Abe Lincoln's Dream

Abe Lincoln's Dream

by Lane Smith

2012

978-1-59643-608-4

The ghost of Abraham Lincoln haunts the White House, fretting over the state of the nation. He is worried that the country is still in turmoil since his untimely death. When a young girl convinces the ghost to venture out of the capital building, she shows Lincoln that the country is in good shape and that he doesn't have to worry so much.

This is a good book for older readers with a historical grasp of history, specifically the history of Abraham Lincoln. The drama surrounding the worried president's ghost makes more of an impact if you know how Lincoln died and the conditions of the country when he left the presidency.  For older kids and adults, the story is satisfying to see a child put Lincoln's worries to rest by convincing Lincoln and the reader that the United States has accomplished so much.

Betty Bunny Didn't Do It

Betty Bunny Didn't Do It

Written by Michael B. Kaplan

Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch

2013

978-0-8037-3858-4

This is the story of Betty Bunny, a handful of a young, precocious girl who often gets into trouble.  When nobody in her house has time to play with her, Betty Bunny finds trouble by accidentally breaking a lamp.  When her brothers and sisters ask her what happened, Betty Bunny tells a lie.  The story attempts to illustrate how Betty Bunny learns that telling lies is wrong.

Pros:  The artwork is very good, with cute bunnies and a cool, modern edge to the characters.  

Cons:  I felt that the morality lesson against lying was confusing and gave mixed signals on lying where a sharp line should have been drawn.  The very last page of the book is supposed to be humorous, but comes off as cancelling out the lesson.  Books about telling the truth are welcome in children's literature, but BBDDI could have been polished a bit more, for my tastes.

The Wicked Wizard & the Wicked Witch

 

The Wicked Wizard & the Wicked Witch
by Seymour Leichman
1972
0-15-296455-X

When a wicked wizard meets a wicked witch, a contest is held to see who is the wickedest. Throughout the day and throughout the night, the wizard and witch cast spells on each other with humorous results. In the end, a lesson is learned and a friendship is made.

This story is downright funny and may make kids laugh out loud with a charming rhyming verse and a raucous battle similar to Looney Tunes cartoons.  Some parents might dislike the confrontation aspects of the  magicians' feuds and the cartoon violence, so read this to older little ones like preschoolers/kindergarteners. 

The Man from the Land of Fandango

The Man From the Land of Fandango

Written by Margaret Mahy
illustrated by Polly Dunbar
2012
978-0-547-81988-4

A magical man from the magical land of Fandango pays a visit to two small children in this rhyming picturebook.  The MFTLOF is a magical character who dances cartwheels, turns into a bird, and has a cake break with a bear, a baboon and a dinosaur, among other feats of wonder.

The singsong poem that comprises the book is fun and silly and the accompanying pictures will satisfy younger children.  A slight comparison can be made to the Cat  in the Hat, whereas an unexpected visitor with magical powers arrives, but the MFTLOF doesn't present any peril or wanted mischief to the kids and the mood stays lighthearted and innocent.