Winter finds authors exploring big concepts for young readers.Love By Matt De La Pena Illustrated by Loren Long Best for: Ages 3-7
What is love? It’s is a difficult concept for any age, but children have no preconceived notions. So for them, love can be anything and anywhere. De La Pena presents Love in prose that is easy for children to understand. They can see examples and feel the love through warm, lyrical text and soft illustrations from Long. The images offer examples form all ages and walks of life. Through good times and tough times, de la Pena shows that love and comfort are always there.
This is a nice book to help young children grasp the concept of love. During this time of the year, love is everywhere, and this book offers some real examples that young children can understand.
What’s good: Warm prose that speaks to young children. What’s bad: Tackles a very big concept that may be too big for some young children. Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten By Laura Veirs Illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Best for: Ages 4-8
Love and heroism come in many forms. For Elizabeth Cotton, love comes in the form of music, and heroism comes in the form of using her talents. Elizabeth Cotton was a little girl in North Carolina at the end of the 19th century. One day she picked up her brother’s guitar and taught herself to play. She was a natural. By the age of 11, she wrote “Freight Train,” which went on to be recorded by numerous musicians and become one of the most famous folk songs of the 20th century. As the book progresses, we see an older Cotton who no longer plays the guitar. She is a housekeeper for a family that happens to be folk singers. Naturally, this fateful junction leads to a late-in-life resurrection of Cotton’s music career. This title is an excellent addition to biography collections, especially for those who love music.
What’s good: Great message and intriguing story. What’s bad: Cotten is relatively unknown to young readers, so it could be a tough sell. Grandpa’s Great Escape By David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Best for: Ages 9-12
Walliams has already been dubbed the next Roald Dahl, and his intelligent mix of humor, quirky characters, creepiness and fantasy show the moniker is right on the money. His cover illustrations mimic those of currently published Dahl books as well. All of that aside, Grandpa’s Great Escape is an adventure with heart, as Jack helps his aging (possibly suffering from Alzheimer’s) grandfather escape from the old folks’ home run by the evil Matron Swine. The mix of humor and fantasy keep this title light and enjoyable.
What’s good: Humor, fantasy and a touch of heart make for a fun adventure. What’s bad: The grandfather’s condition is touched on but used mainly for humor.