That's one Hard Fox! A Stone Fox!

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner, 1980.

Immediate tension and simple language make a fast, easy read.

The plot always moves forward but generally without much elegance or plausibility. Many questions remained unanswered, the largest being, how could a ten-year-old care for an ailing grandfather on his own? Changing sheets? Bathing him? Bathroom duties? Perhaps because of the overly simplified language I had difficulty making an emotional connection with the protagonist. And the race, although very intense, seemed like a deus ex machina.

For the male (or female) sports-loving emergent reader, however, I could see this book being top pick.

Color My World - Purple!

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Ruth Krauss, 1955

Bringing the bigness of the outside world under a child’s control. At the outset, the simple white background, cartoon child and purple line make this book seem slight, simple. Cute and childlike. But it’s ultimately a story of empowerment – Harold walks in the moonlight: the big, dark world outside of his control. But, oh, good! He has to draw the moon; the world is now entirely of his own making. He faces his fears, but always safely, always with the tools in hand that he needs to conquer them. A couple items of note:

• Several concepts are introduced: animals, the number nine, though they seem rather artificial. 
• There’s a cute play on words, “drew up the covers.” 

An aside: I read this as a child (was read to me) and I remember finding the ending disconcerting. Harold never does find his actual real-world bed, only the bed of his own creation.

Sticky Subjects in Tar Beach

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Crown, 1991.

A bold opening paired with dramatic illustrations.

Poverty without self-pity.

The story opens with a dream, immediately pulling the child in via fantasy. It is true to her life, but seen as she would see it, without self-awareness. The quilts and fantasy are used to deal with the heroine’s difficult emotions (she is a true heroine) and to give her beauty and hope. Startlingly real, honest, lovely.

This book is a model for handling difficult topics like race, poverty for the very young. There's no preaching, only relationship. Story builds connections; books like this give me hope for the future.

Beatrix Potter: Genius or Insane?

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter. 1908.

Natural science, dramatic irony, ageless value? Ducks sit on a nest for 28 days; the gentleman is really a fox; the puppies eat Jemima’s eggs at the end! Unlike, say, Little Bear, the illustrations move beyond the text and provide dramatic irony, which moves the plot along significantly. Poor dumb duck; she gains her life but loses her babies.

Standards for what's suitable for children have changed a lot (understatement of the year) since Puddle-Duck's day.

Why I love Mr. Gumpy's Outing

Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham, 1970

Joyous illustrations and a surprising storyline make this a true classic.

I expected Mr. Gumpy to get, well, grumpy, since his name looks and sounds so like the word. I was waiting for him to tell one of the animals, “No! I’m all full!” but even when the overloaded boat tipped, he kept his smile (mostly) and invited everyone back for more fun.

What a contrast to what a child typically encounters with adults. She hears, “Don’t fuss” and when the fussing happens (it always happens) it’s scolding or impatience. The story drew me in, but ultimately the illustrations captivated me.

Free and happy crosshatch and spatter, mix of crayon, water color, pastel, pen and ink ... delightfully messy and resounding with mood and true artistic merit. An absolute favorite.

Readers Who Know What They Like

Handel, Who Knew What He Liked by MT Anderson. Candlewick Press, 2001.

A fun change from what one expects in a nonfiction book, Anderson’s text is witty and a mite sarcastic, with humorous illustrations.

The book tells an actual story, rather than miscellaneous facts, which not only makes for better retention, but makes the book interesting. How novel! An interesting book on a long-dead composer. I loved the fly on the wall in the first illustration, as well as the sarcasm about Handel’s wig.

P.S. Quite different from other Anderson reads (Octavian Nothing, Feed ...)