Pick out some unusual stories to share during this
Valentine’s Day season of love and affection. Invite children to remember that love can be shared across
generations, between friends, and among genders, cultures, and religions. Give yourself time to find stories that
tempt children to comment, ask questions and offer observations. The pleasures of reading together
promise your child both loving time with you and a future as a lifelong
reader.
Hokey Pokey: Another
Prickly Love Story
by Lisa Wheeler
Illustrated by Janie Bynum
Cushion the porcupine, who can’t
dance a step, loves Barb the hedgehog.
Her favorite thing is dancing. So Cushion searches all through the
petting zoo for a teacher who will help him “learn some dance steps.”
Tally-ho,
the fox friend, who begins teaching Cushion the foxtrot, ends with a painfully
crushed tail. Clover’s bunnyhop
class ends with a flattened rabbit’s foot. Then, during Biddy’s funky chicken lesson, Cushion
accidently shoots the hen’s bottom with his quills!
In
this sequel to Porcupining, a
talented partnership has once again crafted a fable of friendship. The clever
text is matched by playful digital watercolors and pastels. Cushion’s rhyming
song is repeated during each lesson. Every time it leads to painful results.
Bynum’s expressive animal faces and
body language add humor to the play of words that are Wheelers’ trademark. The
discouraged porcupine is cheered when his friend, Barb, offers her help. The
story concludes with the pair dancing the title dance.
Little, Brown &
Co, $15.99
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 2
(This book is available to purchase
from local and online booksellers.)
Last Stop on Market
Street
by Matt de la Pena
Illustrated by Christian Robinson
In
a familiar routine, CJ and his nana ride the bus after church on Sundays. On
this particular rainy Sunday CJ is feeling sorry for himself. His questions show his unhappiness:
“How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?” “How come we don’t got a
car?” “How come we always gotta go
here after church?”
Each
time Nana offers a playful response, giving him a chance to look and listen in
new ways. The bus driver pulls a coin from behind CJ’s ear. The blind man with
a dog compliments Nana’s perfume. Even the guitarist across the way plays a
song that closes the passengers’ eyes to the bus and the busy city. Its rhythm lifts CJ’s imagination,
giving “him the feeling of magic.”
As
he and Nana get off the bus at the “Last stop on Market Street,” his final
question, “How come it’s always so dirty over here?” offers readers a gentle
observation, again from Nana.
“Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness
for what’s beautiful.”
Combining
the award-winning skills of Robinson and de la Pena, this outstanding book
features an authentic urban setting. Images of individuals with varied skin
colors, ages, and classes join realistic text. Combined they give readers a sense of the fabric of the city
– it’s toughness and appeal. Flat, colorful acrylic and collage illustrations show
fascinating details to engage a young child’s interest.
The
ultimate destination, a soup kitchen, with its familiar people causes CJ to
wonder how his nana finds beauty “where he never even thought to look.”
“I’m glad we came,” he says.
Putnam, $16.99
Interest Level: Pre Kindergarten – Grade 1
(This book is available to purchase
from local and online booksellers.)
Two Speckled Eggs
by Jennifer K. Mann
Ginger
wanted to invite all the girls in her class, except Lyla Browning, to her
birthday party. But mom said, all
or none. So oddball Lyla arrives first.
When finally, the others come, the games turn out to be no fun. This is because the other girls change
the rules, don’t play by the rules, or start the game too soon. And most
disappointing, they don’t like Ginger’s favorite silver and gold cake. Except Lyla.
Round-headed
girls arrive wearing varied colors and carrying packages. Lyla is in the background,
wearing glasses, and with her ever-present magnifying glass. Until the birthday
cake.
The pencil and gouache
illustrations are enhanced with digital collage. This allows for plenty of white space, keeping the focus on
the simple, satisfying story. This
also gives readers a chance to focus on the expressive faces and movements of
the girls.
Additionally,
Lyla’s present shows the similarities between the two girls most clearly -- a
handmade bird's nest with two speckled malted-milk eggs in the center. The end
of the book is actually only the beginning of a strong friendship.
Candlewick, $14.99
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
(This book is available to purchase from
local and online booksellers.)
MORE BOOKS ABOUT LOVE
AND AFFECTION
Henry and the
Valentine Surprise
by Nancy Carlson.
Penguin, $15.99
(hardcover) $6.99 (paperback)
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 1
(This book
is available to purchase from local and online booksellers.)
Hug Machine
by
Scott Campbell
Simon & Schuster,
$16.99
Interest Level: Junior Kindergarten – Grade 3
(This book is available to
purchase from local and online booksellers.)
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