| Shake Dem Halloween Bones
Houghton Mifflin, 1997, Mike Reed, illus.
A host of lively fairytale characters sing and dance their way through this fast-paced and highly entertaining story. You'll dance along with Little Red Ridinghood, Tom Thumb, and Cinderella. Sing at the top of your lungs with Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Rapunzel (as she combs her long, silky hair), and Puss 'n Boots. And everyone will want to join in the chorus:
Shake, shake, shake dem bones now.
Shake, shake, shake dem bones now.
Shake, shake, shake dem bones
at the hip-hop Halloween ball.
A recipient of the State of Wisconsin’s Golden Archer Award.
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| Tangletalk
Dutton, 1997, Jessica Clerk, illus.
The topsy-turvy world of a dapper Bostonian and his mercurial cat dominate this tongue-twister tale. Inspired by Iona and Peter Opie's seminal work on the tongue-twisters, hopscotch rhymes, and general language play of English children, Tangletalk relocates the fun "in the month of Boston, in the wonderful city of May." Or so starts this jaunty tale filled with topsy-turvy rhymes. There's lots to enjoy here, including the incredibly rich and intriguing illustrations of Jessica Clerk.
Reviewers for the New York Times Children’s Bookshelf certainly thought so.
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| Till Year's Good End
A Calendar of Medieval Labors
Atheneum, 1997, Christopher Manson, illus.
Follows the medieval calendar’s “Labors of the Months” providing a glimpse into life on a manorial estate. I've long had a fascination with Europe's medieval period. This book looks at life from the bottom, from the peasant working on a manorial estate, followng men and women through their monthly tasks: bee-keeping, tilling the soil and planting a crop, winnowing the grain harvest, and leading the dog pack on a year end's hunting trip.
The story is told through two texts: a set of read-aloud couplets and a block of informational text at the bottom of each page. Handsomely illustrated by Christopher Manson, known for his illustrations of other books set in medieval Eureope.
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| One Hole in the Road
Henry Holt, 1997
Dan Yaccarino, illus.
Count along with the narrator—from one to ten—as a well-attended grouop of city workers work to fill a gaping hole (only a city dweller would understand). You'll delight in the bold, colorful cityscape created by illustrator Dan Yaccarino as you follow this urban tale of destructive wonderment.
A Henry Holt/Bill Martin, Jr. selection.
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| No Babies Asleep
Atheneum, 1995
Peter Palagonia, illus.
Ten babies come and go under the nose of their caretaker. No, it's not kidnapping, just a playful coupilng of jolly animals and happy babies who take off—one at a time—to enjoy the various rides at a local carnival. The loose pastel paintings of Peter Palagonia add to the mystery of this counting-down tale, based on the popular bar song, "99 Bottles of ... on the wall" (you fill in the blank, just not in the company of the little ones you're entertaining.).
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| Wheels Go Round
Doubleday, 1994
Jane Conteh-Morgan, illus.
A rollicking rhyming verse that follows a variety of wheeled vehicles—trucks, trikes, cars, wagons, to name a few—throughout the course of a day. The set-up is slow, but gets you to the world of wheeled vehicles in short order:
Lift, too heavy...
Push, too slow...
Pull, too hard...
Lift, push, pull...
Lift, push, pull..
Lift, push...
Roll, faster and faster.
Wheels go round.
Wheels go round.
Wheels go faster round
and round.
And so does this story about the many different types of wheeled vehicles you might see on the road. Young children will want to hear this story read to them over and over again.
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| Bein’ With You This Way
Lee & Low Books, 1994
Michael Bryant, illus.
A multicultural cast of characters romp around their neighborhood playground in what the Detroit Free Press called an “ode to diversity.” Told in the format of a cumulative tale, this delightfully rhythmic and playful set of verses will bring joy to your heart as it delivers its positive message of ethnic and racial diversity.
A Reading Rainbow selection, a CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an ILA/CBC Children’s Choice, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book, a CCBC Choices annual selection, and an NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts.
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| Storm
Atheneum, 1993
Michael Hays, illus.
In this lushly illustrated picture book, a brother and sister run for cover as a thunderstorm approaches their farm. Illustrator Michael Hays uses pastel-washed scenes to capture the fury of the storm, especially its inherent "wetness," but also adds fine detail to the people and animals that inhabit this part of the countryside. You'll enjoy the lilting verses as they bring the reader up to the storm's climax and then down again. And, as usual, the author doesn't waste any time getting things going:
Storm.
Blue sky darkened.
Green fields checkered.
Yellow sun streaked with clouds
and hiding.
FLASH! Lightning in the hills.
RUMBLE! Thunder right behind.
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| 1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving
Albert Whitman, 1991
Robin Kramer, illus.
An extended family of ten celebrates this special American holiday using a unique counting-up and counting-down format. Yes, you'll spend the entire time watching this joy-filled family prepare for their annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Oh, and once they've eaten you'll watch as everyone shares in the after-dinner cleanup (even their little furry feline gets into the act). A great adjunct to the Thanksgiving holiday if you want a little relief from what can sometimes be a tediously long weekend. Read between college football games.
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| Night Is Coming
Dutton, 1991
Jamichael Henterly, illlus.
A young child and her grandfather watch transfixed as night descends upon their family farm. The author's first book and still his favorite, Night Is Coming will soothe your soul (and put some readers to sleep) as you progress through the rural landscape watching the sun sink behind the treeline. As with many of his story beginnings, the author wastes no time bringing closure to this extremely satisfying story:
Night is coming.
Still are the feet.
Night is coming.
Quiet is the land.
Night is coming.
Calm is the heart.
Night is coming.
Is coming.
Is.
An ALA Notable Children’s Book, and with stunning reviews in Smithsonian Magazine, Booklist, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly.
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