Smart George – Jules Feiffer (Michael di Capua / Harper Collins)
As I wait to reveal to them the wonders of The Phantom Tollbooth, I was thrilled to share with my girls another great book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jules Feiffer that works especially well for the slightly younger set. Especially as one of my daughters is enough of a dog fan as to try to name the breeds of the main characters and the other needs some encouragement to stop putting off learning, it is PERFECT for them (and for many others, I am sure)!
Though it has been 20 years since Feiffer introduced George in the lauded Bark George, all the freehanded fun is still in form in this long-awaited sequel. As George learns to count by chasing cats (and other more random animals) through a colorful forest, kids can practice their counting and develop grit while parents can revel in one of their favorite artists buy way of a story that spans generations.
– Matt Robinson