Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, New York, 2008.
Hardcover edition, 58 pages, ISBN 978-142311347-8.

Quiet, thoughtful Gerald the elephant and irrepressible Piggie are dear friends who are "ready to play outside." Piggie is brimming over with plans until it begins to rain, increasing in strength until there is a torrential downpour. Piggie is angry and frustrated, his text balloons becoming increasingly larger and capitalized. Suddenly Piggie is dry. Gerald has kindly extended one large ear as an umbrella over Piggie's head. Nearby some worms are exulting in the wet weather, playing and jumping around. Gerald suggests that perhaps he and Piggie can have fun as well. They begin to run, skip and jump in the rain. Piggie is disappointed when the rain stops, but Gerald has a clever solution. He uses his trunk to spray Piggie with water.

Willems packs a lot of story into very simple drawings, colored gray for Gerald and pink for Piggie. Their exuberant body language and facial expressions delightfully mirror the range of emotions expressed throughout the brief encounter. Children easily relate to the disappointment of a play day potentially ruined by poor weather. The ability of the characters to adapt and make the best of the situation, and the kindly actions of Gerald toward Piggie, model important life skills.

The easy repetitive nature of the vocabulary, short sentences, and large well-spaced fonts make this a wonderful early reader.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, 2009

I'm the Best by Lucy Cousins

Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA, 2010.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 978-0-7636-4684-4.

Dog has a serious ego problem. He introduces himself with the unabashed declaration, "I'm the best." He proceeds to introduce his friends, toss off a couple of disclaimers--"I love them. They're great..."--returning to his self-centered mantra, "but I'm the best." He begins to list the ways in which he is superior to each of his friends. His friends now feel terrible and worthless. Mole rallies, however, and encourages each friend to speak up in their own defense with traits which outstrip Dog's. Suddenly, Dog realizes that he is a mean-spirited show-off, and apologizes to each in turn. The friends forgive Dog in a happy ending group hug. (But... on the last page, Dog is back at it again, relieved that he really is the best.)

This brief story, drawn in the style of a small child with crayons, throws the spotlight on the nature of friendship, and the importance of social interactions. Children are just beginning to observe personal differences, strengths and weaknesses, and need to be taught the importance of encouraging each other, as well as consideration for the feelings of others. Good discussion starter about what we do well, and what our friends do well.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Harcourt Children's Books, San Diego, 1994.
Hardcover edition, 44 pages, ISBN 978-0152562557.

Stories for small children about elderly people other than their grandparents are somewhat lacking in number, but are essential in forming an understanding of social relationships. Rylant's wry observations about old age bring a gentle humor and poignant quality to this first in a series story about the meeting of new friends, countering prevailing cultural preferences for youth and beauty, and celebrating the value of true friendship.

Mr. Putter is lonely. He has much to offer, but no one to share it with. He wants a cat. Not a kitten, but a cat. " 'No one wants cats, sir,' said the pet store lady. 'They are not cute. They are not peppy.' Mr. Putter himself had not been cute and peppy for a very long time." He meets an old yellow cat at the animal shelter. "Its bones creaked, its fur was thinning, and it seemed a little deaf. Mr Putter creaked, his hair was thinning, and he was a little deaf, too.... And that is how their life began." Mr. Putter and Tabby become inseparable friends, sharing all the best things in life together and enjoying "the most perfect company of all--each other."

The book is a transitional reader divided into three short chapters with lots of white space around Howard's relaxed, slightly rumpled drawings highlighted with watercolor. Although the reading level is clearly for primary grades, the story can be shared with preschoolers in a smaller group. On an individual level, it makes for excellent discussion about older people and the roles which they play in our lives.

Good for practicing narrative skills.