Mouse Soup

Mouse Soup
Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Recommended for ages 3-7

Mouse Soup, by Arnold Lobel, is a classic. And I don't usually review classics--so much has been said about them already. But I'm going to slap this one up here because The Boy loved it, and because I think that it's become lesser-known since I read it as a kid.

So here's how Mouse Soup goes. A mouse is sitting under a tree, reading a book, when he's captured by a weasel. The weasel threatens to make soup out of him, but the mouse protests that mouse soup only tastes good if it has some stories in it. The weasel agrees, so the mouse tells four stories, delaying the soup-making and eventually allowing for his escape.

Here's what I love about this book: One, the mouse's stories are funny little things that don't necessarily make a lot of sense. Two, the mouse gets himself out of his predicament using his own wits. Three, it's an easy reader, so your kids may be able to read along with you. And four, it proves that a children's book doesn't have to be flashy or trendy to delight a child. Oh, and five--it's by Arnold Lobel, people!

Anyway, Mouse Soup is available from Amazon; just click on any of the Amazon affiliate links in this post.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Read this book. Seriously.

I first saw it, and loved it, as a short film (that went on to win an Academy Award!) when it made the rounds on Facebook several months ago. It looks like the short is available on iTunes now; there's also an app to go along with it. You may be able to find the short on YouTube somewhere.

Anyway, the picture-book version finally came out in August, and it's just as gorgeous as the short. It's a story about the importance of books and words--Morris' life is full and joyful with them, but gray and dreary without them. Unfortunately, I don't think I can do the story line better justice than that, so you'll have to go out and find a copy of the book yourself to really understand how powerful it is.

Oh, and I think The Boy liked it, too.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Written and illustrated by William Joyce
Age range*: 5-8
My rating: 5 stars [out of five] 

*Age ranges are very flexible.

Full disclosure: I don't receive any compensation for reviewing children's books--I usually just get them at the local library.

Interrupting Chicken

How 'bout a good review this time? Sounds good to me.

So. Interrupting Chicken is about...an interrupting chicken. (Ha! I'm so funny!) Okay, it's about a little chicken and her daddy chicken. Daddy Chicken tries to read Little Chicken bedtime stories every night, but Little Chicken can't resist interrupting each story.

If I remember right (we already took this one back to the library), all of the stories that Daddy Chicken tries to read are well-known fairy tales--Little Red Riding Hood, that sort of thing. That worked well for us, because it turns out that Little Boy doesn't know as many fairy tales as I thought he did. And this story puts a fun twist on the fairy tales.

Also, Little Boy thought Little Chicken was hilarious. And really, there's no better recommendation than that.

Interrupting Chicken
Written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein
Age range*: 3-6
My rating: 4 stars [out of five]

*Age ranges are very flexible.

Full disclosure: I don't receive any compensation for reviewing children's books--the books are usually just checked out from the local library.