Jamaica’s Find
by Juanita Havill, Houghton Mifflin 1987; ISBN: 0395453577
Jamaica finds a stuffed dog at the playground and after taking him home discovers her conscience as well. "Children Jamaica's age, struggling with the concepts of right and wrong, will undoubtedly find Jamaica's moral dilemma of great interest." (Publisher)
Mama, Do You Love Me?
by Barbara Joose, Chronicle 1991; ISBN: 087701759X
In a series of questions and answers reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's The Runaway Bunny (Harper), a small Inuit girl uses her imagination to test her mother's love. The rounded, stylized watercolors are brightly appealing, full of humor and love. A beautiful combination of a rich culture and a universal theme. (Horn Book)
Be Gentle!
by Virginia Miller, Candlewick 1999; ISBN: 0763606936
There's a new kitten in Bartholemew Bear's house, and Ba is eager to play with it. When big George cautions, "Be gentle," Ba can only think of all the fun he and his new playmate will have. He has no idea he is being too rough until the kitten, having been poked, prodded, and even squirted with a garden hose, runs off. When brokenhearted Ba retreats to his secret hiding place to cry, who should he find? None other than the kitten, who's perfectly willing to give a now enlightened baby bear another chance at being a friend. (Booklist)
No, David
by David Shannon, Scholastic 1998; ISBN: 0590930028
The author-illustrator of How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball (1994) and A Bad Case of Stripes (1998), among others, aims at a younger audience with this tally of no-nos inspired by a plainly autobiographical book he created as a small child. All little David hears from his mother as he writes on the wall, runs naked down the road, lets water pour over the side of the tub, sticks his finger far, far up his nose, and the like is "No, David!" "That's enough, David!" "Settle down!" Although Shannon's painterly technique is sophisticated, here he artfully gives his illustrations a childlike look, depicting David as a wooden-doll-like figure with a big, round head, cavorting through a neatly kept home replete with invitingly blank walls and fragile knick-knacks. As the book ends with a parental hug and "Yes, David . . . I love you!" it's not completely negative, and because young listeners will know ALL the words, the temptation to chime in will be irresistible. (Booklist)
David Goes to School
by David Shannon, Blue Sky 1999; ISBN: 0590480871
With a bit more text but the same brash style, Shannon reveals that his impish protagonist has as much trouble following rules at school as he did at home in No, David!. The boy's mischievousness and unlimited energy are writ large on his jack-o'-lantern-style face as he goes about the day provoking his teacher's admonishments and, finally, praise. (Horn Book)
Let’s Be Enemies
by Janice May Udry, HarperTrophy 1988; ISBN: 0064431886
"James used to be my friend. But today he is my enemy."
James and John are best friends -- or at least they used to be. They shared pretzels, umbrellas, and even chicken pox. Now James always wants to be boss, and John doesn't want to be friends anymore. But when he goes to James' house to tell him so, something unexpected happens. (Publsiher)
The Quarreling Book
by Charlotte Zolotow, HarperTrophy 1982; ISBN: 0064430340
This book was a frequent bedtime reading for me as a kid, and it was one of my mother's favorites, too. As a middle child in a loving, but often frazzled family, I easily understood and sympathized with the quarrels of this family. Zolotow paints a picture of a very loving and typical family that makes all of us who bicker from time to time realize how normal we are. More importantly, it reminds everyone that their grumpiness toward others only spurs on more bad feelings, but, thankfully, a little kindness goes a long way, too. (Amazon Reader Review)
