Beginning Readers

The Touch of the Master’s Hand by Myra Brooks Welch, Illustrated by Greg Newbold

The poem The Touch of the Master’s Hand was written by Myra Brooks Welch in 1921. I have heard it before and have always enjoyed it. It is very touching and has such a good moral in it. It is great for teaching children not to judge others, for teaching them to find the good in everyone, including themselves, and for reminding them that people can change. This book was illustrated by Greg Newbold. He used the poem as  it appeared in 1936, and added his beautiful illustrations.

I love this book. Mr. Newbold did a fabulous job with the illustrations. I love the attention to detail and the old-time feel in each of the paintings. On the page when the violinist is playing the violin you can almost hear the beautiful melody coming off the page. The lighting and the placement of the bird and the village make you feel like you are there and can hear the music. The man at the end of the book looking up is filled with such hope and you feel like you want him to succeed. I will be reading this to my children many times in the upcoming weeks and years.

Rating: G (Completely clean!)

Recommendation: Great for all ages!

I definitely recommend this book to everyone. It is a good, clean, uplifting book that teaches a wonderful lesson and is beautifully done.

Cowardly Clyde by Bill Peet

I love this book! I love Bill Peet’s books, and this is one of my favorite. I love that I can relate to Clyde. He is a very nervous horse who is the trusty sidekick of a brave knight. He runs away from his fears at first, but ends up proving himself in the end. I really enjoy Mr. Peet’s illustrations. This book is a very fun read-aloud and it’s also fun to read all by yourself. My nine-year-old saw the book out on the table and started reading because he likes it so much. It’s fun for all ages. Mr. Peet is so clever and the stories just come to life on the page. I love that I can hope to overcome my fears as Clyde overcomes his. This is a great story to teach courage and determination.

Rating: G  (The picture of the ogre may scare some smaller children, but my kids aren’t phased by it.)

Recommendation: Great for all ages.

Grandpa’s Teeth by Rod Clement

(Summary taken from the back book cover) ” ‘Help, I’ve been robbed! It’sth a disthasthter!’ Grandpa’s teeth, handmade by the finest Swiss craftsman, are gone–stolen from his bedside table! Grandpa suspects anyone who doesn’t smile widely enough to prove that their teeth are their own. Soon everyone in town is smiling–all the time–and their ghastly grins are frightening the tourists away. Can the culprit be caught before the whole town cracks up?”

This is a fun, great book! It is perfect for a read-aloud book. My kids love it, and my first graders loved it, because you have to read it as if you don’t have any teeth. It’s very funny. The kids laugh and laugh. The story is very cute and has a twist at the end. The illustrations are very well done and very creative. Some children don’t know what dentures are, and so you need to explain that, but once they get it, they love it. I chose this book as my first children’s book post because I think it is such a fun and creative book, and I think kids of all ages (and parents too) will enjoy this book. Happy reading!