Stories for Children

Akimbo and the Crocodile Man

And other books in the Akimbo series
Cover: Akimbo and the Crocodile Man
Author(s): 
Alexander McCall Smith
Illustrator(s): 
LeUyen Pham
Number of pages: 
67 pages
Copyright: 
2008
ISBN: 
9781582346922
Publisher: 
Egmont Books, Limited
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

This series for young readers, written by my favorite contemporary author, has all Husband and I look for in a children's book:

  • excellent writing
  • interesting story
  • active, forward pace
  • realistic character development and a setting that is foreign and fascinating
  • and finally a virtuous protagonist

During a recent illness my ten-year-old and I spent a fair amount of time on the couch, and we took turns reading aloud three volumes of this series. I just requested the two others from our Inter Library Loan. A children's book is a winner when the teens and adults in the house stop to listen to the story. No juvenile fluff here, but interesting plots that appeal to anyone. Akimbo is the sweet, but courageous and clever young son of an African park ranger. Helping his dad, and armed with his noble soul and courage and determination, he is able to find adventure and ways to help others in each of the stories.

The illustrations are wonderful! We stopped at each illustrated page and made comments about how good they were. I am including one here that shows the amount of expression on young Akimbo's face as he tells the head ranger of what he just discovered...

Alexander McCall Smith, the author, grew up in Africa and returns there each year. He knows what he is writing about, and you can sense from his writing that in his heart there lives a deep love and admiration for Africa. I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a good children's series!

Also see our review of Akimbo and the Lions, here.

Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
First reviewed: 
Mar 17, 2011

Akimbo and the Lions

Book cover: Akimbo and the Lions
Author(s): 
Alexander McCall Smith
Illustrator(s): 
LeUyen Pham
Number of pages: 
66 pages
Copyright: 
2005
ISBN: 
9781582346878
Publisher: 
Bloomsbury Children's Books
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

Akimbo is a young African boy whose father is a head ranger of a game park. When his father announces that he is going to one of the farms in the south because of reports of a lion attacking cattle, Akimbo convinces his father to let him tag along with the promise that he will be good and help.

True to his word, he does help his father in more ways than one. On the night they set the trap, they are in for a big surprise. Akimbo's quick-witted actions and bravery save his father's life. In the end, they don't catch a lion, but a lion cub, which Akimbo begs his father to keep. The cub grows faster than anyone expects, causing lots of interesting situations.

Beautiful pencil drawings add drama and interest to this easy-to-read, short chapter book set in Africa.

There are many nice qualities to this simple story for emerging readers. Foremost is the wonderful relationship between the father and son. It is apparent that they love and respect one another.

This book is part of a series of books with the main character of Akimbo. The book would be of interest to children between 3rd and 6th grade.

Reviewed by: 
Elizabeth Yank
First reviewed: 
7-3-2007

Along the Paths of the Gospel Series

Book cover: 'Along the Paths of the Gospel Series'
Number of pages: 
71 pages
Publisher: 
Pauline Books and Media
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Literature
"Bridge" Books B
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Review: 
These little saint stories, beautifully illustrated by Augusta Curelli, are very appealing to children because of the nice hardcover format and the full-color pictures on each page. The moderate amount of text (about 4-10 lines per page) makes it fairly accessible to beginning or reluctant readers. We found this series to be an excellent help to our eight year old son who was struggling with reading. I was delighted at how much he enjoyed reading about the saints and he didn't even mind reading about the girl saints. :) The sewn binding (so unusual even in hardcover books nowadays) make the books very sturdy for heavy family use. Children may need help reading the names of people and places.

Individual Titles:

  • Saint Angela Merici: Leading People to God by Sr. Maryellen Keefe, OSU
  • Saint Anthony of Padua: Proclaimer of the Good News by Marie Baudouin-Croix
  • Saint Catherine Laboure: Mary's Messenger by Sister Marie-Genevieve Roux and Sister Elisabeth Charpy
  • Sister Colette: In the Footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare by the Poor Clares of Poligny and Sister Elisabeth
  • Saint Francis of Assisi: God's Gentle Knight by Francoise Vintrou
  • Saint Therese of Lisieux and the "Little Way" of Love
  • Saint Vincent de Paul: Servant of Charity by Sister Catherine Ethievant

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
2-18-04

Angus and the Ducks

Author(s): 
Marjorie Flack
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1930
Binding: 
Other
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
Angus is a little Scottish terrier who is terribly curious about everything - especially a noise coming from the other side of the large green hedge. One day, when "the door between outdoors and indoors was left open by mistake" he goes exploring to discover what makes that noise. His adventures are very cute, my children love hearing the sounds made by Angus and by the ducks. The text is very short and simple, but the real beauty is in the language which has a charming and humorous flow to it - it is perfect for reading aloud to little ones.. When my son was three and tired of me reading so many long books to his older sister, this one really helped him start to enjoy stories.
Additional notes: 

Various editions available

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Chanticleer and the Fox

Book cover: 'Chanticleer and the Fox'
Author(s): 
Barbara Cooney
Illustrator(s): 
Barbara Cooney
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1958
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
This is an illustrated, children's adaptation of "The Nun's Priest's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It's a simple moral tale, reminiscent of Aesop's Fables, with a lesson about the dangers of flattery and pride. A prideful rooster faces danger as he is flattered by a cunning fox. Truly a classic.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
11-15-2000

Daddy's Lullaby

Book cover: 'Daddy's Lullaby'
Author(s): 
Tony Bradman
Illustrator(s): 
Jason Cockcroft
Number of pages: 
25 pages
Copyright: 
2001
Publisher: 
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
Daddy's Lullaby by Tony Bradman, beautifully illustrated by Jason Cockcroft, is a children's storybook about a young dad who comes home late at night to find the baby wide awake in his crib. In his efforts to soothe the baby back to sleep, dad cuddles him in his arms and tours the house with the baby to see all the other sleeping members of the family. When that doesn't work, dad takes the baby downstairs and sings him a soft lullaby about "Daddy will hold you safe from all harm" and "Love you forever--A promise he'll keep." Exhausted from his long week at work, dad falls asleep with the baby nestled in his arms. In the morning, mom and big brother find them still sleeping peacefully. The strength and power of this dad is displayed in his commitment to his family, "let me chase that bad old dream away" and the warmth and the love he has for them with words like "And here's the best mother a baby could have. You're a lucky baby and I'm a lucky dad!" In this day and age of broken homes, this story is a refreshing encouragement to dads about the real meaning of family life. The captivating pictures poignantly illustrate the tenderness and love of this dad for his family.

Reviewed by: 
Elizabeth Yank
First reviewed: 
6-22-04

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