- Share This Post
- submit
- 10
-
Sparkle (0)
We all grew up with our favorite books and new classics are being created all the time. I recently came across the adorable book, "Percy, The Perfectly Imperfect Chicken" (authored by Rick Reiser, illustrated by Daniel Seward) and was reminded how many of our favorite tales have, um …tails. Animals have long been teachers to children and rightly so.
Innocently, I asked some friends to name a few of their favorite animal-themed children's books and was flooded - FLOODED, I tell you - with suggestions. Here are a few to consider when shopping for kids this holiday season - no batteries required:
A Visitor for Bear (Ages 4-8) - Bear loves his solitude and even has a sign on his door, "No Visitors Allowed." But a persistent mouse visitor eventually convinces Bear he has room in his life for friends after all.
And Tango Makes 3 (Ages 4-8) - Based on a true story about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, living in New York City's Central Park Zoo who are desperate to be fathers. Though they try to hatch an egg-shaped rock, an observant and empathetic zookeeper intervenes and slips in a real penguin egg. Perfect for any 'modern family.'
Animal Boogie (Ages 4-8) - A spirited book that illustrates a simple fact: That everyone likes to "boogie, oogie, woogie!" With a cast of multi-ethnic children and one handicap child, the book uses bright colors and wild jungles to get the party started. Perfect for group storytime. Includes a music score so the text can also be sung. Also, check out all the other great stories from Barefoot Books, a books-for-kids company started by two moms.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing (Ages 4-8) - This adorable book cover makes a perfect argument: A porcupine whose quills have poked through her polka-dotted dress. The resulting message: Animals are just fine in the 'clothes' they came with.
Babar the Elephant (Ages 4-8) - First introduced in 1931 by French writer, Jean de Brunhoff, the Babar series has since been translated to 12 languages. Though several readers have commented that "Babar doesn't hold up well" against contemporary cultural perspectives, I think any kid as the right to meet the famous elephant king.
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? (Ages 0-4) - This delightful book is the final collaboration between the amazing author-illustrator team of Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle, respectively. Kids will love Baby Bear's quest to find his momma and the many North American animals he meets along the way. (See others from this series, including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?)
Bark George (Ages 4-8) - When George's mom commands her pup to bark, he does everything but. Sure, he moos, quacks, meows and even says, "hello" but no bark. Jules Feiffer makes a hilarious gem about, re, finding your own voice.
Barnyard Banter (Ages 4-8) - Called a "joyful, noisy visit to the farm", this book takes a tour of rural life and all the animals in it. Your host? A lone white goose.
Bear Snores On (Ages 4-8) - Bear sleeps through an impromptu animal party in his own cave and is sad to discover what he's missed. No worries, Mouse - who started the whole shebang - knows just want to do.
Because of Winn-Dixie (Ages 9-12) - Despite Opal's great sadness at being abandoned by her mother, her happy-go-lucky dog, Winn-Dixie, forces her to make friends - all of them rich characters. Great for anyone who believes in the power of animals to make people whole again.
The Berenstein Bears (Ages 4-10) - Over 300 Berenstein Bears books have been published since the 1960s and it's always fun to share our own childhood favorites with the next generation. As one reader pointed out, "They always have fun brother and sister stories."
Bill and Pete (Ages 4-8) – About an unlikely friendship between Pete the Ibis and Bill, a crocodile who lives on the Nile with is mama. A friend tells me, "It's funny and wry and even environmental because of the way the two take care of each other."
Blue Hat, Green Hat (Ages 0-4) - Author Sandra Boynton's hilarious animal characters teaches colors and clothing while sneaking in some "serious silliness."
Borreguita
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- next page ›
- last page »
- single page
