Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is a fascinating book. In it we are privy to a debate between two voices as to what the animal in this cover illustration is. One is convinced it’s a duck, the other is sure it’s a rabbit. The unseen characters argue amongst themselves: Are those bills or ears? Is it flying or hopping? Will it eat bread or a carrot? Is it wading in the swamp or hiding in the grass? Maybe if they call it they can decide… “Here, ducky ducky! Here, you cute little rabbit!” Oh no! They’ve scared it away. Was it a duck or rabbit? We may never know. But check out this cool anteater. Or is it a brachiosaurus…
Humour
Diary of a Wombat
Australia is a fantastic place filled with many creatures unfamiliar to us: Kangaroos, Koalas, and an adorable burrowing marsupial called a Wombat–the subject of Jackie French’s Diary of a Wombat, illustrated by Bruce Whatley. It’s told in true diary form, the wombat treating us to her day to day routine consisting mostly of eating, sleeping, and scratching. But one day she discovers she has new neighbors–humans! And these humans have delicious carrots, for which she will do most anything for! This is a very cute book you’re sure to enjoy.
Knuffle Bunny
Does your child have a toy they just can’t be parted with? They will totally relate to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems. Trixie takes her favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny (that’s pronounced ka-nuffle, by the way) on a trip to the laundromat. But Trixie realizes on the way home, her bunny has been left behind. Being a baby, and unable to communicate verbally, she tries to express the dire situation to her father–she bawls, she goes boneless, she becomes quite a handful. Luckily mom knows the reason, and saves the day!
Max’s Chocolate Chicken
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells is perfect for the springtime holidays. Someone (maybe the Easter Bunny) has left a chocolate chicken in the birdbath! “I love you!” Max says to the chicken. He’s ready to chow down, but his big sister Ruby (who’s kind of like the fun police) insists that they hunt for painted eggs. Whoever collects the most can claim the chocolate chicken. Ruby find eggs of all colors and patterns, but poor Max only finds mud, acorns, and ants, so he decides to run away with the chicken and eat the whole thing! This is an adorable story of sibling rivalry, and I guarantee you will fall in love with Max, the young and foolish title character.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
Meet arguably the most precocious bird in children’s literature, in Mo Willems’s The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, the latest in the ongoing saga of The Pigeon and multiple things he’d like to do. In this book the pigeon would like you to give him a puppy. He’s wanted one forever (or at least since last Tuesday). He promises to water it once a month. Don’t you want him to be happy? You better give him one before he throws a huge temper tantrum! But what happens when the pigeon actually runs into a dog? AAAAHHH!!! “The teeth! The hair! That wet nose! The slobber! The claws! I mentioned the teeth right?” I wonder what he’ll want now instead…
On Top of the Potty
On Top of the Potty and Other Get-Up-and-Go Songs by Alan Katz and David Catrow is simply the most hilarious book I’ve read in a long time. Having trouble convincing your child to use the toilet? There’s nothing quite like a rousing musical number to motivate even the most stubborn of diaper wearers. How about “If You Gotta Go Do Poopy” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It?” Or maybe “Don’t Flush Strange Things in the Potty” to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Perhaps the title track, “On Top of the Potty” to the tune of “On Top of Old Smokey!” My personal favorite is “Frankie Noodle,” to the tune of “Yankee Doodle.” Sing it with me: “Frankie Noodle Sat right down Right upon the potty And he made a pee and poop In front of everybody!”