Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb

By Al Perkins

Illustrated by Eric Gurney

Copyright 1969

Here’s one of those books that parents (and babies) learn by heart. In fact, in sticks in your brain so firmly that almost 50 years later, one can still recall passages.  That’s what happened to me last week with Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb.  

I was saying hello to two of my storytime friends, two-year old Jake and his big brother Jack.  “Hello Jack, hello Jake”, I said.  And immediately out popped, “Shake hands, shake hands, shake, shake, shake.”  The brothers hadn’t heard of that book, so I went to a cabinet to pull out the little board book copy of Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb.  I was dismayed to find that a couple of phrases are missing from the board book version, and that was one of them.  I made it a point, when I got home, to find my copy to see if I remembered the book correctly.  Sure enough, it reads, “Hello Jack.  Hello Jake.  Shake hands.  Shake hands.  Shake!  Shake!  Shake!  Bye-bye Jake.  Bye-bye Jack.  Dum ditty.  Dum ditty.  Whack! Whack! Whack!”

Unfortunately, the Spring storytime session is over, but hopefully I’ll soon get to see my little friends when they visit the library so I can show them these pages!

This book is perfect for babies and toddlers.  The rhythm and rhyme are irresistible, repetitious, and silly – a great combination!

Hansel and Gretel

Linenette #529

Copyright 1939

The story of Hansel and Gretel is a widely known fairy tale.  I just found this brightly illustrated Linenette copy at a used book store and was reminded of how disturbing some fairy tales are!

The children’s father and stepmother do not have enough food, so the stepmother convinces the father to abandon his children in the forest.  This he does, but fortunately, they overheard the plan.  The resourceful children left a trail of pebbles and soon found their way back home.  Once again, they were abandoned, but this time only had a piece of bread with which to leave a trail.  The bread crumbs were eaten by the birds, so now the children were truly lost.

After wandering for days, Hansel and Gretel came upon a wonderful little house made entirely of cake and candy.  They broke off little pieces and started to fill their empty bellies.  Suddenly, the door opened and an old woman invited them in to eat.  In wasn’t long until they found out she was a wicked witch!  She shoved Hansel in a cage to fatten him up so she could eat him.  Gretel was told to put her head in the oven to see if it was hot enough.  Clever Gretel played dumb and said she did not know how.  When the wicked witch bent over to demonstrate, Gretel quickly pushed her in and shut the oven door.

Gretel freed her brother, the children found a treasure of gold in the witches house, and they found the path that led home.  Their father was overjoyed at their return, and since the stepmother was dead, they lived happily ever after.

Are there lessons from Hansel and Gretel?  There certainly are!  Here’s one:  If something seems too good to be true, use caution!  The children never stopped to consider the wonder of a house made up of delicious desserts.  Overcome by hunger, they happily feasted, not realizing it was a trap.  So be careful children - it seems most adults are not to be trusted!  And if you come upon a house of cake and candy while walking in the woods, it is probably a trap!

For Every Child a Better World

By Kermit the Frog

As told to Louise Gikow and Ellen Weiss

Illustrated by Bruce McNally

Copyright 1993

This book is far from what one would expect in a picture book featuring Kermit the Frog.  The text is simple, listing nine rights all children should have, such as food to eat, a home, medicine, an education, peace.  In a just world, these would be available to all.  A two-page spread shows wonderfully diverse Muppet characters enjoying each one of these rights.  However, this book also depicts the injustice that exists in the world.  Turn the page and you’ll see a two-page spread of Muppet children obviously suffering from lack of that right.  

The pictures are potentially very disturbing for young children, yet an important lesson all must learn eventually.  The most vital lesson comes at the end and reminds me of Mister Roger’s suggestions about helping children come to grips with scary or tragic events.  His mother had taught him to always “look for the helpers” in those situations.  And that is what this picture book does.  The last pages give us hope by picturing people helping each other.

“All over the world, people are working to see that every child gets what every child needs.  This will mean a better world for all of us.”

Gyo Fujikawa’s A to Z Picture Book

Copyright 1974

 

This is a book to read slowly, and over and over again.  It’s just an A to Z alphabet book – but the illustrations by Gyo Fujikawa elevate it to a higher level. 

Some pages are color, others black and white, and all are filled with drawings of objects and actions beginning with each letter of the alphabet.  Not only are the children pictured of many nationalities, but some of the words are more culturally diverse than the usual Alphabet book.  Children can learn beginning letter sounds here, but they can also learn rich vocabulary.  Here are some of the less typical words and phrases in this book – black eye, Joshua tree, Kenny is kowtowing, moo goo gai pan, queue, vaccination, valise, and even zombie. 

 

My favorite two-page spread reads, “D is for dreams, all kinds of dreams, dangerous…and delicious ones…dreadful…delightful…and disgusting ones!”

It’s the little details that make this book so enticing and one that you can return to again and again!