First, a homily from The First National Bank of Dad by David Owen, lightly edited:

Children who are read to regularly from early ages develop lifelong skills that can’t be acquired from the Disney Channel. They become better listeners and find it easier to pay attention in school. Their vocabularies grow rapidly. They develop the patience to follow a complex problem to its solution. They become better writers all by themselves, through their ample powers of imitation.

…Good readers do better in school, score higher on standardized tests…hold more interesting jobs, write more persuasive legal briefs, make better conversation, and become less and less likely to gripe about being bored…Most of all, children who grow up immersed in books develop the ability to answer their own questions…Gradually, they acquire a skill shared by the greatest scholars in the world: the ability to educate themselves…

So, if you were late getting to the mall this year, here are some book recommendations for the kids in your life. I recently sent this very starter set to Zoë, newly arrived to the world this year.

One of the all-time classic children’s books. A dragon attacks Princess Elizabeth’s castle, burns up all her clothes, and kidnaps her fiance, Ronald. She decides she’s going to get Ronald back, so she dons a paper bag and tracks the dragon down to his lair. The illustrations are great but it’s the story and its unexpected ending that is the star here. Another picture book a parent won’t mind reading over and over again, and another great Christmas gift.

Manyoni lives on the African veldt and this book follows her on her walk to school one morning. She passes baobob trees and bushpigs and the fever tree pan and a herd of impalas and red sandstone koppies and meets up with her friend Tula.

The illustrations are all double pages and sometimes it’s hard to find tiny little Manyoni in her blue dress in the immensity of the veldt, and watch out because you might stumble across an elephant along the way, but they reach the school and their teacher Mrs. Dube in enough time to run and play with their friends before class begins.

At the end of the book there is a glossary of African words and a picture index identifying all the animals Manyoni passes on her walk. A wonderful invitation into a different world, but not so different that your child won’t understand going to school is something we all do. It’s just our neighborhoods that are different.

Not a line of dialogue in the whole book, which means you have to talk to your kid about the little kid in the orange snowsuit adventuring out on the first snowy day. Great story for kids and for adults, too, as it will remind you of the sense of wonder we all had as kids on the first snowy day. (And it’s a stamp, too.)

“Always pull the toothpick out of your sandwhich.” Wonderful characters in Gloria and Officer Buckle, wonderful story, wonderful illustrations, and allow me to add a recommendation for another great book by Peggy Rathmann, the absolutely delightful Good Night, Gorilla. (Zoë will be receiving her copy in the new year.)

Meet Henrietta Mouse, Architect. She has a positive genius for designing, building, and decorating that perfect personal palace for any animal of her acquaintance. Squirrel asks for a spaceship and just about gets one (love the windsock).

Lizard gets a solarium and Trout an underwater garden that would do Versailles proud. Pig really goes to town on the decorating, from Directoire to Art Deco, in a concatenation of styles Ms. Mouse privately calls “higgledy-piggledly.”

Whatever the style, Ms. Mouse is up to the task and then some. The illustrations, by Doris Susan Smith, are detailed and utterly delightful–you’ll find something new every time you pick up the book. The endpapers are hilarious, scenes of Ms. Mouse at work. Here she prepares to share blueprints with her muskrat builder. There Ms. Mouse consults with Porcupine, her landscaper. Over there her mouse assistant unpacks the ugliest pitcher ever and Ms. Mouse rolls on the floor laughing.

Never mind the kids; admit it: you want a copy of this book for yourself.

Book Review Monday Chatter Catherine Stock children's books Ezra Jack Keats five best children's picture books George Mendoza Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! Officer Buckle and Gloria Peggy Rathmann picture books Robert Munsch The Paperbag Princess The Snowy Day Where are you going Manyoni?