2014: Books for Children and Young Adult Readers Certain to Make Good Holiday Presents

By Jill Norgren

Once again I turned young readers for holiday book suggestions. I asked the same questions as in past years — “which books do you love” and “which books did you read this past year that you think other readers and listeners would appreciate?”

Many favorites are new but some are classics. This year a number of books have social issue and political themes.

2010 National Book Festival poster illustrator, Peter Ferguson, has created a visual puzzle of literary characters eagerly listening to a book being read aloud.  Library of Congress

FOR YOUNG LISTENERS AND EARLY READERS

 Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type is irresistible. A young friend in Washington, DC introduced me to this story of cows who learn to type and lead Farmer Brown’s barn animals on a strike for better living and work conditions. Author Doreen Cronin has created a bit of thought-provoking silliness that will tickle the rebel in children 3 — 6.

In New York City three year-old Garrett suggests James Dean’s Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes which teaches about colors. Companion book Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons leads 2 — 4 year olds through their numbers. Pete the Cat is an appealing, resilient character with a nice Zen message about lost things.

Anne Dewdney’s Llama Llama Red Pajama also made Garrett’s list. He has asked for this story of bedtime since he was a toddler. Garrett is a bit of a foodie and also asks for Adam Rubin’s Secret Pizza Party, a book with terrific illustrations. Judy Schachner’s 2005 Skippyjohn Jones pleases him with its playful, imaginative kitten. Schachner uses simple rhyme and Spanish expressions to give the story lots of pizzazz. Another title on Garrett’s list is the 1973 classic, Swimmy, by Leo Lionni. Illustrated with beautiful wash images, Lionni reflects on the power of an individual and the even greater power of teamwork.

For children from under one to three, I turned to the favorites of Garrett’s little sister, Margaux.  She loves lift-the-flap books. These include anything by Karen Katz including Where Is Baby’s Belly Button.  Katz’s book pairs well with Sandra Boynton’s Belly Button Book as each permits the exploration of a youngster’s body. Eric Hill’s Where’s Spot, about animals and objects, makes her list as does the 1998 classic Baby Faces which presents a bucketful of facial expressions including happy, sad, and puzzled. It is a great book to look at while trying to replicate what is on the page.  And what would a kid-list be without a toilet book? Margaux has latched on to Garrett’s old P is for Potty, a First Look and Find Elmo book.
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