Children's Book List » animals

Petunia

sbederman — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:35:17 +0000

By Roger Duvoisin

Petunia

Petunia finds a book–and, deciding that if she owns a book she must be wise, dispenses hilariously mistaken advice to the other animals in the farmyard.

Rating: *****

Your child will love Petunias silly advise.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

sbederman — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:29:17 +0000

By Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This book enables the teacher to raise the language awareness of the whole class as they follow the evolution of the caterpillar in days, foods and numbers.

Rating: *****

Your child will love counting the holes in all of the eaten food.

Peter and the Pigeons

sbederman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:27:15 +0000

By Charlotte Zolotow

Peter and the Pigeons

Little Peter is fascinated by pigeons–the sounds of their cooing and their flapping wings, the feel of their pecking beaks, the soft colors of their feathers. His father, not unreasonably, believes that Peter will enjoy exotic animals even more. But after visiting zebras, polar bears, hippos, and other denizens of the city zoo, the youngster concludes that pigeons are still his favorites, precisely because of their familiarity.

Rating: *****

A nice reminder that kids see more innocence in the world.

Parents in the Pigpen Pigs in the Tub

sbederman — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:13:20 +0000

By Amy Ehrlich

Parents in the Pigpen Pigs in the Tub

Tired of their usual routine, the farm animals insist on moving into the house, so the family decides to move into the barn, but eventually everyone tires of this new arrangement.

Rating: ***

I really don’t like books that do not have consequences, but this one even goes a step further, there’s not even any discipline. The animals get to do what they want and the people just agree.

The Puddle Review

sbederman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:23:33 +0000

By David McPhail

The Puddle

A boy sets out to sail his boat in a puddle and is joined by a frog, a turtle, an alligator, a pig, and an elephant.

Rating: ****

This is a great book for inspiring a child’s imagination. The protagonist is told not to get wet but the animals make sure he does. It also shows time and effect as the puddle changes with each animal encounter.

Queenie One of the Family Review

sbederman — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:41:47 +0000

By Bob Graham

Queenie One of the Family

Caitlin and her parents rescue a hen from a lake, name her, and take her home with them, but even after they return her to the farm where she lives, her presence is still felt in Caitlin’s family.

Rating: ****

A month later my preschooler is still talking about Queenie. She definitely made an impact.

Queenie, One of the Family

Bark, George Review

sbederman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:26:53 +0000

By Jules Feiffer

Bark, George

“Bark, George,” says George’s mother, and George goes: “Meow,” which definitely isn’t right, because George is a dog. And so is his mother, who repeats, “Bark, George.” And George goes, “Quack, quack.” What’s going on with George?

Rating: ****

A nice spin on the traditional “what does a dog say…” kind of books. Also has a great surprise ending.