LITTLE ROCK — Where Do Giggles Come From?
Diane Muldrow, illustrated by Anne Kennedy Golden Books, $3.99, ages 2-5
With Where Do Giggles Come From? by Diane Muldrow is another winner in the long list of childhood classics published under the Little Golden Books label.Muldrow’s sing-song verse and Anne Kennedy’s colorful, sweet drawings of baby bunnies, squirrels, lambs and foxes rollicking with their parents make for a pleasant read-aloud experience. These little ones giggling with glee as they play hide and-seek, hula-hoop, peeka-boo and reacting to funny faces and snuggly kisses should get youngsters and those who read to them, giggling, too. Who could resist having a little tickle time after turning the last page?
Dog Loves Books
Louise Yates
Knopf, $16.99, ages 4-8
Dog loves books. He loves everything about them. He loves the smell of them, and he loves the feel of them. So he decides to open a bookstore, but when no customers come he’s downhearted and bored, until he starts reading the merchandise. When dog reads he forgets he’s waiting, he forgets he’s even in a bookstore and the time until his first customer arrives is happily spent. That’s when he discovers what he likes most of all about books - sharing them!
Louise Yates’ simple story and calm, water-color washed drawings will inspire young readers and remind avid book worms - even grown- up ones - what they love so much about books.
Dirtball Pete
Eileen Brennan
Random House, $15.99, ages 4-7
Dirtball Pete looked like something the cat dragged in. It was a fact. He also smelled to high heaven, another fact confirmed by his sister, Amanda and her friend Janine. In Eileen Brennan’s fresh tale about a little boy reminiscent of Charles Schultz’ Pigpen, we meet a character who’s endearing despite the layers of crud he carries about.
But when it’s The Fifty States and Why They’re Great! day at school, and Pete has a speech to recite, his mother springs into action. She scrubs her messy offspring so she’ll be proud of him at the program. Of course, the newly snazzy Pete’s cleanliness is short lived. But Pete still steals the show and makes his mother proud despite the dirt.
Family, Pages 31 on 02/23/2011