Three Robbers

Parents might remember this classic, award winning picture book from their own childhoods! Published in 1963, the Three Robbers is a childhood standard, for good reason.

From the opening "once upon a time", right up until the fairy tale ending, this is a sneakily charming tale about three bad robbers who end up being very good indeed.

The best part of this book is the strong, bold artwork. Every page makes great use of negative space, with black backgrounds and distintive silhouettes. As the robbers become reformed (courtesy of a small girl who takes over their hearts) the pages become lighter, with more greens, reds, and othe colours creeping in. The iconic art is the kind that kids will remember for years to come. A wonderful book with a great message and wonderful illustration. Highly recommended.

Picture book

Ages 3-6

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Nursery Rhymes with CD: Playtime Rhymes for Little People

Barefoot Books is immediately recognizable as the publisher of this book, because their trademark fabric and stitchery illustrations are all over the bright, attractive cover.

Inside, kids will find a wonderful selection of over 40 well known or classic nursery rhymes and songs. Some will be familiar to all (I'm a little teapot, Head and shoulders) and some are delightfully older songs or rhymes that have fallen out of favour (Five litle peas, Wind the bobbin up, Hinx Minx). Each rhyme has a colourful fabric illustration to support the text.

Best of all, this book comes with a CD that will help parents and kids learn (or remember!) the tunes to these fun rhymes and songs. The track titles don't match up exactly with the pages of the book, so some page flipping will be necessary to figure out what song is playing, but overall the inclusion of the CD is extremley helpful.

I would use the CD more as an aide to help me learn to sing the songs myself; the music is not particularly to my taste. As a learning tool, however, it's more than adequate.

Nursery Rhymes with CD
Ages 0-4
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Picture Book: Not All Animals are Blue

This book's tagline is "a big book of little differences". Each page has a picture of an animal group on the right hand spread, with some pointed questions on the left hand side.

For example, the picture of "Five Brand New Babies" shows an alligator baby, a penguin, an owl, an ostrich, and a turtle, all in a row. The questions ask, "why is she wearing pajamas?" "Who's having a drink first?" "She seems very sad". and "she's wearing her eggshell as a hat".

These questions (and comments) act as conversation starters, getting kids and parents to look closely at the details of the art. Some questions spur discussion (She seems very sad) and some invite speculation and factual conversations (do alligators really come from eggs?).

The true value of this book is that it inspires dialogic reading, or reading where parents and kids have a conversation about the book. Talking about books while you read them is a very effective way to maximize the early literacy impact of shared reading, and build kids' vocabulary, narrative and comprehension skills. You can do this with any book, but "Not All Animals Are Blue" is a wonderful help for parents who are not sure about dialogic reading.

A great quiet book for bedtime or other peaceful moments.

Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Lines that Wiggle

Lines That Wiggle is an intriguing book by author Candace Whitman. This stylishly illustrated picture book asks kids to interpret the different lines on each page using visual cues and minimal text.

For example, the "Lines that Wiggle" page shows a monster cozying up to a wiggly snake; the "lines that trap" page has a monster stuck in a spiderweb. Every page features a different monster, which will really tickle kids!

As kids visually and physically follow the lines through this book, they will build a really important set of early literacy skills. They'll work on spatial awareness (both 2d and 3d), which helps kids understand shapes in space and on paper. This will assist kids when they begin forming letters, and when they do simple math.

Kids will also learn to rely on visual cues when interpreting text. This is another important decoding skill; it's especially helpful for beginning readers, who use pictures to help them decode words, and for nonfiction reading, where images support the information gained through the text.

Most of all, this is a fun and engaging book that invites kids to participate in reading and understanding. With appealing, retro illustrations and charming monsters on every page, this book will appeal to most preschoolers.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Hidden Hippo

Hidden Hippo is one of those books that has appeal for kids of all different ages. Very young children will love looking at the fabric art pictures of african animals; they're bright, colourful, and charming! Older kids will be ready for the challenge of looking for Hippo.

The rhyming text leads us through the landscape, and mentions the flamingos, giraffes, leopards, and other animals that wander crowd the pages. In every scene, hippo is hiding somewhere in the background or the water. Kids will love scoping him out, until he bursts forth from the water at the very end!

School aged kids might like to check this book out for the final pages, which have brief descriptions of each animal mentioned in the book. Some informatino is given about the animals' characteristics and habitats. A faboulous book for all kinds of reasons!

Picture Book

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Hello Tilly

I've just discovered the Tilly and Friends series, and I think I'm in love! These charming picture books are a UK import, and they have the whimsical pictures and storyline that characterize English books for children.

Tilly and her animal friends all live together in their little yellow house. Tilly is reading one day when Tiptoe the bunny comes by, and askes if she wants to play band with him. Of course she does! Doodle invites them to a feast, then chicken Pru starts a dress up party. When everyone has a little too much fun, they settle down to listen to Tilly's story, and the tale ends where it began.

With very simple words and little plot, this is a perfect book for very young children. Kids will love the silly fun that Tilly and friends get into, and they'll find themselves in at least one of Tilly's very different group of friends.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: This is the Firegighter

This is a great new addition to the plethora of firefighter books that are already available in the library. The simple, cartoony pictures are complemented by clear rhyming text, with just one idea or piece of information per page.

The text format is repetetive as well as simple. The "This is the firefighter, this is his hose" format gives younger preschoolers a very clear understanding of what firefighters do. As if they needed any more reasons to love the guys in red!

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: Little Beauty

Based on a true story, this picture book tells a simple tale of a captive gorilla who asks his keepers for a friend. They bring him Beauty, a tiny kitten who loves the gorilla as much as he loves her. A sweet tale of empathy and friendship that will charm readers, despite it's short length.

Picture book

Ages 2-5

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Wordless Picture Book: Wave

Wordless picture books provide excellent support for beginning and pre-readers. They encourage kids to use their own storytelling skills, and act as a springboard for conversations between parent and child. They often use sophistocated visual design standards, and are just plain fun to look at!

Wave is the story of a young girl and the waves on the beach. As we all have done, she threatens the receding wave, then flees from the crash of the incoming wave after it. She plays in the sand, is chased by seagulls, and in the end, leaves the beach with her mother.

A simple, fun wordless book, great for younger kids.

Wordless picture book

Ages 1-4

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Picture Book: One Boy

One Boy is a fantastic new picturebook by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. It's die cut pages reveal an image with simple supporting text on one side; when you turn the page, the die cutout changes the text to tell you more about the picture that is revealed.

For example, One Boy becomes All Alone on the next page. Four Monkeys turn into Held the Key. Not only is this a fantastic early literacy support, it's also a great counting book! Clear, cartoonlike pictures will appeal to babies right through preschoolers, and early readers will really benefit from the playful text features. A great choice!

Picture Book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book With CD: I Got Two Dogs

Kids will love this fun picturebook about two exuberant dogs, complete with catchy CD tune! Listen to it once, and you'll be singing along as dogs Fanny and Blue chase squirrels, get belly rubs, and shake mud all over EVERYTHING!

Picture Book with CD

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Katie Loves the Kittens

If you're a dog lover, this adorable picture book will have you sitting up and begging for more. Katie is sooooo excited when Sara Ann brings home three cute little kittens. She's so excited that she just can't help herself! Whenever she sees them, she howls with glee, and runs over to play with them. But the kittens are very tiny, and they're terrified of poor Katie.

Katie finally learns that she must moderate her excitement if she wants the kittens to trust her; a happy ending for all. The best part of this book is the spot-on illustration. Those who love dogs will recognize several classic behaviours: the unstoppably wagging tail, the embarassed curl-up on the dog pillow, and the head-off-the-dog-bed exhausted sleep. The pictures of the kittens are equally funny, and author/illustrator John Himmelman captures the ninja-kitten position perfectly as the kittens fly through the air after Katie's indiscretions.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Never Talk To Strangers

I love the illustrations in this book; they look like they're straight out of the sixties, with their curly lines and textured wallpapers. The message is just as good, and perhaps a bit more timeless!

In funny, rhyming verse, this book exhorts children to ignore and avoid strangers who try to get their attention. For example:

"If you are hanging from a trapeze/ and up sneaks a camel with bony knees,/ remember this rule, if you please -/Never talk to strangers!"

The other pages are just as fun, with grouchy bears knocking at your door, spotted leopards leaping in a store, rhinoceri waiting for a bus, and bees riding their bikes. All these weird and wonderful animals are rebuffed with the refrain, "Never Talk to Strangers!"

The best part of this book, however, is its second half. In the later pages, kids are given examples of when talking to a stranger is perfectly ok. If your father introduces you to a kangaroo, or your teacher introduces you to a llama, they're not strangers...because your father/teacher knows her! A fun book with a great message.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Big Kicks

Biggie Bear is a quiet bear who plays jazz, collects stamps, and enjoys time alone. One day, the town soccer team knocks on his door; they want to recruit him for the team, sure that his size will give him a competetive advantage!

It turns out that Biggie Bear is not the next David Beckham. As the book puts it, "Maybe being big and being good at soccer are not the same". But everyone has their special talent, and it turns out that Biggie is a rock-star party thrower. When his team wins the game (courtesy of an accidental header from Biggie) they decide that their large friend definitely belongs on the soccer field...as the chief cheerleader, from the sidelines!

Picture Book

Ages 4-6

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Picture Book: Night of the Moon

This gentle Ramadan story is full of beautiful illustrations and information about the important Muslim holiday. Told from the point of view of a little girl, Ramadan is a magical time of fasting, family, feasts and traditions.

Perfect as a read-aloud for kids who want to know more about Ramadan, Eid, and Chaand Raat, this book is aimed at elementary kids who are interested in holiday and traditions around the world.

Picture Book

Ages 5-10

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Picture Book: Big Rabbit's Bad Mood

Everybody's had one. A bad mood...one that follows you around, and sticks like glue. Big Rabbit's bad mood is a hairy, rabbit sized guy that cheerfully follows him around everywhere he goes. It does annoying things, like tap on the desk, or flick the light switches. It even eats the houseplants and the CD player when Big Rabbit tries to cheer himself up with some music!

Finally, Big Rabbit tries making a path of arrows to show the Bad Mood the door. He's so busy making and moving and doing that he doesn't notice the bad mood disappear! To top things off, all of Big Rabbit's friends show up at his door, ready to celebrate.

I thought that it could have been made more clear that a bad mood can be dispelled on your own; many kids will connect the birthday party and presents with the bad mood's departure. But the whimsical pictures and cute text are so delightful that i'm inclined to forgive this book any weaknesses! Definitely a great readaloud for anyone who's ever had one of THOSE moods.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: The Doghouse

Author Jan Thomas has done it again, with this hilariously tongue-in-cheek picture book. Mouse, Cow, Duck and Pig are playing ball in a sunny field when their ball rolls staight into THE DOGHOUSE! Mouse proceeds to volunteer his friends for retrieval duty, and the tension builds as, one by one, they don't come out. What's going on in there, anyway? Can Mouse swallow his fear and find out?

The text is very, very minimal, making this a perfect choice for beginning readers. A wonderful readaloud for kids who are old enough to get the interplay between the text and pictures; kids will be howling with laughter when the spooky words are juxtaposed with the silly, slapstick pictures. A short, fun read!

Picture book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Pirates, Ho!

Bright, cartoon like art will appeal to kids of all ages in this swashbuckling pirate tale. The rhyming quatrains are complex enough to appeal to older kids, while the rhythm and repeating refrain of "Pirates, Ho!" will keep younger kids engaged.

In the end, this is a pleasant but not outstanding addition to the cohort of pirate picture books already on the market. Kids aged 3-6 will certainly enjoy it, especially those who adore rascally pirates!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: There are Cats in This Book

This funny and original book uses die cut pages to add visual appeal. On page 3, we flip back a blanket to meet three purring cats. They're ready to play, and they want you to play too!

Kids will love helping the cats play with string, boxes and fish. They'll even have to rescue the cats from a flood, when the fish come with an underwater tsunami. The cats ask kids to do fun things like turn pages, open flaps, and blow on them to dry them off. The art is adorable! At the end, the cats ask to be tucked in, and request a re-read...really soon. This book is wonderful for encouraging kids to be part of the story.

Picture Book

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime

Nothing can stop Dinosaur, as he goes head to head with a pile of leaves, a bowl of spaghetti, a bunch of talking grownups, and even bathtime! But can Dinosaur defeat his nemesis, Bedtime? Maybe not!

This picture book is light on words, but little boys will love art. Angry, toothy Dinosaur is like a tiny WWF wrestler as he tussles with those everyday tasks that kids love to hate. Try reading this book using the voice of a NHL or WWF MC; it's hilarious! A perfect quick read before playtime. (not recommended before bedtime!)

Picture Book

Ages 2-5

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Picture Book: Come Back, Cat

Steven Kellogg's art is immediately recognizable in this friendly tale of kids and cats. A preschooler learns that chasing after a cat will never work: cats are independent creatures, and would rather come to you!

The simple tale can be clearly applied to other types of relationships and friendships. As the little girl in the story interacts with the cat, she learns that she must watch to see what he likes or doesn't like. When she learns to put herself in the cat's shoes (paws?) she is able to sit quietly, and let the cat come to her. This is a powerful tale for building empathy, and learning about how to be a good friend.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Posy

The art in this short, rhyming picture book is definitely the star of the show. Kitten Posy is drawn with scribbly squiggles that perfectly illsutrates her constant energetic movement. With only four words per page, author Linda Newbery and artist Catherine Rayner manage to capture Posy in typically cute kitten pursuits. She's a "Whiskers wiper/Crayon swiper/Spider catcher/Sofa scratcher!"

Large amounts of white space give Posy room to shine, and the soft, earth coloured tones are very appealing. This book is a pleasure to read, particularly if you love cats.

Picture Book

Ages 0-3

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Picture Book: The I Love You Book

Todd Parr has done it again, creating a hilarious yet charming picture book in his signature bright cartoon style. With clear, easy to interpret pictures and very simple text (I love you when you are silly/I love you when you are sad), this book will appeal to the youngest of children.

The best part about this book is how it speaks to an adult sense of humour even while it delivers a reassuring message of love to children. The adults in the book retain a consistent cartoon smile, despite the varying expressions of the kids. (e.g. the baby in the "I love you when you share" frame is none too happy!) Definitely worth a look.

Picture Book
Ages 0-4
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Picture Book: The Surprise

Wordless picture books invite kids to use their own imaginations, and make up the story as they go. There's no better way to support narrative skills, one of the most important parts of literacy.

The Surprise is a lovely story about a sheep who is making a present for his friend Giraffe. Kids will wonder what's happening in the first few pages, as Sheep checks his fleece in the mirror, and goes off on his red scooter to the dye store. Some might even want to dye their own hair, just like Sheep does; it takes him a long time, but finally the bright red wool is spun and knitted into a beautiful scarlet sweater. It's just the right size for Giraffe, who rewards a blushing Sheep with a kiss.

A very simple tale of friendship, and an illustration of how the most thoughtful gifts are those that we make ourselves. Suitable for older preschoolers and younger grade schoolers.

Wordless picture book
Ages 4-7
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Picture Book: Doctor Ted

Poor Ted! He bumped his knee one morning, and there were no doctors available in his house. What to do? Well, why not just become the doctor himself!

Ted proceeds to search out patients in his home and in his kindergarten class. Unfortunately, his bedside manner is somewhat lacking. His mom's measles turn out to be freckles, and his teacher's mumps are just her chubby cheeks. When the principal comes to talk to him, Ted prescribes him a shot and a full body cast for his gingivitis and bad breath. Ted went home early that day.

But when an emergency happens, the whole school is very glad to have Ted around. Mission accomplished, Ted packs up his stethoscope, ready for the next adventure. The cartoony, fun pictures are perfect for preschoolers, but kids up to grade two will love the slapstick humour of Ted's missed diagnoses and social blunders. A charmer!

Picture Book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: The House in the Night

Susan Marie Swanson has written a simple yet richly detailed picture book, where the calm, repetetive story (Here is the key to the house/In the house burns a light) is offset by the black and white woodcut illustrations. The only colour is the vibrant gold that accents key images: the key, the light, the sun and stars.

This book is based on a old nursery rhyme. It is beautiful in it's simplicity, and provides a reassuring order to the world, with a dash of dreamlike imagination. This would be a wonderful going-to-sleep book for younger kids.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: There Once Was a Camel

This simple picturebook has some of the most beautiful illustrations I've seen in years. Part Aesop's fable, part nonsense rhyme, the simple text tells the story of three animal friends. Their gentle silliness is illustrated with vibrant, soft watercolours in jewel bright tones.

The style evokes the heat and richness of a middle eastern desert night; beautiful enamel and brocade backgrounds make a reader want to reach out and touch the silk tents and soft clouds. Readers will want to spend hours gazing dreamily at these pages, pondering the wisdom of the author, famous Canadian poet P.K. Page. Highly recommended as a bedtime or quiet time read.

Picture Book/Poetry

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: Octopus Socktopus

This hilarious lift-the-flap book is filled to the brim with everyone's favourite ocean animal. Clever flaps and moveable parts illustrate all different kinds of octopuses. (Octopi?)

From Socktopus to Goldilocktopus to Toffee Choctopus, each hilarious image shows an octopus in disguise. This kind of silly punning is wonderful for supporting kids' language learning. Even better, it's just plain fun!

Nick Sharratt's cartoonish pictures will appeal to all ages of kids, but the more complex puns (Punk Rocktopus?) will be lost on the younger ones. Have a good laugh with your kindergarten kids; they'll love it.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6

Picture Book: Come Rhyme With Me

Hans Wilhelm has created an alphabet book with huge literacy punch. On every page, the rhyming text leads kids to a flap that covers the final word in the sentence. Kids will use the picture and rhyme clues to guess the final word, and then confirm their guess by lifting the flap.

What a fantastic way to support phonological awareness! Parents can help kids read through the sentence, and can prompt with beginning sounds for some of the more difficult rhymes. Most four and five year olds will be very ready to guess the endings, but children younger than this will need prompting.

The bright, cartoony images give lots of information to assist kids as they read the text, and everyone will laugh when Gorilla picks his _ _ _. With humour, great visuals, and lots of literacy impact, this book is a winner!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?

The soft watercolour pastels of this picturebook provide a lovely counterpoint to the repetetive, rhyming text. Kitty cat is slow to wake up, and there are so many distractions as she gets ready in the morning! A tiny mouse adds interest, as readers will watch eagerly to see when Kitty will notice her little shadow.

Perfect for reading aloud, the story will be familiar to any young child who likes to dawdle on their way out the door. The rhyme and cumulative repetition will grab attention; I recommend this book for storytimes and readalouds.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: The Foggy, Foggy Forest

This superb picturebook is a fantastic excursion into an enchanted forest. Each spread depicts a fantasy scene, such as elves or fairies, in black and white silhouette; turn over the page, and you'll see the scene in full colour.

The very simple text invites children to guess at what lies behind the silhouette. Kids will love flipping through the tranlucent pages. The candy coloured pictures are drawn in Nick Sharratt's trademark cartoon style, and they pose a nice contrast to the pervasive greys and blacks.

This is a charming book, and it's fantasy focus is rare in books for young children. The question and visual answer format is very engaging, and kids and parents alike will enjoy this quick read.

Picture Book

Ages 3-5

Click here to check out the Port Moody Public Library's catalogue.