All Aboard! A True Train Story, by Susan Kuklin

Kuklin, Susan. All Aboard! A True Train Story. Orchard, 2003. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 978-0439455831

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Trains)

REVIEW
"Fire blazing / Water steaming / CHUGGA-CHUGGA /  Wheels rolling," begins this exuberant book, which shows in large photographic images the journey of a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge steam engine through the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Images are bordered by a track motif, and yellow, green, and red solids form the background -- everything comes together very attractively.  At no more than ten words per two-page spread in enormous text, some repetition of certain phrases, and a lot of onomatopoeia in words/made-up words such as "SQUEAK-SQUEAK", "WHOO-WHOO", and "HISSSSS", this book is perfect for 1 and 2 year-olds.  The book gives the basics of the events during a train's journey, in basic language: "Ring the bell All aboard!" and "Through the town, smoke swirls". This book certainly creates excitement about trains and books, and it is highly recommended for these facts.  However, the pervasive lack of proper punctuation is one slight concern.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a rhyme to accompany this book during toddler storytime:

          DOWN BY THE STATION 

          Down by the station
          Early in the morning
          See the little pufferbellies
          All in a row

          See the station master
          Turn the little handle
          Puff, puff, toot, toot
          Off we go!

On Earth, by G. Brian Karas

Karas, G. Brian. On Earth. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 0-399-24025-X

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Earth)

REVIEW
This is a great introduction for 3 and 4 year-olds to topics concerning space and the planets.  More specifically, the book discusses concepts concerning Earth, such as rotation and revolution, gravity, and the seasons in simple, concise language.  Karas’ lovely large illustrations are absorbing in various shades of blue, green, and yellow.  They are fun – with wonderful details such as a face hidden in the clouds smiling benevolently onto our planet – and also demonstrate a sense of wonder about the universe.  Each page contains few words, making this book accessible to children.  This beginning science text is highly recommended.

At the Beach, by Huy Voun Lee

Lee, Huy Voun. At the Beach. Henry Holt & Company, 1994. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 0-8050-2768-8

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Chinese characters)

REVIEW
This book teaches a few Chinese characters through the visit of a mother and her son, Xiao Ming, to the beach.  As the mother draws the characters, she and her son discuss how the forms of the characters are similar to the objects and ideas they represent.  For example, the character for person looks like the torso and legs of someone walking forward in long strides.  Additionally, the characters for big, small, sky, water, mountain, sand, woman, child, and good are taught.  For the unique and highly relevant way in which it aims to teach this vocabulary, this book is recommended for 3 and 4 year-olds.  The book is short enough that it will not overwhelm.  The cut paper collage illustrations are eye-catching, and it is positive that depictions of people of all races, genders, and body sizes are included.  One slightly unusual aspect of the book is that the figure who appears to represent Xiao Ming appears to be wildly different ages on different pages: teenager, boy, and finally young toddler at the end.

Let's Look at Winter, by Sarah L. Schuette

Schuette, Sarah L. Let's Look at Winter. Capstone Press, 2007. 24 pages. $21.00, ISBN 978-07368-6706-1

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Seasons, Winter) 

REVIEW
This is a wonderful introduction to the winter season for 1 and 2 year-olds.  The text is broken up into four chapters concerning the signs of winter, animals and winter, plants and winter, and a brief mention of spring. On the left panel of each two-page spread are a couple sentences about winter.  Each chapter starts off with a question about the season, e.g., "How do you know its winter?" and is followed  by a simple answer, e.g., "The temperature is cold," or "Water freezes".  On each right panel, a large clear photograph of a wintry scene, a forest animal or bird lushly draws in our attention.  The text is followed by a glossary, suggestions of further reading on the topic, information on how to reach a Web site with supplemental information, and an index.  This book is clear, basic, informative, and eye-catching; an exemplary work of nonfiction for this age group which is a nice early introduction to the "chapter book" format.  An excellent way to encourage future nonfiction and science reading.

Gobble Gobble Crash!: A Barnyard Counting Bash, by Julie Stiegemeyer

Stiegemeyer, Julie. Gobble Gobble Crash!: A Barnyard Counting Bash.  Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Dutton Children's Books, 2008. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-47959-8

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Numbers, Counting)

REVIEW
This is not your average counting book.  In addition to practice with the numbers one through ten, it contains a humorous story of a group of turkeys' barnyard visit, encouragement to help others, and a fun game of find-the-turkey toward the end of the story.  The story starts off peacefully with one mare quietly eating at night, two calves sleeping, three kittens cuddled close to their mother, etc.  But then, "Gobble-Gobble-Crash!," the turkeys arrive to take this count home, alternately annoying and delighting the animals whom they visit, such as six chicks, seven mice, eight baby goats, etc.  The farmer, awoken by all the racket, threatens to catch the turkeys.  The other animals come to their aid, and children will enjoy discovering just where the turkeys are hidden. Although this story has a very predictable structure, the amount of text makes it more appropriate for 3 and 4 year-olds than younger children.  The painted illustrations are warm and joyful.  Children will enjoy participating by counting and repeating "gobble-gobble-crash!" A highly recommended book.

What's Opposite?, by Stephen R. Swinburne

Swinburne, Stephen R. What's Opposite? Boyds Mills Pres, 2000. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 1-56397-881-4

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Opposites)

REVIEW
This a great book for 3 and 4 year-olds to learn about opposites.  On some pages, two items, concepts, or states of being which are opposites are presented in simple words and photographs of children.  Examples are the front and back of someone's head, "walk" and "don't walk" traffic signals, and the idea of top and bottom.  In other instances, one concept is presented on a right-hand side page and its opposite is presented on the other side of the page.  For example, one page shows a girl eating a strawberry and asks, "What's the opposite of sweet?"  Once the page is turned, the answer "sour" appears and we see a girl holding a piece of lemon with mouth puckered and eyes closed.  Images are clear and relate quite obviously to the text below them in all cases, and children will enjoy guessing the opposites, making this a recommended book.

What Am I?: An Animal Guessing Game, by Iza Trapani

Trapani, Iza. What Am I?: An Animal Guessing Game. Whispering Coyote Press, 1992. 32 pages. $13.95, ISBN 1-879085-76-3

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Animals, Guessing)

REVIEW
This is a fun book for 3 and 4 year-olds to practice their guessing skills and build up some animal knowledge.  On each right-hand side page, about six lines of description of a certain animal's appearance, habitat, and/or usual behaviors is given, followed by the question "What am I?"  An illustation of a young boy demonstrating an action mentioned in this text is included on each of the right-hand pages as well.  Once one turns the page, the name of the animal is printed in large letters, over a lively picture of the boy and the animal engaged in some activity.  Polar bears, seals, owls, and ostriches are some of the animals included.  Although some of the clues given could signify  more than one type of animal, most clues give hints that should touch on some aspect of most children's knowledge of animals.  For the way in which it makes learning and reviewing basic facts about animals fun and encourages active participation through excellent pacing, this book is recommended.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
After hearing this story at preschool storytime, children can make a paper bag puppet of their choice of animal from the book.

So Mary Circles, So Many Squares, by Tana Hoban

Hoban, Tana. So Many Circles, So Many Squares. Greenwillow Books, 1998.  40 pages. $15.00, ISBN 0-688-15165-5

AGE LEVEL
0 -12 months

GENRE
Nonfiction (Shapes)

REVIEW
Even the youngest children will enjoy this book of photographs showing examples of geometric shapes in everyday life.  This wordless book shows mainly urban, but also a few natural scenes.  There are photographs of circular-shaped objects such as bicycle tires, buttons, and streetlights, and square-shaped objects such as street signs, luggage, and boxes.  All of the images are large, bright, clear, and colorful -- and very natural, including mud stains on a car, crumbs on a table, etc.  Children will have fun finding as many of each shape as possible in these scenes which will be familiar in most of their daily lives.  A great book for infants simply to enjoy, and for older children to start laying the foundation for developing the reading readiness skill of letter knowledge through shape recognition.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here are a couple songs to accompany this book during infant or toddler storytime:

          SUZY CIRCLE 

          I'm Suzy Circle.
          I'm happy as can be.
          I go round and round.
          Can you draw me?


          THE SQUARE SONG

          I am a square, a lovely square.
          I have four sides; they're all the same.
          I have four corners, four lovely corners.
          I am a square, that is my name!

My Boat, by Kay Davies & Wendy Oldfield

Davies, Kay & Oldfield, Wendy. My Boat (First Step Science series). Photographs by Fiona Pragoff. Gareth Stevens Publishing, 1994. 32 pages. $11.99, ISBN 0-8368-1115-1

[No image available of cover.  Here is a link to the Worldcat record.]

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction  (Boats, Water Displacement)

REVIEW
At about 5-10 words per page, this short book about the properties of boats, how they float, water displacement, and how to make some simple vessels, is perfect for 3 and 4 year-olds.  We explore the world of boats through the eyes of two young boys who appear to be 5-6 years old, and of different races, a positive aspect of this work.  Unfortunately there is only one image of a young girl.  Topics in the book are explained simply and concisely.  Photographs are large and clearly illustrate the text that accompanies them. There is some helpful additional material following the text: notes to help adults explain the scientific concepts touched upon in the book, suggested activities and topics for further learning, facts about boats, a glossary, a list of science museums, a few recommended books, and an index.  Although a bit dated in appearance, this book is an interesting introduction to the topic.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here's a good song to pair with this book at preschool storytime:

          LIGHTLY ROW
         
          Lightly row,  
          Lightly row,
          Over the deep blue sea we go,
          Smoothly glide,
          Smoothly glide,
          On the gentle tide.
          
          Let the wind and waters be,
          Mingled with our rhyme of glee,
          Sing and float,
          Sing and float,
          In our rowing boat.

A is for Artist: A Getty Museum Alphabet, by the J. Paul Getty Museum

J. Paul Getty Museum. A is for Artist: A Getty Museum Alphabet. J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997. 64 pages. $16.95, ISBN 0-89236-377-0

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (alphabet, painting)

REVIEW
For each letter of the alphabet, this book includes a two-page spread.  One panel shows the letter boldly printed in huge colored font, along with a word that begins with this letter: "J is for jar," "N is for nut," "Y is for yawn," etc.  On the opposite panel is a small portion of a painting from the Getty's collection which illustrates the word.  In most cases, the images are very clear, and the object of focus cannot be missed.   The works of well-known artists such as Renoir, Alma Tadema, and Van Gogh are included, and striking works by lesser-known artists such as Van Huysum, Ensor, and Batoni are also in the book.  The name of the artist, their nationality, birth and death dates, and the name and date of the painting are given in fine print on the page with the letter.  Although the book does include some words which many young children will not have heard before, such as "tambourine" and "quill", the majority of words (e.g., "egg", "key", "grape", etc.) are those familiar in a young child's world, making this book suitable for 1 and 2 year olds.  Some of the paintings are a little bit dark in tone (color), but this does not detract from the book's overall appeal.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Toddlers can create their own paintings after a read-aloud of this book.

Faces, by Shelley Rotner & Ken Kreisler

Rotner, Shelley and Kreisler, Ken. Faces. Illustrated by Rotner, Shelley. MacMillan, 1994. 32 pages. $14.95, ISBN 0-02-777887-8

AGE LEVEL
0-12 months

GENRE
Nonfiction (Face Perception)

REVIEW
Babies, and toddlers as well, will enjoy poring over the many children's faces in this book.  Young children of various ages, races, and ethnicities, as well as of both genders, are shown in full-color photographs which fill most of each page.  In roughly the first half of the book are photos of the complete faces of one or two children each, accompanied by minimal text describing their faces or explaining what these faces are doing: "friendly faces", "funny faces", "faces talking", and "faces sleeping", for example.  In the second half of the book, there are more photos of complete faces, but there are also photos of parts of faces, such as mouths, eyes,ears, and noses.  This progression from complete faces to their components is very appropriate for the book's young audience, and should reinforce their understanding of the relationship between a whole and its parts. Another positive aspect of the book is the authors' statement that faces (and by implication, people), are "All different, each special in its own way".  A great book for the youngest children to enjoy, and learn from along the way. 

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
During infant storytime, this book could be paired with the following face rhyme.

          TWO LITTLE EYES

          (Instruct parents/caretakers to touch their baby's facial features as they say 
          the rhyme.)

          Two little eyes to look around.
          Two little ears to hear each sound.
          One little nose to smell what's sweet.
          And one little mouth that likes to eat.

Our Grandparents: A Global Album

 Ajmera, Maya; Kinkade, Sheila; Pon, Cynthia; and the Global Fund for Children. Our Grandparents: A Global Album. Charlesbridge, 2010. 32 pages. $16.95, ISBN 9781570914584   

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Grandparent and Child)

REVIEW
This book is an excellent reminder of the important role that grandparents can and do play in their grandchildren's lives.  The most striking feature of the book is the wonderfully intimate and natural photographs of grandparents and their grandchildren in countries around the world.  The photos are clear and large, making them easily accessible to young children. Grandparents are shown as active and engaged in a variety of physically and mentally challenging activities, including teaching, pushing a sled, planting a tree, etc., as well as enjoying quiet moments. The book's text is appropriate for one and two year-olds, as the same sentence structure is repeated throughout: “Grandparents” - [verb] - [rest of sentence]. For example: “Grandparents explore the world with us” and “Grandparents teach us what they know”.  Children will receive reinforcement of the idea that people around the world are similar in their enjoyment of a feeling of connectedness with their family. The only drawback of the book is that there are more photos of grandparents and grandchildren from the U.S. than from other countries.  However, the variety of photos of U.S. families does demonstrate the ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity within the U.S. well.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This would be a wonderful book to share during a grandparents-grandchildren or family storytime, along with other books on the same theme, such as Shelly Rotner's nonfiction Lots of Grandparents, and picture books such as Gale Byrne's Sometimes it's Grandmas and Grandpas, not Mommies and Daddies and Marla Frazee's A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever.