Winning unanimous rave reviews, Mo Willems' Elephant andPiggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable andfunny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and acautious, pessimistic elephant, these books make readingirresistible to the beginning readers. Children who sat on theirparents' laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take theplunge with these books to start reading on their own. Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (andmany adorable early learners). In Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Piggie can't wait to goplay in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?
Mice, a rottweiler, an arachnid and a few other assorted critters make sturdy reappearances in five board book versions of picture books. In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint, "three white mice on a white piece of paper" enjoy a colorful romp, while in Walsh's Mouse Count a similar gaggle narrowly escapes being served for dinner (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6 each, 28p, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-15-200265-0; -200266-9 Sept.). Yet another mouse searches the animal kingdom for companionship?and finds an unexpected respondent?in Eric Carle's Do You Want to Be My Friend? (HarperFestival, $6.95, 32p, ages 2-6, ISBN 0-694-00709-9 Sept.). The rewards of industriousness are celebrated in a second Carle title, The Very Busy Spider; its embossed web brings a tactile dimension to his familiar collage artwork (Philomel, $9.95, 26p, ages 2-up ISBN 0-399-22919-1 Aug.). Finally, the canine in question is Alexandra Day's beloved Carl, who takes charge of a crew of toddlers in Carl Goes to Day Care (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $5.95, ages 1-3 ISBN
Animals have never been so much fun! Everyone will love these lively action songs, fun sing-alongs, silly poems, and fingerplays with a menagerie of animals!
These colourful flashcards offer more than just an opportunityto teach a child their ABC and expand their vocabulary. By usingAlison Jay's artwork, with its hidden details and intricate scenes,the child is able to look beyond the letter and see what else ishappening in the picture. With an easy-to-open,durable box, theseglossy flashcards offer children the opportunity to learn lettersand first words, as well as improving their observation skills.
