The Terrible Greedy Fossifoo

Author and Illustrator: Charles Fuge

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Simon and Schuster, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-41691-037-4

Meet the brightly colored and contented creatures of the Great Green Forest who lived happily until “the terrible greedy Fossifoo arrived!”

This story about greed, repentance and propitiation ought to go well with children besides introducing them to the concept of sharing and caring for the world around them.   

I loved how Fuge uses colors to demonstrate the ravages of greed as the palette gently but inexorably moves from lush, vibrant greens to bare, lifeless browns.

Though, I must say, the name Fossifoo reminds me a lot of ‘fossil fuels’.

Excerpt

“What have I done?” whispered the Fossifoo, and he started to cry.

He cried and cried and cried until he had no tears left to cry. If only he had taken care of the beautiful forest.

Then he noticed it – beneath his feet, watered by all the tears, a tiny seed had sprouted.  

Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends (Puffin Young Readers – Level 1)

Text: Kate McMullan

Illustrations: R W Riley

Year: 2003

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 48

ISBN:  978 0 44845 803 8

This is a story of two good friends, Pearl, an industrious rabbit and Wagner, a mouse who likes to talk big.

Naturally, there is a clash when the Science Fair comes around but they are good friends and soon all is forgiven.  

Excerpt

“Have you changed your mind about my new boots?” asked Pearl.

“No,” said Wagner.

“I still do not like your boots. But you like them. And that is all that matters.”

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Cow in the House, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Arthur’s Lost Puppy

Author: Marc Brown

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Random House, New York

Year: 2000

ISBN: 978-0-67988-466-8

This delightful book not only features the colorful world of Arthur as seen on television but is complimented with fun stickers of key words like balloons and clowns that children can use to stick wherever the respective word appears.

Arthur and D.W. take Baby Kate to the street fair where she has lots of fun until she starts crying. Arthur is left clueless but little Pal knows and finds a way to get what she wants – a balloon!

This book belongs to the Random House Step into Reading 3 series, an initiative to encourage reading among children using creative tools.

Excerpt

The balloons rose higher and higher.

Over the roofs, over the trees, up, up, up they went.

And so did Pal!

“Look!” someone shouted.

“A flying puppy!”

The Playground Problem (Robin Hill School) – Ready to Read: Level 1

Author: Margaret McNamara

Illustrator: Mike Gordon

Year: 2004

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, New York

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 68985 876 5

Website: Ready to Read

There is a problem at the school playground. The boys do not allow Emma to play soccer with them because “…girls do not play soccer.”

Emma finds a way, of course, as little girls always do! :-)

This book, its illustrations included, will make you smile.

This is a Ready-to-Read Level-1 (starting to read) book which features simple stories with increased vocabulary and longer sentences.

Excerpt

On Tuesday, the girls ran out to the playground.

They had a soccer ball.

They played soccer.

“Hey!” said Reza. “The girls can play soccer.”