Books This Week

We've been reading a lot of books set in other geographical locations.  Here are some we enjoyed.

Russia:
Nikolai, The Only Bear

An orphan bear in a Russian orphanage gets adopted by an American couple.  I'm not sure why Bear asked for it more than once, but she did.  I had problems with the bear being human.  But the message of the story was sweet and I did enjoy the illustrations.

Baboushka - A Christmas Folktale from Russia

We both enjoyed this book about a baboushka who initially doesn't want to join the Kings on their quest to find the baby Jesus.  Leaving too late to join them, she reaches Bethlehem after Jesus, Mary and Joseph have already left.  It is said she is still searching for the baby and that as she comes to houses where she sees a good sleeping child, she leaves one of her presents.

Italy:
Papa Piccolo

A cat who enjoys his freedom takes on the responsibility of taking care of a pair of kittens.  Like all Five in a Row books, there are great lessons to be had from reading this picture book.  Piccolo, the tomcat, really does not want the kittens, but when they disappear, he begins to miss them and realizes he'd rather have the huge responsibility of taking care of them than be lonely.

Linked to What My Child is Reading at Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns.