five fun fiction books for friday

Happy Christmas Eve to you all!  May today see you snuggled with your loved ones enjoying the anticipation of tomorrow, and not out braving the crowds for that last minute shopping that you just really should have found a way to take care of earlier!!  (Yup, that'll be me you see in Target today pulling my hair out.  Ack.)

Alrighty.  Onto the books!

1. Good Night, Little Sea Otter by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Wish Williams -- Oh, little children and their bedtime stalling techniques.  Apparently, even creatures like sea otters do it, too.  Okay, maybe that's the overtired, sometimes cynical parent in me speaking.  Really, this is a sweet story of a little sea otter who simply must say good night to all the creatures in his world, making this a nice introduction to some basic animals.  This will be a nice addition to our collection of quiet bedtime books!

2. Your Daddy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett, illustrated by David Walker -- I liked the concept right away, a grandmother is chatting with her grandson about how much his own daddy was similar to him as a little boy.  The multi-generational inclusion in a book about family isn't seen as often as many would like, and this one does it just right, making the connections and showing the warmth that is always felt by a mother toward her child, even when he's all grown up and a daddy himself.  I think it does a positive thing for kids, too, when it acknowledges that Daddy had some hard times as a kid, too-- he fussed and fumed, he grumped about going to school, he sat in time-out.  Yup, you're not alone guys!

3. Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberley -- I could hang with Miss Brooks, and she's certainly the type of librarian I want my kids to see and adore.  I love the little illustrative tributes to some pieces of classic children's literature that are mixed into the story just about as much as I love the sullenness that is depicted in the narrator's illustration.  I love the interactions between the mother and the narrator- she doesn't dismiss the child, but she doesn't play into her drama either.  When Miss Brooks and her mom persevere in their attempts to find a book that appeals to her, the reward is fabulous. 

4. Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata -- The snow has fallen and the kids have turned "slightly daffy."  If this isn't reality, then I don't know what is!  The fun of newly fallen snow is here in all its glory, with a not-obnoxious-at-all rhyme scheme.  I adore the images of the dad and grandfather playing in the snow with the kids, and there's a warmth to these snowy illustrations that comes through in the family's interactions.  For this family of snow lovers (c'mon snow!!), this book brings laughs and wishes.

5. It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon -- David is back just in time for the holidays, and he's the same little mischievous guy as always.  (Complete with naked bum picture-- it's cold, David!!)  Kids never tire of this guy, and this book is full of the frustrating situations that they can understand- Christmas is full of "no" to them, and it's just not the easiest time of year to be good.  But like all our other experiences with David, we see by the end that he's much more than a naughty little boy... and he so easily slips into our hearts.

For more fun picks, check out the list of picture books that have been nominated for the 2010 Cybils Award.


May your holiday be filled with joy, and of course, books.  Lots and lots and lots of books!