By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 24, 2012
I love the nostalgia of rediscovering books with my daughter I had nearly forgotten from my childhood. I remember her exact expressions (of laughter or surprise) as I read about Ferdinand as he’s stung by a bee; baby ducks strut across a busy Boston street in Make Way for Ducklings; and when Madeline proudly displays her appendix scar to her friends and poor Miss Clavel. I think you’ll find these classic books recently reissued will enchant the next generation of kids too.
As told to Betty Jean Lifton (photographs by Eikoh Hosoe)
This is kind of a cuckoo idea for a book: a dog named Runcible digs a hole in Cape Cod that tunnels to a Japanese beach where he meets an adorable little girl named Taka-Chan. An evil sea dragon agrees to free Taka-Chan if they can find the most loyal creature in all of Japan and place a white flower at his feet. Hosoe’s breathtaking black and white photographs blend seamlessly with Lifton’s compelling story. The heroic duo’s devotion, friendship, and determination make this book one you’ll treasure always.
Ages 5-9 | Publisher: New York Review Books| April 3, 2012
This little house is not on the prairie, but resides in a peaceful setting with green fields full of daisies, apple trees, and happy critters all around. That is, until the builders and town starts to slowly encroach upon the little house’s surroundings. Winner of the 1942 Caldecott Medal, this is a sweet testament about how to appreciate the slower pace of life in the verdant countryside. The new edition comes with a bonus audio CD.
Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | April 17, 2012
By Doris Burn
As a child, I first fell in love with Burn’s detailed illustrations. Then, of course, her story inspired such a sense of creativity as Andrew resourcefully takes care of himself and builds his own village of houses and nutty inventions. It gave me an inkling of life’s possibilities, that despite being young, I could feel empowered and capable of great achievements. Sometimes leaving the comfort of home and taking a risk can teach us the joys of self-reliance, independence, and undertaking a new challenge.
Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Penguin Group | May 7, 2012
Who couldn’t love a book that begins with the line, “It was a dark and stormy night” and includes a cast of lovable misfits on a sci-fi fantasy adventure to save the protagonist’s father from the evil Black Thing? Although it took years for L’Engle to find a publisher, A Wrinkle in Time won numerous awards including a Newberry Medal. This lovely special edition includes loads of extras including a foreword by Katherine Paterson, an afterword by L’Engle’s granddaughter with photos and memorabilia, and her Newberry Medal acceptance speech.
Ages 11-15 | Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux | January 31, 2012
Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Daily Candy, 7×7, Red Tricycle, and San Francisco Book Review. Nicki has been reading to her daughter every day since she was born. For more information, visit: https://nickirichesin.com/.