Authors: Jon Scieszka.
Paperback, 32 pages
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 1996-03-01


Reviews :

    is presented from the humorous perspective of a beleaguered wolf, whose innocent requests to borrow cups of sugar are rendered cataclysmic by a snoutful of unfortunate sneezes. Reprint. NYT. AB. NYT. ...

    Did the story of the three little pigs ever seem slightly biased to you? All that huffing and puffing--could one wolf really be so unequivocally evil? Finally, we get to hear the rest of the story, "as told to author Jon Scieszka," straight from the wolf's mouth. As Alexander T. Wolf explains it, the whole Big Bad Wolf thing was just a big misunderstanding. Al Wolf was minding his own business, making his granny a cake, when he realized he was out of a key ingredient. He innocently went from house to house to house (one made of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks) asking to borrow a cup of sugar. Could he help it if he had a bad cold, causing him to sneeze gigantic, gale-force sneezes? Could he help it if pigs these days use shabby construction materials? And after the pigs had been ever-so-accidentally killed, well, who can blame him for having a snack?

As with The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, (another stellar collaboration by Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith), children who know all the old stories by heart will delight in reading impudent new versions. Here, Scieszka's text is clever, savvy, and tabloid-quick, and Smith's stretchy-strange illustrations complete this funny, irreverent, thoroughly original tale. (Ages 4 to 8)...

Authors: Ian Falconer.
Hardcover, 40 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books
Publication Date: 2000-10-01


Reviews :

   

Have fun with Olivia...

dressing up

singing songs

building sand castles

napping (maybe)

dancing

painting on walls

and -- whew! -- going to sleep at last....

    Olivia would be Eloise, if Eloise were a pig. She is good at singing 40 very loud songs and is very good at wearing people out. And scaring the living daylights out of her little brother, Ian, particularly when he copies her every move. She is also quite skilled at reproducing Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm #30" on the walls at home. When her mother tucks her in at night and says, "You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway," Olivia precociously pronounces, "I love you anyway too."

The New Yorker artist Ian Falconer's endearing charcoal portraits of his porcine heroine are spotted with fire-engine red gouache in all the right places--perhaps a tribute to Hilary Knight's red, pink, white, and black celebrations of Olivia's human counterpart? When she dresses up, the bow on her ears, her red lipstick, and her high-heeled shoes are all red. (The only time her shades-of-gray body is pink is when she is sunburned and the area where her bathing suit was is white!) Falconer does a fine job of letting the spare text set up the jokes for the visual punch lines--a dryly humorous interplay that adults will appreciate as much as children.

Preschoolers (and their parents) will see themselves in Olivia--a typical high-energy, over-the-top kid who likes the beach and Degas paintings, but hates naps. On the other hand, she combs her ears and is unusually gifted at sandcastle building. While we are certainly reminded of Eloise, Falconer's portrait is simpler in scope, less demented, and, as a result, less adult. Bottom line: precocious is fun, and we're tickled pink to have Olivia join the parade of, let's just say, individualistic youngsters. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson...

Authors: Sandra Boynton.
Bath Book, 10 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Publication Date: 2008-11-27
Edition: Bath

Reviews :

    Here comes BarnYard Bath! It’s a waterproof cousin of Barnyard Dance—the famous board book bestseller. And what could make tub time more fun than a book? Especially one that floats. Because let's face it, board books are highly impractical in the tub. Safety-tested, nontoxic, and so much fun—just like Bath Time!, Boynton's first bath book....

Authors: Page McBrier.
Paperback, 40 pages
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: 2004-06-22


Reviews :

   

More than anything, Beatrice longs to be a schoolgirl. But in her small African village, only children who can afford uniforms and books can go to school. Beatrice knows that with six children to care for, her family is much too poor.

But then Beatrice receives a wonderful gift from some people far away -- a goat! Fat and sleek as a ripe mango, Mugisa (which means "luck") gives milk that Beatrice can sell. With Mugisa's help, it looks as if Beatrice's dream may come true after all.

Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter beautifully recount this true story about how one child, given the right tools, is able to lift her family out of poverty. Thanks to Heifer Project International -- a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world -- other families like Beatrice's will also have a chance to change their lives....

    When her family's fat, sleek new goat arrives in her poor Ugandan village, little Beatrice hugs her close and whispers, "Mama says you are our lucky gift...." And indeed it is true. Soon the goat bears two kids and provides enough milk to both feed the family and sell for profit. Until the goat arrived, life was very hard for Beatrice and her five brothers and sisters. The family could not afford to send the children to school, and it was difficult to make ends meet. Magically this one small animal, one of 12 given the village, opens up a new world of health and prosperity. Before the year is out, Beatrice happily realizes her dream of becoming a school girl and her delighted family moves into a sturdy new house.

Based on the true account of one family who received aid from Heifer Project International, a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world, this moving story is eloquently and gracefully recounted. Vividly evoking the lush tropical landscape of central Africa, Lohstoeter's rich, deeply-hued illustrations perfectly complement the text and make Beatrice and her world affectingly real. Although she may live far removed from the comfortable middle-class lives of many young readers, it is clear that Beatrice is a girl of unusual heart and, like any child, filled with hopes and dreams. In her afterword Hillary Rodham Clinton writes, "Beatrice's Goat is a heartwarming reminder that families, wherever they live, can change their lives for the better." A portion of the publisher's proceeds goes to support the Heifer Project. (Ages 4 to 8) --Marianne Painter...

Authors: DK Publishing.
Board book, 12 pages
Publisher: DK Preschool
Publication Date: 1998-05-11


Reviews :

    Irresistible to the very young, these delightful new novelty books feature favorite animals and familiar objects, with different tactile patches to feel and explore. Perfect for little hands to explore again and again, these sturdy books encourage toddlers to make the vital connection between words and pictures. Full color....

Authors: Kate Dicamillo.
Hardcover, 80 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication Date: 2007-07-10


Reviews :

   

Mercy’s in the pink for her fourth adventure!

When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween -- complete with tiara -- they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-TREATING and can picture those piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln Sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would get into the act and lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo’s beguiling pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.

Can visions of treats entice a porcine wonder to wear her princess costume? Hold on for some Halloween havoc, Mercy Watson-style!

...

Authors: DK Publishing.
Board book, 12 pages
Publisher: DK Preschool
Publication Date: 2007-08-20


Reviews :

    Babies love playing peekaboo from about six months onwards, and once they latch on to this simple game, they can't get enough of it. DK's Peekaboo Books make the most of this great interactive activity and are the perfect way to get any baby interested in books.

In Farm Peekaboo!, a variety of toy farm animals are hiding under the flaps: soft moo cows are behind a gate, a chubby piglet is under a blanket, a cuddly chick is inside a hen-house, woolly lambs are behind a tractor, and a fuzzy duckling is under a bucket....

Authors: Alice Provensen. Martin Provensen.
Paperback, 64 pages
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: 2001-12-01


Reviews :

   

Who lives at Maple Hill Farm?

Two dogs, five horses, a pig, some geese, lots of chickens, a few cows, a few goats, several sheep, and four special cats -- these are the animals at Maple Hill Farm.

With simple text that is both affectionate and wry, and irresistible illustrations that burst with personality, Alice and Martin Provensen bring their barnyard friends to life for the delight of animal lovers both young and old....

Authors: Gail Donovan.
Hardcover, 8 pages
Publisher: Innovative Kids
Publication Date: 2004-04-01


Reviews :

    A perfect introduction to the authentic sights and sounds of life on a farm. Hands-on learning: - Farm animal identification, with photographs and sounds - Facts about each farm animal's food, habitat and babies...

Authors: Kate Dicamillo.
Hardcover, 80 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Publication Date: 2006-08-22
Edition: Library Binding

Reviews :

    The beguiling porcine wonder turns bucking bronco to snare a robber in this hilarious new addition to the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series.

Leroy Ninker is a small man with a big dream: he wants to be a cowboy, but for now he's just a thief. In fact, Leroy is robbing the Watsons' kitchen right this minute! As he drags the toaster across the counter — screeeeeech — and drops it into his bag — clannngggg — little does he know that a certain large pig who loves toast with a great deal of butter is stirring from sleep. Even less could he guess that comedy of errors (not to mention the buttery sweets in his pocket) will soon lead this little man on the wild and raucous rodeo ride he's always dreamed of! Nosy neighbors, astonished firemen, a puzzled policeman, and the ever-doting Watsons return for a new tongue-in-snout adventure about Kate DiCamillo's delightfully single-minded pig....