Little White Rabbit

Kevin Henkes (2011), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Just in time for spring … decorated children’s author and illustrator, Kevin Henkes once again has created a classic storybook that children and parents will love. Following on the heels of his tremendously successful 2010 work Kitten’s First Full Moon – is Henkes 2011 release of Little White Rabbit. Follow along as one curious little bunny explores his world with gusto. As little white rabbit ventures out to discover the fresh, spring landscape he is filled with wonderment. As the bunny’s imagination grows so does Henkes illustrations. For instance when the little white rabbit hops “through the high grass, he wondered what it would be like to be green” and voila with a turn of the page our little white rabbit is now eying his green reflection in a pond. As he hops “over a rock, he wondered what it would be like not to move” and the following page shows little rabbit as a stone-still statue. He wonders all kinds of things, such as what it might be like to be tall as a fir tree or flutter in the air like a butterfly. But when he returns home … he never wonders who loves him because he knows his family does. My favorite part is the last page, an image of little white rabbit snuggling up to his sleeping family, but his curiosity is once again sparked as a bee flies overhead. The illustrations are lighthearted and cheery. Color pencil and acrylic paint in colors like mint and chartreuse, sky blue, and pink capture the renewal of a new spring day. Henkes’s narrative is both sweet and satisfying – a great book for preschoolers!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Other books by this author: Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse, Kitten’s First Full Moon (Caldecott Medalist), My Garden, Wemberly Worried, and Owen (Caldecott Honor), Old Bear, and Olive’s Ocean (Newberry Honor)

Perfect Square

Michael Hall (2011), 40 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

There once was a red square who was perfectly happy with his “four matching corners and four equal sides.” However, during the week this perfect square is altered and transformed. Each day something new has happened to him. On Monday is was punched with holes, on Tuesday torn into scraps, Wednesday shredded, Thursday shattered, Friday snipped, Saturday crumpled and ripped … yet each time he transforms into something new and picturesque. This unexpected journey is so much fun … and full of surprises. Graphic designer, Michael Hall makes minimalism sing; combining simple shapes and a few choice words Hall’s pictures brings form and color to life. His storyline is clever and sharp and the cumulative text is almost Eric Carle-esc. Children are treated to an array of shapes, a rainbow of colors, and an imaginative premise … by the book’s end they’ll be both entertained and inspired! A great read-aloud book for parents and educators. Take advantage of this book's creative premise and offer preschoolers a fun follow up craft where they can make their own square designs (learn motor skills) and narrate its transformation (practice narrative ability); integrating these types of early development skills is essential for building pre-reading skills in children 0-4.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Press Here by Hervé Tullet, Shadow by Suzy Lee, or It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

Other books by this author: My Heart is Like a Zoo

A Very Special House

Ruth Krauss (1953), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

This a story of a very special house,

“I know a house –

it’s not a squirrel house

it’s not a donkey house

– it’s not a house you’d see –

and it’s not in any street

and it’s not in any road –

oh it’s just a house for me Me ME.”

Step inside a little boy’s day dreamy world … and what will you find? A turtle, a rabbit, a lion eating chairs, some monkeys, some snunkeys, and more! Children’s books are unique; they are sometime silly, strange, even absurd – a total departure from ordinary adult literature. Here in lies the beauty, literature written for children is imaginative and fantastical. These books give readers a chance to get into character, act out, create noise, stay creative, and be ridiculous. A Very Special House takes full advantage of all those aforementioned aspects of storytelling resulting in a charismatic story from start to finish. Krauss’s text begs to be read a-loud with its funky poetic cadence, nonsensical words, run-on sentences, and rhymes. Exuding charm throughout, both author and illustrator produced a story full of whimsical details. Sendak’s illustrations are captivating and sweet; almost as through drawn straight from one’s own imagination ... delicate black line drawings dance around the page while only the little boy is blocked in color. Using his limited palette and creative genius Sendak captures a child’s jubilant and imaginative nature. Reissued in 2001 by HarperCollins, this 1954 Caldecott honoree is now readily available making it possible for more children to curl up with this classic storybook!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson or I Want to Paint My Bathroom Blue by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak

Other books by this author: Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead, The Happy Egg, And I Love You, Big & Little, and Open House for Butterflies

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak (1963), 40 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Winning the Caldecott Medal in 1964, Where the Wild Things Are is a story that has been charming children and their parents for decades. Transcending generations, this best selling children’s book (and motion picture) is a nostalgic favorite of many! At root this story is a timeless classic, Sendak dually celebrates adventure and the comforts of home. Sendak's artwork is filled with personality and originality as are the characters and plot. Main character, Max's mischievous nature is both lovable and unruly. In his wildness he gets sent to bed without supper, but later discovers his bedroom has sprouted into a forest within a dreamlike world inhabited by wild monsters. When Max ventures out, he soon becomes king of the wild things. As they explore, play, and dance the night away – Max longs to be back somewhere familiar wanting “to be where someone loved him best of all.” A master storyteller, Sendak’s tale is exquisite; the illustrations are expressive and imaginative evoking the adventurous and fun spirit of childhood. Share this book with your own “wild things” as they get tucked in a night!

In 2009, this award-winning book was adapted to the silver screen. Serving as a producer Sendak’s characters were bought to life in this fantasy-drama film. Looking for even more ways to enjoy this story? Listen to the Maurice Sendak‘s own narration as he reads Where the Wild Things Are on Barnes & Noble’s online storyline.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Perfect Little Monster by Judy Hindley, Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty or Jumangi by Chris Van Allsburg

Other books by this author: In the Night Kitchen (Caldecott Honor), Seven Little Monsters, and Alligators All Around

The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

What a delight! The concept is simple, but so effective ... as the author explains we experience many types of quiet throughout the day. Taking on a variety of moods this book slowly progresses from the lively, "first one awake quiet" to the subdued; towards the end bedtime-type quiet is described as "story time quiet, tucking in Teddy quiet, bedtime kiss quiet, … sound asleep quiet." This succession makes this book a soothing read for nighttime. The text is composed of simple lines that are easy to read, yet so descriptive ... for instance, "jelly side down quiet" (you can almost imagine the room's silence as the bread hits the floor) or "coloring in the lines quiet" (the peaceful contentment children experience as they color in pictures). There is even a “quietness” found in Liwska’s illustrations, which are soft and subtle perfectly reflective of the subject matter. Underwood’s observations combine the traditional with the unexpected – making this book an excellent conservation starter for parents and educators. For instance, ask children to think up other quiet situations or use this book in conjunction with Underwood’s The Loud Book! and spark a discussion of opposites.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, or The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

Other books by this author: A Balloon for Isabel, Pirate Mom, and The Loud Book!

Other books by this illustrator: Red Wagon and Little Panda

The Surprise

Sylvia van Ommen (2007), 22 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Van Ommen’s The Surprise is just that – a wonderful surprise! The author manages to tell a unique story in this wordless picture with her charming illustrated characters. So what exactly is Sheep up to? And what is the big surprise? Well there’s a clue in the title written out in red yarn … this story begins with Sheep weighing, inspecting, and measuring her wool. Hopping on her trusty red scooter, Sheep heads over to the dye shop. After selecting red as her color preference, readers are treated to a series of hilarious steps as Sheep dyes, washes, dries, and shaves off her newly dyed crimson coat. Now naked, Sheep slips on a colorful sweater and heads over to Poodle who spins her roving into yarn. Once the yarn is formed, Sheep begins the process of knitting – her project is soon finished and wrapped up for gift giving. So who gets a custom-made hand-knit? Well, none other than Giraffe, who is oh, so handsome and happy with his new sweater! This book is filled with delightful details and charismatic characters. Van Ommen’s images are simple yet engaging making the wordless storyline obvious enough for any young child to follow along. Wordless books are great tools for developing a child’s narrative ability (an important pre-literacy skill). Have your child tell you what’s happening in the pictures; engage their imagination. Or if they are too young for narration, have them identify colors, objects, and actions. This book is one that can be enjoyed at any age!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola or Knitting Nell by Julie Jersild Roth

Other books by this author: Jellybeans and Sheep and Goat

Museum Trip

Barbara Lehman (2006), 32 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Barbara Lehman's wordless storyline is endearing and creative with illustrations that really tell a complete narrative! Similar in style to her Caldecott honored The Red Book, Museum Trip is written in a wordless narrative with illustrations that tell the story of a child's museum visit and getting lost in its maze (literary by being separated from their class and figuratively as he gets "lost" or engrossed in the artifacts/exhibits on display at the museum). But wait … was finding his way through the maze just a daydream? Well, you’ll have to decide for yourself as he leaves the museum with a shiny souvenir there may be reason to think otherwise. A story that will delight children of all ages!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book you may like: Time Flies by Eric Rohmann, Wave by Suzy Lee, or Free Fall by David Wiesner

Other books by this author: The Red Book (Caldecott Honor), Trainstop, and Rainstorm