Queen Anne Books

First published in hardcover in 1996, Mother Goose is illustrated by sixteen different artists who donated their art as a fundraiser for Parent-Child Mother Goose Program, a parenting program in Canada. Now in a board book format, just a little bit oversized, this is a terrific addition to the silly- rhyme bookshelf. I also appreciate the opportunity to discover new artists and a collection like this makes a perfect introduction.~Patti

One Rainy Day by M. Christina Butler. One of my favorite holiday books last December was One Snowy Night by the same author and illustrator. Now Little Hedgehog is back in a perfect spring story. Little Hedgehog has brand new rain gear to try out and is very excited when he awakens to the sound of raindrops. After putting on his boots, coat and hat and opening up his shiny umbrella, Little Hedgehog goes out to splash and explore. But everywhere he goes he runs into friends who need the help of Little Hedgehog and his umbrella. Tina Macnaughton's illustrations are filled with detail and the muted colors of a rainy day. Lovely. ~Patti

As a parent myself, I know nothing is more valuable than a children’s book that can be enjoyed not only by the little one but also by the adult who is reading the book for the hundredth time!  The Great Paper Caper is one of those rare finds.  The book made me laugh out loud and while my daughter is now too old for it, I look forward to reading it to my niece and nephew.  When the creatures of the forest notice that their trees are missing branches, they organize themselves to find out who could be taking the limbs.  A comical investigation ensues, ending with messages of forgiveness and ecological responsibility.  The illustrations are charming and unique, and there is plenty to look at on every page.  There are also instructions for making some great paper airplanes.  Jeffers has delivered a fun, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable read!  ~Torrie

This book had all I was craving: a great narrator, a fun mystery, delightful friendships, and puzzles that I could solve along with the characters.

The Red Blazer Girls are Sophie, our very honest (and very funny) narrator, and her friends Margaret and Rebecca. They are seventh graders at St. Veronica's, a New York City all-girls' private school. The red blazers are their school uniform and help get them into their big adventure... One day in English class as they're reading Great Expectations, Sophie spots a haunting face worthy of Dickens himself in a window across the way. Investigation leads to Ms. Harriman, a lonely neighbor whose daughter, Caroline, was a Red Blazer/St. V's Girl herself 20 years earlier. The girls' polite visit puts them on the path to a grand scavenger hunt: Ms. Harriman has just discovered a clue Caroline's grandfather had left for her on her 14th birthday two decades ago -- a letter hinting at another clue hidden in the school library and a promise of a "gift of rare and precious beauty." How can they resist a challenge like that?

Sophie and her friends are good students and good people, and even though the book is very exciting, it all felt very realistic. I loved that the girls actually do homework and study in the midst of all this treasure-hunting excitement. (But believe me-- that doesn't slow the pace!) They combine their strengths to find the clues and outwit potential evil masterminds while they're dealing with the kind of things all seventh graders worry about: tests, dances and boys. The result is a super-entertaining, extremely satisfying novel perfect for fans of mysteries and fans of funny books about real-life challenges. ~Tegan

Humiliated and discouraged after his fall from the wall, Humpty Dumpty retreats to the safety of his living room to watch TV in his underwear. A visit from the dish and the spoon does nothing to cheer him, but when he's scared into the street by a spider he heads for the hills and becomes a hero after rescuing one of the King's horses from a mountain ledge.

Simple, silly illustrations and familiar rhymes make this "fractured fairy tale" a lot of fun to read. ~Anne