Dapoppins

Published in the early sixties, Russell C Hoban wrote seven picture books about a precocious badger named Frances.

I remember these books from my childhood, in the same way I remember Winnie the Pooh. There was always a Frances book around somewhere.

I could very much identify with her and sometimes I was a bit jealous of her- But Frances, I knew would not hold that against me, because we were very much alike.

Except, I think, she is much more clever than I am.

If you have ever met a strong willed and highly intelligent kindergartner, you have met a child just like Frances. I can almost hear her mind ticking as she thinks through problems and develops her own ideas.

Have you ever heard that ticking sound with your child? You know that sound, it's the thought process that brings them to a perfectly logical response to something you have said and done.

Like when you tell the child not to pick the "green" tomatoes, so she goes out and finds a "yellow/orange tomato." Because, what you should have said was, "Don't pick tomatoes that are not ripe."

Author Russell Hoban allows the little badger girl something I don't see very often in current children's literature. Frances, true to being a young child, is a little bit selfish. Instead of being a negative thing, I love her more for this.

Anyone who has ever been around children realizes they are not born empathetic, broad minded creatures - today's society expects children to be naturally loving and compassionate to all living beings while forgetting the life lessons that teach such traits. Frances acts just as a child would act, while her parents act just as they should, with wisdom, patience and clear boundaries.

In the book "Bread and Jam for Frances," Mother serves breakfast for the family and Frances decides she doesn't like eggs anymore.

Frances did not eat her egg.She sang a little song to it.She sang the song very softly:"I do not like the way you slide,I do not like your soft inside,I do not like you lots of ways,And I could do for many days

Without eggs."

Naturally all the talk about eggs in the story made me want eggs along with some bread and jam.

Frances parents don't argue with her food choices, instead they let her live with the consequences. Now I know parents who have had food troubles with their kids. I actually live with some picky eaters who develop new smell and texture issues on the daily basis. Sometimes the problem is not as resolved as quickly as it is for Frances.

However surprisingly, sometimes it is.

Illustrated by Lillian Hoban, the Frances books have a sweet continuity of color and style. She used soft pastels and details that perfectly match the writing. France's world is slightly old fashioned, I imagine they are more like my mother's childhood than mine, which for me is another positive.

I highly recommend all the books. Bread and Jam for Frances is a good bedtime story, with a decent length, great little poems, and an engaging story.

It would also be great coupled with lessons about food and trying new things. Nannies (and parents) might want to use the story as a starting point for time in the cooking kitchen where kindergartens help prepare a special egg breakfast, or pack a lovely special bento box. One of the keys to having kids try new things is having them prepare it with an adult. Frances just might provide a little inspiration.

Amazon.com Widgets

I'd had Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day on my mind for a long time as one of my favorite books to review and share. Published in 1972 it's a book I read to my own kids, and a book I remember from my childhood. If you didn't know, Disney made a movie based on Alexander which will be out soon.

Absolutely Positively Alexander is a great collection of three of the Alexander stories.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move

I was looking on Wikipedia and actually discovered that there is one more Alexander story I've never seen before and now must find: Alexander, Who Is Trying His Best To Be the Best Boy Ever.

Judith Viorst captures the attitude of a families precocious, active youngest son perfectly. I recognize this boy because many of my Nanny jobs were with little boys, who grew up to become fun, active little boys who sometimes had bad days. I know this because I raised three boys of my own and have my own Alexander.

Her writing style emulates the petulance and exasperation of one whose day started bad and isn't getting better with an ending that offers just enough hope to carry us through to the next day. All three stories in the compilation mirror that same theme. Alexander is a kid whose glass is not only half empty, but when things start to look good, something comes along to make them turn down again -yet at the end of the story he's always lead to a realization that it's not ALL bad after all.

I'm pretty sure that a book written like this would a hard time finding a publisher in today's market. Not because of the theme of course. There are loads of grumpy kids books available at the library. The style of the book, which absolutely embodies the voice of a smart, articulate boy between the ages of eight and eleven, is so out of fashion in children's picture books. In the opening page of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, young Alexander wakes up and uses 62 words in one first person sentence to create the setting for the entire story.

Sixty Two Words! One sentence! First page! You may not know but let me tell you. That breaks every rule of writing Children's book created in the last twenty years.

I am having a hard time not inserting sarcastic comments here about those stupid rules, but I just wanted you to know they were floating around in my head. I'm using a great deal of self control to keep them from streaming down to my fingers and into this post.

,Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day has been in continuous print since 1972. You can find Alexander in every library in the country. You can find Alexander in most schools across the nation. Plus there is a T.V. adaptation made in 1990 and a couple of theater adaptations and now an upcoming Disney adaption.

This is a book that will appeal to school age boys and girls because they have all felt as Alexander feels, like the downtrodden, misunderstood, I- tried-my-best-and-failed, kid.

"I am having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, I told everybody. No one even answered."

It's easy to read aloud because Alexander's personality shines strongly and every line flows easily. It's fun to read because Alexander is a smart kid who loves big words and isn't afraid to string them together into sentences full of emotion. Children emphasize with him because they have been him.

This book is a great discussion opener for feelings and attitudes for school age children. Boys, who might have trouble expressing themselves or describing "why" they feel picked on or defeated, might be able to see themselves in Alexander and open the door for some pretty important conversations.

I highly recommend "Absolutely Positively Alexander," as a bedtime storybook, an after school storybook, and a quiet time storybook. I'd share with four through six year olds while sitting down to mealtime (captive audience) and watch it grab their attention (even though they don't have long attention spans,) and I share it seven year olds and older during quiet times and bedtimes.

One of the things I have been thinking of doing for months now is adding a tab on the top of this site called, "Nanny Reviews," which would mostly include reviews of children's picture books.

Despite all that is awesome and modern in electronic books and electronic book readers in this century, there is nothing better in story telling then the old fashioned hard copy picture book. It's one of my fears that as walk-in book stores close, and e-books become cheaper and more accessible, that families will loose the interactive tactile experience and page turning wonder of reading books together.

I have posted before HERE on reading out loud to children and others we love. Everyone should and can read out loud. We should begin reading to children when they are still babies, and continue even after when they can read on their own. We should read out loud to our spouses. We should read out loud to our grandparents, and have our kids read out loud to us and others.

1. Reading out loud increases vocabulary familiarity in both the reader and the listener.

2. Reading out loud is a bonding experience for both the reader and the listener.

3. Reading out loud builds communication skills.

4. Listening to books teaches children to use their brains in imaginative ways.

5. Listening to books teaches children to listen for details, keeps them from tuning out, helps them focus, and
enhances later skills related to listening.

Mother and daughter reading, Mary Cassatt

I am especially fond of picture books because they contain so many different kinds of artistic expression available to everybody, young and old. There is no limit to the types and forms of picture making in children's books. From classic museum style painting, to pen and ink drawings, illustrators use hundreds of different mediums to help shape and contribute to the author's story.

Unfortunately not every book is best suited for reading out loud or at bedtime.

No. Words on paper with pictures does not automatically equal an enjoyable reading experience. The best read out loud books are not joke books. That is, they have an actual plot and progression and are above an easy-reader level. I enjoy Mo Willem's books. But they are not the type of tales that create new tapestries in the imagination or introduce new creative concepts and complex words. They are funny and relatable, but don't require much of an attention span.

Anita Silvey writes a fantastic essay HERE about children's picture books in the School Library Journal. She talks about how the publishing industry in recent years has basically shot itself in the foot by focusing on shorter, simpler, less word heavy books for children. Many of these new books, though entertaining, are like junk food. Great for a quick sweet taste, low on cognitive nutrition, and not entertaining enough to become classics that adults buy for their children and their grandchildren.

The best read out loud books have a pace and rhythm that the reader falls into easily. It isn't forced. The reader doesn't have to search for it. The narrative is fun for both the reader and the listener. A good book has a plot and characters and isn't afraid of complex sentences and words. In fact, a really fun read out loud book makes up completely new words, plays with sounds and delights the senses.

It's a book the reader doesn't mind reading over and over. It is a book a person never forgets, and wants to revisit and share.

Picture books are an important, vital part of childhood. Every child should be read to. (The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees with me.)

Under my new tab I will review children's books that I pick up from the library or see in the bookstore with this criteria in mind. Often I will post the reviews here in the regular feed and share with you. Since no one has hired me I get to be brutally honest and use as many adverbs and adjectives to describe the book as I my little heart desires.

I will be reading with a few questions in mind. Is this book junk food? Or is it a classic that should be saved and shared with every child I meet. As a Nanny, will I recommend this book to parents? Would I buy this book as a gift because I think it contributes to the mind of a child as well as entertains? Is this book enjoyable to read out loud? Does the book have a natural flow that makes it easy for anyone, even the most self-conscious reader, to read out loud? Would my own children enjoy this book?

Maybe we can start a movement and encourage publishers to return to the days of creating stories with fantastic art, beloved characters and imaginative, moving plots instead of just joke books and glorified comic books. (Not that these books aren't fun or have no value, I have a couple I want to share too, but -well I think I made my over all point.)

What are your favorite books from childhood? What books do you think every child should hear? Do you have someone to read out loud to?