Published by Candlewick

Summary:  A boy imagines life with a triceratops, which resembles an oversize dog, complete with lolling tongue, leash, and doghouse.  Readers will enjoy illustrations of the boy trailing after his pet on a walk with a shovel and trash bag, and of two triceratops sniffing at each other’s tails when they first meet.  “If I had a triceratops,” concludes the narrator, “I would be the luckiest kid in the world.”

Pros:  This would be a good writing prompt for kids to write persuasively about why they should have a triceratops (or other animal) as a pet.  The information about the author mentions that there is an earlier book, If I Had a Raptor that is based on cat ownership.

Cons:  That whole shovel and bag thing.

Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Sophie has a new baby sister, and she’s decided to try out some different languages to communicate with her, like Jellyfish, Hyena, and Baboon.  Each time she makes the attempt, her parents urge her, “Use your words, Sophie.”  Meanwhile, Sophie’s mother and father are having trouble agreeing on what to name the baby.  To add to the chaos, the baby starts crying, and no one, not even Granny, can figure out how to make her stop.  Finally, Sophie uses her words.  “Give her to me, please.”  Then she uses them again to sing quietly to the baby.  Miraculously, the baby stops crying.  “Her name is Jane,” says Sophie.  “So I sang to her, Jane, Jane, don’t be a pain.  Now she’s happy.”  And so is everyone else.

Pros:  Rosemary Wells has created another memorable character for preschoolers.  This is Sophie the mouse’s third book.  It would make an excellent sibling gift when a new baby arrives.

Cons:  I was sorry that Jane was the final name choice for the new baby.  Just adding a “t” would have made it so much better.

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Every night, Spencer hears a bedtime story, and every morning, the book is missing.  His parents don’t know where the books are (plus, they’re busy), and he gets in trouble when he accuses his little sister of stealing them.  Finally, he sets a trap by rigging up his stuffed narwhal to one of his books.  In the morning, he follows the narwhal to a clump of bushes where he discovers a squirrel reading the book to his friends and family.  Spencer gets his books back, but he invites the squirrels to come any time to borrow, and the final page shows him reading his favorite book, Night, Night, Narwhal to the squirrels and his sister.  Ages 4-8.

Pros:  Spencer is an ingenious boy who is able to figure out how to solve his own problems.  This would be a great introduction to the whole borrowing-books-from-the-library concept.

Cons:  Those squirrels are nuts.

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Warty Warthog introduces himself and his friends at the zoo, explaining in rhyming text why each animal is perfect the way he/she is.  Rhino likes his wrinkly skin, Elephant knows his nose is supposed to be long, Chimp’s sticking-out ears are charming, etc.  Each animal gets a large illustration on a white background, every animal looking as happy as can be.  The final conclusion? “It would be such a shame if you came to the zoo and we all looked the same!” Ages 3-8.

Pros:  An upbeat message for kids to appreciate differences, joyfully illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Janet Stevens.

Cons:  If you read this aloud, you will have to endure endless laughter about Hippo’s wiggly, jiggly behind.

Published by Tundra Books

Summary:  In this retelling of the classic fairy tale, Snow White finds refuge from the evil queen in a house inhabited by dwarfs.  Only this time, it’s not seven dwarfs, it’s 77.  Just learning their names (Elvis, Dudley, Bilberry, Kiki…) proves to be a chore, never mind fixing three meals a day and cleaning up afterward.  After a few days of this routine, Snow White decides the queen is a better option.  She requests two poison apples, and finally gets to enjoy a well-earned sleep.

Pros:  Fractured fairy tales are always fun, and kids will enjoy the 77 rainbow-hued dwarfs on many of the pages.

Cons:  The ending seemed a bit abrupt and unsatisfying to me.  Kids may not quite get it, even if harried parents do.

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  As the title suggest, Miss Hazeltine has opened a home for shy and fearful cats, and it’s very popular with pet owners.  Their cats have all kinds of issues from a fear of mice to an inability to pounce, but the one that is scared of everything is Crumb.  He refuses to participate in Bird Basics, Scary Noises, Meeting New Friends, or any of the other trainings Miss Hazeltine offers.  That’s okay with her.  She lets him just sit and watch, and he proves to be a good observer.  One afternoon, when the other cats are sleeping, she goes out for more milk and doesn’t come back.  It’s Crumb who knows just what to do and leads the other cats on a rescue mission.  He alone knows what scares Miss Hazeltine and how to help her overcome her fears and find her way back home.  Upon their return, the cats change the sign on the house to Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Pretty Brave If You Ask Us Cats.

Pros:  Miss Hazeltine’s approach, to allow her cats to proceed at their own pace in overcoming their fears, seems like a very comforting one to cats or children.  Kids will enjoy the cartoonish illustrations and relate to the cats’ difficulties and ultimate success.

Cons:  The cats are a little too bug-eyed to be cute in the classic cat sense.