The Saturdays,
The
Four-Story Mistake, and Then
There Were Five
By Elizabeth Enright. Newbery Award-winner Elizabeth Enright
(1909-1968) is my all-time favorite children's author. Set in
Manhattan and then upstate New York in the early 1940s, the three
volumes of these sensitively written, colorfully detailed stories
chronicle the adventures of brothers and sisters Mona, Rush,
Randy, and Oliver Melendy, four children with vivid, distinctive
personalities. (Ages 8-12)
Baby Mice at Home (Out of Print) and others.
Written and illustrated by Michelle Cartlidge. Cozy, close-knit
mouse family stories for the very young reader, from a talented
British author/illustrator. In The
Mice of Mousehole, the family takes a seaside excursion
in a larger-format pop-up book. (Ages 2-5)
Come Out, Muskrats (Out of Print)
Written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky. 1989. Gentle, serene
tale with soft-edged drawings of muskrats swimming around their
cove as the day draws to a close. (Ages 2-6)
Two Tiny Mice (Out of Print)
Written and illustrated by Alan Baker. 1990. Two little mice
explore their immediate surrroundings before bedtime. Exquisitely
detailed paintings by British author/illustrator. (Ages 2-6)
A House for Hermit Crab
Written and illustrated by Eric Carle.
This very popular, acclaimed children's book veteran has published
more titles than I can list here. A House for Hermit Crab
is one of his many books using his inventive cut-paper collage
technique. (Ages 3-6)
Snowsong Whistling
By Karen E. Lotz. Illustrated by Elisa
Kleven. Bright colors and swirling drawings with a sense of magic
from a talented artist accompany a rhyming narrative about fall
and winter for the younger reader. (Ages 3-7)
Adventure on Klickitat Island
By Hilary H. Hippely. Illustrated by Barbara Upton. Lively, rhyming
story with warmly realistic pictures about a little boy, his
teddy bear, and his animal friends who accomplish their goal
one dark and stormy night when they all work together. Recommended.
(Ages 4-7)
Dinosaur Cousins?
Written and illustrated by Bernard
Most. Popular author/illustrator shows the resemblance between
dinosaurs and their contemporary relatives in cheerful line drawings.
(Ages 4-7)
The Hungry Thing
By Jan Slepian and Ann Seidler. Illustrated
by Richard E. Martin. 1967. Lighthearted tale about--what else?--a
large, friendly Hungry Thing and his ongoing quest for edibles.
Whimsical drawings have classic late-1960s feel. (Ages 4-7)
Maybelle the Cable Car
Written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton. Ahead of its
time, this 1952 classic tells younger readers the story of some
San Francisco citizens' successful crusade to save their beloved
cable cars. Sprightly story, charming watercolor illustrations.
(Ages 4-7)
Mik's Mammoth (Out of Print)
Written and illustrated by Roy Gerrard. Caveman Mik is smart
but underappreciated by his tribe, yet his intelligence and quick
thinking end up saving the day. Roy Gerrard passed away a few
years ago; this fanciful, beautifully illustrated book provides
a fine introduction to his work, and to find out the good things
that happen when you have "a mammoth for a friend."
A wonderful book. (Ages 4-7)
A Child's Garden of Verses
By Robert Louis Stevenson. This Chronicle edition reproduces
classic paintings and drawings, many from the early twentieth
century and otherwise unavailable today, to accompany Stevenson's
verses. A sumptuous gift volume. (All ages)
The City by the Bay: A Magical Journey
Around San Francisco
By Tricia Brown and the Junior League of San Francisco. Illustrated
by Elisa Kleven. Chronicle Books. Truly original drawings of
San Francisco accompany a narrative about the city geared to
children. Elisa Kleven's joyous, jam-packed, sprawling style
is put to excellent use depicting fireworks exploding above the
San Francisco Bay, bustling Italian coffeehouses in North Beach,
cable cars climbing past crooked streets filled with flowers,
and many more jewel-like scenes. (All ages)
P. Bear's New Year's Party
By Paul Owen Lewis. Slightly offbeat but appealing black-and-white
drawings illustrate counting for very young readers. Sophistication
of drawings makes this book suitable for all ages.
Who's Getting Ready for Christmas? and The Great Egg Hunt (Both
Out of Print)
Both by Maggie Kneen. Superb British illustrator unfurls holiday
tapestries with animal friends in highly detailed pop-up books.
(All ages)
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