Book 525: Harry and the Lady Next Door

Harry and the Lady Next Door, written by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, HarperCollins, 1960.

I think this Harry book is even more fun and funny than the original Harry, The Dirty Dog.  Harry has a problem -- the lady next door fancies herself an opera singer.  She has all of the volume, but she is short on talent.  Harry tries to solve his problems, with rather hilarious results, but, in the end, everything works out.  There are actually four very short stories in this book, that all fit together to form a larger story.

Book 524: Mummies

Mummies, by Joyce Milton, Penguin Young Readers, 1996.

My first grade son read this book for a part of his History lesson.  He finds mummies to be a bit icky/scary and a bit intriguing/funny.  And that is exactly how he found this book to be.

Book 523: A Picture for Harold's Room

A Picture for Harold's Room, by Crockett Johnson, originally published in 1960 by HarperCollins.

Harold is magical.  There is no other way to describe him.  Sure, he is creative, imaginative, and talented, (and adorable), but it really all comes down to him being magical.

My son is very much like Harold -- he is magical.

Book 522: Will You Carry Me?

Will You Carry Me?, by Helen van Rossum, illustrated by Peter van Harmelen, Kane/Miller Publishing, 2005.

I bought this book about ten years ago -- before I became a mommy, or even knew that I was becoming a mommy -- because I saw the artwork featured in an exhibition of children's book illustrations.  I wasn't disappointed in the story then; in fact, I donated the book to the library where I was working as a children's librarian.  Fast-forward ten years, and my own son picked this book out (on his own) from another library.  And it is still good.

Book 521: Who Will Be My Friends

Who Will Be My Friends, by Syd Hoff, HarperCollins, 1960.

It is very difficult for a shy child, an extreme introvert, to move to a new town and have to start making friends all over again.  I should know -- I was one.  Even so, I don't quite relate to the boy in this book.  You can't stay on the sidelines and expect to make friends, some effort is needed.  My son, who has moved to a new town, but who is not especially introverted, cannot relate to the boy in the book even less than I could.

The illustrations, however, are absolutely faultless, and the story -- such as it is -- is cute.

Book 520: The Sandman and the War of Dreams

The Sandman and the War of Dreams, William Joyce, Atheneum Books, 2013.

This series has me enthralled.  It started off great, and grows more complex and stronger with each new book.  But two questions do arise:  When will the next book be released? and, Where was Jack Frost?!

Book 519: The Only Child

The Only Child, by Goujing, Schwartz Wade, 2015.

This book is heart-stoppingly gorgeously illustrated.  The wordless story is poignant and conveys the sense of loneliness felt by a child growing up under China's one-child policy.  But my son, who is an only child, did not understand the child's deep loneliness and longing.  I kind of wish that the US title had been changed to "The Lonely Child", because, 1) not all only children are always lonely; and 2) children with multiple siblings can feel this depth of loneliness.