LEO THE LATE BLOOMER by Robert Kraus

LEO THE LATE BLOOMER by Robert Kraus with brilliant illustrations that bring the tale to life by Jose Aruego is an enjoyable read for any age child and a great way to explain that it's OK to be different.  Leo the young tiger doesn't lead a "normal" child's life and his father is constantly worried that something is wrong with his son. Leo experiences many of the childhood frustrations that we are all too familiar with.  e doesn't do anything particularly well. But, over time Leo absorbs what the his peers have been doing and eventually blossoms with a new-found love for life. This book brilliantly conveys the revelation of a child discovering his or her place in the big world.

Bonnie R

218 OF 1001

JOHN BROWN, ROSE AND THE MIDNIGHT CAT/ by Jenny Wagner

JOHN BROWN, ROSE AND THE MIDNIGHT CAT, story by Jenny Wagner and illustrations by Ron Brooks is a beautiful book that can be shared together with children and adults as I did with my friend, Myra.  We related to the sweet story of longtime companionship between the elderly woman Rose and her large, shaggy, loving dog John Brown. Both were content with their close-knit friendship but while Rose was ready to open her heart and home to the the Midnight Cat, John Brown was reluctant to allow the addition of this black cat needing food and love.  He was not sure he wanted to share his beloved Rose.  By the book's end, John Brown has overcome his difficult and complicated emotion: jealousy. This is the perfect book to help children get ready for a baby brother or sister.

I remembered when a black cat adopted us one day.  Cats choose their own home.  I named him Snuggles.

 217 of 1001

Bonnie R

Come away from the water, Shirley/ by John Buningham

COME AWAY FROM THE WATER, SHIRLEY by John Burningham tells the same story from two different perspectives.   The pictures and dialog on one side of each turn of the page tells of a perfectly ordinary trip to the beach from Shirley's parents perspective but the enchanting pictures with no text on the opposite pages tells what goes on in this young girl's imagination during that same perfectly ordinary trip to the beach with her parents.  A delightful book! 

216 of 1001

Bonnie R

Velveteen rabbit/ Margery Williams

VELVETEEN RABBIT written by Margery Williams with illustrations by William Nicholson is the poignant, heart-warming and touching story of a toy, sawdust-filled rabbit who wishes with all his heart and in the end, discovers how, to to become real. He learns and we are reminded that love makes us real. As Myra and I shared this beautiful story we identified with the wise and shabby Skin Horse. We too, through the long and painful process have become real.

Bonnie R

215 of 1001

The house that Jack built

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT is a popular British nursery rhyme and cumulative tale. I enjoyed reading the words I remembered from my childhood and the illustrations of Randolph Caldecott the British artist and eponym of the Caldecott Medal. The rhyme does not tell the story of Jack's house, or even of Jack who built the house, but instead shows how the house is indirectly linked to things and people including "The Man all tattered and torn" that kissed the "Maiden all forlorn" and other characters and events.
On the back cover of the book, I enjoyed reading a brief bio on Mr Caldecott. I had seen the Caldecott Medal on many of the books included in our 1001 Children's Books. It was fun to make the connection to the eponym of this prestigious award.

Bonnie R
214 of 1001

 

Good night, Alfie Atkins/ by Gunilla Bergstrom

Very hard to find book by a Swedish author Gunilla Bergstrom tells the story of Alfie Atkins who does not want to go to bed! He asks his Dad to bring him some water and then to look for a scary lion in the closet and then to find the teddy bear.And so on, and so on. In the end, exhausted Daddy falls asleep right on the floor in the middle of the room.
 "Now Dady has read a story, gotten the toothbrush, changed the sheet on the bed, .............. looked for a lion, found Teddy... and gotten very tired. So tired that he has fallen asleep on the floor<. He is lying there snoring loudly"



I loved Daddy's character, who is smoking pipe on every page! He is  wearing funky looking sweater and green slippers, and he snores too! Very realistic Daddy indeed!
 The whole story is very amusing and i could relate to it because my little sisters playes the same tricks on me : "monsters under the bed", "i need to go to the bathroom", "im thrirsty", "tell me the story" etc etc.

Overall, very heart-warming book with bright illustrations and charming Daddy who will remind you of Popey, the Sailor man

213 of 1001
Ksenia R

Madlenka/ by Peter Sis

A story about a young girl who is happy to share her "loose tooth" experience with all the neighborhood where she lives. "Hey, everyone... my tooth is loose!" - she proudly announces.

Mdlenka then shares her joy with Mr. Gaston, the French baker; Mr. Eduardi, the greencgrocer; Mrs Kham who is from Asia ( Asia is so big! Could the author be more specific?) and other people who know Madlenka.

The story is beautifully illustrated, with many details to notice only after reading the book for several times. Cut-out windows invite children to peek into the world of Madlenka's friends filled with magic and the excitement of far-off lands.

212 of 1001
Ksenia R