Tom and Pippo

What a rite of passage! Both Ivy and Atticus have loved Helen Oxenbury's Tom and Pippo series. Tom and Pippo are the best of friends - a toddler boy and his beloved stuffed monkey. The words are so simple, the thoughts a toddler might really have. Atticus likes to think he is Tom and Pippo is his stuffed dog, Coco. Each spread consists of a black and white drawing and a colored drawing, a lovely juxtaposition. I cannot believe these books are not still in print!

This First Thanksgiving Day

An Ivy classic, Atticus seems to enjoy this book as well. This catchy counting book by Laura Krauss Melmed takes the reader through the eyes of a Native American and a Pilgrim, culminating in Thanksgiving Day! The thing I like about the book is the small surprises; the number of bunnies in each picture often match the number of the rhyme. There are adorable hiding turkeys popping around corners, lively sea gulls, etc. A great read for this Thanksgiving!

Trick or Treat? With Scary Flaps

A month behind on my blog, but I cannot forget to mention Halloween. Atticus just adores Melanie Walsh's lift the flap book about Halloween. Behind each window or door of the haunted house, a little spider, batt, ghost, or skeleton is waiting for you. Bold and bright, the colors jump out at young readers. A must read for this holiday season!

Mighty Dads

Check out this new book from Joan Holub called Mighty Dads,

illustrated by the famous James Dean, creator of Pete the Cat. Atticus just loves the simple rhymes, bright pictures of trucks and construction vehicles, and words imitating sounds. Each vehicle father teaches his young vehicle son how to be the best he can be at his vocation.

Excavator Big
helps little Vator dig.
They go
SCOOP,
     SCOOP,
         SCOOP.

Generally more interested in the puzzles and toys at the library, this book made Atticus climb on the couch and pause long enough to read it!

Emily's Balloon

An Atticus AND Ivy favorite. Atticus LOVES balloons. He loves them in the morning. He loves them in the afternoon. He loves them at night. Little Emily receives a balloon. Her mother ties it to a spoon so they can go everywhere together. Somewhere after a lovely afternoon together and a tea party, the ballon floats off into a tree.

Emily is heart-broken. She dreamed of them snuggling in bed and drifting off to sleep. Will she get her balloon back? Atticus requests "Boon" almost daily. A must have for both boys and girls.

The Little Fire Engine

I cannot believe this book. It is a rather lengthy book for Atticus, but he wanted it read five times in a row tonight. He was just fascinated by the parts of the engine, the sounds of truck, and the sequence of events surrounding a fire in the town and a thrilling rescue by Fireman Small.

I know some of the reviews are critical. There are, after all, some strange parts. The family who lives in the burning house quickly rushes to remove their furniture, but fails to notice their daughter and cat are trapped upstairs. Little things like that. However, I don't really care. Any book that can captivate the attention of Mr. Atticus in such a manner at the ripe age of 17 months must be a hit.

More

More by I.C. Springman is a new favorite of Atticus's. The book itself has very few words - 1 or 2 a page. However, it is Brian Lies's amazing illustrations that make this book pop. The bird starts a collection with a simple marble. With the help of his friend, a mouse, he collects more and more until his nests break. The bird is left to ponder the question, "When is enough? Atticus just loves this because there is something on every page he can say, "Ball, bird, car, fork, etc." A must read.