My year with the Minnesota Reading Corps definitely renewed my love of children’s books. At my bookseller job, the children’s section is my favorite place to be. Some of the books are cute and clever, while others are just plain weird.
You say magic, I say demonic. There’s a whole series of Magic Kitten chapter books, as well as Magic Puppy, Pony, and Bunny. And yes, the animal on the cover always appears possessed.
In which Biscuit has improbably calm reactions to chicks and ducks. Then again, children’s books are not exactly known for their realistic depictions of animals.
Okay, this one is a little silly, but also legitimately awesome. The BabyLit series uses classic novels as the basis for simple board books. This one counts to ten Pride and Prejudice style. My favorites are “2 rich gentlemen,” “4 marriage proposals,” and “10 thousand pounds a year”!
Where Is Baby’s Valentine? Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs? Where Is Baby’s Pumpkin? Where Is Baby’s Dreidel? Perhaps the real question we need to ask ourselves is, “Why do we keep giving things to baby?” She loses everything!
If you want your kid to rock, you should start preparing them early. This board book has bold illustrations and genuinely clever plays on words. “The skunk likes punk. . . . The weasel likes pop.” The weasel also happens to be dressed like Michael Jackson.
George and Martha books are classic, but as an adult they leave me with many questions. Is there some hippo-sized sexual tension between these two friends? And what’s with the story about George peeping on Martha in the bathtub?
And that’s what the kids are reading!
Courtney Coherent 