We received a copy of “Lost in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy,” at a book swap recently. (I like this trend for birthday parties — spares the parents of the birthday child from having to create yet another imaginative goody bag. Gimme books, anyday.) This charming picture book, by wife and husband team Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick ($19.95) is a winner — you will fall in love with the baby fawn and the cast of woodland creatures.
“Shhh…
shhh,”
hushed the mouse.
“I think he’s lost.
Just let him sleep.”
Will his mother return? I think she will.
Do you all know Barbara Park? Of Junie B. Jones fame? Her latest, a picture book, takes you along on the adventures (or lack thereof) of a growing, mouthy, in-utero bebe. “MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here! A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting,” is illustrated by Viviana Garofoli ($15.99, Random House). Cute book — sassy and imaginative, and the drawings are funny and colorful.
“I’m all in a heap here. My feet are asleep here. I’m flat out of space. I’ve got knees in my face…”
And… the Look-Alike books. We cannot get enough of these books, especially the youngest of our tribe. Thank you, Joan Steiner, for “Look-Alikes Around the World: An Album of Amazing Postcards” ($15.99, Little, Brown and Company).
“Mama, it looks like a hot-air balloon, wight? Wight? It’s not. It’s a lightbulb.” (Or a cooky, or a handful of dice. Or pencils, all in a row.) Next thing you know, you think you’re looking at the Arc de Triomphe, or Big Ben, a French chateau or “Nessie,” the Loch Ness monster. My favorite favorite absolute favorite thing about these books is trying to guess what all the pieces are made of, then looking at the key in the back. Hours of entertainment.
Happy reading!