Tip-Tap Pop

Sarah Lynn (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Valeria Docampo

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Pop is Emma’s grandfather who taught her how to tap dance – they would perform together every year for Emma’s birthday … well, every year, until one year … when Pop forgot. But, after that he started to forget a lot of things … so, Emma tries to connect with him through dance, hoping that he’ll remember the steps … "shuffle-shuffle-rustle-slide" as they used to. Eventually, pop joins in – his feet moving from side to side … Emma explains softly to her grandmother “his feet remember” and Gram kindly similes sayings “they remember today … and maybe we can help them remember tomorrow.” A delightful paring of image and text; Docampo’s saturated and lively images are vivacious and play off Lynn’s tender yet sound evocative prose perfectly. This heart-warming story manages to approach common issues surrounding ageing grandparents and memory loss with dignity and subtlety, making it an appropriate read for young children.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Rap A Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles Think of That! (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor) by Leo Dillon or Little Mama Forgets by Robin Cruise

Other books by this illustrator: The Library’s Pages and Three Little Tamales

The Mitten

Jan Brett (1989), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Cozy up with Brett’s adaption of a traditional Ukrainian folktale this winter. An endearing tale of a Grandmother who cautiously knits a pair of white mittens at her grandson’s request. Fearing that he may lose the snow-white mittens outdoors, Baba goes ahead and knits a pair for Nicki (her grandson). And the very next day, Nicki does lose one – but who finds it? A pack of forest animals seeking refuse from the cold winter wind and snow. As more animals climb inside the warm woolen mitten to avoid the cold “the mitten swelled and stretched. It was pulled and bulged to many times its size. But Baba’s good knitting held fast” that is, until the last animal makes her way inside!

Although this book is published both as a board book and a picture book, I prefer the traditional picture book form for this story … I find the illustrations translate so much better in the larger format since the main narrative is illustrated along with inset side panels. Brett’s decorative touches are beautiful especially the embroidery motifs, which flank the bordered pages (in my opinion these touches further echo the author’s handcrafted fiber-inspired storyline) along with Baba and Nick’s traditional garb. Brett seamlessly adapts this traditional Ukrainian folktale into a charming, fantastical tale for children – it is one of the best fairytale/folktales for children 0-4.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen

Other books by this author: Town Mouse, Country Mouse, The Three Snow Bears, Gingerbread Baby, and Hedgie’s Surprise

The Napping House

Audrey Wood (1984), 30 pages

Illustrated by Don Wood

Audience: Babies, Toddlers

Format: book board

Follow the story of a sleeping household as they get a surprise wake-up call. Readers are slowly lured into a slumbering world of muted gray and rainy weather where “there is a house, a napping house, where everyone is sleeping.” As more characters climb aboard the bed, the morning light slowly fills the room until a “wakeful” flea disrupts the slumber party and the house bursts into bright sunshine and colorful pastels (a perfect opportunity to sing a verse of "You are my Sunshine"). Beautifully written and illustrated, the Woods, a husband and wife team have created a classic childrens' book. The cumulative storyline is catchy and fun; this type of repetition is ideal for young children who are just learning how to read. In addition, the Woods have created free printable templates at their website depicting each of the story's characters - a great activity for kids to enjoy after storytime.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Little House (Caldecott award) by Virginia Lee Burton or I Know a Place by Karen Ackerman

Other books by this author: The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear, Piggies, Silly Sally, and King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub (Caldecott award)