Cowboy & Octopus by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.

This book somehow snuck by me, and I found it on the library shelves.  How could I have missed it!

Cowboy and Octopus meet in the first chapter, play together and start being friends.  The other chapters in the book offer great slapstick comedy, strange bean humor, and knock knock jokes.  How could you go wrong?! 

Once again Scieszka and Smith have created a zany world that children will love to enter.  The illustrations are purposefully stiff and cut-out.  They deepen the humor of the situation, rather than competing with the cleverness of the words. 

Share this with preschoolers, but also with older elementary age children.  They will enjoy the humor more deeply than younger children.  All children will head back to the library seeking their other favorites by this team. 

The Magic Rabbit by Annette LeBlanc Cate.

Ray the magician and his rabbit are best friends.  They do everything together, including their act.  But one day something goes wrong, and the two are separated.  Bunny is lost in the city alone.  He finds a nice park, but when night falls he is again alone.  He wanders the streets until he finds a perfect clue to lead him back home.

The illustrations of this picture book are done in black and white with touches of yellow gold stars scattered throughout.  The illustrations are highly detailed with many small touches.  Somehow even without color, the pictures of Bunny and Ray at home are cozy and his time on the street go towards bleak and cold.  The words are equally effective, easy to read aloud, and don’t talk down to the audience. 

Share this book as a great read aloud.  Children fascinated by magic will definitely enjoy it, but it is also a treat for any 4-6 year old.