Tag: Animals

Hanukkah Bear

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Hanukkah Bear (2013)

written by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Bubba Brayna’s delicious-smelling latkes attract a very large and hungry guest whom the elderly woman mistakes for the rabbi.  The good-natured Bubba Brayna encourages her guest to enjoy an evening of Hanukkah activities and traditions, despite some initial confusion and resistance by Bear.

This is a sweet, fun story for Hanukkah, and I absolutely adore Wohnoutka’s illustrations of Bubba Brayna and her cottage.

 

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Bear Snores On
Hanukkah books list

 

Winnie-the-Pooh and House at Pooh Corner

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Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and House at Pooh Corner (1928)
stories by A.A. Milne, illustrations by E.H. Shepard

I grew up as a huge fan of Pooh.  But, embarrassingly, I didn’t even touch the actual books until college, when I was able to visit Ashdown Forest.  In reality, the books, like those of the precocious Eloise, are as much, if not more, for adults than kids anyway.  Even still…How could I have gone so long without the real Winnie-the-Pooh?

Even though all the chapters in these books are their own stories, and they were written two years apart, I still think of the two books as one unit.  If you’ve only been exposed to Disney’s Pooh, I highly recommend reading these.  You’ll never go back.  I can’t, of course, speak to these books from a child’s perspective (although I will say that our 3-year old sits and listens to a chapter every night), but the stories are so very entertaining.  They may feel slower-paced than some modern children’s literature, but it’s the subtle humor of these books that makes them such treasures.  Once I finally introduced myself to the books, I also found that my character favorites (and least favorites) changed.  While Pooh had always been my Number One (Oh, boy, this could go very wrong…) as a child, Piglet is definitely my favorite in the books.  I won’t go into least favorites, as I know how attached people become to these characters, but I do highly recommend giving these books a read or a re-read to see for yourself.

Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and House at Pooh Corner (1928)

Celebrate Pooh Day every January 18th!  (A.A. Milne’s birthday)

I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur

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I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur (2006)
by Stella Blackstone and Clare Beaton

While looking for dino books for our 3-year old, I found surprisingly few that I actually liked.  This one gives a brief and easy intro to some of the dinosaurs during a short tale about a young child dreaming she’s a dinosaur.  The flowing, simple rhymes are cute, but the real highlight of this book for me is the amazing collage art done with fabric, ribbons, sequins, and the like.  (I want to be Clare Beaton’s friend, peek into her art studio, and take classes from her.  I am itching to get my hands on more of her books!)  My other favorite part of this book is actually the little glossary at the end that tells facts about the 13 dinos introduced in the book.

 

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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)
by Robert C. O’Brien

Widowed Mrs. Frisby (a mouse) must find a solution to help her young son, Timothy, before the family is forced to move out of their winter home in the field of Mr. Fitzgibbon.  She finds unexpected help from a strange group of rats who have a story all their own.

This is such an enjoyable read.  In some ways, it reminds me of the movie Ratatouille, as we hear about life from the rats’ point of view.  The story is told quite simply, and yet it’s difficult to put down.  Children will love this tale, full of adventures, suspense, and kindnesses.  It’s one of our daughter’s all-time favorites.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971)

Update:  After rereading this and reading it out loud to our daughter, I wanted to add a few more things.  This book was written in the 70s, and I needed to keep that in mind.  There was nothing overtly anti-feminist or anything, but there were a few small moments that stood out a little more to me this reading.  (My sensors go into high alert when we’re sharing anything with the kids.)  There are a couple instances when Mrs. Frisby is given special treatment, not for her own bravery and work, but because of her husband.  There’s a also a meeting for only the men at one point.  I was able to accept it all a bit more as the story unfolded, but these may be things you want to discuss.  Also, Mrs. Frisby definitely earns her own place and respect for all she does.  So, by the end, I wasn’t as troubled by it as I was in the middle of the book.  Just something to keep in mind.

The Story of Ferdinand

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The Story of Ferdinand (1936)
by Munro Leaf, illustrations by Robert Lawson

I never read this classic picture book as a child, so I don’t know that I would have picked it up for our baby girl had a friend not given it to us.  It instantly became one of my favorites!

This charming book tells the story of Ferdinand, a nature-loving, peaceful bull who accidentally ends up at the bull fight in Madrid.  The simple black-and-white illustrations are just delightful, and I love how Ferdinand is content to just be himself.  I’m so glad to have this picture book as part of our daughter’s library!

Apparently, this picture book was written in one afternoon, and it caused enough controversy to be banned from several countries including Spain, where the tale takes place.

The Story of Ferdinand (1936)