It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir (Picture Puffins)
by Bill Staines
from Puffin
The rollicking lyrics of a favorite folk song provide Caldecott medalist Margot Zemach a chance to display her own special twang--so come and join the critters in the choir. "An animalia of delight greets readers with a melting-pot grand finale. A beautifully wrapped package of fun!"--School Library Journal, starred review. Full color.
Sing A Song Of Popcorn: Every Child's Book Of Poems
from Scholastic Press
Even if there were no wonderful poetry in this book (which there is), it would stand on its own as a stunning tribute to children's illustration. Nine Caldecott medalists are represented here, including Maurice Sendak, Arnold Lobel, and Leo and Diane Dillon. This meaty selection of more than 100 poems includes many old favorites such as "The Gingerbread Man" by Rowena Bennett and poems by A.A. Milne and e.e. cummings, as well as limericks, humorous verse, and contributions from many cultures. Each section of poems--grouped by themes ranging from "Spooky Poems" to "Mostly Nonsense"--is illustrated by a different artist. You'll find biographical notes about the illustrators and indexes to the poems by title, first line, and author. Any collector of beautiful children's books--young or not so young--will sing a song of glee while leafing through this excellent collection. (Ages 4 to 9)
A collection of poems by a variety of famous authors is accompanied by illustrations by nine Caldecott medalists.
The Little Red Hen: An Old Story
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
This little red hen is a hard-working single mother who gets no help from the goose, the cat, and the pig. When she asks who will help her, the refrain "Not I" rings out loud and clear. (Is this a little too close to home?) So she harvests and threshes the wheat herself and hauls it to the mill with her chicks trailing behind. She bakes a fine loaf of bread and when it's ready to eat, she doesn't choose to share it with the lazy goose, cat, and pig. Ha! This tale is a fun way for children to learn about the importance of helping others, and sharing, too. Margot Zemach's detailed, vivacious illustrations make this edition an all-time favorite. She is the author and illustrator of It Could Always Be Worse, a Caldecott Honor Book, and was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1974 for her illustrations in Duffy and the Devil, written by her husband Harve Zemach. (Ages 3 to 6)
The Chinese Mirror
by Mirra Ginsburg
from Voyager Books
Duffy and the Devil (Sunburst Book)
by Harve Zemach
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Jake and Honeybunch Go to Heaven
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain
Six short stories dealing with events that preceded the birth of Taran, a key figure in the author's five works on the Kingdom of Prydain.
The Judge: An Untrue Tale (Sunburst Book)
by Harve Zemach
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Creeping closer day by day--
Its eyes are scary,
Its tail is hairy...
I tell you, Judge, we all better pray!
Anxious prisoner after anxious prisoner echoes and embellishes this cry, but always in vain. The fiery old Judge, impatient with such foolish nonsense, calls them scoundrels, ninnyhammers, and throws them all in jail. But in the end, Justice is done--and the Judge is gone. Head first!
Harve Zemach's cumulative verse tale is so infectious that children won't be able to avoid memorizing it. And Margot Zemach's hilarious pictures are brimming with vitality as well as color.
Naftali the Storyteller and His Horse, Sus: And Other Stories
by Isaac Bashevis Singer
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
A collection of short stories which explores the humor and life of the people of Poland.
+++
