Search Results for: kevin henkes

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

April 21, 2011 by Jennifer

“When he hopped under the butterflies, he wondered what it would be like to flutter through the air” (from Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes)

I’m sort of a new convert to Kevin Henkes’ beautiful picture books, but now I’m a fan.

Little White Rabbit is a sweet story, perfect for this season, but with a theme that is going to be appreciated far beyond Easter and Spring.

Little white rabbit hops away from home each morning, experiencing the world, but each afternoon when he returns home, he knows he is safe and loved.

Though it wasn’t stated explicitly, since this is a book of few words, I had to make the parallel myself, but Little White Rabbit was free to explore because he knew he was safe and loved at home. I get that message as a mom, and I hope that it will translate to the little ones who hear the story read as well: The world is big and can be dangerous, but it’s worth exploring.

You can see more pictures like the one above, as well as a video of Henkes himself talking about the process on the Little White Rabbit amazon product page.

Check out our other reviews of books by Kevin Henkes.

Jennifer Donovan loves encouraging her children to be Free Range Kids and tries to create a safe loving haven at home as well. She blogs at Snapshot.

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What do you think of the Newbery Medal Winners?

January 27, 2014 by Jennifer

The 2014 Newbery awards have been released. What do you think? Want to know my thoughts??

I’m somewhat stymied by the Newbery’s sometimes. The books often seem to lack appeal to the target audience, featuring long ago historical settings or overly sad subjects (FYI – that’s actually one reason that the Cybils were formed, to help gel the two ideas of literary merit and kid appeal). I think this is a pretty good slate. I’ve read and enjoyed many of the books.

I have not read Doll Bones by Holly Black, but it’s been on my radar, and I’d like my son and I to try it out.
I started One Came Home by Amy Timberlake, but due to a very tight reading schedule for the Cybils, I had to put it aside. I had always planned to get back to it, and now I will for sure. It is historical fiction, but has a good pace and plot.
I liked Kevin Henkes’ The Year of Billy Miller, and when I read it, I already knew that it was getting lots of pre-Newbery buzz. I liked it, but I think it has a pretty narrow target audience of young readers (6 to 8 years old).
When I reviewed Paperboy by Vince Vawter, I gave it 5-Stars. It is historical fiction, but it’s much more recent. It features some Civil Rights issues, which do seem to appeal to kids, and I thought it had a great message of understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses. Unlike Billy Miller, I think this is a novel for older kids, 5th grade and up.
AND THE WINNER Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCAmillo — Kyle read this before I did, after I received an ARC this summer. He didn’t think he’d like it, but was hooked from page 1 and told me to get to reading, pronto. I too loved it, and my 15-year-old daughter liked it as well! If you don’t like quirk, you might not appreciate it, but I think this is a multi-layered story with humor and heart (my two faves) that will appeal to readers across a broad spectrum. Elementary kids won’t need any coaxing, but give it to your middle schooler too.

What do you think? Have you read any of these books? Are you putting any on your to-read list now?

Short Middle Grade Fiction titles that pack a punch #Cybils #kidlit

October 28, 2013 by Jennifer

This week, I am featuring several short chapter books, linking up to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday again at Shannon Messenger‘s blog. If you are looking for recommendations for your kids, check it out.

Just because these books are short, doesn’t mean that they are meant only for younger readers. I am putting them in order of maturity/appeal to older readers (in my opinion).

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes is the story of, wait for it, Billy Miller. The book takes us from the start of 2nd grade to the end. This is a short book with fairly large print, but it’s not just a “ready for chapter books” sort of book. It features Billy’s fears and worries and accomplishments. School stories are very popular, but tend to either feature bratty girls or older kids facing different concerns than a younger elementary school kid. I love that Billy’s problems are totally age appropriate, and examine the feelings — not just a kid getting into trouble and being punished. There’s some humor too, but it’s not the over-the-top sort of writing that you see in earlier chapter books. This is quiet and thoughtful. It’s also kind of funny in places.

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan is a story from 10-year-old Zoe’s point of view. She lives with her parents, her younger sister, a mimicking parrot, and some rescued Great Pyrenees dogs. Zoe loves the dogs and helps out with them, making her come across as older than her years. She’s a strong character, which I think is admirable and unusual — having a strong elementary character who isn’t all about laughs or trouble, but about character and heart.

When Phillip moves in with the neighbors (his strict childless aunt), Zoe wants to reach him. He’s going through some family trouble, and he doesn’t talk. But Zoe and her little sister Alice see him for who he is. This short novel has some humor and some adventure, and could be enjoyed by kids in any elementary grade.

The Truth of Me is also by Patricia MacLachlan. It’s probably the shortest of the bunch, but the most mature and resonant. Robbie goes to spend time with his grandmother, because his grandparents are classical musicians on tour. He’s not always confident of his mother’s love, but being with his grandmother helps him understand her a little better.

He also spends time thinking about who he is. What is the “truth of me.” Is it okay to want to be like his grandmother, who is a little wacky? Is it okay to want more from his mom? This story stuck with me, and all I’d say is missing is more, though it truly is a full story.

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Engaging in Author Adoration at the National Book Festival {On Reading}

September 29, 2013 by Dawn

It’s been a week since my family and I attended the first day of the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, and my pre-festival enthusiasm held up through the day. We listened to a number of authors and illustrators in the Children’s Tent, and as always, it was refreshing and lovely to hear the creators of books we love speak about their craft. I’ve always believed it’s important to teach children that the books they enjoy are made by actual people, and there’s no better way to drive this point home than to have them see (or meet!) these authors and illustrators in person.

We visited the book sales area early in the day, and while I’d love for the children to be able to leave with all the books that have caught their eye, our bank account doesn’t care for that idea. So, as usual, we instituted the one book rule, which is a terribly difficult rule for a bibliophile like me to enforce. But, paying full cover price for hardcover books can add up, and we’re regular patrons of our public library, so we made mental lists of books to check out while we each settled on one book to buy.

My oldest, newly 13 and an eighth grader who is making the transition to YA fare, opted for a book recently reviewed by Jennifer, the YA novel Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. I’ve read varying age recommendations for this one, some suggesting older high schoolers and others giving a green light to eighth graders and up. I warned my son that the book covered a very heavy topic, and he said that he was looking for a more serious piece of fiction that would challenge him. Though we didn’t get to see Matthew Quick’s talk at the festival, my son was still intrigued by the book description and the very eye-catching cover. He began reading that afternoon at the festival, and he finished the book on the train ride home!

At seven, my daughter is a voracious reader whose interests are quite varied. She’ll still pull picture books off the shelf for a quick read, and she usually has five or so middle grade novels with bookmarks in them at one time. She had the toughest time of all trying to find just one book to buy that day, and she went back and forth among several titles until she saw the cover of Kevin Henkes’ new book The Year of Billy Miller. We had been talking about Henkes earlier in the morning, trying to figure out if we were going to be able to stay long enough to see his late afternoon talk, and the children were amazed at remembering how many picture books of his they had read and loved. We were surprised to see his name on a novel, but all it took was reading the inside cover description of the book for my daughter to declare that she had her winner. She’s almost finished with this one now, and I think I’m going to steal it off her shelf next for my own enjoyment. Unfortunately, an afternoon downpour influenced our decision to leave the festival before seeing Henkes’ talk, but my daughter was okay with that. “Maybe next time, Mom. At least I get to read his book,” were her words of consolation to us both as we ran for the train in the rain.

Our five year old son was the quickest decision maker of the children, for as soon as he saw the cover of Brian Floca’s new nonfiction picture book Locomotive, he was in awe. Though he’s never been a serious train enthusiast, he was immediately drawn to this book. As we looked through the pages, we were both in awe of Floca’s detailed and lifelike illustrations, and my son was excited to buy a book that “has so, so many words,” a picture book that can certainly entertain for a long time. Right after making our purchases, we were able to grab some seats in the Children’s Tent for Floca’s presentation, and I was impressed by the level of time and research he invested in the making of this book. He was engaging and funny as he showed the audience pictures of his travels and first-hand experiences that contributed to the writing and illustrating of the book, and I gained an even stronger respect for the work that goes into the production of quality nonfiction work for children.

And finally, I want to share my own book purchase, because it also includes a little story about my geekiness when it comes to my obsession with children’s literature. I knew going in that I wanted to purchase an Oliver Jeffers book, because he was one of two picture book author/illustrators who I was most thrilled to see. I had a hard time choosing myself, but I eventually settled on This Moose Belongs to Me, a book that we’ve borrowed from the library and have loved. Though I opted not to conduct any one-on-one interviews this year, Jeffers would have been at the top of my list. I think I was intimidated by his sheer awesomeness that I was concerned I wouldn’t have anything even remotely intelligible to say. Well, I was tested on that fear, because near the end of one talk in the children’s tent, I realized that Jeffers was standing at the side of the tent watching. And no one was around him. I debated for a few minutes, until I decided to seize the moment as it were, and I approached him for a quick conversation. He was as personable and friendly as could be, and I’m now able to add him to the list of children’s author/illustrators who I’ve had the grand pleasure of meeting in real life.

So there you have it, a peek into our National Book Festival shopping bag and a glimpse of what our day held. If you ever have the opportunity to attend this incredible yearly festival held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, every September, I highly urge you to go. Or, check your area for local book festivals. Trust me when I say that they are experiences to remember.

The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books

May 18, 2013 by Dawn

Choosing quality children’s literature can be a tricky task, whether you’re searching the library shelves for something to read with your own child or looking to purchase a gift for a friend’s little one. While there are no limits to the numbers of book blogs offering suggestions (including us!), even those of us who adore children’s books like to consult an expert once in a while, too. Kaylee N. Davis, a children’s book specialist and literary agent, has compiled an incredible collection of titles to recommend in The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books.

As an early childhood educator and a children’s lit lover myself, I was thrilled to not only recognize every character on the front and back cover, but also to turn the pages in this book and be reminded of so many fabulous books. The guide is broken down in sections by age and unique genres: Newborn to 2 Years; Picture Books Ages 2-6; Chapter Book Series Ages 6-8; Middle Grade Readers Ages 8-12; Innovative Formats; Fairy Tales, Folktales & Anthologies; Poetry; Growing Up; and Nonfiction & Reference, featuring only the “best of the best.” I appreciated the fact that there is a good mixture of work by contemporary authors along with many classic pieces of children’s literature, ensuring that lots of familiar titles will be seen along with many recommendations likely unfamiliar to new parents.

Let me reassure you that this is not simply a collection of titles, for each recommendation features full-color cover images as well as an informative description of each book. Each section also contains essays by beloved authors in that reading level or genre. Parents of toddlers will be happy to see an essay by Sandra Boynton on her influences as a writer, and picture book fans will smile when reading Kevin Henkes express his joy at being an author. Even one of my own personal favorites, Mo Willems, makes an appearance, in an essay that reminded me to encourage my children’s efforts in drawing and writing stories of their own.

If you’re looking for a gift for a new parent, or even an end-of-the-school-year gift for a children’s book loving teacher, be sure to check out The Barnes & Noble Guide to Children’s Books, a guide that will surely be welcomed on any kid-lit fan’s shelf.

Dawn loves reading and talking about children’s literature almost as much as reading the actual books to children. Every summer, Dawn highlights five picture books of the week on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Cybils Easy Reader Finalists

February 24, 2013 by Nancy

I had the pleasure of being on the round 2 panel for the Cybils Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books category, and while our winner, A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse, is a fantastic book, the other four finalists are no slouches. Here’s a quick review of each of those books.

Bink and Gollie, Two for One is the second in this series about the best friends, and this time they’re going to the circus. Each chapter is more like a self-contained story but all are loosely linked together. Bink tries to whack a duck but hits the game attendant instead, Gollie tries her luck on stage in the talent show, and the girls have their future told by the perceptive Madame Prunely. I love the illustrations, as the smallest details make a big impact to the story, and of course the sweet friendship between two girls who are polar opposites.

Penny and Her Doll is the first of two books by Kevin Henkes that made it to the finals. Penny gets a new doll and loves her immediately, but has the hardest time choosing a name for her. Kids will identify with Penny’s dilemma, and will be delighted by the solution that’s under Penny’s nose all along.

In Penny and Her Song, Penny just wants to sing her song to her family, but it’s never the right time. Penny waits patiently until her family is ready for her song, and then thrilled when they join in. The illustrations in both Penny books are sweet and perfect for the story.

Pinch and Dash Make Soup is the other finalist about best friends. Pinch is hungry for soup, but he’s too lazy to make it himself or walk over to the Chat and Chew, so he heads over to his pal Dash’s house. Dash is making his own soup, but doesn’t have the right ingredients, resulting in Pinch making the trip back and forth between houses. It’s clear from the illustrations that they live next door to each other, even though the text insinuates it’s a long walk. Kids will love a humorous incident involving pepper which ruins the soup but not their friendship.

These are all wonderful books, on different levels of the easy reader genre, and I recommend them to any new or seasoned reader.

Stand-Out Cybils Nominated Picture Books, #9

December 9, 2011 by Dawn

Looking for a little reading fun with your little ones? Grab one of these seriously adorable books, pile together on your couch, and I promise you the smiles will be anything but little. Okay, perhaps you can sense a theme here with my little share of repetition. Aside from the similarities in the titles of this week’s round-up, there’s a common sense of quiet simplicity that makes these stories wonderful to share with the kids you love.

Little Chicken’s Big Day by Katie Davis and Jerry Davis depicts a mother/child relationship that I can relate to. The back and forth between these two cuties involves a lot of parental directions as the day goes on, which is familiar, and a wee bit of child sassiness, which is even more familiar. It’s nothing too strongly worded, don’t worry. In fact, I think both kids and parents will giggle at Little Chicken’s repeated quiet declarations of, “I hear you cluckin’, Big Chicken.” With only a small amount of text, the love shared between Big and Little Chicken is apparent.

Another little bird, but this time the adventures are being had during the nighttime, of course. Divya Srinivasan’s Little Owl’s Night brought a smile to my face from my first glance at the cover. The night forest is an active place, and Little Owl’s friends are all going about their usual business while he watches on. Several animals cross paths with Little Owl, from a hedgehog to a raccoon to a couple of beavers by the pond. When the “moonflowers close and morning glories open,” this quiet story comes to a close, and Little Owl’s captivating big eyes finally close.

The third little animal was purposefully saved for last, because I’m still enamored with Kevin Henkes’ Little White Rabbit, and I have been since it first came out earlier this year. Henkes’ illustrative style in recent years has bowled me over, and this one was no exception. The imaginative nature of this book made it an instant favorite of my children’s, for the rabbit is a curious and inquisitive character whose wondering makes for a delightful little story, in which the text and images are perfectly enmeshed.

All three of these picture books go to show you that a little something can go a long way toward big reading fun.

Though I am a Round I panelist in this Fiction Picture Book category for the Cybils, my opinions are solely my own and are not meant to reflect the final outcome.

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Dawn juggles teaching, parenting, and reading on a daily basis, sometimes hopping back over to give her blog, my thoughts exactly, a bit of attention, too.

Short and Meaty Cybils’ Fiction for Kids

October 18, 2011 by Jennifer

While we often tell kids not to judge a book by the cover, we all do, don’t we? I also judge a book by its spine. When I see one of those thin spines, barely pushing an inch, probably less than 180 pages, I automatically assume it’s strictly kid stuff. Boy, have I been proven wrong. Each of these books is less than 200 pages, but is rich in content (Vegetarians and animal activists, you can keep reading. That’s as “meaty” as it gets).

Bookworms might discount these titles as too young because of their length, as my daughter and I would have, but the emotional depth and plot elevates them to books worthy of their consideration. Kids who think reading is just okay generally gravitate towards thinner books, no matter their age, so these are all great stories that come in a smaller package. They were all nominated in the Middle Grade category of Cybils, for which I am a round one panelist. These opinions are my own and are in no way indicative of the final outcome.

Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story (128 pages) is definitely not kid stuff. I would recommend this emotional tale to kids 10 or 11 and up. It could (and hopefully will) be enjoyed by kids well into middle school and beyond. I loved this story that follows two characters, Nya and Salva. Nya lives in a small village in the Sudan, and has to walk a long way to get water two times each day. At certain times of the year when that pond dries up, her family even has to move so that they’ll will be closer to a better source of water, which dries up each year as well. Because of this lack of clean water, she spends her days walking, her younger siblings get sick, and more. It’s something that kids today absolutely take for granted, but her story is presented in an age-appropriate way that might open their eyes to how the other half of the world lives.

Salva has to leave his village when war hits it. He becomes one of the Sudanese Lost Boys. Dawn covered his story quite well in her review of A Long Walk to Water, posted here last year, so please check it out.

Junonia (180 pages) is a chapter book written by picture-book great Kevin Henkes, and sort of reads like a very extended version of one of those quiet observational picture books. The New York Times review quoted on the amazon editorial page sums it up well: “Henkes knows that Alice, like many girls her age, carries plenty of things in her mind—and her heart—that she seldom speaks of. She mulls them over privately, and in Henkes’s hands, eloquently.”

Alice and her family spend time at the beach every year on her birthday, but this year is different. Her favorite “aunt” who is always there alone has brought her boyfriend and his 6-year-old daughter Mallory. Alice is disappointed that she isn’t going to be able to spend time with her, or another favorite resident Helen, who is snowed in. Turning 10 is supposed to be something special, and it’s not turning out to be what she hoped. If she could just find a perfect junonia shell for her collection, that might make up for it. . . .

This story is beautiful and has a lot of emotional intensity. I loved seeing Alice’s change from being mostly self-centered to considering Mallory’s needs. I also loved the beautiful portrayal of the love her friends and family have for her. I think that this story would be best enjoyed by a girl 9 and up, who enjoys a good character-driven story, or one who loves seashells, but because of the quiet depth of the story, I’m not sure it would be an easy sell for all audiences.

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis (192 pages) also tells of a girl’s week at the beach that is different from those that have come before. Ten-year-old (almost 11!) Lexie is looking forward to doing the same things she does every summer, like beachcombing, swimming, and eating hamburgers, but this year it’s only going to be her and her dad. Since her parents separated last summer, her mom isn’t coming. And when Lexie gets there, she finds out that it’s not going to be just her and her dad, because he’s invited Vicky and her sons, Ben, 14, and 3-year-old Harris. The author portrays the father in a way that sort of irritated me (at him, not the author). How could he be so insensitive as to spring that on Lexie that way? Other surprises follow that reinforce this feeling.

Divorce and dating is a common topic in kidlit, since it’s a common occurrence in kids’ lives. Here we experience the affects that it has on Ben and Lexie. They talk about it a little bit, but mostly we just see the outward differences. Seeing Lexie settle in to the idea of change reminded me how resilient our kids really are. This book is not quite as internal as Junonia — there’s more plot and action (such as freeing a beached sand shark) — and so I think it would appeal to kids 9 and up.

Jennifer likes short books more than she used to. When she was younger she worried about running out of pages to read, but now that she’s a reviewer, she’s never in danger of that. She blogs at Snapshot.

Cybils Nominees with Amazing Illustrations

November 9, 2010 by Dawn

How about another round of fabulous Cybils Award nominees in the fiction picture book category? I’m still swimming in books here, and these are some that have stood out from the crowd for their remarkable illustrations.

Kevin Henkes is a beloved author and illustrator, and with My Garden, he has created a book with beautifully soft illustrations that immediately conjure up feelings of Spring in bloom. The creative nature of this story of a girl who imagines a garden with chocolate rabbits matches perfectly with the pastel-colored images, created with watercolors and ink. Another must-have from Kevin Henkes! Jennifer reviewed My Garden this summer.

More watercolor illustrations grace the pages of Chris Raschka’s Little Black Crow, although with a style of less defined lines and an even softer effect. The text is simple, with a young child as narrator asking questions of the little black crow that flutters across the pages. For anyone who has ever wondered about the lives of the birds high in the trees above them, this book presents those questions along with colorful paintings to admire.

There is a note on the copyright page at the end of Bill Thomson’s incredible book Chalk that I think should have been in HUGE text at the beginning of the book: “Bill Thomson embraced traditional painting techniques and meticulously painted each illustration by hand, using acrylic paint and colored pencils. His illustrations are not photographs or computer generated images.” I had to reread this statement several times as I looked through the book, because the images are so unbelievably realistic and flawless. Looking at the tiny details left me breathless- the individual fly-away hairs on the children, the seams on their clothing, the textured skin of the dinosaur that comes to life- every single detail is literally amazing. This wordless story is full of adventure and surprise and will undoubtedly be loved by you and yours.

Finally, I’m a huge fan of LMNO Peas by Keith Baker. This alphabet book features small green peas doing jobs and activities representing each letter. The digitally rendered images are simply adorable, and my own children love finding all the different peas at work and play on the pages. Lauren reviewed LMNO Peas this summer, and she gives it another resounding approval!

If you’re looking for more picture books that have been nominated this year, please visit the Fiction Picture Book page and browse the titles. The finalists will be announced on January 1, and I hope to share more from my growing pile in the coming weeks.

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Dawn’s fascination with picture books is indulged each and every day with her kids. Their adventures, bookish and not, can be found at my thoughts exactly.

Looking Closely and My Garden

June 7, 2010 by Jennifer

I was first introduced to this awesome Kids Can Press series when I reviewed Looking Closely Across the Desert and Inside the Garden (linked to my reviews).

Each book is based on a setting in nature, where a very close up element is featured with a simple rhyme inviting the reader to guess what it might be. The next page features another gorgeous photograph of the entire scene with detailed information about that element. In Looking Closely around the Pond, we look at and learn about ducks, dragonflies, turtles and tadpoles.

Looking Closely through the Forest features toadstools, aspen trees, millipedes and much more.

These books by Frank Serafini are the type that grow with your child. A young preschooler will enjoy the rhyme and guessing at the picture, while a young elementary child (or one of those obsessive curious fact-gathering types of kids of any age) will love the detailed facts included about the natural world. Since my first review, my own curious fact-obsessed son (now 6) has fallen in love with these books. When I offer to read any book in this series, it is answered with a quick “yes” and results in a few minutes of sitting-still togetherness (a rare delight).

While Looking Closely has realistic details and pictures, My Garden is anything but realistic, and because of that it will appeal to children in an entirely different yet equally inviting way.

The young girl featured in this story likes helping her mother in her garden, but imagines what her garden would look like. It is a fantastical dream garden, with flowers that change colors just by thinking it, and interesting things popping up, such as buttons and umbrellas. Jelly beans would grow on bushes, and chocolate rabbits would inhabit it.

I recently reviewed Kevin Henkes book A Good Day. Kevin Henkes is apparently quite a well-known author and illustrator, but that was my first exposure to him. I loved the pastel drawings and the inspirational story. My Garden is his latest work. It is a beautifully oversized picture book with the same pastel drawings and confirms my appreciation of his work.

Be sure to click over to 5 Minutes for Mom to enter to win one of three copies of Klutz Glossy Bands:

Jennifer Donovan wishes she had a smidgen of photographic or illustrating talent, but she’ll have to settle for reading books by those who do. She blogs at Snapshot.

A Good Day

March 22, 2010 by Jennifer

I am not a picture book mom — you know, one of those moms who leaves the library with armfuls of new picture books each week (I happen to know one who not only does that, but is trying to read all of the picture books in her public library. . . . ). I’m not a picture book person, but I am a board book mom. I love board books. Love ’em. The fact that they are relatively low-priced means that I bought them for my firstborn at almost every turn: through a children’s bookclub, at the grocery store, discount stores, bookstores used and new. And the fact that they are sturdy means that I could encourage independent play without having to worry about ruining them (I’m sure we all have a few board books that were used as teethers, but aren’t that much worse for the wear). My children’s board books were always at hand for trips in the car, in the stroller, and even in the crib.

I recently (and unexpectedly) received A Good Day Board Book by Kevin Henkes. Apparently the book has been around for a couple of years (Kyle told me they read it in preschool in years past), but this is the first release in board book form.

It’s a wonderful story that preschoolers and young elementary school students should be able to relate to. Everything is going wrong: the bird loses his favorite tail feather, the fox can’t find his mom, the squirrel drops her nut, but then. . . everything changes. It’s a great way to teach our children that circumstances change — sometimes in as little as a moment.

It also teachers colors (the yellow bird, the orange fox, the brown squirrel), and the reading-level was perfect for my budding Kindergartener to read himself.

Another fun board book that is perfect for the season is Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond’s Happy Easter, Mouse!. It’s an “If You Give. . . .” book, featuring the mouse from If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, but this one doesn’t follow that pattern. I can see this appealing to younger readers with it’s very straight-forward text and storyline.

The mouse colors some eggs the night before Easter, and then finds them hidden all over the house. Fans of If you Give a Mouse a Cookie will delight in the familiar pictures. This book also teaches colors and numbers.

Jennifer Donovan is sorry that most of her board books are being retired, but they are sturdy enough to save for her future-grandchildren, right? She is trying to record her experience of motherhood before it’s over at her blog Snapshot.