Issue link: http://winter.relevantize.com/i/523563
/ . / B O O K S ➻ . + , ' ' A G E S ) , & 31 Tiffky Doofky by William Steig ➸ What it's about in a word: Faith. Trash collector dog named TiZky Doofky stops, on his daily rounds, to get his fortune told. On this day, the fortune teller tells him, he will meet the love of his life. He goes on to meet the love of his life. Endures several strange encounters, and is almost strangled to death by a large boa constrictor named Dolores, only to be saved by a white poodle and snake charmer The Enor mous Crocodile by Roald Dahl* ➸ This is a book about a crocodile who lives in the muddy rivers of Africa. So. He decides that he wants to have a juicy, yummy child for lunch. It's a little bit complicated but not too much. I've read it a thousand times. Okay, that's it. –Abby Miss Esta Maude's Secret by W.T. Cummings ➸ Who doesn't love a secret? The strange, hidden world behind that normal-seeming door, the earthbound news- paper reporter with the super powers, the little old lady with the…raging hot rod fetish? Esta Maude is a prim and proper school teacher who putters around town, very very slowly, in a small Model-T-ish black car—the Sunday Driver come to life. But at night, Esta Maude dons a racing helmet and goggles and climbs into what looks like a red Porsche 356 convertible, and races around town. And as she does, the absurdity of her obsession both delights kids and also keys them into what I think is a very crucial aspect of life: we are often much more inter- esting and complex than we let on, and even the fogeys— people, just look kids—still like to have fun. The story is great, but the art is the real star: it's that kind of early sixties, really graphic, red-black-and-white look that you see today and say, My God, why don't books look like that anymore? The downside: it's out of print and hard to find, an extremely un- fortunately situation that some publisher out there should rectify. You heard me, publish- ers: Rectify! –Andy Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban ➸ I would of course recom- mend any book in the Fran- ces series to young readers (especially those who are just growing out of shorter picture books) but this one seems especially right for the DALS reader. Frances, the beloved, beleaguered badger refuses to eat her mother's eggs, spaghetti and meatballs, or anything that's not bread and jam. So that's what her mom decides to serve her day after day, meal after meal. In addition to teaching a lesson to picky eaters, it contains a back- and-forth between Frances's parents that warms my heart every time I read it: Father: "If there is one thing I am fond of for breakfast, it is a soft-boiled egg!" Mother: "Yes, it is just the thing to start the day oZ right!" –Jenny 32 29 28 33 30 named Estrella—who turns out, naturally, to be the love he's been looking for. And the daughter of a garbage col- lector, as well. Favorite little moment: "Why worry and get wrinkles? It would happen." Okay, another favorite little moment: "Madam Tarsal knew her onions after all." –Andy Amos and Boris by William Steig ➸ Sea-loving mouse named Amos builds a boat and sets sail. Destination: the other side of the water. (Love that.) One night, admiring stars on deck, he falls overboard. Endures a long night, abob in the "vast loneliness," confronts death, and is rescued and befriended by a whale of "abound- ing friendliness," named, of course, Boris. Amos climbs aboard Boris's back and they journey home, along the way becoming best friends. Years later, Boris is beached during a terrible storm. Amos finds him there, dying. Amos locates two elephants ( just go with it) to help push Boris back to sea and save his life. Moral of the story: It's never too early to question your existence. Or to realize the value of a good friendship. Favorite little mo- ment: "Morning comes, as it always does." –Andy What is God? by Etan Boritzer ➸ Until my kids started third grade math, religion was al- ways the hardest thing for me to explain to them. It doesn't help that I was raised Jewish (but celebrated Christmas —my mom is Presbyterian) and Andy was raised with no religion. I think I like Boritzer's book so much because it makes sense of our confusion—ex- plaining the similarities and basic truths behind diZerent religions and in the process, oZering a blueprint for living an enlightened, morally-sound existence. Amazon lists this for kids 9 and older, but we read it to the girls starting at age 5. –Jenny 9 * I am so sick of Roald Dahl. It's not that the depth of his imagination isn't enough to shame 99% of other novelists that have walked the earth, but for two years, Abby and I have been reading Dahl, and nothing else. We started with Charlie and the Chocolate Fac- tory and James and the Giant Peach, then The BFG, which was similarly twisted and inspired, and then we just… kept… going. Does it sound like I'm complaining? I don't mean to. I'm sick of Roald Dahl, but I also love him. My only quibble is that, when you read nothing but Dahl for two years, some patterns and tricks reveal themselves. Kids, though: they adore those patterns and tricks, adore those sputtering grown- ups and invented words and disgusting moles on disgusting faces and the ominousness that seems to hang over everything, but that never completely descends. It's been quite a run, this Roald Dahl run. I'm glad we did it, but I don't want to do it again, and I'll miss it when it's gone.