Early Reader Pick: Bently & egg

Bently & egg
by William Joyce
Illustrations by the author
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Reissue edition)
original copyright 1992 (Harper Collins)
2017
(The World of William Joyce series)
32 pages
ISBN: 9781481489492


Bently & egg is a story that should, no, MUST be shared with every young reader. It is that good!

A singing frog is asked by his best friend Kack Kack to egg sit so she can go to visit her sister who just had her own ducklings. Bently is not thrilled to watch an egg but agrees. He thinks the egg is silly and is so bored watching it until he paints it making it a piece of art. A boy comes to the garden and snatches the egg away thinking that the Easter Bunny must have left it. Bently is beside himself! He must get that egg back. It is his best friend's child and he promised to guard the egg with his life.

Bently is afraid of the house, but enters anyway in order to save the egg. Through a series of mishaps, Bently ends up outside atop a woman's Easter bonnet with his egg intact. He and the egg sneak away disguised as appetizers.

When Bentley returns to the  pond he sleeps and wakes up to a baby boy duckling. Kack Kack has returned and thanks Bently for his heroism in protecting her baby. It seems a gnat, a goldfish, a butterfly, a stuffed elephant, and a rabbit told Kack Kack of Bently's fierce courage and devotion. Bently closes the book with a song.

Beautiful illustrations capture Bently and his antics. Mother duck radiates from the pages. It is no wonder that this book has stood the test of time. This one is a true keeper.

Highly, highly recommended for all young readers. Recommended as an Easter story or an anytime story.

Early Reader Pick: Strictly No Elephants

Strictly No Elephants
by Lisa Mantchev
Illustratons by Taeeun Yoo
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
(A Paula Wiseman Book)
2014
32 pages
ISBN: 9781481416474

Strictly No Elephants is a  sweet story full of promise for friendship and inclusion. It's Pet Club day and a boy would like to bring his unusual pet, a tiny elephant, to the club. When he's rudely turned away at the door---the cover says it all--he finds a girl who feels left out, too. They form their own group and include everyone no matter what type of pet or person they are.

This cute little book teaches young readers all about true friendship. Friends help each other, friends help friends be brave, friends stick together, and friends help everyone feel better. Illustrations by Yoo show the unwelcome faces of the first club, the sadness of the boy and his elephant (it's no surprise the scene occurs in a downpour), and the happiness of the new group of friends. I love that both the boy and his elephant wear matching red scarfs!

This is an incredible example of a book that can teach young readers values. Everyone will win with this winsome title.

Highly recommended for beginning readers. This book could easily be taught by a pre-K teacher or a Sunday school teacher, but mostly let's hope parents will read this book to their own child/children. It will open the door for conversations about friendship and what it is and how friends should act.

Required FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Early Reader Pick: Jampires

Jampires
text and illustrations by Sarah McIntyre and David O'Commell
David Fickling Books
2015
32 pages
ISBN: 9780545816632

Available June 30, 2015

Sly and funny rhyming text  with brilliantly colorful illustrations will captivate readers.

Sam discovers his jelly filled doughnut is mysteriously dry. Where did all his jam go? There must be a jam robber! He sets a trap with his dry doughnut and an overturned laundry basket and catches two young "jampires." They love jam! They apologize to Sam, but they tell him that they are far from home. He offers to go to their home with them. Sam and his cat Archie grab the jampires' hands and they fly off through the sky to a land far away where they are greeted with sweets and confections galore. The jampires' mothers are so happy to have their kids back, they reward Sam with jam filled doughnuts on a daily basis, delivered straight to his home.

The magic land of the jampires is reminiscent of Charlie and Chocolate Factory and Willa Wonka's fantastical sweet creations. There are "...doughnuts that looked plump as cushions to Sam" and "...castles of sponge cake with gingerbread towers..."

Simply charming, Jampires will have young readers craving more....jam, that is!

Highly, highly recommended for young readers. Parents will love the tale of the magical land of jam.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.