If you, like me,...

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If you,
like me,
were made of fur
and the sun warmed you,
like me,
you'd purr.

~ Karla Kuskin

This fun poem makes me smile. (So does the photo!) If I could be an animal for a day, I would choose to be a cat. I would love to be that limber and graceful and relaxed. And I would really enjoy stretching out in the warm sunshine for a cat nap.  I have no doubt that I would purr! 

How about you? Would you like to be a cat? Or is there another animal that you would prefer to be?

Puppy love

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

An excerpt:

     I suppose there's a time in practically every young boy's life when he's affected by that wonderful disease of puppy love. I don't mean the kind a boy has for the pretty little girl that lives down the road. I mean the real kind, the kind that has four small feet and a wiggly tail, and sharp little teeth that can gnaw on a boy's finger; the kind a boy can romp and play with, even eat and sleep with.

     I was ten years old when I first became infected with this terrible disease. I'm sure no boy in the world had it worse than I did. It's not easy for a young boy to want a dog and not be able to have one. It starts growing on his heart, and gets all mixed up in his dreams. It gets worse and worse, until finally it becomes almost unbearable.

~ from Where the Red Fern Grows,

written by Wilson Rawls

I am more of a cat person than a dog person myself, but puppies sure are cute and hard to resist! I can understand this kind of "puppy love", having felt it when I was younger, only for a kitten. I wanted one SO badly. I had to wait many years, but my dream finally came true when our family adopted the best cat ever, Hobbit. :) How about you --  have you ever experienced puppy love?

Fiction for Animal Lovers

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Our family loves animals. You may have heard me say that my 16-year-old son Nick lives and breathes animals -- all day, every day. But the rest of us are fans of "all creatures great and small", too. We love our pets (a cockatiel, a leopard gecko, and two fire-bellied toads), we enjoy watching wildlife whenever we spend time outside, we visit zoos several times a year, and we all get excited whenever there's a bird or a squirrel at one of our backyard feeders. Are you an animal lover, too? If so, this post is for you!

Over the past few months, I have read several fictional books featuring animals. Some are realistic fiction and others are pure fantasy. A few of them are picture books and the rest are for older readers. I enjoyed all of these stories and am happy to share them with you here:

Picture books:

One Gorilla,
written and illustrated by Anthony Browne, 2012

This beautifully illustrated book counts primates, a different species on each page. I just love the vivid, lifelike pictures that make counting fun. This book wasn't around yet when my Nick was a toddler, but if it had been, I'm sure that we would've owned a copy and read through it daily!

***

Slow Loris,
written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon, 2002

Slow Loris is soooo sloooow. The people who come to the zoo -- and even the other animals -- all think that he is too boring. But Loris has a secret....

This story introduces readers to the slow loris, a real animal. It presents facts about the primate, but then offers a surprise and some very amusing illustrations of Loris, the fictional character. This is another book that Nick would've loved when he was younger.

***

Birdsong,
written and illustrated by Ellie Sandall, 2010

This story begins with one bird on a branch, singing its unique song. On every page a new bird with a different song arrives. When a large bird with a very loud voice arrives, it clears the branch... with comic results.

While both the story and the colorful illustrations in this book made me smile, my favorite part was reading the birdsongs aloud. Who can resist calling, "Kitcha kitcha Kee kee kee," or answering "Urrah! Urrah! Rah rah ree."?

***

Middle grade books:

The Wind in the Willows,
written by Kenneth Grahame, 1908

A story of the friendship between a Rat, a Mole, a Badger, and a Toad, this book has been a favorite classic of many readers for over one hundred years now. 

When I was a girl, I remember watching Disney's The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, partly based on The Wind in the Willows. I also had a big book of Disney stories that included Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, based on the movie. But I never read the full text of The Wind in the Willows until recently. My son Ben received the book Return to the Willows (shown below) from his grandparents. He wanted me to read it out loud to him, but after some discussion, we decided to read Grahame's book first and then Kelly's.

Written in the language style from over a century ago, this book is not an easy read -- despite the fact that it is considered a children's story.  There were many times when I had to pause in my reading aloud to explain the meanings of words to Ben, words such as "imperiously", "contemptuous", or "reminiscence". Once we moved past that difficulty -- or, at least, got used to it -- we both found the tale enjoyable. Ben especially liked hearing about the absurd Mr. Toad and all the trouble he gets into throughout the book!

***

Return to the Willows,
written by Jacqueline Kelly
and illustrated by Clint Young, 2012

One hundred and four years after Grahame's The Wind in the Willows was published, Jacqueline Kelly wrote this sequel to the classic story. She brings back all four friends, along with many other characters from the first book, and a whole host of new adventures.

I believe that Kelly did a wonderful job matching the rich language and the "feel" of the original story. It is clear that she knows and loves that story, and she pays homage to it while creating something new. The story can, in fact, stand by itself -- one would not have to read The Wind in the Willows before reading this one. I am glad that we read both books, but I have to say that Ben and I actually preferred this book to the first. The story seemed to go a little faster and many of the situations that Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad encounter had us both laughing out loud. In addition, Young's illustrations throughout the book are delightful.

***

The Underneath,
written by Kathi Appelt,
with drawings by David Small, 2008

Deep in the woods, where the only human is a violent, scary man called Gar Face, a pregnant cat befriends a lonely chained-up hound dog. She soon gives birth to two kittens and the four animals become a family.  Their world is a dangerous one, however, and the cats must stay out of sight, in the Underneath of Gar Face's ramshackle house. If the man discovers them, he will use the felines as alligator bait....

Though this is a middle grade book, I do not recommend it for children under age 10 -- even older children or teens may be bothered by some of the darker scenes. I found the book a little confusing at first, because the point of view jumps around. The story also travels back in time, thousands of years ago, and there is a magical element to the story that I didn't understand at first. Ultimately, however, Appelt's poetic writing and her message about the power of love drew me in to the story.

***

Young adult books (these are also filed as middle grade books at my library):

Redwall,
written by Brian Jacques, 1986

Redwall Abbey, inhabited by a community of peace-loving mice, is suddenly under attack by Cluny the Scourge, the evil one-eyed rat. Matthias the mouse must learn to become a warrior and somehow save his friends and beloved home. 

There are 22 books in the Redwall series and this is the only one that I've read so far, but I'm hoping to try more of them in the future. I was first introduced to this book about ten years ago, when we were visiting family and my father-in-law read the first couple of chapters to my kiddos at bedtime. I kept meaning to get ahold of a copy so that we could finish the story, but that never happened. Finally, this summer, I checked it out of the library and read it. I liked the story, though I think I would've liked it even more as a child. I knew it would appeal to my 9-year-old son Ben, so once I'd finished it, I recommended it to him. Sure enough, he loved it and can't wait to read more!

***

The One and Only Ivan,
written by Katherine Applegate, 2011

Inspired by a true story, this fictional tale centers on Ivan, a gorilla who lives behind a glass wall at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. He rarely thinks about his past life in the jungle, focusing instead on his friends Bob (a stray dog) and Stella (an elderly elephant) or on his finger paint artwork. But one day a baby elephant named Ruby arrives at the mall. Taken from her family, Ruby helps Ivan see their home, and his art, in a brand new way.

This is probably my favorite of the books in this post. I was drawn into it immediately and had to keep reading until I'd finished. I also shed a few tears before I was done. It is a touching, bittersweet story that has stayed with me long after turning the final page.

***

Silverwing,
written by Kenneth Oppel, 1997

The first of a trilogy that includes the books Sunwing and Firewing, this is the story of Shade, the runt of his Silverwing bat colony. While migrating south for the winter, Shade is separated from the others and thrown off course during a storm. He encounters a host of other bats on his journey to find his colony -- but are they friends or enemies?

Throughout this fictional story, Oppel presents many real facts about bats, which is one of the reasons I liked the book. I also enjoyed the characters and the adventure aspect of the book. I have not yet read the rest of the trilogy, but I plan to!

***

Hoot,
written by Carl Hiaasen, 2002

Middle school Roy has just moved to Coconut Cove, FL and already he's being bullied. One day he notices a barefoot boy running past. Roy sees the boy more than once -- always barefoot, always running. As he sets out to discover who the boy is, Roy finds himself caught up in an effort to halt the construction of a chain restaurant that would destroy the colony of burrowing owls living on the site.

This was another favorite of mine -- Ben and Nick are both big fans of the book, too. It was a quick, humorous read that kept my interest throughout.

***

Where the Red Fern Grows,

written by Wilson Rawls, 1961

Young Billy's dream is to own a pair of coonhounds to take hunting with him, but his parents can't afford to buy one dog, let alone two. Billy goes to work doing odd jobs to earn the money himself and finally, after two long years, is able to buy a pair of pups. Old Dan and Little Ann turn out to be the best dogs a boy could ask for and Billy soon begins training them to hunt for raccoons.

I remember classmates of mine reading this classic when I was in elementary school, and in my early 20's I watched the 1974 film based on this story, but I'd never read the book myself until just last month. I have to admit that it was difficult for me to get into the story at first. In most cases, I am opposed to hunting and I did not like reading the passages that were strictly about that sport. (I felt sorry for the raccoons!) When I was finally able to get over that aspect of the story, however, I liked the rest of it. I especially appreciated Rawls's descriptive writing of the woods where Billy lives and hunts, and of the deep love that grows between the boy and his dogs.

***

Have you read any of the books above? If so, what did you think of them? What are some other books about animals that you suggest reading? I am always looking for new books to add to my to-read list!

If you are interested in more of my animal book recommendations, please check the following links:

Wild (and Not-So-Wild) Things

A Passion for Penguins

Groundhogs for BookWyrms

A Penguin Obsession

Wild About Animals? (This post features non-fiction books.)

You can also click on "Wild Things" and "Not-So-Wild Things" in the Labels section on the right to find even more.

Ending with the grin...

Image courtesy of Clker.com

An excerpt:

     "All right," said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained for some time after the rest of it had gone.

     "Well!  I've often seen a cat without a grin," thought Alice, "but a grin without a cat!  It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!"

~ from Alice in Wonderland,

written by Lewis Carroll

What's the most curious thing you've ever seen?

Cat Kisses

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

Cat Kisses

Sandpaper kisses
On a cheek or a chin
That is the way
For a day to begin!

Sandpaper kisses
A cuddle, a purr.
I have an alarm clock
Covered with fur.

~ Bobbi Katz

This poem makes me smile. :)  It reminds me of the cat I had growing up, Hobbit (best kitty ever!) -- he loved to wake me up with his sandpaper kisses.  I sure do miss him.

(Psst... if you haven't heard about the "Blue..." is Two! Birthday Contest yet, you can find all the details here.)

Cats take naps...

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

Cats take naps
from dawn to dawn.
They nap on anything they're on,
a pillow
antique chair
or lawn.
And when their need to nap is gone,
they stretch
and yawn
and look around for something else
it might be nice
to nap upon.

~ Karla Kuskin

I am a cat person.  Unfortunately, however, I am cat-less. My husband is extremely allergic to animals with fur, especially cats, so we can't have one in our home.  When I was growing up, though, we had a kitty (Hobbit) who looked like the one sleeping in the photo above.  Just like Kuskin says in her poem, he would nap all day long, moving from one comfy (or not-so-comfy) spot to another.  I love how she describes that behavior and uses rhymes to do it.

Bootiful Books for Young Kids

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It's almost time for one of my favorite holidays!  We've got our house and yard all decorated with spoooooky items, we're planning a Halloween party, and we're working on gathering materials for our costumes.  Another way we're getting ready for this fun holiday is by reading Halloween-themed books.  Last year, I shared a few picture books (fiction and nonfiction) in my Not-So-Spooky Stories post. This year, Ben and I looked for some new Halloween books at the library.  Here are the ones that we enjoyed the most:

Pumpkin Fever,

written by Charnan Simon

and illustrated by Jan Bryan-Hunt, 2007

Erin and her family have pumpkin fever!  They drive to a field and find two big pumpkins to bring home.  Erin's father helps her carve a jack-o-lantern in one pumpkin, but what is her mother doing with the other?

This is a short but sweet story for beginning readers.  In addition to the tale about Erin's family, the book also introduces several shape concepts.

***

Boo to You!,

written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, 2009

The mice are planning a harvest party, but that scary black cat keeps sneaking around.  Maybe, with a little creativity, the mice can scare the cat away!

Among other materials, Ehlert uses photos of flowers, plants, and vegetables to help create her artistic collages on each page of this story.  Ben and I love studying the illustrations, pointing out all the details.  At the end of the book, Ehlert also provides instructions for roasting pumpkin seeds.

***

Sheep Trick or Treat,

written by Nancy Shaw

and illustrated by Margot Apple, 1997

The sheep make Halloween costumes for themselves and go trick-or-treating at the barn.  Little do they know, wolves await in the shadows.

Shaw and Apple have created a series of sheep books, including Sheep in a Jeep, Sheep in a Shop, and more. All of them are fun rhyming stories, and this is no exception. Ben and I giggled over the silly costumes the sheep create and the various items the sheep are offered while trick-or-treating.

***

Minerva Louise on Halloween,

written and illustrated by Janet Morgan Stoeke, 2009

Minerva Louise is a chicken.  Unlike the sheep in the story above, Minerva Louise doesn't seem to have any concept of the Halloween holiday.  She interprets the things she sees based on her experiences around the farm.  For example, when she sees children dressed as ghosts, she thinks they are sheets that have blown off the clothesline.

This is a cute, amusing story.  Kids are sure to get a kick out of Minerva Louise's misunderstandings -- I know Ben and I did!

***

Bone Dog,

written and illustrated by Eric Rohmann, 2011

When his dog Ella dies, Gus doesn't feel much like doing anything, and isn't even excited about Halloween.  He does dress up as a skeleton, and soon finds himself surrounded by a group of real skeletons.  Ella, now a Bone Dog, comes to his rescue, and together they frighten the skeletons away.

This is a sad, tender story of friendship, loss, and a dog's loyalty -- with some humor thrown in, as well.

***

Pumpkin Moonshine,
written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, 1938

Sylvie Ann wants to make a pumpkin moonshine (jack-o-lantern), so she sets off across her grandparents' cornfields to find a pumpkin.  When she finds one that seems perfect, it is too large for her to carry.  She begins to roll it home, but when she reaches the top of a hill, the pumpkin gets away from her.  Can Sylvie Ann catch it before the pumpkin runs into anything?

This book is a good pick for children and adults who prefer the "softer side" of Halloween.  It is a gentle story that made me smile.  (Ben, too.)

***

Arthur's Halloween Costume,

written and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, 1984

Arthur hopes to win a prize for most unique costume at the school Halloween party.  Originally, he plans to go as a ghost.  When his sister tells him that several others are also going as ghosts, Arthur tries to come up with other ideas.  In the end, he is wearing a very unusual costume indeed -- but what is he?

Readers will get a chuckle out of Arthur's mishaps, and may be inspired by his resourcefulness, as well.

***

Big Bob and the Halloween Potatoes,

written by Daniel Pinkwater

and illustrated by Jill Pinkwater, 2000

Big Bob and Big Gloria are second graders who love potatoes.  When their teacher, Mr. Salami, announces that they will be making pumpkin decorations for Halloween, Big Gloria tries to convince him that they should use potatoes instead.  (According to her, pumpkins are "meaningless".)  Mr. Salami stands his ground.  When Big Gloria and her friends come up with a way to include potatoes in the Halloween celebration -- and Mr. Salami devises a plan to make pumpkins more meaningful -- everyone wins!

Big Gloria has some great lines in this book that Ben and I found very funny.  We also enjoyed the creativity shown by Mr. Salami and his students.

***

The House That Drac Built,

written by Judy Sierra

and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, 1995

This is definitely not the house that Jack built!  In this cumulative rhyme, Drac's house is full of ghoulish figures who are getting a bit out of hand.  When a group of young trick-or-treaters arrive, they know just what to do to put the house back in order.

This book is rated for 4 years and above on Amazon, but I would say it's more suited to 6- and 7-year-olds.  I think younger children might find some of the illustrations too scary.  (There is an adorable picture of a bat, however!)  Ben and I enjoyed the humor and the unruly monsters.

***

J is for Jack-O'-Lantern:

A Halloween Alphabet,

written by Denise Brennan-Nelson

and illustrated by Donald Wu, 2009

This Halloween alphabet book offers a poem for each letter, as well as an educational sidebar for each of the twenty-six words used.  It also includes riddles, game and costume suggestions, and recipes for Halloween treats.

Ben and I appreciated all the information provided -- we learned some new things from this book!  We also liked the lyrical rhymes.

***

The Runaway Pumpkin,

written by Kevin Lewis

and illustrated by S. D. Schindler, 2003

When Buck, Billy, and Lil spy the biggest pumpkin they've ever seen, they attempt to roll it home.  Very soon it is out of control, bumping and thumping down the hill and towards their farm.

This comical rhyming story is sure to please kids and adults alike.  It's a fun one to read aloud, but beware -- it does have a bit of a tongue-twister quality to it!

***

Velcome,
written and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, 1997

While the narrator insists that the stories inside will scare you, this corny, madcap spoof on tales of terror is much more likely to make readers groan or giggle over bad puns than it is to frighten them.

Ben and I found this to be a very silly book.  We especially liked the sarcastic commentaries provided by the animals in the illustrations.

***

Halloween Night:

Twenty-one Spooktacular Poems,

written by Charles Ghigna

and illustrated by Adam McCauley, 2003

This collection of Halloween poems, including "I'm Not Afraid", "Sick or Treat", and "The Scary Dictionary", is perfect for reading aloud.  Most of the poems are humorous, with upbeat, bouncy rhymes.  Only a few are slightly scary.

Ben and I thought that Ghigna's poetry was a treat!  We also loved McCauley's bold illustrations on each page.

***

Celebrate Halloween

with Pumpkins, Costumes, and Candy,

written by Deborah Heiligman

and photographed by many, 2007

This nonfiction book contains many colorful photographs from around the world.  It provides information about Halloween, including the history behind the holiday and different ways that it is celebrated.  It also offers a few game ideas and recipes at the back of the book.

***

Have you read any good Halloween books for young kids lately?  I'd love to hear about them!