Bandit by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, illustrated by Vincent Nguyen.

Poor Bandit, his entire home has been packed up around him.  No couch, no litter box, no food bowl.  He is put into a carrier and immediately knows that he is headed for the vet.  But instead he finds himself in an empty house with none of his beloved things!  So he heads back out on his own and returns to his house, curling up in the sunny spot he loves.  His owner comes to rescue him when the new family throws him out of the house, and when they return to the new home he finds all of his things waiting there for him.

This is a great book to share with small children about moving.  Bandit is a captivating character who doesn’t back down from anything and is constantly making side-remarks to everyone around.  While Bandit talks like a person to the reader, he is entirely animal-like in his behavior.  Nguyen’s illustrations are done in a comic-book style with thought and speech bubbles and frames.  The use of a newspaper-like background also adds to this feel.

Children will see their own worries about moving reflected here and will enjoy the light tone and the animal character.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell.

The team of Curtis and Cornell return with another great book for children.  Curtis may just be the sole celebrity children’s book author who really has street cred.  As with the rest of their books, this one is bright, funny and lifts children up rather than talking down to them.  Here they look at big words, words that will empower children to have their own discussions with grownups by using grownup words.  Big words like privacy, consequences, responsible, and respect.  All words that children will hear in school and will want to understand really well.

The illustrations are once again warm, silly and joyous.  The text embraces this same feel, allowing itself to be childlike and fun but not demeaning at all.

Recommended for sharing with Kindergarten classes early in the year so they understand school rules, but also for children who enjoy words too.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Sir Reginald’s Logbook by Matt Hammill

Sir Reginald is on a mission to find the Lost Tablet of Illusion hidden somewhere in the jungle.  He has to face many dangers on his quest, following the footprints of the huge beast who has snatched the Tablet from its resting place.  But nothing will stop him, not bats, a huge snake, a large baboon or even the Great Purple Angler-Fish!

The illustrations here are done in bright colors and the action is vividly captured.  These adventurous illustrations are done on lined paper as if pulled from the very journal Sir Reginald is keeping.  In contrast, what is REALLY happening is done on plain white paper in black ink.  So readers can see what the snake really is – a sock and what mundane other items are parts of Reginald’s creativity. 

Young readers will adore the parallels between Sir Reginald and Indiana Jones in their jungle adventures.  The realization that it is all pretend doesn’t take away from the story at all, it adds silliness and fun.  Hammill’s illustrations set just the right tone as does his text which never admits to the reality that the pictures are displaying. 

A rousingly fun read, this book should be given to children who enjoy adventure tales.  Better read alone than in a group, so that the pictures can be closely examined, this book is appropriate for ages 5-7.

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.