Hilarious Book-sets: The Wayside School Collection

Every kid loves to giggle.

You know they do - their chuckling even gets on your nerves, especially when you hear those muffled little snickers at the wrong time.

I won't blame you if you try to forget those days when the little chortles get on your nerves.

But do remember how much they enjoy laughing, when your are choosing read-aloud material.

It's THE key to their undivided attention.

So, if your reading aloud sessions are becoming too boring - not only to your child, but to you too - turn to laughter.

It never fails.

If you only focus on reading masterpieces of children's literature to your kids - without leaving some space for pure, mindless fun - reading might become too much of a chore for all involved.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle - Amazing Illustrated Children's Edition

Some children's books simply amaze me.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle
illustrated by Michael Hague

You know that glorious feeling when you unexpectedly come across a wonderful example of children's literature?

A book that expands your horizons.

Take, for example, The Story of Doctor Dolittle that was published back in 1920.

I know what you are thinking...

Read Aloud Dad ... that is so passé!

But wait a moment, great books are never passé.

Admittedly, everyone knows about Doctor Dolittle.

There are twelve books in the series and The Story of Doctor Dolittle is the first, but not the most famous book from the Doctor Dollitle series.

In fact, its sequel The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle won the Newbery Medal in 1923.

So, you ask... is there really something special about this first book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle?

Or is it merely 'the boring sibling' from the Doctor Dolittle book series?

Pickles The Fire Cat - A Jenny Linsky Book

What I discovered might surprise you.

Most of you know about my deep love for the little delicate black cat with the red scarf, Jenny Linsky.

Esther Averill's creation is a dream come true for read aloud families around the world.

But, what I wasn't aware was that Jenny Linsky was merely the tip of a read aloud phenomenon.

Averill's Linsky and Cat Club books are classics that are fabulous for reading aloud to the very youngest kids, but also to teens.

Some of the books are still to complex for reading aloud to my twins, while others are accessible to three-year olds.

I was surprised by how "diverse" this collection of books is, but how tightly knit the stories are!

As a collection they retain their "read aloud value" for a long time.

But, what was I saying a moment ago...

Oh yes. I knew that Jenny Linsky was a star.

But I didn't know half of it.

The story of Jenny Linsky is not a story of a one-hit wonder with a quirky back-up band.

It is an inspiring journey of personal growth that you can take with the Cat Club. 

And here is the proof...

Enid Blyton's - The Island of Adventure

This book is a real show-stopper.  

No, no, no. Strike that.

I think it is quite the opposite, in fact.

A true show-starter.

Try reading Enid Blyton's The Island of Adventure and you will see that the show will begin.

In fact each and every of the Adventure books penned by Blyton has the same effect on my young listeners. 

Dare to end the reading session when you finish a chapter - screams, shouts and pleas ensue.

Read one more chapter!! 

My young audience simply goes crazy when we read Blyton's Adventure series. 

Again, a wrong choice of words. 

They don't go crazy. 

They go wild.

Dinosaur Cove Book Series

"You LIED to me!"

"You said we would continue digging out the Tyrannosaurus today!"

"You LIED about the T-Rex!"

My four-year old girl was yelling furiously at me.

I tried not to smile - I never envisaged that a T-Rex could fire up such strong emotions (apart from fear) in a kid of this age.

Kids do not matter for excuses. 

Cop-outs simply do not cut it.

(I did promise that we would continue digging out the Tyrannosaurus skeleton, but before all that dust got into their eyes, nostrils and mouths. They needed a pause.)

Hell hath no fury as a young paleontologist scorned.

But what sparked this fire for paleo digs in the gentle souls of my young kids?

Your hunch is correct ... children's books are to blame.

Oxford Children's Classics Book Collection

Thinking ahead.

The power of anticipation is a super-power that every parent has.

You got it.

But you need to use one of the strongest weapons in your arsenal.

Admittedly, it is true that the main focus of our "job" as read-aloud parents is mostly being at the right place in the right time with the right book.

Being at the bedside or dinner table tonight ready with a book.

Reading aloud is mostly about today, about "this moment".

But the spice that makes reading aloud a truly great dish is preparation.

Beyond The Pawpaw Trees: Classic Children's Edition

Sometimes you just feel it.

Boom, boom. 

The heartbeat of a book. Unmistakable.

But with other books there is no sound.

They tiptoe silently, coming up right behind you, and then they seize your heart without you feeling it.

It is strange how you can fall victim to a good book.

Reading aloud calmly and then, all of a sudden, boom!

You stare for a second, incredulous.

You blink. You look again.

You fell for it.

Yes, it is you now in the book, on the speeding train in the imaginary land.

Smiling and waving back from a passenger car rushing down the tracks to nowhere.

Complete Winnie-the-Pooh - The Illustrated Children's Treasury

Bother.

You were not supposed to read this book review now.

It was not on the cards.

Yet, here it is.

Here is the big one. It fought and struggled and wiggled its way to this page.

A 557 page hardcover book that weighs 4.2 pounds.

So good that it feels light as a feather.

Fantastic stories, fantastic illustrations (and no, this is not the Disney-illustrated version).

Large text with lots of white space on the pages.

A classic edition that has been sitting two full years on our library shelf.

Literally, I've been waiting years for this day.

For this key milestone in the healthy childhood of my twins.

The day when I would read this edition to my kids ... and see them fall under the spell.

If you want to replicate this experiment at home - you need an unabridged version of Winnie-The-Pooh illustrated with original Ernest H. Shepard illustrations.

Jenny Linsky And The Cat Club - Book Review

Jenny Linsky - let me whisper in your ear.

       My twins adore you.

Come, come closer dear.

       My girl and boy love you.

You touched their young hearts.

They would give anything to put their small arms around you.

Jenny, please don't tell, but my daughter is your biggest fan.

And my son is absolutely crazy about your courageous and loyal friend, Pickles the Fire Cat.

       Jenny Linsky - do you want to know why they love you so?

You changed their lives.

After we finished our second reading of the 176-page book containing the first five stories about your life - it hit me how they will never forget you Jenny.

I am certain of that because your story is so delicate and powerful.

Jenny Linsky - a name that will imprint a deep mark on any child.

Let's tip our hat to the glamorous New York Review Children's Collection for reissuing these charming stories for our kids in such fabulous and sturdy editions with their red cloth spines.

Read Aloud Dad loves the NYR Children's Collection books. They are different, they are vintage and all of the books are as classy.

We all want our kids to be classy - so lets put them get in touch with classy books.

Esther Averill's stories about a bashful cat that aspires to join a fascinating Cat Club in the neighborhood went out of print ... until the good people at the New York Review Children's Collection decided to re-print these gems in 2003.

What is so special about Jenny Linsky, the cat with the red scarf, you ask?

For long Read Aloud Dad was stumped.

I simply couldn't put my finger on the right answer.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Complete Wreck

Some book reviews should never be read.

But this isn't one of them.

This one almost wrote itself.

It was easy to write it, because I had so much grief with this box set.

So, read on, it will help you decide whether your kid needs to read this popular book set.

The answer may surprise you.

In the process, you will also feel the agony that Read Aloud Dad felt when considering whether to purchase this 13-book hardcover set.

Never before have I racked my brains as much about a book purchase, as in the case of this collection.

There were days when I was 100% sure I wanted to buy it and other days when I thought that I couldn't expose my kids to such a collection of dark tales.

Back and forth ... forth and back, week in and week out.

Until I was ... a complete wreck.

There was no way of knowing whether this seemingly depressively-themed mega-selling book set was going to be a hit or a miss one day with my kids, so I simply decided to skip it.

Yet, something was eating me.

Why the raving reviews from many readers?

But even that wasn't the principal cause of my doubt.

Another question started swirling through my mind.

Why did I find the idea of this dark, moody book set so appealing - even though the principal theme of the stories seemed such a downer?

A struggle ensued and soon I knew I would never order this book set.

Ever.

What Do People Do All Day? An Amazing Book by Richard Scarry

What Do People Do All Day?

Which Richard Scarry read-aloud should you pick if you want to share an unforgettable time with your kid?

This may sound like a simple question, but the answer is far from obvious.

Admittedly, Scarry is so famous that he does not need an introduction.

But a cursory glance at his output - 300 books in total - begs the question: Where should you start?

Scarry's books are very diverse ... from story books to coloring books, from board books to pop-up books with little flaps.

Look hard enough and you will find what you are seeking.

Admittedly, some of them work better as read-alouds and others work better as 'read-alones'.

This year I found out the ultimate read-aloud pleasure  - reading a Richard Scarry book aloud to my twins.

So, if you haven't tried yet - Read Aloud Dad says take the plunge!

Although Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? was in our house for more than a year, shamefacedly I have to admit we never read it aloud.

In fact, it was only during our recent summer holidays - earlier this month - that I first considered it as a read-aloud.

My mistake!

Scaredy Squirrel

Scaredy Squirrel insists that everyone wash their hands

with antibacterial soap before reading this book.

Run ... don't walk ... to wash your hands with antibacterial soap, because this is one picture book you would be crazy to miss!

Scaredy Squirrel is simply incomparable.

Or wait.

Think of the King of The Jungle.

Scaredy is just the opposite.

So don't lose time, get to know Scaredy, before he runs back to his tree.

Scaredy pokes fun at everyone who gets so set in his/her routines that any deviation becomes heresy.

This is a book that teaches you to recognize your fears, to embrace them and then laugh your head off with your kids!

A small package that packs a big punch, Scaredy Squirrel is one of the most hysterical new picture books that we have enjoyed.

"How good is it really?", you ask.

Well, it is so good that I recently ordered the remaining four books in the Scaredy Squirrel franchise.

We just finished reading Scaredy Squirrel Makes a New Friend and we laughed our heads off. It is another hysterical addition to the series.

"How good is it really?", you ask again.

Wait, you deserve another example.

The books are so good that I am saving the remaining ones (Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night) as special treats for my two little pumpkins.

And its not the kids who enjoying themselves only.

Parents must be ecstatic - reading aloud books like these!

James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Illustrated Children's Edition

Have you ever heard of someone being afraid of reviewing a children's book? 

For the first time - Read Aloud Dad is on the verge of a panic attack. 

I am sincerely terrified of not being able to convey how unique and perfect this book is.

How beautifully written.

How incredibly illustrated.

I'm panic-stricken that I will not be able to tell you how gentle, humane and compassionate are the stories and how superbly illustrated they are.

How utterly entertaining.

How absolutely tender.

These stories are not mere literacy building tools. Oh, no! 

James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the author of All Creatures Great and Small is chock full of character-building, emotional stories that are certain to leave a deep imprint on the souls of its young listeners.

But books like these are associated with a special type of problem.

There is one thing that I must not tell you - namely, this is the third straight day that I am writing this review - and I'm still at the very beginning.

And that is a simply measure of how much Read Aloud Dad loves this book.

Noddy Goes to Toyland - an Enid Blyton book series

Can you believe the following?


Noddy reminds me of Leonardo da Vinci.

You are already mouthing "Read Aloud Dad is crazy!".

I know.

But, wait. Give me a chance to explain myself.   

For example, imagine that you had the task of introducing Leonardo da Vinci to your kid.

"Leonardo is the world's greatest ..."

Hmmm... The greatest what?

Artist or engineer?

Scientist or inventor?

Genius?

Of course, you always have the easy way out: "Leonardo da Vinci, he needs no introduction"

By the end of this post, you will find out the similarity between Leonardo Da Vinci and Noddy.

All I can say right now is that Noddy is as loved by kids today, as he was when he first drove his first yellow-red taxi around Toy Town in 1949.

So, Read Aloud Dad says please don't let your kid miss out on the biggest star of Toy Land.

I promise to tell you why.

Three Tales of My Father's Dragon: An Illustrated Treasury

From time to time, everyone wants a safe bet.

You know its true.

Everyone wants the safety of a book that is so alluring that your kids will beg you for "one more chapter" every night.

So today, Read Aloud Dad answers the question on every parent's mind.

"Can you help me find a classic book that will:

a. be equally enjoyed by young listeners and the reader,

b. make us laugh and which will keep surprising us with the unexpected twists and turns of its story, and

c. be enjoyed by different generations at the same time

Tall order, indeed.

Good news - my palms are itching - I've got a classic that fits the bill!

Horrible Illustrated Histories: Bloodcurdling Box of Books

OK, let me get something straight.

Reading aloud should be fun.

Always keep in mind that if your sessions are not fun - they are doomed.

And a salvage operation is always more "expensive" than a little additional investment right now - in the form of your time and good books.

This week I am recommending a "horrible" book set that will help your kids enjoy history, while having fun and learning.

This is a book set that I didn't want to miss out on, even though my twins are still not ready for it. So I ordered as fast as I could and now I am reading through it on my own.

History can be horrible.

And the further back in time you go,

the more horrible it becomes in some ways!

I keep it high on my wardrobe (despite the bewildered looks that I am getting from my wife) and I can't wait to start reading it aloud one day, as this book set will serve as proof that history can also be loads of fun.

But, it is not easy finding fun books that are suitable for every point in time. It is a game of hit-and-misses.

           

So you are allowed to play a trick that will buy you time, lots of time.

Mad About Madeline

I still remember that breakthrough moment.

The fleeting second when Madeline become much, much more than a simple picture book character in the eyes of my twins.

I remember the very page.

It took just one page for Madeline to became a real believable person. A girl that transcended a mere child.

A true force of human nature. Yes, that's Madeline.

There is a certain magic about Madeline that is not easy to explain.

Curious George, The Complete Adventures: Illustrated Treasury

Do you live in one of the few lucky homes that DOES NOT have a copy of the The Complete Adventures of Curious George?

This treasury contains THE original Curious George stories

Are you a parent of an incredibly fortunate pre-schooler that has never (yet) listened to a Curious George story?

I say this... because you are in for a real treat.

This treasury is the Koh-i-Noor of read-alouds.

And as any great diamond, Curious George is still highly sought after. 

Still, the good news is that this treasury - despite its enormous value - is readily available in your favourite bookstore or at your nearest library.

And you can get it as a hardback or a kindle ebook edition.

It has been said that whoever owned the Koh-I-Noor diamond ruled the world, and I feel it is a fitting analogy for this treasury.

The Complete Adventures of Curious George will help your pre-schoolers embark on the voyage of literacy, which that will help them "rule the world" one day.

First things first, this - The Complete Adventures of Curious George (yellow cover) - is the treasury with all the ORIGINAL stories penned by Margret and H.A. Rey. 

Let's be clear. There are other Curious George treasuries on sale as well, but those are not original stories authored by the original creators of Curious George.

Are the other Curious George treasuries any good, you ask?

I will be truthful on this matter...

The World Of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter - The Complete Collection

Nostalgia.

The World Of Peter Rabbit,
The Complete Collection of Original Tales 1-23

Sigh.

A wistful desire to return to a former time in one's life.

Deeeeeeep sigh.

We are all holding back the years.

Holding back the smell of mom's home-made donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar. Pushing back the memory of a chest full of kid's magazines that were bound together to keep them from falling apart.

Everyone has childhood scenes stacked in their mind, all of which define nostalgia much better than any dictionary.

Is there any common unit to measure nostalgia?

Maybe not, but I am certain that if our collective childhood memories were distilled, the end product would invariably be .... Beatrix Potter.

And a certain Peter Rabbit. 

A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee

Have you ever seen such an unlikely pair of heroes in a children's book?

A square middle-aged man and a discreet little dog.

What? That's it?

You would be perfectly correct to doubt the long-term potential of what may seem to be a suspectly bland duo.

But you would also be perfectly wrong.

The Mr. Magee book troika (A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee, Down To The Sea with Mr. Magee and Learning To Ski With Mr. Magee) is one of the best modern picture book series available. 



This pair just feels right. They are a believable sort, because they are so low-key.



And this is one of the great triumphs of Van Dusen as a storyteller. His inner artist works on so many levels to make the Magee stories so easy-going and enjoyable.