Leaves by David Ezra Stein

Leaves, by David Ezra Stein, tells a gentle story of change.  We watch Bear ponder the falling leaves of autumn.  He tries to save one, then two and finally succumbs to the biological call of hibernation.  Spring returns and Bear wakes to warm sun and budding trees.  The reader rejoices with Bear as the cycle of renewal begins. 

Stein's writing is perfect and his watercolors are captivating.  This picture book introduces young children to changing of seasons and the reality of change.

Mailing May by Michael O'Tunnel

This wonderful book my Michael O'Tunnel speaks to the reader who loves trains, adventure and the thrill of kids on their own.  Based on the true story of Charlotte May Pierstorff, "Mailing May" unwinds the yarn of a child who is mailed to grandma's house.  She completes the 75 mile rail journey across wintry Idaho as a parcel instead of passenger.  The illustrations are rich and the last scene of May running into her grandmother's house evokes the warmth of a cozy home on a snowy street.

My son and I talked about why her parents send her by mail (to save money) and why they didn't drive (no car, no road).  Then off we went to Google Earth to check out the journey and follow May's route along the railroad tracks.  We laughed at the fifty three cents worth of stamps affixed to May's winter coat.  This books skillfully captures an event that's hard to imaging today.

There's a Wolf at the Door by Zoe B. Alley; pictures by R.W. Alley

If you are looking for something beyond the classic (standard) retelling of fairy tale standards then grab this book.  We laughed and laughed as these five tales are retold in a wonderfully drawn comic-book style.  There is just enough humor to keep the stories moving while the core of the stories holds true.

My favorite part: the continuity from one story to another.  Alley cleverly uses the wolf to link these five classic tales.  You can read one story a night or grab the flashlight and enjoy them all in one shot.

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

My six year old rates Pete's a Pizza by William Steigas the second funniest book we have ever read. The plot follows a sad boy on a rainy day.  His father gets him laughing by making Pete into a pizza.

This dovetails with one of our family games.  I turn Tyler into a human burrito using a real blanket and pretend condiments and ingredients.

The story is wonderful and Steig's photos (also featured in many a New Yorker magazine) enhance Pete's a Pizza.  This is a must read for all.

Enigma: A Magical Mystery by Graeme Base

This book captivated us on many levels.  I'll get to that in a second.  First, the story.  My son and I read this book ALMOST cover to cover while the doc wrapped a permanent cast on Tyler's broken arm.  He didn't move at all.  The tale of a magician's stolen props kept the pages turning and the fascination level high.  Each illustration is beautiful in detail and theme. 

We didn't get to the last page.  That was saved until tonight.  What a treasure.  The last page of Enigma is code that must be broken by:

• seeking clues on every page
• assembling the clues using the clever back cover decoder
• plus you can sort out what country each character hails from and
• find the magic rabbit hiding in each scene

Graeme Base has crafted a masterpiece of a story that will last longer than one bedtime.  Check out Enigma: A Magical Mystery before it disappears from the library shelves.