The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1986)

Beatrix Potter's dapper Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1986) has a troublesome time fishing for minnows. This stately frog dresses for the rainy weather, digs up some worms, and heads out on his lily pad boat. "He had the dearest little red float. His rod was a tough stalk of grass, his line was a fine long white horse-hair. . ." Despite his careful preparations, disaster strikes, and he vows to never go fishing again. He recovers from the traumatic adventure and, that evening, serves his friends a roasted grasshopper with ladybird sauce instead of fish. This is a frightfully fun fantasy from Beatrix Potter.

Love Bugs (1995)

 Love Bugs: A Pop-Up Book By David A. Carter (1995) is a gleeful 3D show of affection. The pages pop with cherubs, hearts, chocolates, roses--and yes, bugs. The insects have colorful curlicue antennae, wide friendly eyes, and loving wishes. Beside a lacy, pink heart are the words, "I love you so much I really can't eat, but maybe you're hungry so sweets to the sweet." Mr. Carter's charming book will make any reader smile. 

Where Is Ben? (1990)

 I just loved this book when my child was young. Where is Ben (1990) illustrates the multi-tasking mothers perform for their children: baking, teaching, and playing. Marisabina Russo's text is repetitive, but not tedious. The words roll of the reader's tongue because they can easily participate in the narrative, both physically and verbally. Ben's mother is making an apple pie. She graciously blends this activity with Ben's need for attention. We learn the steps of baking and enjoy a game of hide-and-seek at the same time with this patient and thoughtful parent. Russo's child-like illustrations are as welcoming as this mother's gentle persona. 

I Love You Mouse (1976)

I Love You Mouse (1976) may be an introduction to how love manifests in life. John Graham draws upon two things familiar to children, animals and homes. Each two-page spread begins with "I love you, _____". The blank is filled in with a different animal each time.  A young child completes the scenario a home they would find for each animal. A few don't exactly make sense, such as ". . . if I were a dog I'd build you a kennel." No, if you were a dog, you couldn't built a kennel, but it's the sentiment that counts. On the final pages, the first person references not the child, but their parent, which is out of sync with all the prior pages. Maybe I'm being picky, yet, for me, these incongruences interrupted the smooth flow of comprehension. Tomie dePaola's drawings add to the feeling of youthful earnestness. 

*Mama, I'll Give You the World (2006)

I was surprised by the ending of this store, and that makes Mama, I'll Give You the World  (2006) a fun read.  Roni Schotter's narrative and Saelig Gallagher's illustrations add to this joy. I smiled all the way through Luisa's view of her mother's world. After school, Luisa's bus drops her at the door to the Walter's World of Beauty. Her mother and all the other hair stylists greet her warmly. Luisa even knows her mother's favorite customers. After finishing her homework, "Luisa takes out her scissors, her glue, and her paper and does what Mama does--cuts and colors and curls--portraits of the customers." I love how many of the pictures are huge one- and two-page spreads filled with light and happiness. This book received the Platinum Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Award.

*When Stories Fell Like Shooting Stars (1996)

 Valiska Gregory 's When Stories Fell Like Shooting Stars (1996) is a powerful book about the consequences of choice. "Long ago, when Earth was new and Sky was black as printer's ink, two stories fell like shooting stars . . ." Stefano Vitale's illustrations evoke a mystical sense of ancient history. The first story describes Fox's response to sun tumbling into a tree. It is a selfish, power-grabbing response that leads to destruction. The second story describes Bear's response to the moon falling to earth. Bear's response is compassionate. Animals cooperate to return the moon to the sky, and the world is at peace. A portion of the proceeds of this book is donated to The Carter Center.

small poems again (1975)

 small poems again (1975) will inspire a child's imagination. Valerie Worth's "robins" begins with last year's leaves that "Blunder Along Like flimsy Flightless Birds, Stumbling Beak over Tail Before The wind. This image, so beautifully rendered by Natalie Babbitt becomes today's robins "Running On steady Stems across The ground."  Worth's twenty-five poems are about animals, insects, birds, food, nature, and few everyday objects. The publication is small enough to nestle comfortably in a young reader's hands.