"A Couple Of Boys Have The Best Week Ever"

"A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever", by Marla Frazee is a Caldecott Honor Book.  I decided to read this book because I have three boys.  I love reading to my oldest boys ages 6 and 3.  This book is about James and Eamon, two boys eager for summer camp.  The boys visit Bill and Pam for the summer and engage in some of the best boy activities ever!  To add more interest as I read to my boys, I substituted their names in the place of James and Eamon's.  They absolutely loved it!  They laughed and got excited for every page.  They especially loved the surprise at the end of the book.  Shh...my lips are sealed.  You have to read the book to find out what James and Eamon do.  This was the first book by Marla Frazee that I've read but I'm sure I'll look for more.  I thought it was simply adorable.

"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale"

"Knuffle Bunny  A Cautionary Tale" by Mo Willems is such an adorable book.  Mo Willems has won several awards for his writings among the Caldecott Honor award for this particular book.  This book is about a small girl named Trixie who went on an errand with her daddy.  They traveled down the streets of Brooklyn to the laundromat.  Upon arriving home from the laundromat, Trixie is distraught when realizing her beloved Knuffle Bunny has been left behind.  Mo Willems captures the true realizations that can occur between parents and children.  Mo Willems is from Brooklyn and I found it very interesting that he used actual pictures of a Brooklyn neighborhood in the illustrations of the book.  He uses a perfect combination of real photos mixed with demonstrative and energetic cartoon drawings.  I chose this book because my children adore Mo Willems books.  We thoroughly enjoy the adventures of Piggie and Gerald along with the Pigeon.  Now we can add Knuffle Bunny to our list of favorites!  This book contains a storyline and characters that are very much relatable for children.  Definitely a recommendation on my list! 

"Let it Shine"

"Let it Shine" by Ashley Bryan is truly a joyful book to share with children.  Three favorite spirituals grace the pages along with colorful and creative illustrations.  I shared this book with one of my children and he loved it.  Singing to him as I turned the pages was such enjoyment for both of us.  "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" are the spirituals shared by Ashley Bryan.  I thoroughly enjoyed being able to sing the words as my child looked on with curiousity and anticipation of the next illustration.  The songs he illustrated were some of my favorites growing up and I hope my own children will develop an interest in them as well.  I learned that children are very dependent on illustrations to tell the stories.  The words being printed at the bottom of the pages allows children to focus on the pictures rather than the words in this particular book.  I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of younger children.