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/ . / B O O K S ➻ / ( , . / A G E S ' , ( 15 16 21 18 20 19 The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss ➸ You know how there are some days when the bedtime story feels like just one more thing to check oZ on the to-do list? I never felt this way about reading any of the stories in The Sneetches. And it's not like I had anything against The Cat in the Hat, but for me, Seuss is most magical when he's teach- Rainbow Goblins by Ul De Rico ➸ What You'll Remember About It: The artwork. And I use the word artwork, as op- posed to illustrations, because these aren't illustrations. They're jewel-like oil paintings on wood panels by a fine Ital- ian artist, lending the whole thing the otherworldly feel of a children's book as imagined by a Renaissance master. Storyline is so-so, but the landscapes alone are worth the price of admission. –Andy The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch ➸ A beautiful princess named Elizabeth uses her smarts to rescue her fiance, Prince Ronald after a fire- breathing dragon kidnaps him for his next meal and burns all her fancy clothes. Unfortunately, Ronald turns out to be an ungrateful loser and Elizabeth rides oZ into the sunset empowered and happy anyway. Good messages for girls, plus there's Elizabeth's winning line: "Ronald, your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum." –Jenny The Great Pie Robbery by Richard Scarry ➸ With its dastardly villains, gentle, low-level mayhem, and the amazing art of Richard Scarry, it's the perfect introduc- tion to mystery genre. I think this is the only book Abby let us read to her between 2005 and 2006 (between 3 and 4 years old). A classic. –Andy That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell ➸ A queen will stop at nothing to own Emily Brown's much- loved stuZed rabbit compan- ion. When bribery with jewels and riches doesn't work, she sends in the army, the navy, and finally, special-ops, only to 17 Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig ➸ A book, in some ways, about loss. But with a happy ending. Quick summary: Mama's boy donkey named Sylvester Dun- can (how great is that name?) collects pebbles. One day, he finds a magic one: when you hold it and make a wish, the wish comes true. Not being dumb, he immediately sees the potential for good in this, wants to take it home to show his parents. Sees a lion on way home and, freaked and scared of being eaten alive, wishes he was a rock. Turns into rock. Unable to touch magic pebble and wish to be a donkey again, he sits there, inert: a rock. His distraught parents go looking for him. They look for him for a year. Parents eventually go for a walk and have a picnic on him. They find the pebble, place it on the rock, and Syl- vester is reborn. Favorite little moment: "The sun was shining as if rain had never existed." – Andy ing a lesson – and in between the deep aqua blue covers of this book you'll get three good ones: Treat people equally and fairly (The Sneetches); Be Flexible (The Zax); and Don't be afraid of something just because it's unfamiliar (What Was I Scared Of). –Jenny PS: See: "Friend of DALS: George Saunders," page 11. learn that there is no short- cut for earning the trust and love of a good friend. What You'll Remember About It: The inspired story-telling. It's hard to make something sound original, after all, but Cowell makes it look easy here. This was a huge hit whenever we would read it aloud for the kids on story day at kindergarten. Funny, unpredictable, creative, and whimsical (in the best pos- sible, non-cloying way). And it only sounds better when read with a bad British accent. –Andy Cricket in the Thicket by Aileen Fisher ➸ A collection of poems about nature, divided into four parts: Six Legs and Eight (aka insects), Four Legs and Two (birds and animals), Sunflowers High and Pumpkins Low (plants and flowers), Warm Days and Cold (the seasons). The poems are so wholesome it's almost painful. Take this last stanza from "The Turtledoves:" "Even when there's work to do, don't forget to nod and coo: 'Love to you.' and 'Love to you.'"–Jenny 6