A Tree is Nice
By: Janice May Udry
Illustrated by: Marc Simont
Medal Winner
NOT REVIEWED
"Trees are very nice," says Janice May Udry in her first book for children. She goes on to explain that even one tree is nice, if it is the only one you happen to have.
Some of the reasons why trees are so good to have around are funny. Some are indisputable facts. But in all of them there is a sense of poetic simplicity and beauty which will be sure to entrance any young child. Whether he knows one tree or many, he will relish the descriptions of the delights to be had in, with, or under a tree.
Marc Simont's joyous pictures, half of them in full color, accentuate the child-like charm of the words. And each painting of a tree or trees shows just how very nice they can be.
From the dust jacket
★
REVIEW TEAM FAVORITE
1 is One
By: Tasha Tudor
Honor
Reviewed by: Sandy Hall
Recommended age: Ages 4-8
Also read and recommended by: Christine Kallner, Sherry Early
Tasha Tudor's illustrations have been well-respected and enjoyed for over 70 years. Tasha did the artwork for such notable books as A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.
In this book of numbers, 1 is One, Tudor helps the young reader learn to count from 1 to 20. Every other two-page spread is done in soft pastel colors and the next in delicate pencil drawings. Each page is bordered with floral garlands. The text is rhyming. Some of the words might be unfamiliar to young children of today like the heath or gourds, but many are part of every child's experience like stars and apples. Because the illustrations are so detailed, a very young child might have difficulty finding all 12 baby birds on a limb or 18 tiny stars in the night sky. Still, the enduring art of Tasha Tudor lends a vintage charm to this lovely book.
Anatole
By: Eve Titus
Illustrated by: Paul Galdone
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
Anatole lived in a small mouse village near Paris with his wife and six children. Every evening he bicycled into the city to find food for his family.
One evening, hiding under a sofa, Anatole heard an angry man say, "They are a disgrace to France—to be a mouse it to be a villain." Shocked and upset, he left the house and went home to tell the sad tale to his wife. "If only we could give people something in return," she moaned, "but alas, that is impossible."
At his wife's words, Anatole jumped up and danced around the room. He announced that he had an idea, and what a wonderful idea it was! Readers of ANATOLE are sure to agree and will join in proclaiming him the Mouse Magnifique!
From the dust jacket
Gillespie and The Guards
By: Benjamin Elkin
Illustrated by: James Daugherty
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
In a far-away country lived three brothers who had sharper eyes and could see better and farther than anyone else in the world. The king invited them to join the royal guards, who wore bright red uniforms, shiny black boots, and high-plumed hats.
The king announced a contest. "My guards have the brightest eyes in the world," said he. "If anyone can succeed in fooling all three of them, he will win a gleaming golden medal set with shimmering, shining diamonds."
From all over, people began flocking to the palace. One lady even looked so real, dressed up as a stick of peppermint candy, that two children tried to lick her! But none could fool the new guards, and they became serious and proud, which made little Gillespie very sad, as they had once been his friends, and had smiled and played with him.
James Daugherty's wonderful pictures help make an exciting story of what happened when Gillespie tried to change things.
From the dust jacket
Lion
By: William Pène du Bois
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
This delightful fable tells how Artist Foreman first drew a tiny, ridiculous animal, then, by asking exactly the same question six times, changed it bit by bit into THE KING OF BEASTS.
Read this book page by page, and slowly but surely a HUGE LION will appear RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!
From the dust jacket
Mister Penny's Race Horse
By: Marie Hall Ets
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
"You mustn't feel bad because you are not going to be in the fair," Mr. Penny said to Limpy, his faithful old horse. "You know about judges. They won't look at old fellows like us. But without you we wouldn't have any garden at all. And without you to pull the cart we couldn't get our things to the fairgrounds."
But Limpy was said. He thought the bandage on his lame leg made him look like a race horse, and, more than anything else, he wanted to run on the race track.
You will laugh at all the mischief the animals got into while trying hard to help Mr. Penny. You will laugh and be happy, too, at the way Limpy saved the day and earned enough for everyone to ride the Ferris wheel!
From the dust jacket
