Some fresh reading delights for our youngest readers

DAYTON, Ohio -- Here are some exciting new books for our youngest readers:

"Pig and Cat are Pals" by Douglas Florian (Holiday House, 32 pages, $14.95) (ages 4-8).

Pig and Cat play together. They ride their bikes together. They read books together. Then one day Pig sees Dog and they play together.

Cat is left all alone. Pig realizes that Cat is feeling left out. Pig invites Cat to play with Dog, too. Clever illustrations look as though they were drawn by a child.

"Splish, Splash, Ducky" by Lucy Cousins (Candlewick, 40 pages, $16.99) (ages 2-5).

Duck Duckling loves to splash and play with frogs, worms, slugs, and fish. Duck quacks with happiness all day long.

"Rabbit & Possum" by Dana Wulfekotte (Greenwillow, 40 pages, $17.99) (ages 4-8).

Rabbit and Possum are pals. They are also total opposites. While Possum is very laid back Rabbit is super hyper. When Possum gets stuck in a tree Rabbit comes to the rescue.

"Rodent Rascals" by Roxie Munro (Holiday House, 40 pages, $17.95) (ages 6-10).

Youngsters can learn about 21 different kinds of rodents with illustrations that actually reflect their sizes.

There are rats and mice and squirrels and beavers and chipmunks and lemmings and even a porcupine shows up.

"Little Mouse's Big Breakfast" by Christine Pym (Nosy Crow, 32 pages, $15.99) (ages 3-7).

And what does a rodent such as a mouse like to eat?

Little Mouse could not find anything to eat outside so he went into the house and discovered lots of treats to eat. His meal is interrupted by a large cat.

"They Didn't Teach This in Worm School!" by Simone Lia (Candlewick, 192 pages, $14.99) (ages 7-9).

A bird named Lawrence is preparing to eat a worm named Marcus.

Fortunately, Marcus talks Lawrence out of eating him. Lawrence looks like a chicken but he's not. This is the beginning of their adventures together.

"When Spring Comes" by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, 36 pages, $7.99) (ages, 2-4).

Spring is just around the corner and this beautifully illustrated and durable board book will be a lovely way for toddlers to prepare for all the excitement of mud and flowers and the other delights of the season.

"Tiny and the Big Dig" by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Scholastic, 32 pages, $16.99) (ages 3-5).

Tiny is a dog who is working on a project. Tiny is digging a hole in the yard. The hole keeps getting bigger and bigger. What will Tiny find?

"Daves's Cave" by Frann Preston-Gannon (Nosy Crow, 32 pages, $15.99) (ages 3-7).

Dave is a caveman. Dave lives in a cave. Dave decides he wants a better cave. He begins his search for the perfect cave. It takes a while but he finally finds it.

Vick Mickunas writes for the Dayton Daily News. Email: vick(at)vickmickunas.com. Mickunas interviews authors every weekend on WYSO-FM in Yellow Springs, Ohio. For more information, visit www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook.

Story Filed By Cox Newspapers

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