*Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns by Ruth Heller (1990) is one in her World of Language series. The text and illustrations make for a masterpiece. Think about it; how would you go about such an open-ended task, both describing and depicting nouns?! Heller chooses wisely by referencing legend, nature, and treasure. And she does so with brightly colored, elaborate pictures that fill her pages, often with close-ups. She transforms this dry topic into a gloriously beautiful exercise of English. “SINGULAR NOUNS are always one—PLURALS two or more. Just add an S when there’s more than one. . . That’s the way it’s usually done. . .” Her illustration for this page shows daffodils, eyes, ears, beetles, bows, roses, ships, sails, cabbages, chrysanthemums, and noses. How, might you ask? As two people wearing elaborate hats!
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Molly and the Sword by Robert Shlasko, (1996) is unoriginal and tedious. Molly is a good daughter who demonstrates qualities one mi...
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Frederick by Leo Lionni values the imagination. While Frederick's family gathers food supplies for the winter, Frederick sit...