SIBLINGS AND FAMILY (alphabetical by title)
Mom: Thumbs up Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Middle
TITLE: Big Red Lollipop
AUTHOR: Rukhsana Khan
YEAR: 2010
The kids thought this one was just OK, but I nearly cried when the big sister, forced to bring her middle sister to a friend's birthday party because her foreign mom does not yet understand American kids' customs, selflessly helps spare her middle sister the same fate. Instead of opting for easy revenge, this quiet heroine chooses compassion. I love it!
TITLE: Big Red Lollipop
AUTHOR: Rukhsana Khan
YEAR: 2010
The kids thought this one was just OK, but I nearly cried when the big sister, forced to bring her middle sister to a friend's birthday party because her foreign mom does not yet understand American kids' customs, selflessly helps spare her middle sister the same fate. Instead of opting for easy revenge, this quiet heroine chooses compassion. I love it!
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Middle
TITLE: The Chicken of the Family
AUTHOR: Mary Amato
YEAR: 2008
In this adorable book, two older sisters tease their younger sister by telling her she is really a chicken, and even though the gullible younger sister falls for it, she has the last laugh because she finds she actually likes being a chicken.
TITLE: The Chicken of the Family
AUTHOR: Mary Amato
YEAR: 2008
In this adorable book, two older sisters tease their younger sister by telling her she is really a chicken, and even though the gullible younger sister falls for it, she has the last laugh because she finds she actually likes being a chicken.
Mom: Thumbs up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: The Daddy Mountain
AUTHOR: Jules Feiffer
YEAR: 2004
Kids have a million and one uses for their parents (for example, mine have used me as a seat cushion, a napkin, a trash repository, a ride-on toy and a step ladder). This book follows the progress of a girl who uses her dad as a mountain, as she climbs and summits him. A big hit with the kids!
TITLE: The Daddy Mountain
AUTHOR: Jules Feiffer
YEAR: 2004
Kids have a million and one uses for their parents (for example, mine have used me as a seat cushion, a napkin, a trash repository, a ride-on toy and a step ladder). This book follows the progress of a girl who uses her dad as a mountain, as she climbs and summits him. A big hit with the kids!
Mom: Thumbs up Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Ladybug Girl
AUTHOR: Jacky Davis and David Soman
YEAR: 2008
Lulu's big brother won't play with her, so she must make her own fun. After a slow start (standing amidst 90 million toys, games, art supplies, etc. and declaring that "there is nothing to do"), she enjoys an active and exciting imagination-fueled afternoon by herself.
TITLE: Ladybug Girl
AUTHOR: Jacky Davis and David Soman
YEAR: 2008
Lulu's big brother won't play with her, so she must make her own fun. After a slow start (standing amidst 90 million toys, games, art supplies, etc. and declaring that "there is nothing to do"), she enjoys an active and exciting imagination-fueled afternoon by herself.
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Madrechillona
AUTHOR: Jutta Bauer
YEAR: 2001
I have included this book even though it is written in Spanish (I have not seen an English translation, but perhaps one is available) because I am so fond of it. It features a mother penguin who yells so loudly at her chick that the chick basically explodes --pieces of him flying off in all directions. After helping collect the pieces and put them back together, the mother gives the chick a quiet "sorry." One can imagine that the mother of two young children might find something to identify with here.
TITLE: Madrechillona
AUTHOR: Jutta Bauer
YEAR: 2001
I have included this book even though it is written in Spanish (I have not seen an English translation, but perhaps one is available) because I am so fond of it. It features a mother penguin who yells so loudly at her chick that the chick basically explodes --pieces of him flying off in all directions. After helping collect the pieces and put them back together, the mother gives the chick a quiet "sorry." One can imagine that the mother of two young children might find something to identify with here.
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Otto Grows Down
AUTHOR: Micheal Sussman
YEAR: 2009
We all enjoyed this funny tale of a boy who wishes his baby sister had never been born and sets the clock ticking backwards until she is gone. The only trouble is, time keeps going backwards, and Otto is getting younger and younger!
TITLE: Otto Grows Down
AUTHOR: Micheal Sussman
YEAR: 2009
We all enjoyed this funny tale of a boy who wishes his baby sister had never been born and sets the clock ticking backwards until she is gone. The only trouble is, time keeps going backwards, and Otto is getting younger and younger!
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: The Seven Chinese Sisters
AUTHOR: Kathy Tucker
YEAR: 2003
This is the girl version of the classic Seven Chinese Brothers. Like the original, each sibling has a special power that comes in handy in saving one of their own. Illustrated by the prolific children's book writer, Grace Lin.
TITLE: The Seven Chinese Sisters
AUTHOR: Kathy Tucker
YEAR: 2003
This is the girl version of the classic Seven Chinese Brothers. Like the original, each sibling has a special power that comes in handy in saving one of their own. Illustrated by the prolific children's book writer, Grace Lin.
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Shrinking Sam
AUTHOR: Miriam Latimer
YEAR: 2010
The more Sam feels like he is being ignored by friends and family, the smaller he gets, until he is so tiny that he falls down the drain while taking a bath in the sink. There he meets a new friend --a girl who also shrinks when she needs attention-- who guides him back home where he regains the attention of his family, and his regular size. A fun choice from Barefoot Books.
TITLE: Shrinking Sam
AUTHOR: Miriam Latimer
YEAR: 2010
The more Sam feels like he is being ignored by friends and family, the smaller he gets, until he is so tiny that he falls down the drain while taking a bath in the sink. There he meets a new friend --a girl who also shrinks when she needs attention-- who guides him back home where he regains the attention of his family, and his regular size. A fun choice from Barefoot Books.
Mom: Thumbs up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
AUTHOR: William Steig
YEAR: 1987
This is one of my favorite William Steig books, though in typical Steig fashion, it is heavy on the serious and dramatic themes. Sylvester is a donkey who finds a magic pebble and accidentally turns himself into a rock, leaving his poor parents to come to terms with his disappearance. It is something of a tear-jerker, but don't worry, it has a happy ending!
TITLE: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
AUTHOR: William Steig
YEAR: 1987
This is one of my favorite William Steig books, though in typical Steig fashion, it is heavy on the serious and dramatic themes. Sylvester is a donkey who finds a magic pebble and accidentally turns himself into a rock, leaving his poor parents to come to terms with his disappearance. It is something of a tear-jerker, but don't worry, it has a happy ending!
Mom: Thumbs Middle Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Middle
TITLE: Tar Beach
AUTHOR: Faith Ringgold
YEAR: 1996
The illustrations in Tar Beach are gorgeous (they come from a story quilt of the same name by Ringgold). The story, about a poor girl who uses the power of imagination to lift off from her Harlem rooftop, fly over New York, and own everything she sees, is punctuated by serious moments dealing with heavy themes (dad being called names and denied union membership because of his race, mom spending her days crying in bed) that may be a bit much for some among the picture book set.
TITLE: Tar Beach
AUTHOR: Faith Ringgold
YEAR: 1996
The illustrations in Tar Beach are gorgeous (they come from a story quilt of the same name by Ringgold). The story, about a poor girl who uses the power of imagination to lift off from her Harlem rooftop, fly over New York, and own everything she sees, is punctuated by serious moments dealing with heavy themes (dad being called names and denied union membership because of his race, mom spending her days crying in bed) that may be a bit much for some among the picture book set.
Mom: Thumbs Middle Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: The Witch's Children
AUTHOR: Ursula Jones
YEAR: 2003
The witch's children head to the park and cause all sorts of havoc with powers that are not yet fully developed. The youngest saves the day by using the special trick of screaming for mommy to come and fix everything!
TITLE: The Witch's Children
AUTHOR: Ursula Jones
YEAR: 2003
The witch's children head to the park and cause all sorts of havoc with powers that are not yet fully developed. The youngest saves the day by using the special trick of screaming for mommy to come and fix everything!