The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann

This book was NEAT! It is definitely an interesting study and look at the foundations of the Chinese script and language and a humorous story to follow along with!

Greenwillow Books, 2008

Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplan

Two whiny little children make their way into the hands of some hungry monsters and this is that story. This is one of those picture books that can work for any age and I was giggling away right along with my daughter while we were reading this book. Monsters are more dysfunctional than previously realized and they can't seem to make up their mind on how to eat the whiny children that they have acquired. So why they are carrying on about everything else other than how to cook the whiny children, of course, the children escape.

Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Monster Baby by Dian Curtis Regan Illustrated by Doug Cushman

Monster Baby is the humorous story of a couple who find an adorable baby on their front porch and decide to adopt it. Monster Baby, Olly, as they name him, is fuzzy and orange with horns and pointy teeth and a tail, and Olly grows VERY quickly. This is a really cute and funny story about how families can be made differently.

Clarion Books, 2009.

Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak

This is a 'different' kind of children's book that borders on the line of slightly disturbing although it really is a lovely tale. After Ida's father goes away to sea, goblins come and snatch away Ida's baby sister and she must journey out to rescue her. The goblins end up being really cute and looking like roly poly babies (which explains why they stole Ida's baby sister to be a Goblin bride). The text is large and simple and the illustrations are amazing. This book won a Caldecott Honor. The story ends on a happier tone but the content is not-as-positive as I would imagine a child's story to be, HOWEVER, it has the old-timey feel of an old-fashioned fairy tale and anyone who knows their literature knows that fairy-tales do not always end happily, but this story does.

Harper Collins, 1981.

Child of Faerie by Jane Yolen Illustrated by Jane Dyer

This was a charming story of a little human girl and a little fairy boy who become friends and experience the worlds of one another. They are friends until old age even though they each choose to live in their own separate world. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous.

Little, Brown and Co., 1997.

The Merbaby by Teresa Bateman Illustrated by Patience Brewster

When a fisherman and his brother make a shocking discovery in their fishing nets after seeing a beautiful harpy mermaid on the rocks, Tarron decides to return the found merbaby to the mermaid and instead of becoming rich on the exploitation of this beautiful merchild is greeted with welcome by the merfolk community for the return of their beloved merchild.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous to look at. The story is a bit more complex for younger readers but anyone would appreciate the pictures of the beautiful mermaids and the adorable merbaby.

Holiday House, 2001.