As a reviewer, I read a lot of books, and many of those books already are or will make their way into my daughter’s hands. Like many 2 ½-year-olds, she’s got her favorites — books we must read and reread multiple times a day. Among the newest books in her rotation are two beautiful books about feelings: “Lionheart,” by Richard Collingridge, and “All My Treasures,” by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey.
“LIONHEART,” by Richard Collingridge, David Fickling Books (distributed by Scholastic), Feb. 23, 2016, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 3-5)
Richard doesn’t believe in monsters — at least he thinks he doesn’t — but when he hears a noise in his bedroom before bedtime, he’s not so sure. Instead of waiting to find out, Richard starts running. He runs and he runs and he runs until he finds himself in a magical jungle. With the help of a special friend, Richard finds the courage to face fear head-on.
“Lionheart” is a beautiful book. Collingridge’s illustrations are grand and detailed. Their bold colors and scope — both broad and narrow — are tailored for the text. But “Lionheart” isn’t just a beautifully illustrated book. The writing is also very strong. The pacing is perfectly matched with the layout, creating emphasis with pauses and rhythmic sections. “Lionheart” is fun to read aloud, which is a huge plus for parents. The text is tight and flows smoothly. The overall story is enjoyable, and the illustrations add an extra layer for interaction with your young reader.
“ALL MY TREASURES: A Book of Joy,” by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey, Abrams Appleseed, Aug. 23, 2016, Hardcover, $16.95 (ages 2-4)
When a young girl receives a porcelain box from her grandmother, she knows that it’s special. And because the box is special, the girl immediately wants to put something special in it. But how do you fit jumping in puddles, flying a kite or watching a little sister’s first steps inside a box?
“All My Treasures” is the fourth book in Jo Witek and Christine Roussey’s Growing Hearts series. “In My Heart” is already a regular in our reading lineup, so it came as no surprise when my daughter adopted my advanced copy from the publisher as her own. She saw the sparkly die-cut star on the cover and immediately knew it was like her “heart book.” The “star book,” as she calls it, offers the same whimsical colored-pencil illustrations that are reminiscent of children’s drawings.
This time around there are flaps concealing hidden surprises sprinkled across the pages. My daughter loves the flaps, though the fact that they are truly hidden makes them hard to open at times. It’s definitely a book needs “adult” help. Once again, the writing is lyrical and expressive. “All My Treasures” is quickly becoming a daily favorite.
*“All My Treasures” comes out Aug. 23 and is currently available for preorder.
What are the other books that are in our current daily rotation?
- “Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!” by Mem Fox and Laura Ljungkvist
- “Giraffes Can’t Dance,” by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
- “Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too,” by Anna Dewdney
- “Someone’s Sleepy,” by Deborah Lee Rose and Dan Andreasen
- “The Snowy Day,” by Ezra Jack Keats
- Anything Curious George
- The Duck and Goose series by Tad Hills
- Anything Peppa Pig
