I wanted to review some wonderful picture books that perhaps parents and caretakers don't know about. The following books are books that are not newly published books and may be a little less known but are still award winning, (at least on my list anyway).
So, here goes my outstanding picture books from the past for ages 3 or 4 through 8:
"Rachel Fister's Blister", by Amy McDonald and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, first published in l992. This is a great read-aloud that will have everyone laughing because it starts out with a silly rhyme and as you read through the book, the rhymes get sillier and sillier. "Rachel Fister found a blister on her little left-hand toe" is how it begins. The reader can't help but read the intended rhythm so that by the time you reach the end, "the proper cure: a mother's kiss", you and your little one will also be tapping your "left-hand toe" to the rhythm of the beat!
"Nothing Ever Happens On My Block", by Ellen Raskin and first published back in l962. This is another hilarious read-aloud that will have everyone laughing out loud! Chester Filbert is complaining about how everything is so boring as he sits in front of his home. But all around him there is an incredible amount of activity that for some reason he doesn't notice. There's a fire nearby and a thief is currently stealing something almost in front of Chester. These are just a few of the events occurring all around poor, bored Chester.
"Each Orange Has 8 Slices", by Paul Giganti Jr. and illustrated by Donald Crews, published in l992. If you want a great picture book about numbers in many amounts and divisions, this is a terrific book. It discusses that the orange has eight slices and two seeds in each slice. So, how many seeds are altogether? Another great book by this duo is "How Many Snails?"
"More, More, More Said The Baby", by Vera B. Williams and published in l990. Here is an excellent gift for first time grandparents as well as new parents. It's all about three delightful babies and the adults who tickle, toss and completely love them. This is a Caldecott Honor book.
"No Nap" by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Susan Meddaugh, published in l990. Here's another hilarious story about a subject many parents have to deal with on a daily basis. Young Susie doesn't want to take a nap. Mommy has left daddy in charge and by the time she comes home, the house is a complete mess and daddy is taking a.....nap!
"May I Bring A Friend?" by Beatrice Schenk de Regneirs and illustrated by Beni Montresor, first published back in l964. This is a story built around manners, or the lack there of. A little boy brings many different animal friends to visit the king and queen. But their manners are deplorable! This is a Caldecott Medal.
"Read-Aloud Rhymes For The Very Young" by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Marc Brown, published in l986. Here is a poetry book by one of my very favorite children's poets and youngsters will most likely chant the delightful poems around the house. There is a very informative introduction in the front of the book by the renown Jim Trelease about reading aloud to children.
"Yonder", by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Lloyd Bloom, published in l988. This story celebrates the majesty of planting and the fruit that comes from just a seed. There are many levels of meaning in this beautifully told story because it begins with a farmer and his wife planting plum trees for each of their children. As time passes and the farmer and his wife pass on, their children do the same with their families. There's even a five double page spread depicting the seasons and growth of the plum tree.
"Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever", by Richard Scarry and published in l963. Richard Scarry has written scores of books along the line of this first book. My own children loved all of his books and still treasure them today! His stories are humorous and filled with information interesting to the very young. This is an outstanding book to enhance a child's vocabulary!
"Mice Twice", by Joseph Low and published in l980. This Caldecott Honor book has a cat inviting a mouse to dinner with ulterior motives. However, Mouse brings an unexpected guest and cat, along with the reader, will be greatly surprised at what follows!
"Color Zoo", by Lois Ehlert and published in l989. A wonderful Caldecott Honor book that depicts exotic animals hiding in different shapes and cutouts that pile up with the turn of the page and rearrange themselves so that a tiger becomes a mouse, and so on. Another book by the same author that has a similar effect is "Color Farm". The colors used in both of these books are bright and distinctive!
"The Chosen Baby", by Valentine P. Wasson and illustrated by Glo Coalson, first published back in l939. Here is a book about adoption that has a beautiful message for very young children.