kidlit part II

Another fun, favourite read post (largely because I am too braindead to write anything else at the moment!).  These are the books we have on the go right now (mostly for the 3 + set!)

1.  Charlie Cook's Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.  An excellent book about the love of books.  Lots of adventure and fun.  A new favourite.  (by the writers of the Gruffalo, which though also an engaging read, I have question the writers' decision to make EVERY character in the book male.  Charlie Cook is much more balanced this way.)

2.  Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox.    A gorgeous book about a boy who helps an old woman get her memories back.  So so sweet. 

3.  Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox.  A beautifully illustrated story, with lots of baby fun for the younger set. 

4.  And the Good Brown Earth by Kathy Henderson.  A lovely book about a young boy and his grandma sharing a love of gardening and the earth.  Gorgeous illustrations, great theme.  Oliver loves it (and so do I!)

5.  The Baby Dragon Tamer by Jan Fearley.  A sweet read (with gorgeous pictures) about a dragon who comes tries to conquer a baby with fierceness only to end up tamed. 

6.  Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller.  This is a fun, cartoon-y and super silly read that still manages to convey great messages about manners and general kindness. 

7.  The Hiccupotomus by Aaron Zenz - a  colourful rhyming book about a hippo with hiccups.  Pure silliness and lots of fun. 

8.  How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers.  Another great one by Oliver Jeffers about a boy who catches his very own star.  Beautiful illustrations and a simple story. 

9.  Hush Little Baby by Syliva Long  (great for small babes and bigger kids alike).  A new rendition of the favourite lullaby that takes the consumerism out of the picture.  Instead of "Mama's gonna buy you _______", instead Long's Mama comforts her baby bunny with lightening bugs, teddy bears, a banjo, the evening sky and the harvest moon. 

10.  Scaredy Squirrel  by Mélanie Watt.  A fun little read about how fear (and complacency) holds us back from living a full life.  Very loveable and kid-relatable squirrely character. 

11.  Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss  - This a wonderful collection of Seuss, lots of good ones like The Sneetches, Yertle the Turtle and the Lorax.  Also includes sketches and Seuss memorabilia, as well as some short essays by folks who've been touched by Seuss' work.  A definite bookshelf must for Seuss lovers (especially those who love his more politically tinged work). 

In writing this list, I have become quite aware that almost all of the protagonists in these books are male.  While I would like to hope that this is more because L. and I overcompensate for the lack of maleness in Oliver's world, than that there is a dearth of rockin' girl characters in books, I suspect may just be a little of both.   At any rate, my kidlit part I was a little bit more gender balanced.