Fun picture books for young listeners: How to Apologize, Not That Pet!, Sometimes Cake, and Mom, There’s a Bear at the Door

Four books featuring animals and young children are imaginative, instructive, and fun to read aloud to little ones.

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick 2021, 32 pages.

Reading Level: Easy Readers, Ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

It would be easy to be didactic with a book like this, but LaRochelle and Wohnoutka, the clever duo known for See the Cat excel in both telling and showing.

Apologizing is hard, but it’s SO important. Modeling what you should not do as well as the simplicity of what you ought to do is a good reminder for both children and parents. Although this book does not include the gospel, it leaves the door wide open for discussion. My boys love this book.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 5 out of 5

Not That Pet! by Halls Smiriti. Walker Books, 2022. Unpaged.

Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

Mabel tries so hard to be accommodating. Unfortunately, her choices of a pet for her family are less than appreciated (Can’t say I blame them!). As the list of what to avoid grows longer, she finally finds something that is both suitable and unconventional.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie. Candlewick, 2022. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 0-4

Recommended For: Ages 0-4

When you feel like celebrating, there are plenty of reasons to do so, and Audrey is glad she has Lion to inspire parties. Every day is someone’s birthday, and Tuesdays are a good reason for making cake, and colors are worthy of celebratory hats. But what about ordinary days? Even better with a Lion friend.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Mom, There’s a Bear at the Door by Sabine Lipan, illustrated by Manuela Olten. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2016. Unpaged.

Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

It all makes perfect sense when the boy explains why there’s a bear at the door, how he got there, and what he wants. Originally published in Germany, this is a story that is completely told in conversation, with illustrations that are simple, yet expressive.

Imaginative, fun, and very childlike. (And is it true? Or does the boy have a lively imagination?)

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle is another book about the challenges of pet ownership, an earlier book by the author of How to Apologize.
• A Review: Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman is a starred review that is also about repentance and restitution
• A Resource: Three picture books illustrated by Jessica Linn Evans Here are more lovely stories about animals for little ones

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