Reviewing nothing but the best books

June 26, 2010 Last Updated: June 26, 2010 02:50 PM Community

Many years ago, I wrote one column at the end of the year and listed the 10 worst children's books I had read over the last 12 months.

Two of those 10 books came from one publisher. Soon after the column was printed, I received a phone call from a very furious publicist at that publishing house.

After a rather lengthy monologue from her end, her summation was that "after all, the books weren't that bad." That's when I became annoyed.

I responded by telling her she had apparently forgotten who her audience was — children — the most impressionable target market, and that children's publishers have a greater responsibility than any other manufacturer to put forward the best possible product, foremost for the sake of the child, and also for the adult consumer who works hard for their money and trusts that children's book publishers will offer excellent stories and nothing less.

There are a lot of mediocre children's books on the market, and some are down-right lousy, but you'll never find those books reviewed here. Instead, what you will find are the very best children's books, and that's my guarantee to you.

Books to BorrowThe following book is available at many public libraries.

"Shy Charles" written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, Dial Books for Young Readers, 28 pages; read aloud: age 2 to 3; read yourself: age 7.Charles was a happy little boy. He was also painfully shy. He wouldn't talk to the next door neighbor girl, wouldn't answer the phone, and simply couldn't say thank you to the nice lady from the neighborhood store who always gave Charles a chocolate when he and his mother came in to shop.Exasperated, Charles's parents decided it was time they do something about Charles's shyness. First they enrolled Charles in ballet. It was not a success. Then they tried football. It was also a disaster. Would Charles ever be able communicate with others, hold a job, handle himself in an emergency?With snappy, rhyming text and wonderful, happy illustrations, this delightful story is a genuine winner.

Library: North Trails Public Library, 1553 West Sunbury Road, West SunburyLibrary Director: Kathy KlineChoices this week: "Good Night, Owl!" by Pat Hutchins; "Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp" by Syd Hoff; "The Kite Fighters" by Linda Sue ParkBooks to BuyThe following books are available at favorite bookstores."A Giraffe Goes to Paris" by Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris, illustrated by Jon Cannell, Marshall Cavendish, 2010, 32 pages, $17.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 9; read yourself: age 8 to 9 and older.In 1826, the great pasha of Egypt wanted to give a gift to the king of France and decided that since no one in France had ever seen a giraffe before, the gift of the elegant giraffe, Belle, would be the perfect present. But getting Belle from Egypt to Paris would prove to be difficult.Accompanied by Belle's personal assistant, Atir, the two were part of a team that involved three cows, two antelopes, a boat, a captain and a crew.When Belle and her companions arrived in Marseille, France, the group would then walk 500 miles to reach Paris. Along the way, countless people came out to see the beautiful giraffe as she gracefully made her way north.In Paris, the city residents awaited her arrival with enormous preparations and fanfare.This is the true story of Belle, told in the imagined words of her devoted caretaker, Atir. A fascinating glimpse of history, this charming story with its lovely illustrations is a real gem."Pierre the Penguin: A True Story" by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by Laura Regan, Sleeping Bear Press, 2010, 32 pages, $15.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 3 and older; read yourself: age 6 to 8.At the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, aquatic biologist Pam feeds and cares for the African penguins. One day she notices that one of the penguins, Pierre, has lost many of his feathers.African penguins don't like the cold, and Pierre's featherless body made him shiver, and afraid to go into the water.Pam tries to help Pierre, first with a heater, then with pills prescribed by the vet. But nothing works. Then Pam has an idea: Would a tiny wetsuit help Pierre?Written in rhyme, this true story of one little penguin and how he was nurtured back to health is both fascinating and inspiring.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.