By KAREN MACPHERSON
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Reading to babies and toddlers is crucial to their emotional and intellectual development. Yet finding the right book to attract the attention of those on-the-go youngest readers can be a challenge.
Fortunately, there's a ready source of book suggestions: the annual list of "Best Books for Babies" produced by Beginning With Books, a Pittsburgh literacy organization. Since 1999, Beginning With Books has annually convened a panel of experts _ librarians and child development specialists _ who sift through hundreds of books for babies and toddlers to find the 10 best.
The "Best Books for Babies" group sees their mission quite clearly. "We selected books that speak to very, very young children clearly and lovingly. The list also reflects the wonderful diversity of styles found in books for children," said Amy Kellman, the children's services program specialist at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh and a member of this year's selection committee.
Here's a closer look at this year's winners, presented in alphabetical order by author. If you want more suggestions, go to www.beginningwithbooks.org, and take a look at the previous years' winners:
_ "Duckie's Ducklings" (Candlewick Press, $7.99). Mother Duckie is ready for a swim, but where are her ducklings? It turns out they are in clear sight _ right behind her. Author/illustrator Frances Barry presents a counting story that will have young readers exuberant at their ability to spot those ducklings long before Mother Duckie does. They'll also love Barry's brightly-colored illustrations and the way the thick pages are different sizes in parts of the book so that the ducklings are readily visible to readers, if not to Mother Duckie. (Ages 2-4).
_ "Tomie's Mother Goose Flies Again" (Putnam, $7.99). Beloved author/artist Tomie dePaola offers a colorful look at nursery rhymes. Some of the rhymes are familiar, others are not. This small board book is perfect for toting along on car trips or to the grocery store. (Ages 1-4).
_"Honey Baby Sugar Child" (Simon & Schuster, $15.95). In this book, author Alice Faye Duncan gives readers a wonderful portrait of a mother's love. Using a spare, sometimes dialectical text, Duncan plays with words to express the mother's joy _ "I wanna squeeze ya, kiss ya, till the sugar's gone." Artist Susan Keeter's evocative illustrations add another layer to Duncan's text, showing an African-American mother enjoying a lively day with her baby son. (Ages 1-3).
_ "My Garden = Mi Jardin" (Little Brown, $6.99). Little ones can have fun learning some familiar garden sights in both English and Spanish in this board book written and illustrated by Rebecca Emberley. Part of a series, "My Garden=Mi Jardin" features simple, boldly-colored illustrations that will easily attract the attention of the youngest readers. (Ages six months-2).
_"Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones" (Good Books, $16). As darkness settles in the jungle, young animals get ready to go to sleep in this soothing book by Claire Freedman. The pastel illustrations by Tina Macnaughton add to the book's sleep-inducing effect. (Ages 2-4).
_"A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa" (Henry Holt, $14.95). If you've got a young vehicle fanatic in your life, this book is a guaranteed hit. Author Jonathan London's simple but energetic rhyming text, combined with Denis (cq) Roche's joyfully-colored artwork make this a book that is lots of fun to read. (Ages 2-4).
_ "Star Baby" (Clarion, $16). Author Margaret O'Hair uses simple rhymes to take readers through the day of a busy, happy baby. Young readers will readily identify with the baby, and also will enjoy the rounded, curving artwork of illustrator Erin Eitter Kono.
_ "Diddle Diddle Dumpling" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $5.95). Author/illustrator Tracey Campbell Pearson adds new life to a traditional nursery rhyme by setting it in the current day. The book is part of a series of nursery rhyme board books that all feature Pearson's trademark watercolor illustrations. (Ages six months-3).
_ "Alphabet House" (Marshall Cavendish, $16.95). Young readers will love the collage illustrations in this ABC book written and illustrated by Nancy Wallace. Created from origami and found paper, Wallace's illustrations depict the inside of a house inhabited by a bunny family. Each page shows a different letter, filled with objects that begin with that letter. A two-page spread at the end tells parents exactly what items can be found. (Ages 2-4).
_ "This Little Piggy" (Candlewick Press, $19.99). Author Jane Yolen collects more than sixty rhymes, lap songs, finger plays and clapping games in this large-sized volume, charmingly illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. The book also comes with a CD offering musical arrangements _ created by Yolen's son, musician Adam Stemple _ of some of the rhymes. (Ages birth-4).
(Karen MacPherson writes this column weekly for Scripps Howard News Service. Contact her at karen.macpherson(at)gmail.com.)
Alphabet House
I am reading every night to my son ‘Alphabet House’. I bought it when we moved in our new house, because I thought that moving might affect his pattern and reading a story looked like a good solution. I even bought a new mattress for him so I can make sure he will have a comfortable sleep.
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