Home Library Recommendations: Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, Graffes Can’t Dance, Corduroy, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Dot in Larryland: The Big Little Book of an Odd-Sized Friendship
Posted: January 12th, 2009Today Miki brings you a great selection of books to add to your reading repertoire. The links in the post lead you to Fishpond Online Bookstore, which offers books at discounted prices on a permanent basis – yay!
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Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronan & Betsy Lewin
Although the text in this book is probably best for about 18 months up, even babies will love looking at the illustrations. Once they do start to understand the story, though, wait for the gales of laughter to errupt!
The premise is a barnful of cows who find a typewriter and start to issue written demands to the farmer. It develops into a ‘dispute resolution’ scenario, which is great for sparking discussions with the kids about how to compromise.
Kids will love the simple words, vivid pictures and repetition while adults will giggle at the parodies.
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Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Ideal for age 2.5 upwards, this heartwarming story features a giraffe who just wants to boogie at the annual Jungle Dance. Unfortunately due to his long legs, knobbly knees the other animals mock him, which makes poor Gerald very downhearted.
This story has a very happy ending, and it’s a lovely one for discussing individuality with your kids. The illustrations are especially lovely, bright and bold and very engaging.
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Corduroy by Don Freeman
Corduroy, the lovable teddy bear who lives in a department store, is now being adored by his second generation of children. Full of positive messages and warm fuzzy feelings, it’s one of those bonding books for parents and children to read together – I think it’s especially suited to bedtime.
Great for ages 3+.
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
A classic tale of one small boy who has ‘one of those days’, where everything goes terribly, horribly wrong. Yes, we all have those days, your kids included, so it’s great to be able to read about them in a humorous way and then discuss with your children ways in which Alexander might have dealt differently with his day, and how great a role his attitude may have played.
This one is great for kids aged four upwards.
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Dot in Larryland: The Big Little Book of an Odd-Sized Friendship by Patricia Marx
Dot in Larryland is so hot off the press that you’ll be hard pressed to find any review of it online – I actually had to get my local bookstore to order in a copy especially for me based on a recommendation from a librarian friend overseas. The store manager read it while waiting for me to collect it, and was so impressed that she then placed a large order for the store!
It’s a quirky little story about two very unlikely best friends, and Roz Chast’s distinctive illustrations really add to the slightly off-centre, but very endearing, feel.
Kids aged 4+ will get the most out of this one.
The links in the post lead you to Fishpond Online Bookstore, which offers books at discounted prices on a permanent basis – yay! Fishpond Bookstore charges $5.99 flat rate postage Australia-wide. Orders over $50.00 are shipped free.
