The Children’s Book Review | June 1, 2017
Timeless Stories, Everyday Value, Summer Reading with Dover!
About the Books
The Girl in the White Hat
Written by W. T. Cummings
Publisher’s Synopsis: While Grandmother’s asleep, Annabelle creeps out of her room and up the stairs to the dark and mysterious attic. Among the jumble of curious items packed away in the gloom is a big white hat with a floppy brim. Annabelle can’t resist trying it on and thinks, “If I were a bird and this hat were my wings, I could fly. I wish I could fly!” And she does! New hardcover edition.
About the Author: W. T. Cummings (1933–2009) wrote and illustrated four remarkable picture books, of which The Girl in the White Hat was the first. A painter of note, he received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University in 1962. Lauded by The New York Times as one of the ten best children’s books of 1959, this now-rare volume is available in a lovely new hardcover edition, ready to charm a new generation of readers and imaginative hat-wearers.
Too Many Mittens
By Louis Slobodkin and Florence Slobodkin
Publisher’s Synopsis: A beautifully illustrated single-volume edition of three classic children’s tales: A wintertime tale of lost and found, Too Many Mittens finds the twins Ned and Donny in Grandma’s care while Mother and Father are off on a trip. Word gets around when Donny loses a mitten, and soon everyone — teacher, postman, milkman, grocer — is finding lost mittens and delivering them to the twins’ house, until Grandma has a great idea. In A Good Place to Hide, Susan wants to get away from her persistent brothers, who are determined to show her the spider they’ve trapped in a jar. But everywhere she goes, from the tool shed to Rover’s doghouse, someone finds her — until she finds a secret place where she finally can be alone. Everyone knows that mermaids have long golden hair and sweet singing voices — except when they don’t! In The Little Mermaid Who Could Not Sing, red-haired Cynthia can swim and ride seahorses but she cannot sing a note. Cynthia’s terribly discouraged until she discovers that she has a hidden talent of her very own.
About Louis Slobodkin and Florence Slobodkin: At the age of 15, Louis Slobodkin (1903–75) entered the Beaux Arts Institute of Design, where he studied drawing, composition, and sculpture. In the course of his six-year studies, he won more than 20 medals and was awarded the Louis Tiffany Fellowship. Slobodkin illustrated nearly 90 books, 50 of which he wrote, and in 1944 he received the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations for James Thurber’s Many Moons
Poet and author of children’s books Florence Slobodkin (1905–94) collaborated with her husband on five books, including the classic Too Many Mittens.
The Golden Basket
Publisher’s Synopsis: On a cobblestoned street in the ancient city of Bruges, a hotel with a golden basket on its roof admits a trio of weary travelers: a father and two little girls, Celeste and Melisande. The next morning, the sisters awake to the thrill of discovering a new country and meeting new friends, including Jan, the innkeeper’s son, and Monsieur Carnewal, the hardworking, warmhearted maître d’hôtel. The girls discover a world of imaginative fun within the hotel itself as well as in the picturesque city of medieval buildings and towers, where graceful swans swim in the canals and a lamplighter makes his daily rounds. Inspired by a trip to Belgium, author Ludwig Bemelmans drew upon his youthful experiences at his family’s Austrian inn to perfectly recapture the setting of an Old World hotel. A brief cameo by a mischievous French schoolgirl — the first appearance of the author’s iconic character, Madeline—offers a hint of the joys to come.
About Ludwig Bemelmans: The recipient of both the Caldecott and Newbery awards, Ludwig Bemelmans (1898–1962) is best remembered as the creator of the Madeline books. He grew up in Austria, emigrated to America in his youth, and became a U.S. citizen after serving in World War I. In addition to dozens of books for adults as well as children, Bemelmans wrote movie scripts and was an internationally renowned gourmet.
Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings
By Edward McLachlan
Publisher’s Synopsis: Simon enters the Land of Chalk Drawings, where his doodles spring to colorful life and join him in adventures that challenge his wits as well as his imagination. This exclusive collection comprises all four of author Edward McLachlan’s Chalk stories, which served as the inspiration for the popular PBS and Nickelodeon animated shorts. In the Land of Chalk Drawings: An unfinished stick figure asks to be completed and introduces Simon to a host of other drawings that need his attention. Simon and the Chalk Drawing Army: Some soldiers have invaded the Land of Chalk Drawings and are making everyone drill to the point of exhaustion. With quick thinking, Simon finds a way to keep the soldiers busy, and the other drawings get a treat. Simon and the Moon Rocket: Simon flies to the moon, where he’s forced to solve a mountain of sums. How can he finish them all and get away? Simon and the Dinosaur: All the children and animals have disappeared from the Land of Chalk Drawings ― they’ve been eaten by a dinosaur! Simon must rescue them and help the hungry dinosaur, too.
About Edward McLachlan: Hailed as “the cartoonist’s cartoonist,” Edward McLachlan has contributed cartoons to Punch, Private Eye, the London Evening Standard, New Statesman, Playboy, and many other periodicals. He has also worked for several book publishers, has drawn advertisements, and has designed and written more than 300 commercial advertising films for clients including Renault and Alka-Seltzer.
Sam and Emma
By Donald Nelsen and Edward Gorey
Publisher’s Synopsis: A kind hound and a critical cat venture beyond their garden gate for a look at how other animals live in this winsome tale, which is charmingly illustrated by Edward Gorey. Emma the cat scorns the lunch offered by a trio of friendly beavers and laughs in the faces of a pair of porcupines, much to Sam the dog’s consternation. Along come a couple of raccoons. Emma allows that they resemble cats, so they’re not ugly, but decries their nocturnal habits. “Not even a dog would live like that,” she declares — and now she’s insulted long-suffering Sam, too. She didn’t mean him, of course. Sam offers his feline friend a more balanced perspective and a gently irresistible appeal for tolerance, bringing this thought-provoking fable of friendship to a warm conclusion. Hardcover edition.
About Donald Nelsen and Edward Gorey: Indiana native Donald Nelsen has lived and worked in New York City for more than 50 years. In 1959 he was awarded a Fulbright grant to study painting in Paris, and upon his return to the United States he joined a design studio and began creating textile and wallpaper designs as well as painted wood carvings of everyday objects. Several of his oil paintings are on display at the Brooklyn Historical Society.
American author and artist Edward Gorey (1925–2000) combined whimsy and dark humor in such illustrated books as The Doubtful Guest, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, and four Amphigorey anthologies. His distinctive style, featuring characters in Victorian dress in surrealistic settings, achieved wide recognition with his opening-sequence animation for the PBS Mystery! series.
I Need a New Butt
By Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird
Publisher’s Synopsis: A young boy suddenly notices a big problem — his butt has a huge crack! So he sets off to find a new one. Will he choose an armor-plated butt? A rocket butt? A robot butt? Find out in this quirky tale of a tail, which features hilarious rhymes and delightful illustrations. Children and parents will love this book — no ifs, ands, or butts about it! “I can assure you right now that your kids will love this book. They will giggle, they will laugh, and they will want this book to be read over and over again because it is just plain silly and funny … the perfect kid-combo.” — Storywraps
About Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird: Dawn McMillan writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and storybooks for children. She is also the author of Woolly Wally and Holy Socks. She lives in Waiomu, New Zealand.
Ross Kinnaird has illustrated such children’s books as 50 Body Questions and the animated poem “Smaller,” winner of the People’s Choice Award at the World Parkinson’s Congress. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
Available Here: www.doverpublications.com/summerreading
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105 Comments
I think it’s a great collection of classics. I’m really intrigued by The Golden Basket, it’s one by Ludwig Bemelmans that I’d never heard of before. Thanks for the chance to win this great prize.
Summer reading is great So comfortable and relaxing. ” The Golden Basket” explores an adventure that would be interesting to read about.
It’s great to relax with a book and a lemonade! I love reading outside on my porch. I’ve read Madeline but I’ve never read ‘The Golden Basket’ so that one looks intriguing!
My favorite place to read is snuggled in the corner of the couch!~ I love books because they take me to places I have never been!
I’m excited about the book “too many mittens” I like to read in the sun just laying on a towel in the grass
I love to relax on the back porch on the swing with a good book. It’s so relaxing!
I love reading out on our pool deck…or most of all, at the beach!!
I love reading in bed late night.
Marion
I enjoy reading outside in the backyard with the birds chirping, the sun shining and the soothing warmth.
Summer reading is more relaxed and we can read on the deck.
I love to read at camp. very relaxing.
I’m not familiar with some of these books but love Dinotopia. I have the first one and several paperback stories. It would be wonderful to have the others to add to my collection.
Nothing beats reading in a hammock. It takes me back to summer when I was young and reading the day away in a clothesline tent.
The Golden Basket sounds like a fun story!
My favorite place to read is in my reading chair in my bedroom.
My favorite place to read is outside on a warm sunny day!
My favorite place to read is on the dock at the lake
The Golden Basket has me intrigued. What a wonderful adventure. including history. In summer there’s no better place to relax and read than in a hammock while the birds are singing and you’re totally relaxed
My favorite place to read is curled up under a comfy blanket.
“Where is your favorite place to read?” My favorite place to read is by my enormous inglenook fireplace, wearing my Turkish fez.
My favorite place for summer reading is in my backyard, under a big, leafy tree, with a beautiful view of a neighboring canyon.
My favorite thing about Summer reading is we have more time to read with the grandkids! I work for the school district and have the Summer of, and really look forward to catching up with the kiddos! Love having the Summer of, and I’ll even treat myself and read more too!
The Golden Basket sounds like a fun and interesting book to read with the family.
Quiet time before bed is nice and relaxing.
I love just being able to enjoy a book and some coffee or tea out on the deck. I love summer! Thanks for this awesome giveaway! Me and my girls love to read together!
My favorite thing about summer reading is being able to read for pleasure and not just for work.
Summer reading is best on a beach!
The Golden Basket!!! And reading underne@ big tree
In the summer I love to read outside in a nice lounge chair with a cold glass of iced tea.
The best part of summer reading woth the kids is the lazy feeling of just gwtting to read what we want to read. I love reading out in the shade, in a big swing or hammock, but honestly, I hate the summer heat, and I’m even happier curled up in bed or on the couch, reading near an A.C. vent!
I’m most excited about Sam and Emma – It looks like one my granddaughter would really enjoy.
I’m most excited about “I Need A New Butt”. My grandniece will find this book absolutely hysterical and it sounds like a cute one.
I love summer reading because it’s more relaxing, with the slower pace of summer. It brings back memories of having so much leisure time for reading while school was out.
One of the joy reading during the summer is you get to relax and forget your surrounding. All while you curl up on a comfy couch. All these books are interesting. I know my kids will love it.
Even though I typically work a 12 to 14 hour day as a writer, I take time out every week to read. I like to curl up in my favorite chair, with the sun shining in and read for a few hours on the weekend. I have a growing book of books to read, but I am working my way through them and allow more time for reading in the summer! Thanks for the awesome giveaway opportunity. I also love to read with our grandchildren.
I love this collection! My kids and myself love to cuddle up on our couch and I will read them a book or two and then I get my 8 year old to read to us and of course my 3 year old loves to jump in and try!
my city has a summer reading program and they incorporate a reading scavenger hunt which is super fun!
I’m really excited about all of these books. My kids will love them, for sure! We spend rainy days, snuggled on the couch reading. During the summer, sometimes we have picnics outside and my 7 year old will bring a book to read to her siblings!
love the newness of summer and all the flowers and baby animals out and about. my favorite place to read is on a blanket on the beach…..total heaven
I love to read anywhere. I love to read all year. All of these books look interesting.
My favorite thing about summer reading is that you can sometimes take it outside!
I love to read late at night with a throw in cooler weather with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and I don’t know why, but my favorite time is when it’s misty outside. I just get lost in a book. I would enjoy The Golden Basket and I know my grandkids would love Dinotopia!
My favorite thing about summer reading is we have time to do more of it!
I read myself to sleep at night in bed.
My favorite thing about summer reading is it can take me to places I have not been to as of yet. Favorite place to read in the summer is at the pool or beach. I am most excited about reading “The Golden Basket”.
I love summer reading because I can choose what I want to read instead of reading something chosen for me . I am interested in the book The Girl in the White Hat because I like to imagine being able to fly. My favorite place to read is on my comfortable couch.
I love to read on my deck in summer
I like reading in the summer because I can go out on my swing and read. It also seems like alot of good books are released for summer reading. I help my daughter homeschool her three children so it is nice for them to get out and read too. I really want to read I Need a New Butt. Sounds really cute and funny. Thanks!
I love to read in the shade in my sky chair
This collection of books would be great for me to share with my grandchildren. They’re just the right age to enjoy them.
My favorite place to read is at my son’s house with my grandchildren.
We always look forward to summer reading as a family!
We love Dover books. I grew up reading every one I could find and now my kids have the same passion for reading and a chance to discover more Dover books.
reading on a rainy afternoon is my favorite
The kids and I like to have goals set for summer reading so besides their love of reading, they can feel a sense of accomplishment.
Thank you for this opportunity. Would love to win these for our kid’s ds little free library
I love to read out by the pool in the summer. Looking forward to reading The Golden Basket.
I enjoy reading in bed before I go to sleep. It helps me to wind down.
I love reading on the beach in my sand chair. I would love to read Dinotopia first. Reading is relaxing and enjoyable.
My favorite place to read is in my reading chair in my bedroom I Need a New Butt sounds like a cute book.
Would love to win this for my daughter Shelby. She is graduating from UC Davis Teaching Program on 6-14 and will be teaching her first year starting August for 6th grade. She would love to have these books in her classroom to share with her students.
I like to read under a tree by the water. Summer reading means you can read outside.
I love the sunshine and warmer days, sitting on my porch