PreSchool-Grade 2-- Henry, who last celebrated Henry's Fourth of July (Greenwillow, 1985), observes a frustrating birthday. His cake is vanilla, not the requested chocolate. The presents don't look promising; one kid even leaves his gift at home. Henry takes his disappointments with some grace, for as long as he can. Blowing out the candles he wishes "that this were someone else's birthday." But the day turns around. He loves his presents and the cake, he has to admit, is quite good. Later Mama comforts and assures him that he can spend a whole year thinking of a better wish. Even with the cozy ending, this story of clouds with silver linings seems awry. Unlike Shirley Hughes' Alfie Gives a Hand (Lothrop, 1984), in which the child acts out on the special day, here the family and friends heap too much turmoil on Henry. Full-color watercolor and black ink are used in Keller's familiar spare style. Pages have lots of white space and there is a deft use of line to bring humor and personality to the mice characters. The typeface is easy to read, large, and graceful. Solid first-grade readers can manage the text.
PreSchool-Grade 2 Duncan and Dolores are both four years old. He is a cat; she is a little girl who would like to own him because "he's just my age." Unfortunately, Duncan isn't as enthusiastic about the partnership. And little wonder: Dolores is a miniature cyclone in action, and her boisterousness is odious to Duncan, who definitely does not want to play dress up or do tricks. Discouraged because Duncan seems to prefer older sister Faye, Dolores decides to ignore her cat, with surprising results. Samuels' watercolor illustrations, particularly Duncan's drolly dismayed face, are full of expression and wonderfully complement this rib-tickling story. Faye's deadpan asides as she tries to ignore the chaos will also elicit chuckles. This is a must for cat lovers, but even those who aren't aficionados will find this cat-astrophic tale purr-fectly delightful.
Told by a nameless child narrator, this charming and fresh story takes readers to New Year's Day when it is time for the Christmas tree to go out. Feeling a little sad, the family invites friends to an after - Christmas party. They skate on the pond and collect pinecones; once home, they spread the cones with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed, string popcorn and berries, and hang this all on the scraggly tree outdoors. The group retires to enjoy hot chocolate while the birds are treated to the tree's "second season of giving." While Patricia Polacco's Uncle Vova's Tree (Philomel, 1989) suggests remembering the birds at Christmas, this enchanting story tells how to do it. Davis' pastel watercolor illustrations remind readers of how family cheer can warm even the palest months and tint them with a rosy glow.
by Bernard Waber (Author)
"An appealing picture book which depicts common childhood qualms with empathy and humor."
Kindergarten-Grade 2 Schneider, co-creator of Amos (Little, 1987), offers another silly canine character, Mercer. In similar bright and colorful comic-striplike caricatures drawn in pen and colored pencil, Mercer and his family, the Arbuckles, prepare for a vacation. But much to their chagrin, dogs aren't allowed in any of the hotels. Their solution is to disguise him as a visiting friend from France, Monsieur D'Puppie. All goes well until a series of guests intervene. Madame Croissant wants to speak with him in French, Dr. Ruffman wants to cure his laryngitis, and the desk clerk is concerned because Monsieur D'Puppie must walk with help. The waiter is worried because no proper Frenchman would refuse to eat vegetables, and the chambermaid comments that there are only three toothbrushes for four people. Luckily, the Arbuckles make a quick escape before Mercer's true identity is discovered.