孩子们总是被故事里的人物和景物所吸引，而他们的想象力更是被激发到极致：他们可以随性所欲、天马行空般地把自己想象成任何动物或东西，他们都十分乐意地进入故事，替代故事里的人物，这些，也许就是儿童故事的魅力吧。--- 编者Adam，按
There are many good reasons to use animals as characters in children's books, but one that many people seem to miss is that animals are multicultural. Children of all races and colors can relate to them. Another good reason is that you can exaggerate with animals. Animal characters can do things in a book that a child character wouldn't do." It meets the need for reassurance. Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice, meets the needs of children to be taken care of and not forgotten,for example. The child will see the elephant as himself and will see Sam, the Zoo Keeper, as the parent who is taking care of him. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak fills another need.
The child always want to be boss, and in this story Max becomes king of the wild things. Although the monsters in the book are very popular with young children, it is Max, in command of his world, who strongly appeals to them.
Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Krauss is a book I use with all children, but is especially good to use with emotionally disturbed children because it is so satisfying. There are great family relationships in the book. The picture of the father mouse and his son racing around the cheeses in their sports cars is one of the best illustrations of a father-son relationship that there is in children's books. The child can identify with it.
Through identifying with the characters, the child sees the book as an extension of himself. All the Sam books by Barbro Lindgren can qualify: Sam's Ball, Sam's Bath, Sam's Car, Sam's Cookie, Sam's Lamp, Sam's Potty, Sam's Teddy Bear and Sam's Wagon. Sam is a typical toddler who has all kinds of typical toddler problems, and children relate easily to this delightful child.
The Wild Baby by Barbaro Lindgren is for an older child. There are three in the series, and the other two are The Wild Baby Goes to Sea and The Wild Baby Gets a Puppy. Ben, the wild baby, has many escapades testing the strength of his mother's love.
Children love these books more than their parents, who will question if Sam or Ben is going to lead their child into trouble. The child, of course, know that she can think up all these activities on her own. It's a funny book. Children love to laugh and love books that are humorous. They will want to hear them over and over again.
All the original H.A. Rey Curious George books are high on their list, along with Harry the Dirty Dog series by Gene Zion. The book is predictable or repetitious. Children like to be able to "read" to themselves, so even two-year-olds will memorize books. Two of our books most in demand for two year olds are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown. The latter always amuses me but it is a favorite because of the repetition and the predictable end.
Two of the favorite books for three-year-olds are The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone and The Old Woman and Her Pig by Paul Galdone. As the children soon learn these books by heart; they do not want any words left out when it is read to them. The book is an arty book, or just different from the others The book has rhythm. Children love rhythm books, and one of their favorites is Hand, Hand, Finger Thumb by AL Perkins. This book is on our "I Can Read" shelf but, because of the wonderful rhythm, I use it in my toddler groups and on up.
A second book, the rollicking rhyming book Sheep in A Jeep by Nancy Shawwich, is already a favorite. The illustrations are also delightful. There is a happy event associated with the book. Many children love the book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, because they have been to the public garden in Boston where the mallards took their ducklings. From then on, when the book is read, they remember their happy experience.
Another book in this category could be The Circus Baby by Maude and Miska Persham. After going to the circus, children want to hear this book again and again. The book is a gimmick, toy or game. For instance, children love "peek-a-boo" books because it is their favorite game. Two such favorites are Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell and Where's the Spot? by Eric Hill. We always encourage parents to by these books - the library copies can be dilapidated pretty quickly, and children always want the flaps to be intact.
Another well loved book is What's for Lunch? by Eric Carle. The children are fascinated by the monkey who slides on a string to find his favorite fruit. A child has a real interest in the subject. Children develop an early fascination for trucks, fire engines, trains and other large machines. Freight Train by Donald Crews is one such book. I use Big Wheels by Anne Rockwell in my Toddler 11 group and am always amazed that several of the toddlers can give me the names of all the big-wheeled vehicles in the book. The Eye Openers series is great nonfiction for children two and up. It includes Farm Animals by Philip Dowel, Zoo Animals by Philip Dowel, Jungle Animals by Angela Royston, and Diggers and Dump Trucks by Angela Royston."
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