Library Books -- August 2008

Finally, a few book updates. We have been to the library several times so these books are a compilation of the past few visits.

What? Cried Granny by Katie Lum, illustrated by Adrian Johnson
This book is hilarious. A little boy goes to his grandmother's house but at bedtime, it turns out he is lacking a bed, pillow, etc., which his grandmother tries to rectify by whipping up the missing components. Best done in a completely exaggerated voice.

A Very Young Skater by Jill Krementz
This was much more for me than for Eleanor, though I think she enjoyed it too. A biography in words and photos of a young skater in New York, which details everything from where she gets her skates, to her training on ice and in the dance studio, to her favorite skaters. I remember reading it as a little girl and loving it, though I did not remember quite how long it was!

The Farmer in the Dell by Diane Zuromskis
Lovely illustrations to the traditional song. My favorite page (can't speak for Eleanor though), was the page where "the farmer takes a wife" -- he is giving a sweet little wink as he whisks her away. This book got a lot of read time, most likely because we would sing it.

Lets Go Riding in Our Strollers by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Benrei Huang
Eleanor really enjoyed this book with its charming rhyme about a couple of kids going out for a big long walk with their mommies. I am sure it is because she herself loves going for walks.

The Bear's Bicycle by Emilie W McLeod, illustrated by David McPhail
Another hilarious book -- this one got the most read time of all. This one is a perfect pairing of a simple straightforward story and wild and imaginative illustrations to make it a really interesting and fun read. The basic storyline -- a boy goes out for a responsible ride on his bike and his bear tags along breaking all the rules. The page that transfixed Eleanor contained a picture of the bear with a Band-Aid.