Rhyming picture books

I have received a number of picture books that rhyme, lately. I usually love the rhythm of the rhyme and recognize how the use of rhymes with early readers increases comprehension as well as attention to language. But, for some of these, it is a stretch. Here they are in the order in which I enjoyed them. The great thing about reading is that some of my bottom picks may be at the top of your list. Enjoy!

Working Mummies by Joan Horton, pictures by Drazen Kozjan

Working Mummies starts and ends with plays on words and works these puns into almost every page. The mummy doctor “doses them with coffin syrup.” And one of my favorites: “This mummy’s a librarian./She has a great selection/ of rare and wiggly book worms/in her specimen collection.” While told in a light hearted way, it sends the message that mummies can do anything, be a manicurist, a dentist or a manufacturer, but no matter what they do, they will come home to “hug their boys and ghouls.” 

Miss Lina’s Ballerinas and the Wicked Wish by Grace Maccarone, pictures by Christine Davenier

Another in the series of dancing ballerinas in Miss LIna’s school. When auditioning for parts in the city ballet, all the little girls get to dance the waltz, except Regina, who is cast to be a dancing rat along with Tony. Regina is so upset that she wishes on of her friends will get sick so she can dance the waltz. As her friends succumb to various illnesses, Regina realizes that she doesn’t want them to be sick, and she would rather dance as a rat. As usual, all’s well that ends well and all dancers perform to their highest abilities.

The Monster Who Lost his Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber, pictures by Kirstie Edmunds

Monster loses his M to become a monster who is no longer mean. He is drubbed out of the Monster Forest and bullied by his friends, but finds that being Not Mean is just so much for fun than being Mean. He thinks up mean things to do, but without his M, he just can’t follow through. In the end, his new “people-friends” throw him a party to celebrate his new “Onster” state.  The rhymes work and the cartoon pictures are appealing to all.

 

Frankenstein, a Monstrous Parody by Ludworst Bemonster

Staunch children’s book readers will recognize the parody that begins with, “In a creepy old castle/all covered with spines,/ lived twelve ugly monsters in two crooked lines.” Rick Walton and Nathan Hale have teamed up to write this monstrous take on Bemelmans’ popular Madeline series books. Fun for the older crowd.

Kate and Nate are Running Late by Kate Egan, pictures by Dan Yaccarino

Mother, Kate, and son Nate are running late and the morning is a disaster. Between sleeping past the alarm and falling in a puddle, and not being able to find homework, or shoes or socks, it seems that everything is keeping them to getting to work and school on time. Simple rhymes and a simple story line, but it may appeal more to the moms than to the kids. 

Moby Dick: Chasing the Great White Whale by Eric A. Kimmel, pictures by Andrew Glass

Great pictures and I would say that this certainly moves faster and is told in way fewer words than the original, but am not sure this is a story I would ever read to a child. Interesting concept.