Grade: 1

In the Australian outback, everyone waits for rain. Old Stephen says it’s on its way, but still the dogs, frogs, and Rosie’s kids have to wait, swimming in the billabong (a small, still pool) and sleeping outside. Bold colors and patterns fill each page up to the final spread: “Wonderful, cool, wet rain.”

Shades of orange, pumpkins and fall leaves let readers know that this board book might be appropriate for autumn and, of course, Halloween. Biscuit and his mistress are off to the pumpkin patch. They have a great variety of shapes and sizes to choose from. They eventually fill their wagon with pumpkins to carve and paint and perhaps use for pie. While at the patch, they run into Puddles, the kitten, and a new rabbit friend.

Put a nickel in the jukebox, assuming you can locate a jukebox, and that you remember what a nickel is. Here’s legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson singing lead and 10-part harmonies on “Speed Turtle.” The incomparable Neil Sedaka crooning “Your Nose.” B. B. King brings you a wistful “One Shoe Blues,” Gerry and the Pacemakers offer “Mersey Lullaby,” and relative newcomer (in this seasoned company) Patti LuPone of “Evita” fame sings—what else—the “Rabbit Tango.” And then there’s the hit single from Boynton’s Your Personal Penguin sung by the impossibly cute Davy Jones of The Monkees. I mean jeepers, even Sha Na Na is here. So roll over, Beethoven—and Lieber and Stoller. Boynton & Ford once again bring great words, great music, great performers to children and vintage children alike. And OH! The book! Boynton has filled it with all things 50s and 60s. And, well, golly, it’s so happy and colorful and just terrific, Mister! Grab your saddle shoes, plunk two straws into that swell chocolate malt, and let’s twist again like we did last century.

Maurice, too, is unique. From the time he is born, his family wonders who he will grow up to be. Will he be a baker like Papa, a writer like his mom, a taxi driver like Uncle Eddie, or a gardener like his grandmother? Children who are compared with one relative or another will identify with Maurice and have their own reasons to shout, “Bravo, Maurice!” as they turn the last pages.

In this tribute to bread, Mamita explains to her son how bread is created step-by-step from seed to grain and from farmer to baker. After describing each step Mamita sings the refrain of a song, “El Pan Es Para Comer” (Bread Is for Eating). After thanking nature “for the bread that gives us life,” the son joins Mamita in singing the refrain. The rhythmic text is accompanied by wonderfully textured folk art filled with detail. Lyrics in English along with a musical arrangement are provided so readers can join the refrain.

A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle’s flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin’s singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.

With each turn of the page, readers will be presented with a new puzzle. The rhyming text presents challenges to spot specific trinkets in eye-catching photographs of odds and ends (e.g., “A ladybug, three stars of blue, a piece of a jar, a die showing two…”). In addition, each rhyme concludes by asking readers to follow a maze, match objects, or spot an optical illusion. More difficult than they appear, Wick’s puzzles will captivate any reluctant reader.

“Across water so quiet it becomes part of the sky, the canoe slides in green magic without a ripple.” Even readers who have never been in a canoe or visited a lake will paddle along with Paulsen as he describes a day on the water. The spare text makes a perfect read-aloud, so don’t be surprised if listeners fall under Paulsen’s spell. After all, any noise might frighten the fawn at the lake’s edge or the sunfish darting below its surface.