Chester’s Back by Melanie Watt.

I was a big fan of the first Chester book.  This sequel keeps the merriment and fun of the first book, and again showcases Chester defying his owner and trying to create HIS book.  In this book, Chester refuses to allow Melanie to write a book putting him in a jester costume in the Middle Ages.  He uses a variety of tactics to ruin her efforts, including wearing the wrong costumes and scribbling all over the pages with his red marker.  But Melanie may just find a clever replacement for Chester and not allow him to gain the upper hand.  Maybe.

What a delight to have a second book that lives up to the first.  Just as she did in her Scaredy Squirrel series, Watt has created a successful sequel to a wonderful book.  Watt has kept the same feel as the first book and the tone is just right.  Children will once again revel in Chester refusing to cooperate with plans.

A great book to share with a group of children.  Make sure you have your Chester voice set to go, full of cat outrage.  Ideal for ages 5-7.

The Blue Stone: a journey through life by Jimmy Liao.

A blue stone is resting for thousands of years in a forest, until humans come and split it in two.  The half that is carried out of the forest longs for its other half.  The stone is made into one sculpture after another.  Each time deep emotion is felt around the stone, it breaks a little, remembering what it has lost.  With every breakage, it becomes smaller and smaller, going from huge sculptures to a small piece of jewelry.  Eventually, the stone becomes small enough to lift into the air and float back to its beloved forest and its other half.

Liao’s illustrations are glowingly colored and deeply felt.  The use of blue for the stone is perfect, especially when it hides below other colors in the sculpture, non the match for the intensity and beauty of the stone itself.  The text is rhythmic and repeating the refrain of breaking and changing and continuing.  The tie to life’s passage and loss is inherent to the book.  Children will understand it immediately even though nothing is firmly stated except in the subtitle.

This is a gentle winner, not to be shared with a rowdy group.  Rather, it is the perfect book for introspective moments.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

In the Night Garden by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles.

Three girls play in the night garden.  One is a bear, who eats berries from the branches.  Another is a whale cruising slowly through the sea.  The last is a sled dog who howls to the wintry sky.  Until bedtime arrives.  The bear pulls on her fuzzy pajamas, the whale spouts water in the bath and the sled dog pulls her covers up tight.  Their adventures are not finished, continuing in their dreams.

The art and poetry here dance together, as imagery comes to life on the page.  Sayles’ illustrations are deep colored and blissful as the girls play together, fading to an ethereal dreaminess by the end of the book.  Joosse’s poetry is accessible for young readers, but not childlike.  Her words are strong and evocative.

A great introduction to poetry for children, this book captures vivid imagination and the joy of play directly onto the page.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea

Shea of the charming New Socks returns with another winning picture book for toddlers and preschoolers.  Dinosaur meets each challenge in his day with a huge ROAR!  He wins again and again against dire threats such as leaf piles, the big slide, spaghetti and even talking grownups!  But there is one thing he has trouble defeating: bedtime.  Will Dinosaur be able to overcome it this time?

Shea manages to translate the toddler experience directly to the page.  With few words, a bright red dinosaur with a mouth full of pointy teeth, and rhythm and repetition, he has created a perfect story to share with toddler groups.  Getting the children to join in the ROAR-ing will be no trouble.  Getting them to stop may be! 

Highly recommended for children ages 2-4.  Share this title when they are headed outside and let the ROAR-ing commence!

Keisha Ann Can! by Daniel Kirk

Bright colored illustrations and a wonderful rhythm raise this picture book to the top of a crowded field of school-related picture books.  Keisha Ann heads through her day at school, introducing children to waiting in line, sharing, helping others, imaginative play and other pieces of a day in a classroom.  The concepts are offered without lecturing in a friendly, bouncy style.  Smiling children of all colors play side-by-side happily on all of the pages.  The focus of the book is on the children rather than the teacher, showing youngsters exactly what a day at school consists of.

Kirk’s text is exactly the right length to be shared with 3-year-olds anticipating heading to preschool or kindergarten classes.  The bounce and movement in the text adds to the pleasure of the book, instilling a feeling of happiness about school.  Kirk’s illustrations are large, vibrant and filled with color.  Perfect for sharing with a preschool group.

Recommended for ages 3-5.  Children will see themselves on the pages and be able to imagine themselves there, which is all one could ask for an introduction to school.

Traction Man Meets Turbodog by Mini Grey

The amazing Traction Man returns and along with his trusty friend Scrubbing Brush brave the Northwest Slope of Mt. Compost Heap.  Unfortunately, on the journey, Scrubbing Brush is caught in the Sinking Mud of the Pond and gets caked in dirt.  While they are resting after their adventure, Scrubbing Brush is replaced by the beeping, talking TurboDog.  However, TurboDog really isn’t up for the sorts of adventures Traction Man has.  He gets sand in his gears, isn’t any good at stealth missions, and only likes to watch himself on TV.  But Scrubbing Brush has disappeared and can’t be found anywhere.  Traction Man is despondent until he hears a very faint bark coming from The Dark and Terrible Underworld of the Bin.  No one has ever survived the garbage bin.  Now it is up to Traction Man to see if he is brave and skilled enough to meet this horror and save his friend.

This second Traction Man book is just as charming as the first.  Grey’s small touches in the illustrations make the world she creates all the more alive and interesting.  Her text begs to be read aloud with a great strong Traction Man voice.  Humor is at the heart of the book, directed at gimmicky sales and not the world of imagination, making the book all the more effective.

Highly recommended, this book is great fun and guaranteed to have children listening intently and laughing along.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.