May Recommendations

TELL ME ABOUT OCEANS and TELL ME ABOUT SPACE, written by Lisa Varchol Perron and illustrated by Jennifer Faulkner, both use simple, rhyming text in a question-and-answer format to explain basic concepts in a way that the youngest of readers should appreciate. Melodic main text is supplemented with explanatory sidebars which go into further detail, so the books work on a couple of levels—to keep older siblings interested, as well, and/or to grow with the child as they are ready to learn more.

My favorite page is (of course) about the moon: “Tell me how our moon lights up/ and makes the nighttime glow./ The moon is dark but bounces sunlight/ down to Earth below.” And then we learn in the sidebar how the moon “the moon does not create its own light,” but instead “acts like a mirror,” and so on. The illustrations do a great job of making concepts clear—give these early science books a try!

In EMMA FULL OF WONDERS, by Elisha Cooper, Emma is “a large dog with many small dreams.” In fact, Emma has “one, two, three, four, five” favorite things, which are “singing, dancing, rolling in the grass, splashing in water, going for walks,” and then there are food and naps, which are the sixth and seventh. Readers will go on to learn many other important things about Emma, a gentle, thoughtful dog with a secret. Cooper’s masterful ink and watercolor art works in perfect unison with an absolutely wonderful text that somehow manages to be both active and reflective at once, and never says too much. It’s hopeful, reassuring, and sweetly done.

BENITA AND THE NIGHT CREATURES, written by Mariana Llanos and illustrated by Cocoretto, stars an avid reader who’s too engrossed in her book to be scared of the monsters who try to haunt her. Benita has a new book, so she’s not paying attention when Cuco bounces into her bedroom to yell “BOO!” (or even “BOO HAAAHOOOO!”) Nor is she impressed by Tonche, who whistles “FEEEEE EEENNN!” Or Supay, who wails “BAHAAHAAAHAAAA!” No, Benita is reading and, honestly, isn’t reading the best kind of “enchanting magic,” anyway? Text is active and fun, and bright, engaging pencil and digital illustrations feel like block prints or paper cuts. Lots of storytime fun to be found in this one!

In THE CONCRETE GARDEN, by Bob Graham, “after a cold, hard winter,” Amanda brings a box of chalk outside where children play, having “spilled out [from their apartments] like candies from a box.” Amanda uses green to make a drawing on the ground, which Jackson turns into a dandelion. Janet adds a mushroom and the Bradley twins contribute flowers (which are smudged by Luke’s dog). Next come a snail, some foliage, and, piece by piece, “a beautiful and exotic garden spread[s] across the concrete.” People in the apartments above notice, and the kids all get to take a bow. When rain washes away their concrete garden, the kids aren’t sad, because now they get to create something new! Bob Graham is a master, and I would bet anything he creates is worth a look—this one certainly is. Illustrations, full spreads with some panels, are watercolor and ink in his signature style.

--Lynn