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Index Interviews: Mariah Stewart A Giant Leap for Auslan Storytelling Perseverance: The Key to the Doors of Success, Part I Parenting Your Book Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
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Children's Book ReviewsPage One of ThreeAlbert the Bear by Nick ButterworthHarperCollins, September, 2003Hardcover, 28 pages ISBN: 0060536888 Ages Baby-Preschool Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
Everyone thought the new arrival at the toy shop, Albert the Bear,
was really sad. He seemed to take everything way too seriously
and when people tried to make him smile he just remained sad.
Albert would just sit and stare with an awful frown on his face. Everyone
felt bad for the new sad bear, so Sally, a hippopotamus, tried to
conjure up a plan to cheer him up. Sally and her friends, a mouse
named Pickle, a Jack-in-a-box named
Jack-in-a-box, Maurice the steam engine, Lizzie the humming
top, Toby the cat and others began putting on a play
for the sad bear. The first two acts were a miss. Pickle forgot
her lines and Jack-in-a-box bounced too high and crashed.
Albert kept watching, but was not amused. "Please," said Albert
as if he had some explanation for his glum behavior, but before he
could finish Sally suddenly came out with bright red
lipstick, a pointy yellow hat and ballerina outfit. Sally didn't
mean to be clumsy, but she slipped and crashed right into
Albert. Albert shouted, "I am not sad at all. It is just the
way I am made. I just happen to have a sad look on my face."
But now he did have a smile on his face. Some of Sally's lipstick
had stuck on his mouth, creating a very happy smile. All the toys
started laughing and Albert starting laughing too. His laugh was
enormous and boisterous and it made everyone laugh all over again.
Albert the Bear is a very good story, full of terrific illustrations and good humor. In addition to the wonderful story and pictures, the book also includes guest appearance in the pictures by some of children's favorite characters including Bob the Builder, Paddington, Kipper, Noddy and Where's Waldo. Critter Love by Kate SpohnHarperFestival, January, 2004Picture Books, 24 pages ISBN: 0590292242 Ages Baby-Preschool Ordering information: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 
Critter Love is a wonderful book to help teach young
children to be kind to our animal friends. Colorful
illustrations show a boy and girl interacting with
animals of all kinds, both large and small. Elephants, lizards,
giraffes, koalas, turtles, dolphins, ducks and monkeys
are all shown in illustrations having friendly encounters
with the two children. In the end the book says, "Make
friends with all critters…for you are one too." Author
Kate Spohn offers dozens of cute little critter illustrations
combined with short, easy-to-understand text that
is perfect to read to very small children. Some of the
animals have also been given a soft raised surface
that children can touch and feel. Kids can spend a lot
of time with this book both touching the animals and
trying to name them, all the while learning that it is
important to treat animals with kindness.
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