The Runaway Bunny Book and CD (Share a Story) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Title: The Runaway Bunny Book and CD (Share a Story) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]
Author: Margaret Wise Brown
Publish Date: December 26, 2006
Publisher: HarperFestival; Pap/Com edition
Pages: 34
ISBN: 0061142719

Price: $9.99
Classification: Book/Audiobook (KIT)
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: Nursery

Annotation: A little bunny plays hide and seek and mother bunny finds him every time.

Evaluation: A book that mommies can read to their babies to reassure them of there love and steadfastness. Feeling secure is a huge part of being a child, and here the illustrations and plot are profoundly well-executed much like Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon. Furthermore, literacy is encouraged in a new form with an audio component. This is a great tool for families whose parents are learning English or to read. However, almost anyone can benefit from listening to audiobooks as a shared experience. A WONDERFUL family activity that is an alternative to television!

Guess How Much I Love You

Title: Guess How Much I Love You
Author: Sam McBratney
Publish Date: 2008
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0763641758

Price: Hardcover $16.99
Classification: Picture Book
Genre: Fiction

Annotation: During a bathtime routine, nutbrown hare and his baby bunny go back in forth about who loves who more. Daddy Nutbrown Hare shows every daddy's sentiment by coming back with more each time.

Evaluation: Something about this book is very appealing. As if the sentiment wasn't enough to make for a sweet read aloud, the illustrations are classic and modern, somehow, at the same time. This book is a reassuring delight for young one's that need their daddy's (and parents in general) soothing words of love but in a "baby play" way. In this way it's also a developmentally appropriate illustration of emotions as well as a great pre-literacy to early literacy read aloud. It also encourages conversation, predictive guessing, and physical movement while copying the Hare's Gestures.

Authors Website:

And Tango Make Three

Title: And Tango Makes Three

Author: Justin Richardson

Price: $16.99

Pages:

• 32 pages

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Publisher Date: April 26, 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689878451

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: In New York's Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and together begin sitting on abandoned eggs to keep them safe and warm!

Evaluation: It would be an understatement to say that this books controversy precedes it, but I think it would be a mistake to look at this book as only that, and not what it really is: a great picture book! And though not for all, parents who believe in tolerance (no matter their sexual orientation) will be drawn to this book. And of course, those parents of the same sex will adore and appreciate this sweet, insightful tale. It's hard to take a grown up issue and make it developmentally appropriate, but Richardson does so, and does it WELL!

Author Webpage: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Justin-Richardson/27409275

I Love You Forever

Title: I Love You Forever

Author: Robert Munsch

Publish Date: September 2000

Publisher: Firefly Books

Pages: 32

Price: $5.95

IBSN: 1552091090

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: A mother's cradles her son as a baby, through the years, then finally the son cradles his mother when she grows old. "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be." This is the song the mother sings to her son as he is young and she cradles him. Throughout the book which flows easily (with help fromSheila McGraw's sweet pastel illustrations that are both cute and calming). As the boy grows (and no matter what changes he went through) the mother never stops loving him and cradling him (sometimes behind his back as he sleeps). But when mom grows old, the boy cradles her.

Evaluation: I know this book is an incredibly popular tale. It reads easily and the print is the kind that encourages early literacy. Its the perfect bedroom, goodnight tale and definitely a loving tales for mom to read to their children. However for me, I didn't love it. Dare I say somewhat creepy? But, I think that it's a matter of taste. One thing is for sure, this is a beloved book and a favorite verging on instant classic for very many young readers. And the metaphor is endearing for parents.

Official Robert Munsch Website: http://robertmunsch.com/