Oldies: Have You Seen My Cat?

Have You Seen My Cat?
Written and illustrated by Eric Carle

Original publication: Franklin Watts (1973)

Republished as an early reader series "The World of Eric Carle"
ISBN: 978-1442445741
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Date of publication: May 1, 2012
Age: 3 - 5 years

Themes: cats, world travel, surprise,

A little boy worries about his missing cat and travels to different places in search of his pet. The boy encounters numerous feline counterparts as he searches, including lions, leopards, and tigers—but none of these are his! When he finally finds his cat, she has a surprise waiting.

Simon Spotlight has created a really nice collection of Eric Carle's work, and made them easily available for beginning readers. Most of Carle's work, after all, is simple in its style. For this particular book, they classified its reading level as "Pre-Level 1" and I actually agree; this has very simple text and plot. It has the same sentences on each page spread. I'd venture to guess that a child would actually memorize the book before actually reading it. But that's not necessarily bad—in some cases, that gives a child the confidence they need to try other books. So yes, as a pre-pre-reader, this book definitely fits the bill.

As for the overall story, I actually liked it. With such a simple plot, the illustrations still have a lot of detail and educational content. Carle introduces all kinds of cats from around the world. The publisher includes a cheat sheet at the end with each cat's species.

So if you're looking for the truest of beginning readers, this book is a great start. It's a good step up to some of Carle's more complex books and other early readers in general.

My rating: ★★★★

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Oldies: Frog and Toad Are Friends

Frog and Toad Are Friends
Written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Harper & Row (1970)
Age: Grades 1 - 4

Themes: friendship, helpfulness, care,

Frog and Toad are the best of friends. Whether one of them is sick, lost a button, or wants a letter, they'll help each other out. Of course, they have their funny moments—but that's just what keeps things fun. Here are five chapters of their adventures.

Before Elephant & Piggie, my love resided with Frog and Toad. And it's the same theme: one is a little more uptight and serious (Toad) while one is always looking for fun (Frog). So together, it makes for a perfect story.

I love the illustrations because they're simple, yet well done (they did garner a Caldecott honor). Which matches the simple text. It can get a little monotonous, but it has really great repetition and vocabulary for beginning readers. While Elephant & Piggie are definitely better at getting emotion across, Frog & Toad have some much more involved stories.

So, in case you're curious, my rating is: ★★★★

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Oldies: Bunnicula

Bunnicula
(Bunnicula and Friends #1)
Deborah and James Howe
Illustrations by Alan Daniel

Atheneum (1979)
Age: Grades 3 - 7
Genre: Mystery

Themes: vampires, pets, vegetables, misunderstandings

Harold the dog and Chester the cat are the beloved pets of the Monroe family, until the day the family brings home a suspicious looking rabbit and name it Bunnicula. The boys love it, but Chester is not so sure. And then there are the colorless, sucked-dry vegetables being left in the kitchen. With his fangs, nocturnal wanderings, and strange markings in his fur, is Bunnicula a vampire or not?

It's a classic, and I'll be honest, this was a reread. Because it makes me laugh! And I love books that make me laugh. With just the right amount of mystery, spook, and humor, the Howes deliver a fantastic story. Is it just a coincidence that the family found him while out to see Dracula at the movie theater? Can their be vampire rabbits? Well you'll just have to read it to find out. Definitely recommended. It's part of a series, too, so kids will have more to read after they finish this one.

So, if you're curious, my rating is: ★★★★

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Oldies: Nate the Great

Nate the Great
Written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont

Coward, McCann & Geoghegan (1972)
Age: 5 - 9 years
Genre: Mystery

Themes: detective, casework, missing, pancakes,

Nate the Great, lover of pancakes, is an excellent detective who prefers to work alone. This time, he is in charge of locating a lost painting created by his friend, Annie. By asking the right questions, gathering the facts, and narrowing the suspects, he just may solve this case. Perhaps even find a missing cat while he's at it (he is that good).

It's genius. It really is. First, the stories are short, simple mysteries that encourage the reader to think. The writing, though, is really what makes this book a favorite: Nate the Great is a tough, no nonsense detective. His short sentences and simple words not only fit his character, but help young kids as they're learning to read. It's just perfect! Plus it's part of a whole series, so kids can just keep following their favorite detective.

In case you're curious, my rating is: ★★★★★

Find it at your library, or on Amazon