Young Reader in the Making

Young Reader in the Making

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Book 88: Brainy Baby -- 123's

Brainy Baby -- 123's, Brainy Baby Company 2005.  (Baby/Toddler)

Brainy Baby -- 123's was another book in the four-book set I bought when I first found out I was pregnant. The great thing about buying books like this: They are gender-neutral. Whoo-hoo! Anyway, these books having been kicking around our house for three-and-a-half years and have been in the hands of our little boy for nearly three years. Of all the books in the series, this is the only one that is shedding its paper cover (with little boy help, of course). I still have to give this book set points for virtual indestructibility.

Even before Thomas was learning to count, he loved the pictures of the cats, monkey, dogs and rubber ducks. Then, when he was learning to count to ten, he liked to count the objects. Now that he can count to ten, and most days even twenty, he likes to recognize the numbers on the page.

So, all in all, another very solid investment if you are looking for books for a soon-to-be baby, a baby or a toddler.



For reviews on books to borrow, please see Louise's Blog in Blogs I Follow

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Book 87: Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram, Walker Book 1994.  (Preschool)

I remember one of my co-workers raving about how much her two little girls loved this book -- those "little girls" are now in their twenties. I wonder if they still love this book.

This was another book that I put in my son's Easter basket this years. Since then, whenever anyone says "I love you" to him, he's been adding "so much". It is irresistibly cute. The last line of this book is also irresistible. Seriously, if anyone told me he loved me "right up to the moon -- and back", I'd be tempted to run away with him.

"Little Nutbrown Hare" and "Big Nutbrown Hare" trip me up with every reading, and, besides my son thinks that "hare" is what is on his head, so he gets confused. He does, however, know what a rabbit is. He thinks the adorably quirky illustrations are rabbits, so that works.



For reviews on books to borrow, please see Louise's Blog in Blogs I Follow

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Book 86: BANANA!

BANANA! by Ed Vere, Puffin Book 2007.  (Baby to Preschool)

One of my friends, Louise, recommended this book in her review blog (Louise's Blog). It sounded interesting, and, since our local library did not have a copy, I ordered it.

The first thing I noticed about the book was how similar the author's name was to the name of the man who may have written Shakespeare's plays (Edward DeVere) -- and now a movie is coming out about him (DeVere, not Vere). That little bit of trivia has nothing to do with this book.

Two words are all that are employed in this book. One, of course, being "banana"; the second being the magic word. So this is a very simple book: My son can read it.

The illustration is knock-out; almost literally as the color is so intense that it nearly jumps off the page. My son loves the stunning background colors and the exaggerated expressions of the monkeys. He has no trouble following the spirit of this story.

All in all, I am so glad my friend found this little gem for me.





For reviews on books to borrow, please see Louise's Blog in Blogs I Follow