We Gather Together During the Fall “Family Season”

Sharing special books can become a cherished tradition that reconnects, deepens bonds with relatives

October begins what I like to call the “family season.” Many of the holidays that will bring families together to celebrate, worship, and give thanks occur in the next few months. What a perfect opportunity to share the joys of reading! Books provide a chance to talk, learn, and bond with one another, especially when there are young ones who haven’t seen relatives for some time. Reading together provides an opportunity to reconnect.

Here are some books that will give teachers, librarians, students, and their families the chance to laugh, cry, celebrate, and be thankful. Enjoy the bounty!

Badger’s Fancy Meal by Keiko Kasza (Putnam, 2007, US$16.99, ages 4 and up)

Keiko Kasza has a knack for creating modern-day fables for children, usually with a touch of irony in the conclusion. When Badger decides his “apples, roots and worms” are not fancy enough, he goes in search of better fare. He chases Mole, Rat, and Rabbit, imagining each as a very different and delicious dinner. As expected, the trio escapes, finding a great place to hide—Badger’s empty hole. The three enjoy the safety of Badger’s den and help themselves to a dinner of Badger’s food. Not to worry, they leave him a thank you note, which he finds upon returning, empty-handed. Kasza’s cartoon-style illustrations provide much of the humor for this story, but it’s the combination of her words and art that make the book so much fun. Badger’s Fancy Meal makes a great read-aloud for all ages.

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Michael Emberley (Little, Brown and Company, 2007, US$16.99, ages 5 and up)

Mary Ann Hoberman’s follow-up to her previous read-aloud/read-together books does not disappoint. Filled with two-voice poetry on everything from zombies and ghouls to trick-or-treating and dinosaurs, Hoberman manages to turn these typically scary creatures into loads of fun. Add to this Michael Emberley’s lively and laugh-out-loud illustrations, and a good time will be had by all.

Beauty and the Beaks: A Turkey’s Cautionary Tale by Mary Jane and Herm Auch (Holiday House, 2007, US$16.99, ages 3 and up)

Could there be one more original book on saving the turkey from Thanksgiving dinner? Yes. Without a doubt, Mary Jane and Herm Auch have written one of the funniest (and corniest) out there. Filled with every pun on eggs imaginable, plus a few others (the last page is a real groaner), this entertaining book will delight readers. When the chickens realize the new arrival in the yard, Lance the Turkey, is to be Thanksgiving dinner, they set out to save him. First they try to teach him to fly. When that fails, they give Lance a makeover and turn him into a chicken, which works perfectly. Adding to the fun of the book are the chicken mannequins (created by Mary Jane Auch) used to illustrate the story and the amusing magazine and book covers read by the chickens. Pick this one up and read it. It’s “eggsactly” what you’ve been looking for.

Poor Puppy by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook Press, 2007, US$16.95, ages 3 and up)

Nick Bruel’s sequel to Bad Kitty continues the wild romp through the alphabet. But as we learned in the first book, Nick Bruel loves to make his characters multi-task. This time, not only does Poor Puppy cover the alphabet but also counting, sports, and countries. The new puppy in the house really wants to play with Kitty, but Kitty is having none of it. So the puppy must make his own fun by tearing up the house (alphabetically and numerically) until the exhausted pooch falls asleep. Of course, the dog dreams of playing with Kitty all over the world, and when he wakes Kitty is ready to play. Maybe. What makes Poor Puppy (and Bad Kitty) such entertaining books are Bruel’s unusual choice of words to alphabetize and his sidesplitting illustrations. They guarantee hours of enjoyment.

New Socks by Bob Shea (Little, Brown and Company, 2007, US$12.99, ages 4 and up)

This quirky little book about a bird that gets new socks is a delight to read. With the same bravado that most kids use to show off their new bikes or toys, this little bird displays his orange socks. He demonstrates how he can slide in them, and how brave he can be on the big slide. But the most classic line is when he proclaims, “Orange must be my size!” Read New Socks and have a great time. Don’t forget to read the back of the book first. It’s just as funny as the inside.

Edward’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan (Atheneum, 2007, US$15.99, ages 10 and up)

Patricia MacLachlan’s ability to make prose seem like poetry testifies to her talent as a writer, and Edward’s Eyes highlights that gift to its fullest. Edward’s Eyes is a simple story of a family who must make a heart-wrenching decision when one of its children meets with tragedy. Much of the book deals with getting to know the family and the main character, which makes the ending so much more complex for the reader. The family chooses to donate the child’s organs. MacLachlan deserves kudos for taking such a difficult topic and making it both understandable and emotional for younger children. (Do not read this book aloud if you cry easily.) A word of caution: MacLachlan’s ability makes this book a must-read for most, but extremely sensitive children may find the book too much to handle.

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett (Simon & Schuster, 2007, US$12.99, ages 3 and up)

Only five words make up the entire text of this ingenious little picture book. Looking like a beginning reader in picture book form, Orange Pear Apple Bear soon takes the reader into the world of adjectives and double meanings. Gravett’s crafty pairing of words helps readers find the humor in her delightful watercolor illustrations and see just how important words can be in describing objects. While meant for a younger crowd, this book might also be useful with older children who need to brush up on adjectives.

America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven, illustrated by Mike Benny (Sleeping Bear Press, 2005, US$16.95, ages 7 and up)

This stunning and stirring tribute to America’s POWs and MIAs deserves a spot in every library and classroom. America’s White Table explains, in a moving story, the tradition of setting a white table for the missing soldiers of war, which has been practiced on Veteran’s Day in military dining halls for decades. And Mike Benny’s striking illustrations complement the text superbly and provide the perfect visual for children to understand exactly what the table looks like and what each item represents. The tradition of the white table allows everyone, regardless of political views, an opportunity to honor those who have served, and gives them a means to show their support of those who do serve.

We gather together during the fall “family season”. (October 2007). Reading Today, 25(2), 30.