This adventure of a boy, a bear, and “billions of berries” was very popular a few years back. It is great to read aloud, with a wonderful rhythm and enticing pictures (by the illustrator of the original Magic School Bus series). You might need multiple copies and you are likely to memorize it.
Author: Bruce Degen
Illustrator: Bruce Degen
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Posted in Board Books, Picture Books
Tagged Animals, Bruce Degen, food, Jamberry, Magic School Bus
This book is a compilation of cozy, old-fashioned stories about a community of mice in England. (It really feels quite British, at least to this American.) There is lots of loving discussion of food and games and activities (the creation of a beautiful ice hall to have a Snow Ball in is a favorite). But the sweet stories may just be an excuse for the tremendously detailed, wonderful illustrations. The many cross section pictures (like the one above) are particular favorites.
Author: Jill Barklem
Illustrator: Jill Barklem
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, birthday, England, food, Jill Barklem, Machines, out of print, series, The Complete Brambly Hedge
Clink’s an old and rusty robot who has watched countless robots be taken home to families while he stays on the shelf. No one seems interested in a robot who simultaneously makes (burned) toast and plays music. But is there a match out there for Clink?
This book is poignant, ultimately joyful, and beautifully illustrated. Both boys have agreed they would love to adopt Clink, burned toast and all.
Author: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrator: Matthew Myers
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged clink, food, Kelly DiPucchio, Machines, Matthew Myers, science fiction, toys
The king of Naples has everything he could possibly want, but nothing satisfies him. Only when he leaves the palace and learns to share with others is he able find true happiness. Fortunately, a spoonful of sugar (or slice of pizza) helps this message go down very easily.
The boys enjoy “ewwwwing” at the the endless weird fancy dishes the king eats (glazed jellyfish in octopus ink sauce garnished with twinkling starfish, anyone?) and they greatly enjoy hearing about the glories of the pizza that inspires him to change his ways. This book is fairly long for a read aloud, but their attention never waivers.
Author: Sylvester Sanzari
Illustrator: John E. Hurst
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged city, food, Italy, John E. Hurst, out of print, Sylvester Sanzari, The King of Pizza
Her cries brought the family, one and another.
“Come girls,” said the Duke,
“Say good-bye to your mother.
“I fear an improper proportion of leaven
Is taking my dear Duchess right up to Heaven.”
Giant cakes, silly adults, bright and cheerful illustrations… All of these are strongly in this book’s favor. However, some of the fun for the boys may be listening to me trying to get through it. Most of it roll trippingly off the tongue:
“You’ll all be delighted, for I’m going to make
A lovely light luscious delectable cake.”
But a few parts, particularly the names of the thirteen (!) daughters are fraught with peril. Take a deep breath and hold onto your hats. It is well worth the effort.
Author: Virginia Kahl
Illustrator: Virginia Kahl
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged food, I read this as a kid, out of print, Tall Tale, The Duchess Bakes a Cake, Virginia Kahl
This is the tale of a tiny snail
And a great big, gray-blue humpback whale.
Adventure. Excitement. A snail “with an itchy foot” craves these things (and finds them) along with a (very large) kindred spirit. This book is a spellbinder and an absolute pleasure to read aloud.
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, Axel Scheffler, beach, Julia Donaldson, The Snail and the Whale
This is the perfect bedtime story for when your voice is giving out (which makes it very helpful to have in reserve this time of year). Pop in the enclosed CD, let Joni Mitchell provide the vocals, and enjoy the utterly fanciful art (the picture above is my oldest’s favorite).
Author: Joni Mitchell
Illustrator: Brian Froud
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged bedtime, Brian Froud, Chelsea Morning, city, Joni Mitchell, songs, USA
Another book that needs no introduction, Goodnight Moon was part of my oldest’s bedtime routine for about a year, beginning when he was around six months old. We hoped the hypnotic words, the coziness of the pictures, and the unchanging routine would help him (finally) go to sleep. And, as he got older, we enjoyed looking for the mouse hiding in each picture of the room.
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrator: Clement Hurd
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Posted in Board Books, Picture Books
Tagged Animals, bedtime, Clement Hurd, Goodnight Moon, I read this as a kid, knitting, Margaret Wise Brown
One summer day, Henry and
his friend decided to go to
Fitchburg to see the country.
“I’ll walk,” said Henry.
“It’s the fastest way to travel.”
“I’ll work,” Henry’s friend
said, “until I have the money
to buy a ticket to ride the
train to Flitchburg. We’ll see
who gets there first!”
Based on a passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, this book focuses on how there are many ways to reach the same destination. Some of them are more conventional. Some of them are quicker. Some of them are more fun. And all of them take effort, of one sort or another.
Being thoughtful about the kind of effort is best suited to a particular task, rather than just hopping into the first thing that comes to mind is a good message for anyone. The boys like the racing aspect of the book, they like counting the money and the miles accumulated by the two bears, and they are always a bit surprised that the “winner” is ambiguous.
While we really enjoy this book, we’ve tried out a few other in this series (Henry Builds a Cabin and Henry’s Night) that did not connect with the boys. Your mileage may vary.
Author: D.B. Johnson
Illustrator: D.B. Johnson
Comments Off on Henry Hikes to Fitchburg
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, D.B. Johnson, Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award, fable, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Machines, New York Times Best Illustrated Book, series, Thoreau, USA
Lola was sitting at the table,
waiting for her dinner.
And she said,
“I do not eat
peas or carrots or potatoes
or mushrooms or spaghetti
or eggs
or sausages.
I do not eat
cauliflower or cabbage or baked beans
or bananas or oranges.
And I am not found of
apples or rice or cheese
or fish sticks.
And
I absolutely
will never
not ever
eat a tomato.”
(My sister hates tomatoes.)
If this list sounds familiar, this may be just the book for you. With some creativity and a sense of adventure two siblings turn a meal full of forbidden foods into a delicious feast. There are no carrots, peas, fish sticks, mashed potatoes, or tomatoes on the menu (perish the thought!). Instead, orange twiglets, green drops, ocean nibbles, cloud fluff, and moonsquirters rule the day. Perfect for parents who may be looking for a different way to present dinner and kids who are looking for a good laugh.
Author: Lauren Child
Illustrator: Lauren Child
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged food, I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato, Lauren Child, rebuses, series