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You never know what sort of story will inspire a creative imagination. Who could have predicted that a writer and illustrator would unite to resurrect a classic nursery rhyme about athletic livestock and kidnapped eating utensils? Go figure. Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel have created a classy and amusing update in And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon. The book would be worthwhile just for the pictures of the character Fork, who cavorts (as much as a legless utensil can cavort) in Technicolor shirts and shades that look like Don Ho activewear.

We all know the story. It ends with the Dish running away with the Spoon, and usually they return so the rhyme can be read again. Unfortunately, one day Dish and Spoon don’t return. They are nowhere to be found. Cat explains the problem to the skeptical Dog: “It’s the way our rhyme goes. I fiddle, she jumps, you laugh, they run . . . Without Dish and Spoon, there’s no rhyme. No more diddle diddle. It’s over.” Both Cow and Dog suggest alternative endings to the rhyme, but Cat insists that they stop fiddling around. Shameless puns abound in this book, both in the text and in the revised and extended rhyme that accompanies it.

On their quest the animals encounter all sorts of figures from Mother Goose. Fork recognizes the Spoon because they were originally from the same place setting. To help, Fork draws a map, which includes everything from the Three Bears’ house to Little Bo Peep’s pasture. The legend at the bottom explains the unit of measure: a crooked mile. Spider complains about Miss Muffet’s aloofness. Wolf wears bunny slippers, and hanging on his coat tree in the foyer is a button-up sheep suit. In one house bobtailed blind mice lurk in the corners. The author and illustrator, who are sisters, must have enjoyed creating this book.

Let’s make the bottom line of this review explicit: Children will love this book, but no more than the adults who read it to them.

ittle Bilby, the moon is everything. When she emerges from her burrow one night and discovers that the moon is smaller than it was the night before, she is rattled by what she perceives to be a threat to her universe.

That threat grows each night until, finally, the moon seemingly disappears altogether. It is at that point the frightened Bilby (a nocturnal animal with rabbit-like ears) sets out on a journey of discovery. Her universe won’t be whole again until she finds the missing moon.

During her quest for truth, Little Bilby encounters a series of Australian animals, all of which offer opinions and insight to help solve the mystery. “Perhaps it has fallen into an ant nest,” the Echidna suggests. And Little Bilby’s pal Hopping Mouse offers to help, “I will look in the spinifex grass.” Author Margaret Spurling (this is her first children’s book) and illustrator Danny Snell (Whose Tail Is That?) have created a highly original book by using animals indigenous to Australia’s central desert region. Spurling and Snell, both Australians, seamlessly weave facts into a fictional tale, using animals familiar to them and unusual to us. Little Bilby’s down-under pals included Spinifex Hopping Mouse, Marsupial Mole, Military Sand-dragon and Short-beaked Echidna. Like the Boobook Owl and Chirping Froglet, kids will have fun saying the names and will identify with the little creatures’ warm, friendly faces except, perhaps, the Sand-dragon who has a rather “I’ll get back with you later” attitude. With its bold and colorful illustrations animated against a wide-open, star-saturated sky and suspenseful story Bilby Moon shapes up to be an excellent adventure for kids. The inclusion of exotic animals from Australia makes it educational as well.

Naomi Branch is a former children’s book editor who once worked as a social worker. She lives in rural Tennessee.

in time for Father’s Day, award-winning author Anthony Browne releases a humorous and loving tribute to fathers everywhere with his new title, My Dad. From playing soccer together to winning the father’s race on sports day to sharing moments of laughter, this book is a rare peek into the joys of fatherhood and the impact dads can make on the growth and development of their children. An English native whose accolades include the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, two prestigious Kate Greenaway Medals (the UK’s equivalent of our Caldecott Medal) and three Kurt Maschler Awards, Browne is an internationally acclaimed author and illustrator of more than 30 books, including Gorilla, Voices in the Park and the mega-popular series about Willy the chimp. Browne, a father of two children, had wanted to write a paternal laudation for quite some time. But it wasn’t until he came across his late father’s dressing gown that he was inspired to pen this touching homage. Browne’s father passed away when the author was only 17 years old, but finding the plaid wrap brought back memories that had been tucked away for years. “Finding his old dressing gown gave me the freedom to create this book,” says Browne. Throughout the colorful pages, we see the main character, a regular guy kind of dad, clad in the same brown plaid bathrobe that evoked so much childhood nostalgia for the author. Browne’s signature surrealistic illustrations portray Dad, in his old, worn, musty robe, eating like a horse, swimming like a fish and singing brilliantly next to two very familiar-looking tenors. The story is told through the simple, yet embellished narration of a young boy who idolizes his father. “He’s all right, my dad,” says the narrator. And through these adoring eyes, we see what many children and grown-ups alike think of their fathers: They are as big as houses, soft as teddy bears and afraid of nothing not even the Big Bad Wolf! But the ultimate message of this book drives home an even more important point: Children love their dads and dads love their children. And regardless of how much either grows up, they always will.

Heidi Henneman is a freelance writer whose dad lives in Houston, Texas, and even though he doesn’t wear a brown plaid bathrobe, she loves him very much and thinks he’s “all right,” too.

has what every children’s book should have: mystery, adventure, beautiful illustrations and a trainload full of excitement. Young Timothy has just moved in, and his parents have gone to run errands in the nearby town of Yonderville, leaving Timothy and his dog Curly behind. While sitting on the steps of his new home, Timothy’s how-will-I make-new-friends worries are interrupted by a strange rumble. What meets Timothy’s eyes is a circus train that has gotten stuck on the wrong track. He runs to inspect this surprising site. “What a train this was! The more he saw, the better it got.” Suddenly Timothy’s mundane Saturday morning was filled with clowns, tigers, elephants, hand-painted railway cars, tightrope walkers and a band. Why, even the engineer had a red-nosed clown face, wild orange hair and was named Mr. Carrot Top! Alas, the bridge has collapsed and the circus is due to perform in Yonderville. So Timothy comes up with an ingenious rescue, using the elephants, a cannon and a performer aptly named Captain Von Boom, all visible thanks to a big, delightful multi-page foldout! Timothy springs to action, barking orders left and right. And when he, the train and the circus reach their destination, Timothy’s gaping parents are among the circus-awaiting crowd.

Here’s a whopping tale for any kid who has ever dreamed of a daring exploit or of running away to the circus, as artist Jos. Smith explains. A professor of fine arts at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, Smith was inspired by an old photograph of a steam engine and a yard crew, which in turn inspired a series of fantasy train watercolors and, eventually, this book. His illustrations manage to combine the boldness and brightness of a circus adventure with the delicateness and subtlety appropriate for a heartfelt, magical fantasy.

Pair Circus Train with Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express, and you’ll have a super combo of magical train rides. All aboard for steam engine fun! Alice Cary leads her own circus of three young children in central Massachusetts.

The topic and approach of Fannie in the Kitchen is best described by its subtitle: The Whole Story from Soup to Nuts of How Fannie Farmer Invented Recipes with Precise Measurements. Deborah Hopkinson’s story-telling style is amusing, full of timeless child rationale, and Carpenter’s illustrations are charming and clever. A perfect pair to introduce us to one of the legendary cooks in history and her unofficial apprentice, an adventurous girl named Marcia.

Young Marcia Shaw loves being her mother’s helper, but with a new baby on the way Mama also needs a cook. Enter a young woman who is coming to live with the family: Fannie Farmer yes, that Fannie Farmer. Afraid of losing her mother’s affections and being relegated to a lesser role, Marcia hopes Fannie is a culinary failure. Ah, well, life is full of disappointment. Naturally, Fannie can cook like an angel. Marcia tries to pout, but finds herself quickly drawn into Fannie’s kitchen as her assistant. After a few disasters which Fannie overcomes with patience Marcia learns the importance of precise measurements, careful attention to detail and a passion for food. In the meantime, Fannie Farmer realizes that she has a great deal of knowledge in her head, and it wouldn’t hurt to write it down and share it. A cookbook. What a great idea.

Blue ribbons to Hopkinson for giving the picture book genre a new, fresh story line with characters full of personality, while introducing young ones to an icon in American history. Even today, many of our kitchen shelves house Fannie Farmer’s original recipes. What a terrific idea to share with kids a fun, realistic story about a kitchen role model who wasn’t just a Sara Lee or Aunt Jemima. Fannie Farmer was real. However, be prepared when Hopkinson skillfully describes Fannie’s mouthwatering biscuits and fluffy pancakes. Your little one will want to drag a stepstool up to the counter and start mixing, stirring, folding and flipping.

Fannie in the Kitchen is delectable and nicely served by the illustrations. A single scene, for example, will contain drawings of Marcia and Fannie in a setting of catalogue-worthy trunks, shoes, dress forms and bureaus. Best of all are the extras Carpenter sneaks in here and there, like Marcia’s reflection (looking petulant) peering back from within several items glasses, a carafe and a cream pitcher. The style works beautifully and lends the book a curious combination of freshness and classical texture that is irresistible.