Ninety-three bellies from A to Y with bonus letter Z!

Happy Tuesday!   Time for an Easy books round up.   Remember you can click on any book cover to place a request for it with Your local library or click on any book title to purchase from Powell’s, an independent and ethical bookseller based in Portland Oregon.

A recent release in the Cat In A Hat line of Easy Readers The Belly Book is a delightfully illustrated look at all sorts of bellies from bear bellies to brass bellies, glass bellies and hula-dancing grass bellies.   As always the Easy Reader uses a carefully chosen and limited vocabulary and is specifically designed for our newest readers.   Recommended.

  The  teacher asks her young  pupil a seemingly simple question.  "How many live with you?" And the  boy replied "Ninety-two".     In delightful  verse he relates the tale of a charming family consisting of 27 Owls, 10 Cats, 11 Dogs, 1 pygmy Hippo, 8 Frogs, 1 Gerbil, 6 Goldfish, 1 fox, 1 goat, 4 lions, 1 duck, 2 tigers, 1 penguin, 3 armadillos, 2 flamingos, 1 squirrel, 1 bear, 5 gophers, 2 llamas, 2 sisters, 1 brother and 2 parents.   "Together we are ninety-three".  An absolutely delightful story book.

Highly Recommended

All too often celebrity written children’s books just plain aren’t very good.   The remarkable pairing of Steve Martin and Roz Chast proved a noteworthy exception with their extaordinary 2007 release The Alphabet From A To Y With BONUS Letter Z.   Each letter is presented with a tongue twisting string of hilarious alliterations,   Chast’s illustrations are a pure delight.   This one also is Highly Recommended.