DANCING WITH DADDY

Name: DANCING WITH DADDY
Author: Willy Welch
ISBN: 1-58089-020-2

by Willy Welch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1999

The first spread of this rhyming tale shows a charming domestic tableau full of affectionate detail: a teapot on the table where a brown-haired daughter plays cards with her parents, Mama’s bare feet with red toenails, and a windchime tinkling in the open window. A song on the radio brings the cry, “Dance with me, Daddy!” As he swoops her up and they sing along, waving past Mama, they dance outside, where all the cows are inspired to dance. The great willow trees, the fish, and a loon seem to join in, and soon everything from deer to hedgehogs, foxes to fieldmice, and birds to butterflies are part of the dance. “The whole world is dancing!” cries the girl, tucked into bed by her parents in the last frame. Logic is a feeble reed in this instance: the animals sport anthropomorphic expressions and are all actively participating even though it’s night, but the elusive childhood magic of dancing with one’s father is captured with all its silliness and magnificence intact. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999

ISBN: 1-58089-020-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1999

Categories: CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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WAITING FOR BABY

illustrated by Rachel Fuller ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 2010

One of a four-book series designed to help the very young prepare for new siblings, this title presents a toddler-and-mother pair (the latter heavily pregnant) as they read about new babies, sort hand-me-downs, buy new toys, visit the obstetrician and the sonographer, speculate and wait. Throughout, the child asks questions and makes exclamations with complete enthusiasm: “How big is the baby? What does it eat? I felt it move! Is it a boy or girl?” Fuller’s jolly pictures present a biracial family that thoroughly enjoys every moment together. It’s a bit oversimplified, but no one can complain about the positive message it conveys, appropriately, to its baby and toddler audience. The other titles in the New Baby series are My New Baby (ISBN: 978-1-84643-276-7), Look at Me! (ISBN: 978-1-84643-278-1) and You and Me (ISBN: 978-1-84643-277-4). (Board book. 18 mos.-3)

Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2010

ISBN: 978-1-84643-275-0

Page Count: 12

Publisher: Child's Play

Review Posted Online: June 3, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2010

Categories: CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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LUCKY PENNIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE

by Carol Diggory Shields & illustrated by Hiroe Nakata ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2000

Anticipating the visit of a favorite person is half the fun. Planning all the things he likes to do, the narrator of this celebration of childhood, includes telling knock-knock jokes, visiting a construction site, picking up lucky pennies, drinking hot chocolate, cooking, eating and cleaning up together, and just having a good time. What the narrator doesn’t like is putting on scratchy dress-up clothes, eating “funny-looking food,” or watching movies that are too “kissy.” Shields (Martian Rock, 1999, etc.) tells the story from the narrator’s point of view and then delivers a punchy surprise ending for this absolutely charming tale of grandfather and grandson. Nakata’s gentle watercolors for her first picture-book illustrations are alive with color, movement, and humor. They support and extend the text with funny little bits that provoke a grin and a chuckle. The love this grandfather and grandchild have for each other fills every page. A good read-aloud selection for the younger crowd and a nice addition to grandparents’ collections of books to share. (Picture book. 3-7)