What's Old Is New! Curious George (75th Anniversary Edition) by H. A. Rey

He's BACK!

Of course, he's never been away. Curious George has been a star in the panoply of children's book characters right up there with the Little Engine That Could, Little Toot, The Little House, Max, and Peter Rabbit. The original books created in mid-twentieth century by H.A. and Margret Ray have already been loved to tatters by three generations of young hands, and spin-off easy readers and television series have celebrated that too curious little monkey for decades.

But a seventy-fifth anniversary of a story book classic that has never lost its charm is a big deal. And although the cover of this celebratory edition, Curious George: 75th Anniversary Edition (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019) has been given a glossy blue ribbon banner and some shiny new lettering, and although the Times New Roman font seems a bit larger and more crisp and the pictures brighter, it's George who is still the center of the story--George, for whom each new surprise is accompanied with a big smile, George whose curiosity leads him into big adventures and who emerges a bit wiser, but no less curious--George is the star!

Author-illustrator H. A. Rey's illustrations, set in vignettes, spot-art style, against bright white pages, tell the classic story of an irrepressible, naughty little monkey whose curiosity takes him into many situations. George's yen to try dialing the telephone leads him into the custody of fat fireman and the skinny fireman and on to a high-flying balloon flight over the big city. Although his inquisitiveness gets George into some unwonted escapades, he's a good model for young readers, one who approaches life and learning with an open and infectious joie de vivre.

The houses looked like toy houses
and the people like dolls.
George was frightened.
He held on very tight.

It's a lucky kid who gets to see a copy of this classic story that hasn't already been read hundreds of times, and this sparkling new edition comes with a link to an audiobook reading of the story by actor John Krasinski. But it doesn't take a famous reader to make Curious George come alive, thanks to the author H.A. Ray's perfectly paced storytelling. And with the magic of George, young listeners may soon turn into readers, sharing the story themselves with others.

First Responder on the Farm! Otis And the Kittens by Loren Long

IT WAS HOT AND DRY ON THE FARM.

OTIS COULDN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME IT HAD RAINED.

It is a sun-baked fall in farm country, and Otis the tractor has done his part to bring the last bales of hay to the barn. Water is too low in the creek for the animals to cool off in, and it's too hot to enjoy the sunny days of early fall, but in the early evening, Otis can't resist the Bull's snorts that invite him to play tug-of-war with their friends.

One day Otis is keeping cool with the other animals under his apple tree when he spots something new.

IT LOOKS TO BE A TABBY CAT! WHERE DID SHE COME FROM?

OTIS WATCHED AS SHE RAN TOWARD THE OLD BARN.

AND THEN HE SAW SOMETHING THAT CAUSED HIS ENGINE TO SPUTTER... A SWIRL OF SMOKE!!

Instantly he sees the danger--a fire in the old barn filled with very dry bales of hay! With a huff and a chuff, Otis charges into the barn, where he sees the tabby cat in the loft with a litter of four little kittens, meowing for help. Otis entices the kittens down, and with them clinging to hi chassis, he takes them outside to safety. But the mother cat turns and rushes, meowing frantically, back into the flaming barn.

OTIS WAS AFRAID, BUT HE DASHED BACK INTO THE BURNING BARN.

THE LAST KITTEN'S HEAD POPPED UP, TREMBLING FROM FEAR.

Gently Otis coaxes the mother and kitten down and out of the barn, but as he starts out himself, the floor collapses under him. Fire Chief Douglas has arrived with his firetruck, but there is not enough water to put out the fire. How can Otis be saved?

It's Otis' friend the big Bull and his tug-of-war team to the rescue, and all's well that ends well for the doughty little tractor, in Loren Long's Otis and The Kittens (Philomel Books, 2016). There's plenty of suspense in Long's latest Otis adventure, with a happy story which celebrates courage and loyalty in exciting language that will please picture book fans of this happy little farm helper. Long's pencil and gouache illustrations are as pleasing as always, with skilled use of perspective and composition that makes this one a first-rate read aloud choice. For more fall farm fare, pair it with Loren Long's excellent Otis and the Scarecrow (see review here).

Hook and Ladder: Firehouse! by Mark Teague

EDWARD WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.

ONE DAY HE AND JUDY VISITED A FIREHOUSE.

Author-illustrator Mark Teague's brief text deadpans its way through the narrative, while his bright oil-color illustrations tell the tale with boisterous portrayals of his awkward but appealing bulldog hero Edward in his latest, Firehouse! (Orchard Books, 2010). Edward is a doughty, Edwardian-togged Boston bull terrier, a bit on the clumsy side, but persistent in his dogged pursuit of his latest fancy. In Teague's first book about this pair, Funny Farm, Edward mucks about as visiting farmhand with country cousin Judy's family, excelling only in putting away Judy's hardy farm fare. In this newest one, Edward inexplicably decides that he's cut out to be a firefigher--with mixed but amusing results.

Edward and Judy are welcomed to spend the day at the firehouse presided over by a team of brave Dalmatians, who share their duties with them, beginning with washing the firetruck. "A clean engine is a happy engine," the leader intones seriously, as Edward drifts into a fantasy of racing to a fire at the wheel of the truck. During a tour of the living quarters, the alarm sounds for a fire drill, and Edward's attempt to slide deftly down the firepole end with a sound thud on his backside.

Undeterred, Edward tries to take a hand in the drill, but clearly he's got a long way to go in mastering the skills of firefighting. When Judy opens the fire hydrant, Edward manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets quite a dousing. Handling the business end of a thrashing fire hose is not his strong suit either, and in the simulated ladder climb, he gets a bit of altophobia and undergoes the embarrassing experience of the fireman's carry over the shoulder of a burly firefighter on his way down.

Back at the firehouse, Edward shows off his best skill as he tucks into the firehouse cook's spaghetti and meatballs like the devoted eater he is. Just as he's slurped down his dinner, the real alarm goes off and Edward, Judy, and the whole crew don their slickers and race off, sirens blaring. At the end of the run, there's no fire, just a helpless kitty stuck way out on a high limb.

"WHO WILL SAVE HER?" ASKS A FIREFIGHTER.

"LET ME!!" EDWARD VOLUNTEERS.

And the dauntless bulldog, fortified by drill practice and plenty of spaghetti, clambers right up the ladder and brings the little cat to safety, and the successful rescue sets off a parade of celebration back to the firehouse.

Then it's bedtime at the firehouse and Edward sleeps the sleep of the righteous firefighter that night, with the rescued kitten at his side.

Teague, creator of the hilarious and best-selling Ike LaRue tales, beginning with Dear Mrs. La Rue: Letters From Obedience School and familiar illustrator of Jane Yolen's highly popular How Do Dinosaurs series, has created in this one and its predecessor Funny Farm, a couple of funny stories with a lovable and memorable character just perfect for preschool and Kindergarten classes preparing for those favorite field trips to farms and firehouses. As usual, Teague fills his pages with humorous touches which add to storytime appeal, in this case mouse firemen in full uniform, slickers and firehats, appear throughout the story and will delight sharp-eyed kids who follow their antics throughout. With his childlike enthusiasm and enduring and endearing pluck, Edward is a delightful character that children who have always wanted to ring the bell or slide down the firepole will identify with and love.