Little Books Boxed Set Featuring Little Pea, little Hoot, Little Oink

Amy Krouse Rosenthal (2005), 36 pages

Illustrated by Jen Corace

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: board book

There is something for everyone is this boxed set whether you have a picky eater, a sleepless night-owl, or a mess maker … both parents and children will delight in Rosenthal’s trio of little characters (Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink) who each overcome certain family obligations. For example Little Pea liked to do lots of things, “but there was one thing that little pea did not like … candy.” When you’re a pea you have to eat candy everyday. His parents insist that he finish his dinner of candy before having dessert. He asks woefully, “How many pieces do I have to eat?” They reply five pieces. After he swallows each piece, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. … He’s allowed dessert and to Little Pea’s delight dessert is a bowl full of green leafy spinach! “My favorite!” says Little Pea. Similarly, Little Hoot wants nothing more than to go to sleep like all his other friends get to do, but when you’re a young owl, you must stay up late and play. After Little Hoot plays for another hour – his parents reward him with a good night sleep. And finally, you would think that Little Oink is a parent’s dream – all he wants to do is tidy up and go play. But his parents remark, “if you want to grow up to be a respectable pig, you must learn to make a proper mess.” Reluctantly, Little Oink unfolds his clothes, unmakes the bed, and empties his toys on the floor sufficiently turning his room into a total pigsty. Winning his parents approval, Little Oink is allowed to play ... and what is Little Oinks favorite game? Playing house – where he can clean and scrub and tidy up. All three of these books are clever and a joy to read; one is sure to please your Little One.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked these books, you may like: LMNO Peas by Keith Baker, Pinkalicous by Elizabeth Kann, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! By Mo Williams, or Nice and Clean by Anne and Harlow Rockwell

Other books by this author: Spoon, One of Those Days, Duck! Rabbit! and Yes Day!

Counting with Wayne Thiebaud

Susan Goldman Rubin (2007), 26 pages

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: board book

Foster art appreciation at an early age whilst teaching your baby or toddler how to count. The artwork of contemporary artist, Wayne Thiebaud (famous for delicious renditions of candies, pastries, and cakes) makes counting a delight! Rubin reproduces a sampling of Thiebaud’s works, including Pie Slice (1991), Jolly Cones (2002), Sugar Sticks (1964) and many more to create a decadent counting book from 1-10. With minimal text and a carefully crafted sequence, “One piece of pie, two ice-cream clowns, three sandwich slices, three pickle rounds,” … Rubin creates a clever and simple counting book featuring Thiebaud’s beautiful artwork. With each turn of the page, readers are treated to Thiebaud’s painterly pastels, oils, and watercolors – each one striking and luscious; a sweet treat for readers everywhere! In addition, the book includes a complete catalog of the works used along with collection locations. Published in a board book format with rounded edges and in a compact size makes this ideal for little hands. Rubin has used other artists such as Warhol and Matisse as inspiration for children’s books. Her books are a great introduction to modern art and before long you’ll be visiting some museums to these works in person!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Touch the Art: Make Van Gogh’s Bed by Julie Appel or My First ABC by The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, or A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet by Stephen T. Johnson

Other books by this author: Delicious: Wham! The Art and Life of Roy Lichtenstein, Matisse Dance with Joy, and Andy Warhol’s Colors

Dim Sum for Everyone

Grace Lin (2001), 28 pages

Audience: toddlers

Format: picture book

Who wants some dim sum? Everyone will after reading Lin’s book Dim Sum for Everyone. Join a family with three little girls as they go out for a tantalizing meal at a Chinese dim sum restaurant. A series of little dishes are served from carts straight to the table. Diners get to point and choose each dish; mouthwatering sweet pork buns, fried shrimp, turnip cakes, sweet tofu, and egg tarts are paraded before the reader. Ma-Ma, Ba-Ba, and all three daughters have their favorites. So everyone chooses a little dish to share “we eat a little bit of everything; everyone eats a little bit of everything.” Whether you eat out frequently or are going for the first time - it’s never too early to teach kids about new cuisines. In addition, Lin includes some historical background on dim sum’s evolution, translation, and customs. Lin’s illustrations are bold and patterned; primary colors dance across the page appealing to young children. Traditional Chinese ingredients (ginger, daikon, bok choy, taro, etc.) and other dim sum dishes (dumplings, stuffed eggplant, rice noodles) even decorate the endpapers … yummy! Parents might want to use this book in a preliminary discussion of food; for example go to the grocery store and point out new vegetables or ingredients. Expand your palette and your child’s vocabulary at the same time!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Bee-Bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park or Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger

Other books by this author: Fortune Cookie Fortunes, Kite Flying, Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Lissy’s Friends, and Olvina Flies, and Robert’s Snowflakes

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle (1969), 13 pages

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: Board book

Carle takes readers on a metamorphic journey from egg to butterfly in his timeless tale of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

But, my goodness … this caterpillar isn’t just hungry he’s ravenous! Eating his way through pears, plums, strawberries, oranges, (and literally the pages of the book) he continues to eat a strange diet of salami, swiss cheese, cherry pie, etc, but smartly makes his way through “one nice green leaf” before settling into his cocoon and becoming a beautiful butterfly. This story has been published in many formats, including board books and has become a childhood favorite for many generations. Now a timeless, classic tale loved by young children ... Carle's colorful collages and cutouts continue to delight readers everywhere.

Brimming with educational elements, this book can be used to teach counting, the days of the week, nutrition, and insect life cycles. Activity suggestions range from making paper butterflies to acting out the four stages of metamorphosis (egg, larva, cocoon, and butterfly) or ask children what their favorite foods are and re-read the story using those items. The possibilities are endless!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Other books by this author: The Mixed-Up Chameleon, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Very Busy Spider, Papa Please Get the Moon for Me, and Little Cloud

Orange Pear Apple Bear

Emily Gravett (2005), 32 pages

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: picture book

The ultimate rhyming book! Through clever wordplay and smart illustrations Gravett relates an entire narrative using just five words. Deceptively simple, this book features many educational aspects such as phonemic-blending, colors, shapes, and counting skills. Wordplay includes using words as nouns and adjectives; for example bear is shown eating a pear and later being pear-shaped; or an orange is pictured and then used to describe bear as orange-colored. Gravett repeats these elements throughout the book, infiltrating even the book's endpapers (apples, oranges, and pears line the pages) and copyright statement/publishing information which forms the shape of pear. With such attention to detail, its no wonder this book is a delight to young children! A wonderful introduction to shapes, colors, and rhymes; build a baby or toddler's vocabulary by using real fruit (apples, oranges, and pears) while reading the book.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Andy That’s My Name by Tomie dePaloa

Other books by this author: Meerkat Mail, The Rabbit Problem, Blue Chameleon, Monkey and Me, The Odd Egg, and Dogs