Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden and Megan Montague Cash.

Now I am a complete sucker for wordless books, but this one is a very funny book that will have children from preschool to elementary school laughing out loud and sharing it with friends and family.  Look at that cover!  Don’t you want a copy to take a look at right now?  (Run, don’t walk, to the library!)

Bow-Wow is bothered by a bug right from the start of his day.  When the bugs leaves, Bow-Wow follows it outside and down the sidewalk.  As he follows the bug, he finds all sorts of hilarious things happening.  A spotted dog with odd spots, another dog following a bug, huge bugs and huge dogs, and much more.  The illustrations are surprising, funny and very welcoming for children.  The format of a comic strip makes it even more wonderful.  Each turn of the page will bring a new surprise and it becomes a treat to look forward to the next pair of pages. 

Bow-Wow can be offered to a wide range of ages and they will all enjoy it.  It is not for sharing with a group, because the illustrations need to be looked at closely to be fully appreciated.  Give this one to grandchildren, siblings, or save it for a day of travel.  Or just make any bedtime special as long as you are willing to risk gales of laughter.

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett.

I had read wonderful reviews of this, and had been waiting with great impatience to finally see it.  This book is charming!  It uses the same four words in different combinations to create a silly, warm picture book.  Starting with just one word and picture on each page, the book quickly moves to strange combinations like Orange pear and Apple bear that will have kids giggling. 

I have a few favorite things about this book.  First is that it is so welcoming to emergent readers and has a limited vocabulary.  However, the book reads as if it has all of the words in the world and just happens to choose these four again and again.  Second, I love the artwork.  Unlike a lot of the books for beginning readers, this book has pictures that are not cartoony, but rather have a feel of art and depth.  It is a joy to see.  And third, the skill that it takes for an author to create a book like this is astonishing.  Applause!  Applause!

Recommended for all kindergarten classrooms, this would make a great gift for any Kindergarten teacher to have in her room.  Where else are you going to find an artistic, silly, and yes classy emergent reader?