Babies, Bunnies and More
Little Frog’s Tadpole Trouble By Tatyana Feeney Best for: Ages 0-4
How many books can be written about children learning to deal with a new baby? It’s a rhetorical question, but if I had to answer, I’d say an infinite number. Or at least one for every child who has been told they are going to be a big brother or big sister.
Little Frog’s Tadpole Trouble begins by letting us know just how perfect Little Frog’s world is. Then he finds out he is the big brother to nine tadpoles. Little Frog is not impressed, because they don’t do anything. Then he is angry because the tadpoles take all of Mommy’s and Daddy’s attention. Little Frog can’t even get a bedtime story or goodnight kiss. When he resorts to name calling, his father explains that they won’t be tadpoles for long, and then Little Frog will have nine playmates around the house.
In all of Feeney’s books, she tackles the common anxieties of early childhood. In this one, she doesn’t tread on any new ground. But that doesn’t diminish the fact that Little Frog’s Tadpole Trouble is done very well.
What’s good: Childlike illustrations with whimsical energy that will delight your children. What’s bad: Another book about becoming a big brother. Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems By J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas FlorianIllustrated by Jeremy Holmes Best for: Ages 4-8
Lewis and Florian create whimsical, fantastical and engaging poems about automobiles. From the high heel car that is a size 84 to the supersonic ionic car that “runs on spaghetti and nuclear power,” you won’t find a normal car in the lot.
I said that these poems could stand without illustrations, but I am glad to say they don’t have to. Holmes creates sensational images throughout the 15 spreads that rival the poems for creativity and detail. Children will be able to sit and stare at the pictures for hours. Poem-Mobiles is a fun book for read-aloud story time at home or in a classroom. It also will make a fine distraction for your children at a restaurant when you are eating out for dinner.
What’s good: Fantastic illustrations and fun verse. Lord and Lady Bunny—Almost Royalty! By Polly HorvathIllustrated by Sophie Blackall Best for: Ages 8-12
This wonderful book is the sequel to Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! Don’t worry if you didn’t read the first one, this Lord and Lady Bunny stands on its own as it follows two highly-intertwined story lines. One follows Mr. and Mrs. Bunny (yes, real bunnies) as they head from Canada to England so that Mrs. Bunny can follow her dream to become queen. The other follows Madeline, who wants to save money for college, and her very hippie parents as they head to England to run a newly-inherited sweet shoppe. The stories are delightful, but the character development and dialogue make this book a page-turner. It has a great sense of humor and zest that makes me want to go back and start all over with the first book in the series.
What’s good: Fantastic character dialogue makes it fun to read aloud. What’s bad: The transition between storylines is a little clunky at times.