The Story Blanket by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz, illustrated by Elena Odriozola.

Babba Zarrah tells children in her small village stories on her wonderful patchwork blanket.  When she notices that one of the children has a hole in her shoe, she decides to knit a pair of warm socks.  But with all of the snow, no one can bring yarn to the village.  Within a few sips of her tea, Babba Zarrah has figured out exactly what to do.  Each day she notices new uses for the yarn in her blanket.  Brightly colored knit gifts are showing up all over the village but no one knows where they are coming from.  But the children are noticing that they are sitting closer and closer together as the story blanket shrinks each day.  Until one day, the blanket is gone.  Then the villagers realize what has been happening and find their own way to show thanks.

The text in the book is thoroughly charming as are the illustrations.  The words don’t just tell the story, but also give small glimpses into the ways of the village without intruding in the tale at all.  The book reads smoothly and easily with just the right pacing.  The illustrations manage to be modern with a traditional twist.  A perfect accompaniment to this story which may or may not be set in the past.

A well-knitted story and one that will read aloud well, this book is appropriate for ages 4-6.

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu

This wordless fantasy book will carry children away into a dream-like world filled with luscious foliage and flowers, silly monkeys, huge bubbles and flying dolphins.  From the very first pages where the two children are planting watermelon seeds and hat seeds, children will know that something special and even strange is about to happen.  The story has no real foundation, drifting along from one lovely notion to the next, lingering and then moving on again. 

Unlike some dreamlike story books, there is no point at which there is any sense of danger in the story at all.  Readers are held in a magical space, guided by a huge white bear from one fascination to the next.  Nyeu’s illustrations are very strong and bold, with bright colors and beautiful ideas.  One of my favorite sections is where the bear blows leaves into the air and they become sea creatures.  Dolphins, octopus, seals, schools of small fish float through the air and eventually up into outer space.  Her illustrations exude a childlike simplicity, heightened by a real sense of style.

Recommended for a cuddle with a child who has a great imagination and can "read" this wordless book in their own way.  It will not work well with a group because of both its intimate nature and lack of text.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.