Fables
By: Arnold Lobel
Medal Winner
NOT REVIEWED
A pig flying through marshmallow clouds to a marzipan moon? A camel pirouetting through the desert? A wolf who looks suspiciously like an apple tree—or is it the other way around? A bear in a frying-pan hat and paper-bag boots?
Where can a reader—child or adult—find such marvelous things but in a fable? Arnold Lobel, creator of Frog and Toad, has given us his own funny and true fables. Each with a fresh and unexpected moral. Each accompanied by an illustration of glowing color and rich detail.
Indeed, the reader of Arnold Lobel's FABLES will be rewarded—just like the mouse who goes off to see the world—by many moments of happiness.
From the dust jacket of a later printing
The Bremen-Town Musicians
By: Ilse Plume
Honor
Reviewed by: Lara Lleverino
Recommended age: 4-6 years of age
The Bremen Town Musicians is a retelling of the German fairy tale about four animals who have outlived their usefulness to their masters and have started to fear for their lives. Beginning with an old donkey who runs away and is shortly joined by an old dog, an old cat and finely a ragged old rooster the animals learn the value of companionship and live together in an abandoned farm they scare a robber band away from. When a single robber is sent back in the night to see if they ran away unnecessarily he jumps to wild conclusion because of what he mistakes in the dark and the animals are left to live in peace. This book would be fun to read along with The Blind Men and the Elephant, a fairy tale from India that likewise features men who make wild assumptions based on limited information.
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher
By: Molly Bang
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
The Grey Lady loves strawberries. But so does the Strawberry Snatcher, and unfortunately for the Grey Lady he is not far away and getting closer all the time.
Past flower shops and bakeries he stalks her, silently, steadily, biding his time. He pursues her by foot along haunting red-brick paths, and then by skateboard into the mysterious depths of a swamp both beautiful and terrifying.
Closer and closer he gets, and yet the Grey Lady escapes him, in fantastic and marvelously improbable ways, until, in the heart of the forest the Strawberry Snatcher discovers instead—blackberries!
In this wordless allegory, author-illustrator Molly Bang has created a visual feast full of surprise and wonder. Her lively tale skillfully blends fantasy, suspense, and humor, and the magnificent illustrations are a treat for young and old alike.
From the dust jacket
Mice Twice
By: Joseph Low
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
Cat was hungry—so hungry, in fact, he could eat forty-seven grasshoppers or sixty-nine crickets or even a fine, fat sparrow. But what Cat really wanted was a nice, tender mouse. He set off to see Mouse, and after politely inquiring about her health, he invited her to dinner the next night. Mouse knew Cat's cunning ways well and accepted the invitation if she could bring a friend. "Mice twice!" thought Cat, licking his whiskers. By all means.
Much to Cat's surprise and anger, Mouse's friend turned out to be Dog and the plans for a mouse dinner were dropped immediately—at least for awhile. When Dog invited Cat to dine with him the following night, Cat decided to try a little turnabout. Thus begins a frenzy of uneasy hospitality with each new guest bigger and more ferocious than the last until, finally, Mouse puts an end to it all with a mystery guest so small, he's barely seen, but who packs a terrific wallop.
Joseph Low's amusing graphic illustrations capture all the wit and humor of this highly original, marvelously funny tale of one-upmanship in a book that will delight young readers everywhere.
From the dust jacket
Truck
By: Donald Crews
Donald Crews
NOT REVIEWED
A bright, classic book for truck-obsessed toddlers. This Caldecott Honor Book is from the beloved author-artist Donald Crews.
In this wordless picture book, a large red trailer truck packed with tricycles moves through pages of fog, truck stops, and crowded highways. "Beautifully executed and appealing."—School Library Journal
This is an ideal book to share with preschoolers, both at home and in the classroom—especially those who love books about transportation!
From the publisher
