How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen

Pages: 29

Ages: 2+

Publication: Already Available

Illustrations by : Mark Teague

In this rhyming story, different dinosaurs behave badly for their human parents, but the humans love them despite their misbehavior.  The dinosaurs experience the same things a human child might, such as waking up grumpy and throwing sand at the playground.  The human parents are disappointed, but know that the rewards of a smile or a hug are just around the corner and misbehavior is not enough of a reason to leave/stop loving someone.

This story has a simpler and less diverse vocabulary than some of Yolen's other rhyming stories, but remains fitting for her intended younger audience.  The concept of this story is also a little simpler than Yolen's other works, again because of intended audience.

Yolen presents the concept of misbehavior and unconditional love with simple honesty.  I like that dinosaurs, not children, are the subjects of the book because Yolen takes the "blame" and guilt away from the child as a reader and projects it onto the dinosaurs--an important technique.  Instead of feeling accused, the child will feel empathy for both the dinosaur and the parent.  Also, in seeing the parents still love the dinosaurs after they are bad, young readers can relate the book-parent's unconditional love to their own parents. 

Teague helps the story with big, bright dinosaur pictures and wonderful background details. Since the book is aimed at younger audiences, Teague adds enough details to make the scene look real, but not overwhelm the eye of the younger reader.  Those readers interested in the illustrations will find the dinosaurs' bedrooms interesting and the playground details fun to decipher.  Teague focuses on the dinosaurs in each scene by placing them in the foreground, drawing the readers eye away from open spaces, and coloring the dinosaurs brightly.  The dinosaurs don't look scary, but aren't too "cartoony" either.  It is a perfect balance for the younger readers.

  

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? is a good lesson presented in a gently way--a must have for every loving household.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 Pages

Come to the Fairies' Ball by Jane Yolen

Pages: 29

Ages: 3-7

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Gary Lippincott

In this rhyming story about a fairy whose dress isn't good enough to wear to the open-invitation ball, Yolen weaves a tale that echos many fairy tales.  The fairy, with a dress tattered from hanging too long on a thorny plant, is comforted by ants who encourage her to work diligently until her dress is repaired.  Meanwhile, a grouchy prince won't celebrate at the ball because nothing is good enough for him.  The prince most surely is looking for a beautiful fairy with whom to dance, but can the fairy repair the dress in time for the ball?  And is the late fairy the one who will make everything perfect for the prince?  

Come to the Fairies' Ball uses amazing onomatopoetic vocabulary and still manages to rhyme! This is one of the most interesting rhyming stories I have ever read because of the alliterative and creative words that Yolen uses to describe the action.  The author also sets the fairy kingdom in reality, but does not forget the magic.  Fairies ride to the ball on rabbits, turtles, and butterflies, but readers still sense a bit of magic (and maybe even a little love) in the air.  In keeping in the tradition of fairy tales the book is gently laced with lessons about punctuality, friendship, hard work, helping others, and true love.

As for the illustration, I like that Lippincott eschews the Disney version of fairies and uses earthy tones of browns, greens, pale yellows, and oranges.  Even inside the glowing hall where the ball takes place, the colors remain earthy.  The fairies themselves are not the usual fairies either.  Lippincott portrays the inhabitants of the kingdom as angular and as varied in looks as any group of humans might be.  Many fairies have pointed elf ears, large angular noses, and long thin bodies.  These fairies are far from the rounded, flushing, wand carrying, sparkling versions of fairies children often see in modern media.  There isn't a sparkle or a wand to be found.            

My absolute favorite illustration is that of the actual ball.  The hall is warmly glowing and the fairies are all cutting loose.  There is so much detail in this one picture that readers could quite possibly find a new something every time they open the book.  

In all this story is a fast, fun, rhyming love story that leaves readers believing (in fairies, love, fun, and friendship).  

Rating: 4 Pages 

Pumpkin Baby by Jane Yolen

Pages: 28

Ages: 3-6
Publication: Already Available
Illustrated by: Susan Mitchell

When a girl visits her aunt’s pumpkin patch as a three-year-old, her aunt and mother joke about a baby pumpkin. The girl wonders if it is possible to love a pumpkin baby. Later, the girl’s mother jokes with the mailman about a stork baby and the girl imagines a flying baby with long legs.

In this book, Yolen creates an imaginative and fun book about what it might be like to have a younger sibling. As the main character, a little girl, grows older, she finds that there are many different phases of babyhood. Eventually, the little girl gets an actual younger sibling of her own and sees her brother grow through the vegetable and animal stages described earlier in the book. In the end, the girl finds she loves her younger brother no matter what stage of life he is in.

The idea of family and siblings (younger and older) is explored with love within this book. I also like that Yolen hints at the different ways in which to answer the ever- haunting question: “where do babies come from?” Yolen explores and then gently debunks these myths while giving each myth a real life connection through metaphor.

Susan Mitchell illustrates the story in bright colors and big, geometric shapes. The pictures are simple, yet telling. My favorite pictures are the last two pages, where the girl and her little brother share a picnic and then a nap. These pictures illustrate the more quiet part of love that siblings share.

Yolen and Mitchell are a great pair for this story; it is beautifully told and beautifully illustrated.

Rating: 4 Pages

The Scarecrow's Dance by Jane Yolen

Pages: 29

Ages: 4-8

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Bagram Ibatoulline

The Scarecrow's Dance is one of my favorite rhyming books. When an old scarecrow leaves his post in the corn field to dance the night away, he encounters something he never expected.  

The scarecrow gleefully twists and twirls after being relieved of his duty to keep the cornfield free of destructive crows, but quickly returns to his post when he hears a little boy's prayer.  The scarecrow realizes that even though dancing gives him joy, he is just as joyful in knowing that he is the best at keeping the fields crow-free.

Yolen touches on family, joy, and duty in this magical tale of a dancing scarecrow.  The scarecrow is an great example of how one can get restless doing what he/she is supposed to do.  The scarecrow has grown bored on his post and needs to get away for a while. He does so by dancing.  

When the scarecrow realizes that he is needed at his post for the sake of his family (a family that cares very much for him), he feels a renewed sense of joy and pride in a job that he earlier felt was less important that self-satisfaction (dancing).  Children will realize that helping family, or anyone else, might not be the most fun thing in the world, but it feels good to help someone who needs you.  

Ibatoulline beautifully illustrates the didactic story.  The dark colors of the first few pages accurately portray twilight and the coolness of nighttime, but leave enough color to make the reader feel joy when the scarecrow takes off dancing.  The contrast of the colors when the scarecrow looks in on the praying boy is amazing.  The boy's entire room is filled with warmth and love while the scarecrow stands cold, but illuminated.  

My absolute favorite illustration is the pages when the scarecrow is leaping into the sky to position himself back on his pole.  It is a bug's eye view of the scarecrow leaping into the air and the color, composition, and details are absolutely perfect.  I have a feeling that even careful attention was paid in placing the stars in the sky.  

I liked this book so much that I shared it with my nephews who are both under 3.  They loved the book.  The younger nephew repeated the rhyming words and the older nephew seemed to look at the barnyard illustration for hours.  When the nephews visited a few days ago their first request was to read the "ska-cow" book again.  And again we did.  And again.  And again.  And again...

Rating: 5 Pages 

  

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Pages: 48

Ages: 5-9

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Gail De Marcken

E.T.A. Hoffman's classic story becomes highly visible when Gail DeMarcken illustrates it.  In the story an enchanted doll makes toys come to life after midnight and DeMarcken captures the adventures of one little girl in vivid snapshots of fantasy.

The illustrations in this book are yet another good example of how to bring to life such a fanciful story.  DeMarcken uses bright colors and the look of a snug, candlelit room to create a feeling of warmth and safety at the beginning of the book.  However, when the lights go out, the colors change to the vivid strangeness of dreams and fantasy.  Each picture is detailed and captures so much more of the imagination than just reading the story.  

This is what a picture book should be.

Rating: 5 Pages  

The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson

Pages: 34     

Ages: 3-6

Publication: Already Available

Illustrated by: Jon J Muth

The Christmas Magic is a fun book for younger children to read when Christmas gets close.  The book focuses on Santa Claus and how he knows when Christmas is near.  Thompson does a wonderful job of giving specific details as to what Santa's house looks like and how meticulously Santa works to ready himself for his biggest night of the year.  

So, how does Santa know what to bring all the children of the world?  How does he get the reindeer to fly?  How do all those toys fit on the sleigh?  And most importantly, how does he deliver all those toys in one night?  The answer is right on the cover of the book. Even adults might want to believe again after reading about how much love goes into everything Santa does.

Jon J Muth beautifully illustrates Thompson's story with bright colors and insightful paintings. Children who can't read yet, or just like to add to the story will be able to look at the illustrations and find new things each time.  I also like how Muth eschews the fat, jolly, and red Santa for a character more like the French Father Christmas.

In this book, the pictures and the story create a Santa full of love, magic, and giving, which might be just the right way to introduce a child to Christmas.

Rating: 5 Pages