From James Marshall’s George and Martha to Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie, the early reader tradition has a history of teaching emergent readers about the emotional dynamics and bonds of friendship. These good reads introduce young readers to a selection of memorable characters that are full of vibrant energy, humour and heart.
Emma J. Virján brings readers a fourth instalment of A Pig in a Wig. In What This Story Needs is a Bang and a Clang, Pig in a Wig builds a bandstand in preparation for a lively musical number. Dog plays banjo, cat strums along on the cello, raccoon beats the drum and elephant taps the cymbals… until elephant is startled by little mouse’s squeak. Full of boisterous sounds, including “a twang, a tootle, / a ping, a boom, / a brup, a jingle, / [and] a doom-doom-doom,” Virján offers a musical and humorous read-aloud to share with beginner readers.
Following the vivacious Dance! Dance! Underpants!, Bob Shea brings readers a third instalment of Ballet Cat. In Ballet Cat What’s Your Favorite Favorite?, Ballet Cat and Cousin Goat, “The Great Goatini,” compete for Grandma Dog’s affection. Both Ballet Cat and Cousin Goat want to be Grandma’s favourite but who will win? Ballet Cat shows off with her fancy dance moves and Cousin Goat demonstrates his love for Grandma with masterful magic tricks. But Grandma determines they are both her favourite. Shea’s bright and bold colour palette adds to the playfulness of the friendly narrative competition. This is perfect for fans of Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series.
“Goody gumdrops!” is what Pig cheerfully declares throughout Rebecca Bond’s Pig & Goose and the First Day of Spring. Echoing the charming sensibility of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad (1970), Pig and Goose develop a beautiful friendship. Despite their differences...
Pig cannot fly in the sky or swim gracefully in the pond like Goose — the two friends celebrate their newfound friendship with a picnic lunch. Pig invites her new friend Goose to a First-Day-of-Spring Party where she introduces Goose to Cat, Rabbit, Turtle, Hen, and Frog and the new friends enjoy delicious food, stories and dancing. Told in three short chapters, and complete with soft watercolour illustrations, this special beginner reader reveals the joys of companionship and the unique qualities each friend brings to a friendship. I hope to see more Pig & Goose titles in the future!
My Kite Is Stuck! and Other Stories by Salina Yoon, the second title in the Duck, Duck, Porcupine early reader series, presents readers with three short and comical episodes featuring Big Duck, Little Duck and Porcupine. In “My Kite is Stuck!,” Big Duck’s kite is stuck in a tree and the trio work together to get it down. After a series of unfortunate throws — a ball, hula hoop and step stool are also stuck in the tree — the silent and wise Little Duck saves the day. The third tale “Best Lemonade Stand,” is my favourite episode of this early reader; the friends work together to build a lemonade stand but they forget the most essential lemonade stand item: lemonade. Yoon uses a bold colour palette, dialogue bubbles and large panels, and creates a great picture book/graphic novel hybrid for early readers to enjoy.
Visit your local library to borrow these early readers and many more.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Natalie Schembri works at Port Moody Public Library.
