Cinder Edna

Ellen Jackson has created a clever retelling of the Cinderella story. In this tale there are two neighboring damsels with wicked stepsisters and stepmothers who handle their fates in two distinctive ways. Cinderella is portrayed as a silly and vacant girl who cannot get to the ball without her stepmother's help. She wears her elegant glass slippers to the ball and meets the handsome yet pompous Prince Randolph. Cinder Edna, on the other hand, saves money earned cleaning parrot cages, buys a dress, and takes a bus to the ball in her sensible shoes. She meets the goofy and kind Prince Rupert, Randolph's brother who lives in a cottage in the back of the palace and runs a recycling plant. When a sensible shoe and an elegant slipper are left behind, only one couple will live happily ever after. This spunky tale about self-reliance and finding your own happiness is a great read.

Flare

This is a seriously cute book, and not just because I was a Classics major. Kallie George has written a lovely book called Flare about a baby Phoenix. He rises out of the ashes singing, "I am tough. I am strong. My name is Flare." Flare is an orphan, but he is lovingly raised by a cloud, the sun, and the wind. Each of these three tries to teach Phoenix it is o.k. to cry. Their attempts fail until the sun shines on an injured and sad baby bird. It is through this experience that the Phoenix is truly able to understand the power and magic of his tears. Ivy was just fascinated by this book. It appears to be a series - I will be ordering the rest today! It is also simple to read for a beginning reader.

I Feel Five

This new book by Bethanie Deeney Murguia speaks to Ivy, who often probably feels five. With the big birthday looming in October, Ivy is often wondering what it will be like to be big. On the eve of Fritz's fifth birthday, Fritz wonders how he will be different the next day. Throughout the course of the day he is disappointed that he still feels four. Each piece of his day is illustrated with dashing water colors, helping the reader to see that perhaps growing up is a gradual process. In the end it is finding friendship with a girl that helps him to feel perhaps a little bit 5. Adorably sweet.

The Most Wonderful Doll in the World

Phyllis McGinley published this book in 1950, but it was still a hit for Ivy. It is about a young girl named Dulcy, who always wanted the next best thing. She adored dolls, but was always asking for more. One day a neighbor gave her a doll named Angela with a box of clothes. Upon losing it the first night, Dulcy proceeded to misremember her doll to the dismay of all of her friends. No doll could compare to the precious Angela. What will happen to Dulcy? Will she ever find Angela? Find out in this beautifully illustrated chapter book for beginner readers.

What! Cried Granny

An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum has attracted Ms. Ivy. Although she has been more into chapter books as of late, I got this because she loves books about grandparents. When I read this out loud, she made me say "Grammy" (like her Grammy) instead of "Granny" each time. I think it wasn't the actual story that attracted her, but the very last page. She was semi-interested until the last page. She then perked up and asked me to read it four (yes...four) times in a row. In this story young Patrick is having his first overnight with his Granny. As the night progresses, the two realize that Patrick is without quite a few items, including a bed. How will he ever get to sleep...or will he? WHAT?!

"E" Is For Elisa

"E" is for Elisa is about a four-year old girl under the shadow of a big brother. Although Ivy is not under the shadow of a big brother, she can certainly relate to the antics Elisa gets herself into. Elisa wants what she wants - whether it is a beach day in the winter, jumping as far as her big brother, or wearing her bathing suit in the winter. Although a bit boring from an adult perspective, Ivy was taken in - hook, line, and sinker. We ordered the other books in the series; we will report back! Another note - it is illustrated by Lillian Hoban, the illustrator for the Frances series.

The Boxcar Children

Ivy seems to have graduated from picture books at the ripe old age of 4.5. As saddened as I am by this, I am thrilled to begin the next phase. I never read the Boxcar Children when I was young, but I wish I had. Both of us just adored the first one in the series. One of the reasons why I think we both like it, is that there is no magic, only the magic the kids make when they have to survive on their own. The children, recently orphaned, only have themselves to rely on. After the death of their parents, they run away, after hearing they might have to live with their estranged grandfather who never accepted their mother. They have no money, and eventually settle in an old boxcar. Henry, the oldest, finds work doing odds and ends for a local doctor. They find an old dump and set up their new home. In the process, the children find they are not as alone as they might think. We read the whole thing in two days. We already checked the second out!