GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU
written by Sam McBratney
illustrated by Anita Jeram

This is one of the sweetest books I've ever read, and it earns this distinction on many fronts. Anita Jeram's endearing watercolours capture a deep and tender bond between a father rabbit and his little son. Even my two year old Tristan, whose universe revolves pretty much around himself these days, can't help but sigh and aw-w-w over the sweet illustrations of Little Nutbrown Hare in various stages of sleep and play.
    But that's only half the story. The carefully chosen words tell the other half as Little Nutbrown Hare tries to tell Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him: "This much", he indicates, "stretching out his arms as wide as they could go." But Big Nutbrown Hare has even longer arms and higher hops, and it seems to Little Nutbrown Hare that he can never compete . . . until he spies the moon. He knows in his heart of hearts that "nothing could be farther than the sky," and he sinks into a blissful sleep, satisfied that, at last, he has been able to express the immensity of his love.
    If you're a parent reading this, you'll know, as I know, as Big Nutbrown Hare knows, that a parent's love for his or her child is really immeasurable. And because it is so, he concedes the point to Little Nutbrown Hare, and lets the little one have the triumph. And then, for our ears only, he whispers a truth that will make you smile as you cuddle your little one close. A completely wonderful book.
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists 1995
C22HO50 - Hardcover 28 pp - $19.99
C22B050 - Board - $8.99

WHERE'S SPOT?
written & illustrated by Eric Hill

All three of my children have loved and read this book to pieces. It's a simple enough story: Spot the puppy is late for his supper, and his mother Sally sets out to find him. The fun happens in the places she looks and the characters she finds (a monkey in the closet, a crocodile under the bed . . .) And the fact that your child gets to open the closet and lift the bed skirt him/herself. "Is he behind the door? queries Sally. "No," answers a friendly enough bear with his paw in some honey. "Is he in the box?" she asks. "No No No" say the three little penguins inside. And just when we're sure we've found Spot under the rug, an old turtle tells us to "Try the basket!", and then we're all jumping up and down for, of course, that's where Spot has been all along. his is one of the sweetest books I've ever read, and it earns this distinction on many fronts.
    Your toddler will identify with the rascal in Spot. Hiding games are big with this age group. For the average child, on copy of this book should do. When my eldest (Sarah, now 9) was growing up with this book, we managed to get by on one (perhaps two). While we didn't escape without some of the pieces coming unstuck, we pretty well managed to piece it back together most times. But Erin (now 6) and now Tristan (2) have been different stories. Like most things in the path of these whirlwinds, doors and bed skirts come ripping off with regularity. Keep a bottle of glue handy with this book.
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists 1995
C03H006- Hardcover - $17.50
C03M006 - - Mini hardcover - $7.99

HAPPY WORM (Red Nose Reader Series)
written by Allan Ahlberg
illustrated by Colin McNaughton

Happy Worm is one book in a series called Red Nose Readers. These brilliantly conceived books manage to make humourous little stories out of half a dozen words. The bright, funny illustrations are no small part of the series' popularity. When I took HAPPY WORM into my daughter's kindergarten class last year, the children clamored for the chance to decipher the little book. The triumph associated with its easy success was very powerful.
    Happy Worm is the lead "story (of 4) in this little book. Each page of this story has two pictures (top and bottom), and each picture is described with three words. The first picture is of a smiling worm and the words say "a happy worm." In the next frame we see the same worm about to be snatched in a bird's beak and the words "a sad worm." Then we see the bird with the worm in her mouth ("a happy bird"), followed by the bird (who has dropped the worm) under a cat's paw ("a sad bird"). The cat walks with the bird in his mouth ("a happy cat"), and is then under a dog's paw while the bird flies away ("a sad cat"). The dog sits on the cat ("a happy dog") but then is collared by his master while the cat runs away ("a sad dog"). In the last picture, the man tosses a ball for "a happy dog."     
    Several other engaging tricks, and a cast of often familiar fairytale characters, turn these tales into the most fun kids can have learning to read. Don't pass these wonderful books up. I've listed the others in the series with the YELLOW books representing a bit more challenge and the BLUE books still more. All extremely imaginative and fun.
G08P064 - Paperback $4.95
Red Books in the Red Nose Reader Series ($4.95 )

Yellow Books in the Red Nose Reader Series ($4.95)

Blue Books in the Red Nose Reader Series ($4.95)

MR. PUTTER AND TABBY POUR THE TEA
written by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Arthur Howard

By the author of the beloved Henry and Mudge series, this is another wonderful first reader series, this time about an old man and his old cat. This is the first book in the series.
    Looking for a companion, Mr. Putter finds Tabby in an animal shelter, and is drawn to this sad, shabby looking cat for what they seem to have in common: creaking bones, thinning hair and a little deafness. This is the story about how their life began. Through this wonderful, comical couple, we learn to appreciate what a gift old age can be: beautiful things mean more to you and you have the time to enjoy all the beauty. It's not long before Mr. Putter and Tabby can't remember life without each other.
    In MR. PUTTER AND TABBY WALK THE DOG, after his friend Mrs. Teaberry sprains her ankle, Mr. Putter offers to walk her dog Zeke for her while she's out of commission. Pretty sure they can handle Zeek the "lollipup" (whom they call a dream dog), Mr. Putter and Tabby proceed to get dragged through three days of chaos (wrapped up in leashes and dragged through yards). Mr. Putter is forced to confess that Zeke is a nightmare! With the dawning of the fourth day (and four more to go), the wisdom of age allows Mr. Putter to see that a deal must be struck. And behold, with the lure of swimming and ice cream, Zeke is a dream dog.
    Rylant's beautiful command of the language make this a touching story without rendering it too syrupy. Howard's simple water colour illustrations are full of freshness and humour.
    There are currently 7 titles available in the series:

• Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea (Paperback) G06P109 - $8.50
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Walk the Dog (Paperback) G06P110 - $8.50
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Bake the Cake (Paperback) G06P111 - $8.50
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Row the Boat (Paperback) G06P306 - $8.50
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Fly the Plane (Paperback) G06P307 - $8.50
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Pick the Pears (Paperback) G06P308 - $8.50 NEW!
• Mr. Putter & Tabby Toot the Horn (Hardcover only) G06H309 - $18.00

THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHON TOOMEY
written by Susan Wojciechowski
illustrated by P. J. Lynch

Magnificent, poignant illustrations by P. J. Lynch celebrate the richness of this moving tale which became an instant Christmas classic.
    Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley. He keeps to himself, though, and never smiles or laughs. No one knows that a lace handkerchief, a tiny white blanket, and a portrait of the wife and child he's lost lie hidden in a drawer he never opens.
    One day in early winter, the widow McDowell comes to call. Would Mr. Toomey carve a new creche for her in time for Christmas?
    And would he allow her young song to watch while he carves it? A quiet request leads to a joyful miracle as the widow and her son gently warm the sad heart of Jonathan Toomey. A simpley beutiful book.

G22H183- Hardcover - $21.99

A TOAD FOR TUESDAY
written by Russell E. Erickson
illustrated by Lawrence Di Fiori

I lost sight of this book for a while and was delighted when it came back into print. Warton the toad straps on his skis to visit his Aunt Toolia, who lives on the other side of the woods.
    But a hungry owl interrupts the tiny toad's journey and whisks him away to his tree in a large oak. "It was dark inside, and smelled musty. The owl sat the toad in a corner and stepped back. He gave him a piercing look. . . . The little toad got up all his courage and looked right at the owl. 'Are . . . are you going to eat me?'
    "The owl opened his yellow eyes wide. 'Am I going to eat you? Of course I'm going to eat you!'" Warty, as the owl disparagingly calls him, is going to be his birthday treat next Tuesday. Today is Thursday. That's only five days away! Not a lot of time to change some old and entrenched habits - not a lot of time to win the grumpy old owl's pity.
    Warton learns that the owl has no name . . . because he has no friends to call him a name. So Warton gives him a name: George. Without really even trying, Warton gives George something else that will entirely change the course of both of their futures. Can a toad and an owl be friends? Well, read this perfectly wonderful story and find out!

B01P125

SILVERWING
written by Kenneth Oppel

Shade is a young Silverwing bat, the runt of his colony, determined to prove himself more than his size. Daring to look at the forbidden sun, he touches off some dire consequences for himself and his colony who are part, explains Frieda the Elder, of a much greater whole in a vast space of time. We learn of the Great Battle, of Nocturna's Promise, and of the curse of the bands (which took Shades own father).
    During a storm on the long and dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum, millions of wingbeats to the south, Shade is swept out over the ocean and lost. Alone and frightened as winter fast approaches, he sets out on a remarkable journey to rejoin his colony in the south. He meets up with a fascinating array of characters: Marina, a banished Brightwing bat; Goth and Throb, two huge and carnivorous jungle bats; Zephyr, the albino bat with the gift of inner sight, and many others. The adventure is compelling and fast-paced, and the intricate detail of the world Oppel has created is fascinating.
    Sarah's Grade 3 teacher read this book to the class last year as part of their unit on bats. Sarah loved it so much, she urged me to seek it out. It will be part of our memory of our trip to Maine this past summer. Once we got into it, we couldn't put it down. The 18 hour car trip home flew by on the wings of Shade.
    Kenneth Oppel is a literary phenomenon who published his first novel for children at age 14. We were delighted to see the obvious open door he left at the end of Silverwing for other adventures to come. We can't wait!

R14P130

THE GIVER
written by Lois Lowry

Jonas lives in a perfect society. There is no hunger or pain or unhappiness. All conduct is planned and calculated by The Elders whose role it is to think and choose for the entire society. Family members are assigned to each other. The number of births is regulated, and all birthdates are equalized. Each age has its lessons and requirements. At Twelve, children are assigned their role for life and relinquish their status as children. Jonas is a Twelve this year, and awaits his assignment with apprehension. While his friends are assigned familiar roles, Jonas is selected for a position he has never heard of before. He is to become the Receiver, and the old Receiver takes on the role of Giver.
    The thing given and received is memory - that which is spared every other inhabitant. Even The Elders have no memory, storing this powerful tool instead inside a single individual who can draw upon it to advise The Elders against possible mistakes. The Receiver alone holds the memory of terrible pain and marvelous happiness. Locked inside him are memories of war and passion, disease and death, weather, colour, seasons, love. Jonas soon learns that, like all carefully constructed lies, there is much that is flawed and deceptive holding his world together.
    Alone in their knowledge, only Jonas and the Giver can see beyond the illusion. Together they construct a plan to shatter it. This is a book which profoundly challenges the notion that there are simple answers to complex problems. It is a very powerful and chilling story.
    Winner of the Newbery Medal / An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults / A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
E02P019 - Paperback - 180 pp - $7.50