I fell short of my goal of 45 picture books author last name “C” this month – we only got in 37. The children have really started to love nonfiction and re-reading, both of which cut down on my ability to quickly work my way through this section of the library. Altogether, we’ve read 108 “C” books here in the first three months of the year, which is 19% of the approximately 560 I estimate that are in this section. So I definitely need to step on it if I’m going to get it done this year!
Asterisks represent books I recommend (3 stars or above).
Authors Last Name CAR
- Henry and the Bully, written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson
I’m not a big fan of Carlson’s illustrations – and even less a fan of books about bullying (which I tend to see as giving kids instructions on how to bully rather than being particularly helpful at avoiding or managing bullying.) - *Melanie, written by Carol Carrick, illustrated by Alisher Dianov
We read several of Carrick’s other books in February and I held off reading this one because it was longer than the rest. I totally shouldn’t have waited. This is a lovely fairy tale story that was a true delight to read. - Alice and Wonderland Down the Rabbit Hole by Lewis Carroll, retold by Joe Rhatigan and Charles Nurnber, and illustrated by Eric Puybaret
A very nice abbreviated introduction to the classic story.
Written by Mary Casanova and Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
- One-Dog Sleigh
One animal after another joins in to ride in the “one-dog sleigh”. Okay. - Some Cat!
A rescued cat and her new owners’ dogs make peace with one another. I’m not a cat person, or a dog person really, so this didn’t really float my boat. Your results may vary. - *Utterly Otterly Day and *Utterly Otterly Night
A truly delightful couple of tales. They tell of the adventures of a young otter in a sing-song rhyme. In one tale, otter thinks he’s a big boy and doesn’t need to obey (with predictable results). In the other, otter senses something amiss and does as he ought to save the family. I will definitely read these again.
Written and illustrated by Judith Casely
- Field Day Friday
Two friends compete on the same team for their school’s field day – but only one wins the single foot race. - Mama, Coming and Going
After mama has a new baby, she can’t tell whether she’s coming and going – and she gets into all sorts of absent-minded scrapes. - On the Town
A little boy explores his community as part of a school assignment - Sisters
Melissa’s family adopts a girl from somewhere overseas – and the two girls must learn what it means to be sisters
Authors Last Name CAS
- A Lullaby for Little One by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Charles Fuge
A gentle little story of a little rabbit and his big daddy rabbit. - The Cat in the Rhinestone Suit by John Carter Cash, illustrated by Scott Nash
A showdown of sorts with plenty of wild west imagery. Not my thing. - Kibby the Space Dog? by Andrea Cassel, illustrated by Melanie Regier
A first person story about a dog who had to wear a cone of shame. The dog is both overly self-aware and overly didactic: “I was being rejected because people thought I was now different. My life was not the same anymore. I lost my fun, playful spirit.” - Kazaak! written and illustrated by Sean Cassidy
A moderately fun story about a couple of porcupines, one of whom is afraid of bears, the other who is full of bravado thanks to his quills. Turns out, Mr. Fearful has to save Mr. Bravado :-) - Sterling, Best Dog Ever written and illustrated by Aidan Cassie
Sterling is delivered with a shipment of silver and tries to be good cutlery – but he soon learns that his family loves him for who he really is. Eh. - *Beach House written by Deanna Caswell, illustrated by Amy June Bates
Caswell tells the story of a family traveling to the beach in short sentences of sweet poetry. Bates’s illustrations are just right. Lovely.
Written and Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
- Nana in the City
A little boy is scared about his grandma living in the city – but she teaches him that the city is a wonderful place to live. Okay, but not particularly applicable to us. - The Troublemaker
Someone is taking off with a little boy’s precious belongings – but who can it be? A cute little story.
Written and Illustrated by Peter Catalanotto
- Ivan the Terrier
The title character keeps interrupting the author’s attempts at retelling fairy tales. Silly. - *Kitten, red, yellow blue
How does a woman keep track of the sixteen calico cats her cat gave birth to? Using colors, of course! A fun little book. - Matthew A.B.C
Mrs. Tuttle’s kindergarten class has 25 students, all named Matthew. How on earth does she tell them apart? Easy, actually. And the 26th student fills the gap nicely. - The Newbies
When Luke’s parents seem to be too busy preparing for the birth of the new baby, he imagines himself some new parents (only to find out the old ones are better after all. - Question Boy Meets Little Miss Know-It-All
What if everyone was a superhero in costume – and the child who always has a question meets the child who always knows the answers? I enjoyed the story of their little show-down – and so did Tirzah Mae (probably because Little Miss Know-It-All wears a tiara!)
Authors Last Name CAT-CAZ
- The Magic Rabbit written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate
When a boy magician and his rabbit get separated, will the rabbit find his way back to his friend? - Treasure Hunt written and illustrated by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
Let your kids go on a treasure hunt along with the characters of this book – all the way to a picnic in a clearing in the woods. The clues and illustrations were just the right difficulty for my two preschoolers (4.5 and almost 3). - *Nothing at All written and illustrated by Denys Cazet
Various members of the farmyard do all sorts of things – but what does the scarecrow do? I enjoyed the surprise ending.
Written and Illustrated by Randy Cecil
- Gator
When an amusement park shuts down, the gator from the carousel goes out to explore the world. Eh. - One Dark and Dreadful Night
A director keeps trying to put on a dreadful play – but his young actors keep turning them into ridiculous fairy tales. Double eh.
Written by Melanie Cecka and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
- Violet Comes to Stay
Cecka channels Cynthia Coppersmith or Jan Karon’s Mitford series – to present a story of Violet the white cat. It was okay but not amazing. - Viiolet Goes to the Country
Ditto the above.
Authors Last Name CE-CL
- Elbow Grease by John Cena, illustrated by Howard McWilliam
A book about gumption – not giving up, whether you win or lose. Monster Truck “Elbow Grease” isn’t as tough or fast or smart or brave as his brothers – but he has gumption enough to finish the Grand Prix despite the odds. Good point but the story isn’t really my thing (but it might be yours or your child’s). - The Swing written and illustrated by Joe Cepeda
A very surreal story about a family who always loses things and a (magic?) swing that retrieves the lost things. - *One Little Mouse by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
A lovely, lyrical little counting book. A little mouse tries to find a new home – and, after trying on other people’s homes, discovers that his own is best after all! - The Backwards Birthday Party by Tom Chapin and John Forster, illustrated by Chuck Groenink
A very, very silly birthday party. The endpapers include music to go along with the words, but alas, the library’s cover hides half the notes so I didn’t sing it to my kids. - Marco Goes to School written and illustrated by Roz Chast
Fairly run-of-the-mill story of going to school and making a new friend. - *Tiger Days: A Book of Feelings by M.H. Clark, illustrated by Anna Hurley
A very nice book about emotions – how we can feel different things at different times and still be the same person. We’re working on managing emotions at home – and I picked this up ahead of schedule after I read Dawn’s review at 5 Minutes for Books. Very good.
Books about Construction
- Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney
A sweet story of a little excavator who tries to do everything that the big trucks do, with little success. But when a certain task needs done, Little E is the kid for the job. - Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
A sequel (or maybe prequel?) to Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, this favorite describes how different construction vehicles must work together to get a job done. Very well done.