Board and Picture Books for Young Children

If you're like most parents, you're constantly looking for books that will both entertain your child and not drive you insane on the 4 kazillionth reading. Below is a collection of books sure to delight your little one and amuse you as well.

Board Books

Boynton, Sandra. Moo, Baa, La La La! Little Simon, 2004. 14 pages. Board Book $9.99. ISBN: 0689870272

Readers will be delighted by the unexpected twist inside Boynton's Moo, Baa, La La La! The book begins like many animal board books ("A cow says Moo. A sheep says Baa."), but takes a turn when "Three singing pigs say LA LA LA!" The book protests, along with readers, that La La La "isn't right. The pigs say OINK all day and night." The rest of the text continues with various animals and their sounds and concludes by asking young readers what they say. Boynton's signature cartoon animals make this book a fun read for everyone, and her use of humor and rhyme encourage interaction with the text.

Cummings, Pat. My Aunt Came Back. HarperFestival, 1998. 14 pages. Board Book $6.95. ISBN-13: 978-0694010592

This sturdy board book features rhyming couples about a world-travelling African-American aunt and the gifts she brings back from her journeys. While the concept of receiving a present is not new to toddlers and pre-schoolers, the locations (Mandalay, Bucharest, Beijing) and some of the presents (parasol, beret) will be. Each full-page illustration features the niece and her aunt, dressed in clothing from her latest trip, with an image from the location in the background. Children will enjoy the predictable rhyme-scheme and colorful illustrations, as well as the loving relationship between the aunt and her niece. The aunt's excitement for exotic locations is infectious, and her joy at seeing her niece and sharing stories of her travels is apparent.

Henkes, Kevin. Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick. HarperFestival, 2001. 20 pages. Board Book $6.99. ISBN: 0060294515

A tale of two mouse sisters, Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick focuses on Sheila Rae, who has a peppermint stick, and her sister, Louise, who wants some. Sheila Rae would happily let Louise have some, "if." The playful Sheila Rae and the more timid but persistent Louise are skillfully drawn as likeable, active mice, with illustrations on the left and black text on pastel backgrounds on the right. Sheila Rae's false sympathy with Louise ("If I had two, I'd give you one") coupled with her obviously impossible tasks for Louise ("if you can guess how many stripes there are") will amuse young readers. The book, however, is not didactic-Sheila Rae and Louise interact naturally, just as siblings might, without parental interference. A nice lesson in the importance of sharing and just rewards, this board book will appeal to toddlers and pre-schoolers. This book was an ALA Notable Children's Book: 2002 and was on the Washington, D.C.: Capitol Choices List: 2001

Katz, Karen. Where Is Baby's Belly Button? Little Simon, 2000. 12 pages. Lift-the-Flap Board Book $5.99. ISBN: 0689835604

Babies and toddlers will have fun learning and playing with Where is Baby's Belly Button?. On the right-hand side of each two-page spread, a baby waits with a part covered by a flap, while text asking the location of a body part is printed in large black type on the right ("Where are baby's eyes?"). When the flap is lifted, the answer appears ("Under her hat!"). While children will enjoy playing peek-a-boo with Katz's brightly colored babies, this book can also be used to teach both the location of body parts and concepts such as under and behind. Katz's naïve-styled illustrations will charm readers. This board-book edition is sized right for one-on-one reading.

Schindel, John. Busy Kitties. Photography by Sean Franzen. Tricycle Press, 2004. 18 pages. Board Book $6.95. ISBN: 1582461309

Babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers will enjoy this board book featuring color photographs of a variety of cats busy at all sorts of activities with rhyming text ("Kitty seeking/Kitty peeking/Kitty strolling/Kitty rolling"). The variety of photographs, from cats at rest to lively action shots, will keep little ones interested in turning the pages to see what the kitties will do next. While some parents may raise an eyebrow at the page featuring "Kitty puddling," the photograph provides caregivers with an opportunity to discuss accidents with children who are potty-learning. As a whole, this book will entertain young readers.

Picture Books

Blumenthal, Deborah. Don't Let the Peas Touch and other stories. Illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2004. 46 pages. TR $15.95; ISBN: 043929762X

The fighting and friendship between siblings is captured accurately in this collection of three stories about sisters Sophie and Annie, including "Don't Let the Peas Touch," "Ssssssssssssshhhhhhhh! It's Quiet Time!," and "The Surprise Pet." Whether read together or individually, the stories will entertain young readers who are sure to identify with either the younger, often-difficult Sophie or the elder, inventive but frequently-frustrated Annie. In the first story, Annie is challenged by Sophie's dislike of milk in cereal, pits in raisins (despite their father's insistence that raisins don't have pits), and peas that touch the main course. In the second, Sophie is asked to find quiet tasks while Annie tries to study-with inevitably noisy results. In the final tale, Annie finds a creative solution to Sophie's ungranted request for a pet. The earnest and energetic approach of Sophie, combined with the creative, loving attempts of Annie to provide solutions for the younger sister's troubles, combine to form three funny, charming tales. Ering's expressionistic illustrations, created with a combination of graphite pencil, grease pencil, ink pen, and acrylic paint on paper, capture the charm and foibles of the characters and their interactions.

Emberly, Ed. Go Away Big Green Monster! Little, Brown and Company, 1992. 29 pages. TR $19.51; ISBN: 0316236535

A shiny metallic box with a monster peeking over the top invites readers to open this book and explore. When they do, they will find themselves creating a monster with each turn of the die-cut pages, from his "two big yellow eyes" all the way to his "big scary green face." However, before the book becomes too frightening, the text announces, "YOU DON'T SCARE ME!" and orders the monster to "GO AWAY." In the remaining pages, the monster disappears, one part at a time, until nothing is left, placing control over the monster in the hands of the reader. While some young readers may discover a new fear of monsters after reading this book, those whose fear is already in place will find the title empowering. The unique die-cut pages that combine to create and then un-do the monster will interest both young readers and their parents.

Ernst, Lisa Campbell. This Is the Van That Dad Cleaned. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2005. 28 pages. TR $24.51; ISBN: 0689861907

This cumulative story, patterned after The House that Jack Built, tells the story of the van that dad cleaned and it's subsequent un-cleaning by the children who ride in it. As the story progresses, the van goes from a clean, organized vehicle to a chaotic mess of "last Halloween's candy corn" and airborne ketchup. Campbell's pastel, ink, and pencil illustrations in subdued hues seem to contrast with the increasing action of the story, while the mess slowly spills from the illustrations on the right to the pages of text on the left, culminating in a two-page illustration where an up-to-then blissfully ignorant dad turns around to witness the destruction of his hard work. Children will identify with the series of "accidental" events that lead to the mess in the van, while parents and caregivers will smile knowingly at the inevitable return of disorder to any environment with children. This book is sure to cause giggles when read aloud.

Jackson, Ellen. Earth Mother. Illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon. Walker & Company, 2005. 30 pages. TR $17.85; ISBN: 139780802789921

Earth Mother "awoke with the dawn" and began tending to her "children." As part of her daily duties, she visits with man, frog, and mosquito, who each thank her for the food they each and bemoan their enemy in a similar fashion. Man says, "If there were more frogs and no mosquitoes-none at all-this world would be perfect." Earth mother listens to their complaints patiently, although sometimes her frustration can be seen on her face, as readers realize that each of the creatures featured in the book depends upon the others for survival. Leo & Diane Dillon's detailed watercolor and colored pencil on watercolor paper illustrations make this book a visual treat. The fabric of Earth Mother's poncho changes depending on where she is and what she is doing, and her peaceful, joyful expressions as she completes her tasks make this a serene read. The text has the feel of a traditional folk tale, and while Earth Mother visits different areas of the globe the print of her clothing and of Man's gives the story an African feel. Though this book has won several awards (Parents' Choice Gold Award: 2005, ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award: 2005, Maryland: Black-eyed Susan Award Nominees: 2007), the text alone is not captivating enough for most young readers. However, when combined with the illustrations, this peaceful story makes a nice bed-time lesson on the interdependence of life.

Loomis, Christine. Astro Bunnies. Illustrated by Ora Eitan. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2001. 24 pages. TR $15.99; ISBN: 0399231757

With its simple rhyming text and mixed media illustrations, Astro Bunnies is bound to become a night-time favorite. The book tells the story of Astro Bunnies, who "See a star/Think they'd like to/Go that far." Loomis' use of assonance is skillful: bunnies "Slip on silver/Suits with pockets" and "Whiz and whoosh/. . . Through the deep/And darkened spaces." With wonderful use of rhyme, rhythm, and onomatopoeia, this book begs to be read aloud. The story also has a nice pace-the bunnies head to space for their adventures, explore, meet other bunnies, and then return home. The illustrations are on one page exciting and full of action and on another calm and awe-inspiring. A treat for the ears and eyes, this book subtly encourages children to play with language and poetry while igniting the imagination.