Fire Drill

Text: Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender

Illustrator: Huy Voun Lee

Year: 2010

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 80508 953 0

Fire drill, though a life saving procedure, can be hard to explain to kids. This book, however, works like a charm. It capitalizes on little ones’ fondness for rhymes and uses it creatively to deliver the essential nature of a fire drill without any sense of alarm.

The illustrations, created using cut-paper collages, are exceptional too!

The book is a must-have on all counts.

Excerpt

Hear your name.

Raise your hand.

Say out loud: “Here I am!”

Now we wait.

Now we stay.

The Frog Prince (Usborne Young Reading)

Retold by Susanna Davidson       

Illustrator: Mike Gordon

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978 0 74607 023 9

Meet Princess Poppy who, while playing with her golden ball, meets a cheeky, talking frog. Of course, we all know how that ends.

This book from the Usborne Young Reading series makes a delightful read for young children.

According to the publishers, this timeless fairy tale has been around since the thirteenth century. The Grimm Brothers retold the tale we know so well.

Excerpt

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

“Yes,” croaked the frog, carefully feeling his head.

“I didn't mean to hurt you,” said Poppy. “I’m so sorry.” And she bent down and kissed him.

There was a loud crash of thunder, followed by a shower of sparks. The frog had vanished. In his place stood a handsome young prince.

“At last!” shouted the Prince. “I’m human again. No more slimy skin, no more webbed feet, no more flies…” 

Clem always could …

By Sarah Watt

Year: 2009

Publisher: Lothian Children’s Books, Sydney

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages:  32

ISBN: 978 0 73441 115 0

Meet Clem, the friendly neighborhood kid who can do anything that a kid his age ought to except swim. 

So, when his mom decides it’s time he learnt swimming, Clem imagines a lot of reasons - from sharks to sucking holes at the bottom, to avoid getting into the pool. 

I liked this book for the way it realistically captures the fears of child and portrays the frustration of a mother who has to resort to begging and bribery among other tactics to get Clem into the pool. 

It is also the story of a child overcoming his fears and taking the plunge. :-)

Excerpt

They went back to the pool next week.

Clem still wasn't keen.

‘There’s nothing to be scared of,’ said Clem’s mum.

Clem thought about it. 

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Retold by Katie Daynes

Illustrator: Desideria Guicciardini

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-79450-758-9

This is an abridged version of the Grimm Brothers’ heart-warming tale of a hard-working and kindly shoe-maker. The delightfully narrated and well-illustrated story, split into eight chapters makes for good bedtime reading.   

Excerpt

Everything was quiet … until midnight. Two little elves rushed in, wearing nothing but rags. They sat down at the table and quickly began to sew. The shoemaker and his wife listened carefully to the elves’ chatter.

“This is better than making cheap shoes in that rotten attic,” said the first elf.

“I wish the other elves had escaped as well,” said the second.

Home

By Alex T. Smith, Wikipedia

Year: 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 1 40710 540 6

“A house is made of BOARDS and BEAMS

A home is made of LOVE and DREAMS. – anon.

And, that’s how the book starts.

The book does keep its promise as it uses the example of four friends, named simply as One, Two, Three and Four to bring home the lesson that people and relationships make a home not the walls and floors.

It’s a delightful read.

Excerpt

First they talked.

Then they argued.

Then they fought.

Finally they decided to go their separate ways.

“If I’m going,” they all shouted, “I’m taking the house with me!”

The Burglar’s Breakfast

Author: Felicity Everett, adapted by Lesley Sims

Illustrator: Christyan Fox

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2002

ISBN: 978 0 79450 221 8

You’ll love Alfie Briggs, the burglar, who, ummm… is the protagonist of this sweet tale of a life of crime, remorse and redemption. Narrated simply and with lots of humor, this tale will delight your little one. Like all Usborne Young Reading Series, clever illustrations add to the story besides providing significant clues to the next part of the story.

For parents who are concerned about the moral implications of a burglar’s story, like I was, I suggest that they read it first. If you still feel uncomfortable, it’s better to stay away from the book. However, I thought it gave my children the chance to see that people changed for the better and yes, the “lived-happily-ever-after” toned ending should help make up your minds.

Excerpt

Nose pressed against his magnifying glass, Alfie followed the cornflake trail.

He followed the trail into the park. He followed it to Pets’ Corner. The thief would be sorry he’d stolen from Alfie.

Suddenly, Alfie came face to face with the thief. The thief looked even grumpier than Alfie. What’s more, he had two sharp horns.

Smelling: Super Senses

By Mary Mackill

Year: 2006

Publisher: Raintree Publishers, UK

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978 1 40620 024 9

This is yet another ‘science-made-fun’ book from the Read and Learn series. The book employs easy-to-read text laid out in neat little chapters and brightly-colored photographs to introduce children to the sense of smell and its care.

Excerpt

Your sense of smell helps you to stay safe.

Smelling smoke could mean that something is on fire.

The smell of food can make you feel hungry.

Other titles in this series:

• Hearing
• Seeing
• Special Animal Senses
• Tasting
• Touching, Review here 

The Dinosaurs Next Door

Author: Harriet Castor, adapted by Lesley Sims

Illustrator: Teri Gower

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2002

This is a fairy-tale-like-sci-fi for little ones with colorful illustrations interspersed within the story. 

The story follows Mr. Puff, an eccentric inventor who finds himself in possession of dinosaur eggs which actually hatch. His young neighbor Sam helps him with cope with parenting little dinos.

This tumbly tale from the Usborne Young Reading series is split into six chapters to make it easy for young readers. And also, there’s plenty of dots and exclamation marks to delightfully draw out the suspense for gleeful minds.

Excerpt

“These aren’t just any old eggs,” said, Mr. Puff. “They’re … dinosaur eggs!”

“What?” cried Sam. “But dinosaurs died out zillions of years ago. How…? Where…?”

Mr. Puff looked mysterious. “Oh, they were to pay me for an invention,” he said.

Just then, the blue spotted egg began to jiggle and jump and bump in the basket.

A crack appeared, zigzagging along the shell …

…then another …

…then another …

…until finally, a little green head burst out.