What We’re Reading: Kids Books
I’ve attended a lot of baby showers lately (including one for Hazel + husband last weekend). I like to give books as part of my gifts, and I try to find something unique—so needless to say, I’ve had children’s books on the brain. One of the best places to discover unique books? A indie children’s bookstore, of course. My local favorite is Wild Rumpus in the Linden Hills area of Minneapolis. In addition to bookshelf upon bookshelf of unique books (many autographed by the author), they have live chickens and cats walking about, as well as mice in a cage, and more furry critters for kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) to pet. Here are a few that I’ve either recently come across or are my time-tested favorites for gifts.
Little Pea; written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace (Chronicle Books, 2005)
This is one that my mom and I found together at a small shop, and we both were giggling so hard that tears were leaking out. This little gem was Krouse Rosenthal’s first children’s book, and it was a slam dunk. Little Pea, like many little ones, is a picky eater. The catch? He won’t eat his sweets! (But love his vegetables.) Sweet, well-paced, funny, and with whimsical illustrations, this is one that will have adults and children alike giggling like my mom and I.
Trouble with Trolls; written and illustrated by Jan Brett (Penguin, 1992)
This is one that little kids will grow into. Trouble with Trolls holds a dear space in my heart. I requested and was given many Jan Brett books as a kid, but Trouble with Trolls was my absolute favorite. The trolls have decided they want a dog, and when young heroine Treva and her dog Tuff run into, well, trouble with trolls, Treva has to use her brain to outwit the mischievous trolls. Brett’s illustrations are magical and multi-layered, with intricate behind-the-scene moments lining the edges of a spread, in addition to the main scene in the center. The books’ Norwegian influence also spoke to my own Scandinavian roots. This is for any kid with an active imagination and love of mischief.
Agate: What Good Is a Moose? written by Joy Morgan Dey and illustrated by Nikki Johnson (Lake Superior Port Cities, 2007)
The watercolors of this book’s illustrations are what immediately drew me to this book. Plus the fact that the nursery theme of the friend I was getting this for was wildlife themed. It’s a sweet story about a moose named Agate who doesn’t quite have self-confidence. All of his wildlife friends are named after birthstones, too, but pretty birthstones, whereas Agate’s birthstone is a brown, plain rock. But Agate’s friends remind him throughout the book that beauty is an internal thing, rather than just external (not unlike his own birthstone).
Millions of Cats; written and illustrated by Wanda Gág (1928)
This one’s a classic—and the oldest American picture book in print. A lonely elderly couple decides to get a cat. The man goes off in search for the perfect cat, and ends up bringing home “millions and billions and trillions of cats”! Eventually, they find their perfect cat, but not an expected one. There’s Minnesota pride here, too—Gág was born in New Ulm, Minnesota.
