The holidays bring new book releases for all ages. The Very Stuffed Turkey By Katherine KenahIllustrated by Binny TalibBest for: Ages 3-5
How many Thanksgiving dinners can one turkey eat? When Turkey gets invited to each of his barnyard friend’s houses—Pig, Horse, Goat and Sheep, Cow and Mouse—for holiday celebrations, five may just be the magic number. After suitable exercise and stretches, Turkey feels ready for the day ahead and heads out for dinner with Pig’s family. After a game of pumpkin ball and a tasty Thanksgiving stew, Turkey feels like part of the family. From one house to the next Turkey makes his way through one meal after another. At each stop he’s included in holiday activities and always feels like part of the family. This sense of family and friendship is what cements Thanksgiving as one of America’s most beloved holidays.
This is a fun tale that is good for pre-K through first grade story time as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
What’s good: Bright, engaging illustrations focus on the warmth of family and friends. What’s bad: It glorifies overeating a bit, but that is softened by the strong message of family. The Queen’s Hat By Steve Antony Best for: Boys, ages 3-6
What would you see if you could fly through the streets of London? This simple tale of the queen, her grandchild and a purple hat introduces young readers around the world to the interesting destinations around London. It all begins when the queen decides to go for a visit. Before she can get far, a gust of wind blows her hat into the sky. Most of the book follows the queen as she and her Scottie try to catch up to her flying hat. Illustrations using minimalistic colors capture the romp through Trafalgar Square, up Big Ben, over the London Eye and all through the streets as more and more Beefeater guards join in the hunt. In the end, the queen’s hat lands at Kensington Palace with her grandchild, descending like Mary Poppins out of the sky. Be sure to read the end notes which offer quick facts about each location featured in the illustrations.
What’s good: Fun romp through London that will bring out giggles in small children. What’s bad: Overly simplistic and may not appeal to children with no interest in London. The Marvels By Brian Selznick Best for: Boys, ages 9-14
Fans of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck will be happy to see Selznick’s familiar, almost movie-like style of illustration and storytelling put to good use in his new tale, The Marvels. The first half of this story tells the tale of the Marvel family, beginning with the 1776 shipwreck of the Kraken through the family’s storied theatrical careers into the early 1900s. The second half of the book is the narrative of Joseph Jervis as he runs away from boarding school to find his Uncle Albert in London. Although this tale is influenced by the Dennis Severs’ House and the lives of Dennis Severs and David Milne, it is in no way necessary for readers to have preexisting knowledge of any of that. As a matter of fact, it is probably best that readers come into it blank and take in the story as Selznick offers it, page by page. In this way the reader will come to understand the development of each character and see the complexities of family, love and time.
What’s good: Beautifully illustrated and blended with the narrative to offer a seamless tale. What’s bad: Although nearly 500 pages are wordless, it’s a complex narrative for strong readers.