The
transition from board books to hardcover and paperback can be tricky for little
ones. There will torn pages and yes the
corners of the book will be torn and tattered.
One of my pet peeves is when the books are put away with the pages all
open and shoved with other books in between.
Like I said, transitioning can be tricky! At our house we transitioned first to Easy
Reader sized paperbacks and Little Golden Books. While these books were convenient and cheaply
replaced, the real treasure is getting to enjoy large picture books with pages
full of huge illustrations and lovely stories that you can really sink your
teeth into while reading. Of course,
these books might be parent held with parents turning pages at first. You might even want to start by sharing these
books while your little one is otherwise occupied in a high chair or holding a
drink. Now, my own Lil Guy has gotten
to the point where he can independently enjoy paperback and hardback books. We still have some torn pages and our
bookshelves sometimes have smashed and mashed books, but picture books are so
worth it.
Duck at the Door
While I love picture books, the cost of stocking your child’s library
with hardback books is prohibitive. They
make good gifts and are perfect gets from the library for children of all
ages. Sometimes you can even find
hardback books as special promotions at department stores during holidays. That’s how the Duck at the Door came to our
house. Paying five dollars for a book like
this is such a treat. I hadn’t read any
of the Duck books by Jackie Urbanovic, but I was pleasantly surprised by a cute
story. The book itself is big and sturdy
with bright colorful hand drawn illustrations and text in bold fonts. Put that together with a funny story and this
book is a winner.
Duck at the Door is full of furred and feathered domesticated friends
along with a compassionate owner who loves all creatures. Owner Irene already has multiple dogs, cats,
and birds that enjoy all the comforts of home.
The animals cook in the kitchen, have bubble baths in the bathtub, and
even vie for control over the TV remote.
The harmony of home is put to the test however when a duck named Max
comes to the door. Of course, Irene
invites Max into the family home with open arms.
We like this short book because it offers such a cute glimpse at
animal friendship. The animal characters
while maintaining animal-like appearances, display human-like
personalities. Plus the story itself of
an animal loving owner who takes in stray pets rings so true to life. Max the duck, Irene the owner, and all of the
other animal friends are charming for sure.
They just make you smile! Perfect
for read-alouds, or read again and again and again, this book is sweet and
shares a story about compassion and love and what it means to be a family.
