Have You Seen Chester? by Andrew Murray, Harper Collins Publishers (2003)

 

Just the name Chester makes me happy. And, that face? Actually, the cover is of Buddy the dog who beats up Chester the cat so much that Chester just leaves. He's like, "I may be brave, but the a-whoopin' I get ain't worth it. I'm gone."  So when Buddy the dog starts to miss Chester and feel guilty he runs away to find Chester and bring him home. 

And, I must say, it's such a dramatic plot twist that I was shocked. Kids, pets, parents don't run away in picture books...they escape, they move, they hide, but running away? Shocking. 

Great edgy premise, violence, runaways, late night shenanigans,  but the illustrations really make the story. It's all in that Chester's face and body language. His giant body with skinny little arms. The angry look of ultimate defeat on his face, "I lose, you win. Grreat!" In fact, his face sort of reminds me of the boss on Parks & Rec. You know the guy with the mustache who is SO GOOD that you look at him for 2 secs and you're totally in? 

Alas, I digress. Of course, the story ends happily ever after, but there's great drama till then. Plus, you will use a million different voices to say, "Have You Seen Chester?" Now this one we got at the thrift store...recycle, reuse! Well, actually, I'm just cheap. But, I washed it.

Don't You Feel Well, Sam? by Amy Hest, Illustrated by Anita Jeram, 2007, Candlewick Press

 

Where do I even begin with Sam, Mrs. Bear, Amy Hest and Anita Jeram? This simple and brilliant story about Mrs Bear tending to her sick little baby bear, Sam, hits me deep. So lovingly written and drawn, we get to share the intimacy between Sam and Mrs. Bear as she comforts and nurses him through the night. She coaxes him into taking his medicine, comforts him with stories and gives him hope of snow falling all to make him feel even if just a little bit better. It fills me with love.

If I could just live in their world for one night waiting for the snow, dozing till morn, then building snowmen with them I'm sure it would cure all that ails me.  Everything looks and feels so safe and full of love. Your kid will feel it too!

The best part is that this is just one of a few stories about Sam and Mrs. Bear. Each one as loving and intimate as the other. You'll find yourself trying to read it in a loving voice. Of course, is it any coincidence that there is no mention of a Mr. Bear? 

Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean, HarperCollins, 2009

 

This story is as brilliant as the title is strange. It's so compelling and engaging and the rhyming so good, you and your kids will be singing, "my crazy hair," before you know it!

It's a journey into one man's literally crazy hair. This very abstract and dream-like story threw me at first, but once I stopped trying to figure it out it became fantasy-like. You could say, "I let my hair down."

In fact, the rhythm reminds me of another kids book, In The City, by Jacob Lawrence and Susan Goldman Rubin. For some reason whenever I read it I hear the cool cat jazz cymbal in my head and I have to read it to the beat like I'm a cool smooth cat. If we met, you'd quickly see I'm not.

Plus, everywhere I look now I see Neil Gaiman kids books and novels. Perplexing. DO NOT MISS THIS.