Children are keen as wild animals and also as timorous. So you can't be 'too funny' or 'too scary' or 'too many worded.' All these things are not as easy as they sound for grown people. There is always the old problem of learning how to write. We speak naturally, but spend all our lives trying to write naturally. Margaret Wise Brown
Admittedly, I haven't read every Margaret Wise Brown book, but I did hunt down some of the rare and older ones. One thing I have come to realize is that she sure is gifted! Her words, though simple, are something special. She knows how to organize words. She's dreamy, and simple, and fun all at the same time and she has a keen imagination that's different and unusual. Here are some of our favorites:
Goodnight Moon: The "quiet old lady whispering Hush" was supposed to be a human, but Clement Hurd was better at drawing rabbits! (interesting fact!)
The Runaway Bunny: The idea for this book was taken from a medieval Provencal love ballad: "if you pursue me I shall become a fish in the water and I shall escape you. If you become a fish I shall become an eel. . ." In this context, the guy sounds a bit like a stalker to me. But transferring the concept to a mama chasing her baby bunny, it becomes a sweet story about always being there for your child.
The Little Island: This was my best discovery! The pictures are amazing. I can definitely see why Leonard Weisgard won the Caldecott.
The Color Kitten: Mira loves this one!
Indoor Noisy Book: This is a whole series and I love the words she uses to depict the noises. The pictures are not that interesting though, printed only in three colors, and it feels old-fashioned. Still, it gets Mira's thumbs-up.
The Sailor Dog: This is a favorite from Steve's childhood and it's a super cute tale!
The Friendly Book: A very fun read aloud and great illustrations.
Little Donkey Close Your Eyes: This one can be sung to "Hush Little Baby."
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