GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT
written/illus. by Esther van den Berg, (Clavis Publishing, $18.95, November 2020, ISBN 978-1-6053-7588-5), 32p, Ages 3-7

“Here comes Dot. She’s arriving at the Bug Hotel, just in time for bedtime. Before Dot goes to sleep, she’ll make sure all the other bugs are getting ready for bed.” With checklist and pencil, the ladybug visits a variety of bugs and joins each one in their bedtime routine. Dung Beetle needs a bath (so does Dot), Stick Bug picks out yellow striped pajamas (Dot picks out polka-dot), Fly needs to brush his teeth (both remember to spit in the sink), Pill Bug reads while on the toilet (Dot remembers to go also), and Bookworm reads a book before bedtime (Dot looks at the pictures). After double-checking her list, Dot prepares for bed, but is interrupted by the other bugs, who give her a surprise good-night kiss. Kids will love this cute ladybug and her friends, the amazing illustrations, and a comfy bedtime story of kindness and helping others.
        Themes: Bedtime, Friendship, Humor, Insects, Values

COUNTING CREATURES
written by Julia Donaldson, illus. by Sharon King-Chai, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $20.99, November 2020, ISBN 978-0-593-32453-0), 58p, Ages 3-5

In a beautiful die-cut, lift-the-flap, counting book with peak-a-boo pages, each page reveals an animal in its habitat with a flap that lifts to reveal baby animals from 1 to 10, then 15, 20 and 25. “This bat has . . . 1 baby / Holding on tight / as they fly through the night. Who has more babies than that?” The answer is found on the following page. Fourteen animals are featured from leopard cubs, owlets, fox kits, leverets, potbelly piglets to caterpillars, tadpoles, poults, and many more. Kids will love the surprise ending featuring spiders. “LOTS of spiderlings. Take a good look they’re all over this book. How many babies is that?”

Beautifully illustrated with engaging rhymes and descriptive language, this clever counting book is delightful, a pleasure to read-aloud, and a winner.
        Themes: Animals, Concept, Families, Nature, Nonfiction, Rhythm & Rhyme

LEO’S MONSTER
written/illus. by Marcus Pfister, (NorthSouth Books $17.95, May 2020, ISBN 978-0-7358-4417-9), 32p, Ages 4-7

“It was Leo’s first trip to the home of his friend Zoe. He left the city to visit her in her country mouse home.” As Leo ventures outside, Zoe cautions him about the cat, but he returns describing a horrible monster with an enormous tail, a tongue that could “tear out trees,” two pointy horns, a loud roar, and stinky poo. When Zoe realizes the description fits his friend, Bertha, he happily introduces Leo to the sweet-tempered cow. In bits and pieces, the clever illustrations present clues on each page that hint of a friend not an enemy. Children will enjoy the mystery, suspense, and this cute story of exaggeration.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Humor

CLICK, CLACK, GOOD NIGHT (A Click Clack Book)
written by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin, (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $17.99, Oct. 2020, ISBN 978-1-5344-5108-7), 32p, Ages 4-8

The nighttime ritual on the farm involves Farmer Brown tucking all the animals into bed with great care and attention. He pats the cows on their heads, brushes out the tangles on the sheep, covers the chickens with a blanket, and turns each night light out. Soon they are all sound asleep, except for Duck, who is “not quite ready for bed.” Farmer Brown sings him songs, reads books, turns on a white-noise machine, creates a puppet show, tries yoga, and a discussion of the day’s top news. Wide awake, Duck tries different sleeping spots, but everywhere is too soft, hard, loud, or bright. Then, Duck remembers the perfect spot with hot sauce, sliced cheese, whole wheat bread, the right book, Farmer Brown’s pajamas, and bed. Kids will love this latest Click Clack book with its silly bedtime sleeping dilemma.
Themes: Animals, Bedtime, Friendship, Humor, Series
Others in the Series: Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat | Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type | Click, Clack, Peep! | Click, Clack, Splish, Splash: A Counting Adventure | Click, Clack Surprise! | Click, Clack, Quack to School! | Dooby, Dooby, Moo | Giggle, Giggle, Quack | Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure | Duck for President | Click, Clack, Moo: I Love You

SHORT & SWEET #4
(Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series)
written by Josh Funk, illus. by Brendan Kearney, (Sterling Children’s Books, $16.95, Sept. 2020, ISBN
978-1-4549-3427-1), 40p, Ages 5+

In their 4th adventure, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast find themselves turning stale. Their friend Baron von Waffle suggests a new treatment by Professor Biscotti using his DE-spoiling ray. When the technology malfunctions and they are transformed into children, they are afraid of their friend the Baron and run away. “Shrieking, the duo of pint-sized companions / scampered and slid all the way to Bran Canyons. / Over the Great Wall of Pine Nuts, they dashed, / and down through the Fjords of Farfalle, they splashed.” Will they find a remedy and make amends with their friend Baron?

In this delightful kitchen adventure, kids will love the maple syrup cure, and adults will love Juice Springsteen, Lime Square, and the book titles “If You Give a Mousse a Cookie,” “Make Way for Duck Sauce, “and “Sylvester and the Magic Pepper.”
        Themes: Adventure, Food, Friendship, Humor, Mysteries, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series
Other Books in the Series:Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #1 | The Case of the Stinky Stench #2 | Mission Defrostable #3

WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?:
A Story of Patience & Fortitude #2
written by Josh Funk, illus. by Stevie Lewis, (Henry Holt & Co., $18.99, Oct. 2020, ISBN 978-1-250-24140-5), 40p, Ages 5-7

The popular lions from Lost in the Library (Holt, 2018) return for a mystery/adventure as they search for missing books from the Children’s Center of the library. Every night they slip away from their post outside the 42nd Street New York Public Library to read books in the children’s section, but one night they find the Center empty. As they begin a quest to find their books, the two search through Times Square, Central Park, past the zoo, and several branch libraries. “They scoured each library, scanned every stack / And pored through each awesome collection. / The found some new books, but they wanted theirs back! / Where was their old children’s section?” With dawn breaking they return home, only to discover their beloved books in the newly renovated library across the street from their own library.

A note in the back includes the history of Patience & Fortitude, various literary sculptures the two lions encounter, and the sites they visit in New York City. Children will love these two loveable lions as they persevere to find their beloved lost books.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Humor, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series

COZY
written/illus. by Jan Brett, (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Oct. 2020, $18.99, ISBN 978-0-593-10979-3), 32p, Ages 4-8

“Storms rolled over the tundra when Cozy the musk ox was separated from his herd. He was used to being with his family. His mother and father had named him Cozy because his silky coat was so soft and thick.”

Desperate to escape the cold, a family of lemmings quietly burrow under Cozy’s fur. One by one, a snowshoe hare, a snowy owl, an artic fox, a wolverine, and a team of huskies request shelter, and Cozy sets house rules to provide safety for the animals, who otherwise might be enemies. “Quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting, no pouncing, and be mindful of others!” When the Alaskan spring rolls in and Cozy begins to shed, the animals head for their summer homes but promise to return next winter. Kids will love the illustrations, especially the side panels of each page which preview the next event. This sweet tale of kindness, sharing, and friendship makes for a comfy story to read at bedtime.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Heroes, Humor, Nature, Values

JUST BEYOND THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH #2
written by Dan Bar-el, illus. by Kelly Pousette, (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 16.99, October 2020, ISBN 978-1-5344-3344-1), 272p, Ages 7-10

“If you head north, true north, to the truly north part of north, where icebergs shiver, where thermometers lose confidence, and where snowflakes prefer to avoid, and then once you reach that north, you go just a little bit further north, that’s where you’ll find Duane the polar bear and his friends.” This charming second book surrounding a warmhearted polar bear and his Artic friends introduces an unfriendly guest, a sarcastic, trouble-loving weasel, who causes disruption among the friends. When cracks begin to form in friendships, and they drift further apart, Duane takes a thinking walk and discovers a perfect solution for repairing cracks before they become too deep. Along the way, the friends learn that secrets are not always to be shared, unexpected events can change day to day lives, responsibility must be taken for actions, forgiveness is sometimes difficult, and true friendships can never be broken.

With heart, humor, and heroes, kids will again experience Duane’s philosophical sayings —“All stories involving overly loud characters begin on a Monday,” as well as “All stories involving snow removal begin on Saturday”, and Handsome’s definition of friendly chatter — “Chitchat was the oil that greased the steering wheels of friendships.”
         Themes:

BO-BO’S CAVE OF GOLD #2 (At the Heels of History series)
written by Pam Berkman & Dorothy Hearst, illus. by Claire Powell, (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $18.99, April 2020, ISBN 978-1-5344-3336-6), 191p, Ages 7-10

This second book in the “At the Heels of History” series takes place in California during the Gold Rush days of 1852 and tells of a small dog that has been expelled from her pack for being too caring, but is befriended by a squawky bird, and adopted by a young gold prospector, Sheng. Named Bo-Bo, the Chinese word for treasure, they become inseparable. Life is hard in the gold fields and Sheng along with his father and uncle struggle to find enough gold to even pay the local greedy tax collector. When Bo-Bo releases a caged bear in town, the cruel tax collector demands that Sheng pay for the loss of the bear or lose their claim. Legend has it that there is a cave filled with treasure across the foothills, and Sheng and Bo-Bo are determined to locate it. Find out how a newly released bear helps Sheng, Bo-Bo, and the family redeem the fabled gold and begin a new life. Author’s Note explains some of the difficulties of a prospector’s life, Chinese Immigration and Racism, The Foreign Miner’s Taxes, The California Gold Rush and Native Americans, African Americans in the Gold Rush, and animals involved in the Gold Rush era.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Families, Heroes, Historical Fiction, Pets, Series Other Books in the Series:Filigree’s Midnight Ride #1

KENNY & THE BOOK OF BEASTS (Kenny & the Dragon series)
written/illus. by Tony DiTerlizzi, (Simon & Schuster, $17.99, Sept. 2020, ISBN 978-1-4169-8316-3), 224p, Ages 9-12

Kenny Rabbit, the young hero from Kenny & the Dragon (2008) returns along with his crème brûlée-loving dragon friend, Grahame, and bookstore owner/retired dragon slayer, Sir George, in a charming adventure with new friends, new challenges, twelve new baby sisters, a new enemy to defeat, and a mystery to solve.

Complications arise when George announces that he is leaving, an old friend of Grahame’s, Dante the manticore, monopolizes Grahame’s time, a witch with magical powers plots against Graham and Dante, and Kenny’s annoyance with a new automobile. Find out if Kenny can put aside his frustrations to rescue old and new friends with the help of his temperamental automobile, and maybe realize that sometimes change is a good thing. Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations are as always delightful and charming. Kids will enjoy the mythical beasts and lessons of friendship, compassion, and appreciating what you have.
         Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Folk Literature, Series

THE SILVER ARROW
written by Lev Grossman, illus. by Tracy Nishimura Bishop, (Little, Brown & Company, $16.99, Sept. 2020, ISBN 978-0-316-53953-1), 272p, Ages 10+

“Dear Uncle Herbert—You’ve never met me but I’m your niece Kate, and since it is my birthday tomorrow and you are super rich do you think you could please send me a present?”

Young Kate and her brother Tom feel that their lives are boring and uneventful and yearn for thrilling adventures to save the world. Little do they realize that their lives are about to change when their mysterious and wealthy uncle presents Kate on her eleventh birthday with the Silver Arrow, a magical train that will bring them lost treasures, enchanting adventures, lifestyle changes, courage, and responsibility beyond their wildest dreams.

The magical 102.36-ton team engine feeds them information via printed paper tape. As engineers they learn to feed the coal box, acquire additional cars, and solve life or death problems with ingenuity, resourcefulness, and courage. As conductors on an international railway system, they receive tickets from a myriad of talking animal passengers, and transport them to new habitats, due to climate change, global warming, forestation, migration patterns, and endangerment and extinction of certain species.

Kids will love the magical destinations (Al-Ansariyah Mountains, Maolankart Forest, Crothers Woods, etc), the specialty train cars (candy car, library car, mystery car, swimming pool car, greenhouse car), and variety of animals. “Even by human standards they were incredibly polite. There was no pushing or shoving. No one barked or growled or squawked or tried to eat any of their fellow passengers.” Occasionally breathtaking, often humorous, and sometimes sad, this wonderful adventure of two sibling heroes, who grow to understand the world around them, is not to be missed.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Families, Fantasy, Heroes, Trains, Values

SPY SCHOOL REVOLUTION #8
written by Stuart Gibbs, (Simon & Schuster, Oct. 2020, $17.99, ISBN
978-1-5344-4378-5), 352p, Ages 11+

In this eighth installment in the Spy School series, Ben Ripley finds himself defending his friend Erica Hall from her attack on the CIA, rejoicing that his parents are in the Witness Protection Program, recruited for a special division that uncovers double agents, and tracking down a century’s old evil organization, the Croatoan, a Spanish society founded in the 1700’s to fight the British influence in the United States. From sneaking into Mt. Vernon to locate a secret code from George Washington, careening through neighborhood's in one of the estate's carriages, to thwarting a plan to bomb the Capitol, Ben has his hands full just staying alive. Author’s Note explains, “How much of what I said about George Washington I true?” and presents Major General Braddock’s Cipher code. Kids will love this latest conspiracy theory, close calls with explosives, and George Washington’s spy network with cipher codes and invisible ink during the Revolutionary War period.
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Heroes, Mysteries, Series
Other Books in the Series: Spy School | Spy Camp | Evil Spy School | Spy Ski School | Spy School Secret Service | Spy School Goes South | Spy School British Invasion

THE LITTLE RED HEN: A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 2001, ISBN 978-0-547-37018-7), 44p, Ages 3-7

Paul Galdone’s classic tale is truer to the original story in that it teaches children that there are consequences to actions. When an industrious little hen asks her roommates for help to plant wheat, the lazy cat, dog and mouse reply, “Not I!” and refuse to help with the watering, cutting, grinding, and baking of a cake. Guess who eats the cake in the end? Children are entertained, comforted, taught where food comes from, and learn about the value of work.
        Themes: Animals, Classics, Families, Folk Literature, Food, Humor, Values

THREE LITTLE KITTENS: A Folk Tale Classic)
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1986, ISBN 978-0-547-57575-9), 36p, Ages 3-7

Young children will love this classic Mother Goose rhyme about three careless kittens who lost their mittens, find them, only to get them dirty again. To enjoy Mom’s delicious pie, the careless the kittens must find a way to correct their mistakes with the help of their mother. Kids will love the rhyming lyrics and learn respect for their belongings.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Families, Folk Literature, Food, Humor, Values

THE THREE BEARS: A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1972, ISBN 978-0-547-67019-4), 36p, Ages 3-7

A bear family (Little Wee Bear, Middle-Sized Bear, and Great Big Bear) lead an interesting and routine life. One day when they take a stroll in the forest, a curious little girl finds their cottage, eats a bowl of porridge, breaks a chair, falls asleep in Little Wee Bear’s bed, and awakens to discover three unhappy bears staring at her. Kids will love the Little Wee Bear with his stuffed toy teddy and appreciate the lesson of respecting others belongings. Words that describe the bears are written in small, medium and normal size fonts to match their sizes.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Families, Folk Literature, Humor, Values

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE:
A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1971, ISBN 978-0-547-66854-3), 36p, Ages 3-7

“Once a contented country mouse had the honor to receive a visit from his old friend who lived at His Majesty’s Court.” When a simple country mouse visits his friend in the big city, he finds the extravagant lifestyle with its abundant food lovely, but he quickly learns that there is a dark side to riches and not worth losing the peace, safety, and tranquility of his own country home.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Folk Literature, Friendship, Values

HENNY PENNY: A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1968, ISBN 978-0-547-90200-5), 36p, Ages 4-7

When silly Henny Penny feels an acorn drop on her head and concludes that the sky is falling, she runs off to tell the King. On the way she meets many friends who join her in her quest, and then they meet a fox. The ending may be a little dark, but children should be aware of making foolish decisions, believing rumors without proof, and trusting those with bad intentions.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Folk Literature, Values

THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF: A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1973, ISBN 978-0-547-57655-8), 36p, Ages 4-7

Three Billy goats are hungry and need to reach the other side of the river to graze on the green grass and flowers. One by one they cross the bridge where a mean and ugly troll resides and promises to eat them up. The troll agrees to let the smallest goat pass over unharmed for being too petite, and the medium sized goat promises that his brother is bigger, but the story changes when the largest goat is ready to fight! The troll probably regrets his decision as he plunges down the river. A good lesson about bullies and greed.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Folk Literature, Heroes

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: A Folk Tale Classic
written by the Brothers Grimm, retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1974, ISBN 978-0-547-66855-0), 36p, Ages 4-7

This retelling of the classic story surrounds a little girl in red, who makes a journey to see her sick grandmother, encounters a wolf along the way, becomes distracted, picks flowers, and allows the crafty animal to rush over, devour the grandmother as well as Red. However, they are magically freed by a passing Hunter, which is a milder ending than most versions. Hopefully children will learn to stay on their paths and don’t trust strangers.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Classics, Folk Literature, Heroes

CINDERELLA: A Folk Tale Classic
retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books, 1978, ISBN 978-0-547-98867-2), 36p, Ages 4-7

Paul Galdone’s weaves a magical tale of a gentle and kind young girl who is forced to work as a servant for her stepmother and stepsisters, but is visited by her fairy godmother and sent to a royal ball where she meets the prince. This retelling differs from others in that she returns to another ball the following night. Forgetting about her godmother’s warning about midnight, she barely escapes leaving a glass slipper behind. Cinderella also forgives her stepsisters, which differs from most other tales.
        Themes: Adventure, Classics, Families, Folk Literature, Heroes, Values

THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
written by the Brothers Grimm, retold/illus. by Paul Galdone, (1984. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015), 40p, Ages 4-7

A poor shoemaker cuts out his remaining piece of leather to make one last pair of shoes and goes to bed wondering how he will support his family. When he awakes in the morning, he finds an exquisite pair of finished shoes. Morning after morning, more shoes are left, until the shoemaker and his wife are financially stable. To return the kindness, they make and leave little clothes for the elves, who are overjoyed, sing, and dance out the door never to be seen again. This lovely and timeless fairy tale of kindness and unselfishness has entertained children since it was first published in 1806.
        Themes: Classics, Families, Folk Literature, Heroes, Values

Other Fairy Tales and Folk Tales adapted and illustrated by Paul Galdone:
The Three Little Pigs - 1970
Three Aesop Fox Fables – 1971
The Moving Adventures of Old Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat – 1972
Jack and the Beanstalk – 1974
The Gingerbread Baby – 1975
Puss in Boots – 1976
Hans in Luck – 1979
King of the Cats – 1980
Rumpelstiltskin – 1985
The Teeny Tiny Woman – 1986
The Magic Porridge Pot – 1979
The Frog Prince – 1975
The Table, the Donkey, and the Stick – 1978
The Two Old Bachelors – 1975

Other Folk Tales written and illustrated by Paul Galdone:
The Monkey and the Crocodile: A Jataka Tale from India – 1969
The Greedy Old Fat Man: An American Folk Tale – 1983
Gertrude, the Goose Who Forgot – 1975
The House That Jack Built – 1971
The Old Woman and the Pig – 1960
The History of Mother Twaddle and the Marvelous Achievements
     of Her Son Jack – 1974
The Three Wishes – 1961
Amber Day: A Very Tall Tale - 1978

Over the years, we have researched thousands of children's books, and can recommend some of the best in outstanding children's literature for parents to read aloud and children to read.

Our recommendations must meet certain criteria: fun, creative and imaginative stories, delightful illustrations, and excellent for age appropriate listening and reading. We hope that you enjoyed our recommendations. If you desire further information some of the best in children's literature, please visit our website, www.tchliteracy.com.