Good Night, Gorilla

by Peggy Rathmann

The zookeeper says goodnight to gorilla, who silently slips the keys off the zookeeper's belt.  As the zookeeper says goodnight to all the animals, gorilla walks behind him, quietly opening the cages as he goes.  All the animals follow the zookeeper home where his wife is already asleep...

This is one of those books you can't imagine anyone would dislike.  But, with an average of 5 stars (as I suspected), out of 184 reviews on Amazon, three people gave it one star.  One of them reasoned that they didn't like seeing the animals in cages (seriously?), others that there wasn't much to the written story.  It's true, the writing is very simple, but the story that's being told goes beyond what is being said.  I would be very disappointed if every book spelled out exactly what is happening in the story.  And when I see my pre-reader proudly "reading" the book, I'm not complaining one bit. 

I highly recommend buying the boardbook version of this story.  It will be well used (especially if there happens to be a little "Goodnight Gorilla" in your family).

image via savvyauntie.com

Pssst!

by Adam Rex

New in 2008

This book was quite unexpected. The art is very different, but I love it (Recognize it from another of his books: Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich?)! There are so many things to look at on each page as a girl makes a trip through the zoo. As she approaches each cage, she is asked by each of the animals to bring them back an item. My little guy couldn't stop laughing when a sloth fell out of a tree onto his head (after the girl asked him why he wanted a bike helmet).

As for me, I can't stop laughing every time I hear my little 4 year old boy use the phrase, "Psst!" now when he wants to get someone's attention on the sly.

Enjoy the artwork and the story that "comes together" in the end.

image via contentcafe.btol.com

Nothing

by Jon Agee

Otis has sold everything in his antiques shop and is about to close up when a wealthy woman walks in and asks what's for sale.  Otis simply replies, "Nothing."  He has nothing left.  When the woman hears this, she replies, "I have a lot of things, but I've never had nothing.  I'll pay you three hundred dollars!"  

Otis believes it is a ridiculous request, but the words of his father come to his mind, "The customer is always right."  So Otis packs up nothing and the town's richest woman drives away with $300 worth of nothing.

News of her stylish purchase travels fast and soon everyone will do anything to get nothing.

I love this book.  It's a great story to talk to kids about how the latest trend may not be worth what we think it is at the time.  And maybe it's a good lesson for us, too?

*More appropriate for school aged children.

image via hyperionbooksforchildren.com

Tops and Bottoms

by Janet Stevens

 A Caldecott Honor Book

Whatever happened to that Hare after he lost the race to Tortoise?  He hasn't exactly changed his ways.

When Mr. and Mrs. Hare ran out of food for their big bunny family, they hatched a plan to change their lot.  The next morning the Hares proposed becoming business partners with the lazy (but wealthy) bear.  Hare and his family would do all the work farming on Bear's land.  At harvest, Bear and Hare would split the produce "right down the middle."  All bear had to do was choose if he wanted  Tops or Bottoms.  You can probably guess what this clever Hare did...he taught Bear that laziness doesn't pay.

It's Spring!  Are you planting a garden?  Some plants grow the part we eat underground while others grow those parts above the ground.  Talk about that before starting the book so you don't have to stop in the middle to explain. 

A very good book for teaching values:  After the book my kids and I had a discussion about whether or not what Hare did was honest or not.  It was a good intro into talking about how half-truths are still lies.  We also talked about what Hare could have done instead to deal honestly with Bear.  Our children certainly need to learn that just because someone has more money, that doesn't mean you can deal dishonestly with them.  Honesty doesn't depend on the circumstance.  I personally would not read this book without the plan for a follow-up discussion.   

image via www.pbp.fcs.msue.msu.edu