Timothy and the Strong Pajamas by Viviane Schwarz

This book reads like a comic book - which is why I was drawn to it in the first place. The only problem is since it does read in this fashion, it may be suitable for older kids - closer to 4 years old and up. Ricky has a pretty good attention span, and there were a few instances while we were reading this book where I lost him.

This is the story of Timothy and his strong pajamas. The pajamas give him strength so he rushes to aid those in need - he catches an elephant falling off a cliff, carries 5 grocery bags for an old lady, saves a ship from sinking, etc.

This book is really cute. Your typical superhero story wrapped in great illustrations. I am curious to read Viviane Schwarz's other books - The Adventures of a Nose and Shark and Lobster's Amazing Underseas Adventure.

Published 2007 by Scholastic Books

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton, With Paintings by Eric Puybaret

I bought this book for Ricky's birthday. I remembered it as a child and it comes with a CD of the song. The story itself is sad - it tells of a dragon named Puff who befriends Little Jack Paper and they have lots of adventures together. But "a dragon lives forever, but not so little girls and boys....One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more.." so of course Puff mourns the loss of his friend. It is a sad story but you can't help liking it.

The CD has 4 songs on it and you can listen to the CD while you flip the pages for your child. The songs are written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary and they flow nicely for a child. I was a tot in the 1970s so maybe that's why I kind of like the CD, I don't know. Shhh!

Little Ricky liked it and didn't ask why Jackie Paper stopped visiting Puff. But at three years old, I wasn't in a rush to point out the whole death thing quite yet. I would suggest this book as a good gift for a child.

Published 2007 by Sterling

SMASH! CRASH! by Jon Scieszka, Illustrations by David Shannon, Loren Long, David Gordon, & Dan Potash

Finally! This is what I've been looking for in books - Trucktown!! Nothing like a bunch of creative people making all kinds of truck and vehicle characters! There are several interesting names attached to this book.

You may recognize the name of David Gordon whose books The Three Little Rigs and The Ugly Truckling appeared on my blog last year. I am a big fan of his - as well as Loren Long - whose illustrations for The Little Engine That Could were just classic. A review on that is soon to come. Jon Scieszka's Stinky Cheese book is really funny - and I plan on reading it to Ricky soon.

But back to the book! Best friend trucks Jack and Dan run around smashing and crashing throughout the book. Tons of visual fun for those kids in love with all kinds of trucks. I can't wait to see what other books these guys come up with!! Check out their Trucktown website - there is a section for kids, parents, and librarians (cool).

Published 2008 by Simon and Schuster

I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track by Joshua Prince, Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan

This is one of Ricky's favorites - I know I say that a lot- we own lots of books!

This book is terrific - especially for the kids who love trains. This is the story of an ant who decides to walk along a railroad track and does not realize that a train is coming! Switchman Jack is nice enough to save him by switching the track so the train does not run over the ant. The ant and Switchman Jack become friends and share a sandwich. Very cute!

I do have to say that I was very drawn to the illustrations of this book and am curious to read the other books Macky Pamintuan has illustrated.

Published 2006 by Sterling Publishing Co.

I Miss You Every Day by Simms Tayback

This is a great book for kids who have a loved one who lives far away that they miss. Ricky could identify with this book because his aunt and uncle live several states away and he misses them and thinks of them all the time.

The little girl in the story wraps herself and sends herself as a letter to her loved one. The book follows the journey she takes through the postal system. There is also a picture and envelope in the front that your child can view.

Published 2007 by Viking

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems

I saw this book at the bookstore when I was selecting books to give Ricky on his third birthday. What could be better than the sequel to Knuffle Bunny?

This time Trixie is older and can speak her mind. She takes Knuffle Bunny with her to preschool to show all her friends and teacher her bunny. But then she sees that her friend has the exact same Knuffle Bunny too. The girls argued and the teacher had to take their Knuffle Bunnies away. Later that night, Trixie realizes she is sleeping with the wrong Knuffle Bunny and knows her friend has her Knuffle Bunny.

The middle-of-the-night exchange is done by the fathers and Trixie and her friend are both glad they each have their own respective Knuffle Bunnies. Very cute.

Once again, I love the illustrations which are described as "a melding of hand-drawn ink sketches and photography." The story is well-written and Ricky really enjoyed this book.

Published 2007 by Hyperion Books

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

I was at my girlfriend's house for a playdate and was looking through the stack of books she had on the floor. Her daughter and my son are just a week apart and have similar tastes so I love talking about children's books with her. I was first drawn to this book because of its unique illustrations and the Caldecott Honor Book sticker on its cover.

This book is about a toddler named Trixie who goes to the laudromat with her daddy and brings her Knuffle Bunny with her. She walks home with her daddy only to realize that her Knuffle Bunny was not with her and was missing. It describes how she and her parents frantically backtrack to find Knuffle Bunny.

After a few reads, I just had to buy this book for Ricky. We both loved it. The story is very simple and easy to follow and since there aren't many words on each page, you can try reading it to your child after the age of 1. Regard it as a nicer and larger board book if you will.

Published 2004 by Hyperion Books

Little Quack's Bedtime by Lauren Thompson, Illustrated By Derek Anderson

Little Quack and his siblings try to fall asleep next to their mother and have a hard time. Every little thing in the night scares them and their mother keeps reassuring them. One by one, each duckling falls asleep after each reassurance and the last one to sleep is Little Quack.

The story is really easy to read and the illustrations are really cute - there really is no other word. So even if your little one asks you to read this book a few times before bed, you won't lose your voice and you won't get tired of reading it.

Ricky really identified himself with Little Quack - so much so that now he quacks all the time whenever he is in a happy mood. Little Quack kind of reminds me of the baby Duck on the Tom and Jerry cartoon - who Ricky loves also.

Ricky has asked me to check out the other Little Quack books. So I guess I am on a Little Quack mission.

Published 2005, Simon & Schuster