Hotdogs, Puffins, Going To Grandma’s All Great Subjects For Childrens’ Reading

Children’s book reviews by Tacoma writer Rebecca Young appear monthly in The Spokesman-Review.

“The Bag I’m Taking to Grandma’s” by Shirley Neitzel - I don’t know about your family, but mine is going to Grandma’s this summer, and I bet my children will try to pack their own bags. This is the story of a boy who did just that. First into the brown shopping bag is a baseball mitt, then his cars (“I’m taking them all”), a space shuttle with astronaut crew, animals (“two by two”), a stuffed bunny and pillow for sleeping with at night … You get the picture. By the time his mother picks up the bag, it’s so heavy that it splits at the bottom. Time for compromise.

The same author-illustrator team did the “The Dress I’ll Wear to the Party.” Both are funny and clever take-offs on “The House That Jack Built.” Rebuses add interest for beginning readers and the watercolor, ink and colored pencil illustrations by Nancy Winslow Parker are charming. (Greenwillow, ages 4-8, 32 pgs., $14.95.)

“Kids Camp! Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness” by Laurie Carlson - This is a great idea for a summer activity book that will be useful to parents, as well as fun and interesting for their children. Carlson, a Coeur d’Alene resident and teacher, is the experienced author of six fine children’s activity books, including the popular “EcoArt” and “Kids Create!”

Her newest book contains more than 100 hands-on activities and games that teach children the basics of safe and fun camping. Learn knot tying and two ways of hanging food out of the reach of wildlife. Sample recipes for apple pocket pies, crunchy cheese crackers, trail mix and fruit leather. Learn to sift soil, make berry-picking buckets out of plastic milk jugs, and rafts out of twigs. Go on a scavenger hunt, or put old socks over your shoes, walk through a meadow, and try to identify the seeds you collect. Instructions are easy to follow, with helpful pencil illustrations by Judith Dammel.

Look also for Carlson’s “Huzzah Means Hooray: Activities from the Days of Damsels, Jesters & Blackbirds” and “More Than Moccasins: A Kid’s Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life” (Chicago Review Press, ages 4-12, 171 pgs., $12.95, paperback.

“Making Music: 6 Instruments You Can Create” by Eddie Herschel Oates - Here are more good ideas for summer projects. After an introduction describing traditional musical instruments, the author explains how to make six simple instruments from items that can be found in most homes. A Balloon Tom-Tom is fashioned from a metal can, balloons, rubber bands and two pencils with fat erasers for drumsticks. A Garden-Hose Trumpet is made from a funnel, hose and duct tape. There’s also a Wrench Xylophone. Tips on playing the instruments are included, and colorful illustrations by Michael Koelsch help, too. (HarperCollins, ages 5-9, 32 pgs., $15.)

“Nights of the Pufflings” by Bruce McMillan - Here’s a case where a book can be judged by its cover, which is lovely. Between deep red bands, is a photograph of a red-cheeked little blonde, wearing a gorgeous Icelandic wool sweater, and cradling a baby puffin.

McMillan, known for his beautifully photographed science and nature books for young children, has documented an amazing event that takes place each spring and summer on a tiny island off the coast of Iceland. Each spring millions of puffins return to the island to lay eggs and raise their puffling chicks. In August, a girl named Halla and her friends have a big job to do. That’s when the pufflings venture out at night to take their first flight and it’s time for the children to go out with flashlights and cardboard boxes to gather up the pufflings who didn’t make it to the water. It’s important work, because the village cats and dogs are out searching, too. In the morning, they toss the wayward pufflings out to sea, where they are able to learn to fly on their own.

Beautiful, brilliant photographs, clear writing and the true tale of children’s empowerment make this compelling. Sadly, our children will be envious of the freedom these youngsters have on their protected little island. (Houghton Mifflin Company, ages 4-12, 32 pgs., $14.95.)

“There Once Was a Puffin” by Florence Page Jaques - Let’s shift from a true puffin story to puffin whimsy. Seattle children’s book creator Laura McGee Kvasnosky has taken a clever, old verse and set it to her own jaunty illustrations. “There once was a Puffin/ Just the shape of a muffin,/ And he lived on a island/ In the bright, blue sea!” This puffin eats well - “little fishes that were most delicious.” But he had no one to play with, because the fish swam for their lives when they saw him coming. One day the fishes suggest he have them for friends instead of for tea. Now, the puffin “eats pancakes, like you and like me.” This is charming nonsense for very young children. It is small and square for little hands and printed on sturdy card stock paper that resists rips. (Dutton, 20 pgs., ages 2-6, $8.99.)

“This is a Great Place for a Hot Dog Stand” by Barney Saltzberg - Izzy hates his boring factory job. One day on his lunch break he smelled something so delicious that it made him feel as if “he were floating over a carnival on a hot summer’s day.” The source of the blissful odor is a hot dog vendor with a cart. That night, Izzy builds his own hot dog stand. He makes a few comical attempts to find the perfect place to park it. A quiet spot at the top of a hill had a beautiful view. Perfect, except there were no customers. He gets run out of another spot because someone else was there first. Finally he finds a great spot, a vacant lot between two big buildings on a busy street and he sets up shop. He became an excellent businessman. His dogs were delicious, and he always remembered his customer’s favorites. He is successful and happy, until one day he learns that Madame Moola Moo plans to raze his block for a new Mega Mall. But, unbeatable Izzy finds a delicious solution to that crisis, too. This is a funny story with bright cartoon-like illustrations that will appeal to children - and maybe even teach a little lesson about good business practices. (Hyperion, ages 5-8, 32 pgs., $14.95.)