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Great books for kids

Although it’s only November, it doesn’t hurt to look over some of the books suitable for the little reader, three to five years for gift giving.
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The Day The Crayons Quit

By Drew Daywalt

$19

Although it’s only November, it doesn’t hurt to look over some of the books suitable for the little reader, three to five years for gift giving.

The Day The Crayons Quit is a charming take on an everyday object, deciding it (they) are overworked.

When Duncan, a young man who obviously does a lot of colouring, takes out his crayons, he finds a pile of letters addressed to him. The letters are from the crayons, and they are full of complaints.

“It’s me, Red Crayon, and we need to talk.” Red goes on to name all the things he is used for: apples, fire engines, strawberries and then, if that’s not enough, along comes the holidays and Santa’s outfit is, you know, RED.

“ I need a rest, your overworked friend, Red Crayon.”

All the crayons in the box have a case and Duncan will have to change his ways.

This book has nice art, using, as you can imagine, every colour.


Press Here

By Herve Tullet

$17.99

This is a highly interactive book, not all that impressive at first glance.

The book has a yellow dot on the first page, and the reader is invited to press it. It’s just a paint dot, but it leads to other paint dots and, if you follow the instructions, the dots will move all over the page, from left to right, or right off the top of the page.

For the imaginative child, this is a big winner.

Be prepared to run through the book again and again.


The Man with The Violin

By Kathy Stinson

$19.95

Dylan is a young boy who notices things that his mother does not.

Mother rushes through the metro station with Dylan in tow and her favourite words are, “Not today.”

Dylan sees people and things happening, and then he hears the most beautiful music. It makes his neck tickle and he wants to stop and listen.

“Not today, no time.”

He sees the man playing the violin and the man sees Dylan; their eyes meet.

Down the escalator goes mother and Dylan must go, too.

The music transports him, he feels like he’s flying.

But don’t worry, Dylan and mother will both connect with the music before the day is through.

This book has wonderful art throughout.


Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Dreadful Spell

By Kristina Stephenson

$12.95

This story begins: “Once upon a misty morning from the top of twisty-wisty beanstalk on a tall, tall tower with a pointy roof, in the middle of a magic forest. ...”

Well, anything might happen to Sir Charlie and his cat “envelope.”

There are four volumes in this series and they are all fun to read and fun to listen to.

The only problem with these books is that there are pullout flaps, full page size, which are easily ripped. It is meant for the careful reader, or to be read with adult supervision.

It has great yarns with good messages.

The best present of all is good literature.

Peggy Freeman is a local freelance books reviewer.